6 Red Carpet Trends That Dominated 2022, From Cutouts to Catsuits

Getty | David Livingston

Now that 2022 award season has officially come to a close, we can look back in awe at the trends that laid the foundation for this year's most iconic red carpet looks. Your mind may instantly go to style trailblazers like Zendaya, who's had an affinity for pushing boundaries, memorably appearing at the Oscars in a white Valentino crop top paired with a long, silver sequined skirt that set new standards for a "fancy" dress code. Meanwhile, Tracee Ellis Ross's red Carolina Herrera dress at the same event showcased yet another popular style in the dramatically plunging corset. Other repeating looks included Valentino's Barbiecore pink, dangerously high thigh slits, extreme cutouts, micro tops and skirts, and ornamental breastplates.

Valentino's monochrome takeover in particular first began with the house's Paris Fashion Week show back in March, which presented an alluring collection full of bright, fuchsia separates, evoking a vision of "love, community, energy, and freedom." Zendaya sat in the front row wearing the shade from head-to-toe, her outfit consisting of a double-breasted blazer with floral embroidery, matching trousers, a plunging, button-less blouse, and platform heels. In that moment, she became one of the first stars to inspire the Barbiecore trend. It was no surprise that Saweetie and Jenna Ortega followed suit, sporting the house's new code at the Grammy Awards and Met Gala, respectively.

And while slits have always been a bold choice, some of 2022's most noteworthy silhouettes took leg-baring looks to new heights. Chloe Bailey donned a sultry, purple beaded LVDF dress at the Oscars that was cut away to the waist. Lizzo also fearlessly rocked a navy blue, shimmering Gucci dress with a thigh-high slit to the BET Awards. More recently, Kylie Jenner graced the CFDA Awards in a one-shoulder black gown from Mugler with a sheer top and a form-fitting skirt that featured a waist-high slit, an archival number from the legendary fall/winter 1999 show.

Ahead, scroll for more stunning examples of the six best red carpet fashion trends of 2022.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Valentino Pink

For the Grammy Awards, Saweetie wore a custom Valentino pink ensemble that featured a bralette, full skirt, and opera-length gloves.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Valentino Pink

"Wednesday"'s Jenna Ortega wore an embroidered tunic shirt with floral appliqués and tights from the brand's Pink PP collection to the 2022 Met Gala.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Valentino Pink

Anne Hathaway wore a sequined minidress with the brand's signature 6-inch platform heels and Roman stud crossbody bag to the July couture show in Rome.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Valentino Pink

Lana Condor wore a bandeau bra top, high-waisted shorts with tights, structured jacket, top-handle bag, and 6-inch platform heels to the MTV Movie & TV Awards.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Catsuits

One of her many revolutionary maternity looks, Rihanna wore a pink and green sparkly Attico set, which formed a shred-effect catsuit, to the Fenty Beauty Universe event at Goya Studios.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Catsuits

Gigi Hadid wore a burgundy Versace latex catsuit under a giant parka to the May 2 Met Gala.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Catsuits

Lori Harvey wore an Off-White balaclava catsuit to the Baby2Baby Gala in November.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Micro Tops and Skirts

Zendaya wore a Valentino white micro top and sparkly, silver skirt to the 2022 Oscars.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Micro Tops and Skirts

Sydney Sweeney wore a pink Miu Miu set that featured a cropped button-up and low-rise sequin miniskirt with chunky bedazzled heels to the MTV Movie & TV Awards in June.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Micro Tops and Skirts

Teyana Taylor wore an all-black set, which consisted of a sheer Skims bra top, low-rise Givenchy black pants, and platform Balenciaga Crocs to the 2022 Billboard Music Awards.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Extreme Cutouts

Margot Robbie wore an Alaïa black cutout dress to the "Babylon" premiere in December.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Extreme Cutouts

At the LA "Bones and All" screening in November, Taylor Russell wore a Loewe draped cutout gown that featured a black bow cinched at the center, drawing even more attention to the skin-revealing details.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Extreme Cutouts

Jennifer Lopez wore a black Mônot dress with a leather bodice and side hip cutouts to the MTV Movie & TV Awards in June.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Extreme Cutouts

Halle Bailey wore a black embellished Georges Hobeika gown with cutouts to the 2022 Wearable Art Gala in October.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Extreme Cutouts

Janelle Monáe wore a black Christian Siriano cutout gown to the Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Plunging Corsets

Kylie Jenner wore a blue velvet gown for the Schiaparelli SS23 RTW Presentation at Paris Fashion Week in September.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Plunging Corsets

Tracee Ellis Ross wore a red Carolina Herrera dress to the 2022 Oscars, featuring a corseted bodice with a geometric-effect, U-shape plunge.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Plunging Corsets

"Selling Sunset"'s Christine Quinn wore a custom Andrea Brocca dress with Versace pumps to the 2022 British Fashion Awards in December.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Plunging Corsets

Dove Cameron wore a red Ashlyn gown to the Billboard Music Awards in May, with a dramatically wavy cutout center that achieved an optical plunge to the naked eye.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Plunging Corsets

Doja Cat wore a black Schiaparelli gown with a sharp, swerving plunge to the Billboard Music Awards in May.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Dangerously High Slits

Chloë wore a custom purple beaded LVDF dress to the 2022 Oscars in March, reveling in a shoe moment with her towering embellished platforms.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Dangerously High Slits

Lizzo donned a navy shimmering Gucci gown to the 2022 BET Awards.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Dangerously High Slits

Kylie Jenner wore an archival Mugler dress to the 2022 CFDA Awards.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Dangerously High Slits

Kelly Rowland graced the 2022 American Music Awards carpet in a strapless, leopard-print Nicolas Jebran gown.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Dangerously High Slits

Megan Fox wore a black David Koma gown to the Billboard Music Awards.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Ornamental Breastplates

Naomi Ackie wore a silver Schiaparelli couture gown to the "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" premiere.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Ornamental Breastplates

Anitta wore a red Schiaparelli dress to the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Ornamental Breastplates

For the GQ Men of the Year Awards, "White Lotus" star Sydney Sweeney wore a black LaQuan Smith dress equipped with a metal breastplate.

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