Carpet Couture - Red hot trends for the season

Say what you will about ramps and runways, the truth is that there’s one place where trends are made and that’s the red carpet. Starting in January each year with the Golden Globes and the BAFTAs and peaking at the Oscars and then the much anticipated Cannes Film Festival and pretty much everything in between, red carpets are the most anticipated pre-show events since everyone’s asking the same million dollar question – who wore what?

And never has a piece of red upholstery mattered more! Here are some of the stand-out trends from award season this year, which made their mark on the hallowed red carpet.

White is right

You may not remember which movie picked up the Palme d’Or but you will remember who got it right at the red carpet events at Cannes! And a prevailing theme at this year’s festival was white. Brides take note, never has an event seen so much of this pristine colour and in so many different variants. Actress and jury member this year Nicole Kidman personally set the trend, choosing to wear white multiple times during the week-long festival. From a V-neck silk Giorgio Armani gown with Swarovski detailing to a Chanel number with feather detailing with touches of black at the hem and later, a ivory lace gown from Valentino.

Jessica Chastain too opted for all white – once in a soft Givenchy number and later in a full-sleeved Versace gown accessorised with a Bvlgari sapphire and diamond necklace. Zoey Saldana and Charlize Theron too made things white hot at the Oscars this year and ‘almost-white’ is a new colour that debuted at the Oscars as well with best actress winner Jennifer Lawrence winning all the points in her full-skirted strapless Dior dress that was a shade of pink so pale, it was almost white. Looks like brides all over can take inspiration from the red carpet this year!

Metallic magic

Metallic finish was another trend that seemed to have had a strong run this award season, starting off from the Oscar red carpet where Naomi Watts in a silver-sequined gown from Armani Privé stole the show with the cut-out bodice (another big trend) and the body-hugging fit. At the same event, Stacy Keibler was the envy of all – not just for being George Clooney’s date – but also for her exquisite Naeem Khan dress with metallic grey sequins and a sexy racer back. Catherine Zeta Jones in a gold beaded Zuhair Murad creation and Renée Zellweger in a sheer gold Carolina Herrera number all looked worth their weight in gold, but Halle Berry – in a black and silver striped sequin number designed specially for her by Donatella Versace – channelled her inner Bond girl and stole the show.

The trend spilled over to Cannes as well with Uma Thurman sporting a sleek silver Atelier Versace strapless gown at the closing ceremony and even the usually staid Tilda Swinton was seen in a gold pantsuit from Haider Ackermann. Audrey Tatou’s tiered silver lace dress from Lanvin sealed the deal – all that glitters, is definitely in this season.

Show some skin

Between the punk-themed Met Gala in New York and resort-chic meets haute couture of Cannes and save-the-best-dress for the Oscars, there’s only so much that can overlap but after the full-skirted gowns and the pops of jewel tones, one trend that seemed to dominate was the ultimate accessory – a hint of skin.

Thigh high slits were spotted everywhere from Sharon Stone in Cavalli and Rosario Dawson in Vionnet at Cannes to Miranda Kerr, Rosie Huntington Whitely and Lea Michelle at the Golden Globes and Kelly Rowland at the Oscars this year. At the Met Gala, Beyonce and Sarah Jessica Parker both managed to incorporate the thigh-high cut into their punk-themed outfits, while at Cannes Heidi Klum in Giorgio Armani showed off her model legs in a thigh-high slit as well.

Cut-outs seem to be the raging trend and Roberto Cavalli had all his women showing a hint of skin at the upper waist with everyone from Irina Shayk to Georgia May Jagger and Alessandra Ambrosia showing off some toned muscle.

White jewel tones, pops of colour and even red-on-red-carpet saw some takers this season, it looks like metallic finish, white and peek-a-boo skin show are going to be all the rage this year. So, if you’re going to be shopping for a special occasion, you know what to keep in mind!

elizabeth.mathew@thehindu.co.in

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