How Kristen Stewart, Timothée Chalamet, and Ariana DeBose Rocked the Oscars Red Carpet

The return of the full Oscars red carpet comes at a moment of limited collective escapism, and no doubt horrified looks from those that think frivolity of this kind should be frowned upon. There is the war in Ukraine. There is a new COVID-19 variant. There is every other jigsaw piece of the global geopolitical shitshow. Whether seriousness prevails on stage at the 94th Academy Awards (about war, politics, the erasure of certain categories in the TV show, or… insert unknown-as-yet controversy here) remains to be seen, but on the 2022 Oscars red carpet escapism ruled.

“There are no dresses left in LA,” E! informed us gravely, as if referring to a Doomsday paucity of actual grain.

“The looks are going to be epic,” stylist Brad Goreski added, and he was not wrong. From Rosie Perez to Wesley Snipes to Lily James, a game of serious dress-up unfolded early. Ariana DeBose stunned in a trouser suit and cape, Timothée Chalamet showed chest, Nicole Kidman in Armani Privé looked structurally, ummm, interesting. Then came Jada Pinkett Smith in a stunning, sweeping emerald green Jean Paul Gaultier gown, and Kristen Stewart in tight Chanel tux and tiny shorts. Billie Eilish was puzzlingly swallowed in a sea of black ruffles. Lupita Nyong’o shone in Prada. Whatever awfulness in the world there is, the Oscars red carpet did what it should and could, allowing for a temporary restoration of, well, fun.