written by Christian Allaire, Vogue
In Hollywood, a costume designer’s job is to tell stories through fashion—so it’s fitting that at tonight’s 2026 Oscars, many of the nominated costumers chose red-carpet looks filled with meaning.
The group of honored costume designers this year—Malgosia Turzanska (Hamnet), Deborah L. Scott (Avatar: Fire and Ash), Kate Hawley (Frankenstein), Miyako Bellizzi (Marty Supreme), and Ruth E. Carter (Sinners)—reflects a range of different style sensibilities; onscreen, their work brought eras and settings as various as 16th-century Warwickshire, 1930s Mississippi, and 1950s New York to thrilling life. For tonight’s red carpet, however, they stuck to more personal stories. While a few costumers embraced vintage pieces, others created their looks themselves.
For her part, Scott chose a knit maxidress from Ulla Johnson’s fall 2025 collection for its feeling and fabrication more than anything else. “I have been a huge fan of Ulla Johnson for some time now. Her textiles are gorgeous, and the use of color and prints are beautifully tactile,” says Scott. “I can imagine her workroom, with abundant ideas and endless patterns and shapes. I think I would feel at home there.” Coincidentally, many of the costumes she created for Avatar also featured crochet work.
“For me, the craftsmanship in the dress I chose is unapologetically feminine with a definite point of view,” Scott continues. “Her shoes and jewelry are unique and playful. So fun to wear!”
