Sexy, Moody Black Dresses Returned to the Red Carpet for the 2022 Oscars

We've gotten so used to seeing shades of neon and metallics on the red carpet, we almost forgot how breathtaking a solid black gown can be. But for the 2022 Oscars, plenty of actresses set out to remind us, arriving at both the awards show and the after-parties in their own elegant versions, each one different and special in its own right.

While a little black dress feels like a basic when you're getting ready for a cocktail party, at a fashion bonanza kind of event — where electric, vibrant, over-the-top designs have become the norm — suddenly this muted neutral becomes a bolder choice. We also can't help but think that these stars and their stylists were looking toward the future — black dresses were all over the fall 2022 runways, which is all the more reason to fish one out from the back of your own closet, ASAP.