Red Carpet to Real Life: Tips From a Celebrity Stylist

I can’t remember the first time I fell in love with fashion, but some of my earliest memories are of me sitting on the floor flipping through my sister’s magazines, ogling celebrity gowns on the red carpet. Today, I still live for the red carpet procession of fabulousness—more so than the awards ceremony itself—and this year’s Oscars didn’t disappoint. I caught up with celebrity stylist Anh Mai (remember her?) to hear which red carpet trends she spotted on Sunday. Read on to see her picks and find out cool ways to incorporate the looks into your everyday wardrobe. Yes, it can be done without looking like a prom queen.

Red Carpet: “I saw a lot of legs Sunday night,” Anh said. Angelina Jolie proved the power of the high slit on the red carpet back in 2012, but this year’s ceremony solidified that the trend is still going strong.
Real Life: Dresses that show a flash of leg are an edgy and feminine look for a springtime wedding or a dressy dinner with friends.

Red Carpet: Lady Gaga’s jumpsuit moment—need I say more?
Real Life: Instead of a maxi skirt, mix things up like Anh would with a big palazzo pant—bonus points if you find one with slits (see above).  Step out of the house in style and watch those babies blow in the breeze.

Red Carpet: From Jennifer Lawrence in striking Dior to Chrissy Teigen (and that baby bump) in fully beaded Marchesa, the stars pulled out their laciest gowns for the red carpet.
Real Life: We’ve all seen lace done a million ways, so Anh suggests opting for something surprising like lace socks with a pump or peeking out the top of cute booties.

Red Carpet: The ’90s trend was out to play, from Rachel McAdams’ halter-neck dress to Olivia Wilde’s ultra-luxe choker.
Real Life: Since everyone seems to be embracing the black choker, give the ’90s a go by ditching your skinny jeans for a bellbottom (see how here) or cropped pant. Both styles pair great with a massive platform shoe, which Anh says she’s seen everywhere from Italy to Korea. If you see sandals that remind you of those chunky flip flops from the late ’90s, you’re on the right track.