London was the place to be on Sunday night, with both the 79th British Academy Film Awards and London Fashion Week aligning their schedules to create an electric evening of celebration.
As per usual, the annual awards ceremony welcomed a plethora of star-studded guests, all of whom made sure to dress to impress, with a few notable names making a strong case for new and improved trending aesthetics.
This year's Best Leading Actress winner, Jessie Buckley, reminded us just how chic velvet can be when in gown form, the Hamnet star opting for a custom Chanel ensemble in electric blue.
Of course, sheer ideas were still front of mind for many, Gracie Abrams, Odessa A'zion and Jenna Coleman all stepping onto the red carpet in various forms of see-through looks.
Though all utterly stunning in every way, a few notable trends were swanning down the Sunday night carpet, and we couldn't help but take a deep dive...
High Necklines
© WireImage
© WireImage
© WireImageIn a world where the naked dress reigns supreme, the presence of high necklines on the red carpet honestly felt refreshing. Jessie Buckley - woman of the moment thanks to a stunning turn in Hamnet - opted for a Chanel dress (styled by Danielle Goldberg) with a sweepingly high neckline in blue velvet.
All eyes were on Gracie Abram for her red carpet debut with her actor beau, Paul Mescal, but I was totally distracted by her incredible Chanel dress with a high beaded neckline that leaned towards a 90s silhouette.
Gillian Anderson followed suit in a sweeping Roksanda dress from the label’s SS26 collection. Meanwhile, Teyana Taylor’s chocolate brown ruffled Burberry dress had a collar so high it was practically tickling the tops of her ears. Naked dress, watch your back, it looks like there’s a new contender in town…
Sculptural Louis Vuitton
© Getty Images
© Getty Images for BAFTA
© WireImageSculpted silhouettes seem to be bang on brand this year, a nice change from the usual simple slip dresses, which have been circulating the red carpet scene for a while. This year's red carpet saw the return of fun fashion, and Louis Vuitton is leading the charge.
Dressing a number of notable names for this year's event, the French maison made a point to ensure each custom look made an artistic impact. Best actress nominee Emma Stone was spotted in a sleek plunging halter-neck situation, while Adolescence star Erin Doherty turned heads in a gilded glamour, voluminous ruffle satin number. As for Renate Reinsve, her simple but elegant black strapless dress was elevated to an all-new height thanks to the sharp rib cage cutout on one side.
It looks like Louis is making a name for itself as the ultimate celeb-approved maison, and we're here for it.
Brooches
© Getty Images
© Getty Images for BAFTA
© getty ImagesOnce a staple in every grandmother's lavish jewellery collection, brooches are muscling their way back into the spotlight. Both womenswear and menswear have given the royal jewels a fresh spin for autumn/winter 2026 - positioning the pieces as a must-have accessory for fashion insiders. During London Fashion Week, Mithridate showcased glittering numbered renditions affixed to crisp tailoring, shirting and wool outerwear (a Daniel W. Fletcher special), while Toga leaned into colourful palettes, crafting skirted looks dotted with apple green, amber and white enamelled offerings that fused avant-garden whimsy and timeless elegance.
It seems that the stars have taken note. Hollywood insiders including Tilda Swinton, Little Simz, Stormzy, Paul Mescal, Tom Blythe and star of the night Robert Aramayo all took to the red carpet sporting dazzling brooches. A stunning genderless keepsake to invest in this year.
Off-The-Shoulder
© WireImage
© WireImage
© Corbis via Getty ImagesThe 2026 BAFTAs made one thing abundantly clear: the off-the-shoulder neckline is back. From sculpted satin gowns to sheer, barely-there designs, the ever-elegant silhouette emerged as one of the red carpet’s most in-demand details. Kate Hudson, who was nominated for Best Actress for her role in Song Sung Blue, oozed old-Hollywood glamour in a custom crimson, figure-hugging satin gown by Prada. Meanwhile, Marty Supreme star Odessa A’Zion delivered effortless It-girl energy, proving the naked dress trend is far from fading in a free-flowing, glitzy black lace design by Jonathan Anderson for Dior, finished with a striking diamond choker adorned with teardrop accents. Elsewhere, Hamnet star Emily Watson championed understated elegance in a chocolate-hued, long-sleeved gown complete with a sweeping train.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the Bardot neckline enjoy a major revival this year. At the Golden Globe Awards last month, the perennially chic silhouette dominated the red carpet, with everyone from Jessie Buckley and Ayo Edebiri to Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez and Charli XCX embracing the look - cementing it as the neckline to know for 2026.
It's not clear whether or not fashion week had a part to play in why the red carpet looks at this year's BAFTA awards were so good, but it's safe to say the London-based ceremony has officially set the tone and become the blueprint for star-studded event dressing going forward.
