6 Red Carpet Trends That Dominated 2022, From Cutouts to Catsuits

Now that 2022 award season has officially come to a close, we can look back in awe at the trends [1] that laid the foundation for this year's most iconic red carpet looks [2]. Your mind may instantly go to style trailblazers like Zendaya [3], who's had an affinity for pushing boundaries, memorably appearing at the Oscars in a white Valentino crop top [4] paired with a long, silver sequinned skirt that set new standards for a "fancy" dress code. Meanwhile, Tracee Ellis Ross's red Carolina Herrera dress [5] at the same event showcased yet another popular style in the dramatically plunging corset. Other repeating looks included Valentino's Barbiecore pink [6], dangerously high thigh slits, extreme cutouts, micro tops and skirts [7], and ornamental breastplates [8].

Valentino's monochrome takeover in particular first began with the house's Paris Fashion Week show [9] back in March, which presented an alluring collection full of bright, fuchsia separates, evoking a vision of "love, community, energy, and freedom." Zendaya [10] sat in the front row wearing the shade from head-to-toe, her outfit consisting of a double-breasted blazer with floral embroidery, matching trousers, a plunging, button-less blouse, and platform heels. It was in that moment she became one of the first stars to inspire the Barbiecore trend [11]. It was no surprise that Saweetie [12] and Jenna Ortega [13] followed suit, sporting the house's new code at the Grammy Awards and Met Gala, respectively.

And while slits have always been a bold choice, some of 2022's most noteworthy silhouettes took leg-baring looks to new heights. Chloe Bailey [14] donned a sultry, purple beaded LVDF dress [15] at the Oscars that was cut away to the waist. Lizzo [16] also fearlessly rocked a navy blue, shimmering Gucci dress [17] with a thigh-high slit to the BET Awards. More recently, Kylie Jenner [18] graced the CFDA Awards [19] in a one-shoulder black gown from Mugler [20] with a sheer top and a form-fitting skirt that featured a waist-high slit, an archival number from the legendary fall/winter 1999 show.

Ahead, scroll through for more stunning examples of the six best red carpet fashion trends of 2022.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Valentino Pink

For the Grammy Awards, Saweetie wore a custom Valentino pink ensemble [22] that featured a bralette, full skirt, and opera-length gloves.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Valentino Pink

"Wednesday [23]"'s Jenna Ortega [24] wore an embroidered tunic shirt with floral appliqués and tights from the brand's Pink PP collection to the 2022 Met Gala.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Valentino Pink

Anne Hathaway [25] wore a sequinned minidress [26] with the brand's signature 6-inch platform heels and Roman stud crossbody bag to the July couture show in Rome.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Valentino Pink

Lana Condor [27] wore a bandeau bra top, high-waisted shorts with tights, structured jacket, top-handle bag, and 6-inch platform heels to the MTV Movie & TV Awards.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Catsuits

One of her many revolutionary maternity looks [28], Rihanna [29] wore a pink and green sparkly Attico set [30], which formed a shred-effect catsuit, to the Fenty Beauty Universe event at Goya Studios.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Catsuits

Gigi Hadid [31] wore a burgundy Versace latex catsuit [32] under a giant parka to the May 2 Met Gala.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Catsuits

Lori Harvey [33] wore an Off-White balaclava catsuit [34] to the Baby2Baby Gala in November.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Micro Tops and Skirts

Zendaya [35] wore a Valentino white micro top [36] and sparkly, silver skirt to the 2022 Oscars.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Micro Tops and Skirts

Sydney Sweeney [37] wore a pink Miu Miu set [38] that featured a cropped button-up and low-rise sequin miniskirt with chunky bedazzled heels to the MTV Movie & TV Awards in June.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Micro Tops and Skirts

Teyana Taylor [39] wore an all-black set [40], which consisted of a sheer Skims bra top, low-rise Givenchy black pants, and platform Balenciaga Crocs to the 2022 Billboard Music Awards.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Extreme Cutouts

Margot Robbie [41] wore an Alaïa black cutout dress [42] to the "Babylon" premiere in December.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Extreme Cutouts

At the LA "Bones and All" screening in November, Taylor Russell [43] wore a Loewe draped cutout gown that featured a black bow cinched at the centre, drawing even more attention to the skin-revealing details.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Extreme Cutouts

Jennifer Lopez [44] wore a black Mônot dress [45] with a leather bodice and side hip cutouts to the MTV Movie & TV Awards in June.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Extreme Cutouts

Halle Bailey [46] wore a black embellished Georges Hobeika gown [47] with cutouts to the 2022 Wearable Art Gala in October.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Extreme Cutouts

Janelle Monáe [48] wore a black Christian Siriano cutout gown [49] to the Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Plunging Corsets

Kylie Jenner [50] wore a blue velvet gown [51] for the Schiaperelli SS23 RTW Presentation at Paris Fashion Week in September.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Plunging Corsets

Tracee Ellis Ross wore a red Carolina Herrera dress [52] to the 2022 Oscars, featuring a corseted bodice with a geometric-effect, U-shape plunge.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Plunging Corsets

"Selling Sunset [53]"'s Christine Quinn [54] wore a custom Andrea Brocca [55] dress with Versace pumps to the 2022 British Fashion Awards in December.

2022 Red Carpet Fashion Trend: Plunging Corsets

Dove Cameron [56] wore a red Ashlyn gown [57] to the Billboard Music Awards in May, with a dramatically wavy cutout centre that achieved an optical plunge to the naked eye.