What a wonderful night at the Academy Awards 2018! Genuine support and affection among many of those nominated; provocative films that told the stories of all kinds of people across space and time; inspirational montages throughout the show; and a more diverse group of winners than ever. Jordan Peele wins his first Oscar, Frances McDormand acknowledges all of the women in the room nominated for any award, and challenges those with money and power to work with them to create brilliant new works. Jimmy Kimmel does a fine job balancing comedy and sincerity. And Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway get a do-over at presenting the award for Best Picture and get it right this time. It was a feel-good night, nicely done. But what about the clothes? They were relaxed, authentic and happy, just like the rest of the evening.
As awards season ends, here’s one last round-up of the looks we loved, and the things we took from the parade of beautiful things to wear at the 2018 Oscars. Black was largely absent as a color that the female celebrities chose for this list big evening. The color palette was lighter, and the silhouettes were simpler than in years past. Insouciant elegance may be the new normal.
1. You can definitely wear red on the red carpet. We don’t remember seeing this many brilliant red dresses in the past. Proving that all style rules can be broken if you go about it the right way.
2. Pristine white remains a go-to choice for all kinds of women. A lot of people fear wearing white because they think it makes them look too bridal, or too naive, or too fat. Here’s proof that none of those fears should keep you from rocking a crisp white ensemble. Everyone who choose that direction looked sensational.
3. Purple and lavender are definitely going to be a Thing. The fashion press has already decreed that lavender is the color of spring 2018. While we found only three examples on the red carpet, its noteworthy that these were three of the most prominent women at the event. Watch your back, pink.
4. You can never go wrong in any shade of pink. Despite the stealth moves toward purple, pink was actually all over the red carpet at the Oscars. So if you love it, there’s no need to abandon it just yet. There’s a reason people choose it — everyone looks great in it.
5. Cool blue and silver are . . . cool. Pastels are definitely having a moment in the aftermath of the all-black Golden Globes. The feeling of romance, breeziness and moonlight on water that pale blue conveys was surprising to see, given these fraught times, but it was refreshing.
6. Wakandans rule. The buzz around Black Panther was so strong, you would have thought it was nominated for numerous awards this year. The aura of celebration around the cast was palpable — let’s hope its a harbinger of what we’ll be talking about a year from now.
7. We love those who choose to go their own way. Tiffany Haddish paid tribute to her Etritrian roots; Zendaya looked regal in earth tones; and 86-year old Rita Moreno wore the exact same dress she wore to the Oscars in 1962. Get out! It’s true. And she looked amazing.
We can’t wait for our next swanky gig so we can try out some of these ideas ourselves. In the meantime, if there’s one fashion lesson we can all take from awards season 2018, it’s that when the spotlight falls on you, claiming your space and doing it in a way that’s true to who you are is no longer a luxury or an indulgence – it’s a necessity. And an obligation. People are watching and learning that a new set of norms is being born. The spark has been ignited. Can’t wait to see what the fashion crowd does with all this energy. See you for the Met Gala!
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