Skip to content
  • Essence GU
  • Beautycon
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Afropunk
  • Essence Studios
  • Soko Mrkt
  • Ese Funds
  • Refinery29
  • WeLoveUs.shop
  • 2026 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Entrepreneurship
  • News
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
  • Subscribe
Home • Fashion

Ones To Watch: Red Carpet Style

Style stars on the come-up we're most looking forward to seeing this season.
By Celia L. Smith · Updated October 27, 2020
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…
01
Lupita Nyong’o

Ladies love Lupita! The star stole the show last year with her performance in 12 Years A Slave, and stole our hearts with her polished, feminine style (here, wearing Chanel) –– every look complete with her closely-cut coiffe and make-up that takes nothing away from her naturally striking beauty.

Ones To Watch: Red Carpet Style
Gary Gershoff/WireImage
02
Black & White

Nyong’o wearing a Prabal Gurung tuxedo wrap dress at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, California.

Ones To Watch: Red Carpet Style
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
03
Fine Threads

Nyong’o wearing a Elie Saab Couture brocade dress, Cartier jewels and Christian Louboutin sandals at the 25th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival awards gala.

Ones To Watch: Red Carpet Style
Charley Gallay/Getty Images
04
Glam Goddess

Nyong’o wearing a contrast colored, Grecian-style Resort gown by Lanvin at the 2013 BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards.

Ones To Watch: Red Carpet Style
05
Winter Wonder

Nyong’o wearing a Moschino coat, sequin Elie Saab dress, Nicholas Kirkwood pumps, David Yurman jewelry and Judith Leiber clutch at the 12 Years a Slave movie premiere in Paris.

Ones To Watch: Red Carpet Style
Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/French Select via Getty Images
06
Ciara

Ciara served pretty severe style in 2013, sharply dressed in all of the heavy hitters from Parisian fashion house Carven to Calvin Klein (shown here), but we have an inkling that this is just the tip of the iceberg, or, shall we say, stiletto. We expect this Givenchy gal to rock more of it and expand to even chicer horizons.

Ones To Watch: Red Carpet Style
Gary Gershoff/WireImage
07
Midnight Madness

Ciara wearing Anthony Vaccarello at the 2014 People’s Choice Awards nominations announcement at The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, California.

Ones To Watch: Red Carpet Style
Gregg DeGuire/WireImage and David Livingston/Getty Images
08
Ebony Eyes

Ciara wearing a tulle Alon Livne gown and Yves Saint Laurent heels at Hotel Derek for Moet Rose Lounge Houston.

Ones To Watch: Red Carpet Style
Bob Levey/Getty Images
09
Black Paris

Ciara wearing Givenchy at the Givenchy Fall/Winter 2013 runway presentation in Paris.

Ones To Watch: Red Carpet Style
Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/WireImage
10
Cream of The Crop

Ciara wearing a Saint Laurent bandeau and pumps, Dominic Louis pencil skirt and Lorraine Schwartz jewels at the Ford Red Carpet at the 2013 BET Awards.

Ones To Watch: Red Carpet Style
Jason Merritt/BET/Getty Images
11
Ashley Madekwe

The British style invasion is already underway thanks to the likes of Thandie Newton and Naomie Harris, and now you can add Ashley Madekwe into the mix. Like the others, this fashionista’s nonchalant Euro-sensibility comes across flawlessly on camera.

Ones To Watch: Red Carpet Style
Michael Kovac/Getty Images and Jason Merritt/Getty Images
12
Bead It!

Madekwe wearing custom Topshop at the 2013 MET Gala.

Ones To Watch: Red Carpet Style
13
Short & Sweet

Madekwe wearing a printed Zimmerman dress at the Fourth-Annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, Los Angeles at Will Rogers State Historic Park in Pacific Palisades, California.

Ones To Watch: Red Carpet Style
Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Veuve Clicquot
14
Silky Smooth

Madekwe wearing a sleeveless dress attending ELLE Fashion Next.

Ones To Watch: Red Carpet Style
Getty Images
15
Sunshine State

Madekwe wearing a Spring halter jumpsuit by Diane von Furstenberg, vintage Chanel chain belt and Saint Laurent sandals the 12th Annual InStyle Summer Soiree.

Ones To Watch: Red Carpet Style
Getty Images