Oscars 2025: The ‘Hot or Not’ looks on the red carpet

(From left) Scarlett Johansson, Ariana Grande, Whoopi Goldberg, and Cynthia Erivo grace the red carpet of the 97th Academy Awards. Images: Invision/AP

The 97th Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, was a night of glitz and glamor as Hollywood’s biggest names showed up either in their most spectacular — or most lackluster — red carpet ensembles.

While the awards show celebrates the biggest names in the industry for their work in the past year, it is nevertheless much-awaited as celebrities and filmmakers dotted the Oscar red carpet at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California to show off their outfits. From there, it was easy to spot those who chose to tread the road less travelled in terms of fashion, or those who went for the blink-and-you’d-miss-it outfits.

Compared to last year’s black-and-white and muted hues, celebrities allowed their — or their respective film characters’ — personalities to shine through, with colors, metallics, flattering silhouettes, eye-catching patterns, and breathtaking iterations of the usual Hollywood glamor taking over the red carpet.

While awards ceremonies always had their fair share of celebrities donning outrageous (or ugly) pieces, this year’s Oscars didn’t have a lot of moments of fashion faux pas. Instead, it was either a badly-fitted gown, a color that doesn’t suit a celebrity’s complexion, or quite simply, a mediocre ensemble altogether.

As we end this year’s awards season in the film industry, let us recall the 10 most standout ensembles on the red carpet.

Hot

Cynthia Erivo

Cynthia Erivo arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Image: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

Paying a fitting tribute to her Elphaba character from Wicked, Cynthia Erivo wore a breathtaking, gravity-defying Louis Vuitton custom-made green velvet gown with its raised collar melding into an oversized off-the-shoulder sleeves and full-bodied silhouette. She completed the long with her signature long, pointed nails and nose ring.

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Image: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

Ariana Grande embraced the grace and elegance of Glinda in her sculpted pastel pink Schiaparelli gown. Paired with Jimmy Choo heels, the muted pink hue — along with its corset top and tulle skirt — complimented Grande’s skin tone and allowed her cute-sexy charm and inner Glinda to shine.

Colman Domingo

Colman Domingo arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Image: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Male celebrities often show up in basic black or navy blue tuxedos, but Colman Domingo’s fiery red Maison Valentino belted tuxedo jacket with black lapels was oh-so-spicy and eye-catching. He completed his look with black trousers and gold accessories, seemingly becoming a rare male specimen in the awarding ceremony with an undeniable sense of style.

Lisa

Lisa arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Image: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Always known for making an entrance, Lisa made a stylish Oscars debut in a dashing Markgong floor-length tuxedo. She completed the look with a red flower pin, a half updo, and decking out her fingers with rings. It is different from the usual glamorous looks on the awards ceremony’s red carpet but it shows off the Thai singer-rapper’s personality really well.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Image: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Metallics might’ve dominated the red carpet, but Halle Berry had a show-stopping approach to the trend by showing up in a silver mirrored column gown by Christian Siriano. The silver paillettes, from the neckline to the bodice, gave an impression of stained glass while hugging her figure.

Not

Timothée Chalamet

Timothee Chalamet arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Image: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

Timothée Chalamet has always been a bombshell on the red carpet. Sadly, his Givenchy butter-yellow leather tuxedo didn’t do his swoon-worthy looks any good. The shade of the tuxedo simply made his skin look sallow, and some photos showed the two-piece menswear suit looking baggy on the actor.

Fernanda Torres

Fernanda Torres arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Image: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

Adding texture to a red carpet ensemble, especially if the celebrity opted to go for a single color, is an understandable choice. But Fernanda Torres’ Chanel gown didn’t do her justice as it was a mishmash of lace, feathers, and silk, as well as its peplum bodice made her look busier than this Oscar’s topsy turvy season.

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Image: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Scarlett Johansson is known for opting for clean lines in her red carpet looks, but her minimalist look this year sadly made her look like she’s mourning the demise of fashion. Her navy blue velvet Thierry Mugler gown from the brand’s FW99/00 collection, matching gloves, and diamond necklace were beautiful individually, but together, they just made the otherwise beautiful actress look frumpy.

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (left), Brandon Wilson, and Ethan Herisse arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Image: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor doesn’t shy away from showing up in unique pieces and showstopping ensembles on the red carpet. Unfortunately, her all-black tuxedo top with oversized shoulder pads and a cape and its matching trousers was nothing short of a disaster, swallowing up her figure and making her look like a jester rather than a guest.

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Image: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

Whoopi Goldberg and Christian Siriano are like firecrackers in their respective fields. They are larger-than-life and full of personality, which reflects in the work they put out. But their collaboration this time didn’t quite work, as seen on Goldberg’s futuristic deep-blue ballgown by Siriano. The off-shoulder neckline, which showed off her rarely seen butterfly tattoo, and liquid metal-like sheen on the gown didn’t suit Goldberg and at the same time drowned out her natural glow.