Sartorial Onscreen

Awards season is finally here, and with it comes an opportunity to celebrate all things film, music and, of course, fashion. The red carpet is an opportunity for stars and designers to collaborate in a masterclass on visual storytelling.

For some, this is another opportunity to promote the work of the previous year. See America Ferrera’s pink Atelier Versace dress at the 2024 Oscars, where she was nominated for her work in Barbie (2023), or Taylor Swift’s sparkling midnight blue Roberto Cavalli look at the 2023 Grammys shortly after the release of (you guessed it) her 2022 album Midnights.

Others choose to give us a look at who they are behind the curtain, distancing themselves from the characters they’ve portrayed. See the demure, classic gowns Mikey Madison brought to red carpets following her role as a sex worker in Anora (2024).

Without further ado, here are the looks the stood out the most at this year’s Critics’ Choice Awards.

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Quinta Bruson in Chloé

Hanna Einbinder in Louis Vuitton

Einbinder, who was nominated for her role as Ava Daniels in HBO Max’s Hacks showed up in a black and white custom gown by Louis Vuitton. I’ll admit that this look struck me as a bit odd. Tavern wench from the waist up and classic Hollywood from the waist down is certainly an interesting choice, but I don’t hate it. It’s simple, but not boring, and the understated glamour allows the red Ceasefire pin on her shoulder to shine.

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Elle Fanning in Ralph Lauren

Elle Fanning, you never let me down. Nominated for her role as Rachel Kemp in Sentimental Value, Fanning shimmered down the red carpet in this gorgeous gold number from Ralph Lauren’s Fall/Winter 2003 Ready to Wear collection (side note: this is a really cool collection). I didn’t particularly like how this dress looked on the runway, but seeing it on Fanning makes me feel like it was meant for her. The length, color and perfectly draped neckline all combine flawlessly to make Fanning look like the goddess she is.

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Mia Goth in Dior

Goth, who played double duty as Elizabeth Harlander and Claire Frankenstein in the Best Picture nominee Frankenstein, looked like a modern princess in the sleek, off-the-shoulder gown. This look is beautiful in its simplicity, and I have no notes. Perfect look, perfect execution.

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McKenna Grace in Vera Wang

When I first saw this look from Grace, who attended as a presenter, I was not a fan. Then I saw Grace’s Instagram post and things suddenly made more sense. While of course her hair and makeup are perfect, the red-carpet photos just don’t do the dress justice. What you can’t see are the exquisite bow details on the back of the dress. The black trim around the hemline also blends into the carpet here, but when it’s visible it helps to tie the whole look together. My one complaint is that I wish she had kept the black gloves for her red carpet appearance.

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Ethan Hawke in Bode

Hawke, nominated for his role as Lorenz Hart in Blue Moon, reminded us that menswear doesn’t have to be boring in a black and white Bode suit. I love the embroidery, and this simple color palette is a perfect example of an outfit that doesn’t need to be loud or over-the-top to be interesting.

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Chase Infiniti in Louis Vuitton

Infiniti, who was nominated for her role as Willa Ferguson in One Battle After Another, was radiant in this pale yellow two-piece gown by Louis Vuitton. The draping of the bodice is divine, creating a beautiful cape effect. The soft makeup and pulled-back hair were good choices so as not to compete with the high neckline. Each detail of this look does exactly what it needs to, and the longer I look the more I love it.

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Amy Madigan in Dior Men

Madigan accepted her Best Supporting Actress Award for her role as Gladys in Weapons in an exquisite jacket, vest and… pair of light wash jeans? In fairness, we can’t blame Madigan entirely because this styling is ripped straight from the runway. Still, this is a look that needed matching pants. As presented, it feels like Dior created the top half of a beautiful ensemble and then forgot to do the rest of it.

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Audrey Nuna in Marc Jacobs

Nuna, who performed Mira’s singing voice in Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters, really impressed me with this look. I wouldn’t normally be a fan of something like this, but I Nuna’s commitment to the styling really sells it for me. The quirky hair, makeup and shoes all go perfectly with the dress to create a really fun and interesting look, and stylist Danyul Brown’s stroke of genius in using a hula hoop to support the dress’s circular shape really paid off.

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Bella Ramsey in Prada

This might be my all-time favorite look from Ramsey, who was nominated for their role as Ellie in HBO Max’s The Last of Us. First of all, I love this hairstyle on them. But what I really love about this outfit is the way it explores androgyny in formalwear. Too often, “androgynous” red carpet outfits are really just menswear. This look really marries masculine and feminine elements to create something unique. The shirt and tie paired with the beaded jumpsuit give us a look that’s not tied to one gender, and I think this might be the first time I’ve truly seen Ramsey look this comfortable on the red carpet.

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Keri Russell in Tom Ford

Nominated for her role as Kate Wyler in Netflix’s The Diplomat, Russell made business casual look red-carpet ready with this fabulous cropped jacket and Boucheron brooch. The subtle hint of midriff also makes this look feel effortlessly cool, as though Russell stepped right off the set of The Devil Wears Prada after a long day working at Runway Magazine.

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Rhea Seehorn in Louis Vuitton

Maybe I’m just biased toward the queen Rhea Seehorn, who won Best Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Carol Sturka in Apple TV’s Pluribus, but I really do love the simplicity of this look. The simple black dress and red lip deliver classic elegance, but the strong shoulders add some interest. And, of course, the look was perfectly accessorized by the trophy Seehorn took home.

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Teyana Taylor in Saint Laurent

Thank goodness for Teyana Taylor. One thing she’ll never do is bring a boring look to a red carpet. Nominated for her role as Perfidia Beverly Hills in One Battle After Another, Taylor rocked the red carpet in a Saint Laurent suit and fierce thigh-high leather boots with matching gloves and a feathered black stole. This was a challenging look to pull off, but Taylor made it look easy.

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Rebecca Wisocky in Bibhu Mohapatra

Wisocky, nominated for her role as Hetty Woodstone in CBS’s Ghosts, looked like a sci-fi queen, perhaps ruling over an entire galaxy, in this custom look by Bibhu Mohapatra. The clean lines of the dress, silver detailing and illusion neckline all create a look that immediately made me think of Mon Mothma (a Star Wars costumes post will come eventually, trust). The hairstyling, jewelry, and even the way Wisocky posed for the camera all felt regal and elegant, and I’m obsessed.

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Chloé Zhao in Rodarte

This isn’t a look I would normally expect to like, but Zhao, who wrote and directed Hamnet, surprised me. I think she really makes this look work. Her demure pose paired with the delicate gown, undone hair and simple shoes makes her feel a little like a Victorian ghost child, and I dig it. I will say that I prefer the original styling of this dress, with a matching veil, gloves and bouquet, but this is a refreshing take and it’s fun to see something different on the red carpet.

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Bonus: Paul W. Downs and Megan Stalter in Erica D. Schwartz

HBO Max’s Hacks was nominated for Best Comedy Series, but the real winners of best comedy for the night are stars Paul W. Downs and Megan Stalter. If you don’t get the reference, Downs and Stalter are wearing custom recreations of Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner’s matching Chrome Hearts looks for the Marty Supreme premiere in December. The commitment to the bit positions these two firmly as my best dressed for the night.