Academy Awards 2013: Best and Worst Dressed
By Kim Hollis
February 25, 2013
Classic, simple apparel was the overriding theme of the night at the Academy Awards, and as always, there were some real winners in addition to some dresses that should have stayed in the closet. Since all of the Worst Dressed are actually people that I like, you might find just a *little* less snark than usual.
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The dress of the night belongs to the Queen of the Oscars. Best Actress winner Jennifer Lawrence looked absolutely stunning in her pale Dior Haute Couture gown, and the long Chopard necklace that went down her back was truly gorgeous for added effect. The strapless dress with a full skirt was an ideal fit for Hollywood royalty, and even if she did look human for just a moment as she fell during her approach to accept her award, it was her evening and she looked perfect for it.
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She may not have taken home the prize for Best Actress last night, but Jessica Chastain was still lovely in her pink gown. She pointed out on the red carpet that there were some bronze highlights underneath, and they were just the thing to bring out her color. The Armani Prive dress was reminiscent of old Hollywood, and the waves in her hair added to this impression. Honestly, if we ever need a real life Jessica Rabbit, she might be our go-to girl.
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Kerry Washington sparkled in her Miu Miu gown, featuring a glittering top with a solid coral bottom. She was the total picture of perfection here, with her hair and makeup kept simple so that they didn't overpower the glamour of the dress. Her Prada bag is the perfect accessory. She looked magical.
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Is there ever a time when Jennifer Aniston doesn't belong on a best dressed list? She said that she felt like a princess in her bright red Valentino strapless gown, and she looked like one, too. It was really nice to see her go for the vibrant color for a change, and although I wish she had done something more special with her hair (rather than her normal look), she looked natural, comfortable and happy.
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It's not that common to see a lot of kids at the Academy Awards (it goes way past their bedtime, after all), but I really enjoyed the fact that Quvenzhané Wallis looked adorable and that her dress and accessories were completely age-appropriate. The navy Armani gown was lovely on the nine-year old, and her shawl fit just perfectly. I also loved her adorable headband and flats. It's also really charming that she was carrying a puppy purse, by the way.
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There's something about Adele's self-assurance that just adds to her look. Even if black might not be the preferred color for her peaches and cream skin tone, she chose a bespoke full-length gown from Jenny Packham that highlighted her post-baby curves in an elegant, glamorous fashion. I quite liked the shorter, shiny number that she wore while singing Skyfall, too.
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Rarely is there room for the guys on this list, but I have to mention Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who exemplified classic Hollywood style in his Gucci tux. Apparently, Sally Field tied his bow tie for him in the car on the way to the theater. Gordon-Levitt proved that he's got that Fred Astaire feeling somewhere down deep inside of him, too, as he joined Seth MacFarlane and Daniel Radcliffe for a soft shoe number onstage.
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Usually, George Clooney is so damned hot that I wouldn't even notice the person on his arm, but Stacy Keibler looked amazing last night, so much so that she overshadowed his typical gorgeousness. She was perfectly statuesque in a Naeem Khan sequined gown. The high neck and belted waist accentuate her enviably perfect figure. I loved her faux bob, too!
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Also wearing Naeem Khan was First Lady Michelle Obama, who announced Best Picture from Washington, D.C. She looked every bit as elegant as the stars who were actually in the theater for the event, with an art deco-inspired bespoke silver gown. The shape of the dress was a great match for her figure, and she accentuated her new bangs by pinning back her hair. As always, she was the picture of class.
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I really hate to pick on Deborra-Lee Furness. She and husband Hugh Jackman both seem so kind and decent. But her suit was just about the most unflattering thing I saw last night. It reminded me of a dowdy mother-of-the-bride suit. Her hair didn't help, either. It just looked like she threw it in a ponytail at the last moment and then ran out the door. At least Hugh looked nice, since it was really about him anyway.
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When I saw Anne Hathaway come down the red carpet, I was just horrified for her. Her dress just seemed...pointy. She claimed it was "business in the front and party in the back," but to me it was just awful all over. The front portion of the dress had darts that basically came to a... peak at her nipples, making it look like she was very happy to see us. The back looked like an apron tie. I sort of hate that she went onstage to accept an award looking like that.
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Melissa McCarthy has been a favorite of mine for a long time (I love Sookie St. James forever), but her dress last night was terrible. There was just so much material there and it sort of bagged over her in a very unattractive manner. Her hair was also brushed back from her head in a classic horror movie monster style or something. She generally looks pretty cute and does a fabulous job of selecting her formal attire, but this time it just didn't work out.
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It seems like everyone I adore just looked terrible last night, because here's Amy Adams in a dress that looks like...a pigeon. From the color to the abundance of feathers at the bottom, it just forcibly reminds me of that lady in Mary Poppins who wants people to feed the birds (tuppence a bag). She's almost always on my best-dressed list, so her inclusion on this list is a little bit of a shocker.
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I feel just as awful including Jennifer Garner here. It was a dress that wasn't too far from being really nice. The color was unusual and nice for her coloring, but it just had that weird "tail" looking thing on the back that reminded me of dinosaur scales. Also, I'm certain I could see the Spanx line running across her waist. Oh, well. At least her husband took home an Oscar for Best Picture.
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Sally Field annoyed me in Lincoln, but that's not why I'm including her on the Worst Dressed list. I'm surprised to see her included on so many "Best" lists, because that red dress was just frumpy looking to me. It made her look even shorter than she really is. (Also, it was a little embarrassing that Hilary Swank was rocking practically the same dress.)
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It wouldn't be the Oscars if we weren't including Helena Bonham Carter on the list of Worst Dressed people at the event. I sometimes wonder if Tim Burton doesn't design those dresses for her, because they always look like something straight out of a drug-induced nightmare. It's a dress that is totally suited to her personality, but it's just not the right thing for the Oscars.
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