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Oscars Red Carpet: Smooth Elegance, Lots of Trains, Candy Glam


Stephanie Hsu and Michelle Yeoh pose on the champagne-colored red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 12, 2023.
Stephanie Hsu and Michelle Yeoh pose on the champagne-colored red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 12, 2023.

The Oscars is the pinnacle of Hollywood's awards season, and thus the A-listers in attendance typically save their best looks for last. On Sunday, the stars did not disappoint.

As the guests filed into the Dolby Theatre, a few trends emerged: lots of understated white, silver and cream gowns; loose flowing hair; dresses with trains; and a few excellent pops of color.

Here are some key looks from the Oscars red carpet:

Muted elegance

For the first time in decades, Oscars organizers changed the red carpet to a champagne hue. And the stars responded by bringing an ethereal lightness to their frocks, many of them in white, cream or silver.

Michelle Yeoh, the star of frontrunner "Everything Everywhere All at Once," wowed in a floating white sleeveless Dior gown, her long hair flowing in loose curls — a look seen all over the carpet — and topped with a bejeweled headband.

Michelle Yeoh pose on the champagne-colored red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 12, 2023.
Michelle Yeoh pose on the champagne-colored red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 12, 2023.

"This was the perfect opportunity to show that moms are superheroes," Yeoh told ABC of her film.

Jamie Lee Curtis, nominated for best supporting actress for her work alongside Yeoh, rocked a sleek glittering long-sleeved off-white column gown from Dolce & Gabbana, perfectly setting off her cropped white hair.

Jamie Lee Curtis poses on the champagne-colored red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 12, 2023.
Jamie Lee Curtis poses on the champagne-colored red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 12, 2023.

Presenter Florence Pugh, who has been shutting down red carpets for months with quirk and swagger, pushed the sartorial envelope in a Valentino gown that was all voluminous creamy taffeta on top — and then slit extra high to reveal a black miniskirt.

Florence Pugh poses on the champagne-colored red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 12, 2023.
Florence Pugh poses on the champagne-colored red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 12, 2023.

And Nobel peace laureate Malala Yousafzai, the executive producer of Oscar-nominated documentary short "Stranger at the Gate," wore a sequined silver hooded Ralph Lauren gown that was ruched at the waist.

Malala Yousafzai walks the champagne-colored red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 12, 2023.
Malala Yousafzai walks the champagne-colored red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 12, 2023.

Candy-colored glam

Pink, purple, yellow — Curtis' fellow nominees in the best supporting actress category brought a rainbow of hues to the Academy Awards.

Angela Bassett, whose turn as Queen Ramonda in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" could make her the first actor in a Marvel film to win an Oscar, slayed in an amethyst Moschino gown with a bow neckline, a train... and lots of diamonds.

Angela Bassett, left, and Courtney B. Vance, as he takes her picture, arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Angela Bassett, left, and Courtney B. Vance, as he takes her picture, arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

She paid tribute on the red carpet to nominated costume designer Ruth Carter, saying she felt "that sense of royalty spring up," telling ABC: "And it really helped to get me there in terms of the performance."

Hong Chau, who earned a nod for her work opposite Brendan Fraser in "The Whale," oozed sophistication in a cotton candy pink sleeveless Prada gown, with a Mandarin collar and an unusual fringed black train.

Hong Chau arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Hong Chau arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

"Everything Everywhere All at Once" star Stephanie Hsu floated down the carpet at the Dolby Theatre in a strapless bubble gum pink Valentino number with a full ball skirt, her hair cascading down in soft waves.

Stephanie Hsu poses on the champagne-colored red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 12, 2023.
Stephanie Hsu poses on the champagne-colored red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 12, 2023.

And Irish actress Kerry Condon, who shared the big screen with Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson in "The Banshees of Inisherin," donned a lemon yellow one-shoulder Versace gown — and another train, a definite Oscars trend.

Kerry Condon poses on the champagne-colored red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 12, 2023.
Kerry Condon poses on the champagne-colored red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 12, 2023.

Let’s hear it for the boys

For years, the men of Hollywood were a bit of an afterthought on red carpets — tuxedo, rinse, repeat. But no longer.

"Everything Everywhere" star Harry Shum Jr embraced his Asian heritage with a white dinner jacket with midnight piping and coordinated belted sash. And for his "Glee" fans, he danced a bit on the red carpet.

Harry Shum Jr. poses on the champagne-colored red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 12, 2023.
Harry Shum Jr. poses on the champagne-colored red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 12, 2023.

And "Elvis" star Austin Butler wore a Saint Laurent tuxedo fit for a king — though definitely a bit more traditional than his other awards season looks.

Austin Butler poses on the champagne-colored red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 12, 2023.
Austin Butler poses on the champagne-colored red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 12, 2023.
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