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Fashion 263 Correspondent

Hollywood stars arrived at the Oscars last Sunday in shimmering column dresses, jewel-toned gowns and structured and voluminous attire, flaunting bold choices that stood out on the novel champagne-coloured carpet ensconced under a tent.

Best supporting actress nominee Angela Bassett, from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”, opted for a bright purple dress with structural flourishes on the top and bottom of the gown.

Fellow nominee in that category, Stephanie Hsu, from “Everything Everywhere All At Once”, chose a strapless fuchsia Valentino gown with a wide skirt.

Cate Blanchett, best actress nominee for “Tar”, wore a draped azure top over a black skirt with a train.

Oscars organisers were keen to recreate night-time glamour in the tent, in contrast to the traditional outdoor red carpet.

Zanna Roberts Rassi, a fashion, beauty and entertainment journalist and entrepreneur, called this year’s Oscars fashion “absolutely exceptional”.

Several attendees took advantage of the indoor lights to don shimmery silver dresses or gowns encrusted with reflective materials.

Ana de Armas, the best actress nominee for “Blonde”, wore a silver column dress with a flamenco dancer-like flounce on the bottom. Ariana De Bose donned a sparkly white dress, cut low in front with transparent sleeves encrusted with shiny beads.

“Ethereal and silver was a big theme as well,” said Rassi. “We saw Ariana De Bose in Versace. We saw Kate Hudson in an incredible Rodarte. We also saw Ana de Armas in this magnificent Louis Vuitton.”

Education activist Malala Yousafzai, the executive producer of documentary short film “Stranger At The Gate”, wore a shimmery silver-hooded gown.

And then there were the women in white in strong silhouettes.

Michelle Yeoh, who won the best actress Oscar for “Everything Everywhere All At Once”, wore sparkling silver in her hair and a feathery white Dior gown.

Fellow best actress nominee Michelle Williams, the star of “The Fabelmans”, also went for ethereal white with a sparkly silver bodice.

Some of the men departed from the safe choice of a black tuxedo.

Musician Lenny Kravitz wore a draped black outfit, also cut low in front, and sported a giant cross hanging down his chest.

Another musician, David Byrne, nominated for best song from “Everything Everywhere All At Once”, wore a white head-to-toe suit. Action star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson wore a pink satin jacket.

Sarah Polley, the director and writer of “Women Talking”, opted for a black tuxedo-like suit with a ruffled white blouse rather than a gown.

Several women wore gowns with high-cut slits, among them Nicole Kidman in a shimmery black gown and Cara Delevingne in a dramatic red dress.

Then for the love of black, if you haven’t watched the popular Netflix series, Wednesday, yet then as a fashionista you’re missing out on costume designs that will leave you wanting to change your entire wardrobe.

However, for those who have, it will be no surprise that one of this year’s biggest fashion trends is the dark, romantic gothic chic look.

Jenna Ortega who plays the role of emotionally detached yet witty Wednesday Addams in the series effortlessly pulls off this look by wearing all black in every scene.

But the most memorable outfit is Wednesday’s lace and chiffon dress by Alaïa she wears to the school dance.

For those who already love wearing black, all the time, this trend is perfect.

Here’s how to get the look.

All black with a romantic twist

While you might think that this trend is all about wearing black on black on black, it’s as much about how you combine textures. 

Think leather mixed with lace or tulle worn with satin.

A patent leather pants worn with a cotton knit T-shirt with lace details and chunky boots is a simple look to pull off during the day. Another combination that can work for a daytime look is wearing a lacy skirt and a simple top worn with a leather biker jacket.

Black lace-up boots and chunky loafers are must-haves for day and black patent leather heels will pair well with any evening look.

Accessories

When it comes to accessories don’t be afraid to throw in a bit of bling. Try crystal necklaces, rings or bracelets. A velvet choker, lace gloves and a string of pearls will add to the romantic feel.

Make-up

Of course, you cannot get this look without the perfect black smoky eye. A heavy full-on black eyeshadow might be too much for the day, so keep it subtle with a dark grey shadow instead.

Otherwise, you could simply opt for eyeliner worn all around the eye. If you have a steady hand get creative with black graphic eyeliner looks. If black lipstick is too out-there for you then pop on a dark plum or burgundy instead.

While black nail polish is optional, it’s always a winner.