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Oscars Red Carpet 2019: The Battle for Best Dressed

The glamour and glitz of the 91st Academy Awards has just swung by in all its glory and didn't fail to deliver on the fashion front. Amongst the victories and triumphs of the year's most successful films and actors, there was a keen eye for detail, extravagance and glam from our esteemed Hollywood celebrities. Above all the fashion spectating that's being funnelled our way by the press, one of the most important discoveries we've found is the fierce battle between traditional and modern styles.

Simple bow ties and elaborate tuxedos were the hot choice for men's styling. As the Academy Awards is a black tie event and requires all actors to wear tuxedos, creative expression was definitely taken with accessories and colour choices.

Return of the Cummerbund

Bradley Cooper optimised traditionalism with his black bow tie, black tuxedo and cummerbund ensemble. Yes, cummerbund! The Best Actor nominee's simplicity made a refined albeit highly subdued look for this year's awards ceremony; a look which perfectly complemented Lady Gaga's gown.

Joe Alwyn's Tom Ford get-up was also accompanied by a cummerbund. It seems that old school still looks popular for one of the most revered awards night ceremonies. Thankfully, Joe Alwyn modernised the look by shortening the hemline of his trousers and sleeves.

Uncommon Threads

Although some celebrities like Bradley Cooper decided to go completely traditional in their tuxedo choices, there were plenty of men who stretched the boundaries of individuality by maximising their accessories.

Best Supporting Actor winner, Mahershala Ali, took a street style approach to his elaborate tuxedo by adding a black beanie and silver framed glasses into the mix. His colour restraint made the unconventional combination an acceptable choice for Oscars dressing.

Mahershala Ali Oscars Suit

There was no shying away from colour either this year in the men's category with plenty of jewel tones and florals sweeping up the attention. John Mulaney's dark floral jacket was an inspired choice for the opulent evening. The embroidered, jewel tone florals on his jacket were a superb complement to black trousers.

Velvet with a Vengeance

The Red Carpet also unveiled a significant worship of velvet. We saw jewel tones and even blush pink pulled off in the velvet tuxedo category, with the most opulent take being Billy Porter's tuxedo/dress by Christian Siriano.

Billy Porter Oscars Dress

Billy Porter wearing Christian Siriano undoubtedly got heads turning.

Jason Momoa wearing a custom Fendi suit.

Other notable velvet enthusiasts were Stephan James and David Oyelowo who opted for bold colours. Stephan James' three piece velvet suit from Etro gave the carpet itself a run for its money. His white Giuseppe Zanotti boots were a also statement addition.

Women's Fashion

From the ladies we saw plenty of tulle, ruffles and pink, giving the awards night an undeniably French spin. Silhouettes from the 20th century were given a modern upgrade by vibrant lashings of pink that created a statement effect on the Red Carpet runway.

Kacey Musgraves Oscars Dress

Although pink was certainly on the radar, there was no definitive conclusion as to whether soft drapes or architectural silhouettes were the dominating trend. We saw ruffles and structures as will as billows and soft drapes.

Oscars Fashion Oscars Dress Oscars Dresses

Lady Gaga certainly drew heads with her brooding adaptation of Hollywood dress code. Her 3/4 length leather gloves were an edgy rendition of 1920s silver screen glamour. Her bleached blonde hair and tanned complexion certainly added to her Old Hollywood effect. Although it was one of the more attention-grabbing looks of the night, it certainly errs on the side of subtlety compared to her previous award ceremony looks.

Forget Dresses, Suits Stole the Show

The olden days of the classic black tux and bow tie have seemingly fallen by the wayside as suits this year undoubtedly stole the show. It wasn't just men either; some of the night's most extravagant suits were pulled off by actresses.

The refreshing embrace of men's fashion and the outward gender fluidity of dress code made this year's Academy Awards a sign of the times. The strong creativity shown in men's fashion was an exciting glimpse into what we can expect from future awards ceremonies. The glamour and finesse of Old Hollywood style still remains strong with no shortage of cufflinks, lapel pins and bracelets in sight.

The Verdict

When Hollywood puts on a "black tie" event in 2019, it's actually code for "wear velvet". The extravagant suits we saw gracing the Red Carpet took the general notion of a tuxedo and bow tie and amped it up to the next level. We saw embroidered jackets with floral motifs as well as plenty of velvet on velvet to make this year's event one of supreme opulence.