Browsing Tag

best dressed

Best and Worst Dressed at the 2019 Oscars

 

With its lack of host, endless organizational stumbles and too-close-to-call categories, no one really knew what to expect from the 2019 Oscars. But it turns out the big surprises came on the red carpet. It was a night filled with whimsy, colour, ruffles, shapes – and SO MUCH HOT PINK. Check out our picks for the best and worst looks of the night at the 91st annual Academy Awards:

BEST DRESSED AT THE 2019 OSCARS:

Jen: I thought Jennifer Lopez was going to be my favourite metallic look of the night until I saw Brie Larson‘s outfit, which I think edges out JLo’s because there’s clear strategy behind it. This is exactly what Larson needed to do before her big debut as Captain Marvel: look great but also like a goddamn superhero who can kick anyone’s ass. She rises to the task with this sexy, slinky Celine that fits her like armour. Take that, haters!

 

Nicole: Emma Stone’s Louis Vuitton gown is elegant and sculptural, with sleeves that look like tiny wings and sequined material that clings to her. I love that the sequins are layered so they didn’t lay flat. It fits perfectly and she keeps her accessories and makeup to a minimum to let the gown do all the work. It a bit of a weird look which is appropriate given the film she’s nominated for (The Favourite, which is also lovely and weird) and it feels like a grown-up choice. Love.

 

Jen: Yellow is a hard look to pull off on the carpet, but when it works it’s spectacular. Constance Wu‘s marigold Versace gives me memories of Michelle Williams’ iconic Vera Wang moment during Brokeback Mountain’s year and I heart it.

 

Nicole: I adore Rachel Weisz’s Givenchy gown. It’s a conventionally pretty gown with a flowing skirt – and then it’s topped with A HOT RED PLEATHER CROP TOP. God, I love writing those words. I’m on a real red tear right now so this immediately plays to my style obsession, plus the contrast of materials both in texture and shape make this such a daring and cool choice. She keeps her accessories tone-on-tone, opting for a black manicure and simple makeup. The headband brings the whole look back to feminine. Again, this weird gown feels wildly appropriate given the film she’s nominated for.

 

Jen: When I first saw Amy Adams I was disappointed by the colour because it felt too bridal and boring to me. But every time I caught another glimpse of her Versace dress, I feel more and more in love. I still wish it was in a brighter hue (paired with a stronger lip), but the fit is impeccable and it photographs SO well.

 

Nicole: Oh my god, Sarah Paulson in Brandon Maxwell is so awesome (I was going to write weird, but I have to stop calling all these amazing gowns weird). It’s the colour of the night and the shape is both unconventional and voluminous but also immensely flattering. Sarah is styled by Karla Welch, who often takes calculated risks with her clients (see also Tracee Ellis Ross in the same colour and volume of dress several times this year), however although she’s really pulled towards this colour and shape for her clients, this is one of the best iterations because it manages to be super interesting and lovely.

 

Jen: Pink was the surprise colour of the night, but IMO no one did it better than Gemma Chan in Valentino. Unlike Linda Cardellini‘s fuschia moment, Gemma’s wearing the dress instead of the dress wearing her. I think you have to be a “fashion” girl to really pull this off, and no one has been rocking couture this awards season as well Gemma. Plus it looks really comfortable and it has pockets (and she was using it to hide COOKIES!!), which always gets bonus points from me!

 

Nicole: Helen Mirren is so hot in this simple, flowing, vibrant pink Schiaparelli gown with a tulle overlay. It’s feminine, fresh and pretty. I’m not sure why people on social media were going after her makeup – I was so happy to see a bright lip on the red carpet. *sets out fuchsia lipstick for tomorrow*

 

Jen: Billy Porter hosted the Oscar red carpet preshow but he stole the entire show in this in voluminous Christian Siriano number. I could watch him spin all night long. Werrkkk!

 

Nicole: When I first saw Angela Bassett on the red carpet, I wrote “wowza” in my notes. I adore the structure of this fuchsia Reem Acra gown and although I wish the material looked less wrinkled, the shape is immensely flattering, the flowing low pony is so feminine and she looks every inch a goddess.

 

WORST DRESSED AT THE 2019 OSCARS:

 

Nicole: Glenn Close actually looks like she is wearing a 42lb gown – which she is. I feel like this Carolina Herrera gown is heavy, not at all flattering and it comes across like she is trying way too hard. When I think about Helen Mirren’s simple and flattering gown and hold the two side by side, Glenn looks overwhelmed. I guess 4 million beads will do that to a woman.

 

Jen: I had high, high expectations for Lady Gaga – if only because I assumed she would bring the weirdness. So imagine my disappointment when she showed up in this understated, underwhelming McQueen, with oddly jutting hips as its only distinguishing feature. She doesn’t even give us a bold red lip! At least the infamous Tiffany necklace is stunning.

 

Nicole: I actually like Melissa McCarthy’s Brandon Maxwell… outfit? I mean, I can’t call it a gown because IT’S PANTS. At the Academy Awards. I was a bit heartbroken because otherwise the shape is perfect, the colour suits her and the cape is amazing!

 

Jen: If Gemma Chan is my fave pink look of the night, then Kacey Musgraves is my least fave. She gets lost in this fluffy, cotton candy coloured mess of a Giambattista Valli gown. Tiered tulle is nobody’s friend.

 

Nicole: I want to love Charlize Theron’s Dior gown but damn. Although it highlights her tall, lean shape, the open back is not flattering and her whole (I’m guessing?) braless situation does not work. I also feel like the colour is doing her no favours. At least there isn’t a weird back strap on her dress like Irina Shayk’s. So there’s that.

 

Jen: No other nominee had a fairy tale narrative like Roma’s Yalitza Aparicio – but that doesn’t mean she had to dress like a princess. I wanted so much for her…and this Rodarte wasn’t it.

 

 

2017 Golden Globes Best and Worst Dressed

The theme of the 2017 Golden Globes’ red carpet seemed to be clavicles. There were so many weirdly similar plunging necklines that a lot of the dresses kind of started blending together. But there were still enough WTF? style moments to keep us awake throughout the inane red carpet banter. Nicole and I picked our best and worst looks:

BEST DRESSED:


Jen: There’s no question for me that Evan Rachel Woods’ custom tux by Altuzarra is the winner of the night by a long shot. I loved it on first sight, and then I loved it even more when she said she wore it as an homage to David Bowie and added, “I want to make sure that young girls and women know [dresses] aren’t a requirement and you don’t have to wear one if you don’t want to; you can just be yourself because your worth is more than that.” Preach!

Nicole: I’m totally with you on this! She was just so cool and made it seem effortless.


Nicole: I loved Kerry Washington’s Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda. The fit was perfect, it was so flattering and a great colour! I also appreciated that Kerry wore lipstick which because it just pulled the whole look together.

Jen: You like this more than I did. I think the bodysuit peeking out from underneath makes me side-eye it a bit.


Jen: I love me a sleek column dress and Amy Adams did it best in this Tom Ford stunner. I adore the square neckline, which makes it just a little bit weird.

Nicole: I was a bit bored by this. It fit beautifully and agree the neckline was interesting but it still wasn’t enough to make a black sequined column dress a standout for me.

https://twitter.com/musicnews_facts/status/818262445785497601
Nicole: I was pleased with Emma Stone’s Valentino gown for tonight and thought that it was simple and flattering and just youthful enough to come across as fun.

Jen: I kind of wish it was a bolder colour but I dig Emma’s dress too, especially because it fit so well with the character she’s nominated for (but wasn’t as on the nose as Natalie Portman’s Jackie-esque dress).


Jen: I can already feel Nicole yelling at me for this pick, but I weirdly kinda dig Drew Barrymore’s weirdass Monique Lhuillier birdlady dress. Not many people can pull off the Vegas boho look but she kills it. I wish her hair was less messy and she’d toned down the contouring makeup, but I’m still tickled by this look.

Nicole: Good lord. I actually hoped she’d fly away with those weird wings.


Nicole: I fell in love with Janelle Monae in Moonlight and tumbled a little deeper after seeing Hidden Figures. She is stunning in this custom Armani gown and manages to invoke a bit of the time period while still being thoroughly modern. Love!

Jen: This dress is so weird but in a good way. Between Moonlight, Hidden Figures and her red carpet game this season, she’s on a roll.


Jen: She was a late arrival but Brie Larson saved the best for last in this perfectly fitted red Rodarte. One of my faves of the night!

Nicole: Agreed! It was a stunner on sight and the red stood out amongst the sequins, yellows and golds.


Nicole: It pains me to choose Jessica Biel as a favourite (mostly because of her spouse) but her Elie Saab was so cool and crazy and flattering. It’s a clavicle dress but I just loved the tailoring and the embellishments.

Jen: I can’t believe you’re stanning this one. Not only for the clavicle (see below) but this thing has FAKE GRAPES glued to it!


Jen: Insecure’s Issa Rae killed it on her first red carpet in this absolutely breathtaking beaded Siriano. Great hair, too.

Nicole: I thought it was simple and beautiful.

https://twitter.com/TheFashionLaw/status/818250090544590852
Nicole: We both loved Viola Davis’s breathtaking Michael Kors Collection sequined gown that positively glowed. She was radiant and a unanimous pick.

Jen: Yeah, this was a such a great dress. Bold colour, perfect fit. I love that Viola is having such a moment right now!

 

WORST DRESSED:


Jen: How does a dress like Nicole Kidman’s McQueen happen to such a huge star? HOW?!? I want to rip off the sleeves and the hem and change the lining — just to start.

Nicole: What in the actual f*** was this mess? Another cold shoulder gone terribly wrong.


Nicole: I never really think of Natalie Portman as a star on the red carpet but this dress was just terrible from the colour to the fit. I understand not wanting to wear a super form fitting dress but this was a bedazzled Prada tent.

Jen: Hey guys, did you know Natalie plays Jackie Kennedy in the 60s? Did ya? Well, just in case you forgot, her dress is her to serve as a walking reminder.


Jen: I never really have high hopes for Carrie Underwood on a red carpet, but this was unusually bad, even for her. From the figure skating costume sheer back to the frilly front that kind of looks like a labia, this Iris Serban gown is all kinds of bad.

Nicole: Classic overdone Carrie.


Nicole: I always wish Michelle Williams would be more interesting on the red carpet and this year was no exception. I generally love the adverts she does for Louis Vuitton but this dress was blah, the choker was embarrassing and for the love of god, wear some colour on your face!

Jen: This was another dress that I wanted to rip the sleeves off of. And the chest was weirdly boob-flattening.


Jen: So many women were saddled with Louis Vuitton gowns that I didn’t like on this red carpet, but LV did Sophie Turner extra dirty with this mess of a dress.

Nicole: I get the desire to be different and youthful. This is not that.


Nicole: Let me preface this by saying I love me a cold shoulder. However, when executed as a gown, I feel like it doesn’t play well. Sarah Jessica Parker is a great example of this with her Vera Wang gown. It doesn’t work and I wish she’d just worn her Vera Wang wedding gown instead.

Jen: “Cold shoulder.” “Flu shot access panel.” Whatever this trend is called, I still hate it.


Jen: Lately, Felicity Jones seems to be trying to be on a personal mission to get her photo placed next to the word “dowdy” in the dictionary, and she might just succeed with this atrocious Gucci gown.

Nicole: I’m with you. I love the Gucci playfulness and tromp l’oeil but this mess? No.


Nicole: I wish Winona Ryder had worn something… less interesting? It looked like my Junior Prom dress (from the 90’s) and even though it’s Victor and Rolf and fit beautifully, I just wasn’t won over, especially with what looked like a terrible ass bow.

Jen: I didn’t dislike this one as much as you did. The bow on the back was a little much, but otherwise I thought it was Old Hollywood classy.


Jen: I didn’t hate Kristen Bell’s Jenny Packham dress as much as my other picks, but I was so bored by this unflattering neckline. Mandy Moore and Jessica Biel also rocked a similar look. Since when did the top of bellies become a must-show-off body part?

Nicole: I actually loved this. It was young and fit impeccably and I thought she was having a ton of fun in it.


Nicole: Gucci had some crazy dresses on the red carpet tonight and they also took Zoe Saldana down with them. This frilly mess had gorgeous colour going for it but failed to flatter and the cheap bow really did this in.

Jen: This was extra disappointing because she’s usually one of my faves.