How Can a Night of Snoozy Fashion Continue to Get So Much Attention…Because It’s the Oscars, Fashion’s Big Night!

Why am I writing even more about an Oscar Night Red Carpet that was less than stellar, particularly since I took part in a web-panel discussion with Clifford at Culture Map that was great fun and I hope you have read, if not, click here.  I guess after so many years it’s just in my DNA that the Oscars create trends, and how can I do what I do without evaluating the take away from that night, however challenging that might be?

This year was one of those challenging years.  However, I’ve read and watched more about this yesterday than usual because deep in my soul, I want the fashion to be good for the Oscars and I keep looking for things to love and to learn about.

There were some trends in this playing-it-safe year on the carpet…

*Strapless gowns owned the evening, in every silhouette.

*Color was rare…..pales were dominant in either white, soft pastels or nude; Black, Metallic and Blues were next and color was either in the Red family or one pop of Yellow!

*Back surprises were key, mainly the backlaces (back necklaces), sheer, usually beaded, or bustles and ruffled trains.

*Diamonds were forever; lots of bling……the real kind!

*Hair (see below) was either the side part/side sweep either straight or retro-wavy or the messy up sweep

*Shoes…didn’t see much, but heard that Brian Atwood owned the glam feet of the night?!

Here are a few of my choices worthy of a nod, generally the best of the lot…

Winner Jennifer Lawrence (now affectionately known as J Law in all media, silly me, kept trying to see if Jude Law was on the carpet….it took me a minute!) wears Dior Haute Couture strapless ballgown that appeared to be white on TV until she approached the stage and hints of palest pink could be seen. Note: backless necklace, a trend I took to but remember, I am the person that wears many of my tops turned around, I’m all about the back!  On right, Charlize Theron, statuesque also in Dior Couture white strapless, crumb-catcher, peplum gown…simple, elegant, safe but classically stunning.

Amanda Seyfried’s Alexander McQueen lace over pale sheer halter gown. This gown and the similarity to Anne Hathaway’s planned Valentino sheer lace pale overlay gown, is believed to be the cause of the overly talked about 3 hour swap by Anne to the soft, Audrey Hepburnesque Prada that caused the “nip” sensation on Twitter. Fitting problem that happens when you have no time was the culprit here. Did like the backless necklace again……since both winners played that trick, I’d say it could become the new good luck charm, ladies!

Halle Berry in tough-shouldered, metallic stripe Versace, very fitting of a former Bond girl, which we’re told was Donatella’s desire. Jessica Chastain on right in a nearly nude beaded retro-feel glam-gown from Armani Prive. Red lips and retro hairdo made it all work for her in this monochromatic look.

Nicole Kidman in black beaded L’Wren Scott, looked stunning, messy hair and all.  Sandra Bullock in her Ellie Saab all-over beaded gown that looked black, midnight blue and on TV last night, even brown, depending on the lighting, I do believe was black and topped with hair adornment while not necessary for her straight, side part do, was lovely and undeserving of the many hits she took for that.

Here are the gals wearing their favorite accessories on their arms…their guys!  Jennifer Anniston in a non-Jennifer look in red Valentino couture strapless ballgown looked glamorous out of her sexy body-hugging looks she often wears in black.  Jennifer Garner was one of the winners of the night in her Gucci plum-colored, body-hugging, bustle back gown with a drop-dead chunky diamond necklace and messy up sweep hair.

Reese Witherspoon in a Louis Vuitton bold blue strapless gown w/black trim was worthy of note for two things: color blue and her side sweep glamorous wavy do.  Kerry Washington’s retro look showed that this break-out star has made great choices this award season, primarily from Miu Miu.  The beaded top and shades of poppy/coral gave just the right amount of glam.

Quvenzhane Wallis looked elegantly adorable in her Armani midnight blue dress.  She may not have taken home the Oscar but for me, owning your very own Armani at age 9, makes you a winner in my book…..and no, Giorgio did not design the puppy bags that she has been carrying.  Helen Hunt made a bold step-out in H & M Couture. The mass retailer almost pulled it off superbly with the help of the $750,000 worth of jewels….if someone had just steamed the dress!

Veteran Oscar gals Jane Fonda and Sally Fields brought their own touch of glam and they did it with color.  Jane in her old-Hollywood Dynasty-like bright yellow Versace gown and Sally in a beautifully soft, sheer red Valentino couture, with ruffled train, perfectly fem for the evening.

This collage of the newest “Hollywood Do” was actually taken from the SAG Awards and is just a demonstration of how this newest style trend in hair has taken over the award shows……simple instructions here:  side part, straight or newest is the wavy retro look, swept over one shoulder.  All of the blow-dry bars and salons in the city are on it, try it out, it does have glam-appeal.

FOR THE GUYS: A couple of trends that I noticed in tuxedo-land. Both Tom Ford for Bradley Cooper and Gucci for Channing Tatum are examples of the vested tuxedo that looked good for a change.  The other trend, which I am fond of but I may not be in the majority here is the growing (literally) facial hair.  I think the newly grown-in, tight to the face beard is sexy….George Clooney who has never had a bad looking day in his life could have use a trim, but hey, who knows, for a part he’s playing I hear???

At the end of the night, as we were all reporting in our initial thoughts to Clifford at Culture Map, the feelings were the same…..it was a night of a few real fashion losers, some beautifully dressed ladies in safe, lovely gowns on the Carpet, but no WOWs!  From what I can tell from TV and much that I have read, the after parties may have been the place to watch fashion.  Another suggestion from an insider was that there are two red carpets….A-listers and the mere mortals and that there was a lot of great looking fashion from those other guests….sort of the street-style of the Oscars, if only we could have seen them!