The 2024 Oscars may be over, but some of the looks are still living rent-free in my mind. While I’ll always adore a glam moment like Jennifer Lawrence’s Dior couture dress, or a vintage piece like Sydney Sweeney’s Marc Bouwer gown—previously worn by Angelina Jolie—I can’t stop thinking about all of the zany accessories that made the carpet so fun.
The Oscars are by far the most self-serious of all the marquee awards shows, and attendees tend to play it pretty safe when it comes to the fashion as a result. But there were a few standout moments of levity that really enlivened the carpet.
The Godzilla Minus One team quite possibly won the night. Not only did they take home the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, but they managed to sneak in two sartorial nods to their film. Masaki Takahashi, Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya and Tatsuji Nojima all ended the night with an Oscar in one hand and a Godzilla toy in the other. (Yamazaki, clearly in the winning spirit, carried a gold Godzilla figurine.) But they didn’t stop at the toys. Each member of the team rocked a pair of shoes with a Godzilla claw for a heel. Kudos to whoever suggested this in the group chat.
Melissa McCarthy hit the Vanity Fair Oscars After-Party with another sweet accessory. The actor took to the red carpet wearing a black Valdrin Sahiti dress complete with shoulder pads, built-in gloves, and a lion door-knocker. But the real scene-stealer was McCarthy’s bejeweled cannoli purse from Kinza Winza, bedazzled by Sophie Anzaldo. Her stylist, Katja Cahill, told People that the two decided to lean into the mob wife trend. While the whole trend seemed marked by fur coats and leopard print, the literal take—especially on such a visible carpet—put a fun spin on something that grows tired.
McCarthy wasn’t alone in carrying a sumptuous bag on the carpet. Laura Karpman, composer of American Fiction and nominee for Best Original Score, accessorized her silver sequined ensemble with a purple sequined Cadbury dairy milk purse, which was filled with chocolates that she tossed to photographers on the carpet. And Karpman didn’t stop at the bag—she also wore a pair of futuristic silver Ottolinger sunglasses with twisted frames, which she swapped for more Elton John-esque glasses for the after-party.
All in all, nobody seemed to be having as much fun as the people who leaned into kitschy accessorizing. When celebrating a special night—and for the Godzilla team and Karpman, major accomplishments—why not reflect it through clothing? Perhaps next year more people should follow suit, and lighten up.
