Doja Cat turned the 2025 Oscars into her personal runway, dazzling in three intricate, hand-embroidered couture creations that shimmered with millions of microbeads, Swarovski crystals, and sequins. From the red carpet to the stage and the after-party, the singer embraced high-fashion opulence with each look more extravagant than the last.
Red Carpet: A Fierce Leopard-Print Balmain Masterpiece
For her grand Oscars entrance, Doja Cat enlisted Olivier Rousteing of Balmain to create a one-of-a-kind leopard-print gown, inspired by a vintage Pierre Balmain design from 1953. The strapless, body-hugging dress featured a deep sweetheart neckline and a dramatic mermaid train, completely hand-embroidered in an ornate leopard pattern.
A true labor of love, the gown took a team of 46 artisans an astounding 5,600 hours to craft, with each microbead meticulously sewn into place. Even the seams were painstakingly aligned over two days to ensure a flawless pattern. Doja completed the look with stunning yellow pear-shaped drop earrings and a matching pendant necklace from Messika, peeking out from beneath her elegant backward scarf.
Rousteing, known for his affinity for leopard print, has used the motif throughout his tenure at Balmain—making Doja Cat the perfect muse for this show-stopping revival. Their collaboration dates back to 2022, when Doja performed at Balmain’s music festival celebrating Rousteing’s 10th anniversary as creative director.
Performance: A Swarovski Crystal Dream
Doja Cat’s second look of the evening came during her electrifying James Bond-inspired performance alongside Lisa and Raye. Taking center stage, she shimmered in a custom Swarovski gown, designed in collaboration with her stylist Brett Alan Nelson. Adorned with over one million crystals, the dazzling dress ensured all eyes were on her as she delivered a high-octane musical moment.
After-Party: A Golden Balmain Goddess
For the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party, Doja Cat transformed once again—this time into a gilded vision of luxury. Rousteing and his team at Balmain crafted a custom gold beaded gown, featuring nine different shades of gold beads to create a mesmerizing dégradé effect. Inspired by the label’s Resort 2025 collection, the dress utilized the trompe l’oeil technique to sculpt an optical illusion of the perfect silhouette.
This final look was yet another feat of couture craftsmanship, requiring 39 artisans and 3,450 hours to bead, embroider, and tailor to perfection. With its golden hues and statuesque silhouette, the dress made Doja Cat look like a living, breathing Oscar statuette—an unforgettable finale to her night of sartorial excellence.
