A Brutally Honest Critique of the Vanity Fair Oscars Party Red Carpet Looks

vanity fair oscars red carpet looks hunter schafer
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For the most part, we here at Femestella try not to be too judgy when it comes to other women. But the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscars Party red carpet looks seriously had me in my feelings.

So, we’re going to get brutally honest.

To be clear: we have no interest in attacking anyone’s looks or bodies, just their outfits. Cool? Cool. Ok, let’s get started

Cara Delevingne

 

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Cara Delevingne looked absolutely gorgeous on the actual Oscars red carpet but this dress is giving “I drowned on the Titanic” vibes. Yikes.

Camila Mendes

 

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Camila Mendes usually rocks it on the red carpet but this dress makes her look like she’s a model in a Project Runway challenge where the only material available was plastic wrap. Oh, girl.

Kylie Jenner

 

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Kylie Jenner definitely likes to go rogue when it comes to the red carpet but she is absolutely pulling off this gown! It’s perfectly tailored for her body and she looks gorgeous. It’s a win her me.

Gigi Hadid

 

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The color and silhouette of Gigi Hadid’s gown are gorgeous. The mini pleats? Meh. I appreciate the attempt at some texture but sometimes simple is better.

Julia Garner

Julia Garner’s entire look is giving Cruella de Vil and I don’t hate it! The hair, the makeup, and the body of the gown are really working. But that collar? A total outfit ruiner.

Olivia Wilde

 

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Olivia Wilde looks like she started getting dressed only to give up halfway through putting on her gown.

Miranda Kerr

 

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Miranda Kerr looks like a Greek goddess and I’m so here for it! Such a pretty gown and her hair and makeup are perfection, per usual.

Simone Ashley

Simone Ashley is usually one of the best red carpet dressers but this dress is not doing it for me. The giant bows are ill-placed and the gown would have looked much better without them. The color is great for her, though.

Sophie Turner

 

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Sophie Turner’s gown is giving seriously witchy vibes and I don’t hate it. This look shouldn’t work and yet somehow Sophie is kind of pulling it off.

Kendall Jenner

 

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This look is overall pretty meh. Kendall Jenner loves to wear body-hugging dresses so this silhouette just feels very “been there, seen that.” Would love for her to take more fashion risks on the carpet.

Hailey Bieber

I’ve been pretty vocal in the past about how boring I find Hailey Bieber’s style and this definitely falls in the same category. A Little Black Dress? Again? Come on, Hailey.

Yara Shahidi

 

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Finally! Someone taking a risk on the red carpet! Yara Shahidi brought a major fashion moment to the Vanity Fair Oscars Party and I’m personally loving it! Truly great fashion is controversial so if you’re not starting a conversation, what’s the point? This is *definitely* a conversation starter.

Olivia Rodrigo

 

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This is a pretty big departure for Olivia Rodrigo, who often wears black to the red carpet. But she’s definitely pulling off this gown! The silhouette is super flattering and the combo of the halter neck and the sequin cheetah print is the perfect mixture of sex appeal with fun. It’s a yes for me.

Mindy Kaling

 

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If you follow Mindy Kaling on Instagram, you know that Mindy is usually a *great* dresser. But this gown is just falling flat. Sorry, Mindy!

Hunter Schafer

 

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Hunter Schafer can literally look good wearing a paper bag… which is good because she’s quite literally only wearing a piece of fabric and a feather. It’s hard to believe any kind of design work went into this.

Ana de Armas

Ana de Armas literally looks like a walking stained glass window and it’s super pretty! A bit forgettable. But pretty nonetheless.

Kaia Gerber

 

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There’s nothing wrong with Kaia Gerber’s gown, per se, it’s just a little on the safe side. Another pretty but forgettable look.

Billie Eilish

 

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No. Just no.

Florence Pugh

 

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Florence Pugh seems to have a new obsession with oversized red carpet looks and it’s definitely not working for her. Go back to your old style, Flo!

Madelyn Cline

 

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Swamp thing has entered the building! Madelyn Cline looks like she took a dip in an algae-laden swamp and returned just in time for the red carpet. We know Madelyn has looked *way* better than this on the red carpet before so this is pretty disappointing. That said, her makeup was still 100% on point.

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Lena Finkel
Lena Finkel is the Editor and Founder of Femestella and The Feminist Health Source. Prior to starting Femestella, she worked at People, InStyle, Tiger Beat, and Sesame Workshop (aka Sesame Street). She loves all things Real Housewives and The Challenge. When she's not busy binge-watching TV, you can find her taking an absurd amount of photos of her tuxedo cat Tom.