If the 2026 Oscars proved anything, it’s that the best outfit at the party is probably older than you.
Vintage absolutely carried this year’s carpet. Not in a try-hard, “look at me in archival” way. More like… effortless. Slightly smug (and rightly so!)
Jessie Buckley set the tone early in a dress inspired by Grace Kelly’s 1956 Oscars gown. Risky? A little. But it paid off. It felt polished, unfussy, and most importantly, not like she’d raided a costume department five minutes before call time. A very chic history lesson.
Meanwhile, Damson Idris casually turned up in a Prada jacket that was originally modelled in fire engine red by Adrien Brody. Style king behaviour. Also just a great reminder that the boys can get involved in vintage too, and should, because this was one of the sharpest looks of the night.
Then the afterparties hit, and the fun dial was cranked. Anya Taylor-Joy leaned into a very good early 2000s moment. Slightly nostalgic, slightly chaotic, but in a controlled way. The kind of look that makes you want to text your group chat “I need this immediately”.
Nicola Peltz Beckham kept things simple, which, ironically, made it stand out more. Strong vintage piece, minimal fuss, job done. Sometimes the best styling decision is doing less.
Also impossible to ignore: the sheer amount of Valentino and John Galliano floating around. Not the obvious, overplayed pieces either. Proper deep cuts. The kind that make you wonder who found it, where, and how to I recreate the look with thrifted finds.
Overall vibe? Vintage is no longer the wildcard. It’s the main character.
And if the Oscars are anything to go by, the real flex in 2026 is wearing something that’s already had a life, and still looks better than anything fresh off the rack.