The 85th Annual Academy Awards was filled with twists and turns and could have easily been mistaken for the Tony’s with exorbitant amount of musicals being showcased; From Chicago to Dream Girls, we were left scratching our heads and wondering what year it is. And then there was the highly criticized performance by host Seth MacFarlane. Was he too sexist? Did he really have to subtly apologize after every joke that fell flat? While the show itself seemed a little confused and lacking tact, we can always count on the starlets and their endless glamour to redeem even the most lackluster of shows.
The Best Dressed
This year it was all about structure and fit; Whether the gown was beaded head-to-toe or monochromatic, the bodice was snug and flattering. And it was as if the nominees had challenged one another to see who could choose the most flattering pale hue. Hands down, Jessica Chastain takes the crown in this category. While I cannot crown her the best-of-the-best dressed because there were so many top-notch looks, her gown by Armani Prive looked brilliant from fit to shape to color. From the hair and makeup to the nude dress in a shade perfect for her skin tone, this is certainly my favorite red carpet look so far of Ms. Chastain’s.
Jennifer Lawrence Despite falling, gracefully, up the steps to accept her award and flipping off the demanding press room after winning the Oscar for Best Actress, there is something ineffably graceful about Ms. Lawrence; From her enviable frame and unusual-yet-beautiful face to her superb acting abilities, in just two years she has quickly become an A-lister who will undoubtedly be the go-to actress for next year’s biggest roles after her stellar performance in Silver Linings Playbook. Able to pull off practically any look, Jennifer seemed to be simply hitting her stride in her latest red carpet ensemble: A pale pink strapless Christian Dior Haute Couture dress with a Chopard necklace that draped down her back.
Anne Hathaway Also donning pale pink, the winner for Best Supporting Actress in Les Miserables, chose a more streamlined silhouette in a Prada dress with a structured, darted bodice and high neckline. While being interviewed before the show, the charming Hathaway noted that her mom called the dress “business in the front, party in the back”, and the revealed that her dress had crossed spaghetti straps and tied at the natural waist; and an entrancing necklace by Tiffany & Co. trailed down her back as well. And while her acceptance speech might have been a bit on the saccharine side, you still cannot help but love her, especially in this dress.
Charlize Theron Going for full-on white in a Christian Dior Haute Couture dress, Charlize Theron looked every bit of the statuesque movie star that she is- minus the hair. Her look, complete with Harry Winston jewelry, was luckily stunning enough to distract from her cringe-worthy “frosted tip” hair style that is only really meant for a teenage heartthrob from the late 90’s.
Naomi Watts For reasons unknown to me, Naomi Watts is often left off Best Dressed lists (or placed at the very end of those lists), but in my book she consistently kills it on the red carpet. Her hair always looks spot-on with her gown and she never goes too crazy with the makeup. Her silver Armani Privé gown, fitting just as beautifully as Jessica Chastain’s, is a new take on yesteryear’s one-shoulder numbers.
Halle Berry Because we’ve seen so many strong-shoulder glittery dresses on Halle Berry, this dress might have been a tad more interesting on a younger starlet. Nonetheless, she looks ravishing in this Bond girl-inspired Versace dressed exclusively designed for Berry to wear in tribute to the 50th Anniversary of James Bond.
Newcomers lit up the red carpet as well with Les Miserables’s Samantha Barks in a black low-cut Valentino dress and Anna Karenina’s Alicia Vikander in Elie Saab.
Jane Fonda looked age-defying in a bright yellow Atelier Versace gown with a gathered waist and strong shoulders, and Sally Fields looked equally fantastic in a ruffly red Valentino Haute Couture dress, proving that glamour does not have to fade with age.
By Whitney S. Williams
Photos via Style.com
