And so, within the blink of an eye, awards season is over. Michelle Yeoh has become the first Asian woman to win the Best Actress Oscar, Everything Everywhere All At Once is now the world’s most-awarded film ever and we have tonnes of new red-carpet outfits to gaze at. While the most anticipated event in the film industry, the Academy Awards are also one of the most important nights in the fashion calendar (bar, of course, the Met Gala!) Opulent and an evening of true glamour, the Oscars brings out the ballgowns, exquisite silks and exorbitantly priced jewellery.

The red carpet (well, technically the champagne carpet) offered up a host of deliciously decadent ensembles from Hollywood’s finest. It has also made it clear which fashion trends are, well, trending! From exposed boning to sheer tulle, these are some of the biggest trends from the 2023 Academy Awards red carpet.

BONING

Exposed lingerie and underwear have been an on-off trend within fashion for several years now, but nowhere was it more apparent than at yesterday’s Academy Awards. While no one was wandering around in their Calvins, there was a distinct trend for exposed boning. Boning is used to give structure to specific garments, mostly around the bodice, and was a main component of historical stays and corsets. Halle Bailey’s baby blue tulle Dolce & Gabbana gown was perhaps the clearest example of this movement, expertly creating shape and definition. Also following the trend was Zoe Saldana wearing Fendi couture (from the most recent collection). While less obvious, a watchful eye can notice the boning utilised in the bodice to give the dress its structure. Notable mentions: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Jamie Lee Curtis and Lady Gaga (in Versace, quite literally straight off the runway.

THE LEG

We all remember *that* Angelina Jolie leg moment from the 2012 Academy Awards that bought the internet to an absolute standstill. It would seem Jolie has thus paved the way for the exposed leg! In a bright red Elie Saab FW21 couture gown, Cara Delevigne looked happy and healthy while exposing her right leg. Also following suit by baring her leg was Florence Pugh in a Valentino FW22 couture ensemble, doing so also put her black platform heels on view. Nicole Kidman, Ariana DeBose and Halle Berry also put their best leg forward.

MINIMALISM

It’s fair to say that on the runway and the red carpet, minimalist styles have been reigning supreme. While some may be swift to call many minimal looks boring, last night’s stars proved that the key to perfectly pulling off such a look is in the tailoring. Best supporting actress nominee Hong Chau donned a pale pink custom Prada dress with a glittering black train. The dress itself, while uncomplicated, was tailored to the Chau impeccably as well as being steamed so no crease could ever show. Vanessa Hudgens dug into the Chanel archives yesterday wearing a delightful black and white strapless piece that may have veered on the edge of dull, and yet the way it clung to her body gave it oomph. Also on the minimalism train were Elizabeth Olsen, Emily Blunt and Kerry Condon.

RUFFLES

As previously mentioned, if there is one awards event to go big or go home at it’s the Oscars and so it is never much of a surprise to see large silhouettes and yards of fabric. This year's main trend for achieving this was the ruffle. While she may have gotten her leg out, Florence Pugh also went for big volume in her Valentino gown. In a homage to Marilyn Monroe, Ana de Armas’ Louis Vuitton gown had a cinched-in bodice and figure-hugging hips before modernising with a ruffled mermaid-esque bottom. Fan BingBing’s green and silver Tony Ward extravaganza went big on the fabric as did Anglea Bassett’s royal purple Moschino gown.