The Oscars red carpet is BACK, babey

The Oscars red carpet is often both the most glamourous and the least adventurous of awards season — but after A Weird Year, after an odd and unique awards season that saw famous and creative folks accepting and losing awards from their couches in everything from full couture to tie-dye hoodies, the select few who attended Sunday’s in-person Oscars ceremony did not come to play.

That much was clear the second Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom star Colman Domingo showed up in a retina-searing, gloriously shocking pink tux. Take a deep breath first:

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In fact, the fellas were having some fun with the whole fancy-suit concept for once. Witness LaKeith Stanfield, who attended the British Film Institute satellite event in this.

Let’s see that again.

It might have been the serve of the night if Minari‘s Alan S. Kim hadn’t shown up in Thom Browne and given us tiny-David-Rose realness. Kid knows his angles.

Desmond Roe and Travon Free, who later collected the Oscar for Best Animated Short, went for matching, endearing, bright-accented fun.

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Witness Leslie Odom Jr. in this wildly luxe Brioni creation. The power of the turtleneck!

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Steven Yeun played it straight because he’s Steven Yeun and he is Enough, but I’m going to need an entire Pixar movie about this adorable bow tie, please.

Respect also to Riz Ahmed’s impossibly sleek turtleneck and silk cummerbund situation, and also to his wife Fatima Farheen Mirza’s gorgeous, modest aqua gown (and her greys!).

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Bonus: we stan a Red Carpet Wife Guy!

Speaking of sleek, one cannot do so without Daniel Kaluuya’s double-breasted magic with a little sparkly flex. (Check the triangular cufflinks echoing the pocket detail.)

But we know why you’re really here. For the gowns! 

For Zendaya!

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For Carey Mulligan in gimme-that-statue-or-I’ll-get-out-the-scalpel gold!

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For Andra Day’s understated take on the same vibe.

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For Amanda Seyfried! (This could have used a diamante M for Mank on her décolletage but never mind.)

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For LAURA DERN! And her FEATHERS WITH A LEG SLIT!

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For Angela Bassett. Just Angela Bassett.

For Oscar winner Chloe Zhao’s Oscar-winning sneakers! (OK, she won Best Director for Nomadland, but the vibes are strong.)

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For Oscar winner Youn Yuh-Jung and her pockets!

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And for host and director of multi-nominated One Night In Miami Regina King, whose Wedgwood blue goddess epaulette situation is the only thing I want to talk about for the rest of the night thank you very much.

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The red carpet is back, friends, but not just for the famous and beautiful. Take these fits as a sign you should wear whatever you want when you venture back outside.