5 Wedding-Worthy Oscar Updos

Avant garde silhouettes, intense sparkle and bold colour ruled the red carpet at last night’s Academy Awards. Mega-watt glamour was the fashion story of the night with stars like Demi Moore, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Halle Berry and Cynthia Erivo making Oscar history with their now iconic looks.

The other big style story? The return of Old Hollywood-inspired beauty looks (this was definitely *not* a no-makeup makeup event), headlined by one particular vintage-vibes hair trend: the updo. From ballerina buns to sleek, sculptural twists, the updo was the hair moment of the night, proving it’s the perfect match for otherworldly gowns.

An updo unclutters the neckline, and transforms hair into an accessory— rather than a focal point—of a total look. This is what makes this hair trend a perfect choice for weddings. Some legendary updo-wearing brides who are picture-perfect examples of this wedding style philosophy: Grace Kelly, Gwen Stefani, Paris Hilton, Sofia Richie, and Serena Williams.

Here are five of the best Oscar updos to inspire your 2025 wedding hair. —Alison McGill

Margaret Qualley

The Substance star rocked one of most intricate and statement making updos which looked incredible paired with her backless black velvet Chanel gown. Her retro-inspired, high and mighty, sculptural ‘do was created by stylist Anna Cofone, who shared with Marie Claire UK the inspiration came from styles worn by legendary stars like Catherine Deneuve.

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Elle Fanning

This starlet was giving total bridal vibes in a custom white lace Givenchy by Sarah Burton gown (Burton was also the brilliant design mind behind Kate Middleton’s royal wedding dress). Fanning wore her hair slicked back into a middle-parted bun which was positioned high on her head. We love the idea of elevating this hair look even further for a wedding day with the addition of vintage brooches.

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Lupita Nyong’o

Wearing a Chanel halter dress decorated with over 22,000 pearls, Nyong’o was unquestionably one of the best dressed stars of the night. Her hair style was equally impactful and made for the aisle. The intricate updo was created by OLAPLEX Ambassador Vernon Francois who shares the inspiration for the look was creating something classic with a modern twist. “I wanted to honored the beauty of natural Afro hair while elevating it with intricate details. I overlaid and wrapped her locks, incorporating pearls to bring a sense of earthy authenticity and sophistication.”

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Ariana Grande

Ari hit a high note with her Glinda-chic chignon, which was crisp, clean and elegant. Most importantly it didn’t steal the spotlight from her incredible Schiaparelli SS25 Couture gown said to be inspired by an archival Alberto Giacometti lamp by discovered by Schiaparelli designer Daniel Roseberry. A ballerina bun like Grande’s is perfect for weddings, and an easy look to transform if you want to switch up your hair from ceremony to dancing and a more free-flowing style.

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Mikey Madison

The Anora star and Best Actress winner was polished perfection in a black and pink strapless Dior gown which felt very Audrey Hepburn; so too did her choice of an effortless updo. The centre-parted style was sleek and sweet, and had just a bit of texture play with feathery side tendrils. This look would work with so many wedding styles from ball gowns to ‘90s-inspired slip dresses.

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