The fashion is almost as important as the films at the Oscars, and Hollywood’s finest walked the red carpet in an array of eyecatching outfits before Sunday’s ceremony in Los Angeles.

They included Wicked star Cynthia Erivo, who wore a shade of her character Elphaba’s green in an elaborate velvet ballgown.

Erivo missed out on the prize for best actress, but won the award for best nails.

Co-star Ariana Grande, who was nominated for best supporting actress, wore a striking champagne Schiaparelli gown.

However, it was perhaps a little impractical – so she changed before performing to open the show with Erivo.

Best actor contender Timothee Chalamet brought a splash of bright colour in a daffodil Givenchy tux.

Demi Moore radiated Hollywood style in her jewelled silver gown. She was nominated for best actress for The Substance.

She lost out to newcomer Mikey Madison, who paid homage to another sex worker fable, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, in a baby pink and black column Dior gown and a Tiffany’s necklace from the 1910s – very reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn.

Emilia Perez star Selena Gomez also went for classic figure-hugging glamour.

Zoe Saldana chose a maroon duvet-dress with a jewel-encrusted bustier. She won best supporting actress for Emilia Perez.

Best actor nominee Colman Domingo has been a style icon all awards season, and said the choice of red for his custom Valentino jacket represented love.

Andrew Garfield, dapper in a brown suit, was among the Oscar presenters.

The Substance actress Margaret Qualley sported a backless Chanel gown and a backwards diamond necklace.

British star Felicity Jones, nominated for best supporting actress for The Brutalist, wore a slinky metallic custom Armani Privé creation.

Jeff Goldblum, who was in Wicked, sported a floral shirt and real flowers on his white dinner jacket, and was accompanied by wife Emilie Livingston.

Monica Barbaro, nominated for best supporting actress for playing Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown, wore a Dior gown with voluminous skirt.

A Complete Unknown co-star Elle Fanning had a lace-layered Givenchy dress with long black ribbon belt.

Michelle Yeoh won best actress in 2023, and wore a blue Balenciaga gown as she joined her Wicked cast-mates this year.

Rachel Zegler, who will soon be seen in a remake of Snow White, wore a strapless studded sheer Dior gown.

British actress Raffey Cassidy, who appears in The Brutalist, had a flowing gown tied with a giant bow.

Best supporting actor nominee Jeremy Strong wore an olive suit with quirky matching tie as he returned to the red carpet, three decades after he watched the stars from the bleachers as a young fan.

Ana de Armas, who presented an award, wore a sleek black dress with intricate jewelled halter neck.

Double Oscar winner Emma Stone went for the flapper look in a shimmering Louis Vuitton dress.

Nosferatu star Lily-Rose Depp wore a sheer floral lace Chanel creation.

Miley Cyrus also brought goth glam to the red carpet in a beaded black Alexander McQueen gown with halter neck and lace gloves.

British actress Yasmin Finney, known for Heartstopper and Doctor Who, was framed by tall feathers attached to her dress.

Blackpink singer Lisa sported a dramatic flowing floor-length black-and-white jacket and shirt by Markgong with a red floral brooch. She later performed Live and Let Die in a segment paying tribute to the James Bond films.

UK singer Raye, resplendent in red by Vivienne Westwood, also performed in the James Bond segment.

Halle Berry sparkled in a mirrored mosaic effect design.

Edward Norton was nominated for best supporting actor for playing folk music hero Pete Seeger in A Complete Unknown.

Wallace and Gromit joined the Hollywood stars on the red carpet after Vengeance Most Fowl was nominated for best animated film – they were accompanied by creator Nick Park (left), producer Richard Beek (centre) and co-director Merlin Crossingham.

Isabella Rossellini received her first Oscar nomination, for playing a nun in Conclave. She wore blue velvet – a nod to the name of her 1986 breakthrough film.

Four-time Oscars host Whoopi Goldberg was back as an award presenter this year. Designer Christian Siriano described the reflective look of her dress as like “liquid water”.

Best actor winner Adrien Brody‘s traditional suit had bird-shaped style beading on his shoulder.

Grammy-nominated singer Omar Apollo wore a netted veil along with black-and-white spotted shirt and scarf.

Wicked actor Bowen Yang, who announced the Oscar nominations in January, opted for floral embellishments on his jacket along with a frilled pink shirt.

By Ian Youngs, Scarlett Harris and Matthew Tucker.