Attention, celebrity stylists! From Valentino’s androgynous evening wear to Loewe’s Delphic draping, the autumn/winter 2023 runways were awash with compelling red-carpet options. With the Oscars now less than a week away, speculation is mounting not just around which of the nominees will be collecting statues, but what they will be wearing when they do it. Here, the British Vogue editors reveal the autumn/winter 2023 looks they deem Oscar-worthy – and the stars they’d love to see them on on the big night.
Valentino
Cate Blanchett long ago mastered both an ultra glam and an impeccably tailored look on the red carpet. I’m a real fan of when she combines both aesthetics with a decorative suited ensemble – like the custom embellished Alexander McQueen floral top she rewore with tailored trousers in 2020, or the razor-sharp Schiaparelli jumpsuit she wore to the Tár premiere in Venice in September 2022, with a bust blooming with flowers. I’m hoping Blanchett’s stylist Elizabeth Stewart had her head turned as much as me by Valentino’s autumn/winter 2023 “Black Tie” collection, specifically Look 68, a sparkling thigh-spliced gown paired with a skinny tie. The combination was an androgynous nod to the formalwear accessories which creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli wears to events like the Met Gala, that his daughter professed her affection for. What’s more, it’s an accessory that Lydia Tár would approve of, whether or not Blanchett ends up winning her third Oscar for her portrayal of the power-crazed musical composer in Todd Field’s psychological drama. Laura Hawkins, fashion features editor
Loewe
Some will say the Oscars, as the biggest night on the awards season calendar, calls for maximum drama: trains that take up half the limo, the princess-iest of ruffles, enough sequins to be seen from space. But less can still be more even when millions of people are watching. For proof, just Google Martha Plimpton wearing vintage in 1989, or Lupita Nyong’o’s powder-blue Prada from 2014. I’d love to see Look 19 from Jonathan Anderson’s simultaneously simple and surreal autumn/winter 2023 Loewe collection on Zendaya. Opting to wear something effortless (and what could be more insouciant than a dress that evokes a slip of fabric draped over a hook?) on the most-scrutinised red carpet of the year isn’t a cop out, it semaphores confidence. Perfect for a burgeoning Gen Z style icon. Kerry McDermott, digital director
Alexander McQueen
Multiple looks seen from Alexander McQueen’s autumn/winter 2023 show deserve an outing on the red carpet, but Look 46 is made for Oscars night. Simple compared to some of the sparkling fringed dresses that danced down Sarah Burton’s runway, the gown features a sculptural silhouette with a spiked bustier neckline, achieved using careful interior construction and tailoring techniques that the designer focused on this season (a reference to the collection’s title, “Anatomy”). It gets better: the bottom part splays out into a dramatic fishtail skirt, printed with a deep red abstract flower. Taylor Russell, this one’s calling for you – and Look 41, a glittering spliced dress, is just right for the after-party! Alice Cary, digital fashion writer
Paco Rabanne
Personally, I enjoy a splash of razzle-dazzle on the red carpet, particularly if it’s streamlined into a contemporary silhouette. Julien Dossena’s most recent collection at Paco Rabanne (a tribute to the late, great designer, who died in February 2023), features myriad pieces that exude both a confident sensuousness and pure refinement. I’d love to see Stephanie Hsu attend the Oscars in Look 30: a silver column dress with metallic paillette and tassel embellishments that’s unquestionably a head-turner. Or perhaps the gold equivalent in Look 32 would be more appropriate, as Hsu is up for her first Academy Award in the Best Supporting Actress category for Everything Everywhere All at Once (and I, of course, want her to win). Alex Kessler, junior fashion editor
Conner Ives
Look 17 from Conner Ives’s autumn/winter 2023 collection, a demi-couture hooded design in fluid silk jersey, was inspired by a princess – namely Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries, in which she learns she is heir to the throne of Genovia. The dress, therefore, feels more than fitting for Angela Bassett, who is nominated for an Oscar for her performance as the formidable Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. I’d love to see her take the gong in this sporty sleek design by an emerging designer, Plus, she always looks impeccable in purple. Isabella Brunner, associate visuals editor
Editor
Laura HawkinsCredit
Lead image: INDIGITAL.TV
