In the world of Hollywood, the Academy Awards mark the end of awards season. But for fashion fans around the globe, the event also tends to signal the end of the 2020 red carpet season. The Oscars also have a reputation for creating some of the most unforgettable looks in red carpet history and the 92nd annual Academy Awards, held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, did not disappoint.

While many of the gowns were undeniably head-turning, a handful of celebrities used their moment on the red carpet to address the lack of diversity within the industry and the Oscars in particular.

Singer-songwriter Janelle Monáe, who kicked off the awards with a performance of “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” paying tribute to the late Fred Rogers, appeared on the carpet in a crystal-embellished custom-made Ralph Lauren gown. She thanked Billy Porter, who she later performed with, for inspiring her to go all-out with her outfit choice. “When I knew that you were coming, what you did last year and what you are doing now, I knew I had to come and I had to show up,” she told Porter on the red carpet. 

When asked by media about “Harriet”, in which she plays the role of Marie Buchanon, she urged views to “listen to black women.” 

“When we are in positions of leadership, when we have your support, we can do the unthinkable,” she said.

Natalie Portman’s red carpet choice, a breathtaking Dior number, also took aim at the Academy Awards’ diversity issue. 

“I wanted to recognise the women who were not recognized for their incredible work this year in my subtle way,” the actor told the Los Angeles Times on the red carpet. Portman’s cape was embroidered with the names of female directors who failed to receive nominations for their work, despite critical acclaim. 

The names, included Lulu Wang (The Farewell), Lorene Scafaria (Hustlers), Greta Gerwig (Little Women), Marielle Heller (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood), Melina Matsoukas (Queen & Slim), Alma Har’el (Honey Boy), Mati Diop (Atlantics) and Céline Sciamma (Portrait of a Lady on Fire). Only men were nominated for Best Director in 2020.

Discover our favourite red carpet looks below. 

For Liam’s latest collection, Laura & Me, designer Emily Miller-Sharma turned to her continent-spanning friendship with Laura Taylor as the source of inspiration.

The pair met in high school and quickly became lifelong friends after bonding over a penchant for art and design. Soon enough the two started creating work together. Although Taylor moved back to Brazil, where she became a musician, art director and creative director, the pair never lost touch.

Taylor’s brief return back to New Zealand recently gave the pair the opportunity to work together once again on Liam’s new collection, Laura & Me. Taylor modelled in and styled the campaign imagery for the latest collection.

For this collection, Miller-Sharma was after a sense of harmony through discord – unlikely yet delightful pairings in colour, texture, and silhouette. Between the simple cuts and easy-to-wear fabrications, Laura & Me brings refreshing modernity.

Green is the star colour of the collection and is explored in shades of cucumber, sage and moss. Colour juxtapositions in new combinations are also explored: rust and jacaranda, ivory and jade, navy and bottle green. Yet the crescendo in this collection is the stand-out Watercolour print, hallucinogenic in its saturated colour and abstracted broad strokes. It is an expression of confidence, illuminated by the dialled-up volume in both Miller-Sharma and Taylor’s lives.

Liam’s Laura & Me Collection is available online and in-store from 14 February. Visit rubynz.com to shop and discover the collection below.