Fashion Hits at the Oscars!

With the Oscars being known for awarding fine talent and achievements in film-making, it is also one of the biggest nights for fashion! Our writers Elizabeth and Tania team up to highlight some of their personal favorites of the best dressed from the 85th Annual Academy Awards, and who takes top honors with the best look of the evening.

The Dolby Theater lit up with the best of Hollywood, as the industry’s elite hit the red carpet this past Sunday wearing top designers and showcasing the latest trends and colors for the season. There were many classic trends that celebrities turned out in with dramatic trains, gun metals, glittery ensembles, flowing pastels with soft tones and hues, tousled hair or goddess curls bordering Veronica Lake, and styles straight out of Downton Abbey. It was a night full of glitz and glamour with a romantic golden era twinkle.

Ballgowns

One of the trends seen at the ceremony this year was the return of lavish full-skirted ballgowns. Stars like Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, Sally Field, and Jennifer Aniston introduced a princess trend with their fairy-tale look, adding a royal touch to the night’s event. Ballgowns are sophisticated and a timeless classic, suitable for any black tie event. These delicate dresses would make any woman feel like she’s the most important woman in the room. Two ballgowns that attracted our attention were Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Adams’ gowns. Lawrence’s bridal inspired gown in a very pale pink by Dior Haute Couture was quite the showstopper of the evening, accented by a gorgeous Chopard jeweled necklace that cascaded down her back. Her strapless gown was embossed with flower details and created quite the silhouette. Adams’ stunning silver-gray gown was inspired by an old photograph of a model walking into a doorway and became a real “a-ha” moment for Oscar de la Renta.

Tania on Jennifer Lawrence:

Can I just say I love her? Because I do. She’s such a great talent and you know, I’m really impressed with her style. Even though she fell up the stairs in this bridal inspired number, I really think this dress was one that a lot of young girls and women wish they could wear because it has this absolutely beautiful fairy-tale feeling to it and it totally adds such a magic to the look you’re trying to achieve. I think we’ll see a lot of this look when wedding season is upon us! Her hair and makeup were done quite lovely and everything was really flawless about her look. The choice to have her necklace hang down in the back was kind of interesting and I think it worked for her. I expect it might set a trend with those who are extremely proud of their “dorsum humanum.”

Elizabeth on Amy Adams:

As if she had just arrived straight from a fairy tale, The Master actress enchants in this powder blue-grey princess ball gown by Oscar de la Renta. The voluminous layers of frayed tulle feathers on the ballskirt makes Adams appear to be gliding like a sweet and delicate princess on Swan Lake.

To see more ballgowns from the evening, view some of our favorites in our Imgur Gallery.

Metallics

If it’s known that we look to celebrities for the latest trends, metallics are evidently going to create quite a stir this season as the stars sparkled on the evening of the Oscars. Decked out in long, shimmering gowns that radiated a modern, yet chic old-fashioned decadence, stars like Naomi Watts, Nicole Kidman, Stacy Keibler, Sandra Bullock, and Adele rocked the red carpet with sleek gowns, lush with gunmetal textiles and light-catching décor. Even First Lady Michelle Obama in a light and dark silver paneling, all-over sequin gown couldn’t resist a little bit of that sultry sparkle as she presented the Best Picture Oscar for Argo via satellite. Two actresses who wore the metallic look very well on Sunday evening were Naomi Watts, in a one-shoulder, body molding Armani Privé gown, and Sandra Bullock in a glittery and sheer Elie Saab haute Couture number.

Elizabeth on Naomi Watts:

The Impossible star propelled Hollywood style to new frontiers with this silver metallic sequined dress by Armani. The striking asymmetrical design is a cutting-edge fashion risk gone right, mixing the futuristic with the avant-garde for a uniquely dramatic and dazzling look!

Tania on Sandra Bullock:

As a fan of Elie Saab, I loved this dress! It looks like lace at first, but it’s this elegantly embellished black and silver beaded gown with capped sleeves. I think she really pulled it off well. She paired it with this Swarovski clutch and Harry Winston jewelry as these perfect accessories that don’t overpower the gown and I think that works well. I loved the bejeweled barrette too. It was very simple but trendy and fresh.

Elizabeth on Amanda Seyfried:

The Les Miserables songbird fluttered around the red carpet in this Alexander McQueen lilac organza halter gown embellished with silver dragonfly embroidery. Coupled with her pearly pastel make-up, Seyfried’s look keeps true to Cosette’s lovely and ethereal ingenue spirit.

To see more of the metallics from the evening, view some of our favorites in our Imgur Gallery.

Creams, Classics & Colors

The evening wouldn’t be complete without a little touch of the rainbow and some classic shades. Though the carpet was abundant with pale hues and tones, there were quite a few starlets that popped color from the likes of Jennifer Garner with an intense purple Gucci gown; Reese Witherspoon in a royal blue strapless Louis Vuitton, Sally Field and Jennifer Aniston captivating attention with their red ballgowns, and Jane Fonda in a bright and sunny yellow Versace gown, appropriate for spring. Seeing these colors will definitely give a lot of us an idea of what will be popular this year and how we can incorporate such tones in our own wardrobes. Two of the most classic colors appearing on the red carpet were white and black; a simple go-to hue for any awards show worn by the likes of Charlize Theron, Zoe Saldana, and Shirley Bassey. These colors ensure a classy and timeless look at any given time.

Tania on Jennifer Garner:

I was actually really happy to see Jennifer Garner wearing a bright color amidst this sea of these washed out pink and pale neutrals. It was kind of becoming redundant and I think it’s going to be a shade that we might see a lot of this spring. The clutch by Roger Vivier was very cute, as was the Neil Lane jewelry. Though I’m a bit of a minimalist on jewelry, I think it came together really nicely for her, especially with her makeup too–definitely complimented her natural complexion. I love that it was all simple but really elegant.

Elizabeth on Samantha Barks:

Who’s that girl? Why, it’s Les Miserables standout Samantha Barks! For her first Oscars red carpet appearance, Miss. Barks chose this simple yet sophisticated black dress by Valentino. The plunging V-neckline in the front and back balances sleek and sizzling with victorious results. The deeply daring cut accentuates Barks’ Forevermark pendant necklace – an oval diamond set in yellow gold in a design that looks like a bright sun – appropriate for the rising star!

Tania on Kerry Washington:

Have I mentioned that I love coral? It’s been one of my favorite colors from last season and Kerry wore it really well in this strapless Miu Miu gown, complete with a sparkling nude bodice covered in Swarovski crystals, and what’s great is that it wasn’t overdone or too “sparkle-y”. Her hair was styled quite lovely too, and even though she didn’t wear a ton of jewelry, it doesn’t look like it was too simple. I thought she looked very pretty. I loved the earrings by Chopard too! When that much shoulder and neck shows, it’s expected to wear long earrings and a necklace but I don’t think she really needed to.

To see more color on the red carpet, view some of our favorites in our Imgur Gallery.

Men of the Oscars

There was certainly a trend among the men this year at the Oscars. A lot of them donned facial hair, and a lot of them wore looks inspired by Downton Abbey. The show is popular and the style is clearly catching on with many like Ben Affleck, Bradley Cooper, and Channing Tatum, just to name a few. The looks come off extremely dapper and suave with some in double-breasted suits worn with rounded shirt collars, waistcoats (or also known as “vests”), and velvet trimmed accented tailored jackets. Quite a few men on the red carpet stuck to black and white, arriving in simple black tuxedos, white shirts and the quintessential black bow tie, while others opted for a clean thin black tie or even black shirts, like Jamie Foxx. Two men who defied the black tuxedo were the night’s Oscar winners Daniel Day-Lewis and Christoph Waltz, both gracing the red carpet in navy blue tuxedos complete with crisp white shirts and black bow-ties. It was a well-dressed and unique look that definitely turned heads! Younger stars like Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Chris Evans wore well-fitted suits, while Eddie Redmayne, a red carpet favorite this awards season, added an edgy twist to a classic black outfit with velvet Alexander McQueen skull slippers.

To see what the men wore, view some of our favorites in our Imgur Gallery.

Fashion Winners of the Night…

Jessica Chastain in Armani Prive:

Being hailed as the best red carpet look by many, Jessica Chastain in true fashionista-style was absolutely stunning on Oscar night! She looked extremely elegant and ethereal in a sequined old-Hollywood Giorgio Armani number, paired with matte red lipstick and sumptuous dreamy waves. It was the best choice for her as the coppery-nude mesh strapless gown complemented her fiery hair. Jessica told Ryan Seacrest that she chose the dress because she’s such a fan of movies. “I love cinema so much. It’s a very ‘Happy Birthday Mr. President’ [and] reminds me of old Hollywood glamour.”

Elizabeth: The twenty-first century Jessica Rabbit strikes again! The Zero Dark Thirty Best Actress nominee looked the part of a leading lady in this shimmering copper-gold gown with beaded bedazzlements. With her retro-waved red locks, ruby lips, and Harry Winston diamonds, Chastain delivers a nostalgic ode to the days of the classic Hollywood bombshell.

Tania: I think Jessica has fast become a red carpet favorite and definitely nailed it this year at the Oscars. Her look was flawless and vintage Hollywood glam at its best. Her strapless gown was gorgeous and honestly, she looked like Veronica Lake straight out of the 1940s—I loved that so much! The wavy hair was stunning and I think a lot of women after this are going to want to emulate that style of hers. What was really complementary was her dress’ copper tones that picked up on her hair color and made it pop. The vintage Harry Winston jewelry from the 60s (10-carat diamond earrings and a yellow gold 24-carat diamond bracelet) was a lovely accent too. This was a great look and one I think we’ll talk about for a while.

Jean Dujardin in Lanvin:

Jean takes top honors with his suit from French designer, Lanvin as he looked very sharp on Oscar night. His suit was classic and clean, and the beard which many were sporting on the red carpet, added a sort of enchanting je ne sais quoi. His suit’s silhouette elongated him from the lowest buttoning point and lapel, and created a dressy and distinct style of his own.

Elizabeth: The ever so dashing and dapper leading man (and 2012 Best Actor winner) from The Artist looked c’est magnifique in this classic black suit and tie!

Tania: Ooh-la-la! Jean Dujardin, vous faites mon coeur chanter! This guy looks amazing in suits! How can you not love a man in a great suit?What he wore was exactly the sort of thing a woman finds incredibly attractive, in all its simplicity. Jean is a very handsome man and quite frankly, I could hear him speak French all day. Can we make that happen anytime soon?

What were some of your favorite looks from the night? Let us know in the comments below!

About the Authors

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Elizabeth Rosalyn The is a staff writer here at The Hudsucker. She is studying Communication and English at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. She imagines a world full of peace, love, music, and magic rainbows on the horizon. Elizabeth also writes for recultured. Follow her on Twitter as @ElizabethThe.

Tania Hussain is the founder and editor-in-chief here at The Hudsucker. She has her own column over at NBC News’ Newsvine and has completed a manuscript awaiting to be published. She is a member of Scribophile, an online writing group for serious writers, and The Canadian Authors Association, a national organization dedicated to promoting a flourishing community of writers across Canada. Tania is an avid Colts, Elvis and baseball fan as well as a lover of pancakes and fine cheeses. Follow her on Twitter as @westlifebunny.