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Most memorable red carpet moments of 2019

Celine Dion does what only Celine Dion can at the Met Gala in New York on May 6.

Celine Dion does what only Celine Dion can at the Met Gala in New York on May 6. Photo: Getty

The red carpet can be counted on to mirror the dominant mood of show business, and in 2019 the message was celebrities were ready to turn on the klieg lights of playfulness and frivolity. Here are the looks which made headlines for their audacity, style and envelope pushing amid the envelope opening.

ACADEMY AWARDS

More than anyone, Billy Porter pushed the brief to be traffic-stoppingly original in a Christian Siriano velvet tuxedo ballgown.

Billy Porter 2019 Oscars

Billy Porter. Photo: Getty

Gemma Chan (Crazy Rich Asians) totally stole the show in a lollipop Maison Valentino confection with ruffled neck, ruching, tiers and pockets that was literally the pinnacle of casual luxe couture.

Gemma Chan 2019 Oscars

Gemma Chan. Photo: Getty

Apart from the black pumps, Linda Cardellini (Green Book) made a statement that screamed ‘The party is here, people’. From the bouffant hair to the Zsa Zsa Gabor boudoir style, her boldness gave her instant obsession status.

Linda Cardellini 2019 Oscars

Linda Cardellini. Photo: Getty

Lord knows we love Maya Rudolph but this is what happens when very cool people want to be even cooler by being deliberately daggy and end up looking like scary strange ladies who smell like old talcum powder.

Maya Rudolph 2019 Oscars

Maya Rudolph. Photo: Getty

Kacey Musgraves was one out of the box in a froufrou Giambattista Valli tulle gown which, depending on your thought processes, is either completely perfect or totally wrong. Terrifying hair and Stepford Wives stare.

Kacey Musgraves 2019 Oscars

Kacey Musgraves.

Rachel Weisz was interesting. Childish headband (girly!) with rubber top (dominatrix!) and floral skirt (lady!) Beautiful in an unapproachable Snow White way.

Rachel Weisz 2019 Oscars

Rachel Weisz. Photo: Getty

Charlize Theron’s periwinkle Dior gown was elegant and high fashion, but with her stark new dark bob and serpent necklace she looked like she was auditioning to play a scheming widow in a 1940s melodrama.

Charlize Theron 2019 Oscars

Charlize Theron. Photo: Getty

Songwriter Diane Warren (showing for her 10th Oscar nomination) wore a Sergeant Peppers-inspired pantsuit with white boots. Her best accessory? The Ruth Bader Ginsburg figurine in her jacket pocket.

Diane Warren 2019 Oscars

Diane Warren. Photo: Getty

Jason Momoa (and wife Lisa Bonet were matchy match, he in a Karl Lagerfeld tux and she in an embellished Fendi Couture tea-length gown. Comedy and tragedy in one hit.

Jason Momoa Lisa Bonet 2019 Oscars

Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet. Photo: Getty

And nominated singers David Rawlings and Gillian Welch were in a league all of their own.

David Rawlings Gillian Welch 2019 Oscars

David Rawlings and Gillian Welch. Photo: Getty

MET GALA

The theme was ‘Camp: Notes on Fashion’ But Kanye West looked like the only camp he was about was dropping a kid off at one. His wife Kim Kardashian-West, meanwhile, enticed retired Thierry Mugler to spend eight months designing a latex dress: “He envisioned me this California girl stepping out of the ocean, wet, dripping.” (West made Mugler remove the fake nipples he had on the dress.)

Kim Kardashian Kanye West

Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West. Photo: Getty

Cardi B’s Thom Browne dress worn with Stephen Jones headpiece was the biggest of the night but more pointless than camp.

Cardi B Met Gala 2019

Cardi B. Photo: Getty

Lady Gaga also came in hot, arriving in a pink Brandon Maxwell cape before changing three times and ending up in bra and knickers.

Lady Gaga Met Gala 2019

Lady Gaga. Photo: Getty

Jared Leto, vaguely Rasputinish in a Gucci suit with chain detail, brought along his own (fake) head for unexplained reasons.

Jared Leto Met Gala 2019

Jared Leto. Photo: Getty

Emily Ratajkowski looked like a really show-offy Lord of the Rings elf. Amazing but, seriously.

Emily Ratajkowski Met Gala 2019

Emily Ratajkowski. Photo: Getty

Jennifer Lopez was shameless in her posturing, thankfully. The spangled wig and sequinned Atelier Versace gown looked a touch ‘sea anemone out on the tear’, but full marks for effort.

Jennifer Lopez 2019 Met Gala

Jennifer Lopez. Photo: Getty

Cara Delevingne was perfectly bonkers in candy-striped Dior with themed shoes, a cane and headpiece with fruit and eyeballs.

Cara Delevingne Met Gala 2019

Cara Delevingne. Photo: Getty

Kylie Jenner looked like she’d escaped from Liberace’s mansion with only the mesh on her back.

Kylie Jenner Met Gala 2019

Kylie Jenner. Photo: Getty

Just like there’s always one man who wears a jean to the beach, there’s always one star who wears a Disney princess dress, sometimes even ironically. Zendaya took on the role, in a light-up ballgown with pumpkin coach clutch.

Zendaya Met Gala 2019

Zendaya. Photo: Getty

Emmys

Gwendoline Christie rocked up to the Microsoft Theatre for the ceremony in a sweeping dress that looked like she’d raided the wardrobe department of a Roman Carry On film.

Gwendoline Christie

Gwendoline Christie. Photo: Getty

Jodie Comer killed it in a glamorous Tom Ford long-sleeved halterneck dress with a ’70s vibe.

Jodie Comer

Jodie Comer. Photo: Getty

Julia Garner’s electric violet dress rocketed her straight to a podium finish, with its beautiful sleeve and draping. Very, very cool.

Julia Garner

Julia Garner. Photo: Getty

Kendall Jenner told Richard Quinn to make her a hybrid of something Sofia Vergara and Catwoman would wear. Sister Kim asked for a Vivienne Westwood corset dress so tight she had to scowl all night.

Kendall Jenner Kim Kardashian

Kendall Jenner and Kim Kardashian. Photo: Getty

Carice Van Houten was right up there, with undone hair, a red lip and statement print dress that was modestly seductive.

Carice Van Houten

Carice Van Houten. Photo: Getty

Amy Poehler’s Greta Constantine wide-legged jumpsuit was like something a down-on-their-luck Elvis impersonator would opt for.

Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler. Photo: Getty

GOLDEN GLOBES

Halle Berry has been playing the same card forever: Peekaboo panels, statement bit coming off her skirt, hair extensions. Next.

Halle Berry 2019 Golden Globes

Halle Berry. Photo: Getty

Bohemian Rhapsody’s Lucy Boynton had a podium finish for best dressed in metallic gold with great sleeves, perfect shoes and unfinished hair. Chic squared.

Lucy Boynton 2019 Golden Globes

Lucy Boynton. Photo: Getty

Rosamund Pike looked Photoshopped. Dramatic skirt and halterneck and the only cutouts to pass muster on a red carpet.

Rosamund Pike 2019 Golden Globes

Rosamund Pike. Photo: Getty

Catherine Zeta-Jones borrowed something from Melania Trump’s pre-White House wardrobe.

Catherine Zeta Jones 2019 Golden Globes

Catherine Zeta Jones. Photo: Getty

Nicole Kidman was vaguely reptilian in ox blood Michael Kors with semi-matronly heels. Cute bag.

Nicole Kidman 2019 Golden Globes

Nicole Kidman. Photo: Getty

Janelle Monae appeared to have come back from the Crusades via a Paris atelier. Literally nobody else could wear this.

Janelle Monae 2019 Golden Globes

Janelle Monae. Photo: Getty

SCREEN ACTORS’ GUILD AWARDS

Emily Blunt’s Michael Kors owed everything to its oversized ruffle detail and her innate queenliness. The frills created a social media stir courtesy of people with nothing better to do than see lady parts everywhere.

Emily Blunt 2019 SAGs

Emily Blunt. Photo: Getty

And for every occasion Diplo, here at the Billboard Music Awards but check his Insta for other looks:

Diplo

Diplo.

What was your favourite moment?

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