HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: Chloé Zhao attends the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
I DON'T KNOW EITHER. Many people cracked the joke that she's in mourning for the scuttled Buffy, The Vampire Slayer project she was directing but -- to be pedantic about it -- that just happened like yesterday and a custom dress takes forever. Is she...dressed as...the plague that killed Hamnet? I'm delighted by how insane this is. More of this at major events, please, everyone.
Odessa A'zion in Valentino
Odessa A'zion at the 98th Annual Oscars held at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty Images)
I feel like she spent this entire awards season wearing basically this and it always looked sorta...amorphous. Like her entire look was kinda like a VERY fancy laundry pile that sometimes worked better than other times. I appreciate that it is an unusual vibe for a youth but I think it needs some editing for the next turn around the circuit.
Audrey Nuna in Thom Browne
Audrey Nuna at the 98th Annual Oscars held at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty Images)
This is custom and it's very cool on her; it's also really refreshing to see a Thom Browne that doesn't scream THOM BROWNE MADE THIS.
Rei Ami in custom Rahul Mishra
South Korean singer actress Rei Ami attends the 98th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 15, 2026. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images)
The coat? Fantastic. Does the underdress need a LITTLE more length? It's giving Rachel Accidentally Wears Lingerie to Meet JoshYOUa's Parents. Like Jennifer Aniston, she is still a babe in it, but maybe is rethinking it in action here.
Ed Harris and Amy Madigan in Dior
Ed Harris and Amy Madigan at the 98th Annual Oscars held at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by JC Olivera/WWD via Getty Images)
This blazer is WEIRD and I mean that absolutely as a compliment; she has looked cool all awards season and looks cool here. How exciting to have a woman win in pants! (Meanwhile, Ed Harris continues to be a babe. Way to go, you two crazy kids.)
Susie Cave and Nick Cave
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: (L-R) Susie Cave and Nick Cave attends the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
You know how married people start to look like each other?
Regina Hall
US actress Regina Hall attends the 98th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 15, 2026. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images)
The top of this sort of looks like she accidentally stuck her head through a very fancy serving tray and is now walking around with it as if this were intentional.
Anna Cathcart
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: Anna Cathcart attends the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
This dress is fine! The rest of it might be....lightly underseasoned.
Ellie Kemper
Ellie Kemper at the 98th Annual Oscars held at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty Images)
Cute! Just seasoned enough.
Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy
Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy at the 98th Annual Oscars held at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty Images)
This is LEGIT KOOKY. I enjoy it on her, but...this might be the best HE has ever looked?
Alba Baptista in Zuhair Murad and Chris Evans
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: (L-R) Alba Baptista
and Chris Evans attend the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Julian Hamilton/Getty Images)
I mean, sure. This is fine! She looks boring but reasonable, and he looks like Chris Evans on his Boring But Reasonable setting. (Remember that year he was draped in velvet?)
Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee
Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee at the 98th Annual Oscars held at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty Images)
This is neither boring, nor is it reasonable. (They both look cool, though, even though she is wearing what looks like a dress backwards over a sports bra. I appreciate the capaciousness of his bag.)
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos at the 98th Annual Oscars held at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty Images)
Also incredibly reasonable. This is good! No one will be mad about this! They have not done anything remotely weird.
Sigourney Weaver in Valentino
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: Sigourney Weaver attends the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
This is getting lost a little bit against the step-and-repeat I think, but it was SO good on TV when she was presenting.
Ejae in custom Dior
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: EJAE attends the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
This is so pretty and I like how it vaguely looks like the entire thing is made of one VERY long scarf.