Typically, the results of the Screen Actors Guild Awards set the tone for Oscar night. With that in mind, here’s what last night’s event has us expecting come February 22: Birdman and Boyhood will go neck and neck in basically every category, highly-technical performances will be majorly lauded (we’re looking at you, Eddie Redmayne + Julianne Moore) and the best dressed list will be more interesting than ever. For the latter prediction, we considered the trends we saw on the SAG red carpet: showy necklines made regular appearances, sleek menswear-inspired clothing trumped ultra-feminine silhouettes and bold colored gowns upstaged any white or black counterpart — style risks we’re thrilled to finally see Hollywood’s hottest taking. Forget everything you Pinned from the Golden Globes and Critic’s Choice Awards; these five trends as seen on the SAG’s best dressed of the night are bound for the Oscars red carpet.
Even with necklines plunging near JLo levels on the regular, celebrities are showing that a deep cut can actually be graceful. Rashida’s color-lined neckline + pop-of-color lip brings your attention upward even though her plunge hits her waist while Lupita Nyong’o’s exaggerated V mimics the pattern on her gown, making it seem more natural than anything. No matter that Jennifer Aniston’s neckline is the most revealing: a delicate body chain elevates the flagrant look — a move that’s starting to become her signature when a bare chest is involved. (Photos via Ethan Miller/Getty)
STATEMENT COLOR
It’s not that we had anything against a chic sartorial white-out on the red carpet, or that we wouldn’t have loved to see the stars channeling their dark sides in head-to-toe black. But stark hued gowns just don’t garner the same reaction as ones drenched in color. Case in point: our rapid-fire responses to these three ladies walking the carpet: “That emerald does *everything* for Julianne Moore’s hair color! Bright yellow looks like a dream against Uzo Aduba’s skin tone! Do you see how that purple is making Keira Knightly glow?” (Photos via Ethan Miller/Frazer Harrison/Getty)
CHIC MENSWEAR
Celebs are taking menswear-inspired garments to the next level, wearing pantsuits and blazers that are powerful and still unmistakably feminine. Major kudos to Emma Stone for nailing a second menswear look in a row — one that stands alone as one of our all-time favorite red carpet looks ever — and to her basically-twin Julia Roberts, who wore a tailored-to-her-curves tuxedo-style jumpsuit. (Photos via Ethan Miller/Getty)
COLD SHOULDERS
Flaunting your shoulders is officially the sexiest way to dress not overtly sexy. Felicity Jones and Naomi Watts opt for flirtier off-the-shoulders necklines that feel vintage-inspired on these two classic beauties, while Reese Witherspoon makes her mark on the trend with an edgier asymmetrical cut that bares only a single collarbone and shoulder. (Photos via Ethan Miller/Frazer Harrison/Getty)
BACK IT UP
Some celebrities just can’t pass up being the catalyst of a good red carpet WOW moment, and for that, a cutout back is a must-have detail. Jackie Cruz and Dascha Polanco flash full backs (and swoon-worthy up-dos) on the flip side of their long sleeved floor-length gowns while Vicky Jeudy opts for a more modern reveal with a strappy sequined illusion panel.
What trends from the red carpet were your favorite? Who made your best dressed lists? Tell us in the comments below.