The Critics' Choice Awards are one of the winter's biggest film events. These Awards fall early in the awards season, which is why it is rumored to influence Academy members for Oscar winners. This year's winners include Timothee Chalamet, Jacob Elordi, Noah Wyle, KPop Demon Hunters, and The Pitt.
While the awards did highlight many actors for their outstanding work, the real star of the show was the red carpet looks. Here are some of the best looks from the Critics' Choice carpet.
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Elordi's look did not disappoint. His all-black suit was tailored to perfection. However, what made this look stand out was his dark sunglasses with red-tinted lenses.
Recently, he has been wearing sunglasses on the red carpet, one example being his 2026 Golden Globes look. On the Critics' Choice Awards carpet, his sunglasses gave the message that he is effortlessly cool (and that he knows it).
Jacob Elordi is known for being one of the biggest heartthrobs of our generation. His Critics' Choice Awards look just gave his fans a new picture to obsess over. We can expect to see great looks and statement outfits continue throughout the Wuthering Heights press tour.
Image Credit: Mick De Paola from Unsplash
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Elle Fanning
This look was stunning. The dress looked similar to liquid gold with the way the color changes shades in the light. The plunging cowl neck accented the train nicely, giving the dress multiple draping elements.
Also, the short trail made the dress more elegant. Fanning's soft glam makeup look should be an example for this type of makeup. Not only was it a perfect, subtle makeup, but it also accentuated her dress by allowing the look to have an overall gentle vibe.
McKenna Grace
Grace's outfit screamed old Hollywood in the best way. Old Hollywood is classified with figure-hugging gowns, polished accessories (such as diamonds, pearls, and fur), and impeccable tailoring. Her white dress was fit to perfection, featuring a round neckline, cap sleeves, and a drop waist. Another element that added to the glamour of this dress is the black accent on the neckline and waist.
She accessorized perfectly with minimal jewelry, except for a pair of pearl statement earrings. Her makeup was flawless and channeling old Hollywood, with a bold eyeliner wing and bright red lipstick. Her half-up half-down hairstyle was simple and glamorous, especially with its soft curls. Grace nailed this look, making her one of the best dressed stars of the night.
Noah Schnapp
Schnapp's look resembled Stranger Things. His suit was garnet, which is a remnant of one of the main colors used in the show. He also had a silver detail on his pocket, which really stood out against the dark of the suit.
His tie was a darker red, which provided a nice color contrast. Finally, Schnapp wore a black shirt underneath the suit, providing a plain background for the red to catch the eye. His look was one of the best overall and definitely the best of the men.
Image Credit: Haoli Chen from Unsplash
Camila Perez
This dress looked absolutely stunning on Perez. The dress was a black, form-fitting halter neck. However, the real star of the dress was the cut-out details on the side and open back. The cut outs fit were flattering; they highlighted her natural build.
The simplicity of this dress is what made it so memorable. She also went plain with her accessories and hair. She had a slick-back hairstyle and wore only dainty earrings. The overall look seemed effortless and classy, which was perfect for the Critics' Choice Awards.
Erin Lim Rhodes
Rhodes' unique dress took the runway by storm. The strapless silhouette featured a drop-waist with a tight bottom and plunging neckline. The standout of this dress was the gold accent on the drop-waist.
It was absolutely stunning — it had a fringe made of gold details. Along with this, the waist was asymmetric, with the highest point of details being right below the neckline.
Rhodes' look had minimal accessories, which made the dress stand out more. It accented the dress nicely because minimal jewelry allowed for the gold detailing on the dress to be the outfit's focal point.
Image Credit: Emanuel Ekström from Unsplash
Leighton Meester
Meester's purple look was absolutely stunning. Her strapless dress was a blend of mesh and patterns, with a plaid pattern covering the dress. Instead of being a bold plaid, her dress' pattern was subtle, with the lines being made out of small bows.
The silver accents in the middle were the perfect touch to make this look very feminine and eye-catching. In terms of the mesh, her dress was not entirely see through, but it was lighter than regular fabric. Finally, the corset fit her perfectly, making this look an overall standout.
Arden Cho
If this look had to be described in one word, it would be princess. Cho's dress was an off-the-shoulder gown with draping around the hips. It also had a long slit, but it was so narrow that it added to the tastefulness of the dress. The looseness of the top of the dress made it stand out even more — it is unusual for the top of a corset to be a bit looser, but in this case it really worked.
Her hair, glam, and accessories are all more examples of how sophisticated this look was. The diamond necklace she was wearing accented the lower neckline of the dress. Her glam appeared to focus on making her skin flawless, which it achieved. Let's be honest: she was glowing.
Red carpets are huge trend predictors. We've seen two light purple looks on the Critics' Choice carpet this year, so we can expect purple to make its return soon. This will be especially prominent in the spring, when light, floral tones are in fashion.
Image Credit: Denise Jans from Unsplash
Conclusion
The 2026 Critics' Choice Awards had no shortage of great outfits. Everyone there was dressed to the tens, and many looks channeled old Hollywood sophistication with a modern twist. This carpet was a strong start to the awards season, so we can expect to see many more amazing fashion statements at the upcoming ceremonies.
