The Best Dressed at the Academy Gala Brought Back Old Hollywood Glamour

Shannon Adducci
·3 min read
17

Tinseltown is back.

After months of a strike-induced absence of galas, award shows and film premieres — and a subsequent dearth of glitz and glamour — Hollywood is finally back on the red carpet.

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Last night’s Academy Gala proved it, with a lineup of red carpet looks full of dramatic silhouettes, lush, holiday-friendly accoutrements and plenty of diamonds to complete the Old Hollywood feel.

While only in its third year, the gala is held in honor of the Academy Museum (which also opened in 2021) and has quickly emerged as one of the industry’s most glamorous and heavy hitting nights. Originally scheduled for October and moved to early December due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, the gala has also become something of a precursor to January’s awards-season kickoff.

Selena Gomez at the 2023 Academy Museum Gala held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on December 3, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Selena Gomez in custom Valentino, Tamara Mellon footwear and Tiffany & Co. jewelry at the 2023 Academy Museum Gala held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on December 3, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.Michael Buckner for Variety

Embodying the evening’s classic glamour was Selena Gomez, who arrived on the red carpet in a custom black velvet Valentino gown with an open-shouldered detailing of sequined rosettes that draped around her neck, criss-crossing to her arms. The star wore Tamara Mellon heels underneath the gown and a suite of mega-powered diamonds from Tiffany & Co., including platinum and diamond chandeliers, an archival bracelet and a gigantic diamond cocktail ring from the jeweler’s famous Blue Book collection.

Tracee Ellis Ross at the 2023 Academy Museum Gala held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on December 3, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Tracee Ellis Ross in Richard Quinn at the 2023 Academy Museum Gala held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on December 3, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.Michael Buckner for Variety
Hailey Bieber at the 2023 Academy Museum Gala held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on December 3, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Hailey Bieber in custom Saint Laurent at the 2023 Academy Museum Gala held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on December 3, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.Michael Buckner for Variety

A palette of sequined black, red, white and silver could be found on the rest of the red carpet. Cool evening whites were worn by Tracee Ellis Ross, Salma Hayek, Natasha Lyonne, Rashida Jones and Laura Harrier, while stars in dramatic red included Angela Bassett, Greta Lee and Kendall Jenner. More colorful looks appeared on Lupita Nyong’o, whose spring-like yellow Chanel gown and crown of baby’s breath still managed to read as powerfully elegant among the darker gowns on the red carpet, and Oprah Winfrey, whose purple sequined Dolce & Gabbana gown quickly became the talk of the evening.

Lupita Nyong'o at the 2023 Academy Museum Gala held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on December 3, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Lupita Nyong’o in Chanel at the 2023 Academy Museum Gala held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on December 3, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.Michael Buckner for Variety
Oprah Winfrey at the 2023 Academy Museum Gala held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on December 3, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Oprah Winfrey in Dolce & Gabbana at the 2023 Academy Museum Gala held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on December 3, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.Michael Buckner for Variety

See all the best dressed at the 2023 Academy Gala here.

Launch Gallery: The Best Dressed at the 2023 Academy Gala

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