Bafta Awards 2025: From mermaidcore to gothic glamour, these are the most daring looks on the red carpet
Hollywood’s brightest stars arrived in London for the 2025 Baftas – and showed off a whole load of eye-catching red carpet looks in the process.
The biggest names in the film industry opted for high sartorial drama when they descended upon the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday afternoon (16 February) ahead of the ceremony.
The event, which recognises the year’s best films and TV shows,is always a highlight of awards season, and guests pulled out all the stops in sequinned gowns, fashion-forward tailoring and monochromatic outfits.
Here are some of the most striking looks straight from the red carpet…
Ariana Grande
The first time Bafta nominee has been method dressing (aka, choosing outfits subtly inspired by her character) during the Wicked press tour, so it was perhaps inevitable that Ariana Grande would go for a Glinda-approved shade of pale pink. Her custom Louis Vuitton dress cleverly played with proportion, offsetting the voluminous skirt with a plunging velvet bodice.
Demi Moore
Was this halter neck sequinned McQueen gown Demi Moore’s best outfit from her 2025 awards campaign to date? Quite possibly, yes. The star of The Substance looked both regal and fashion-forward, balancing out the bold pattern and embellishment with simple hair and make-up.
Colman Domingo
You can always rely on Colman Domingo to blow away the competition on the red carpet. The star of Sing Sing has carved out a reputation as one of the most stylish men in Hollywood, and his cheerily OTT Versace ensemble was a beacon of fashion fun in a sea of boring suits. We can’t wait to see what he wears at the Academy Awards and at the Met Gala later this year.
Camila Cabello
Singer Camila Cabello resurrected the naked dress trend for 2025, wearing a blush pink corset overlaid with a gorgeously intricate diamante skirt. We can only imagine just how freezing she must have been while posing outside in the British chill.
Zoe Saldaña
The Emilia Perez star’s Saint Laurent gown, with its feathered neckline, looked like something that a very glamorous Disney villain might pull out of their wardrobe before causing havoc (in the most complimentary sense possible).
Gwendoline Christie
The Game of Thrones and Star Wars actor can always be relied on to make a statement on the red carpet with a bold look, and her Bafta ensemble was no exception. Gwendoline Christie opted for gothic glamour in a high-necked black gown with lace detailing at the shoulders and witchy deconstructed sleeves. Her icy blonde, waist-length hair deserves a moment of appreciation, too.
Molly-Mae Hague
The UK’s premier influencing powerhouse made her Bafta red carpet debut wearing a sculptural all-black gown featuring her trademark oversized sleeves. It is more of an avant-garde look than we’ve come to expect from the former Love Island star.
Monica Barbaro
It may be her first time on the awards season circuit, but A Complete Unknown star Monica Barbaro, who plays Joan Baez opposite Timothée Chalamet in the Bob Dylan biopic, has already carved out a reputation as one to watch on the red carpet. This barely-there sequinned number, with its slightly scalloped hem and wavy embellishments, makes her look like a high-fashion mermaid in the best possible way.
David Tennant
The former Doctor Who star is never one to shy away from bold sartorial choices. As he returned to Bafta hosting duties for the second year in a row, David Tennant opted for a long-line jacket with embellished lapels and edges, complete with a bedazzled shirt and tie. Well, it’s certainly more interesting than a tuxedo...
Hannah Dodd
Bridgerton star Hannah Dodd added some intrigue to a classic black dress with an eye-catching bejewelled over skirt. It’s a stellar look well worthy of the diamond of the season.
Kelly Rutherford
Gossip Girl’s Kelly Rutherford channelled her inner Lily van der Woodsen in a dramatic, sculptural black gown complete with a high-low hem and an unexpected cut-out at the waist. Somehow, the actor even managed to make black opaque tights look red carpet-worthy.
Jeff Goldblum
The Wicked star looked dapper in a tailcoat paired with a feather-embellished waistcoat and his signature shades.
AJ Odudu
You only have to look at the array of incredible outfits AJ Odudu wears to host the Big Brother live shows to know she has superb taste. For this year’s Baftas, she pulled off one of her most sensational looks yet. The presenter looked like a high fashion Princess Leia in this draped, hooded white dress complete with a thigh-high split.
Stacy Martin
Another star bringing a touch of mermaidcore to the Royal Festival Hall was actor Stacy Martin, who looked seriously ethereal in a pale green gown dripping with sequins and embellishment.
Vera Wang
An upside-down bralet. Square sunglasses that could be straight out of a sci-fi film. Bared midriff. A peplum skirt. Safe to say, there was a lot going on when it came to Vera Wang’s Bafta look, but the designer (who, if you needed a reminder, is 75 years old) pulled it off with her usual aplomb.
Nabhaan Rizwan
Kudos to Rising Star nominee Nabhaan Rizwan for going all out with this floral ensemble, which cleverly played with print. Much like Colman Domingo, he proved that formal dressing doesn’t have to mean sticking to a boring formula.
Coralie Fargeat
The Substance director Coralie Fargeat won the award for most relatable Bafta outfit, layering a long puffa coat over her sparkling gown. Think football manager chic meets red carpet glam.
