The Oscars red carpet was a joyous return to in-person events

Category is: 'Thank God we're out of the house' realness.
By Caitlin Welsh  on 
The Oscars red carpet was a joyous return to in-person events

The Oscars red carpet is often both the most glamourous and the least adventurous of awards season — but after A Weird Year, after an odd and unique awards season that saw famous and creative folks accepting and losing awards from their couches in everything from full couture to tie-dye hoodies, the select few who attended Sunday's in-person Oscars ceremony did not come to play.

That much was clear the second Ma Rainey's Black Bottom star Colman Domingo showed up in a retina-searing, gloriously shocking pink tux. Take a deep breath first:

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Colman Domingo's Pink Suit Credit: Matt Petit / A.M.P.A.S. / Getty Images

In fact, the fellas were having some fun with the whole fancy-suit concept for once. Witness LaKeith Stanfield, who attended the British Film Institute satellite event in this.

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Lakeith kicking off the summer of jumpsuits! You heard it here first! Credit: Alberto Pezzali-Pool / Getty Images

Let's see that again.

It might have been the serve of the night if Minari's Alan S. Kim hadn't shown up in Thom Browne and given us tiny-David-Rose realness. Kid knows his angles.

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Alan! S!! Kim!!! Credit: Chris Pizzello-Pool / Getty Images

Desmond Roe and Travon Free, who later collected the Oscar for Best Animated Short, went for matching, endearing, bright-accented fun.

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How it feels to put on real pants again. Credit: Matt Petit / A.M.P.A.S . / Getty Images

Witness Leslie Odom Jr. in this wildly luxe Brioni creation. The power of the turtleneck!

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How does this fabric look so soft despite being metallic? I need to ask someone who was near the... loom where it happened. Credit: ABC via Getty Images

Steven Yeun played it straight because he's Steven Yeun and he is Enough, but I'm going to need an entire Pixar movie about this adorable bow tie, please.

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An icon. Credit: Chris Pizzello-Pool / Getty Images

Respect also to Riz Ahmed's impossibly sleek turtleneck and silk cummerbund situation, and also to his wife Fatima Farheen Mirza's gorgeous, modest aqua gown (and her greys!).

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Both killing the shoe game, too. Credit: Matt Petit/A.M.P.A.S. / Getty Images

Bonus: we stan a Red Carpet Wife Guy!

Speaking of sleek, one cannot do so without Daniel Kaluuya's double-breasted magic with a little sparkly flex. (Check the triangular cufflinks echoing the pocket detail.)

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Everyone say thank you to Daniel Kaluuya's parents. Credit: Chris Pizzello-Pool / Getty Images

But we know why you're really here. For the gowns!

For Zendaya!

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Next year the statuettes will be based on this photo. Credit: ABC / Getty Images

For Carey Mulligan in gimme-that-statue-or-I'll-get-out-the-scalpel gold!

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Don't let the goofy wave fool you. Credit: Matt Petit / A.M.P.A.S. / Getty Images

For Andra Day's understated take on the same vibe.

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I like to imagine she had to help Carey pee and they laughed about the whole thing. Credit: ABC / Getty Images

For Amanda Seyfried! (This could have used a diamante M for Mank on her décolletage but never mind.)

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I'd like to Mank the Academy. Credit: ABC / Getty Images

For LAURA DERN! And her FEATHERS WITH A LEG SLIT!

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Woman inherits the Earth! Credit: ABC / Getty Images

For Angela Bassett. Just Angela Bassett.

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Literally nobody has ever looked better. Credit: Chris Pizzello-Pool / Getty Images

For Oscar winner Chloe Zhao's Oscar-winning sneakers! (OK, she won Best Director for Nomadland, but the vibes are strong.)

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I have a feeling she won't make anyone in 'Eternals' fight baddies in four-inch heels. Credit: ABC / Getty Images

For Oscar winner Youn Yuh-Jung and her pockets!

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 25: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) In this handout photo provided by A.M.P.A.S., Yuh-Jung Youn attends the 93rd Annual Academy Awards at Union Station on April 25, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Petit/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images) Credit: A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images

And for host and director of multi-nominated One Night In Miami Regina King, whose Wedgwood blue goddess epaulette situation is the only thing I want to talk about for the rest of the night thank you very much.

The red carpet is back, friends, but not just for the famous and beautiful. Take these fits as a sign you should wear whatever you want when you venture back outside.

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Caitlin Welsh

Caitlin is Mashable's Australian Editor. She has written for The Guardian, Junkee, and any number of plucky little music and culture publications that were run on the smell of an oily rag and have since been flushed off the Internet like a dead goldfish by their new owners. She also worked at Choice, Australia's consumer advocacy non-profit and magazine, and as such has surprisingly strong opinions about whitegoods. She enjoys big dumb action movies, big clever action movies, cult Canadian comedies set in small towns, Carly Rae Jepsen, The Replacements, smoky mezcal, revenge bedtime procrastination, and being left the hell alone when she's reading.


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