Oscar 2012: Best and Worst Dressed

By Kim Hollis

February 27, 2012

Best Dressed

There were a lot of stellar looks at this year's ceremony, so much so that it actually became a little tough to pick out some "Worst Dressed" contestants. "Best Dressed" was significantly easier, as so many of the Oscar attendees found the perfect look to suit their style.

I was in every movie in 2011.


Jessica Chastain

I've seen conflicting opinions on Chastain's regal Alexander McQueen dress, but the more I look at it, the more I love it. The color is wonderful for her, and I love the simplicity of the accessories she chose to adorn the ensemble. My only wish is that she had gone with some sort of up-do, but that's a pretty small quibble since her hair is gorgeous as is, too.
Oh where, oh where has my little dog gone?


Jean Dujardin and Alexandra Lamy

The world might not have known Dujardin before his Oscar-winning role in Academy-darling The Artist, but they surely will stand up and take notice of him now. He's charismatic to begin with, but when you accent that with the fact that he looks suave and debonair in his formalwear, you start to wonder if he might not have the makings of a James Bond-esque French superspy. Oh, wait - he's already done that in the OSS 117 films! His wife, Lamy, is a vision as well.
Merry Christmas!


Emma Stone

Another controversial choice, I wasn't sure how I felt about Stone's gown when I first saw her. But the more I reflected on it, the more I liked it. Maybe it's just that her personality is so fabulous that it felt like she was outshining everyone else. Regardless, I think that the Giambattista Valli dress was a bold fashion decision and I wholly endorse it.
That's right. I'm in an Oscar-nominated film.


Missi Pyle

Pyle's Valentina Delfino dress is apparently eco-friendly, but even better, it looked simply ravishing on her. The color was different from any other dress that we saw last night, and the color fit her complexion perfectly. It made her look very soft, which is not always a word that I would associate with her style.
She's tired of talking about the pie.


Octavia Spencer

Just how adorable is she? Her speech for winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress was heartfelt and charming (down to her being thankful to share the stage with hottie Christian Bale), and she did everything right with this Tadashi Shoji gown. It flatters her figure and has a deceptive simplicity to it that I like.




I was a Dawson's Creek cast member.


Michelle Williams

She looks sassy and refreshing in this marvelous gown from Louis Vuitton. I love the coral color with her skin and hair color, and the fit is just absolutely perfect. Some of the gowns we saw throughout the evening were pretty but ill-fitting, but Williams showed them all how it's done.
Who wants to kill some zombies?


Milla Jovovich

Holy moly, is she ever hot. I mean, it's not like we all didn't know this, but wow. Everything goes together, from her clutch to the dangle earrings to the magnificent gown, made by Elie Saab. If she'd worn that dress the night she hosted the technical awards, those poor nerds would have probably lost their damn minds.
Academy Award winner to star of Your Highness.


Natalie Portman

My favorite dress of the night belongs to Natalie Portman, who is wearing vintage Christian Dior. I saw Jezebel say that the gown reminded them of the Douglas Sirk film Written on the Wind (a favorite of mine), and I have to say that this comment is totally appropriate. The dress itself is from 1955 and is surely proof positive that the best fashion surely never goes out of style.

Worst Dressed

Compared to other years, I had a lot of trouble actually choosing the "winners" in this category. Perhaps that's because Tilda Swinton wasn't present (or at least I didn't see her). For the most part, though, everyone looked terrific, and even the majority of these "Worst" offenders are mild rather than egregious.
It's okay. She will survive.


Lea Thompson

Here's a perfect example of a dress that isn't completely awful, but I just don't like the disco feel she's giving off. The dress just feels a little dated, particularly in comparison to her contemporaries. I'm also not liking how it sits on her waist.
Oopsie.


Jennifer Lopez

I've actually seen her on a lot of Best Dressed lists, but I just disagree. I mean, if your dress is going to show your nipple while you're presenting an award, there's probably something not right about it in the first place, right? The Zuhair Murad gown also felt like a retread of the sort of thing she's worn before, and the hair seemed severe somehow. I've seen her look more glamorous. I will say, though, that her seemingly improvised moment with Diaz where they showed us their butts made me laugh.
Time for a poop joke!


Melissa McCarthy

Oh, I love Melissa McCarthy ever so much. I hate including her here. I just don't find this Marina Renaldi gown to be flattering for her in the least. The sleeves are part of the issue, but honestly, it just looks like a dress that was made to hide flaws rather than one that embraces her strengths. I do like the up-do.
I like the nightlife baby.


Melissa Leo

I never seem to like what she wears. The Reem Acra dress has potential, but it almost looks like a weird shirt dress. I guess it suffers from the same "disco" issue as Thompson's, and there's also something about it that makes her look like she has giant hips. It's not a total bomb, but there's enough that's troubling about the look that it really bugs me.
Is she a woman or a muppet?


Anna Faris

Here's another actress I love in an absolutely unflattering getup. The Diane von Furstenburg gown reminds me of a garbage bag (Tilda Swinton would love it!). Okay, if not a garbage bag, maybe something that a female Stormtrooper would wear to a formal event. I do dig the hair, though.
At least she's got some arm candy.


Livia Giuggiolo

Okay, maybe I'm just being a jerk because I'm totally jealous of the fact that she is Mrs. Colin Firth. I'll admit it up front and say that I gave full disclosure. But that Valentino dress looks like a repurposed red bag or something. The sleeves are horrible, and that shelf over her boobs looks like it could hold books. She's usually quite stunning, but this might be my least favorite gown of the night.
No, really. I'm just 20.


Shailene Woodley

There was a lot of white at the Oscars, and while I don't think that this dress itself is unattractive, I just don't think it's the right choice for Woodley. I could see it working for someone like Helen Mirren, maybe, but even at that I'd bet she'd go for something with more color. Woodley's dress feels too matronly for her - I mean, the girl's only 20, for heaven's sakes!
Garbage bag chic.


Rose Byrne

Yet another of the "disco garbage" style dresses, I'm just not feeling it for this Vivienne Westwood gown. Byrne does a pretty good job of almost pulling it off, actually, but it's just such a poor decision overall. I suppose her pose doesn't do her any favors here, either.
Ugh.



Sacha Baron Cohen

If you're going to act like a totally unfunny, attention-seeking douche on the red carpet, don't be surprised when you wind up on the Worst Dressed list.


     


 
 

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