Night of the Oscars is the culmination of the move awards seasons, but it is also the pinnacle of red carpet events. The designer dresses and glamorous gowns are the most talk about subject the next day, and the lists of best and worst dressed are sometimes more important than lists of nominations and winners.
And where you can find more inspiration for your perfect glam prom look than on the red carpet outside of the Dolby Theater? And even though many fashion experts have called the looks of the 91st Academy Awards bland and boring, we disagree. There were, as always, hits and misses, “what was she thinking” outfits, but there were also some very refreshing trends for the 2019 Prom. Here are the looks that left us longing, and instantly inspired us to try and find something similar but more fitting to a high school senior’s budget.
Recreate the Best Looks from 2019 Oscars’ Red Carpet
1. Thigh-High Slit – Regina King
Let’s start with the winner of the Best Supporting Actress award, Regina King. Her classic white Oscar de la Renta number featured a serious slit on the left side, making it timeless with a modern twist. This dress exudes confidence and strength and it is a perfect way to show some skin in a confident and cool manner. There is no doubt that you would outshine everyone in a dress like this, but unless you hire someone to carry your train behind you all evening, you might want to consider one of these more toned down, but equally stunning and sexy dresses.
This dress is sizzling! Presenting a fitted silhouette, this JVN Prom by Jovani sleeveless metallic prom dress is side gathered with a V-neckline and beaded spaghetti straps. The straps span the open back and the full-length skirt with a sweep train showcases a high-thigh side slit, allowing you to show your gorgeous gams in style.
Even more fitted, Sherri Hill 52936 ivory prom gown features a fit and flare silhouette in scuba, with an asymmetrical one-shoulder neckline and a bejeweled high slit. A slight brush train completes this elegant formal dress, adding the perfect touch of Hollywood glam.
2. Playful, Fun and Yellow – Constance Wu
If there was a textbook on how to wear tulle for formal events, Crazy Rich Asians star Constance Wu would be on the cover. In a radiant marigold custom Versace gown, Constance nailed the effortlessly chic look with sleek ponytail, red nails, understated makeup and classic diamond jewelry. She was twirling and smiling while posing on the red carpet, and genuinely looked like she was having so much fun. And that is just the right style for prom.
These two dresses are not custom Versace, but they are surely a fun and vibrant (and affordable) alternative. Colette for Mon Cheri CL19807 flirty two-piece features an intricately beaded crop top with a wide V-neckline, V-back and cold-shoulder straps. The gathered flowy tulle skirt drops to a wide horsehair hem, while the beaded waistband coordinates the look. The one of the right, style number CL19804, is styled in iridescent chiffon, with an off-the-shoulder sweetheart neckline, a floral beaded bodice and a softly gathered skirt that flares off the inverted basque waist. You will look like Bell from Beauty and the Beast, while being so comfortable that you will be able to dance and have fun all night long.
3. Glitz and Glimmer – J.Lo and Brie Larson
We know that Jennifer Lopez can bring it when it comes to red carpet style, but when she showed up in a curve-hugging mosaic mirror dress, we just couldn’t take our eyes of her. She was gleaming in this long-sleeved number by Tom Ford paired with a chunky diamond ring and matching earrings.
The Captain Marvel leading lady and 2016 Oscar winner Brie Larson looked like a silver goddess in a sparkling, high neck silver mesh halter gown with a thigh-high slit. But unlike Jennifer, Brie didn’t go full glam. Her no-fuss hair and low key makeup gave Brie that edgy appeal we love so much about her.
Whether you decide to go all-glam like J.Lo, or edgy silver like Brie, Jovani dresses are designed to make look like you’ve just stepped off the red carpet. The Jovani 67740 is fashioned in patterned sequins, similar to the mirror on Tom Ford dress, featuring a ruched bodice with a plunging V-neckline and plunging V-back. The slim-flare skirt begins on the high waist and finishes in a sweep train.
Jovani 63510 silver formal dress features a fully embellished slim-flare silhouette, detailed with a high neckline, racer back and sweep train.
Long Sleeves and Open Back – Irina Shayk
Irina Shayk would look smoking even if she was wearing a potato sack, but this Burberry turtleneck dress accented with gold tassels at the waist and sleeves is just unreal. In a fitted silhouette, long sleeves and open back Irina looked stunning, but still like a perfect “plus one” to her beau Bradley Cooper.
As girls gravitate towards red carpet inspired pieces for their big night, long sleeve backless dresses have become a huge trend for prom. For formal occasions, including prom, barring more skin with a youthful low back is not only stylish, but also comfortable and cool.
This Clarisse Couture 4946 black formal dress is framed with dolman long sleeves, with cold-shoulder cutouts complementing the cutout back and slit skirt. No gold tassels, but silver beadwork accentuates the jewel neckline, waist and side-front slit beautifully.
Pink Bow – Angela Bassett and KiKi Layne
In tune with the new trend of pairing red and pink, red carpet was filled with statement pink dresses. The two that certainly caught the eye of our stylist team were Angela Bassett’s fuchsia Reem Acra dress and a fairy-tale Atelier Versace column gown in pastel pink worn by KiKi Layne. 34 years between them, but they both managed to pull off this feminine look like champions. KiKi looked sweet, young and romantic, and Angela was just absolutely breathtaking flaunting a low ponytail and impeccable makeup.
If you are all about pink, girly and ruffles, we know how you can look elegant and play up your femininity. Tarik Ediz 50202 features a trumpet silhouette with a ruffled one-shoulder strap, styled in taffeta with a semi-chapel train. Princess seaming stretches along the front and back, creating an hourglass shape.
Power Pantsuit – Elsie Fisher and Amy Poehler
We saved the best for last! If you are the girl that just doesn’t see herself wearing a dress, don’t worry, take these two to to be your inspiration and rock a pair of pants as formalwear. Women wearing pantsuits on the red carpet is nothing new, but it felt particularly fresh on Eighth Grade breakout star Elsie Fisher. Amy Poehler opted for an all-black glamorous ensemble by Alberta Ferretti, and looked chic as ever.
And if you think that it would be hard to find a powerful women’s pantsuit, appropriate for formal occasion, you are wrong. Some of the biggest designers in the industry feature this trend in their latest collection. Just look at the Jovani 93843 black gunmetal pant suit featuring a long-sleeved top with a plunging neckline and flap pockets, with bugle beads on the extended flat collar. And for more glitz and glam, Sherri Hill has got your back with this black two piece pantsuit that is fully sequined, featuring a long sleeve jacket with an ultra plunging neckline over wide-leg pants.
