Diamonds are a Baz’s best friend
THE carpet itself may have broken from tradition but our biggest Hollywood names spectacularly stuck to the red carpet dress rule book.
There were splashes of colour, showstopping couture and vintage looks at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles for the 95th annual Academy Awards, which went with a champagne carpet over traditional red for the first time since 1961.
Vogue Australia’s Edwina McCann noted men “really stepped it up” in the fashion stakes. Nicole Kidman in Armani Prive was one of McCann’s best dressed.
“It felt like an Ode to Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel with its standout camellia accents,” she said. “Nicole carries herself in whatever she wears on the red carpet better than any actor. Her compatriot Cate Blanchett looked beautiful in Louis Vuitton too.”
McCann said Kidman’s outfit choice could be seen as a precursor to the Met Gala in May, as that event is set to focus on Lagerfeld’s body of work for the fashion house.
“And Lady Gaga just looked fantastic in Versace,” she said. “Quite often playing with sheer fabrics on the carpet can be really difficult but it was so well structured in terms of the balance of sheer and opaque it looked both elegant and sexy.”
Australian designer Rebecca Vallance also singled Kidman out for her ensemble: “The elegant slit on the leg creates a beautiful silhouette, contrasted with the understated sequins, giving the ultimate Hollywood feel,” Vallance said, adding English actress Florence Pugh in Valentino was also a standout. “Florence Pugh demands the attention of the room with her exaggerated frill sleeve and sculptured taffeta cape, paired back with chic mini black shorts, bringing her ‘cool girl’ edge.”
Austin Butler, who played Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, was more subdued than normal in a traditional black tux from Saint Laurent while Luhrmann accessorised with a $263,000 necklace from David Webb made of carved jade and ringed by diamonds.