The Oscars closed the awards season in style, with statement necklaces and classic gowns, traditional tuxedos and some young rule-breakers.

Scarlett Johansson, Rene Zellweger, Charlize Theron, Cynthia Erivo and Regina King served up standout looks.

King’s pale pink Versace with just the right amount of silver embellishment was a flawless fit. Johansson’s Champagne-hued Oscar de la Renta was a strapless wonder with strand details at the top. Theron’s black Dior Haute Couture offered one shoulder up and one down, along with a high side slit. Erivo shut it down in a white custom Atelier Versace one-shoulder bustier gown. Zellweger didn’t disappoint in a white symmetrical body hugger from Armani with one long sleeve.

Regina King and Cynthia Erivo really did the ballgown right, said Justine Carreon, senior market editor for Elle.com. Cynthia Erivo had those kind of modern paniers on the hips. Regina had a pink princess moment, but it still had a very modern neckline.

Nobody took any big risks, she said, though there were some statements made.

Natalie Portman used her Maria Grazia Chiuri embroidered cape to showcase the names of female directors snubbed by the Academy stitched into the fabric. Kaitlyn Dever wore a sustainable Louis Vuitton look in crimson. Waad al-Kateab, co-director of the documentary For Sama, used her gown for some political messaging in Arabic.

Refinery29.com’s director of fashion and culture, Gabrielle Korn, called Portman’s moment such a strong statement and such an important reminder that fashion can speak volumes.

Andrea Lavinthal, style and beauty director of People, was a fan of Zellweger’s Armani Prive gown.

She looked so elegant. People are always commenting that she sticks to a column silhouette but when you see something like that on her and how stunning it looks, I think you understand why it’s her signature. Young Hollywood didn’t disappoint.

Janelle Monae stunned in silver Ralph Lauren with a hood, long sleeves and about 170,000 Swarovski crystals. Florence Pugh wore a tiered gown in welcome green from Louis Vuitton. Billie Eilish donned fuzzy, oversize Chanel jackets and pants to go with her bright green and black hair. Timothe Chalamet detoured from a slew of classic black tuxedos in a custom Prada navy gabardine jacket with satin racing stripes and matching trousers.

She always brings such drama to the carpet in such an elegant way, E! style correspondent Zanna Roberts Rassi said of Monae’s look. Monae, along with Eilish and Billy Porter (in a golden feather top and orange ball skirt), show trends aren’t everything. The trend was to be yourself.” It’s less about trends. It’s more about showing who they really are, she said. Carreon, senior market editor for Elle.com, agreed.

Billie Eilish and Billy Porter tend to just stick to their guns. When it comes to fashion, they don’t let themselves be confined to any box, she said. It’s true that Eilish loves a logo, but that’s true of her generation, from Gucci to Louis Vuitton.

Of Monet, Vanity Fair.com’s associate editor Erin Vanderhoof said: For the last decade, the musician and actor has proven that she’s never afraid to wear something completely original, and it’s been inspiring to see her hang on to that experimentation as she has blossomed from an R&B singer into full-blown movie star.

Lavinthal adored Johansson’s bombshell look.

She looked so outrageous in that dress. She’s glowing. She has looked outrageous all awards season. I think it’s love. I think love is her accessory. She really looks radiant and sexy.

Johansson is engaged to Colin Jost from Saturday Night Live. As for Erivo, who was nominated twice with no wins Sunday, fashion has helped propel her this awards season.

If you didn’t know her name before awards season, you know it now thanks in part to the incredible fashion choices she and her stylist, Jason Bolden, have been making. She looked so happy. You can see she feels comfortable and good, and that really comes through in these dramatic dresses she’s been wearing, and the enormous jewels. She doesn’t let these gowns wear her, which is incredible considering she’s so petite, Lavinthal said of the 5-foot-1 Erivo.

Vintage represented, but just a tad.

Margot Robbie hit the carpet in Chanel from the brand’s spring 1994 haute couture collection. It was a black fitted bustier gown with detached sleeves that practically touched the ground. A pearl pendant was front and center.

There was an abundance of statement necklaces on women (Mindy Kaling, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Zazie Beetz), but there was also a show of gent’s jewelry, said Claibourne Poindexter, associate jewelry specialist for Christie’s auction house.

From Porter in multiple bracelets and rings from Swarovski to men bringing back the lapel brooch (Chalamet’s vintage Cartier), there is no doubt that men are embracing jewels for the first time in a long time, he said.

Among other favorites: Anthony Ramos in a long necklace and lapel brooch worn with a white suit.

As for the women, Greta Gerwig wore diamonds and emerald from Bulgari, as did Beetz. Theron wore a diamond drop necklace by Tiffany & Co. weighing in at more than 20 carats. Louis-Dreyfus wore more than 60 carats set in platinum from Harry Winston. Vintage represented in a small way, thanks to Rebel Wilson’s gold and diamond double row necklace by Pomellato to Chalamet’s 1950s ruby and diamond clip, Poindexter said.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2020