Like streets and catwalks, red carpets are significant trend incubators. The latest confirmation comes from the 2024 Oscars, where among the myriad couture creations showcased on the red carpet, certain stylistic combinations stood out more than others. Consider the archival pieces or vintage inspirations flaunted by numerous celebrities, almost giving the illusion that they had agreed to transform the event into a celebration of past fashion. Moreover, on the night of Sunday, March 10, and Monday, March 11, the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles turned into a melting pot of aesthetics. The strongest one? Undoubtedly, the one inspired by the enchanting mythological figure of the mermaid, commonly known as Mermaidcore.
Among the first to project this trend onto the Hollywood red carpet was Anya Taylor-Joy, who wore a Dior dress inspired by the iconic “Junon” gown from the fall-winter 1949/1950 collection. The uniqueness of the model lay entirely in the layered skirt, evoking the scales that cover the tails of mermaids (only the fins were missing). Another example is the black velvet dress chosen by Carey Mulligan, a faithful recreation of Cristóbal Balenciaga’s “Mermaid dress” from 1951. One of the most talked-about is undoubtedly the one worn by Emma Stone, winner of the “Best Actress” award for Poor Things!. The Bella Baxter actress appeared in a Louis Vuitton dress, characterized by a rigid peplum and a mermaid skirt, all covered in a delicate aquamarine shade.
Colors and textures also played their part in creating a watery atmosphere. There’s the satin dress, signed by Del Core, worn by Florence Pugh, covered in translucent stones to simulate a cascade of water droplets. Or there’s Laverne Cox’s vintage dress, from Mugler’s spring-summer 1985 collection: in addition to the mermaid skirt, the ensemble stood out for the gold bodice, shaped around the chest to reproduce two large shells.
