LOS ANGELES (REUTERS) - While the Academy Awards recognises the best in film, fashion insiders will have their eye on the red carpet looking for the best dressed stars of the night.
Celebrity stylist Sam Saboura is hoping nominee Emma Stone will have a standout moment.
"She always does something cutting edge, something unique, something outside of the box. But for me this season so far, I'm kind of like lukewarm. You know, I loved her Valentino look with the stars, I liked the McQueen look that she wore at the SAG Awards. But I really need her to knock it out of the park at this year's Oscars."
Red carpet style is also maternity style for Natalie Portman, who is expecting her second child any day now.
"I think it's a great homage to women who are carrying a child to see how you can be fashionable, colourful, even take risks like she did in that beautiful white Dior dress."
Best supporting actress nominee Viola Davis has been having fun with color.
"For a woman of a certain age she always shines on the carpet and she really owns her look. She's a strong woman and her looks are always strong, fashion forward and gorgeous."
He said red carpet veteran Nicole Kidman has been catching a lot flack with her choices recently, but he feels her risks have paid off.
"That McQueen dress that she wore that was metallic and very, very dramatic and embellished got her noticed for the wrong reasons. When she wore that Gucci dress with the parrots on the shoulders - I happened to be a big fan, that was serious fashion, she took a risk that I think worked very beautifully," said Saboura, who thinks she'll play it safe at the Oscars.
Celebrities aren't the only ones with access to borrow dresses. Armarium allows users to select from luxury looks from high-end designers like Marchesa, Armani Prive and Vera Wang.
"There are so many gorgeous rental places, but this has actually got things that are straight off the runway that you can grab, throw on and wear out to these amazing events. One of the things that is also so brilliant is that if you don't have a stylist, like myself, everything is beautifully curated in here," said celebrity stylist Anita Patrickson, who is dressing seven clients on Oscar Sunday.
Patrickson predicted the red carpet will be lively with a variety of trends. "I think we'll see a lot of metallics, I think we'll see a lot of reds, I usually feel like that has a moment. Often whites, but then again with the rain people might shy away from that."
No matter the choices celebrity make for the red carpet, Patrickson said the main goal should always be joy.
"If you want to push the envelope a little bit that's great too and I just think it's all subjective. And if you're not enjoying yourself there is no point."
The fashion fun will take place as the stars hit the red carpet at the Oscars on Feb 26.
