In Hollywood, costume designers tell stories through clothes—so it was no surprise that tonight, at the 2025 Oscars, many of the nominated costumers came dressed in looks with interesting, meaningful backstories.
On the red carpet, renowned costume designers such as Arianne Phillips (A Complete Unknown), Paul Tazewell (Wicked), and Linda Muir (Nosferatu)—all nominated for their incredible work tonight—dressed with intention, choosing designs that nodded back to their films and their personal style sensibilities. While they often work behind-the-scenes bringing memorable fashions to life, the Oscars provide an opportunity to take their own distinctive wardrobes into the spotlight.
“I must admit that I was not at all prepared for the number of celebratory events that multiple nominations for the costuming of Nosferatu would generate,” Muir told Vogue ahead of the Oscars. “[I usually] choose one outfit that I could modify for all events: A dress and long jacket from German label Rundholtz, Black Label, with a different handbag (Dries Van Noten or Prada) or shoes (Miu Miu or Stuart Weitzman), or my favorite accessory—an 1838 inspired bow cravat utilizing silk from the film.”
For the Oscars, Muir elevated her approach to event dressing by choosing an evening look that paid homage to her own film, Nosferatu. She landed on a custom look by Canadian eveningwear designer Lucian Matis, who was born in Romania. “The storyline in Nosferatu leads us through Transylvania, and while I was researching and designing the costuming for characters set in the 1838 Romanian counties of Hunedoara and Bukovina, I fell in love with the traditional ‘folk’ embroidery, which is still a vibrant craft with deep meaning throughout Romania,” says Muir. “In celebration of Nosferatu on the red carpet, Lucian has combined a modern silhouette, traditional European techniques, and handmade Transylvanian needlework or authentic embroidery motifs created in crystal. I feel like pure gold!”
Arianne Phillips, nominated for her costume work in A Complete Unknown, chose a custom dress by Valentino for the occasion. Her ensemble subtly referenced her film—embodying the 1960s period the film is set in. “I am thrilled to be wearing my dream dress designed by my friend Alessandro Michele,” said Phillips. “I am inspired by his beautiful use of color and exquisite femininity. Wearing this dress feels like a nod to the great women rock and roll icons of the ’60s like Marianne Faithfull, Dusty Springfield, and Anita Pallenberg. This dress also speaks to my own personal style, which I would call ’60s-’70s goth.” Michele adds of the design, “I have known Arianne for many years. She is a great professional and a dear friend, whom I care for deeply. I am happy to have ‘wrapped’ her, and to be by her side on such a special evening as the Oscars.”
Other costumers, like Paul Tazewell and Lisy Christl, ran with different inspirations that weren’t so strictly tied to their nominated projects. Conclave costumer Christl chose a high-neck, bright-orange top that was slightly papal in feel. While Tazewell could have channeled method dressing in Wicked shades of green or pink, he went classic in a custom Dolce Gabbana single-breasted tuxedo, complete with satin lapels and wide-leg pants. It was subtle, yet still had a thoughtful reference. “In planning this classic look for the Academy Awards, I drew significant inspiration from the Black dandies of yesteryear,” says Tazewell. “[I was also inspired by] the debut tuxedo from Yves Saint Laurent s 1966 collection, famously captured by Helmut Newton in Paris. It provided the exact silhouette I was seeking.”
