The celebrities that took to the Oscars in outfits with hidden meaning (2024)

The Oscars is the biggest event of the year in the movie calendar, but it's also all about fashion as the stars step out on the red carpet dressed to impress in glamorous attire.

However, many outfits hold meaning beyond what meets the eye, with stars purposefully conveying messages through fashion statements.

Elsewhere, eagle-eyed fans have derived meaning from A-listers and their choice of gown.

For instance, Margot Robbie ditched the typical pink attire that she's been wearing on repeat while promoting her role in Barbie in favour of a black dress - a move some have claimed is a reaction to her Oscar nomination snub.

Margot Robbie stunned on yesterday evening's red carpet - but eagle-eyed fans believe they've found a hidden meaning behind her outfit choice

Other stars, such as Emma Stone and Carey Mulligan, have openly declared the sweet meaning behind their glamorous dresses for the event - and how they link to the characters they portray on screen.

Here, FEMAIL reveals the A-Listers who conveyed hidden meanings through their fashion choices at thethe 96th Annual Academy Awards.

MARGOT ROBBIE

Margot Robbie sent shockwaves across social media after donning an unexpected color on the Oscars 2024 red carpet in Los Angeles on Sunday

The 33-year-old actress — whose hit film Barbie has eight nominations — ended her run of pink awards show looks as she rocked a strapless black Versace gown

Margot Robbie sent social media into a frenzy after she arrived at the Oscars 2024 red carpet in Los Angeles wearing an unexpected outfit.

The Australian beauty displayed her trim physique in a shimmery, structured Versace gown with help from stylist Andrew Mukamal. The metal-mesh gown is from the fashion house's Fall 2024 collection.

It featured a subtly sloped neckline and flattering draping at the hips, creating a gorgeous hourglass silhouette.

But it was the colour of Margot's glamorous Versace gown that led to speculation online.

The 33-year-old actress — whose hit film Barbie received eight nominations — ended her run of pink awards show looks in the strapless black gown.

Robbie's prior red carpet looks during her Barbie press tour and awards shows featured bold pink ensembles

The colour choice led some to believe that Margot was commenting on her lack of nominations through the colour.

Despite Barbie's impressive eight nominations, Robbie was not nominated for Best Actress, while Greta Gerwig was not nominated for Best Director.

America Ferrera was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film, with pundits saying her character's impassioned speech on feminism sealed the deal.

Barbie's other nominations include Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Ryan Gosling and two nods for Best Song — including Gosling's tune I'm Just Ken.

In a decision that sparked controversy, Margot was notably absent from the slew of nominations.

Social media users have claimed that Robbie ditching her typical Barbie-esque red carpet look in favour for a black outfit choice represents her 'mourning the award she didn't get'.

EMMA STONE

Emma Stone paid a special tribute to the character she portrays in Poor Things through her outfit choice atthe 96th Annual Academy Awards

The star, 35, showed off her stunning frame in a peplum detail Louis Vuitton gown with floral brocade as she arrived

It was a successful night for Emma Stone, who took home the prize for Best Actress following her role in Poor Things.

But before the big win, Emma, 35, wowed in pastel green and showed off her stunning frame in a peplum detail Louis Vuitton gown with floral brocade on the red carpet.

Fans of Poor Things will know a bit about its main character, Bella Baxter, a young woman explored in the tale after being brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist, Dr Goodwin Baxter.

With a special nod to the character that secured her one of the most significant accolades in her career, Emma dedicated her dress to Bella.

In an interview with British Vogue, Petra Flannery, Emma's stylist said: 'We wanted to keep Emma, Emma but show her affinity with the character and Bella's spirit.'

The peplum feature nods to Bella Baxter's love of ruffles, as created by costume designer Holly Waddington.

After winning the award, the Cruella star said she was 'in awe' of all of the team behind the surreal comedy, where she plays a woman who is reanimated and implanted with the brain of a baby.

Emma looked visibly pleased with herself as she entered the Winners' Room at the ceremony.

The actress fought off competition from Maestro actress Carey Mulligan, Nyad's Annette Bening, Anatomy of a Fall actress Sandra Huller and Lily Gladstone for Killers of the Flower Moon.

LILY GLADSTONE

Lily Gladstone added meaning to her Academy Awards look by choosing to wear a gown that represented Native American culture

The Killers of the Flower Moon actress, 37, wowed in a midnight blue strapless gown with a flowing train designed in collaboration byGucci's creative director, Sabato De Sarno, and Indigenous artist Joe Big Mountain

Lily was the first Native American nominated for Best Actress for her performance in Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon (pictured)

Best Actress nominee, Lily Gladstone, looked sensational as she arrived at the 2024 Oscars on Sunday.

Gladstone, 37, was the first Native American nominated for Best Actress for her performance in Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon - and was the favourite in the category thanks to her wins at the Golden Globes and SAG Awards.

She missed out on the award to Emma Stone. However, the 37-year-old made a touching nod to her Indigenous community through her attire.

The Killers of the Flower Moon actress radiated glamour on the red carpet in a midnight blue strapless gown with a flowing train.

While the dress, which featured a lavender trim and white floral detail across the skirt, was stunning in itself, it was the designer that created meaning behind the look.

Lily, whose heritage includes Blackfeet and Nez Perce roots, and her stylist, Jason Rembert, chose to bring a design that represents Native American culture to cinema's most prestigious event.

The custom look was made in collaboration by Gucci's creative director Sabato De Sarno and Indigenous artist Joe Big Mountain comes from the Mohawk, Cree & Comanche Nation.

Talking of the collaboration, Sabato De Sarno told Vogue: 'Lily is an incredible talent. Her selecting Gucci to dress her for this historic moment is an honour.'

'Creating a dress that conveys beauty and illuminates Indigenous designers and artistry, passed down through generations, is powerful; The collaboration with Joe and [his wife] Sunshine in Italy was a special moment for me.'

It comes after Lily was the first Indigenous actor to win a Golden Globe for Best Actress in the ceremony's 81-year history.

Gladstone said: 'This is a historic one, and it doesn't belong to just me,' Gladstone said in English, after opening their acceptance speech speaking in the Blackfeet language.

'I'm holding it with all of my beautiful sisters in the film and my mother [in the film], Tantoo Cardinal.'

SYDNEY SWEENEY

Sydney Sweeney paid homage to Jolie's glamorous look from 2004 and donned the sameMarc Bouwer gown

Angelina Jolie's bombshell red carpet look from the76th Academy Awards in 2004 made a reappearance on the red carpet yesterday evening

To accessorize, the Euphoria star highlighted her décolletage with layers of brilliant pendant necklaces, further echoing Jolie's 2004 look

Sydney Sweeny caused waves online for emulating Marilyn Monroe's iconic sex appeal as she posed on the red carpet at the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

However, it wasn't just Marilyn who Sydney took inspiration from on Sunday, but also Angelina Jolie.

In a touching nod to Angelina's style prowess, the Euphoria star, 26, replicated her 76th Annual Academy Awards look from 2004.

The Old Hollywood Marc Bouwer cream gown cemented Angelina's status as a fashion icon in the early 2000s.

Some 20 years later, Sydney followed Angelina's footsteps and modelled the glamorous plunging halter neckline at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills yesterday evening.

Sydney oozed glamour as she posed on the red carpet in the backless gown once worn by Angelina

Sydney recreated the bombshell look with the gown, matching shawl and accessories with a similar collection of layered pendant necklaces.

With the help of hair and makeup, Sydney managed to add her own touch to the archival look.

The White Lotus alum previously rocked her usual long, blonde tresses when she recently hosted Saturday Night Live.

For the annual Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Sydney changed it up and showcased a darker honey-blonde colour and her shoulder-length bob styled in bouncy waves.

The style differed from Angelina's 2004 red carpet look, which saw the then 29-year-old's long locks run loose.

With the incredible look, Sydney joined Angelina, 48, and the many A-list bombshells recognized for their red carpet outfits and graced many best-dressed lists.

ARIANA GRANDE

Ariana Grande, 30, channeled her Wicked character, Glinda, in a stunning pink gown as she attended the 96th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood on Sunday

Grande turned heads wearing a fitted, strapless pink gown from Giambattista Valli Haute Couture

Set to release in 2024,Wicked features Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba (left)

The singer's extravagant pink look might seem like a stylish choice merely intended to wow, but film fanatics will know that her attire paid tribute to the Wicked character Glinda.

Ariana Grande took to the prestigious event in a billowing pink gown - as she walked her first red carpet in four years.

After turning up to the red carpet late, the 30-year-old turned heads wearing a fitted, strapless pink gown from Giambattista Valli Haute Couture.

The dress contained ruched material as well as billowing fabric that flowed down into a train behind her for a dramatic flare.

It was a choice that channelled her character - Glinda the Good Fairy - in the upcoming adaptation of Wicked.

The singer - who recently revealed that she 'cried herself to sleep' following split from ex Dalton Gomez - is set to portray the beautiful witch with an adoration for all things pink.

The film is based on Gregory Maguire’s best selling novel and the hit Broadway musical adaptation, which debuted in 2003 starring Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel.

It is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz in which the storyline proceeds with Dorothy and details the one-time friendship between the Elphaba and Glinda characters.

It also stars Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible and Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, as well as Bowen Yang, Adam James, Keala Settle and Bronwyn James.

CAREY MULLIGAN

Carey Mulligan put a lot of thought into the gown she wore to Sunday's Academy Awards , where she was nominated in the Best Actress category

The actress wowed in a black and white Balenciaga dress accessorised with black opera gloves and Boucheron jewels for her red carpet moment at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles

Speaking to Vogue, she revealed how the carefully chosen dress was a tribute to her character in her nominated movie Maestro (pictured in the movie)

If she's not behind the camera showcasing her skills as an actress, she's gracing the red carpet in tasteful looks.

But Carey Mulligan put a lot of extra thought into the gown she wore to Sunday's Academy Awards, where she was nominated in the Best Actress category.

The actress wowed in a black and white Balenciaga dress accessorised with opera gloves and Boucheron jewels for her red carpet moment at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

And speaking to Vogue, she revealed how the carefully chosen dress was a tribute to her character in her nominated movie Maestro.

'I think it's my favourite dress I've ever worn,' Carey gushed, explaining that the dress is a precise recreation of a 1951 gown from the Balenciaga archives.

The date is significant as 1951 also happens to be the year that Felicia Montealegre and Leonard Bernstein got married, making the dress a fitting tribute to the woman Carey plays in the movie.

The nominated actress, who lost out to Emma Stone, shared her night with her musician husband Marcus Mumford

Carey said it was her stylist AndrewMukamal who pitched the idea to Balenciaga, marking the first time the fashion house has remade a look from its archives for the red carpet.

Carey's Oscar gown was the pinnacle of her vintage awards season wardrobe, having dazzled in recreations from Schiaparelli and Dior at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs respectively.

And she was delighted with the vintage cut of herBalenciaga gown, describing it as 'the most incredible shape and so classic, but feels really modern. It just feels amazing to wear, and not constrictive; I'm not going to be sitting there holding my breath for three hours.'

The star was happy her glam squad could accompany her to the red carpet, with the group arriving in a party bus, so Carey could remain upright and not crease the gown, with tunes blasting.

Her arrival was in stark contrast to the 2021 ceremony, the last Oscars red carpet she walked, with Covid restrictions meaning she was only permitted to bring her husband Marcus Mumford.

'[He] was in charge of everything: he had to make sure the dress was laid out nicely; he was texting my hair and make-up team. He was incredibly stressed,' she told Vogue.

Carey lost out on the Best Actress Oscar on Sunday night to Emma Stone, who scooped the win for her role in Poor Things.

The celebrities that took to the Oscars in outfits with hidden meaning (2024)

FAQs

Who wore the see through dress at the Oscars? ›

Paris Jackson turned heads in a daring sheer gown when she walked the red carpet at Elton John's star-studded 2024 Oscars viewing party on March 10. The 25-year-old model and entertainer joined a handful of other celebrities who opted for body-baring sheer looks on Hollywood's biggest night.

Why did everyone wear black to the Oscars? ›

Many female nominees wore black to support Times Up and raise awareness about sexual harassment in Hollywood.) But this year, black gowns emerged as a popular trend on the 2024 Oscars red carpet without any such coordination — worn by many of the evening's most famous nominees and presenters.

What is the dress code for the Oscars 2024? ›

Everything you need to know about the 2024 Oscars

Technically, there is a dress code for the Oscars with men expected to sport a white tie, which is the most formal type of attire and the invitation requests floor-length evening gowns for women and tailcoats along with white bowties and wingtip collars for men.

Do celebrities pay for their Oscar dresses? ›

The cost of celebrity outfits for award shows and red carpet events can vary widely. Some celebrities may borrow outfits from designers for promotional purposes, while others may choose to buy or customize high-end pieces. In some cases, designers may offer dresses or suits as a form of sponsorship.

Who was dressed like a bride at the Oscars? ›

It's fitting, then, that Michelle Yeoh, who is nominated at the 95th annual Oscars for the first time, dressed like a bride for the occasion. The actress arrived to the champagne-colored red carpet (it's the first time in 62 years the Oscars carpet hasn't been red), in a white Dior haute couture gown.

Who was the woman with the huge white dress at the Oscars? ›

Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems has one word for critics of her fabulous but enormous Oscars gown: “Oops.” That's what the Oscar nominee tweeted Monday afternoon after memes and a video of a woman trying to peer around her cloud-like, view-impinging white gown in the Oscars audience went viral.

Who wore the purple dress at the Oscars? ›

Unusually for the Academy Awards, no real major trend dominated the red carpet, but there was certainly no shortage of star power. Dune: Part Two star Zendaya, 27, wore a shimmering outfit of an iridescent purple dress with a black sparkling bodice and palm tree-inspired detailing, from Armani Prive.

Why did Oscar wear a skirt? ›

There is no one answer to this question, as everyone may have their own personal reasons for why they think Oscar Isaac has been wearing skirts lately. Some possible reasons could be that he is trying to challenge gender norms, make a fashion statement, or simply because he feels comfortable and confident in skirts.

Which actor was banned to wear a black shirt? ›

What if you were told you could no longer wear clothes of a certain color? It would be quite a challenge to always be mindful of what shades you are wearing, right? But that's exactly what happened to Bollywood's evergreen superstar Dev Anand. He was asked not to wear black suits in public.

Which actor was not allowed to wear a black shirt? ›

Is Rajesh Khanna banned for wearing a black shirt and why? He was not “ banned”. He was advised to not do so. Even Dev Anand wad advised by Bombay High court to not wear black in public because girls go crazy and commit suicide on not meeting the superstar( heartbreak).

What did Anne Hathaway wear to the Oscars? ›

On the night, Anne Hathaway looked radiant in a refined pale pink satin gown by Prada, which she topped off with stunning necklace and bracelet by Tiffany's. It was for all intents and purposes an elegant and sophisticated dress worthy of the Oscars red carpet, but at the time it was incredibly controversial.

What do you wear to an Oscars themed party? ›

Please don't rock a gown if you aren't walking some sort of red carpet or going to a major Hollywood party BUT I do encourage you to wear something red carpet inspired like a bold color, metallic, sequins, or a piece of statement jewelry. It's the Oscars you may as well have some fun.

What is the dress code for Oscars Steakhouse? ›

Dressy casual is fine.

How many Oscars did Edith Head win? ›

A winner of eight Academy Awards for Costume Design, Edith Head helped define the style of classic Hollywood with her striking work at Paramount and Universal.

What is the average cost of an Oscar dress? ›

While A-listers wear multi-million-dollar looks, the cost of dressing a first-timer at the Oscars is $266,000, reported WalletHub. Because the cost of a look varies based on a person's stardom, the average cost of a look at the Oscars is about $1.5 million.

Who won best costume design Oscar 8 times? ›

Head received eight Academy Awards for Best Costume Design, more than any other person, from a total of 35 nominations. What a Way to Go!

How much does it cost to dress for the Oscars? ›

The estimated total cost of an A-list actress' Oscars outfit is $10 million, according to WalletHub, but a number of stars have outdone that figure.

Who is the only woman of color to win an Oscar for Best Actress? ›

Best Actress.

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