I know it's been a while since the big night, but I haven't gotten a chance to rate my faves yet! Before I wrote this post, I did a little research on what other people said about the night's ensembles. MSN.com seemed to think that anyone who stepped out of the box for a unique red-carpet look deserved to be on their worst-dressed list. I admit that there were some choices that could've been thought through more thoroughly or a couple alterations to what had potential, but I still don't think the website hit it right. At the other end of the spectrum is fashionista.com where they gave props to even Helena Bonham Carter and Tilda Swinton. My opinons are somewhere in the middle. I think it's great when starlets try something new and edgy, but it can look tacky if they go overboard. Here are my favorite looks...and a few that I would've changed!
These sultry stars made green the glamour-girl color this year. In dark shades of jade, their smoldering glances didn't need much else. Even though Angelina chose a very concealing gown, she didn't look anywhere near frumpy. Catherine wore a more voluminous dress that looked gorgeous with her pulled back hair and earrings. Mila went with a simple gown and dramatic hair that accentuated her nonchalant poise.
It's become the norm to wear a high-maintenance updo when dressed in formal-wear...so what is the more cutting-edge way of wearing couture? Letting your hair loose and shading your face with a few wispy bangs like Olivia. If you neglected to look at what she was wearing, you would think that it was just any typical day and she'd only spent a couple minutes straightening unruly strands to go out for a coffee and some retail-therapy, and that's why I love this look so much. When it comes to fashion (and most other things as well), I love contrast. There's just something so entrancing about two opposite worlds meeting where there's no longer a line drawn to seperate them.
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| January Jones in Versace Scarlett Johansson in Elie Saab with Van Cleef & Arpels jewels Jayma Mays in Alberta Ferretti |
These ladies looked so classicly chic, yet still tried something unique. I love Jayma's all-out flapper look, complete with a fan-style clutch. The fringe on January's dress was playful, yet totally sexy and Scarlett's gown was totally 1920s Hollywood worthy!
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| Sarah Hyland, in Max Azria Atelier Leighton Meester in Burberry with Cathy Waterman jewels, a Louis Vuitton bag, and Jimmy Choo shoes Dianna Agron in J. Mendel with Cathy Waterman jewels and a Salvatore Ferragamo clutch |
Earth tones proved to be a very grown-up choice for these three young starlets. This color works with so many skin tones and doesn't need much dressing up to look stunning. While Leighton tried something a bit daring (but so worth it), Dianna stayed safe with a simple sheath. Sarah was just between the two, with a gorgeous, detailed bodice and simplicity flowing down the rest of the dress.
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| Jennifer Lawrence in Louis Vuitton with Chopard jewels, a Leiber clutch, and Roger Vivier shoes Julie Bowen in Tadashi Shoji with Martin Katz jewels and a Leiber clutch Mandy Moore in Monique Lhuillier with Chopard jewels |
These girls know how to add drama with just the right material! Whether its chiffon or silk, gathering or pleats, the way each dress was constructed is a statement in and of itself! Mandy Moore's was my favorite...it figures, seeing that my prom dress was the same color! That deep blue just has something on me! The aspect of undone polish on Jennifer's Louis Vuitton and Julie's Tadashi Shoji is such an extravagant idea. Shabby-chic meets movie-star has never looked better!
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| Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace Catherine Zeta-Jones in Monique Lhuillier with Van Cleef & Arpels jewels Mila Kunis in Vera Wang |
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| Emma Stone in Calvin Klein Collection with Van Cleef & Arpels jewels Claire Danes in Calvin Klein Collection with Fred Leighton jewels Rhea Durham in Michael Kors |
These classy darlings put the "sweet" in this delectable shade of pink. They donned column gowns that were both simple and irresistible and each wore theirs with a unique modification. Emma wore hers backless, a detail I always love on dresses. Claire looked beautifully lady-like in her high-neck dress and Rhea wore hers flowy and light like a Greek goddess.
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| Anne Hathaway in Armani Privé with Van Cleef & Arpels jewels Olivia Wilde in Marchesa with Tiffany & Co. jewels and Christian Louboutin shoes Carrie Underwood in Badgley Mischka Couture |
These fashion-forward gals know la crème de la couture! Anne wore an Armani dress with a shimmering scale-like texture that even the most glamorous mermaids would envy. Olivia went with a dramatic princess gown that seemed to be covered in half of the galaxy's stars. Normally I'm not one for poufy, prom-style dresses, but Olivia took it out of high school territory and into that of a queen's! My favorite part? Her daring Louboutin ankle boots were an added touch of sparkle and playfulness. Mark Badgley and James Mischka have always been my favorite couture designers, so it's no surprise to me that Carrie looks astonishing. Their gowns are always the kind of dresses that have the simplicity to transcend time.
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| Lea Michele in Oscar de la Renta Amy Adams in Marchesa with Cartier jewels and a Kilian Hennessy clutch Julia Stiles, in Romona Keveza with H. Stern jewels |
These actresses know that a cascading train adds spellbinding drama! Lea's seemingly never-ending hemline was definitely one for the books. What made her look one of my favorites though, was the playful gathering, flirty tint of pink, and her tastefully messy updo. Amy and Julia opted for detailed, one-shoulder dresses for an understated, Hollywood style that looked elegant.
If I was the stylist...
(les dessins par moi)
...I would've taken the sleeve off of Julianne Moore's dress.
Some may say this color was too daring of a move and wasn't right for Julianne's fair skin tone, however I think differently. I don't like to get too caught up with what colors suit one's skin color unless the shade looks gauntly. This hot pink that Julianne wore was a delightfully bold move, but it's that unbalanced sleeve that threw the whole thing off. I would say the sleeve makes her like some sort of bird, put I can't put my finger on what kind of bird has a wing like that! In any case, simply taking off that poufy thing would showcase that bejeweled collar and transform her from "what's going on?" to " lookin' hot in hot pink!"
...I would've taken the stem off of Natalie Portman's gown.
Natalie looked so gorgeous, but that flower on her dress was all anyone could notice! I've never been a big fan of wearing pink and red together unless it's Valentine's Day, but her choice of pink wasn't too clashy...the problem was that the flower drew too much attention. Since the dress itself was so simple, the flower should've been too. The sheer removal of the way-too-long stem would've done away with the irrelevance to the rest of her gown and allowed onlookers to take a gander at her beautiful air and perfectly prim updo.
...I would've cut Sandra Bullocks bangs a bit shorter.
Let's get one thing straight...Sandra's dress was drop-dead-gorgeous, in fact, it was by far one of my top five favorites. Where she went wrong was hiding her entire face behind a shield of bangs. I understand she's been through a messy relationship in the past year, so she might not be ready to exploit all of her emotions...but she doesn't have to look emo just to avoid the press. Her entire look would've been successful if she had taken a cue from Olivia Wilde (see picture below) and chopped off a couple centimeters off her eyes. I like the sleek hairstyle she was going for, but it would've been so much better if you could've seen her face.
And the most luscious locks go to...
Lea Michele
It's hard to make rumpled hair look exquisite, but in Lea's case it's never looked easier! No matter how long her stylist must have taken to perfect this style, it appears that she woke up from her beauty sleep, pulled her hair up, letting the loose ends fall, and walked straight onto the red carpet looking as beautiful as ever.
Olivia Wilde
It's become the norm to wear a high-maintenance updo when dressed in formal-wear...so what is the more cutting-edge way of wearing couture? Letting your hair loose and shading your face with a few wispy bangs like Olivia. If you neglected to look at what she was wearing, you would think that it was just any typical day and she'd only spent a couple minutes straightening unruly strands to go out for a coffee and some retail-therapy, and that's why I love this look so much. When it comes to fashion (and most other things as well), I love contrast. There's just something so entrancing about two opposite worlds meeting where there's no longer a line drawn to seperate them.
