The 98th annual Academy Awards will take place on Sunday in Los Angeles, with “Sinners” leading the nominations followed by “One Battle After Another.”
While Academy members may have been contemplating which film is most worthy of Best Picture during the voting period, celebrity stylists have been curating the perfect red carpet looks. Although floor-length gowns are often the go-to style for women at the Oscars and other formal awards shows, finding the right shoe is nevertheless an important task.
Celebrity fashion stylist Micaela Erlanger, whose counts Meryl Streep and Lupita Nyong’o among her clients, has experience in selecting the ideal red carpet shoes. She answered FN’s questions about dressing the Hollywood’s biggest stars for the most talked-about red carpets.
What do you look for when it comes to selecting red carpet footwear during awards season? What trends are you embracing right now?
Micaela Erlanger: For me, red-carpet dressing has always started from the ground up. Shoes set the tone — they dictate posture, proportion and presence. After years of dressing women for the most photographed moments of their careers, I’ve learned that the right shoe doesn’t just complete the look, it defines how she walks into the room. For 2026, I’m focused on footwear that feels timeless and intentional — pieces that support confidence and elegance rather than compete with it.
Styled by Erlanger, Ego Nwodim wore Gianvito Rossi pumps with a Giambattista Valli gown for the red carpet at the 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards at Hollywood Palladium on Feb. 15, 2026, in Los Angeles.
Monica Schipper/Getty Images
What are some of your favorite shoe brands right now for formal dressing?
M.E.: I’m always drawn to shoes that balance elegance with comfort and exceptional craftsmanship — especially during awards season. Right now, I love Aquazzura for their refined glamour, Manolo Blahnik for timeless sophistication, Gianvito Rossi for his impeccable proportions and beautifully engineered heels and Jimmy Choo when we want something polished yet modern. I’m increasingly focused on brands that truly understand wearability — shoes that look exquisite but allow the woman wearing them to feel grounded, confident and at ease.
What kinds of shoe styles do you see Meryl Streep gravitate toward?
M.E.: Comfort is always a priority for Meryl — it’s nonnegotiable. She gravitates toward shoes that are beautifully made, and thoughtfully designed, with clean silhouettes and heels that feel comfortable and intentional. She has an incredible sense of what works for her, and she values ease just as much as elegance.
Styled by Erlanger, Meryl Streep wore platform sandals with a Dior dress to attend “Le Deuxième Acte” (“The Second Act”) screening and opening ceremony red carpet at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 14, 2024, in Cannes, France.
Gisela Schober/Getty Images
How does your approach to styling for Oscars compare to the Golden Globes?
M.E.: The Golden Globes allow for a bit more personality and playfulness — it’s a fashion-forward evening where texture, sparkle and a relaxed glamour feel right, and footwear can be slightly more expressive. The Oscars are about timelessness and legacy. Every detail, especially the shoes, needs to feel enduring, elegant and impeccably resolved. The Globes invite a touch of spontaneity; the Oscars call for something iconic.
