10 runway gowns we want to see at the Oscars (and who’d rock them)

by Sarah Casselman February 25, 2016

The Best Dressed list. Besides winning an Oscar (you know, so you can keep it in your bathroom like Kate Winslet), securing a spot on one of the Best Dressed lists is what this golden night is all about. Behind the scenes, stylists have been working around the clock for weeks (and sometimes months) with their celeb clients, like Cate Blanchett and Jennifer Lawrence, to find the perfect dress. The one that will spark a flashbulb frenzy on the red carpet and fill up the Twitterverse for all the right reasons. Who doesn’t remember Nicole Kidman’s chartreuse haute couture gown by John Galliano for Christian Dior in 1997 or Lupita Nyong’o’s pastel Prada gown in 2014? Both winners, regardless if they went home with a gold statue or not.

This Sunday, the 88^th Academy Awards will roll out its red carpet, and at home we’ll be playing the dress game—OMG, I love it or OMFG, I hate it. It’s like the Super Bowl of fashion (the annual Met Gala in New York comes a close second). Celebs suit up and either score serious style points or get tackled in the post red carpet wrap-ups on TV, social media, and even around the office. From Rachel McAdams to Rooney Mara, this year’s female nominees are all poised to take home statues and/or sartorial bragging rights. We’ll be watching, but in the meantime check out our Oscar nominee dream dress pairings from the Fall 2016 collections. Anything can happen on this magical night.

Photography by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Photography by Peter Stigter

Photography by Samir Hussein/WireImage

Photography by Peter Stigter

Photography by Patrick Kovarik/AFP/Getty Images

Photography by Peter Stigter

Photography by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Turner

Photography by Peter Stigter

Photography by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

Photography by Peter Stigter

Photography by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Photography by Peter Stigter

Photography by Karwai Tang/WireImage

Photography by Peter Stigter

Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Photography by Peter Stigter

Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for DGA

Photography by Peter Stigter

Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images

Photography by Peter Stigter

1/20

Cate Blanchett is nominated for Carol in the category Actress in a Leading Role : We want to see her wearing…

2/20

A fiery, floral-embellished Marchesa Fall 2016 gown.

Why: Cate Blanchett is the queen of drama and elegance on the red carpet.

3/20

Rooney Mara is nominated for Carol in the category Actress in a Supporting Role: We want to see her wearing…

4/20

A sheer metallic Julian MacDonald Fall 2016 gown.

Why: Rooney Mara favours nudes and blush tones on the red carpet, so silver grabs the spotlight in a fresh, unexpected way.

5/20

Charlotte Rampling is nominated for 45 Years in the category Actress in a Leading Role: We want to see her wearing…

6/20

A chic Mulberry Fall 2106 tux dress and trousers.

Why: Charlotte Rampling’s go-to look has been head-to-toe black, but a little transparency and a trendy take on the tux adds serious star power.

7/20

Brie Larson is nominated for Room in the category Actress in a Leading Role: We want to see her wearing…

8/20

A liquid gold Ralph Lauren Fall 2016 gown.

Why: Brie Larson has had a few hits, and a few misses, on the red carpet. She should take her style cues from the coveted golden statue—it’s always a winner.

9/20

Kate Winslet is nominated for Steve Jobs in the category Actress in a Supporting Role: We want to see her wearing…

10/20

A graphic Derek Lam Fall 2016 gown.

Why: Kate Winslet loves one-shouldered looks—this tulle dream still shows skin, but in a pretty peek-a-boo way.

11/20

Jennifer Jason Leigh is nominated for The Hateful Eight in the category Actress in a Supporting Role: We want to see her wearing…

12/20

A whimsical sequin House of Holland Fall 2016 dress.

Why: Jennifer Jason Leigh is quirky, so her style should reflect her personality. (Not everyone can make a splash in glittering jellyfish.)

13/20

Saoirse Ronan is nominated for Brooklyn in the category Actress in a Leading Role: We want to see her wearing…

14/20

A flowy white Prabal Gurung Fall 2016 gown.

Why: Saoirse Ronan sticks to classic silhouettes, but the shoulder cut-outs and sprinkle of embellishment on this dress say cool girl-next-door.

15/20

Jennifer Lawrence is nominated for Joy in the category Actress in a Leading Role: We want to see her wearing…

16/20

A lacey Alberta Ferretti Fall 2016 gown.

Why: Jennifer Lawrence has tried everything on the red carpet—crop tops, girly, edgy, backless—but we haven’t seen her rock a romantic look with old world charm. It’s time.

17/20

Rachel McAdams is nominated for Spotlight in the category Actress in a Supporting Role: We want to see her wearing…

18/20

A pretty Oscar de la Renta Fall 2016 gown.

Why: Rachel McAdams likes girlish details such as floral appliqué and lace, so a pink confection with a wallpaper-inspired print is perfect for this Hollywood sweetheart.

19/20

Alicia Vikander is nominated for The Danish Girl in the category Actress in a Supporting Role: We want to see her wearing…

20/20

A minimalist Narciso Rodriguez Fall 2016 gown.

Why: Alicia Vikander’s go-tos have been all over black and sparkle this season, but the 90s are calling and this chic slip dress is her golden ticket to the best dressed list.

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