Happy 2026 Oscars day to all those who celebrate! After an arduous few months of countless red carpets and awards ceremonies, we have arrived. This is what we’ve been training for. Call it the red-carpet Super Bowl, the best-dressed Olympics! At last, we have arrived.
The style on this awards circuit has been a bit of a slow burn, with the Golden Globes being an exception to the rule of a season in which the fashion has not always been stellar. There have been some highlights, of course: Teyana Taylor in a tantalizing Schiaparelli dress at the Globes, Wunmi Mosaku in an electric blue Ahluwalia fringed look at the BAFTAs, Jessie Buckley in a Balenciaga dress that screamed Oscar winner at the Actors, and generally the delightful rise of Chase Infiniti, who tonight looked stunning in Louis Vuitton and De Beers London styled by duo Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald.
Tonight things reached a proper peak. To put it simply, stars brought it tonight. Taylor and Buckley, wore looks by Chanel, the former with Tiffany & Co. jewelry (“the perfect finishing touch,” as Taylor told me over the phone on Thursday—but more on that later). It’s no surprise, and no mistake, that both women made our best-dressed list—Chanel has been on fire this awards season, with Matthieu Blazy’s confident and audacious renovation of the storied house leading up to this moment. When was the last time someone won the best-actress Oscar in Chanel, you ask? Over a decade ago, when Julianne Moore took the award for best actress in a concoction by Karl Lagerfeld. As the kids would say, we are so back. Buckley was styled by red-carpet maven Danielle Goldberg, while Taylor, fabulously so, styled herself, as she did for most of this awards season.
See also: Demi Moore’s simply striking Gucci feathered gown—a trend of the night—designed by Demna, plus Rose Byrne’s stunning Dior couture gown by Jonathan Anderson; both designers started at their respective houses last year, and they’re clearly making strides. Moore was styled by Brad Goreski, and Byrne by Kate Young. Also fantastic: Renate Reinsve, who has been leaning into a unique brand of sexy minimalism that I’m particularly enjoying, in a Louis Vuitton gown, and Kate Hudson in Armani Privé and Garatti jewelry.
Man of the moment Hudson Williams, styled by Anastasia Walker, was in a black Balenciaga suit, looking every bit the Hollywood leading man. Ditto Paul Mescal, a nominee tonight for his turn in Hamnet, who was in a Celine suit designed by American in Paris Michael Rider. Mescal was styled by Felicity Kay. The best-dressed man tonight, however? Pedro Pascal, who, surprisingly enough, wore Chanel, which does not even make menswear!