A look. A mood.

Words: Daniël Geldenhuys | Images: Getty

Just like that, the first awards season of the decade is over. Through the usual rotation of red carpet hits and misses, the move towards individuality continues to gain momentum. And still, trends emerge. And it’s better to think of them as moods: a style mindset you can apply to your next occasion look. You don’t need a stylist or couturier on your payroll, just some inspiration and a clear idea.

The dress doesn’t always need to be the key talking point. Some of the most radiant women on the red carpet wore simple pieces that enhanced their natural charm. The shimmer was subtle, because the true star of the look is often the woman herself and an easy charismatic beauty.

You might say these women stepped out of a vintage Hollywood film, but then you look at Cynthia Erivo’s Versace gown and think: the 1920s could never. These looks strike an alluring balance between all-out glamour and conscious restraint. The drama is demure and the sly wink towards a vintage era feels recalibrated for contemporary times.

Kerry Washington won the game of Reveal/Conceal at the Golden Globes, but when it comes to body-conscious dressing there are levels. A key area of focus this year is the midriff – just peeking out from between Dua Lipa’s Wang separates or subtly flexing beneath Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Armani crystal mesh. The takeaway? Choose the area you’d like to emphasise, then do it in a way that makes you feel comfortable.

It’s the postmodern fairytale blockbuster movie (or perhaps soundtrack) you’ve been waiting for. It stars Billie Eilish as the swamp queen, Lil Nas X as the cowboy prince, Ariana Grande as the aloof princess and Joey King as the illusionist. Pulling off a look like this is all about intention: if you’re going for it, go all in.

Though in Timothée Chalamet’s case it may not have been intentional, it’s always good to give the people something to talk about. And if you can ignite a meme, even better. Billie Porter topped off his Baja East look at the Grammys with a fringed mechanical hat. Said hat was designed to move the fringing around his face, dramatically covering his eyes to ignite a mood the internet likened to Rihanna evading questions about her next album. Timothée Chalamet’s Prada ensemble had Twitter wondering if he was in charge of the valet service at the Oscars Natalie Portman’s Oscars Dior cloak had the names of all the snubbed female directors embroidered on its lapel. It was a subtle yet undeniable piece of activism that brought attention to the continued shortcomings of the Academy.