From the stunning stars walking the red carpet to the hilarious hosts, the incredible array of movies honored to the thoughtful acceptance speeches, the Academy Awards this year was a night to remember. With Kathryn Bigelow’s historic night as the first female to win the award for Best Director and the array of talented women honored in the Best Actress category, the ladies truly made a statement. Their amazing performances, directorial prowess, and all over impact were felt the entire night. However, as they arrived on the red carpet all eyes were tuned to what designers and trends would be worn. From Sandra Bullock’s gorgeous metallic dress to Gabourey Sidebe’s deep blue gown, one could see that the stars went all out for the evening and several hot trends became apparent.
Metallic
The metallic trend was huge this year, seen on stars such as Cameron Diaz, Sandra Bullock, and Kate Winslet. Metallic dresses look great on the red carpet, as they ensure one will stand out and not get lost in the crowd. Both the gold and silver metallic look is stunning, with some designers even starting to blend gold and silver tones together. When wearing a statement metallic dress, it is important to keep the rest of your look simple. By wearing little to no jewelry with a simple hairdo, an elegant look is created. These actors got it just right!
One Shoulder
The one shoulder dress was popular on the red carpet, and for good reason. It creates a beautiful neckline, drawing the attention upwards, and provides plenty of bust support. Sigourney Weaver looked stunning in her red asymmetrical gown while Kate Beckinsale rocked the one shoulder look (in a metallic!) at an after party. For a modern yet comfortable look, the one shoulder dress is a great way to go.
Neutral/Nude
Shades of nude were seen throughout the evening as stars arrived, with each dress looking equally as stunning as the one before it. Anna Kendrick looked beautiful in her pale pink draped gown and Demi Moore was flawless in a nude strapless ruffled dress. Shades of nude, whether a cocoa color or a light pink, are fashionable and gorgeous! By choosing a dress with some draping or ruffles, a beautiful silhouette is created. To really showcase a nude dress, pair it with neutral colored accessories, such as black or brown, so that the dress becomes the focal point.
Slits
Whether cut high or low, obvious or hidden, slit dresses were a popular trend at the Oscars. To showcase your legs in a sexy yet fashionable way, a slit dress is the way to go. From Meryl Streep’s demure slit to Zoe Saldana’s ruffled slit, a beautiful look is created. Slits are feminine and flirty and truly make a statement. If doing a high slit, make sure your dress does not have a low neckline. When showing more skin on the bottom you can be a bit more conservative on top, and vice versa.
Deep Blue
Gorgeous shades of jewel toned and deep blue were seen on the red carpet, taking the place of the usual go-to black dress. Kristin Stewart wore a beautiful midnight blue while Gabourey Sidebe had a lighter but equally rich blue gown, adorned with stunning jewels. These rich shades of blue look great on all skin tones and make a strong statement. Easily paired with gold or silver accessories, a deep blue is a great change if you want to switch up the black.
All of these trends are fun and pretty, and a great way to spice up your wardrobe. Even though the majority of us will not be walking the red carpet anytime soon, we can still wear these looks in our daily life. Whether it is a casual maternity maxi dress with a slit or a one shoulder strap cocktail dress (in a rich blue) there are many fun ways to apply these red carpet trends to your daily life.
For an expectant mom so close to her due date, this outfit is a great option. The leggings are stretchy and comfortable, ensuring you will not feel restricted throughout your busy day. A cute flowy top draws the attention upward and also balances out the tightness of the leggings. A good rule of thumb: if you are wearing something tighter on the bottom go looser on the top, or vice versa! This breaks up one’s look, ensuring that the overall appearance is not too tight or too loose. A blazer adds structure and shape to the outfit, and truly pulls the look together. (From leggings to jeans, from casual to sophisticated, a fitted blazer adds structure to any outfit and is one of my favorite ways to pull an outfit together). For a finishing touch she adds a gorgeous statement necklace and some cute boots, and the look is complete! This is a great look for the day when paired with ballet flats, or can easily be dressed up for evening with more jewelry and different shoes!
An empire waist dress is always a great choice for expectant mothers, particularly as they get farther along in their pregnancy. It creates a gorgeous shape, emphasizing the smallest part of your body yet celebrating your baby bump. The sweetheart neckline and intricate twisted cinching under the bust add a special look to her dress. Although with her hair worn down the dress looks strapless, there are actually thin straps to ensure comfort. The extra support of the straps is a great idea so that you will not be concerned about your dress moving around. The final aspect of Kourtney’s dress which I love is the length. The maxi dress, with a high empire waist, elongates the line of the body, creating a more streamlined looked. It also skims the body, creating a feminine flowing look, and will provide endless comfort.