The 2012 Academy Awards aired last night, and I was definitely watching. I didn’t necessarily care about the awards (see the list of winners here); rather, I was watching for the fashion! The Oscars are a great opportunity to see gorgeous couture gowns on your favorite celebrities. As I watched all the celebs arriving on the red carpet, I started to notice a few trend patterns emerging. Here are the trends I spotted and an evaluation of who wore them best. Read on!
Clean Whites
Left to right: Gwyneth Paltrow, Octavia Spencer, Rooney Mara
Quite a few stars showed up in different variations of white gowns. Rooney Mara, up for Best Actress in a Leading Role for “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” looked stunning in a flowy white gown by Givenchy. I loved how this look offset her harsh bangs and dark features, giving her an air of femininity while still being bold.
Actress Octavia Spencer, who won for her supporting role in “The Help,” wore a bejeweled Tadashi Shoji gown that ruched at the waist, giving her a perfect hourglass shape. Gwyneth Paltrow showed off her impeccably lean figure in a clean Tom Ford sheath. I loved how she accented her simple gown with sparkly jewelry and still managed to keep her look simple.
Peplums
Left to right: Michelle Williams and Tina Fey
Peplums have been trendy for at least a season now, and a few popped up on the red carpet last night. I loved Tina Fey’s dark, dramatic dress. Her up-do and dangly earrings complemented the dress perfectly, while the peplum shape was tempered down by a nipped-in waist.
Many viewers gave rave reviews of Michelle Williams orange peplum dress, but the particular shade of orange washed her out and the amount of ruffles made the dress look heavy. For me, her Louis Vuitton frock was a miss.
Sparkles and Sequins
Left to right: Jennifer Lopez, Ellie Kemper, Kelly Osbourne
Sparkly dresses were all over the red carpet this year, and these three ladies hit this trend out of the park. No fashion mistakes here! I love the green sequins against Kelly Osbourne’s dark dress, and the shoulder cutouts add interest. Her dress was gorgeous and hugged her curves perfectly!
Ellie Kemper of “The Office” looked stunning in a rust and gold colored sequin gown. I love how the gown matched her red tresses and how she paired it with gold accessories.
Jennifer Lopez’s Zuhair Murad dress was probably the most talked about ensemble of the evening, not only because of her possible wardrobe malfunction, but also because of how amazing it was. Her dress fit her like a dream, hugged every curve, and had all the sexy, sparkly elements we’ve come to expect from J. Lo. Her dress was one of my favorites of the evening.
Other Notable Ensembles
Left to right: Melissa McCarthy, Angelina Jolie, Jessica Chastain
Two other looks I loved were from actresses Jessica Chastain and Angelina Jolie. Jessica Chastain, up for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for “The Help,” wowed in an Alexander McQueen number. She accented the amazing gold detail on her dress with yellow diamond jewelry and soft hair. At first I thought her dress was too over the top, but its drama quickly grew on me. She looked stunning! Another amazing dress was that of Angelina Jolie. While I was hoping she would wear another color other than her usual black, her velvet Atelier Versace dress didn’t disappoint. I loved the sexy slit up the right side that showed off her amazing legs. Apparently I’m not alone, because her right leg already has a twitter!
I loved Melissa McCarthy in “Bridesmaids,” but her dress last night was not flattering. The shape was very matronly, the jeweled accents truncated her upper half, and don’t even ask me what is going on with her chest. I also really wish she would have gone with a different color, like a pretty jewel tone. The pinky-flesh color wasn’t helping her case at all.
So there you have it, my rundown of the fashion at the Academy Awards! Do you agree with my picks? Did I miss any dresses that you absolutely loved? Let me know in the comments and stay fashionable, St. Olaf!
Photo credits: all from People. For more red carpet looks, click here.