Every time we think Hollywood has reached peak glamour when we’re convinced a celebrity has delivered the defining look of award season, they surprise us again. And though the Oscars are still months away, the 2025 Governors Awards in Los Angeles has already offered a tantalising glimpse into the red-carpet splendour we can expect from the year ahead.
Honouring Debbie Allen, Tom Cruise, Wynn Thomas, and Dolly Parton, the star-studded evening became a celebration of cinematic excellence and fashion fantasy. The carpet glistened with white gowns, reds that ignited the night, and silhouettes that reminded us why Hollywood will always own glamour.
From Jennifer Lawrence and Sydney Sweeney to Tom Cruise and Jeremy White Allen, the industry’s most influential and most photographed names showed up to win the fashion game. And while the night delivered countless standout ensembles, here are the looks that defined the evening.
Sydney Sweeney
Sydney Sweeney, who has dominated headlines this year for reasons both cinematic and cultural, radiated under the lights in a white gown dusted with silver detailing. The design featured an ethereal train that unfurled from the bodice and floated behind her like moonlit fabric in motion.
A sculpted sweetheart neckline framed her décolletage, while soft, short waves, very Old Hollywood, very Sydney, completed the look. She accessorised minimally, with delicate diamond earrings that screamed elegance in a quiet, subtle way.
Anya Taylor-Joy
Anya Taylor-Joy delivered one of the most memorable style moments of the night in a sculptural, see-through couture creation by Maison Margiela. Ethereal yet architectural, the gown demonstrated the kind of risk only true couture and true fashion courage can carry.
Paired with Tiffany & Co. jewellery, her all-white vision was runway ready. Few can create drama without embellishment and Anya does it effortlessly.
Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence doubled down on the night’s unofficial theme – white goddess energy, in a sweeping Christian Dior gown that mixed ancient sculpture and modern minimalism in equal measure. The silhouette, while soft and feminine, was its own form of extravagance.
Her JAR ear clips added subtle sparkle, while her nude makeup kept the focus entirely on the gown’s whisper-soft drapes.
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande returned to her signature Glinda-pink palette in a vintage, asymmetrical Dior by John Galliano. The gown, adorned with multicoloured stone and beadwork, felt whimsical without losing its couture gravitas.
Her classic bun added discipline to the look, grounding the fantasy in sleek elegance.
Elle Fanning
Elle Fanning once again embraced her fairy-tale fashion identity, gliding onto the carpet in a delicate sequin Gucci gown in the palest, dreamiest shade of pink. It was princess-core perfected and unapologetically romantic.
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez, never one to shy away from a theatrical entrance, delivered maximum impact in a figure-hugging Tamara Ralph haute couture ensemble. Black and cream panels carved out a silhouette that celebrated her curves like an architectural marvel.
Sleek hair and her signature opera gloves brought the full JLo drama.
Emma Stone
Emma Stone opted for a classic black Louis Vuitton gown elevated with stone-studded off-shoulder detailing. Understated yet incredibly chic.
Her choice of a single delicate ear cuff, leaving the rest of her ear bare, felt perfect.
Dakota Johnson
Dakota Johnson wore a delicate green strapless gown with gentle ruching at the waist, an ode to her signature aesthetic of soft, unforced elegance. Her hair and makeup were quintessentially Dakota – unfussy, glowing, cool-girl refined.
Lucy Liu
At 56, Lucy Liu stunned in a daring red Zuhair Murad gown featuring a strategic cut-out at the décolletage. The vibrant colour, bold silhouette, and half updo created a look that was powerful, confident, and utterly ageless.
The Men Who Mastered Formalwear
Even the men stepped up.
Jeremy Allen White
Jeremy Allen White kept it crisp and timeless in a white shirt paired with a cummerbund, leaning into classic Hollywood tailoring with minimalist modern appeal.
Rami Malek
Rami Malek added a welcome jolt of colour to the carpet with a red velvet blazer – a sartorial risk that paid off with texture, richness, and confidence.
Tom Cruise
The man of the hour stayed true to tradition in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo. Understated, elegant, and unmistakably Tom Cruise.
A Night of Fashion Foreshadowing
If the Governors Awards were any indication, the upcoming award season is shaping up to be a year of white-hot glamour, sculptural silhouettes, and unapologetic fashion risks.
