The Oscars Red Carpet Fashion Recap

I’m back with my annual Oscars Red Carpet fashion picks and pans.  The 88th Annual Academy Awards were full of fashion high points…and….definitely some low points.  These are just my humble opinions and I realize my idea of fashion may not coincide with everyone’s .  I am just taking this moment to tell you what I liked.  I will be taking a few moments to poke some fun at what I didn’t like too. 

Let’s start with the good stuff…

Red Carpet Picks

My pick of the night is actually shared between two different ladies because I just could not decide between the two who pulled it off the best. 

Charlize Theron in custom Dior…again….and we love it….again.

Head to toe chic.  I wonder whether a choker would have worked on this look.  The long pendant works well but I wonder if a choker would have worked better…not sure.  I love that they went minimal and didn’t over stack this gown with jewelry.  Clean, simple, elegant and so very chic.  Brava!!

A little look inside the Dior workroom (Instagram) on this one.  It was a custom order folks.  It’s pays to be a couture house’s muse.

Cate Blanchett in Armani Privé

Stunning!!!  From the color to the delicate floral embellishment I adored this look.  Her Tiffany jewelry brought it to another level.  Everything just sings for me on this one.  All the girly princess pressure points in my system sang to this Ave Maria of a gown. 

Illustration from Megan Hess Instagram

Those were my two favorite looks of the evening but there were a number of  looks that made me nod my head in approval to the wearer and stylist.

Alicia Virkander in custom Louis Vuitton

Glorious in whipped butter yellow!!  All you bakers out there know the color I reference.  When was the last time we saw yellow rock the red carpet?   I’m thinking never!  Michelle Williams did orange in Vera Wang beautifully one year but I’m not sure this shade of yellow has made an appearance lately.  Again minimal jewelry, soft hair and softer makeup palette brings forth a win on this one.  And congrats to Ms. Virkender on her Oscar win and….managing to bring Michael Fassbender as her date!  Cuuuuuuute. 

Ms. Virkander also rocked a LV for the after parties too…

Giuliana Rancic in George Chakra

I loved the clean elegant lines of this gown and the party that was the back.  Nice.  Giuliana still needs a few cheeseburgers though to fill out those arms. 

Olivia Munn in Stella McCartney

Loved this bold deep orange/red on her.  I also loved the bold clean lines of this design and the strong clean jewelry she ( or her stylist) paired with it.  Nice!

Honerable Mention

First off  “Cutest reveal of a baby bump” has to go to Emily Blunt in Prada

I was not on social media for the days leading up to the Oscars so I missed the announcement that she was expecting.  I took one look at her empire waist gown and said to my daughter “Is Emily Blunt preggers?”  Guess I should have read the news feed before the event.  She glowed in this and I liked it.

Next up is “Person most likely to feel a draft the WHOLE evening”.  This goes to  Rachel McAdams in August Getty.

Why the “feel the draft” comment?  This is why….

Ohhhhh my.  There had to have been some industrial tapping going on when she got dressed.  There was simply no room for “gap issues” in that gown.  Tape all the way.  Can’t imagine what it was like to undress from that one.  Ouuuuuuch.  She looked gorgeous in it though.  I wonder how many times people stepped on the train.

“Best revenge on a cheating ex-husband” has to go to Jennifer Garner in Atelier Versace

She looked regal and elegant in this all black power house of a gown.  Take that one to the nanny Ben.  Seriously.

“Best way to support a friend” goes to Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell

The designer is a friend of hers and he is trying to make his way in this shark tank of a fashion industry.  Lady Gaga showed his work to perfection on the red carpet.  She also performed a powerful rendition of her best song nomination from a documentary showcasing the alarming epidemic of college campus rape.  Nicely done my Lady.

“The woman who most embodied a gladiator” award goes to Kerry Washington in Atelier Versace

The leather breastplate top just didn’t do it for me.  It was a strong bold look for sure…just wasn’t feeling it.  I kept thinking…”she needs the helmet thing with the brush broom on top..and a sword”

Red Carpet Pans

My pans for the evening were few actually.  First up has to be Sandy Powell in…well..don’t know the designer but the look sadly came across as a catastrophic ode to David Bowie.  The woman is an amazing costume designer (hello!! she has multiple Oscars to prove it) but her style fell very short on the red carpet last night.  Poor woman…E! Online kept calling her Tilda Swinton during their red carpet segment.  I nearly made myself hoarse screaming at the TV “ It’s NOT Tilda Swinton…it’s Sandy Powel!!”  Get it together E! !!

Olivia Wilde in Valentino

Ummmmm. no!  I am all for architectural design in clothing but this just felt wrong to me.  WAY too many pleats for my taste.  Olivia Wilde is an amazingly beautiful woman.  This fashion on her did not showcase that at all.  Yes, she sure has the body to wear it but this one just left me…well….de pleated LOL!

It didn’t work any better on the Spring 2016 Couture runway either

Mara Rooney in Givenchy

Oh I know I will get hate mail for this one.  I can hear the comments now…”But Rebecca…it’s Givenchy!!”  The gown is stunning…just not on this albino skinned actress.  I have to admit, part of my negative review of this look had to do with Mara Rooney and her none too happy face every time the camera landed on her.  It came across as petulance.  I would love to see the amazing Ms. Rooney in some kind of color not this gothic pasty white/cream.  She just blended into the background here.

Lastly, and it pains me to do this….I give you Kate Winslet in Ralph Lauren

My first thought…honest to God…was, who put Kate in a hefty bag?  Was that sequins, metallic sheen or just plain plastic sheeting?  Have no idea.  Normally she nocks it out of the park.  This year, she stayed in the park and was rummaging around in the garbage cans.  Sadly Kate, not the king of the world with this one.  It was honestly adorable though that you walked in with Leo DiCaprio à la Titanic from years ago.  Very cute.

Lastly we have Heidi Klum in Marchesa

Ok, the color is not bad but please, oh please lose the puff sleeve!! And the Pom-Pom fleurettes need to go…like right now.  This dress has garden party gone amuck all over it.  No disrespect to the talented ladies of Marchesa but…was Heidi looking for funding from Harvey Weinstein and was just sucking up by buying the last dress on the rack from his wife?  Ouch Rebecca!

After Party

As an added item for this years tome on Oscar night fashions, I would like to add a few snaps on who ruled at the after parties.  Vanity Fair had quite a few winners as well as Elton John’s big party.

Taylor Swift in Alexandre Vauthier

Rachel McAdams in Naeem Khan

Maggie Grace in Galia Lahav

And…how cute is this couple?!!  Gwen Stefani in Yanina and Blake Shelton.  His expression is priceless.  It says “ I’m just happy to be here y’all”.  I love how she is decked out sexy gorgeous and he looks like he’s going to a neighborhood association meeting. 

And that’s a wrap for this years award season fashion reviews.

-Rebecca

February 29, 2016 | Categories: Red Carpet | Tags: 88th Annual Academy Awards, Alexandre Vauthier, Armani Prive, August Getty Atelier, Brandon Maxwell, Dior, Galia lahav, George Chakra, Givenchy Couture, Louis Vuitton, Marchesa, Naeem Khan, Oscar fashion, Oscars Red Carpet, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Stella McCartney, Valentino, Versace, Versace Atelier, Yanina | 18 Comments