The 91st Academy Awards

This year the Oscars were presented without a host. To me this was a huge mistake, resulting in very few laughs and a much shorter ceremony. That being said, some of the fashion was really good. Here are my thoughts on the red carpet offerings this year.




Angela Bassett in Reem Acra

Pink was the it colour on the red carpet this year, and no one did it better than Angela Bassett. The bold colour paired with the shoulder bow and the sleek hair is a winning combination.


 

 Amy Adams in Versace
Amy Adams usually brings it on the red carpet in figure hugging looks, and this was no exception. I love this whole look on her. The cream colour is a welcome change from all the beaded nude gowns we usually see, and looks very flattering against her skin. I also love that she went with an Art Deco style diamond necklace to finish off the look.





Lady Gaga in Alexander McQueen

From the waist up I love this look. The hip pads and the dropped waist skirt are not my favorite though. However, I feel like this is a very Gaga red carpet look. She likes to add that element of weird. Her enormous canary diamond from Tiffany's was last worn by Audrey Hepburn, and it might be the most impressive jewel I have seen any star wear on the red carpet, so that sort of makes up for any part of her look that I don't love.


 

 Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell

In true Gaga fashion, she changed her outfit for the ceremony and her performance with Bradley Cooper. I actually prefer this dress, it's so classic and simple, letting her enormous diamond and her Oscar really stand out.










Charlize Theron in Dior

I know this look was on a lot of best dressed lists, but it was a miss for me. The turtleneck and the puffed sleeves are too severe and something very bad is happening in the boob area with the darts. I think it's for a movie role, but I hate her brown hair! Stick to the blonde please. I do have to point out her Bulgari Serpenti necklace, though, which I am completely obsessed with. I wish she would have left off the middle strand though, and let the snake be more of a statement on its own. 







Michelle Yeoh in Elie Saab

This is princess gown perfection. I don't usually like the princess-style gowns as much but this one is simply gorgeous. The slightly off-the-shoulder neckline is so flattering and I love all the silver applique.







Emilia Clarke in Balmain

This is one of my very favorite looks from the night. I love the slight eighties vibe, the draping, and the colour is so gorgeous. The only thing I don't like is her hair! This haircut is terrible, but you almost don't even notice because the dress is so good.







Maya Rudolph in Giambattista Valli

Here we have another interpretation of the pink trend. This looks like bathroom wallpaper from the eighties, you know, to match the dust ruffle in the bedroom. I love a good cape, but this literally looks like she took some old sheets from her grandmother and tied it around her shoulders. This poor woman always looks like such a mess on the red carpet, she needs to fire her stylist.






 




                                                                                                                           















Constance Wu in Versace

This is another of my favorites from the night, so gorgeous. This yellow shade is hard for some people to wear, but it looks amazing on her. I love the off-the-shoulder neckline and the flutter sleeves. She was clearly loving this dress herself, too, because in most of the pictures she was twirling!


 

 Jennifer Lopez in Tom Ford

 JLo is perfection as usual. Slaying the red carpet at almost 50 years old, and putting the 20 year olds to shame, she looks like a sexy disco ball.




Rachael Weisz in Givenchy

This dress is just so weird...I don't understand what is going on here at all. The red pleather top is so odd, and giving a very weird proportion to her body. She should feel relieved that she didn't win the Oscar in this dress. Instead she can send it back to the designer and pretend it never happened.














 Gemma Chan in Valentino

The only thing I like about this is the colour. There is nothing flattering about this, it's just way too much. I'm very curious as to what is happening underneath this gown. Is she sneaking people into the Oscars? Hiding snacks? Does she have her entire after party look on underneath? Or her PJs? Is she wearing Uggs or flip flops? Who knows? For now it will remain a mystery.



 

Emma Stone in Louis Vuitton

I was very torn about this one. On the one hand, I love the colour, it's almost a dark bronze metallic. On the other hand, though, after much scrutiny I don't love the winged shoulders. I think if they were a little softer, or scaled down it would have worked for me. Definitely not a worst dressed, but not my favorite either.


 

Helen Mirren in Schiaparelli

Another pink lady! I love this colour on her. The flowy skirt is beautiful, and of course her diamonds are perfection.



 The Vanity Fair Oscars After Party always has some showstopping gowns as well, so I wanted to showcase a few of those too.





Hailee Steinfeld in Elie Saab

I absolutely love this coral mini dress. All the applique flowers and feathers are so gorgeous, and perfect of a short dress. The coral is shade is actual the official Pantone colour of 2019, so it's just perfect!




Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad

Ah JLo, killing it again. She doesn't often wear this colour, but I think it looks great. I love the gorgeous fan detailing, very Art Deco. The fact that she changed her hair to go with her dress is icing on the cake. 




Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Versace

I love the futuristic vibe of this gown. She often opts for metallic gowns, and this one is perfection. 


 

Kendall Jenner in Rami Kadi

This is so vulgar and tacky to me. I mean, can this even be classified as a dress? Or would be call it a loin cloth? She wins overall worst dressed of the night. 

Golden Globes 2019

Awards season has officially begun! The Golden Globes took place in Los Angeles on Sunday night, and while the ceremony itself was a bit of a let down, the red carpet always provides lots of entertainment. Here are my picks for best and worst dressed.

The Best


 
 Lupita Nyong'o in Calvin Klein

I love this dress on her. The simple silhouette is the perfect canvas for the cascading beads. The full effect of the dress is showcased when she walks, with all the beading swaying and catching the light. The colour is gorgeous too. Overall, a win.




Julia Roberts in Stella McCartney

I love a good pair of pants on the red carpet, and this jumpsuit is perfection! The satin pants contrasted with the tulle top and over-skirt really works for her. I feel like we haven't seen a lot of Julia on the red carpet in the last few years, but I hope we see more in the future.










 Sandra Oh in Atelier Versace

I love this gown. White is always a good colour choice for the red carpet, and it doesn't wash people out like a lot of the popular nude shades do. The asymmetrical shoulder and draping is beautiful, and I think this is a perfect choice.




 

 Allison Janney in Christian Siriano

I know this look won't be a favorite for everyone, but I think she looks amazing. This colour is not usually a favorite of mine (tacky bridesmaids come to mind), but I love it here. The drapey off the shoulder neckline is beautiful, and the necklace is to die for!!! This gives me some Studio 54 vibes, which of course, I love.


























Emily Blunt in Alexander McQueen

I love the top half of this dress, and the detail in the lace is incredible, but I do think I would have loved it even more if the skirt was more of a column style, rather than the sort of hanging bits trailing at the bottom. Some critics didn't like the colour, but when I saw it on TV is was more of a silver than a grey, and was very pretty I thought.



 

 Taraji P. Henson in Vera Wang Collection

For comparison, see my post on last year's Oscars to see what Vera Wang put her in then. I do believe that Ms. Wang may have begun to redeem herself with this gown. I would have preferred if the plunge wasn't quite as plunging, but overall I love this. On camera the colour of the velvet was a dark forest green which you can't really see her, and her skin was absolutely glowing. I am so glad that velvet has made a comeback over the past few years, because I love it!






 Elisabeth Moss in Dior Haute Couture

This is one of my very favorite looks of the night. I read that this tuxedo mini dress is actually a very dark navy, and I wish that I had seen her walking the red carpet on TV, because in photos it looks very black. I usually prefer long dresses for awards shows like this, but I really don't have anything bad to say about this whole look.































 Regina King in Alberta Ferretti

This is another top pick for me. I love absolutely everything about this, and I do find it hard to resist anything metallic pink! It really is just perfection, and a fabulous dress to accept her Golden Globe in!

Lady Gaga in Maison Valentino
 
This was definitely the most talked about look of the evening and personally, I love it! If Lady Gaga brought anything less than drama I would be so sad. This is obviously a lot of dress, and few could pull it off, but I think she makes it work. I am getting serious Cinderella vibes and I love that she matched her hair to her gown. Gaga always fully commits to a look, and I truly appreciate it. I can't wait to see what she wears to the Oscars!



 The Worst


 

Rachel Weisz in Celine

All I can think of when I look at this is a sad French clown. I actually had a very similar gown in my dress up box when I was about 6. I loved it, so I suppose I didn't know about sad clowns back then.  When fashion forgets to flatter a woman's body, nothing much good will happen.












 Janelle Monae in Chanel

Ugghh, I hate Chanel on the red carpet. This is just a total hot mess, from the belt, to the bib, the layered skirt, and the HAT. Why? This just makes no sense whatsoever to me.


 

Keri Russell in Monique Lhullier

 
The top half of this gown is so terrible. It's too low, too baggy and totally unflattering. I want to shake some of these stylists! How can you let you client leave you wearing something that literally does nothing for them at all? Poor Keri.





Anne Hathaway in Elie Saab

This is the worst look of the night for me. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love leopard print, but this is an example of when leopard goes really wrong. There is just way too much going on, and nothing works together. A leopard gown is very tricky thing. For it to work it should be a very simple silhouette. This stiff fabric does not work at all, and I hate the shiny bodice. It's dresses like this that make people say leopard is tacky.

















   

Emma Stone in Louis Vuitton

For me this was the biggest disappointment of the night. Usually Emma Stone brings the fashion and I love her looks, but this is bad. Extremely unflattering, it looks like it was meant for a woman 40 years older. I was really let down by this one, and I am hoping for better things from her at the Oscars!
 

The Met Gala 2018

Fashion's biggest night has come and gone. The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala has a different theme each year, and this year it was Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination. The Catholic religion offers much in the way of fashion inspiration. Popes, bishops and cardinals tend to spare no expense in the wardrobe department to show their devotion. Here are some of the stand out looks of the night, both good and bad.

 

Rosie Huntington Whiteley in Ralph Lauren

 This is one of my favorite looks of the night. The pale gold shade is so flattered on RHW, and I always love a cape. The saintly golden halo is the perfect touch to keep with the theme.  

Rihanna in Maison Margiela

 This outfit could have been so good, the jacket is incredible...but then there's the pope hat. This is a bit too literal of an interpretation of the Catholic theme. Although, I bet the pope wishes he looked this good. 

Gigi Hadid in Versace

I love this gown. While the theme might not be as obvious in this look as some of the other ones from the night, it brings to mind the stunning stained glass windows that are often found in Catholic cathedrals and churches. Versace has had a serious comeback this year, and their gowns were all over the red carpet for this ultimate fashion event. 

Katy Perry in Versace

Unfortunately, the wings are not the worst part of this look. The mini dress underneath is so terribly unflattering on her. Something about the fit looks very off to me. These boots are amazing though...but they would be way better with a black or a white dress.

Kim Kardashian in Versace

 Before I even discuss the dress, I have to talk  about her face! She looks like a completely different person. I suppose it could be her makeup and high tight pony tail, but I have a feeling that it's more likely to be something more permanent, shall we say. Also, is it just me, or has her hip to waist ratio gotten even more extreme? The dress is okay, really nothing special or different though. 

Amanda Seyfried in Prada

Prada always misses on the red carpet, and in this case the one weird sleeve ruined it for me. The mustard shade is really beautiful on her and I like the overall gown, save for the sleeve. I do love that she topped off the look with a crown. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Kate Bosworth in Oscar de la Renta

 I am on the fence about this look. There is no denying that this is a beautiful gown, but the mantilla/veil thing I am not 100% sold on. It seems a little odd that she would dress up like a virginal bride, but I suppose those Catholics do like their virgins.

Selena Gomez in Coach

This is one of the worst looks of night. At an occasion such as this it's much better to go way too far over the top with the theme (see Rihanna, Katy Perry and Sarah Jessica Parker), than to not even partake in the theme and look terrible anyway. If you're going to be rude enough to ignore the theme, then you should at the very least look amazing. This looks like a sad old nightgown without enough breast support. The whole internet has been wondering about her excessive spray tan, and I tend to wonder along with them...

Sarah Jessica Parker in Dolce and Gabbana

SJP has always taken the Met Gala very seriously, and stuck closely to the theme. This year was of course no exception. Apparently, the thing in her head is an actual altar. The gown is pretty incredible, but I think the shoulder ruffles and the bell sleeves are a bit much all together. 

Jennifer Lopez in Versace

While there is no denying that she looks incredible, as always, this dress is not good. The feathered train looks like an old bearskin rug that she's dragging behind her. The aggressive pointed shoulders are a bit too 80s, and the cross is too literal of an interpretation of the theme. She should have worn a crown like the queen she is!

Blake Lively in Versace

This gown is one of my favorite Met Gala looks of all time, so I felt is deserved to been seen from all angles. Blake Lively rarely disappoints me, and this stunning Versace number is truly a show stopper. I love her golden spiked halo, mimicking the rays of holy light emanating from the head of a saint in Catholic imagery. The pope I am sure would love the gold and regal red shades in the gown. I really wish I had a life where I could wear something this dramatic. 

The 90th Academy Awards

The ceremony for Oscar's 90th year was an unfortunate let down. The only speech that moved me at all was Frances Mcdormand, the musical performances were forgettable at best (at worst they were off key), and worst of all, there wasn't a single dress that really wowed me. It seemed like in the wake of #metoo and #timesup everything was very restrained. The Golden Globes were much more lively and impassioned, but it seems like Hollywood has lost their steam. Or maybe they just lost their way without Oprah there. Either way, the ladies on the red carpet still had to wear something, so I will now dissect it.



Nicole Kidman in Armani Prive

I know this look topped a lot of best dressed lists, but I am not a fan. The fabric looks very stiff to me, which gives the dress a bit of a dated look, and all I can think of when I look at her chest is a pair of Mickey Mouse ears. I am not and never have been much of a fan of the deep sweetheart neckline. As well, I am not into bows. This one is particularly offensive. A hard pass for me.


Margot Robbie in Chanel

This is one of my favorite looks of the night. Impeccable fit of course, and I really like how this is bit of a different take on the off the shoulder trend. The trailing crystals really make this a special dress. I also just LOVE her bag!


Lupita Nyong'o in Atelier Versace

I really wouldn't have minded this dress at all if it weren't for the horrifying black shoulder sash thing. It looks like she ran out of time and just swiped something from the costume department on the set of her new superhero movie. Someone involved in the design of this was like "hmm...it really needs something extra." Well it didn't need anything extra and in adding it, the whole thing fell apart. Sometimes more is not more.



Gal Gadot in Givenchy

This is one of my favorite looks of the night. I love some sparkle and fringe, and this is the right way to do it. We all know how wrong sparkle and fringe can go (think Vegas showgirl), but this has more of a vintage vibe. The key to pulling this look off, aside from impeccable tailoring, is having a small chest. The lariat necklace (Tiffany, and valued at more than my condo probably), which is simply stunning, perfectly compliments the gown. This is a winner!



Sandra Bullock in Louis Vuitton

I really like this dress with the high halter neckline and ombre scattering of gold sequins, but her hair and makeup made me really sad. The flat long hair takes away from the dramatic neckline of the gown. I would have loved a high ponytail, and the eye makeup is way too heavy. Hair and makeup can really make or break an outfit, so this is very disappointing.



Jennifer Garner in Atelier Versace

YAAASSS! This might be the best that Jennifer Garner has ever looked! Sexy, classy and timeless perfection. The colour of the gown is simply stunning and her hair and makeup are on point. Although this gown is nothing we haven't seen before, I love the classic Versace Greek goddess vibe we're getting here, and the shoulder scarf accent adds the perfect amount of dramatic effect.




Zendaya in Giambattista Valli

I truly hate this dress. Brown might be the ugliest possible colour choice for a red carpet gown. In fact, brown is a pretty ugly colour overall. Aside from the hideous colour choice, the cascading piles of fabric almost swallow this poor girl up!


Emily Blunt in Schiaparelli Haute Couture

This is not a good dress. For starters, the colour is terribly unflattering on her and completely washes her out. What completely ruins this dress for me though, is the little pouffy cap sleeves. Why were those even part of the design? Take those away and it's a cool halter style. Another gown ruined with too much pouf...



Jennifer Laurence in Christian Dior

Jennifer Lawrence usually tops my best dressed list, but this was a miss for me. Something about this look reads as a bit trashy to me, and I can't quite put my finger on what exactly it is. The makeup for sure is a bit heavy, and I think it would have come across better if her hair was up. Something about the hair is off. I think it's too soft and casual looking for this dress. While I don't hate the dress itself, I do think it would be better without the line of darker sequins across the hips and the tiny spaghetti straps.



Salma Hayek in Gucci

Worst dressed alert! Yikes. This looks like the result of a drunk trip to Fabricland and Michaels followed by unsupervised access to a glue gun and/or Bedazzler. There is far too much going on in one dress and all of what is going on is pretty tacky. Her tiny stature combined with her enormous bosom does not create a canvas conducive to tiered layers of lilac sequins and a crystal harness. This is just a terrible terrible mess, and a true red carpet tragedy.



Samara Weaving in Schiaparelli Couture

This was one of my favorite looks of the night. The soft chiffon-y fabric is perfectly offset with the metallic belt. I love the orangey red colour, and the flowy seventies vibe. It reminds of a dress that Lauren Hutton wore to the Oscars in the seventies, but hers was done in pastel shades. I would lighten up her eye makeup a little though, less black and maybe more gold shimmery eye shadow would look prettier.



Taraji P. Hensen in Vera Wang

This is just completely wrong and heinous on all levels. Especially compared to how fantastic she looked last year! What could have gone so wrong with her taste level in one short year? Too sheer, too many awkwardly placed cut-outs, too much of a slit, and when I saw her being interviewed, I am 99% sure that I saw a nipple. the shape isn't even flattering and I loath the weird arm bands. Vera Wang should be ashamed.



Viola Davis in Michael Kors Collection

This was a miss for me. The Pepto Bismol pink is really tricky to pull off in a gown, and it is especially tricky when it is done in a sequined fabric. It just looks cheap to me, and the seaming under the boobs doesn't help. I am not a fan of the neckline and the thick shoulder straps either. Adding to overall effect is the poor choice of hairstyle. Viola Davis usually looks really good, so this is a disappointment.


Allison Janney in Reem Acra

Definitely one of the best of the night. I am really loving red right now, and the shade looks great on her. Of course, the impeccable fit and tailoring is key. The simple diamond necklace and coordinating clutch are perfect finishing touches, because with an epic sleeve like she has here you don't need much more. I am getting strong Morticia Addams vibes and I love it!