America Ferrera stuns in sparkly Barbie pink, Rita Moreno waves in statement black on Oscars carpet

NEW YORK -

America Ferrera bid a fond awards season farewell to "Barbie" on Sunday in a stunning, sparkly Versace gown in the film's signature pink, while Rita Moreno wore a huge smile and a statement black gown from Badgley Mischka.

"America Ferrera did bombshell right and gave us the cool Barbie pink moment we needed this whole time, aka it didn't smack us over the head," said Brooke Bobb, fashion news director for Harper's Bazaar.

America Ferrera arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

 

Hollywood's big night in Los Angeles included few fashion risks, with many sticking to classic silhouettes, black and other standard colors, though soft seafoam colors were plentiful in mermaid crystal looks.

• Photos: Red carpet looks from the 96th Academy Awards
• In pictures: Ceremony highlights and winners

Emma Stone went for a soft pastel strapless look in mint with a wide peplum at the waist. It was Louis Vuitton. Hailee Steinfeld in Elie Saab was also under the sea in sheer ethereal blue-green with wings attached at the wrist. Lupita Nyong'o was sea-adjacent in feathers and sequins by Armani Prive

Emma Stone arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Moreno, at 92, waved to photographers as she showed off her pleated taffeta and velvet gown. Brittany Snow offered a refreshing show of color in a bright strapless custom Monot dress paired with a statement choker.

Rita Moreno presents the award for best performance by an actress in a supporting role during the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Cynthia Erivo, in custom Louis Vuitton, shut down the carpet in emerald green lamb leather, dinosaur-like spikes along the back of a large-shouldered jacket. Emily Blunt and hubby John Krasinski matched in off-white, she in Schiaparelli couture with shoulders that floated above her body, that extended silhouette touch a mini-trend of the night.

Anya Taylor-Joy was full shell in a Dior Haute Couture strapless look in a sparkly scallop design.

Da'Vine Roy Randolph, on the top of her fashion game this awards season, wore an A-line pale blue tulle gown from Louis Vuitton with oversized sleeves embellished with tulle fringe. Ariana Grande also went big in a puffy pink gown that also had huge sleeves on a matching coat.

InStyle beauty director Lauren Valenti lauded Randolph's effort.

"I loved Da'Vine's beauty homage to Mae West, which featured cat eyes, glossy lined lips and va-va-voom side-swept blonde waves," she said.

Da'Vine Joy Randolph arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Lavender had a moment on a few. So did Billie Eilish in a Chanel schoolgirl look with a black jacket, pattern skirt, white socks and black Mary Janes. She and others on the carpet wore red pins supporting a cease-fire in Gaza.

"This year in general, the power of the red carpet was driven by women whose confidence felt utterly authentic and not like an exercise in branding," Bobb said. "Embracing personal style really is the only way to land on the best-dressed list these days.

"The "Godzilla Minus One" group, meanwhile, showed up carrying toy monsters.

• Where to Watch: Click here to catch CTV's live Oscars coverage

Many men stuck to black in tuxedos and other looks, including a fashion star of the awards season, Colman Domingo in a double-breasted tuxedo look, a custom Louis Vuitton, paired with cowboy boots and a jewel at the center of his bow tie. He wore a pinkie ring that once belonged to the man behind his "Rustin" character, Bayard Rustin, as he has throughout awards season.

"I wanted to shine like a diamond" he told E! "I'm having a great time."

Speaking of gems, Lily Gladstone won the jewelry game. She paired her midnight blue velvet gown with a Bulgari necklace in white gold with turquoise touches and blue oval tanzanite at the center.

Lily Gladstone arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Her custom Gucci gown was created in collaboration with Indigenous designer Joe Big Mountain of Ironhorse Quillwork. It featured a hand-wrapped porcupine quilled border in blue with a natural woven star design and sterling silver-plated bead edging.

Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper also went for black tuxedos. Gosling went with Gucci with silver bead piping, and Cooper went double-breasted in Louis Vuitton. No ties for either, along with others.

"Bradley Cooper tells Brad Pitt to move over by leaving his tie, and Gigi Hadid, at home and instead brought his tan, a double-breasted tux embellished with turquoise buttons and slicked hair that took my breath away," said Larry Curran, an independent brand consultant who has worked with Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman.

Ryan Gosling, left, and Mandi Gosling arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

As for the women, Huller was on his best-dressed list.

"Correctly, she skipped earrings and chose a diamond necklace (Cartier) that brought balance to the oversized, off-the-shoulder wings of the dress, and another sparkly embellishment placed in between them," Curran said.

There was a predictable spray of sequins for the women. White and off-white looks also represented. There was lots of black for the women, too, including a custom Schiaparelli for Sandra Huller with extended shoulders and the perfect fit.

Erika Alexander of "American Fiction" wore a white strapless gown with a black skirt trimmed in pastel tulle. The designer, Christian Siriano, said it was made in a miraculous four days.

Laverne Cox, working the carpet for E!, was the epitome of Old Hollywood glam in an hourglass look of black and low-plunging gold, her hair piled high as she fluttered a feather-light neck piece that trailed behind. Her look is vintage Mugler.

Scott George, a member of the Osage Nation and the first Indigenous person to receive an Oscar nomination for best original song, was among the early arrivals in a gray look trimmed in green and purple, his tie in matching colors.

A couple of little cuties in nominated short films were delighted to walk. Porche Brinker of "The Last Repair Shop" was in ethereal soft blue, and Juliet Donenfeld of "Red, White and Blue" looked all-the-way grown up in a blinged-out strapless dress.

Red, an "IT" color of the awards season, had some early enthusiasts as arrivals heated up.

Issa Rae, a red carpet standout, stunned in plunging deep green. The top sparkled with sequins.

Issa Rae arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

"I am wearing green for good luck," she said. "I wanted to feel old Hollywood."

Julee Wilson, beauty editor at large for Cosmopolitan, praised Rae's beauty look.

"Her sleek topknot and glowing skin are the perfect combo. Her hair was elegantly pulled away to showcase high shine skin. It sparkles," she said. "I need to know what's making it glow so much!"

Gabrielle Union wore another stunner, a strong silver embellished look from Carolina Herrera that offered an armor vibe.

"I am feeling myself," Union said.

Gabrielle Union arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Among the risk-takers? Charlotte Kemp Muhl, who walked with Sean Ono Lennon in a backless and near sideless black dress. Eugene Lee Wang, following in the footsteps of Billy Porter, donned a full ball skirt with a crop jacket.

Daniel Scheinert of the Daniels wore a Fashion Brand Company jacket adorned with a snake. It's a buzzy brand worn by a lot of comedians, including SNL's Sarah Sherman.

Jodi Kahn, Neiman Marcus' vice president of luxury fashion, saw plenty for her customers on the red carpet.

'We saw a lot of black, beautifully on Sandra Huller in Schiaparelli as well as Danielle Brooks in Dolce & Gabbana, Jennifer Lawrence in Dior and Margot Robbie in Versace," she said. "While we usually see lots of bold color on the red carpet it's striking to see all of the beautiful black, elegant gowns."

She included Eilish in that group.

"In Chanel, Billie took a modern approach to ladylike style, which will easily inspire long, lean skirts and jackets into our customers wardrobes. Black will always be fashion's favorite color."

Jonathan Evans, style director for Esquire, said you had to look closely to see one of the biggest red carpet trends.

"Even though they kept it relatively classic otherwise, a surprising number of guys opted for flared trousers this year. Simu Liu, Bradley Cooper and Colman Domingo all embraced a little extra room around the ankle, and it looked great," he said.

Among the men who opted out of black was Taylor Zakhar Perez in powder blue. Simu Liu of "Barbie" brought the Kenergy. He rocked a black Fendi look with a wrap-around jacket closed with a brooch.

"It's a fun situation, and I like brooches," he said.