The 2025 Governors Awards, held Sunday night in Los Angeles, offered a first significant glimpse at the fashion houses and styles set to dominate the upcoming awards season.
The red carpet made one thing clear: the stars are stepping up their fashion game earlier than expected.
Now in its 16th year, the ceremony, hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, is widely considered the unofficial kickoff to awards season. It provides the Academy a platform to bestow honorary awards to actors, filmmakers and industry figures for their exceptional contributions to cinema.
This year’s honorees included Debbie Allen, Tom Cruise and Wynn Thomas for their outstanding achievements in film, as well as Dolly Parton, who received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
Among the evening’s standouts was actress Anya Taylor-Joy, who wore a sheer gown by Maison Margiela, a now-iconic design previously seen in a different version on Kim Kardashian earlier this year.
Sydney Sweeney, who has cemented her status as a fashion icon in 2025, stunned in an elegant, gem-studded gown by Christian Cowan.
Mia Goth, a muse to designer Jonathan Anderson, drew attention in a voluminous light-blue Dior dress. Also turning heads were Jennifer Lawrence in a white gown and Emma Stone, who surprised with a minimalist black velvet column dress. Here’s our take on the most memorable red carpet looks from the glamorous night.
Sydney Sweeney in Christian Cowan
Actress Sydney Sweeney continues to shape her fashion image through high-impact red carpet appearances. Following controversy over a denim campaign and a sheer dress last month, she opted this time for a look that channels classic 1950s Hollywood glamor, wearing a jewel-encrusted gown by Christian Cowan.
Jennifer Lopez in Tamara Ralph Haute Couture
Jennifer Lopez has earned her place in red carpet history with dramatic, often borderline-outrageous fashion choices. She stayed true to form in a voluminous gown by designer Tamara Ralph, which created an optical illusion of an ultra-slim silhouette reminiscent of Jessica Rabbit.
Ariana Grande in Christian Dior by John Galliano
Continuing the promotional tour for Wicked: Part Two, Ariana Grande appeared in a striking off-the-shoulder gown from Dior’s Fall-Winter 2007 haute couture collection, designed by John Galliano. While her gowns are often visually stunning, she doesn't always wear them convincingly.
Emma Stone in Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton’s red carpet game appears to be on the upswing. After years of poorly received designs, the fashion house is finally dressing its stars in refined silhouettes. Longtime brand ambassador Emma Stone arrived in a strapless black velvet column dress adorned with a single necklace-like detail.
A similar dress, designed by Haider Ackermann, now creative director at Tom Ford, was worn by Cate Blanchett at Cannes last year and sparked a viral discussion due to its color combination resembling the Palestinian flag, leading to speculation about a possible political message.
Jennifer Lawrence in Christian Dior
Designer Jonathan Anderson delivered some of the night’s most compelling looks, thanks to his blend of humor and bold silhouettes. Jennifer Lawrence illustrated this balance in a crisp white off-the-shoulder dress.
Mia Goth in Christian Dior
Also dressed by Dior under Anderson’s direction, young actress Mia Goth wore a powder-blue strapless balloon dress. Her self-effacing presence lent the look a youthful, rebellious, and slightly cheeky charm.
Anya Taylor-Joy in Maison Margiela
Following in the footsteps of Kim Kardashian and Cate Blanchett, both of whom embraced Glen Martens’ bold designs for Maison Margiela, Anya Taylor-Joy stepped out in the fashion house’s now-famous haute couture gown. With its sheer elements and dramatic silhouette, her look stood out as one of the evening’s best.
Kristen Stewart in Rodarte
The American fashion house Rodarte has never followed convention, consistently offering red carpet gowns that challenge aesthetic norms. Stewart’s black strapless gown, featuring lace details emerging from the corset and stitched to resemble a pair of lungs across the chest, was an intriguing choice. While conceptually ambitious, the execution could have been more refined.
Dakota Johnson in Valentino
Draped pleats were a recurring theme throughout the night. Actress Dakota Johnson stayed loyal to her longtime collaborator, designer Alessandro Michele of Valentino, in a refreshing mint-colored strapless gown.
Gwyneth Paltrow in Dries Van Noten
Not one of the evening’s standout dresses, but Gwyneth Paltrow’s effortlessly relaxed appearance owed much to the side pockets of her gown, designed by Julian Klausner for Dries Van Noten, a look many women would likely embrace without hesitation.
Elle Fanning in Gucci
Elle Fanning continued her affinity for princess-like styles, wearing a sweet strapless gown designed by Demna for Gucci.
Cynthia Erivo in Givenchy
Good intentions, poor execution. This was among the least flattering looks of the night, and perhaps of the entire year. The floral-printed coat by Sarah Burton for Givenchy combined too many textile techniques, resulting in an overwhelming and unbalanced outfit.
Natalie Portman in Christian Dior
Natalie Portman’s choice of a short floral cocktail dress flattered her figure and presented a well-proportioned, polished look.
Kate Winslet in a Tuxedo
You can always count on Kate Winslet to stay true to her stylish sensibility. This time, she played it safe in a classic black tuxedo. It’s comfortable, elegant, and universally flattering, while others may squeeze into tight-fitting column gowns.
