I was always wondering how the red carpet trend would occur at major awards shows. I do not know all the celebrity stylists in the group chat. Celebrities, no matter how it is done, I love to see trends pop up — especially when they are unexpected. On the 2024 Oscar Red Carpet, one of the most prominent themes took us under the sea 1 Mermaid Core trend. 

Many gowns on the carpet had a feel of the sea. It all started with the appearance of dune actress Anya Taylor-Joy in a Christian Dior haute couture dress inspired by the label Junon dress, which debuted in the Christian Dior Fall/Winter 1949-1950 collection. E on the red carpet.Speaking to Laverne Cox, Taylor-Joy said her gown was "inspired by Botticelli's 'Birth of Venus'."

In the evening, Leading Actress nominee and former Oscar winner Emma Stone came out wearing a Louis Vuitton custom-designed Peplum dress. Also inspired by the over-the-top outfit worn by her poor character Bella Baxter, Minty's gown was made of patterned silk jacquard fabric that mimicked the shell pattern. It gave us another, albeit subtle, reference to the sea.

Also a nod to the Mermaid Core was fellow dune actress Florence Pugh's approach to the trend in her slinky Silver Dell Core gown— a changeup from her usual Valentino fare- with 3D ripples on her waist with jewels from Bulgari and structured, almost silver detailing. It featured a selection of beaded beaded around the waist below the bodice like a necklace. Her dress is a detail shared with Emily Blunt's Schiaparelli look — giving her gown a weightless, floating feeling.

Former Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o, who has won the Best Supporting Actress award at tonight's ceremony, stepped on the red carpet wearing a mid-tone blue gown custom-made for her by Armani Privé. Her video of moving across the carpet gave her a mermaid-like charm.

Fellow presenter Hailee Steinfeld, in a flowing blue and gold Elie Saab gown with arm cuffs that gave a very dreamy fin on the carpet tonight, as soon as the true water carpet is over, the Best Supporting Actress nominee Da' Vine Joy Randolph looks at Louis Vuitton's frozen blue sequins. It was a custom gown that was fitted on the carpet.

The popularity of these watery shades on this year's red carpet may not be that surprising given that powder blue is one of the biggest color trends for Spring 2024, and that Los Angeles has been hit by a deluge of rain in recent weeks.1 Either way, the look is undeniably refreshing after an award season filled with bright shades of pink. Think of this as a chance for a thinner and sweeter shade to shine.