Stars Deliver Modern and Colorful Looks on Oscars Red Carpet

Maria Ekerhovel, from left, Elle Fanning, Joachim Trier, center, Eskil Vogt, Anders Danielsen Lie, Renate Reinsve, and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas accept the award for interntional feature film for "Sentimental Value" during the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Maria Ekerhovel, from left, Elle Fanning, Joachim Trier, center, Eskil Vogt, Anders Danielsen Lie, Renate Reinsve, and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas accept the award for interntional feature film for "Sentimental Value" during the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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Stars Deliver Modern and Colorful Looks on Oscars Red Carpet

Maria Ekerhovel, from left, Elle Fanning, Joachim Trier, center, Eskil Vogt, Anders Danielsen Lie, Renate Reinsve, and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas accept the award for interntional feature film for "Sentimental Value" during the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Maria Ekerhovel, from left, Elle Fanning, Joachim Trier, center, Eskil Vogt, Anders Danielsen Lie, Renate Reinsve, and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas accept the award for interntional feature film for "Sentimental Value" during the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Pops of color dominated the Oscars red carpet as stars like Renate Reinsve to Chase Infiniti stunned in colorful gowns that put a modern twist on traditional Oscar’s red carpet dressing.

Reinsve radiated on the carpet in a bright red Louis Vuitton strapless dress with a high side slit and curved train. She paired the look with a red lip and her hair slicked back. For her first Academy Award ceremony, Infiniti opted for a pale lavender mermaid-style ruffle dress also by Louis Vuitton that she wore with a shimmering jeweled choker. The Hollywood darling has delivered strikingly stylish looks across award show season for her role in “One Battle After Another.”

For cinema’s biggest night, some stars marked their moment with designs that evoked old Hollywood glamour.

Rose Byrne arrived in a timeless custom black Dior gown embroidered with colorful beaded flowers. Actor Wunmi Mosaku of “Sinners” showcased classic elegance in an off-the-shoulder teal sequined Louis Vuitton dress while also showing off her baby bump.

Inspired by Grace Kelly's 1956 Oscar's dress, Jessie Buckley wore a color-blocked Chanel dress with a light pink skirt and lipstick-red shawl over her shoulders.

“This was a much more colorful carpet than past events throughout the awards season,” Halie LeSavage, Marie Claire’s senior fashion news editor, said. ”It feels like the nominees and the presenters are loosening up and really getting into a celebratory mood for the last big show of the season.”

In keeping with their colorful animated film, the cast of “KPop Demon Hunters” delivered a splash of eye-catching colors to the red carpet in their regal gowns.

Arden Cho chose Korean designer Miss Sohee with a structured black lace mermaid gown and an opulent vibrant green silk stole designed with an intricate nature scene. Co-star Ji-young Yoo posed in a two-toned blue Carolina Herrera ball gown with a romantic sweetheart-shaped neckline.

Cloud Dancers Balanced among all the colorful attire, the Pantone color of the year, Cloud Dancer, once again had its moment. Actors in off-white gowns glistened in front of the cream backdrop of the carpet. Emma Stone sparkled in her simple yet captivating opalescent paillette dress with its low back and scoop neckline, The Associated Press reported.

Elle Fanning added a romantic touch to the carpet in her white Givenchy by Sarah Burton dramatic ball gown adorned with wisteria flowers. Fanning accented her scene-stealing dress with a Cartier wisteria-shaped necklace from 1903.

Like Fanning, ELLE’s Beauty Director, Kathleen Hou said the red carpet stars sported polished and slicked back updos to draw the attention to their gowns.
Gwyneth Paltrow kept it minimalist and sexy with her Giorgio Armani Privé ivory silk strapless gown that revealed one long cut out down the sides of her dress.

Red carpet risk-taker Timothée Chalamet stayed on trend in an off-white Givenchy by Sarah Burton suit with matching white shirt, tie and shoes. He accessorized his looks with rings and sunglasses. Chalamet famously wore a butter yellow suit by the same designer last year.

“For his whole Oscars campaign, Timothée has really used fashion to tell a story, to promote his role in ‘Marty Supreme’,” Hine said. “All white suggests he’s at the end of the tour.”

Stars take flight with feathers Gowns on the carpet featured luxurious fabrics, textures and even feathers. Demi Moore emerged on the carpet in a whimsical, fully feathered, green-toned Gucci dress. Moore, who was not nominated for an Oscar, certainly stole the spotlight from her peers with her dramatic gown.

Actor Pedro Pascal integrated feathers in a more subtle way with a large, feathered brooch fastened to his custom Chanel look by Matthieu Blazy.

The latest designer to helm the French house has been the talk of the town with fashionistas lining up at Chanel stores to buy his collection.

Fashion trailblazer Teyana Taylor wore a fitted feathered white and black sheer dress on the carpet by Blazy.

“Teyana’s dress is also my front-runner for best dressed of the night because it took a lot of those Chanel codes that fashion fans really love and made them feel so fresh and so Teyana,” LeSavage said. “They’re a house that doesn’t do a lot of bodycon or sheer. It tapped into a whole bunch of different elements that felt very glamorous and very Oscars but also aligned with all of the risks that Teyana has been taking throughout her awards season run this year.”

In another take on feathers by Blazy, Nicole Kidman wore an off-white feathered gown with a corseted peplum bodice that was dipped into a cream color at the hem.

Men follow suit with tailoring While the women flaunted vivid colors on the carpet, the men subverted traditional codes of black-tie attire with their suiting.

Oscar night performer Shaboozey rarely disappoints on the carpet with his modern takes on black tie attire. The red-carpet style maven sported a Balenciaga tailcoat look with a vest and a pearl pocket chain and matching pearl earrings.

“Sinners” star Michael B Jordan brought out a golden pocket chain that accentuated his Louis Vuitton suit. His costar Miles Caton was one of the few male actors to add color to the carpet. Caton walked the carpet in an all-plum colored look from AMIRI with a matching plum jacket, tie and trousers.

“What we have been seeing in recent years is men embracing designer fashion spins on the traditional tuxedo, especially younger actors,” Samuel Hine, GQ’s global fashion correspondent said. “Their participation in the fashion world is an important part of the promotion of their personal brands.”

“Sinners” director Ryan Coogler and actor Jacob Elordi were some of the few Oscar attendees that donned the traditional black tie look of a bow tie.

Fashion made political Oscar attendees sometimes make more than fashion statements. Actors chose to make political statements on the carpet by calling for a ceasefire in Gaza with their ‘Artists4Ceasefire’ pins. The organization issued new pins with a design by Shepard Fairey that now feature a dove and a lotus flower wrapped with a barbed wire. Actor Charithra Chandran added the pin on the carpet to her lush, bright-green ball gown.

Saja Kilani of “The Voice of Hind Rajab” wore the pin with her chic black dress on the carpet.

“Our struggles are all connected, so is our liberation,” she told The Associated Press.

After the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, Javier Bardem said he wore a pin to protest the war. On Sunday he re-wore the pin, which read, “No a la Guerra” or “No to war” on the carpet. Onstage while presenting, Bardem spoke out against the current global turmoil, saying, “No to war and free Palestine.”



Kering Seeks to 'Reignite Desirability' with Gucci Reset

(FILES) This illustrative photograph shows screens displaying the logo of the French company Kering, listed on the CAC 40, the main stock market index of the Paris Stock Exchange, in Toulouse on March 31, 2026. (Photo by Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP)
(FILES) This illustrative photograph shows screens displaying the logo of the French company Kering, listed on the CAC 40, the main stock market index of the Paris Stock Exchange, in Toulouse on March 31, 2026. (Photo by Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP)
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Kering Seeks to 'Reignite Desirability' with Gucci Reset

(FILES) This illustrative photograph shows screens displaying the logo of the French company Kering, listed on the CAC 40, the main stock market index of the Paris Stock Exchange, in Toulouse on March 31, 2026. (Photo by Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP)
(FILES) This illustrative photograph shows screens displaying the logo of the French company Kering, listed on the CAC 40, the main stock market index of the Paris Stock Exchange, in Toulouse on March 31, 2026. (Photo by Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP)

French luxury group Kering vowed Thursday to "reignite desirability" of its flagging Gucci label, once the jet set's most coveted brand, as it seeks to turn around its financial performance.

The giant Paris-based fashion conglomerate, which also owns Yves Saint Laurent and Bottega Veneta, chose Florence, the birthplace of its flagship double-G brand, to unveil its turnaround plans to investors.

Kering plans a "structural reset" to be completed by the end of the year that will make it more efficient in order to improve margins and restore financial discipline to its brands, AFP quoted the company as saying.

Kering promises to offer "the agility of a challenger, a renewed focus on desirability and a stronger commitment to execution," Chief Executive Luca de Meo said in a statement.

Whether Kering's new plan -- called ReconKering -- will be enough to revive the struggling Gucci brand is yet to be seen, especially given the tough selling environment facing the entire luxury sector amid geopolitical tensions and more cautious consumer spending.

Long the bright spot in Kering's portfolio and the darling of the fashion set before the Covid pandemic, sales of Gucci have since slumped by over a third to six billion euros last year.

While Gucci accounted for two-thirds of Kering's sales in 2019, that share fell to under 40 percent in 2025, pointing to its lackluster reception by luxury shoppers.

Profitability also sagged over this period.

Last year, Kering brought in Georgian Gen Z streetwear favorite Demna as Gucci's new artistic director while poaching De Meo from Renault, where he revitalized the automaker's lineup and financial performance.

Kering said it will go about "reigniting desirability by refocusing the brand around what makes it unmistakably Gucci, with clear creative direction, disciplined codes and a revitalized heritage with true cultural impact."

Sales in Gucci's first quarter declined by 14 percent to 1.35 billion euros, hit by shrinking demand in its key market of China and a cautious consumer environment due to the war in the Middle East.

Shares of Kering fell nearly two percent on the Paris stock exchange, underscoring investor's tepid response to the turnaround plans.

Kering gave few clues as to how exactly it would right the ship at Gucci, which enjoyed its headiest days under designer Tom Ford in the 1990s, who turned the leather goods brand into a fashion powerhouse beloved of the jetset.

"Gucci has had all sorts of issues. It's had issues on distribution. It's had issues on product. It's had issues on pricing," said Flavio Cereda, a luxury sector specialist at GAM, an investment firm, ahead of the investor day.

"Do people care about Gucci today? I don't think they do. Can people care about Gucci in six months' time? It's perfectly possible. We just don't know."

Kering said a new group platform will consolidate key functions such as purchasing, logistics, research and development and quality control for all its brands.

That will allow each brand within the portfolio to operate with more "power, speed and efficiency", Kering said.

For the group as a whole, Kering envisions doubling its recurring operating margin in the medium term to reach at least 22 percent, while improving its return on capital -- another measure of profitability -- by 20 percent, helped by more controlled inventory and selective investments.

By the end of 2028, Kering said, the group "will be in a phase of renewed, sustainable growth."


Kering Shares Slide After Gucci Sales Disappoint

A logo of fashion house Gucci is seen outside a shop in Paris, France, April 15, 2024. (Reuters)
A logo of fashion house Gucci is seen outside a shop in Paris, France, April 15, 2024. (Reuters)
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Kering Shares Slide After Gucci Sales Disappoint

A logo of fashion house Gucci is seen outside a shop in Paris, France, April 15, 2024. (Reuters)
A logo of fashion house Gucci is seen outside a shop in Paris, France, April 15, 2024. (Reuters)

Kering shares plunged as much as 10% on Wednesday after first-quarter sales at its Italian flagship brand Gucci dropped more than expected, underlining the challenges in reviving the brand's appeal.

Gucci sales fell 8%, the 11th straight quarterly decline, as the Iran war weighed on spending by Middle Eastern shoppers and curtailed international travel.

Shares ‌were down ‌8.5% to 255 euros at ‌0827 ⁠GMT and on ⁠track for their steepest daily decline in more than a year.

The result came days before Kering CEO Luca de Meo is due to unveil his strategic plan to turn around the 33-billion-euro ($39 ⁠billion) group's fortunes.

"While guidance was ‌confirmed, the timeline ‌for a Gucci turnaround remains uncertain and likely ‌gradual, against a challenging macro backdrop and ‌ongoing geopolitical tensions," Citi analysts wrote.

Like larger peers LVMH and Hermes, Kering is facing deteriorating demand from customers impacted by the conflict in the ‌Middle East.

Kering said it had seen strong demand for Gucci ⁠products ⁠in North America, but JPMorgan analysts said this was likely a trend for all luxury brands, rather than just Gucci, and pointed to double-digit declines in all other regions.

"This suggests, in our view, that the turnaround will take a lot longer, and much more work, than the bulls would hope for," they said.

Kering shares are down around 7% so far in 2026.


Texas Attorney General Probes Lululemon over Potential 'Forever Chemicals'

FILE PHOTO: A Lululemon sign is seen at a shopping mall in San Diego, California, US, November, 23, 2022.  REUTERS/Mike Blake//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A Lululemon sign is seen at a shopping mall in San Diego, California, US, November, 23, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Blake//File Photo
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Texas Attorney General Probes Lululemon over Potential 'Forever Chemicals'

FILE PHOTO: A Lululemon sign is seen at a shopping mall in San Diego, California, US, November, 23, 2022.  REUTERS/Mike Blake//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A Lululemon sign is seen at a shopping mall in San Diego, California, US, November, 23, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Blake//File Photo

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into athleisure brand Lululemon over the potential presence of "forever chemicals" in its activewear, he said on Monday in a post on social-media platform X.

The probe will examine whether Lululemon's athletic apparel contains PFAS, which the brand's health-conscious customers would not expect based on its marketing, Paxton said. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of widely used materials called "forever chemicals" because they do ⁠not break down easily ⁠in nature.

"Lululemon does not use PFAS in its products," a company spokesperson said, adding it phased out the substance in fiscal 2023, after limited use in durable water repellent products.

According to Reuters, Attorney General Paxton said emerging research and consumer concerns have raised ⁠questions about whether certain synthetic materials in the apparel could be linked to endocrine disruption, infertility, cancer and other health risks.

PFAS are associated with harmful health effects in humans and animals, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.

The Office of the Attorney General will examine Lululemon's testing protocols, restricted substances list and supply chain practices against state safety standards.

"If Lululemon has violated Texas law, it will be ⁠held accountable," Paxton ⁠said in his post.

The company spokesperson said they are aware of the inquiry and are cooperating.

Earlier this year, the company had to pull its "Get Low" workout collection from its website following user complaints, only resuming online sales after addressing the issues.

Lululemon, which appointed a former chief of jeans maker Levi Strauss to the board last month, has forecast weak annual results amid tepid demand and an ongoing proxy fight with its founder.