Inside the Making of the Best Oscar Dresses of 2021

The 2021 edition of the Oscars was particularly rewarding for the fashion industry. The stars on the red carpet went above and beyond to showcase some of the most unique, rare and beautiful garments. Even the men went all out, ditching classic tuxedos and suits and choosing more fashionable options. The red carpet was a sight to behold, with celebrities covered in shimmery jewels and stunning outfits. Here are some of the best and most iconic Oscar dresses 2021 that got off the runway onto the red carpet.

Zendaya

It is a universally acknowledged fact that Zendaya can pull off anything. Over time, she has consistently proved to be a fashion icon with looks that will go down in fashion history books. She can be seen sporting couture in several of her red carpet outfits. For the Oscars, she wore a beautiful bright yellow Valentino dress that accentuated her features and long locks. The dress was figure-hugging, with a midriff cutout that looked stunning. 

The gown was custom made for Zendaya and is almost a reference to Cher’s jumpsuit. Cher wore the jumpsuit in 1970 for The Sonny and Cher Show. Zendaya’s stylist and friend Law Roach paired the glamorous neon gown with Jimmy Choo heels and Bulgari diamonds worth $6 million. And Zendaya sure did look like a million bucks on the red carpet. 

Regina King

Regina King enjoyed an extremely fashion-forward and exciting award season with a Louis Vuitton gown, which was a highlight of Oscar dresses 2021. While she looked fabulous at the Emmys in Schiaparelli couture and decadent at the CDGA in a Christopher John Rogers gown, her Oscars outfit steals the show. 

Louis Vuitton’s creative director, Nicolas Ghesquière conceptualized the stunning outfit. And the result was a gorgeous baby blue flared satin dress covered with sequins. The dress also has ruffled and winged shoulders, and is covered in Swarovski crystals. It almost feels like a modern-day Cinderella gown, with its glimmering crystals, pale blue color and plunging neckline. King accessorized the outfit minimally and paired it only with Forevermark jewelry, making the dress the center of attention. 

Viola Davis

Viola Davis got and her stylist, Elizabeth Stewart, approached Alexander McQueen with only two requests. First, that the dress she wore on the red carpet needed to be white, and second, that it needed to feature a McQueen beaded top that Viola loved. Alexander McQueen took Davis’s demands and delivered the intricate and sophisticated masterpiece that she wore on the red carpet. 

The dress has a delicate embroidered bodice that resembles thistles wrapped around the body. Covered with bugle glass beads, the dress took McQueen a whole week to complete. Behind the detailed bodice lies a custom corset in Viola’s exact skin shade, making the gown look seamless. She paired the dress with a beautiful white custom McQueen bag, which contains a personal inscription for Viola on the inside by the designer himself. The dress became a showstopper because of its mesmerizing details and intricate patterns. 

HER

HER was nominated for Best Original Song Score, and she even dressed up to win. With a stunning monochromatic blue ensemble, HER’s outfit was an eye-catching addition to the Oscar dresses 2021. The singer said that the jumpsuit was an ode to her all-time favorite artist and constant inspiration, Prince. Prince wore a similar blue glittery jumpsuit when he won an Oscar for his song Purple Rain. HER walked the red carpet in a semi-sheer dazzling blue jumpsuit custom-made by Dundas. A hooded cape matched the jumpsuit, both of which were embellished with intricate sequined and beaded details. 

The lyrics to HER’s song ‘Fight For You’ were embroidered on the cape. Designer Peter Dundas claimed that the words were so powerful that they acted almost ‘as an armor.’  The jumpsuit had wide-legged pants and several cutouts along the mid-riff, which shone brightly. She paired the outfit with a matching blue cuff and round purple glasses, which matched HER lipstick. HER looked fierce and magnificent in the jumpsuit and was the center of attention after winning in her category.

If your brand is looking to draw inspiration from some of these Oscar dresses 2021, get in touch with Fashinza. We work with leading suppliers in the industry to manufacture fashion apparel for leading brands. We manage the entire production process, from design to delivery, so you can focus on other aspects of the business. What’s more - you can stay in touch with the entire production process through our app. Get in touch with us.