While some watch the Oscars for the speeches, celebration of cinema and intrigue, I watch for the clothes (fine, I watch for both). The Oscars may be the biggest night for movies, but it’s also a big night for fashion. This year’s Oscars were full of classic silhouettes with unconventional twists, a fitting way to outfit a night teeming with firsts.

Most Undeserving-

Mikey Madison gave a beguiling (and winning!) performance in Anora, but her dress lacked the energy and intensity of her performance. As the “ first Gen Z winner in an acting category”, however, I was hoping for something that looked fresher on Madison. Her Dior gown was obviously meant to channel Old Hollywood and Audrey Hupburn-era Givenchy, but that reference has been done to death already. The black velvet on top of the stiff-looking baby pink looked heavy.

Most Didn’t Stick To The Landing-

Though Timothee Chalamet has garnered a reputation for being a well-dressed man, his Oscars look was a missed opportunity. His butter yellow suit and matching shirt were bold, but the details of the look let him down. For example, his pants obviously weren’t hemmed and the slouchiness came across as sloppy. The black shoes seemed like such a boring choice with the bright hue of the suit, when a color like burgundy could have complimented the yellow. However, I really enjoyed how he used jewelry as a tie.

Best Trend-

The biggest winner of Oscar night may have been metallics. Stars such as Halle Berry, Mindy Kaling and Goldie Hawn were all blinged out. My personal favorite was Demi Moore’s Armani dress, which was both classic and dramatic. I love how the hip padding gave way to the trains, and also her perfect accessorizing with both earrings and a bangle.

Best Evolution-

Menswear (especially on the more conservative Oscars red carpet) has a tendency to be staid, and well, boring. However, people such as Colman Domingo, Jeremy Strong, Omar Apollo and Lisa (in a menswear-inspired gown) all showed that suits don’t have to be an afterthought. Colman Domingo’s suit bridged the gap between tradition and fashion, with a belted suit jacket in a bright red color.

Most Absent- 

When looking at the red carpet footage, I realized there was something missing. Where were the necklaces? Even a mediocre gown can be elevated by some gemstones. Selena Gomez’s dress was gorgeous by itself but her necklace elevated her look into best-dressed.