In spite of falling ratings, one recent trend of contemporary Academy Awards ceremonies has steadily risen in popularity—fashion commentary. Millions of creators across social media channel their inner Miranda Priestly each year to judge the always extravagant, sometimes ostentatious outfits worn by celebrities on different red carpets throughout the night. Here are some of the best outfits from this year’s event, as selected by members of the Arts & Entertainment team.

Lily James — Post-Pam Princesscore

There are no two ways about it: Lily James has entered her bombshell era. The Pam & Tommy actress transformed from Baywatch megastar to red carpet marvel at the 2022 Academy Awards, rocking a lacy Atelier Versace number complete with a thigh-high slit, pink platforms, and a long train adorned with embroidered flowers. Doing away with her striking resemblance to Pamela Anderson, James traded in her signature blonde locks for a sultry brunette hairstyle. But don’t be fooled—the British actress hasn’t shed her old skin just yet. On the contrary, James’s ethereal look, dripping in TikTok’s viral princesscore aesthetic, served up a nod to her breakout performance in 2015’s Cinderella. We, too, wish we could appoint Versace to be our very own Fairy Godmother.

Zendaya — Secret Service Realness

Zendaya has come a long way since her days on the Disney Channel, not just as an actress, but as a fashion mogul, too. Though she was not nominated in any individual categories, the film Dune, in which she starred, was up for 10 awards, including Best Picture. The face of Valentino’s Spring 2022 campaign surprised the world by swapping her dazzling red carpet outfit for a fierce Sportsmax suit at the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party. The jacket’s prominent shoulder pads and perfectly cinched waist created a stunning silhouette. Complementing the garment, Zendaya beautifully executed an edgy, Secret Service-type look: Her slicked-back low ponytail, dark eyeshadow, and eyeliner tied the look together.

Timothée Chalamet — The Hottest Bad-Boy in Hollywood

Chalamet donned a black and bedazzled Louis Vuitton lace jacket, which belongs to the Spring 2022 womens wear collection and opened to reveal Chalamet’s bare chest. The pairing of the nontraditional bold jacket and the peek of skin was a powerful choice, and especially striking in light of previous complaints about the dullness of men’s red carpet fashion. Chalamet’s Cartier pendant necklace—a white gold panther with emerald eyes—served as the final ornamentation to his smouldering appearance. Chalamet effortlessly pulled off the fit, with black dress pants anchoring the sparkle of his top.

Jessica Chastain — All that Glitters is Glory 

California-born actress Jessica Chastain took the red carpet by storm with a dazzling floor length gown that gave off a sparkling glow. Its bottom section’s beautiful lavender tone epitomized elegance—much like the actress herself. The top of the dress had a rose gold hue and sequins, which perfectly complemented Chastain’s red hair. The ruffled tulle bottom added an extra flair to her already stunning look. Custom-made by Gucci, the dress’ flowy material and sparkles were echoes of old Hollywood glamour. Such a style managed to match Chastain’s prestige for the night, for she indeed won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her lead role in The Eyes of Tammy Faye.