RED CARPET TO REAL LIFE
Katie Wright picks the movie-star looks even us mere mortals can muster
With t-he Oscars bring ing awards season to a close for another year, not only do we now have a bunch of movies, TV shows and albums we need to catch up on, we’ve also got a glut of gorgeous gowns providing fashion inspiration for months to come.
Whether it’s prom night, a wedding or a glitzy party or black tie event, when it comes to occasionwear, dressing like you’re a celebrity for a day is what it’s all about - even if you haven’t got a red carpet to walk down and hordes of photog - raphers shouting your name.
This year, there were four key trends that emerged from the major awards ceremonies - and the good news is that you can channel them all with dresses starting from less than £50.
From lush colours to sparkling fabrics, here’s how to steal the stars’ style on the high street...
Pink
By far the biggest trend from the 2019 awards circuit, there was a whole spectrum of pink on show - from Katy Perry’s powder pink at the Grammys and Helen Mirren’s rich raspberry tones, to Zawe Ashton and Gemma Chan’s voluminous neon gowns.
The great thing about this trend is that there’s a perfect pink for everyone. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone when shopping - you might discover that blush looks beautiful when teamed with tonal accessories and make-up, or that a neon cocktail dress is surprisingly wearable.
»» Left: Vera Mont evening dress, £215, Betty Barclay (shoes, stylist’s own)
»» Below: Girls on Film Nava pink satin slip dress, £34, Little Mistress (shoes, stylist’s own)
Black
Think black dresses are boring? You won’t when you see how actors like Viola Davis,
Glenn Close and
Thandie Newton styled theirs, choosing gowns that were black with a twist - like a big bow or embellished overlay.
You can do the same, by choosing a midi dress with white ruffle detailing or an asymmetric maxi with an interesting neckline. Finish with a bold matte red lip to complete the look.
»» Top: Thandie Newton at the 72nd Baftas
»» Above, right: Lipsy bardot ruffle midi dress, £65; barely there heeled sandals, £49, Next
Also look out for...
»» Topshop slash jersey maxi dress, £75
Metallic
According to research by Accessorize, gold is the luckiest colour for Academy Award nominees to wear, which might explain why metallic dresses have been so popular at all the awards ceremonies - particularly clingy column frocks like those worn by Jennifer Lopez and Brie Larson at the Oscars.
A slinky sequined dress is guaranteed to make you feel like a movie star, but if bodycon isn’t your cup of tea, look for gathered or wrap style dresses in looser fabrics.
»» Far Right: Zoe Boyle at the 72nd Baftas
»» Right: Sosandar golden ombre sequin shift dress, currently reduced to £44.50 from £89 (shoes, stylist’s own)
Also look out for..
»» Simply Be rose gold sequin kimono dress, £75 »» Roman silver disc sequin dress, currently reduced to £30 from £70
Tulle When the stars want to really make a statement on the red carpet, they bust out the tulle. Linda Cardellini’s hot pink dip-hem Oscars dress, and Rachel Weisz’s white Baftas confection were two of the most memorable of the season, while Margot Robbie found a way to make the flouncy fabric edgy in her embellished Chanel gown. Obviously, a white ruffled dress can look a bit too bridal, so it’s a no-no for wedding guests. But pastel colours always look pretty, or you could take a leaf out of Robbie’s book, with a dark tulle number teamed with sparkling accessories. »» Far left: Rachel Weisz at the 72nd Baftas
»» Left: Little Mistress blush midi dress, £78 (available end of March)
Also look out for..
»» Phase Eight Cordelia tiered maxi dress, £295 »» Monsoon Elyse embellished tulle maxi bridesmaid dress, £110