The BAFTA red carpet is normally a vibrant, feathery and crystal-covered affair, but last night saw the majority of London’s stars of TV and silver screen semaphore the sobriety of the current political situation in Europe through pared-back silhouettes and a sombre colour palette.
Attendees of the Academy’s 75th awards ceremony had been advised to ‘dress respectably’ due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, and thus solemn black dominated as the shade du jour, with pops of yellow and blue nodding to the Ukrainian flag.
Naomi Campbell led the red carpet black-out in a ruffled Burberry velvet gown and black Burberry heels and was joined in velvet by The Witcher star Emma Appleton in a black studded long sleeved column dress by Saint Laurent and Irish actress Caitríona Balfe in a vampy puff shouldered, slash neck custom Armani Privé gown.
Daisy Ridley rocked a black Vivenne Westwood bodice and pouffy tulle skirt, Adwoa Aboah opted for a minimal look in a strapless black Saint Laurent gown paired with slicked back hair and chunky gold earrings, while Rising Star Award Winner Lashana Lynch oozed old school glamour in an off-the-shoulder Prada dress accessorised with emerald Tiffany jewellery and a red lip.
Jessie Buckley also opted for an avant-garde one-shouldered black look by Alexander McQueen and Chanel brand ambassador Ellie Bamber chose a demure black long-sleeved gown with tweed bolero and a sheer flowing skirt.
Millie Bobby Brown, accompanied by her boyfriend Jake Bongiovi who wore a Ukraine flag pin on his lapel, also chose a black Louis Vuitton number which she accessorised with Gen Z’s latest TikTok-fuelled obsession: black velvet opera gloves. Sienna Miller also styled her chic champagne satin Gucci gown with a black lace pair of opera gloves and Bimini Bon-Boulash added drama to their white Victoriana gown with a ruched aqua blue pair.
The night’s standout looks were served by Sex Education star Simone Ashley, who dazzled in a retina-searing hot pink caped gown straight off Valentino’s ‘Pink PP’ AW22 collection shown last week in Paris, and Haley Bennett who opted for a full-skirted red gown from the brand’s AW22 couture collection. Lady Gaga looked fabulous as ever in a fishtail green satin gown by Ralph Lauren with dramatic train which she accessorised with a feathery bag and Tiffany & Co. jewellery.
Golden looks were also among the sharpest: Sophie Hunter, wife of Benedict Cumberbatch, in a gold jacquard Dior Haute Couture SS20 evening dress with braided belt and Naomi Ackie in a gold Emilia Wickstead column dress paired with gold Jimmy Choo strappy stilettos.
Others nodded to Ukraine with yellow and blue dresses, among them Ariana DeBose in a vibrant strapless yellow custom Oscar de la Renta gown, Rachel Zegler in blue satin Vivienne Westwood, Daisy Edgar-Jones in pale blue shimmering Gucci gorgeousness and Laura Whitmore, who also championed sustainable fashion in strappy sunshine yellow Stella McCartney gown rented from My Wardrobe HQ.
Several male attendees showed sartorial flair akin to that championed by the likes of Harry Styles and Timothée Chalamet. Oscar-nominated Power of the Dog star Kodi Smit-McPhee looked fashion-forward in a custom blue Louis Vuttion wide leg wool suit with overlapping lapels while Rising Star Award Winner Daniel Kaluuya rocked a blue fluffy-sleeved Prada coat hot off the AW22 runways.
BAFTA presenter and Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey meanwhile did top-to-toe noir in a Dior black wool mandarin collar suit with a silver snake brooch.
The BAFTAs were all-black, but definitely not boring.
