Queen Latifah attended the 16th Governors Awards in Hollywood on November 16, 2025, wearing a flowing red gown with floral detailing and black accessories.

At the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood , Queen Latifah arrived for the 16th Governors Awards on November 16, 2025 , delivering a moment of red carpet fashion-coded tonal elegance reframed as couture dress-coded emotional clarity . Standing on a black carpet in front of the gold-lettered OSCARS backdrop, Latifah wore a flowing red gown with a black floral design across the upper left bodice , paired with black earrings and a confident smile.

The ensemble fused designer outfit-coded silhouette softness with celebrity look-coded visual punctuation , where the floral accent became the focal point of the composition. The gown’s movement and color saturation anchored the look in fashion moment-coded cinematic richness , while the accessories added a layer of haute couture-coded tonal grounding .

Lucy Liu wore a red silk ruched Zuhair Murad gown to the 16th Governors Awards in Los Angeles.

Lucy Liu arrived at the 16th Governors Awards, held at The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood on November 16, 2025. For the occasion, she selected a deep red Zuhair Murad gown constructed from silk with a heavy ruched bodice. The design features a distinct asymmetrical neckline with a slash detail across the chest and a single strap, while a metallic gold plate belt cinches the waist to provide structure to the flowing, floor-length skirt. She accessorized the look with a David Webb Diamond Bracelet in 18K Gold and Platinum on her left wrist and a Hanut Singh Eleganza Ring. A dark, rectangular Judith Leiber Skylar Satin Clutch completed the ensemble.

As the industry gathers for this pivotal pre-Oscars event, the fashion tone often shifts from the experimentalism of fashion weeks to a more serious, enduring glamour. This look aligns with a broader return to classicism, where the focus rests on silhouette and color rather than theatrical excess. It suggests a mood of refined stability, positioning Liu as a veteran presence who understands the gravity of the venue.

The ensemble is a study in the modification of the Grecian archetype for a modern celebrity red carpet . Zuhair Murad’s use of ruching creates a texture that mimics ancient statuary, yet the choice of a deep oxblood hue rather than traditional white or pastel grounds the look in the autumn season. The styling success, however, relies heavily on the metallic belt; without this architectural anchor, the volume of the silk might have overwhelmed Liu’s frame. Instead, the gold hardware introduces a necessary tension between fluidity and rigidity. It is a statuesque and dignified choice, proving that precise tailoring often speaks louder than volume.

Tessa Thompson wore a custom red Valentino Resort 2026 gown with Tiffany & Co. jewelry at the 16th Governors Awards.

Tessa Thompson arrived at The Ray Dolby Ballroom for the 16th Governors Awards, selecting a custom Valentino Resort 2026 dress that reimagines the classic romantic gown through an architectural lens. The garment is rendered in a vibrant poppy red hue, featuring a bodice defined by intricate, crisscrossed ruching that wraps the torso like a bandage before releasing into a fluid, floor-grazing skirt. The off-the-shoulder neckline is accented with knotted sleeve details that drape loosely down the arm, suggesting a deliberate deconstruction of the traditional bow. She anchored this diaphanous look with substantial archival jewelry, specifically the Tiffany & Co. Schlumberger Hands Necklace and matching Flame Ear Clips. Although obscured by the hemline, the look was grounded by Giuseppe Zanotti Betty Platform Sandals.

Thompson’s ensemble navigates the tricky terrain of wearing red on the celebrity red carpet without blending into the upholstery. This look speaks to a current industry mood that favors “relaxed grandeur”—couture-level construction presented with an ease that suggests the wearer simply threw it on. By pairing the softness of the chiffon with the heavy, industrial gold of the Schlumberger pieces, she bridges the gap between the ethereal “goddess” archetype and the grounded, modern woman.