So, this is the first Academy Awards I’ve been able to view live in YEARS. The last couple of years I’ve been in Europe, and before that I was in college. I basically haven’t watched it since high school! So, anyway, this year was particularly exciting because it was co-hosted by James Franco, one of my favorite actors.
To be completely honest, though, motherhood has prevented me from watching most of the films that were nominated this year. I haven’t even seen Toy Story 3 yet! What kind of mother am I, huh? I did manage to watch Inception at the movie theaters, though–one of the few nights I was baby-free. Other than that, and maybe Alice in Wonderland, I am pretty clueless. I will, however, take the liberty of being a fashion critic! So here goes…
Sandra Bullock in Vera Wang. Wow, very red. But I think she’s making a good statement. She’s showing that she’s happy, vivacious, and sexy despite all the drama in her life of late. Overall, the silhouette is nothing revolutionary, but it is timeless and the color is definitely a head-turner. Her matching red lips along with ivory-toned skin and minimalistic jewelry allows us to focus on her rather than what she’s wearing, which is something that women in crimson red should think about. I like the look and think she comes off as a true leading lady.
Natalie Portman in Rodarte. I think this is a gorgeous look. The violet color really illuminated her “pregnancy glow,” although I’m sure a good makeup artist helped out with that as well. Really, her makeup matched beautifully with her dress and flattered her features wonderfully (as if her features need further flattery). Her hair left a little to be desired, though. I couldn’t really tell what was going on with the one-sided thing, but I would have liked to see a more classic wave, something like what Kim Basinger wore in L.A. Confidential. Overall, loved the silhouette–a stunning look for one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood.
Cate Blanchett in Givenchy Couture. I was undecided about this one for a while. This dress could have gone horribly wrong, but on Cate, it actually looks rather nice. Needless to say, you have to be statuesque to get away with this silhouette, and that she is. Given the amount of detailing in the dress, it’s a good thing she didn’t wear much in the way of jewelry. Also, her understated hairdo paired with this couture dress turned out pretty fetching. Overall, on Cate Blanchett, I’d say this look’s a hit.
Nicole Kidman in Christian Dior Haute Couture. I liked this dress! It has an origami look to it, which is something John Galliano is brilliant at. The detailing–everything is immaculately beautiful. And I like how she paired some eye-popping shoes with the icey tones of her dress. Overall, loved the look, and Nicole Kidman appeared better than she has in recent months. Maybe her lip injections have gone down? Who knows, but her face was definitely looking weird for a while. Fortunately, she eased off on the plastic surgery for the Academy Awards this year.
Michelle Williams in Chanel Haute Couture. I think she looks really cute with the pixie hairdo, but everything is just so darn pale. Her hair is platinum blond, her makeup is frosty, her dress is a shade of white, her shoes are pale, and her skin is pretty much ivory. If she grew out her hair, she could pass for Narnia’s White Witch. I would have liked to see a small accent of color–wouldn’t have to be a big one, but just a little something to let us know she’s still alive. The dress itself is quite pretty, though. I like the high neckline and the sleeves. Goes to show you don’t have to bare it all to be beautiful.
Amy Adams in L’Wren Scott. Qipao, anyone? All I can say is: It looks like a fancy qipao. I will hand it to Amy Adams for not putting her hair up into a bun, or else that would have been too obvious. The elegant necklace is a nice touch, something that actually works with the neckline.
Gwyneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein. This dress seemed to garner a lot of praise tonight. It’s beautiful for a minimalistic dress (trademark Calvin Klein), but it’s not uber creative. The sheen of the fabric is the only element that makes this dress stand out. Otherwise, not crazy about the cut and silhouette. Also, I see her hair poker straight all the time. Especially with such an angular dress, a little wave in her hair would’ve been a more interesting interpretation of the look conveyed here. Fortunately, she does wear what appears to be a belt, which adds a break to a dress that otherwise would have looked just too straight.
Marissa Tomei in Charles James. No, no–bad. First of all, the fabric doesn’t look flattering at all. Love the actress, but the sheen from the flash just does not illuminate her best assets. I don’t even know how she sits. And then I really don’t like how it’s all shiny and tight and then it just busts out into what appears to be tulle. Designed a little differently, this dress could have had a lot of potential, because I do think the color is elegant and matches Marissa Tomei. But, the color’s really the only element of this dress I can compliment.
Hilary Swank in Gucci. Well, what can I say, it’s a pretty dress. It’s not all that special, even with the feather element, but it’s attractive. Again, with such a muted color scheme, it wouldn’t have hurt Hilary to incorporate a punch of color somewhere or added a bit of wave to her updo.
Sharon Stone in Christian Dior. I can expect this look from Sharon Stone, but a few things I would like to say: Take the hair down a notch. That is a SCARY HIGH updo. Secondly, don’t like the fabric used in this dress. Looks kinda cheap. Thirdly, the poof at the shoulder is interesting, but it is competing too much with her face. It appears she has an animal hanging off her shoulder, which isn’t too attractive. It could use some downplaying. I love the red lipstick paired with the black, though.
Halle Berry in Marchesa. A lot of people liked this Marchesa dress. The color’s great–looks wonderful on Halle Berry. It’s a sexy silhouette–one of the best for Halle’s amazing figure. But, the tulle, or whatever it is that’s scrunched up at the bottom, appears a tad haphazard. It looks like someone scrunched up some leftover material from a bridal veil and randomly pinned it to this dress. I love the train, and the glittery-ness of the dress, but something about that tulle could have been put together more neatly. Sorry, Halle Berry looked beautiful, but that part of the dress did bother me.
A couple of other comments: Didn’t like Scarlett Johansson’s messy, bed-head-looking hair. Did not go with her dress at all. Wasn’t crazy about her dress either. Anne Hathaway was cute, and I did like the majority of the dresses she wore. And, is it just me, but I didn’t know she could sing. I could be really out-of-it, though. James Franco–adorable. Love him. Billy Crystal–was great seeing him again. Love him, too. Robert Downey Jr. and Judd Law together = cute. They do have an interesting dynamic and I liked watching them present together. Also, it was a little random seeing Mandy Moore up there, and she did look a tad overwhelmed, but it’s all good. Bonsoir!
