The red carpet officially reopened for 2021, and the best-dressed stars of the year [1] made it worth the wait. Of the most memorable moments, our favourite celebrity fashion trends were surreal gold hardware, colourful ostrich feathers, leather opera gloves, celestial caped sleeves, and extreme cut-outs — and we know the best way to style them.
The appeal of surreal gold hardware started at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival [2] with Bella Hadid's breathtaking branched lungs gown. The black dress, designed by Daniel Roseberry for surrealist atelier Schiaparelli, featured a fitted, long-sleeve silhouette with subtle leg of mutton sleeves and a completely exposed, open-bust. Hadid's bust was covered by a necklace with a massive pair of branched lungs for the pendant. Zendaya [3] also wowed us at the 2021 Ballon d'Or [4] football awards with an open-back, black gown by Roberto Cavalli that featured a gold, double-headed serpent along her spine. Elle Fanning's chain link Balmain gown at the 2021 InStyle Awards [5] also fits in this trend, while being an unexpected new styling direction for the actor.
It's no secret that we love the fanciful ostrich feather trend [6] on the 2021 red carpets. Kacey Musgraves's punchy purple Valentino feather headdress at the 2021 MTV VMAs [7] was one of the most memorable looks of that evening. Olivia Rodrigo [8] is embracing much more mature gowns this year, and we love how she balanced the playfulness of her feather-hemmed David Koma gown with its sheer, sexy fabric. And Cynthia Erivo's lemon Valentino dress with a fuchsia feathered skirt brought vibrancy to the 2021 Venice Film Festival [9] red carpet. To try this trend, pair a feathered dress with silver or diamond jewellery, and clear or silver heels.
Gigi Hadid [10], Rochelle Humes [11], and Tessa Thompson all wore a classic strapless gown with a full skirt to 2021 awards shows, paired with black leather opera gloves, and pointed-toe shoes. We'd suggest styling your hair like Hadid and Thompson in an elegant up-do to emphasise the contrast between the '50-inspired ladylike gown, and the rebellious black leather gloves.
Alternatively, angelic caped sleeves were a major red carpet trend in 2021. Generally capes got bigger, bolder, and more voluminous this year, but gowns worn by Gemma Chan [12], Jennifer Lawrence [13], and Jada Pinkett Smith [14] had a celestial, goddess-like presence that was truly timeless. And while we love the layers of decadent fabric on caped gowns, we equally appreciated that cut-outs got even more risqué this year. In part because of a Mugler comeback [15] in the world of celebrity stylists, Megan Fox [16], Halle Bailey [17] and Lil Nas X [18] gave a whole new meaning to the plunging neckline.
Keep reading for the 5 best red carpet fashion trends of 2021.
2021 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Surreal Gold Metalware
Zendaya [19] wore a Roberto Cavalli serpent spine gown to the 2021 Ballon d'Or [20] football awards.
2021 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Surreal Gold Metalware
Bella Hadid wore a Schiaparelli branched lungs gown to the 2021 Cannes Film Festival [21].
2021 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Surreal Gold Metalware
Bella Hadid wore a Balmain chain link gown to the 2021 InStyle Awards [22].
2021 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Fanciful Ostrich Feathers
Kacey Musgraves wore a Valentino couture feathered headdress to the 2021 MTV VMAs [23].
2021 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Fanciful Ostrich Feathers
Olivia Rodrigo [24] wore a David Koma feather-hemmed dress to the 2021 American Music Awards [25].
2021 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Fanciful Ostrich Feathers
Cynthia Erivo wore a Valentio dress with a full, fuchsia feathered skirt to the 2021 Venice Film Festival [26].
2021 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Leather Opera Gloves
Gigi Hadid wore a strapless Prada dress with black leather opera gloves to the 2021 Met Gala [27].
2021 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Leather Opera Gloves
Rochelle Humes wore a strapless Galia Lahav gown with black leather opera gloves to the 2021 Fashion Awards [28].
2021 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Leather Opera Gloves
Tessa Thompson wore a strapless Bach Mai gown with black leather opera gloves to the 2021 Gotham Awards.
2021 Fashion Trend: Angelic Caped Sleeves
Gemma Chan wore a white Louis Vuitton gown with a feathered cape for the Eternals press tour [29].
2021 Fashion Trend: Angelic Caped Sleeves
Jennifer Lawrence [30] wore a light gold Dior gown with a silk cape to the Don't Look Up premiere [31].
2021 Fashion Trend: Angelic Caped Sleeves
Jada Pinkett Smith [32] wore a cream-coloured Vivienne Westwood gown with a light-gold, silk cape to the King Richard premiere [33].
2021 Fashion Trend: Extreme Bandage Cut-Outs
Halle Bailey wore a Mônot bandage dress to the MTV VMAs [34].
2021 Fashion Trend: Extreme Bandage Cut-Outs
Megan Fox [35] wore a Mugler cut-out dress to the 2021 Billboard Music Awards [36].
2021 Fashion Trend: Extreme Bandage Cut-Outs
Lil Nas X wore a Balmain bandage top to the 2021 Variety Hitmakers event [37].