Feathered Gowns Dominate Oscars Red Carpet

Dramatic, sculptural and ethereal ensembles featuring plumage were a standout trend at the 2026 Academy Awards.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 11:05am

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The Oscars red carpet was filled with showstopping feathered gowns this year, as stars like Demi Moore, Teyana Taylor, and Nicole Kidman arrived in custom looks featuring intricate plumage. The trend was a continuation of the prominence of feathers in recent fashion weeks, and signaled a new direction for heritage luxury houses like Chanel under creative director Matthieu Blazy.

Why it matters

Feathered gowns were a major red carpet trend at the Oscars, reflecting a broader embrace of dramatic, sculptural and ethereal fashion. This signals a shift in high-fashion aesthetics, with designers experimenting with materials and silhouettes to create bold, eye-catching looks that offer a sense of lightness and romance.

The details

Demi Moore arrived in a peacock-inspired Gucci gown featuring intricate featherwork, while Teyana Taylor and Nicole Kidman opted for custom Chanel looks with quilled details. Bella Thorne and Amy Madigan also incorporated feathers into their Oscars ensembles. The plumage trend continued into the Vanity Fair after-party, with Jessica Alba and Olivia Rodrigo wearing feathered gowns.

  • The Oscars ceremony took place on Sunday, March 16, 2026.

The players

Demi Moore

An American actress who presented during the Oscars ceremony.

Teyana Taylor

An American singer and actress who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.

Nicole Kidman

An Australian actress who served as a presenter during the Oscars.

Matthieu Blazy

The creative director of Chanel, who has been incorporating feathers prominently into the brand's recent collections.

Bella Thorne

An American actress who wore a feathered look on the Oscars red carpet.

Amy Madigan

An American actress who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and wore a Dior jacket with feather paillettes.

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What they’re saying

“At the time, CNN's Rachel Tashjian reported that Chanel-under-Blazy's couture collection had an 'overall feeling of extraordinary lightness,' with gauzy and feathered pieces that 'looked as if they were floating on the models.'”

— Rachel Tashjian, CNN reporter

The takeaway

The prevalence of feathered gowns on the Oscars red carpet signals a broader fashion trend towards dramatic, sculptural and ethereal looks that offer a sense of lightness and romance. This shift is being driven by designers at heritage luxury houses like Chanel, who are experimenting with new materials and silhouettes to create bold, eye-catching ensembles.