Oscar gowns get lots of 'wows!'
0 
 |
|
Sandra Bullock, best actress nominee for "The Blind Side," walks the red carpet at the 82nd Academy Awards in Hollywood, March 7, 2010.[Qi Heng/Xinhua] |
Sandra Bullock dressed the part at Sunday's Academy Awards: She wore a gleaming, metallic, slim-fitting gown that seemed fashioned after the Oscar statuette itself.
The dress was a winner, making Bullock, the Best Actress winner, one of many who stepped up their style on what is considered Hollywood's most important runway.
Top actresses made bold color choices, donned stiffer shapes and used sparkle strategically to get them noticed.
"This red carpet was whimsical, thank god. It was the most interesting red carpet in a long time," says Suze Yalof Schwartz, Glamour magazine's executive fashion editor at large. "You want to see a dress that makes you say 'Wow!' and I saw at least six of those."
There had been a trend in recent years to make safe choices at the Oscars, with celebrities knowing that the photos taken there would follow them for the rest of their lives. But there was a refreshing sense of fun - and some directional fashion - this year.
"We're moving into architectural shapes and away from all the drapery. There were not a lot of 'goddesses' this year," observes Sharon Graubard, senior vice president of trend analysis at forecasting firm Stylesight. "This was about glamour, very tasteful, grown-up glamour."
 |
|
Kate Winslet arrives at the 82nd Academy Awards, March 7, 2010, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.[Qi Heng/Xinhua] |
Gold was a huge trend, with Kate Winslet looking like an old-school movie star in her sleek, strapless gold gown by Yves Saint Laurent and Deco-inspired US$2.5 million yellow-diamond necklace from Tiffany & Co. Cameron Diaz, with bold red lips, was another screen siren in a gold strapless gown with metallic ribbons and pailettes (small pieces of foil) by Oscar de la Renta; Miley Cyrus wore a bustier-style strapless gold number by Jenny Packham; and Sarah Jessica Parker chose a custom yellow Chanel with silver flowers around the bustline.
"I loved Sarah Jessica Parker in Chanel. It was interesting, romantic and she's a fashion risk-taker," says Mary Alice Stephenson, stylist and fashion commentator.
She says the same for Diane Kruger in her white Chanel dress with black bands around the neck, waist and near the knees.
Flowers were another dominant theme at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. Bullock's Marchesa gown had a delicate floral embroidery and Mo'Nique complemented her electric blue Tadashi Shoji asymmetrical dress with gardenias in her hair. She says she did it in the spirit of the late Hattie McDaniel, who had done the same in 1940.
Gabourey Sidibe's blue dress was decorated with silver beads in a floral pattern, and fashion designer-turned-director Tom Ford stuck a gardenia in his lapel.
A few looks seemed sure to generate chatter because they weren't standard-issue, red-carpet styles.
Go to Forum >>0 Comments