25 Fabulous Runway Dresses That Will (Hopefully) Dominate Awards Season

Christian Allaire
Updated

25 Fabulous Runway Dresses That Will (Hopefully) Dominate Awards Season

Givenchy’s Fall 2018 couture gown with its cropped jacket, silver sequins, and feathered trim mixes classic shapes with a little fun.
Givenchy’s Fall 2018 couture gown with its cropped jacket, silver sequins, and feathered trim mixes classic shapes with a little fun.
Photo: Monica Feudi / Indigital.tv
Gabriela Hearst’s Spring 2019 column gown, studded with crystals all-over, proves black doesn’t have to mean boring.
Gabriela Hearst’s Spring 2019 column gown, studded with crystals all-over, proves black doesn’t have to mean boring.
Photo: Luca Tombolini / Indigital.tv
This Rodarte Spring 2019 brings an arty air to the red carpet. Any actress bold enough would get bonus points for sporting the veil and arm cuffs, too.
This Rodarte Spring 2019 brings an arty air to the red carpet. Any actress bold enough would get bonus points for sporting the veil and arm cuffs, too.
Photo: Yannis Vlamos / Indigital.tv
Brandon Maxwell’s Spring 2019 teal gown champions good fit as a red carpet look’s secret weapon.
Brandon Maxwell’s Spring 2019 teal gown champions good fit as a red carpet look’s secret weapon.
Photo: Monica Feudi / Indigital.tv
Christian Dior’s Fall 2018 gown, with an ombré feather treatment, is a study in elegant neutrals.
Christian Dior’s Fall 2018 gown, with an ombré feather treatment, is a study in elegant neutrals.
Photo: Yannis Vlamos / Indigital.tv
This Fendi Fall 2018 couture gown, with its a pink tiered skirt and feathered shoulders, is bound to steal the attention on any red carpet.
This Fendi Fall 2018 couture gown, with its a pink tiered skirt and feathered shoulders, is bound to steal the attention on any red carpet.
Photo: Kim WestonArnold / Indigital.tv
Balenciaga’s Spring 2019 floor-length gown is made of just a single piece of fabric, evoking Old Hollywood style with a twist.
Balenciaga’s Spring 2019 floor-length gown is made of just a single piece of fabric, evoking Old Hollywood style with a twist.
Photo: Monica Feudi / Indigital.tv
Celine's Spring 2019 metallic mini dress with asymmetrical ruching is well suited for Hollywood’s young starlets.
Celine's Spring 2019 metallic mini dress with asymmetrical ruching is well suited for Hollywood’s young starlets.
Photo: Kim Weston-Arnold
Moschino’s Spring 2019 doodle-printed dress, with one seriously commanding ruffle and matching gloves, requires a level of head-to-toe commitment.
Moschino’s Spring 2019 doodle-printed dress, with one seriously commanding ruffle and matching gloves, requires a level of head-to-toe commitment.
Photo: Luca Tombolini / Indigital.tv
Attico’s Spring 2019 feathered minidress is fun and fresh alternative to a floor-grazing gown.
Attico’s Spring 2019 feathered minidress is fun and fresh alternative to a floor-grazing gown.
Photo: Courtesy of Attico
Alexandre Vauthier’s Fall 2018 couture gown, in shining gold, gives the Oscars statue a run for its money.
Alexandre Vauthier’s Fall 2018 couture gown, in shining gold, gives the Oscars statue a run for its money.
Photo: Luca Tombolini / Indigital.tv
Versace’s Pre-Fall 2019 heart-print dress—yes, the same silhouette as that JLo dress—ensures all eyes are drawn in.
Versace’s Pre-Fall 2019 heart-print dress—yes, the same silhouette as that JLo dress—ensures all eyes are drawn in.
Photo: Alessandro Lucioni / Gorunway.com
Christian Siriano’s Spring 2019 babydoll dress, in an all-over giraffe print with an oversized bow, is peacocking at its finest.
Christian Siriano’s Spring 2019 babydoll dress, in an all-over giraffe print with an oversized bow, is peacocking at its finest.
Photo: Luca Tombolini / Indigital.tv
Simone Rocha’s Spring 2019 strapless tent dress in black satin lends itself to a theatrical red carpet chapeau.
Simone Rocha’s Spring 2019 strapless tent dress in black satin lends itself to a theatrical red carpet chapeau.
Photo: Kim Weston Arnold / Indigital.tv
Chanel’s Pre-Fall 2019 strapless gown, with metallic piping and multicolored-zigzag print, is begging to be paired with red carpet-worthy jewelry.
Chanel’s Pre-Fall 2019 strapless gown, with metallic piping and multicolored-zigzag print, is begging to be paired with red carpet-worthy jewelry.
Photo: Alessandro Lucioni / Gorunway.com
Paco Rabanne’s Spring 2019 mixed-media dress, paired with a floral-printed T-shirt underneath, is an unexpected, but downright cool, awards season choice.
Paco Rabanne’s Spring 2019 mixed-media dress, paired with a floral-printed T-shirt underneath, is an unexpected, but downright cool, awards season choice.
Photo: Yannis Vlamos / Indigital.tv
Erdem’s Spring 2019 floral printed gown, with a voluminous skirt, makes the case for bigger-is-better on the step and repeat.
Erdem’s Spring 2019 floral printed gown, with a voluminous skirt, makes the case for bigger-is-better on the step and repeat.
Gucci’s Spring 2019 dress, fully-covered yet still sexy with a deep V neck, features headline-making feathers, fringe, and beading—oh my!
Gucci’s Spring 2019 dress, fully-covered yet still sexy with a deep V neck, features headline-making feathers, fringe, and beading—oh my!
Photo: Yannis Vlamos; Marcus Tondo / Indigital.tv
Marc Jacobs’s Spring 2019 pouf dress, with Victorian ruffling and plumage, is a sprightly alternative to the floor-length gown.
Marc Jacobs’s Spring 2019 pouf dress, with Victorian ruffling and plumage, is a sprightly alternative to the floor-length gown.
Photo: Yannis Vlamos / Indigital.tv
Valentino’s Fall 2018 Couture taffeta gown is bound to steal the attention of any awards night, especially with a lavender floral headpiece.
Valentino’s Fall 2018 Couture taffeta gown is bound to steal the attention of any awards night, especially with a lavender floral headpiece.
Photo: Yannis Vlamos / Indigital.tv
Chanel’s Fall 2018 Couture two-piece mint green suit is an unexpected twist on a red carpet dress, rendered even more fabulous with a tulle-pinned headpiece.
Chanel’s Fall 2018 Couture two-piece mint green suit is an unexpected twist on a red carpet dress, rendered even more fabulous with a tulle-pinned headpiece.
Photo: Yannis Vlamos / Indigital.tv
Pyer Moss has popularized this asymmetrical sleeve silhouette, an ultra-modern take on the red carpet caftan.
Pyer Moss has popularized this asymmetrical sleeve silhouette, an ultra-modern take on the red carpet caftan.
Photo: Yannis Vlamos / Indigital.t
Alexander McQueen’s Spring 2019 leather dress with its sculpted bodice, is a tougher-than-sweet alternative to romantic red carpet gowns.
Alexander McQueen’s Spring 2019 leather dress with its sculpted bodice, is a tougher-than-sweet alternative to romantic red carpet gowns.
Photo: Kim Weston Arnold / Indigital.tv
Carolina Hererra’s Spring 2019 strapless gown is anything but forgettable with its bold striping, multicolor palette, and exaggerated ruffling.
Carolina Hererra’s Spring 2019 strapless gown is anything but forgettable with its bold striping, multicolor palette, and exaggerated ruffling.
Photo: Monica Feudi / Indigital.tv
Matty Bovan’s Spring 2019 ball gown, multi-layered and heavy on the appliqué work, is made for red carpet risk takers.
Matty Bovan’s Spring 2019 ball gown, multi-layered and heavy on the appliqué work, is made for red carpet risk takers.
Photo: Yannis Vlamos / Indigital.tv

January will kick off what is sure to be a thrilling awards season beginning with the Golden Globes, on January 6, and culminating with the always-anticipated Academy Awards in late February. As celebrity stylists begin pulling their racks and racks of fresh-off-the-runway couture gowns, one can’t help but make his own wish list for what Hollywood’s top talents will wear. Who doesn’t dream of an over-the-top fashion moment, after all? With that in mind, we’re looking to the runway for some clues as to what might be seen on Los Angeles’s best red carpets.

The question is: will today’s starlets embrace the theatrical silhouettes found on recent catwalks? Zendaya has already stepped out in Marc Jacobs’s tiered, feathered frock from his Spring 2019 show, but will others dare to wear the designer’s poufy shapes? One can also hope that a star—perhaps a risktaker such as Lady Gaga, Globe-nominated for A Star Is Born—will look to British designer Matty Bovan’s recent Spring collection, which had multi-layered ball gowns galore.

If daring shapes are too daunting of an idea—with a worldwide audience watching, there’s always a certain pressure to play it safe on the step and repeat!—stars also have loads of bold color to embrace. At Pyer Moss’s Spring show, for example, a silk gown in a deep tangerine shade would look just smashing on Regina King, nominated for a Globe for If Beale Street Could Talk. At Valentino’s Couture show, Pierpaolo Piccioli sent out taffeta gowns in every color of the rainbow, all accentuated by crafted floral headpieces. (Again, they scream Gaga.)

But not all red carpet choices have to be so bold and extra. Equally as an alluring option are the short, above-the-knee party dresses that designers embraced this year. At Attico, a strapless minidress was covered in red feathers (Crazy Rich Asians’s Constance Wu, I’m looking at you, here.) For Hedi Slimane’s debut at Celine, he sent out metallic silver minis as well, only adding asymmetrical ruching that are perfect for the Young Hollywood set. At Christian Siriano, a sheer babydoll frock got the leopard print treatment, and even had a giant bow tied around the neck. These styles are fun, fresh, and not as big of a commitment as long-trained dresses.

Here, see 25 extravagant gowns that are red carpet-ready. Stylists, take note.

See the videos.