4 Red Carpet Trends to Watch For

By Beth Whiffen
January 27, 2012

Sam Saboura

Celebrity stylist and red carpet commentator Sam Saboura

Now that the Oscar noms are out, it’s time to start thinking Academy Awards fashion. Who cares who wins? It’s what they’re wearing that’s the real excitement of awards season. In order to predict what we’ll see on the red carpet at this Sunday’s SAG Awards and the Academy Awards in February, we chatted with celebrity stylist and red carpet commentator Sam Saboura, who has appeared as a style expert on E! News, Good Morning America, and EXTRA, to get the inside scoop on the hottest red carpet trends of this awards season.

Red Carpet Trend 1: Fit and Flare Gowns

Rooney Mara (photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage), Salma Hayek (photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage), Sofia Vergara (photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage) at the Golden Globes

“The mermaid shape was everywhere at the Golden Globes,” says Saboura. “This is a true nod to Old Hollywood. The silhouette shows off hourglass curves and calls to mind the glamour of Marilyn Monroe and Joan Crawford.” Sofia Vergara’s Vera Wang gown was one of the most dramatic fit-and-flare gowns of the night, but Salma Hayek’s '70s-style Gucci Premiere gown also paid homage to Old Hollywood. “The sexiest Old Hollywood looks from all decades really came together on the red carpet at the Golden Globes,” says Saboura. “I expect to see more of that at the Oscars.”

This trend is most easily translated to the real world in the form of a fit-and-flare wedding dress, Saboura says. But he also suggests incorporating the trend into your wardrobe in a more casual way with a fitted peplum jacket.

Get the look on eBay:

Roll over items for details

Monique Lhuillier Scarlet Lace Ivory Wedding Dress

(buy it now price, $5,000)

Burberry Prorsum Peplum Jacket

(buy it now price, $495)

Betsey Johnson Black Tail Peplum Cotton Suiting

(buy it now price, $198)

Red Carpet Trend 2: Embellishment

Julie Bowen (photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images), Jessica Alba (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage), Charlize Theron (photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) at the Golden Globes

There were as many different types of embellishment on the red carpet at the Globes as there are fashion temperaments. Laura Dern wore head-to-toe sequins. Salma Hayek’s gown featured matte beading. Nicole Kidman’s Versace gown was covered in studs. “We may not see as much of this at the Oscars because it’s a more austere event, and the Globes is more of a glitzy, party atmosphere, but this is definitely something that any woman can wear and have her own fashion moment,” says Saboura. One way to do this is to wear an embellished headband like Charlize Theron did. (Hers was vintage Cartier; we found something a little more realistic on eBay.)

Get the look on eBay:

Jennifer Behr Swarovski Crystal Chain Headwrap

Lanvin Black Crystal Tiger Gown

(buy it now price, $3,246.75)

Isabel Marant Silver Sequin Jacket

(starting bid, $1,426)

Red Carpet Trend 3: Statement Earrings

Kate Beckinsale (photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images), Salma Hayek (photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage), Julianna Margulies (photo by Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images) at the Golden Globes

After a few seasons of more restrained jewelry, over-the-top earrings made a resurgence at the Golden Globes. “I think we’ll continue to see statement earrings throughout awards season this year,” predicts Saboura. “Harry Winston really made a comeback at the Globes, which was fun to see.” Case in point, Sofia Vergara wore $5 million worth of Harry Winston diamonds, including 31.58-carat earrings. Other jewelers pulled out the big guns too: Cartier brought pieces from the vault in Geneva for Charlize Theron to wear. Lorraine Schwartz draped Kate Beckinsale in 300 carats of diamonds, including a pair of shoulder-grazing platinum and diamond mesh bowtie earrings. Julianna Margulies, also in Lorraine Schwartz, went for color in an oversize pair of green jade and diamond drop earrings.

Get the look on eBay:

Art Deco Style Drop Earrings

(buy it now price, $17,500)

Amrapali Victorian Diamond Earrings

(buy it now price, $220)

Angie's Sterling Silver Emerald Art Deco Drop Earrings

(buy it now price, $159.99)

Red Carpet Trend 4: Peacock Blues and Greens

Evan Rachel Wood (photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage), Laura Dern (photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images), Zooey Deschanel (photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage) at the Golden Globes

Love it or hate it, Evan Rachel Wood’s feathered Gucci gown was one of the most directional dresses at the Globes. Zooey Deschanel also rocked peacock blues and greens in Prada, as did Laura Dern in head-to-toe green sequins from Gucci. When putting a look together around this trend, Saboura suggests imagining a peacock feather and using the colors found on it to accessorize, such as browns and gold tones.

Get the look on eBay:

New Valentino Rockstud Kitten Pump Shoe

(buy it now price, $795)

Dior Peacock Feather Jacket

(buy it now price, $2,499)

Karen Millen Peacock Blue Dress

(buy it now price, $232.91)

Here, a few more of Sam Saboura’s Red Carpet Predictions:

On Color: “I’m hoping we’ll see more spring pastels like aqua at the Oscars. Some of the celebs went straight to the Pre-Fall collections for the Globes, totally skipping over Spring 2012. I’d like to see a softer palette.”

On Hot Designers: “I’m expecting to see more couture dresses, especially from Gucci Premiere, which I think is the most modern of the Couture collections. Reem Acra also made a comeback at the Globes, so I think we’ll be seeing more of that as well.”

On Accessories: “We didn’t see a lot of statement shoes at the Globes, but I think they will play a bigger role at the Academy Awards.”

On Beauty: “Ponytails are a nice contrast to the dressiness of the red carpet. I think we’ll be seeing more of this trend throughout awards season.”

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