Oscars: The Unseen
Okay, this is for my fashion peeps, and if you're not one of them, go read something political instead. I'm going to have to break my Academy Awards gown review into pieces, and so, saving the glorious reds for a later post, I'm leading off with... The Dresses No One Saw. That is, you didn't see them if you were watching the main broadcast or any of the "fashion police" shows. Of this lot, my favorites are the blue gown (pictured behind cut) and the silver charmeuse, bright as lightning, simple as rain.
Tom Wilkinson brought his daughter, and I don't care how old she is, this dress is too low-cut to wear on a date with Daddy. However, my prudery in the realm of necklines is well-known.
And I don't care how young she is, Saoirse Ronan appeared much too much le jeune fille in this green number. At fourteen, she's about six years too old for this look. Unfortunately, I think she knew it because she seemed uncomfortable all night long. And what sadist gave her that peeled-onion ponytail?
Faye Dunaway in a scoop-necked column of old gold with a spare vine pattern in high relief; the gown was, perhaps, a bit too droopy and body-skimming, although the color worked well for her. The vines looked like veins, and on a lady of a certain age, this may not have been her best choice.
Kristen Chenoweth, late of The West Wing, in a well-fitted black lace dress much prettier than the gown she sang in on the Oscar stage. This gown reveals her pint-size perfection and proves her to be the perfect pocket hottie. Small but mighty, this red carpet warrior.
Actress Adrienne France in a snaky number with a too-long, too-floofy train; or is it? Can a train be too long or too floofy for Oscar?
Brilliant cobalt blues on Dawn Jones, wife of Tommy Lee Jones; here she is in a longer view. Oh, here it is again, I just really like this dress:
More blue, actress Anne-Marie Duff in a scoop-neck cap-sleeved number. Amy Ryan "walked in beauty, like the night" in simple smooth toga-style one-shoulder gown in celestial midnight blue with no draping or other detail; big diamond drops and big diamond cuffs on opposite wrist. And look at the interesting strap detail on director Alex Gibney's date, sheathed in navy blue!
Why did Wolfgang Puck wear his chef's jacket to the Oscars? His wife Gelila Assefa looked sleek and stunning in what seemed to be silver satin charmeuse. The gown was very well-made, with none of the awkward crinkling and gathering at the seams seen on so many of even the most expensive custom gowns this year. Terrific with her dark olive skin and diamond-dripping ears.
A rare-color-this-year lavender dress immodest on Lara Spencer.
Also unusual, actress Rosamund Pike in a butt-hugging one-shoulder suit-tailed dress the color of lemon chiffon pie. From the front, it looks more like a peplum. A bright marigold or saffron dress did make it onto tv screens; saving that one for a later post.
Lou Gossett Jr.'s date wore a color also not seen much this year, a straightforward and smooth sea green, but the foxtail wrap over her arm makes her look like a fiend from hell monster.
And here's that ever ill-dressed whiny woman from What Not To Wear. While I deplore her downright fugly attire on the show, there's not much to make fun of in this whirly black gown.
Tom Wilkinson brought his daughter, and I don't care how old she is, this dress is too low-cut to wear on a date with Daddy. However, my prudery in the realm of necklines is well-known.
And I don't care how young she is, Saoirse Ronan appeared much too much le jeune fille in this green number. At fourteen, she's about six years too old for this look. Unfortunately, I think she knew it because she seemed uncomfortable all night long. And what sadist gave her that peeled-onion ponytail?
Faye Dunaway in a scoop-necked column of old gold with a spare vine pattern in high relief; the gown was, perhaps, a bit too droopy and body-skimming, although the color worked well for her. The vines looked like veins, and on a lady of a certain age, this may not have been her best choice.
Kristen Chenoweth, late of The West Wing, in a well-fitted black lace dress much prettier than the gown she sang in on the Oscar stage. This gown reveals her pint-size perfection and proves her to be the perfect pocket hottie. Small but mighty, this red carpet warrior.
Actress Adrienne France in a snaky number with a too-long, too-floofy train; or is it? Can a train be too long or too floofy for Oscar?
Brilliant cobalt blues on Dawn Jones, wife of Tommy Lee Jones; here she is in a longer view. Oh, here it is again, I just really like this dress:
More blue, actress Anne-Marie Duff in a scoop-neck cap-sleeved number. Amy Ryan "walked in beauty, like the night" in simple smooth toga-style one-shoulder gown in celestial midnight blue with no draping or other detail; big diamond drops and big diamond cuffs on opposite wrist. And look at the interesting strap detail on director Alex Gibney's date, sheathed in navy blue!
Why did Wolfgang Puck wear his chef's jacket to the Oscars? His wife Gelila Assefa looked sleek and stunning in what seemed to be silver satin charmeuse. The gown was very well-made, with none of the awkward crinkling and gathering at the seams seen on so many of even the most expensive custom gowns this year. Terrific with her dark olive skin and diamond-dripping ears.
A rare-color-this-year lavender dress immodest on Lara Spencer.
Also unusual, actress Rosamund Pike in a butt-hugging one-shoulder suit-tailed dress the color of lemon chiffon pie. From the front, it looks more like a peplum. A bright marigold or saffron dress did make it onto tv screens; saving that one for a later post.
Lou Gossett Jr.'s date wore a color also not seen much this year, a straightforward and smooth sea green, but the foxtail wrap over her arm makes her look like a fiend from hell monster.
And here's that ever ill-dressed whiny woman from What Not To Wear. While I deplore her downright fugly attire on the show, there's not much to make fun of in this whirly black gown.
