The only fashion moments that mattered at the 2019 Oscars

Last night, awards season culminated with the moment so many people have been waiting for – the Oscars. With Lady Gaga going for an all-black look from Alexander McQueen and Glenn Close trying to channel the gold = win memo, it was down to the other attendees to do the most and snatch our attention. Here’s what you missed from the red carpet.

BILLY PORTER DOING THE ABSOLUTE MOST

Without a doubt, Pose and American Horror Story’s Billy Porter takes home the title of MVP for this year’s awards. Serving up everything you could ever want (and more) the actor slayed the red carpet in a tux that suddenly balloons from the waist into a ballgown – get you a look that can do both. Designed by Christian Siriano, it was revealed on Instagram that the look paid homage to Hector Xtravaganza, iconic figurehead of the ballroom scene. Tens across the board!

SZA WAS A BLUNT-SMOKING ANGEL

Nominated for Best Original Song for the Black Panther-featured “All The Stars”, SZA took to the red carpet in an angelic white look created by Vivienne Westwood. Posting BTS pictures on her Instagram, the singer accessoried her look with a blunt (it, sadly, didn’t make it to the event). While SZA didn’t pick up the Oscar – going to A Star is Born’s “Shallow” instead – she obviously enjoyed the night posting another picture with the wholesome caption: “I seen EVERYBODY FROM EVERY SINGLE MOVIE WOW I’M A STAN SOMEBODY SEND ME HOME”.

SPIKE LEE PAID HOMAGE TO PRINCE

Picking up the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for Black KkKlansman, director Spike Lee’s acceptance speech was a political callout – more on that here. Lee’s red carpet look also had a message behind it, paying homage to his 1982 film Do The Right Thing, via rings branded with ‘LOVE’ and ‘HATE’ that appear in it. Elsewhere, his purple suit and love symbol necklace paid tribute to the late Prince. “I Know In My Hearts Of 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜’s My Brother Prince Is Watching Tonight, Singin’ “IT’S GONNA BE A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT’,” Lee said on a post on Instagram.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PINK

Call it coincidence or some sort of strange fashion osmosis, but pink was apparently the colour of choice at this year’s awards. Chosen by the likes of Sarah Paulson, Kacey Musgraves, KiKi Layne, Angela Bassett, and Dame Helen Mirren. Our fave is probably Gemma Chan in Valentino Couture, in a colour described by stylist Mel Ottenberg as “Electric Pepto”. An early frontrunner for Pantone’s Colour of the Year?

ALL THE MEMES EMMA STONE’S DRESS INSPIRED

What would an award ceremony be without memes? The Golden Globes gave us Fiji Water Girl, but the Oscars’ breakout meme came courtesy of Emma Stone, or rather, her Louis Vuitton look. Covered in brown sequins in a lattice effect, the dress was compared to a Stroopwafel, ice cream cone, beehive, bacon and even a kebab. Either way, it sounds delicious.

AWKWAFINA’S TEQUILA-FILLED CLUTCH

The Oscars is one long ceremony, usually lasting over three hours. While it may all be fun and games on the red carpet, once inside you might feel like you’re trapped with no exit.  Crazy Rich Asians’ Awkwafina had a solution though – BYOB. That’s right, her glittering purse that accessorised her DSquared2 suit was filled with tequila that she sipped from on the red carpet and likely finished once inside. The finesse! Booze-filled purses for all.

RACHEL WEISZ SERVED FEMDOM REALNESS

Fresh off the runway at last month’s Couture show, Rachel Weisz’s look was a sexy number courtesy of Givenchy. While there were ‘safer’ options, the actress went full femdom, choosing a red embellished dress paired with a latex top. Just to fuck with you, she accessorised it with a cutesy headband. KNEEL BEFORE YOUR QUEEN WORM. 

BONUS: JASON MOMOA’S FENDI SCRUNCHIE

Following Karl Lagerfeld’s death last week, there were unsurprisingly a number of tributes to the late designer last night. Pharrell and wife Helen Lasichanh, Tessa Thompson, and Jason Momoa and wife Lisa Bonet all paid their respects via looks from Chanel and Fendi. Momoa’s custom-designed Fendi suit was created by the designer himself, but it was the Fendi-branded scrunchie worn on the actor’s wrist that was the cherry on top. Why? “Later, when I’m cutting a rug on the dancefloor,” he laughs. WE WANNA SEE THAT.