Julianne Hough Wears a Jumpsuit (No, That's Not a Gown!) to 2024 Oscars: 'She Loves a Fashion Risk,' Says Stylist (Exclusive)

Hough is one of the 2024 Oscars ABC pre-show hosts alongside Vanessa Hudgens

Julianne Hough at the 96th Annual Oscars held at at the Ovation Hollywood on March 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Julianne Hough in a jumpsuit at 2024 Oscars. Photo:

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

Julianne Hough knows how to make a red carpet style statement.

The Dancing with the Stars host opted for something different for the 96th Academy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday. Instead of picking a gown, she opted for pants!

Hough wore a white Alexandre Vauthier couture jumpsuit with a gold and silver metallic bodice. The pants were so voluminous, though, that they acted as an optical illusion, making her jumpsuit look like a gown. Hough made sure everyone knew she was wearing pants, though, showing off her fun look on the red carpet.

Julianne Hough arriving on the red carpet at the 96th Annual Academy Awards in Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, CA, Sunday, March 10, 2024.
Julianne Hough at 2024 Oscars.

Christina House / Los Angeles Times via Getty

"Since the Oscars is so glamorous, I knew I wanted to do something cool and different," Hough's stylist Jennifer Mazur tells PEOPLE. "When Vauthier sent me a photo of this jumpsuit that they had in Paris that no one had seen yet, I knew it was an instant winner. When I showed it to Julianne. she fell in love. From the second she tried it on. We knew it was the winner for the Oscars. Julianne loves taking a fashion risk and loves to be different.”

Hough, 35, is the co-host of ABC's The Oscars Red Carpet Show, a 30-minute special airing live from the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre. Vanessa Hudgens is also interviewing stars ahead of the ceremony alongside Hough.

 Julianne Hough attends the 96th Annual Academy Awards on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood,
Julianne Hough at the 2024 Oscars.

Mike Coppola/Getty 

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Hough recently debuted her shorter 'do, becoming one of many chic Hollywood stars to embrace the flippy bob. She teased a new haircut on Instagram on Jan. 6, then showed up to host the Creative Arts Emmys the next day with the flipped-up bob, which hovers around chin length and is styled in a C-shape with the ends curled out.

At the time, Hough's hairstylist told PEOPLE about the actress' decision — which was part of her “letting go” literally and figuratively. “During Dancing with the Stars, she kept saying, ‘I think I want to go short,’ then then one day we did a faux bob for Dancing and after that she was like, ‘let’s do this,' " recounted hairstylist Riawna Capri.

The 96th Oscars will air live on ABC from the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 10, at 7 p.m. ET.

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