WITH the Oscars bringing awards season to a close for another year, not only do we now have a bunch of movies, TV series and albums we need to catch up on, we've also got a glut of gorgeous gowns providing fashion inspiration for months to come.
Whether it's prom night, a wedding, or a glitzy party or black tie event, when it's comes to occasion wear, dressing like you're a celebrity for a day is what it's all about – even if you haven't got a red carpet to walk down and hordes of photographers shouting your name.
This year, there were four key trends that emerged from the major awards ceremonies – and the good news is that you can channel them all with dresses starting from less than £50.
Here's how to steal the stars' style on the high street...
PINK
By far the biggest trend from the 2019 awards circuit, there was a whole spectrum of pink on show – from Katy Perry's powder pink at the Grammys and Helen Mirren's rich raspberry tones, to Zawe Ashton and Gemma Chan's voluminous neon gowns. There's a perfect pink for everyone. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone when shopping – you might discover that blush looks beautiful when teamed with tonal accessories and make-up, or that a neon cocktail dress is surprisingly wearable.
METALLIC
According to research by Accessorize, gold is the luckiest colour for Academy Award nominees to wear, which might explain why metallic dresses have been so popular at all the awards ceremonies – particularly clingy column frocks like those worn by Jennifer Lopez and Brie Larson at the Oscars. A slinky sequined dress is guaranteed to make you feel like a movie star, but if bodycon isn't your cup of tea, look for gathered or wrap style dresses in looser fabrics.
BLACK
Think black dresses are boring? You won't when you see how actors like Viola Davis, Glenn Close and Thandie Newton styled theirs, choosing gowns that were black with a twist – like a big bow or embellished overlay. You can do the same, by choosing a midi dress with white ruffle detailing or an asymmetric maxi with an interesting neckline. Finish with a bold matte red lip to complete the look.
TULLE
When the stars want to really make a statement on the red carpet, they bust out the tulle. Linda Cardellini's hot pink dip-hem Oscars dress, and Rachel Weisz's white Baftas confection were two of the most memorable of the season. A white ruffled dress can look a bit too bridal, so it's a no-no for wedding guests. But pastel colours always look pretty, or you could take a leaf out of Margot Robbie's book, with a dark tulle number teamed with sparkling accessories.
