Before the envelopes were opened and the speeches were made, Hollywood dressed up, and the carpet outside the Dolby Theatre was a show all on its own.
Teyana Taylor in Chanel
If there was one look that stopped every conversation on the carpet, it was this one. In her first red carpet dress by Chanel creative director Matthieu Blazy, Taylor arrived in a semi-sheer bodice and a giant feather skirt, the kind of look that manages to feel both deeply glamorous and completely unexpected. She has been one of the most watched women on the awards circuit all season, and she saved the best for last.
Nicole Kidman in Chanel
Nicole Kidman arrived cinched in Chanel by Matthieu Blazy and dripping in Tiffany & Co. jewels, and reminded everyone, without saying a single word, why she has owned this carpet for the better part of three decades. Effortless is a word that gets overused in fashion. On Kidman on Sunday night, it was simply accurate.
Timothée Chalamet in Givenchy
The Best Actor nominee arrived in an all-white custom Givenchy suit, a sharp, clean counterpoint to Michael B. Jordan’s all-black ensemble. The two looked, as one observer put it, like opposing chess pieces. Chalamet didn’t take home the award, but he absolutely won the men’s side of the carpet.
Zoe Saldana in Saint Laurent
Zoe showcased the lingerie trend with maximum effect in a coquettish Saint Laurent gown, offset perfectly by a Cartier diamond necklace.Understated, precise, and completely magnetic, exactly what Saint Laurent under Vaccarello is built to do.
Kate Hudson in Giorgio Armani Privé
Kate positively shone in a glittering custom Giorgio Armani Privé jade green bustier gown, featuring a plunging sweetheart neckline and peplum waist. A Best Actress nominee for Song Sung Blue, Hudson looked every inch the leading lady, and then some.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas in Dior
Priyanka was the picture of elegance in a white Dior gown featuring an elaborate feather-trimmed graduated hem, paired with Jimmy Choo heels and a decadent diamond choker. Refined, considered, and absolutely camera-ready from every angle.
The 2026 Oscars red carpet proved, once again, that the night outside the Dolby Theatre can be just as compelling as everything that happens within it. Feathers ruled, white had its moment, and Chanel was everywhere, worn three different ways by three completely different women, each one making the house look like it was made exclusively for her.
