Best & Worst Dressed at the 2014 Oscars

There were so many gorgeous couture dresses on the Oscars Red Carpet!  How will we choose best dressed?  I have a feeling there will be mixed reviews, conflicting opinions depending on personal style and many sites will select a different #1 from the small pool of really GREAT gowns we saw. 

Here are my top six red carpet dresses, in no particular order.  

Lupita Nyong'o

1) Lupita Nyong'o won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for 12 Years a Slave, and she showed up on the red carpet in a custom- made Prada gown in a very pale blue color that Nyong'o said was a "blue that reminds me of Nairobi."  The actual color of the gown is duck's egg blue, but Nairobi blue is so beautiful!  The actress is from Kenya, and her beautiful skin with the plunging V neckline and the unique touch of the small headband makes her a best-dressed contender, and I have a feeling she will come out on top on many sites.

Charlize Theron

2)  Charlize Theron stepped onto the Oscar's red carpet in a black Dior Haute Couture gown with a fantastic train and illusion straps.  It truly was magnificent, and something I would want to wear if I would walk an Oscars red carpet.  Her blonde locks are still short, and the neckline plunge and that long neck of hers, coupled with her short hair, gave her a super-model look.  She definitely picked the right dress, and will top many best-dressed lists.

Jennifer Lawrence

3)   Jennifer Lawrence was expected to wear Dior Haute Couture, and she didn't disappoint.  She is, after all, the face of one of the world's top fashion houses; French fashion house Dior.  JLaw stepped (well, sort of...tumbled, maybe?) out onto the red carpet in a bright red peplum gown, so bright it almost had an orange hue to it.  There was a simplicity to it that was stunning, and wearing the $2 million Neil Lane necklace with 100 carats of diamonds, and wearing it backwards, topped off her look.  This beautiful look puts her high on the list for best dressed once again.

Angelina Jolie

4) Angelina Jolie, I must say, looked incredibly classy, wearing a gorgeous embroidered Elie Saab haute couture gown.  She and her handsome husband, Brad Pitt, truly are a power couple -  if not the power couple, in Hollywood.  During the Oscars, a video was played where Jolie was being given an honorary Oscar, The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, which is a much-deserved award for her. 

Amy Adams

5) The lovely Amy Adams walked the Oscar red carpet in a sapphire-blue Gucci gown.  The color was absolutely amazing on her, and her hair was up, which thrilled me.  Perfection.  The Tiffany & Co. jewels she wore were just enough with the dress, and I, for one, am glad that she didn't go for the 70's glam look for Oscar night.  She played it right, and for that, she is also in my top six for best dressed.

Cate Blanchett

6) Last, but certainly not least, is the incomparable Cate Blanchett.  Ms. Blanchett won the Best Actress Oscar for Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine.  She wore a stunning Giorgio Armani gown that was embroidered all over with tiny beads and paillettes, which are sequins or spangles sewn that are sewn onto a dress.  She sparkled and seemed to light up the red carpet as she walked it, turning heads.  

Naomi Watts 

Honorable Mention - Best Dressed

Naomi Watts is quite the vision, wearing this white sequined Calvin Klein Collection gown and shoes, Bulgari statement necklace, jewels and Bulgari bag. Red lips and great hair top it all off.

Unfortunately, every awards show has a worst dressed list, and the 2014 Oscars will be no different.  I am putting three contenders below.  I won't give a lot of detail, as a picture is worth a thousand words.  

 Worst Dressed Nominees

Lisa Minnelli wears an electric blue, silky pants suit that was off one shoulder, with a matching blue streak in her hair.  This is wrong on so many levels. 

Bette Midler wore a custom Reem Acra gown on the Oscars red carpet.  I just don't think this is the look for her.  Not the worst, but not the best.  Here is how it looked on the runway: 

 

Reem Acra Fall 2014

Ms. Midler sang wonderfully on the Oscars stage, "Did You Ever Know That Your My Her0."  One reason I am bothered by it is I think Julia Roberts could have ROCKED this gown, with her hair up like the runway model.  I really had hoped she would choose it.

Glenn Close wore Zac Posen, but I never would have recognized the dress she was wearing as his design.  It looked very heavy and with a black pointy  hat, well....I just love her, though.  I can forgive this one dress faux pas.  After all, she is Glenn Close.

You can vote in the polls at the top right of my blog and tell me which starlet you think was the Oscars Best Dressed, and which was the Worst Dressed. Can't make up your mind?  You can vote for more than one.  Also, please use the comments section below if your favorite isn't on the list at all or just to start a conversation about the Oscars Fashion or winners.  I'm excited to hear who you think was best dressed, so comment, follow me if you don't already, let's talk Oscar fashion.

BAFTA's Best Dressed Winner Is....

Picture courtesy HollywoodLife.com

AMY ADAMS!                                                          

 

Wearing a black ensemble from Victoria Beckham, Amy Adams was simply stunning on the red carpet.  Even better, she had the best hair and makeup of the event.  Her slicked back bun went perfectly with the look she chose, and that light smokey eye was GORGEOUS!  Her blue eyes have never looked more amazing.  The subtle peachy-pink blush and berry-toned lip topped off a makeup look that made her head-to-to perfection.  

Fifty percent of voters in the Film Fashionista blog poll voted her best dressed, and it's no wonder why.  The more I sit and take in the look, the more I just love it (and want one for myself).  It's just lovely.

Amy Adams is the clear winner, and I simply can't wait to see what she wears to the Oscars!  We know she can't go wrong in Victoria Beckham, but I'd love to see her in a different designer for the Oscars - just to change things up a bit.  

Tadashi Shoji, Fall 2014*

Tadashi Shoji, Fall 2014*

For instance, the incomparable Ms. Adams would look smashing wearing something from Tadashi Shoji's Fall 2014 line.  The lace top black dress (left) is perfect for her, and she would look beautiful in it.  The blue strapless dress (right) would look gorgeous with her blue eyes, and with the right hair, makeup and accessories, could land her on the best dressed list. 

Personally, I really loved Tadashi Shoji's entire Fall 2014 line - it was just lovely and I would be honored to own any piece of it.  It showed incredibly on the runway and I know we will be seeing some of the gowns on the red carpet.  Hollywood celebs and their stylists have probably already called "dibs" on these amazing looks.     

Bagdley Mischka Fall 2014*

Bagdley Mischka Fall 2014*

Bagdley Mischka had some great looks in his Fall 2014 runway show that I think would really flatter Amy Adam's figure and make her look like a winner, too.  In the gold look (left), without fur around her neck, of course, she would glitter like an Oscar Statue and be a real stand out on the red carpet.  In the sleek, black, textured look (right), she can't go wrong.  She certainly has the body for it and we know she can pull off black and knows how to do the hair and makeup subtly and perfectly.

No matter what the Oscar-nominated (Best Actress-American Hustle) Amy Adams decides to wear to the 86th Academy Awards on March 2nd, (hosted by the always hilarious and just wonderful Ellen DeGeneres, by the way), one can be sure that she will turn heads and, win or lose, she will be a winner in the fashion category once again.

Tune in Sunday night, March 2nd from the beginning of the red carpet of the Oscars as I live tweet about the nominees, who they are wearing and get your opinions on their looks.  Follow me on twitter at @filmfashionista.  Please post your comments below re: the above article - LOVE comments and feedback.



*photos of Tadashi Shoji and Bagdley Mischka Fall 2014 Runway/gowns courtesy of www.mbfashionweek.com 

Oscar Buzz 2014 – Best Costume Design

Who will take home the prize?

Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan

With the 86th Academy Awards right around the corner, many fashionistas may be wondering which Costume Designer will take home the Oscar.  This year, the category has two former winners, two new nominees, and even one six-time nominee.  The nominees for Best Costume Designer are:

Gatsby Party Costumes

Catherine Martin: "The Great Gatsby" – The Australian born Martin has won awards for this beautiful and high-fashion film already, winning a BAFTA, a Critics Choice Award and a Costume Designers Guild Award.  I would bet on Catherine Martin winning the Oscar, as well.  The way she designed from start to finish for the movie was absolutely breathtaking, and the Academy will be drawn to the enormity of the task, the glitter and glam and the stunning visual impact that the costumes brought to the film.  This is Martin’s third Oscar nomination, she won two Oscars for Moulin Rouge! in 2001, Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction.

Michael Wilkinson: "American Hustle" – This is Wilkinson’s first Oscar nomination, and my second favorite costume design as far as the nominees.  You have seen his costume work before in 300, Man of Steel, and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn 1 & 2. He did a brilliant job bringing life to the characters in this film, and has been nominated for the BAFTA Award, the Costume Designers Guild Award and the Critics Choice Award for the film.  

The Cast of American Hustle

While I don’t think he will win, anyone who has seen American Hustle knows that Wilkinson is amazing and certainly deserved the nomination.  Jennifer Lawrence's and Amy Adam's multiple looks throughout the films were nothing short of awesome, and what an era he had to work with!  The 70's outfits are so hot! While not exactly a costume award, I personally think there should be a special award for Bradley Cooper's daily permed hair; it deserves an award of its own.  To be honest, it was actually really awesome! 

Patricia Norris: "12 Years a Slave" – a six time Oscar nominee, Norris is the veteran of this group.  She, too, deserved the nod from the Academy, but this is not the sort of glitzy or in-your-face kind of costume design that normally garners the win.  However, she is 82 years old and has paid her dues with such films as Scarface, The Elephant Man and Days of Heaven.  She has never won an Oscar; could this be her year?  One never knows.

12 Years a Slave Costuming

Norris has never won an Oscar; could this be her year?  It would be a long shot, but one never knows.  To see a wonderful interview that Katie Van Sykle did with Patricia Norris, check out NYMAG.COM.  I really enjoyed reading it; what a determined woman!

William Chang Suk Ping: "The Grandmaster" – Perhaps the biggest surprise in this category is Suk Ping’s nomination for the Hong Kong film The Grandmaster.  The BAFTA’s, for instance, nominated Saving Mr. Banks and Behind the Candelabra in this category, and many expected that Daniel Orlandi would be nominated for his costume design on Saving Mr. Banks at this year’s Oscars.  

The Grandmaster - Sleeper?

South Korean actress Song Hye-kyo

Some may know Suk Ping's work from The Flowers of War starring Christian Bale, or My Blueberry Nights with Jude Law and Natalie Portman.  Since this is an Asian (Chinese) film, however, many think that it has no chance of winning.  The mere fact that it is nominated and the elaborate Asian-style costumes make it a great contender.  It could certainly be a sleeper for the award, so don't count it out just yet. 

Michael O'Connor: "The Invisible Woman" – Born in London, England, O’Conner is a former Oscar winner for The Duchess.  He was also nominated for 2011’s

Straightforward & Sharp -  not "invisible"

Jane Eyre.  So far this award season, O’Connor has been nominated for a BAFTA, though he lost to The Great Gatsby.   
The Oscars could be a repeat, I predict, for O’Conner; The Great Gatsby is just so much more visually stimulating than The Invisible Woman.

Who do you think will win Best Costume Design at the 86th Academy Awards?  Please comment and  follow me if you love film & fashion.  Let me know who your favorite costume designer is, and which of these films costumes caught your eye.  My vote goes to Gatsby - how about yours?  

NOTE:  I hope to hear from you!  I will be tweeting LIVE starting with the red carpet events on Oscar night leading up to the show at @filmfashionista, so follow me on twitter, too.   For more on the upcoming Oscars, go to Oscars 2014.