All awards season we’ve been tracking the major red-carpet shoe trends and on Sunday night, basic black, dyed-to-match and sky-high platforms continued to show strong. Even Oprah abandoned her usual practical kitten heels for a glittery platform, and Gaga, per usual, got sky-high in Alaia shoes.
Lupita Nyong’o (pictured above)
Lupita Nyong’o knocked it out of the park inCalvin Klein custom couture, with more than 6,000 pearls in five different sizes, hand-applied to a silk tulle and silver lame underskirt. She matched her jaw-dropping look with a pair of custom Nicholas Kirkwood Satin Casati Pearl Sling Back Pumps with a five-and-a-quarter-inch heel and a three quarters of an inch pearl-embellished platform in satin. Come springtime, we have a feeling there’ll be pearls popping up everywhere thanks to this style icon.
Lady Gaga was in head-to-toe custom Azzedine Alaia, making it the first time Alaia has ever created for the Oscars. While her red gloves were parodied, there was no laughing when it came to her fierce Alaia stilettos. As Brian Atwood mentioned last year, the performer likes her platforms extra high and this year’s were no exception. Eight-inch mirror metallic and red leather, lug sole, zip-up, front-laced stilettos with round toes completed the show-stopping shoe.
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Rita Ora stunned in navy and gold Marchesa, but the action was really happening below. Custom dyed-to-match Giuseppe Zanotti satin ankle strap peep-toe platform pumps did allthe talking.
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Scarlett Johansson‘s fitted, emerald green Versace gown with a statement necklace curved in all the right places. On her feet, she went with basic black in anything but basic Jimmy Choo “Maja” platform stilettos in sexy crepe satin and a black glossy pedicure. Welcome back, Scarlett!
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Jessica Chastain was giving major Jolie leg in an ink navy Givenchy gown and matching Givenchy ankle strap platform peep-toe stilettos. Much like her bold red-carpet choices, the actress never shies away from choosing fierce footwear. On Sunday, she embraced her height and rocked her inner platform to the max. Yes, girl.
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Best supporting actress winner Patricia Arquette (in head-to-toe in Rosetta Getty) rocked a pair of custom Ferragamo in black satin, four-inch, open-toed stiletto with a platform and a criss-cross ankle strap and black lacquer pedicure. Her stylist, Annabella Herron, told us, “We were looking for a classic black shoe. We chose the Ferragamo satin platform with ankle strap as it beautifully complemented the skirt of the dress — and the number one consideration — they were comfortable!” Of course, what was most memorable was the signoff to her speech, “It’s time for us to have wage equality once and for all, and equal rights for women.”
Anna Kendrick, who always adds a little extra flair in her shoe game, wore her two favorite shoe designers on the carpet and during her performance. She opted for a custom-dyed Brian Atwood Tribeca’s on the carpet, she later switched to Jimmy Choo bronze metallic Darilyn D’orsays onstage (she wore the same pair in black for the Grammys).
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Rosamund Pike stepped out in a big way tonight, forgoing her voluminous dresses we’ve seen during the awards season, for a figure-hugging, corseted Givenchy siren red gown and matching red Givenchy one-strap stilettos. E! Red Carpet correspondent Giluliana Ranciccommented on the monochromatic moment, “sometimes the red shoe is too much but this feel really right,” and her fellow host Khloe Kardashian concurred, “Red shoe is a risk to me but it looks gorgeous and sophisticated.”
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Oprah “usually bases her shoe choices on comfort over fashion,” as we hear from her stylist, Kelly Hurliman, but at the Oscars, she went all out. Donning a custom rose blush Vera Wang tulle gown that was perfectly fitted, she paired it with nude metallic leather “Lottie” four-inch, single-sole Jimmy Choos with a side buckle. Though she later admitted on ABC’s On the Red Carpet that she was, “looking for her flip flops!” We dig the balance of glamour and practicality, Oprah.
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Meryl Streep donned a custom Lanvin column skirt, blouse and jacket ensemble designed byAlber Elbaz himself, and exposed a little back leg on the carpet. We chatted with her stylistZoe Buck who told us Streep wore a go-to five-inch platform strappy Jimmy Choo. “They’re her favorite, with just enough height to give stature but with crucial support — plus they have a pop of gold which is always key,” said Buck.
Tegan and Sara embraced the flat with a dose of panache. Tegan wore a Kooples suit andBarbara Bui wingtips and Sara donned a Public School dress and Cole Haan “Jagger” weave oxfords on the carpet. “We wanted to do a modern cool dressed-up version of ourselves. Menswear was a huge inspiration for both of our looks and lead us to choose our shoes,” the performers told us. They then both wore Barbara Bui shoes and Strathcona stockings for their onstage looks during the “Everything Is Awesome” performance. We love it.
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Felicity Jones went for height on Sunday, with the Brian Atwood Tribeca dyed to match her grey Alexander McQueen couture gown. The Tribeca is one of Hollywood’s go-to, offering a secure ankle strap, super sexy sky-high heel and available in almost every color you can imagine or the ever spot-on dyed-to-match. While she didn’t win tonight, we give her kudos for some great looks all awards season long.