This past weekend I experienced the red carpet like never before – I saw it with my own eyes. I still haven’t cracked the code to getting bleacher seats (that’s next year’s project), but I was able to get an adequate spot at the corner of Highland and Hollywood from which I could see the entrance to the red carpet. Unfortunately (and this is a major bummer) I didn’t get a single photo of any of the ~20 celebrities that I saw (including Cameron Diaz, Zoe Saldana, Mariah Carey, Mo’Nique, Kristen Stewart, Queen Latifah and George Clooney) because they got out of their cars and onto the red carpet so fast! And FYI – you have to scream a star’s name for them to turn around and look at you, so my view of a few stars was extra fleeting. That being said – and this has been said before – so many photos that circulate the internet do NOT do justice to the beautiful gowns worn on the red carpet. So if I tell you a gown was gorgeous in person, you can trust me ; )
Cameron Diaz in Oscar de la Renta was absolutely radiant! She was the 2nd to last celebrity I saw, and when she stepped out of her limo she radiated light, sparkle and glow. You can see flecks of gold on her dress – imagine them all catching the light at different angles. It’s impossible to capture that effect in a single photo, but she was definitely the best dressed on the red carpet.
Zoe Saldana in Givenchy. Her dress was controversial, a lot of bloggers across the spectrum didn’t seem to appreciate the contrast between the bottom and top of her dress. I LOVED it. I also saw her on the red carpet and was absolutely delighted at the movement and airiness of the poufy bottom. The dress is fun and celebratory, perfect for the Oscars! If the whole dress was like that it would be heavy and overbearing. To have a gold bodice it’s almost as if the dress matured from bottom to top – but at the same time the sparkles are another way of expressing excitement and celebration.
Maggie Gyllenhaal in Dries Van Noten. I love a print. And I love that, contrary to nearly every other dress on the red carpet, this dress had relatively little frill or volume. The hot pink lips are a nice touch.
Sandra Bullock in Marchesa. This dress looks like liquid gold, and it’s stunning. The top half keeps it light and fun, which is fitting for Sandra Bullock, then it slowly melts into drama – the good kind.
Rachel McAdams in Elie Saab Haute Couture. I’m a sucker for a print (see above), and this one is dreamy.
Jennifer Lopez in Armani Privé. This is weird hip appliqué done right. This dress is breathtaking. It’s accentuating all the right curves, and (successfully) throwing in a few more for good measure. I appreciate J. Lo for taking a risk and upping the ante.
Demi Moore in Versace. Nude and peachy colored dresses can be difficult for light-skinned women to pull off, but Demi does it. Her skin is luminous and so is the dress. The two-toned bodice up top and ruffles at the bottom provide visual interest so that the dress doesn’t fade into her skin (or vice-versa).
Sarah Jessica Parker in Chanel. Compared to all the other dresses on the red carpet, this one had a unique shape and an unexpected surprise in the back. Many dresses might have a dramatically open back with a bow right above the butt or some other such feature to dazzle photographers from behind. This gown, however, has dazzle where you don’t expect it – right above the back of her knees. It’s very fresh for such a serious dress.
And finally, I wouldn’t rate the following three women as “best-dressed” per se, but I truly respect what they did.
The women of Precious (minus Paula Patton) are wearing blue, and they all have some sort of white floral thing going on too. Why? Check out this photo of Hattie McDaniel, the first African-American to win an Oscar.
Her dress was blue. Mo’Nique, Mariah and Gaboury dressed in tribute to her and for that I respect them not just as actresses, but strong women as well.
What's your opinion?