Everything we spotted and loved on the 2026 Oscars red carpet

The Oscars red carpet has long been fashion’s most theatrical stage—an evening where couture, craftsmanship, and star power converge under the brightest lights in Hollywood. At the 2026 edition of the Academy Awards, the style narrative felt particularly rich. Textured gowns, archival jewellery, and a surprising wave of high-end watches all made their presence felt. While silhouettes ranged from classic to experimental, the night revealed that fashion is leaning into drama, detail, and heritage craftsmanship.

Here’s everything we spotted and loved from the evening’s most memorable fashion moments.

Feathers take flight on the red carpet

If there was one embellishment that defined the evening, it was feathers. From delicate trims to full-bodied textures, the material appeared across several standout looks, bringing movement and theatrical flair to the carpet.

Teyana Taylor embraced the trend in a striking black-and-white Chanel gown, where a sculpted bodice gave way to an ostrich-feather train that added both drama and dimension. Similarly, Nicole Kidman arrived in an ivory strapless Chanel creation featuring intricate grey and silver beading, finished with a feather-trimmed hem that swayed elegantly as she moved.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas also leaned into the trend, incorporating feathered detailing into her red carpet look, further cementing the embellishment as one of the evening’s defining motifs. Elsewhere, Demi Moore opted for a deep green gown from Gucci that used dramatic feather accents across the bodice, transforming a classic silhouette into something sculptural and commanding.

Even presenter Maya Rudolph embraced the theme, choosing a layered black silk crepe gown adorned with delicate beads and feathers that created an almost ethereal effect. The resurgence of feathers may feel timely, but it also reflects fashion’s cyclical nature. Designers are increasingly leaning into texture to add visual interest, with feathers offering a light yet impactful way to create movement and volume on the red carpet.

Statement necklines and the return of the choker

Jewellery, as always at the Oscars, reached extraordinary heights in carat weight. This year, however, the focus shifted toward the neckline, with chokers and statement necklaces emerging as the dominant accessory of the night.

Isha Ambani wore a striking black ribbon choker from Lorraine Schwartz, centred with a dramatic diamond pendant featuring an inverted pear-shaped stone flanked by cushion-cut diamonds. Meanwhile, Elle Fanning opted for history, choosing a transformable necklace from Cartier originally crafted in 1904.

Diamonds, unsurprisingly, dominated the evening. Teyana Taylor paired her look with an opulent necklace from Tiffany & Co. featuring hundreds of diamonds set in platinum, while Anne Hathaway wore the Neoclassical Starlight high jewellery necklace by Bvlgari, centred around a vivid yellow diamond and surrounded by dozens more stones.

Another standout was Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who chose a striking Bvlgari Serpenti Illusio high jewellery necklace anchored by a rare antique cushion-cut sapphire from Madagascar. The piece was composed of more than 200 elements and required over a thousand hours of craftsmanship.

Watches make a subtle yet powerful statement

While diamonds glittered under the flashbulbs, another category quietly made its mark: luxury watches. In recent years, timepieces have become an increasingly prominent feature of red carpet styling, particularly among male celebrities looking to complement tailored looks with a statement of horological craftsmanship.

Michael B. Jordan opted for vintage elegance with a yellow gold watch from Piaget, while Timothée Chalamet wore a refined platinum piece from Urban Jürgensen. Meanwhile, Hudson Williams made a bold statement with a Serpenti watch by Bulgari.

Even Pedro Pascal joined the horological conversation, pairing his look with a Boy·Friend watch from Chanel, a reminder that luxury watches can be just as impactful as diamonds when styled right.

If the 2026 Oscars proved anything, it is that the red carpet remains fashion’s most captivating stage. Designers leaned into texture and embellishment, jewellers delivered pieces worthy of museum displays, and stylists pushed the boundaries of how accessories, from chokers to watches, can elevate a look.

Feathers floated across gowns, diamonds illuminated necklines, and timepieces added an unexpected layer of refinement. Together, they formed a fashion narrative that celebrated both spectacle and craftsmanship, exactly what the Oscars red carpet has always done best. 

Image credits: Getty Images

Also read: Bring back the schoolgirl in you with these hard hairbands

Also read: The return of harem pants: Fashion’s most comfortable statement silhouette