The 2025 Critics’ Choice Awards red carpet was a mix of stunning elegance, bold fashion risks, and a few unfortunate missteps, particularly among celebrities in recovery who continue to inspire both on and off the screen. Demi Moore was the night’s undisputed fashion queen, dazzling in a custom navy Schiaparelli gown that not only fit like a dream but also paid a subtle tribute to her new film, The Substance.
Bowen Yang made a surprising redemption arc on the best-dressed list, looking effortlessly polished in a custom Valentino suit that was stylish and perfectly tailored. Angelina Jolie, ever the icon, delivered classic Hollywood glamour in a lace Elie Saab gown, while Margaret Qualley’s ethereal Chanel design gave off Renaissance-era romance. Hannah Einbinder, fresh off her Critics’ Choice win for Hacks, stunned in a structured olive-green Louis Vuitton gown, proving that an exaggerated hip—when done right—can be a showstopper.
On the flip side, some stars had a rough night in the fashion department. Michelle Yeoh’s Balenciaga gown was a structural experiment gone wrong, resembling a makeshift dress assembled from oversized pants rather than a haute couture masterpiece. Harvey Guillén’s ruffled ensemble overwhelmed his frame, while Joey King’s Miu Miu gown left us confused with its early 2000s mash-up of too many details and not enough cohesion.
Lupita Nyong’o’s Chanel gown, which attempted a Roaring ’20s homage, felt lackluster, especially with a mesh overlay that seemed like an afterthought. Finally, Kate Hudson’s Thom Browne dress, while ambitious, failed to hit the mark, with unflattering material and exaggerated proportions that left us longing for a sleeker execution. As always, the Critics’ Choice Awards proved that when it comes to fashion, some stars shine while others leave us scratching our heads.
Honorable Mentions:
Moeka Hoshi, who won the Critics Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for “Shogun,” wore a stunning, custom Louis Vuitton gown. The red color went well with her hair and makeup styling, and the cutout cape top gown was easily one of my favorite fashion moments of the night.
Colman Domingo, who plays Ali in Euphoria, a person in recovery from substances, wore one of the most exciting looks of the night in this look by Boss. Different shades and brown textures break up the brown, monochrome look. Pairing a silk top with a suit and a leather overcoat.
Best Dressed:
Demi Moore, who has been in recovery since her 40s, took my breath away!!! Moore wore a custom navy Schiaparelli dress that was paired with jewelry from Tiffany & Co. The lace-up back of her gown evoked the stitches received by Moore’s character in her new movie, “The Substance.”
Back: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Bowen Yang, who is in recovery for his mental health, has frequented our worst-dressed list. However, he is a vision in this custom Valentino suit. I love the styling; he wore glasses to fit the vibe of the suit’s pattern, and the tailoring is perfect!
Margaret Qualley is in recovery for disordered eating and wore a gown designed by Chanel. The look is ethereal and feels like a renaissance moment.
Angelina Jolie, who has been in recovery for decades, was nominated for best actress for her role in “Marie.” She paired this beautiful lace Elie Saab gown with a bold red lip.
Hannah Einbinder, a person in recovery, won the Critics Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in “Hacks.” She wore this custom, olive green Louis Vuitton gown with an exaggerated hip.
Worst Dressed:
Michelle Yeoh, who is in recovery for her mental health and has been open about her struggles to conceive, was the host of the Critic’s Choice Awards. She wore a strapless Balenciaga gown that looked like she tied together a bunch of pairs of pants and wrapped herself in it. The piece seems bulky, wrinkled, and sloppy.
Harvey Guillén, who has spoken out about his mental health and his difficulty in coming out to his family, was nominated for best supporting actor in a comedy series for “What We Do in the Shadows.” If the ruffles ended at the hem of the shirt and if the sleeves weren’t sheer, I would have a very different opinion about this look. The pants are also ill-fitting, and the overall look does nothing for him besides swallowing him whole.
Joey King, who has been open about her mental health journey, is one of the stars of “We Were the Lucky Ones.” She wore this Miu Miu gown that reminded me of the early 2000s red carpet looks with the strange combination of too much going on without the look making a real statement. It is both forgettable and overwhelming.
Lupita Nyong’o, who has discussed periods of depression throughout her life, of “The Wild Robot” won the Critics Choice Award for Best Animated Feature. She wore this look by Chanel, which seemed to be an homage to the roaring 20s…. however, the look missed the mark for me. The black mesh overlay felt like an afterthought and unnecessary. The look didn’t look like Chanel designed it since it was a total flop for me.
Kate Hudson, who is in recovery, wore a black down by Thom Browne. And while I am a major fan of Thom Browne and his work, this look missed the mark. I am a fan of an exaggerated hip; however, the material and how it was laying on Hudson looked cheap and uninspired.
What did you think? Did we hit or miss on our best and worst dress selections for the 2025 Critic’s Choice Awards?
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