The 2025 Academy Awards: Who, What, Wear
Around this time last year, I wrote about the 2024 Oscars ceremony and what my top three fashion looks from the night were. It’s been a year since then, and the 2025 awards show season has ended and wrapped itself up with a neat little bow, but I’m still thinking about the Oscars ceremony from a few weeks ago. Well truthfully, I’m always like seven degrees of separation away from thinking about the Oscars (“M.I.L.F.” stands for “Man, I Love Film” in my mind!), but that’s not what we’re here to talk about today. No, I’d like to consider today’s piece as a sequel. A part two, if you will. I want to go through my top six (three men and three women) looks of the night.
Image Courtesy: Instagram
Starting off strong, we have to talk about Best Actress nominee Demi Moore. Her dress, made custom by Armani Prive, exuded old Hollywood glamour with a trace of modern elegance. Harper’s Bazaar told its readers that the dress showcased, “70,000 crystals and 150,000 paillettes in all, taking no less than 18 embroiderers, an investment of 32 hours for the artwork and 1,670 hours for the embroidery for the dress to come together in its final form.” Although she didn’t go home with the (deserved) Oscar, there shouldn’t be a doubt in anyone’s mind that Moore was the best dressed at the event.
The “nexus of traditional, Old Hollywood black-tie and radical, New Hollywood high-fashion” was acclaimed to one Sebastian Stan, who was dressed in Prada for the show. A well-done take on the standard (and incredibly boring) “suit and tie” uniform the men of Hollywood have assigned themselves since the beginning of the event, Stan’s attire is elevated to a higher standard. The lapels, the square-toed shoes, and even the cummerbund take this already beautiful man from a 10 to a 100. And just when we all thought he couldn't get sexier.
Image Courtesy: Instagram
Last year’s Best Supporting Actress winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph did NOT come to play this year! After stunning in baby blue Louis Vuitton last March, she arrived on this year's red carpet in a custom black Tamara Ralph Couture. “The actress was the epitome of glamour in a black velvet and crystal-embroidered masterpiece, with a draped satin skirt…and let’s talk about that black enamel metal and crystal flower - a striking embellishment that elevated the entire look.” writes Catherine Kallon of The RCFA. And my god, she’s gorgeous.
Andrew. Garfield. Yup! His brown Gucci suit was so good; he truly embodied la dolce vita. I seriously cannot stop thinking about it. He’s suave and sultry and sexy. And those sunglasses? Yummy!
Now we’re down to my favorite looks of the night. The cream of the crop. The top brass. The magnum opus of the Oscars red carpet, through and through.
Image Courtesy: Instagram
The Fanning sisters have been serving looks since they emerged on the acting scene as children, and last night's Academy Awards showcased Elle Fanning in an absolutely stunning Sarah Burton Givenchy dress. Inspired by the first ever Givenchy collection in the 1950s, the white lace dress had silk tulle and a belted black bow, complete with a corseted bodice, updated take on a 1950s-esque pointed bra, and a traincape. Ushering in the new era of Givenchy fashion on THE red carpet? Yeah, no one is doing it like her.
Image Courtesy: Instagram
A star on and off the screen, Colman Domingo deserves his flowers at any given moment. His rose-red Valentino tuxedo quite literally made me do a double take when he first showed up on my television. I mean come on. Like I already said, it’s super annoying when the men on the red carpet wear the standard black-and-white suit and tie, so to contrast those looks with BRIGHT RED? GQ Magazine wrote on their website, “There’s also something to be said for the color matching that of the carpets on which Domingo seems so at home. While the fit of the jacket is fairly tailored and traditional, the signature flourish this time comes in a tied-off sash across the waist in lieu of buttons. Michele outfitted Domingo in a red shirt to match the jacket, sans tie, and traditional black tuxedo trousers to contrast the red.” Nail on the coffin. Fingers crossed other actors take notes and start following his lead.
The 2025 Academy Awards was filled with a plethora of exciting, wild, wide-eyed moments, but we all know the fashions were the main takeaway of the night. From drop-dead gorgeous dresses to intricate takes on old classics, these six actors made statement after statement. See you all for next year’s show, where we can only hope that the fashions showcase the grandeur and pizazz that this year’s did.
Strike Out (and go ahead and engage in Twitter wars over who was best dressed at the awards show),
Kaya O’Rourke
Saint Augustine
Editor: Jaden Rudd
Kaya O’Rourke is a writer for Strike Magazine, Saint Augustine. She’s a big fan of film and art houses, curating the perfect Spotify playlist for every occasion, and spending time with her BFFS (her mom and her cats). When she’s not updating her Letterboxd or working on her screenplay, you can reach her on Instagram at @kayaorourke.
