These are the Dresses We Think (and Hope) People Will Wear to the Oscars This Year

Nominated for lead actress for A Star Is Born.

Though we think it's safe to say Lady Gaga won't walk down the red carpet at the Oscars in a meat dress, she does still like to push the envelope when it comes to fashion, and every outfit becomes a work of art. Her previous Oscar moments have primarily involved white, but since that's the exact look she went for at the 2019 SAG Awards, I think it's likely she'll go down a slightly different route for the Oscars. As a nominee, Gaga will want to look like a princess, albeit a very avant-garde one. This Valentino couture gown has all the drama Gaga loves, in the kind of big and bold silhouette she's made her own. Plus, that color will definitely ensure she stands out.

Speaking of bold silhouettes, Giambattista Valli definitely had no shortage of them during his Spring 2019 couture show. The designer's high-voltage looks would appeal to Gaga's larger-than-life style, and the designer is definitely one to consider for the singer turned actress. However, there's one thing that might put Gaga off: she won't be the first to choose one of these high-low tulle gowns for a big occasion. Valli's been showing them for years. Jennifer Lopez sported a fuchsia design for the premiere of her movie Second Act, Rihanna famously wore a candy-pink version, and even Kendall Jenner's given the look a spin. Though the voluminous look suits Gaga's fashion sensibilities, chances are she will see this look as a bit "done."

With so many eyes on her fashion choices, my gut says Gaga and her team have had this one planned for a long time. She may well have something spectacular planned with her frequent fashion collaborator Brandon Maxwell, but if not, I think she'll dive into the archives instead and call on another iconic designer she's worked with before. Over the years, Gaga has worn dozens of Versace looks (including to the Oscars), and she obviously loves the label's mix of sexy and edgy glamour. This gown, shown during the couture shows in 2016, would be the perfect look for this boundary-pushing leading lady, but something tells me that if she goes the vintage route, she might go even farther back. Could we see a Gianni Versace look from his heyday, or perhaps a classic Dior look that should be in a museum?

Nominated for best supporting actress for The Favourite.

Let's get this one out of the way, shall we? It doesn't take a genius to work out that Emma Stone is most likely to wear Louis Vuitton. She's the face of the brand and has been pretty loyal to the label on recent outings, wearing LV to last year's Oscars, the Golden Globes, the Palm Springs Film Festival Awards Gala, and the SAG Awards. Her look will be custom, but perhaps she'll pick a cute mini like this one for the afterparties, when the looks get edgier and sexier. Don't discount her choosing pants or a high hemline, either.

If Emma does break the mold and choose another designer, it's likely she'll still stick to one of the established Paris-based fashion houses that dominate the red carpet on Oscar night. Before signing the dotted line with Louis Vuitton, Emma was pretty experimental when it came to designers, but she did have one very memorable moment in Giambattista Valli. She's worn pantsuits and jumpsuits on many red carpets recently, so maybe she'll go that route once more, in this Giambattista Valli couture look.

When she stepped out at the BAFTAs in 2017 wearing a Chanel dress over a pair of embellished pants, Emma proved that she can pull off just about anything from the label, including the silhouettes most of us would steer clear of. So maybe this year she'll decide to have a bit of fun in something like this frilled Chanel dress from the recent couture show. It would give Emma the opportunity to pay homage to Karl Lagerfeld on one of the most important nights for Hollywood and the fashion industry.

Nominated for best supporting actress for Vice.

Look, I know it's predictable to say "a redhead should wear a green dress," but Amy Adams looks incredible in green, and there's no getting away from that. She would knock it out of the park in this draped Oscar de la Renta number, and it would be a welcome change from the stiffer, more structured fabrics she tends to opt for on the red carpet. Amy's not afraid of showing her sexy side occasionally, so I don't think she'd shy away from the revealing panel of this gown, but even if a lining were added, it wouldn't take away from the Grecian-goddess-style gown.

There's usually at least one Armani Privé gown on the Oscars red carpet, and I think this sophisticated black embellished gown could be the one this year. If Amy's the one to wear it, she will definitely do it justice. She's actually one of the few celebrities who doesn't wear black very often on the red carpet, so though this dress is "safe" in terms of its classic styling, it wouldn't be expected from her, especially as she's worn black once this year already, to the SAG Awards.

What I would really love to see from Amy — who is up for her sixth Oscar this year — is a real showstopper with some serious sex appeal. This Elie Saab gown comes in a color she's worn frequently in the past, but the sexy cut would be something new to her. Amy's no stranger to shimmering gowns, but she tends to wear gold or silver sheaths, rather than sexy split dresses. Perhaps this is the year to try something new?

Nominated for best supporting actress for The Favourite.

Rachel's stuck to a monochrome look so far this award season, but she's definitely not afraid to experiment with details and embellishments. The actress, who gave birth to a daughter around six months ago, would look stunning in this statement gown by Oscar de la Renta. The color may be classic, but the silhouette and texture take it to new levels.

Given she's nominated for her work in a British production, it would be great to see Rachel wear a British label for her big night. She's wowed us in Alexander McQueen before, so the label is definitely top of my list for her this time around. She's worn bold prints and embellished looks on numerous occasions, including at previous Oscars ceremonies, so I would love to see her return to that this year in this black and white gown from the label's Spring 2019 collection. If Rachel's brave enough to keep the sleeves, all the better, but modified to become a simple strapless shape, it'll still be an eye-catching look worthy of a nominee who already has one Oscar under her belt.

Though the majority of her Oscars looks have been fairly simple in terms of silhouette, Rachel is definitely not afraid to try a sexy gown with a split, as she proved at the premiere of The Mercy when she wore a Miu Miu gown. This Zuhair Murad look takes that style to new levels and also features the strapless neckline Rachel has opted for time and time again on the red carpet. Bonus: the shimmer fabric would look incredible under the stage lights if she wins!

Nominated for best supporting actress for If Beale Street Could Talk.

Regina, who's nominated for best supporting actress for her role in If Beale Street Could Talk, definitely favors strapless gowns, and there's a very good reason for that: when you have arms like Regina King, you put them on show! As well as strapless designs, she's also got a penchant for metallic finishes, often choosing embellished styles for big red carpet moments. This luxurious Ralph Lauren gown takes that idea in a slightly different direction: the shades of bronze and chocolate still have that rich look, but rendered in velvet instead of sparkle, the result is a little more grown up. This dress would look incredible on her, and due to the softness of velvet, it would be comfortable too.

Regina wore a stunning neon gown to the 2018 Emmys, serving up one of the most memorable looks of the night. The color worked perfectly on her, but it's unlikely she'll wear the exact same shade again so soon. Instead, perhaps she'll put a new riff on a look she knows works, opting for this Carolina Herrera gown in buttercup yellow. It's got the strapless bodice she loves, plus all the drama deserving of an Oscar nominee in that full, textured skirt.

Since Regina is a fan of metallics, this wild-card choice would offer a new twist on the looks that have worked for her in the past. The one-shoulder silhouette of the gown works in a similar way to a strapless one, drawing the eye up, while the color pops just as well as a bright neon. The dress is by Peter Pilotto, a label that we rarely see on the red carpet but that's on everyone's lips after being chosen by Princess Eugenie for her wedding gown.

Nominated for lead actress for Roma.

With the 25-year-old actress nominated for one of the most prestigious awards of the night, it'll be no surprise if she turns up at the Oscars in one of the biggest names in fashion. This dreamy Dior couture gown would look incredible, and Yalitza's already proved she can rock this color, as she wore it to the movie's Mexico City premiere. She's also no stranger to Dior, having worn a Dior dress to the Producers Guild Awards. Could this be her perfect match?

I love when international stars choose homegrown design talent, so though Yalitza has sported everything from Miu Miu to Mulberry since Roma's release, I hold out hope she might wear a Mexican designer to the Oscars. Benito Santos would be the perfect person to turn to; he's no stranger to creating incredible red carpet gowns, and if Yalitza (or her costar Marina de Tavira) chooses him, I have no doubt the design will be custom, but fingers crossed it'll make as much of a statement as this monochrome gown.

Yalitza's proved on the red carpet circuit recently that no look is out of bounds, be it a skirt suit, an empire-waist dress, or a chic little '60s shift. That makes her one of the most unpredictable Oscar attendees, and though I do feel she'll most likely go down the princess route (wouldn't you, if you were in her shoes?), I hope that includes some bold color. This Georges Chakra couture gown would be perfect for her.

Nominated for lead actress for Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Melissa often chooses dresses with kimono sleeves and draping at the top, and this beautiful fluid velvet Prabal Gurung gown would be the perfect continuation of that theme, adding in a little twist with a cape back — this is the Oscars, after all. The rich color and luxurious fabric make a powerful statement, but the overall look still has a modern feel.

After wearing Reem Acra to the Golden Globes, there's a good chance Melissa may turn to the designer, and if she does, it'll be for a custom look. Acra is known for her embellishment and romantic designs, and a rich and ornate design like this one would make a great starting point for a new creation for Melissa. The deep red color is not one we've seen on her before, but I think it would look gorgeous against her chestnut hair.

Melissa slipped into a Jonathan Simkhai dress for the Oscars luncheon, so could that be a little hint as to a more high-profile collaboration in the future? The designer has shown some beautiful silver creations in the past, and they could easily inspire something new and exciting for Melissa to wear to the Oscars. She's definitely not afraid of a little sparkle, and I'd love to see her in one of the designer's sexy, modern looks. It will be completed, of course, with a pair of Brian Atwood shoes. (Melissa and Brian have known each other since high school and were even roommates for a time, so he'll no doubt be the man she turns to for her big night.)

Nominated for lead actress for The Wife.

How amazing would Glenn look in this Brandon Maxwell number? The skirt-and-sweater combo has a modern elegance that works perfectly for her, and we know she's not afraid of bold colors, having previously hit the red carpet in a red gown and a pink suit. The color clash in this look takes confidence and elegance to pull off, and Glenn has both in spades. All she would need is some killer diamond earrings to complete the look.

Glenn has often chosen quite tailored styles in heavy fabrics in the past, and this beautiful Alexis Mabille design combines some of her favorite details: tailoring, dark colors, and long sleeves. But it also has a little something she's more unfamiliar with: a full skirt, which would be the perfect, unexpected touch and totally befitting a front runner for the leading actress award. This is her style taken to 11!

If Glenn decides to choose a look with a matching cover-up, as she did at the Golden Globes, she couldn't go wrong with this understated but unique couture look by Stephane Rolland. This award season has been about her work, not her outfits, and this is a look that whispers, not shouts, which suits that perfectly. That said, the more you look at it, the more you notice the details: the red lining, the asymmetric design, and the chic embellishment.

Nominated for lead actress for The Favourite.

Burberry always used to be the label that dressed British stars, but since Riccardo Tisci took the helm, the label's gone in a different direction and seems less worried about sticking to those heritage roots. That said, what British label could resist dressing a homegrown lead actress nominee? Olivia's not afraid of a bright color (she wore red to the Venice Film Festival last year), but she does seem to pick classic black for many occasions. This fringed gown has more than a little in common with her Golden Globes look (which was custom Stella McCartney).

My favorite Oscars moments are almost always when someone wears something totally surprising: like Cate Blanchett in feminine mint-green Armani or Saoirse Ronan turning up the heat in sexy, sparkling Calvin Klein. I'd love for Olivia to eschew her usual penchant for tailored shapes in block colors and wear something really unexpected, like this fringed, 1930s-inspired gown from Monique Lhuillier. Metallics may be a predictable Oscars trend, but nobody will be expecting Olivia to wear a gown like this.

This runway styling doesn't exactly say "Oscars," but strip away all those accoutrements and you're left with exactly the kind of dress Olivia has veered toward in the past: simple in shape, a block color, a rich fabric that hangs beautifully, and just enough detail to stop it from looking boring. A modified version of this runway look with a slightly lower neckline and a few inches at the hem would look great on the British star.

Nominated for best supporting actress for Roma.

Like her costar Yalitza Aparicio, Marina has spent award season trying out looks from a whole host of designers, and her style is pretty fearless. I can see her having some fun on the red carpet and opting for a gown with personality, and this fun Miu Miu number would be perfect. The leopard print is unexpected, the cutouts give it a sexiness, and the jewels make sure she sparkles her way to the podium.

With metallic gowns being such a frequent choice for the Oscars in the past, this Ralph & Russo design has been on my mind ever since it hit the runway. It's sexy without being overt, showing skin in unexpected places (any actress considering it will have to think about underwear very carefully). Marina has shown that she's willing to try bright colors and prints, but perhaps the Oscars is the time for her to show a sexier and more sophisticated side?

For the Golden Globes, Marina sparkled in a mermaid-hued shimmering couture gown by Vivienne Westwood, and the scale-like shimmer of the dress was gorgeous on her. If she opts for something sparkly again, I could totally see her taking that look to the next level in this sexy number by David Koma. The designer showed a similar gown with sleeves if she wants to be a bit more covered up, but I think it's the black bodice that really makes this look.