Courtesy of oscar.go.com
On the whole, this year's Oscars was a safe evening with not a lot of risk-taking, but it was elegant, with many beautiful, feminine choices.
THE BEST DRESSED
Lupita Nyong'o: She was the Cinderella of the evening in her custom, pale blue Prada gown. Absolutely everything about her was perfect. From the Fred Leighton headband and jewelry, to the simple hair and makeup with a pink lip. She made my heart sing.
Charlize Theron: Absolutely stunning! Her black Dior gown showed off her flawless figure, and the details of the pleated hem and the invisible straps were examples of great craftsmanship. With her gleaming, gamine crop of hair and the simple and striking pendant necklace, she nailed this look.
Amy Adams: This deceptively simple midnight blue Gucci was a wonder of construction. It fit her so perfectly and snugly while looking incredibly comfortable—plus it had pockets! The color showed off her beautiful skin and her elegant updo was set off by the bright pink, dangling Tiffany earrings.
Olivia Wilde: Channelling Audrey Hepburn in a black Valentino gown, I loved the peekaboo affect of the white showing in the back and the charming bow closure at the back of the neck. She knows how to dress for pregnancy while remaining fashion-forward and chic. Plus, along with her partner, Jason Sudeikis, who was wearing blue Prada, they were the most beautiful couple of the night.
Kerry Washington: Another stunningly beautiful pregnant woman who knows excatly what she likes to wear. Her breathtaking, mocha-colored Jason Wu was luxurious and elegant and looked beautiful against her skin. With her flowing long hair and gorgeous makeup (again a strong lip) she was the epitome of a glowing woman.
Cate Blanchett: The nude color of this Armani Prive was so beautifully embellished with applique flowers and delicate, lavendar beads. It was ethereal, feminine, and lovely, and she looked like a dream. Her hair and makeup as always were perfect, and the long, dangling earrings were absolutely right for the dress.
Kate Hudson: A winner in white Atelier Versace. It was absolutely perfect on her, and it was the perfect red carpet dress. She looked like a statuette.
Naomi Watts: She has become the mistress of minimalism. Her stunning white, beaded Calvin Klein Collection sheath was perfectly offset by an edgy necklace from Bulgari. Her hair and makeup were so clean and simple and were set off by a strong red lip.
Angelina Jolie: I loved this Elie Saab Haute Couture dress on her. The grey metallic was lovely and it was so refreshing to see her out of black. It had a retro feel to it too that kept it from being too old. It was elegant and made her look regal like the eminence she has become in Hollywood.
The two I was on the fence about were Jennifer Lawrence and Sandra Bullock. Jennifer Lawrence's red Dior was lovely and appropriate but kind of boring and matronly on such a young girl. It didn't wow me. As for the beautiful navy Alexander McQueen dress on Sandra Bullock, it again felt very safe and not a typical McQueen dress. If your'e going to do McQueen, do it big! Again, perfectly lovely, just very staid.
TRENDS
There was a definite turn to a pale and neutral palette on tonight's Oscar red carpet. Lots of nude, beige white, pale pink, and lavender gowns, many of which beaded. It was a refreshing change and brought a spring-like freshness to the evening. Those who did it well were of course, Cate Blanchett in Armani Prive, Sarah Paulson In Elie Saab, Jessica Biel in Chanel Couture, Jennifer Garner in Oscar de La Renta, Jenna Dewan Tatum in Reem Acra, Naomi Watts in Calvin Klein collection, and Kate Hudson in Atelier Versace.
Black was a strong color as always, and this year it was the younger girls who wore it best and presented it in a fresh, edgy, and modern way. Emma Watson in Vera Wang, Anna Kendrick in J. Mendel, Anne Hathaway in Gucci, and Margot Robie (now a striking brunette) in Yves St. Laurent wore it well.
The gentlemen looked incredibly elegant, which was a refreshing change. Many chose light-colored dinner jackets, including Ryan Seacrest in Burberry, Matthew McConaghey in Dolce & Gabbana, and Jared Leto in Saint Laurent. Others went for a midnight blue, including Jason Sudeikis in gorgeous Prada. Chris Hemsworth opted for a burgundy-colored jacket trimmed in black to match his pants and many, many others went in classic black.
