Oscars 2022 red carpet: Jessie Buckley and Caitríona Balfe among best dressed stars

From exuberant to understated, here are the fashion highlights from the Academy Awards

Jessie Buckley at the 2022 Academy Awards in Hollywood, California. Photograph: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Hollywood stars emulated the carpet by dressing in bright red for the 2022 Oscars.

After two years of hybrid and virtual ceremonies due to Covid-related restrictions, the red carpet saw a return to bright colours and fun with fashion, for both men and women.

Celebrities clamoured to wear sequins in all shades of the rainbow, while Irish actors Jessie Buckley and Caitríona Balfe opted for more understated, ethereal looks.

Here are the highlights of the Academy Awards red carpet this year.

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HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Ariana DeBose attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Jessica Chastain, Ariana DeBose and other nominees donned a rainbow of colors outside the Dolby Theatre for the 94th Academy Awards. Video: Reuters

Ariana DeBose took one of the biggest risks on the red carpet by wearing trousers, specifically a bright red Valentino pantsuit with a statement cape.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Kirsten Dunst attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Nominated for her role in The Power Of The Dog, Kirsten Dunst walked the red carpet with husband Jesse Plemons, who was also nominated.

Flexing her eco-credentials, Dunst wore a vintage Christian Lacroix dress – a strapless red gown with a subtle rose pattern.

Marvel hero Simu Liu was one of the few men wearing a bright colour on the red carpet, in a fire engine red Versace suit.

Simu Liu

Tracee Ellis Ross is an old hand when it comes to the Oscars, she has been walking the red carpet with her mother Diana Ross since the early 90s.

This year Ross paid homage to the dancing emoji in a fire engine red dress by Carolina Herrera, with a daringly sculpted neckline and drop waist.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Tracee Ellis Ross attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images)

The neckline of Jennifer Garner's classic red dress was reminiscent of the gown Julia Roberts wore as Vivian in 1990 film Pretty Woman.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Jennifer Garner attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Designer Christian Siriano is responsible for Rosie Perez's elegant gown, he posted a picture of the Do The Right Thing actor on Instagram with the caption: 'A Rose for Rosie'.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Rosie Perez attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Lupita Nyong'o scooped an Oscar back in 2014 wearing a pale blue Prada gown and she chose to wear the Italian brand again, this time a golden long-sleeved dress with a textural skirt and unusual pink spots on the bodice.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Lupita Nyong’o attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images)

Continuing with the trend of statement sequins was Zendaya, wearing a silver skirt and satin shirt by Valentino.

This is swiftly becoming a favourite silhouette of Zendaya’s: a high-waisted skirt and a super crop top, to show off an ample amount of abs.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Zendaya attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)

The Power of the Dog actor Kodi Smit-McPhee wore a baby blue Bottega suit, styled with Cartier jewellery.

Kodi Smit-McPhee

Irish actor Caitríona Balfe wore a custom white Louis Vuitton dress featuring a column gown, a flowing ruffle detail and spaghetti straps.

Irish actress Caitriona Balfe attends the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

Her look was accessorised with a diamond necklace shaped like a bowtie from Van Cleef & Arpels.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Jessie Buckley attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)

Jessie Buckley opted for a more understated and edgy look, appearing in a flowing gown by Erdem in a shade of shell pink.

British Vogue said Buckley's dress was inspired by "one of the coolest Oscar looks of all time", a vintage dress worn by Martha Plimpton when she attended the 1989 Academy Awards with River Phoenix.

Jamie Dornan (left) and Andrew Garfield

Old friends Jamie Dornan and Andrew Garfield shared a moment on the red carpet. Garfield wore a red velvet Saint Laurent jacket, while Belfast actor Dornan donned the classic black tuxedo look.

Kenneth Branagh

Kenneth Branagh, who won the best original screenplay Oscar for Belfast, wore a classic navy three-piece suit.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Jessica Chastain attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Jessica Chastain floated down the red carpet in a glittering Gucci gown, with a gold bodice ombre'd into a purple skirt and ruffle detailing.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Alana Haim attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Alana Haim kept things simple and elegant on the red carpet in a silver scalloped gown with long sleeves and her hair and make-up kept natural.

Timothée Chalamet

Timothée Chalamet wore a cropped jacket overlaid with shiny lace, which, according to the Guardian, was from Louis Vuitton's 2022 spring womenswear collection.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Naomi Scott attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Naomi Scott wore a deep purple Fendi gown with a cape, high neckline and bejewelled detailing.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Demi Singleton attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)

King Richard star Demi Singleton continued her successful run of Miu Miu outfits, wearing a playful strapless column dress with whimsical sequinned detailing.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Venus Williams attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)

Venus Williams was ethereal in an all-white Elie Saab gown with silver accents.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Olivia Colman attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)

You cannot go wrong with Dior, and Olivia Colman kept things simple and elegant in a silver gown by the French label with statement sleeves.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Maggie Gyllenhaal attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Schiaparelli outfit was all about the gold detailing: unique sparkling buttons made to look like Surrealist ears.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Tiffany Haddish attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)

Tiffany Haddish chose to wear a custom Dolce & Gabbana strapless gown in green and silver. – PA