SAG Awards 2020: this elegant trend was all over the red carpet and we loved it

Credit: Getty

Stylist Loves


SAG Awards 2020: this elegant trend was all over the red carpet and we loved it

By Eni Subair

6 years ago

Old Hollywood had a revival on the red carpet last night. From diamond encrusted gowns to boned corset detailing, column dresses were rampant at the 2020 SAG awards in a series of drool-worthy styles.

Last night a swarm of A-list celebrities graced the red carpet for the notable 2020 SAG awards. The prestigious award ceremony held in Los Angeles celebrated the most renowned and impressive performances over the last year both on the big and small screen. Perhaps one of the most sought-after accolades (winners are chosen based on rankings from hundreds of fellow industry peers), the SAG awards often ensure the room is littered with impressive talent. A flood of winners slowly usurped our Instagram feed and Twitter timeline including Renee Zellweger and Joaquin Phoenix who both respectively bagged one of the most-coveted awards of the evening for most outstanding performance in a leading role for Judy and Joker.

Indisputably, award season never lets us down when it comes to displaying an onslaught of cool trends and the 26th SAG awards were no different. Column dresses seemed to be the recurring silhouette favoured by a throng of stars. Gone were the previous puff sleeve iterations, voluminous puffball gowns, and sheer detailing evident at the Golden Globes just a few weeks ago, as more streamlined, sleeveless, fitted gowns seemed to be the choice of the evening.

Big Little Lies star Zoë Kravitz adorned a precious peach number by Oscar de la Renta. Sporting a bow in the centre of the gown with white fitted glows, the actor seemed to channel her character Bonnie’s iconic Audrey Hepburn outfit during the show’s first season. Her fellow BLL co-star Reese Witherspoon also seemed to adhere to the trend in a Celine number that featured just the right amount of sparkle. While playful detailing like big sleeves (thanks, Cecilie Bahnsen) and ruffles have largely dominated the red carpet of late (Queen Bey and Gwyneth Paltrow are fans), scaling back on the theatrics seems to be the resounding theme. Why? Column dresses carry a certain longevity and timelessness that transcends seasons. Versatile, relaxed and chic, the shapely dress evidently draws on an element of vintage Hollywood glamour that seems to be a foolproof winner each time. Get you a dress that can take you from the ceremony to the dance floor, we say. Ahead, we picked a few memorable dresses from the Screen Actors Guild Awards 2020 that stole the limelight. 


Lupita Nyong'o

The US actor tapped into the style with a beaded/sequin concoction courtesy of Louis Vuitton. Clearly channelling the retro aesthetic of many of her predecessors, Nyong’o went for diamond drop earrings and a vintage up-do. Extra points for the waist-cinching belt.


Jennifer Lopez

Lots of velvet and delicate jewels do a good red carpet outfit make. J.Lo tackled double trends with both an obnoxiously large bow at the back of this Georges Hobeika creation and oodles of velvet. Slightly revamping the column silhouette with off-the-shoulder sleeves, this is OTT for all the right reasons.


Reese Witherspoon

The asymmetric shoulder! The gems! The monochrome element! It’s safe to say Reese made an otherwise overdone cut seem fresh, fashion-forward and contemporary. 


Renee Zellweger

Royal blue and award ceremonies go hand-in-hand it seems. Making a serious case for the hue this season, Zellweger effortlessly nails this Maison Margiela design - complete with pockets (!), FYI.


Zoë Kravitz

Zoë Kravitz remained true to her somewhat signature style, opting for this striking sleeveless, boned gown. If anyone can pull off a full length number with stark white gloves, the soon-to-be Catwoman star is surely the best bet.


Michelle Williams

Making maternity dressing look easy, Michelle Williams - like many of her peers - opted for Hollywood glamour, red lipstick and tousled waves in tow of course. 


Sophie Turner

We can always count on Sophie Turner to add some pizzazz to the red carpet and that she did in this magenta, figure-hugging Louis Vuitton dress. From the sweetheart neckline to the corset bodice, it’s a yes from us.



Images: Getty

Sign up for our edit of what to buy, see, read and do, and receive a free mini-mag of the top 5 fashion trends you’re sure to see in 2024.

By signing up you agree to occasionally receive offers and promotions from Stylist. Newsletters may contain online ads and content funded by carefully selected partners. Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your data. You can opt-out at any time. For more information read Stylist’s Privacy Policy

Thank you!

You’re now subscribed to all our newsletters. You can manage your subscriptions at any time from an email or from a MyStylist account.