LONG SLEEVES

With all the work that goes into the Hollywood “power arms”, the red carpet is the last place you would expect to see arms disguised by long-sleeved gowns. But the style taken up by older actresses at last year’s ceremony has now been adopted by the younger generation. Dakota Johnson’s butter-coloured, Thirties-style Gucci gown was one of the standout looks. Ruth Negga in Valentino – the house that led this trend several years ago with medieval-style haute couture gowns; Jamie Dornan’s wife Amelia Warner in a pink-caped dress by London-based designer Emilia Wickstead; Isabelle Huppert in pale pink Armani Privé; and Meryl Streep in Elie Saab – all took up arms, too. Their personal trainers must be furious.

While the embellished column dress was still visible at the Oscars, it is gradually being phased out by the big-skirted dress. You can thank the new Dior designer for this. Maria Grazia Chiuri introduced these ballerina styles at her first show for the house. It is a more womanly silhouette, with a nipped-in waist, sometimes emphasised by a belt – a look taken up by Charlize Theron and Felicity Jones (both in Dior), Octavia Spencer in feathered Marchesa, Scarlett Johansson in punkish mode thanks to the studded leather belt worn with her Alaïa gown, and Salma Hayek in semisheer McQueen. Meanwhile Janelle Monáe went the extra mile in a skirt worthy of Marie Antoinette by Elie Saab.