Red, white and gold dominated the red carpet this year as did current runway trends like cut-outs, deep V necklines and bare mid-riffs. After a year of virtual presentations if was wonderful to see everyone on the red carpet again. Here we have the best and the worst of the red carpet looks. Glamour is back!
BEST –
This golden girl is gorgeous and on trend, Carey Mulligan, best actress nominee for Promising Young Woman in Valentino Haute Couture and Cartier jewels. Underneath that sequin ballskirt are Sophia Webster’s Rita platform shoes. An amazing look. One of my favorites. This was a pleasant surprise and departure from her looks during award season.
Another golden girl, Andra Day, best actress nominee for The United Stares vs. Billie Holiday, in Vera Wand Haute, Casadei shoes and Tiffany & Co. jewelry. I could have sworn this was Versace. For me this is a look that would be better at the GRAMMYS. Still loved it.
The lady in red. Angela Bassett is nothing short of gorgeous in this red Alberta Ferretti gown, gold Christian Louboutin shoes, Judith Leiber lips clutch and Chopard jewelry. She has looked great this entire awards season and this is one hell of a finale!
Amanda Seyfried in Armani Privé and Forevermark jewelry is 1930’s Old Hollywood glamour with a bit of 21st century edge. I love the grandeur of this gown not to mention the details. I love that they let the gown speak for itself and didn’t over accessorize it. Speaking of, I though most would have opted for white diamond and platinum jewelry but the yellow diamonds and yellow gold were a great choice.
Reese Witherspoon in Christian Dior and Bvlgari jewelry is a red-hot Greco-Roman goddess. The pleats remind me of Mary McFadden. There was chatter about this belt on the internet as soon as it hit the carpet. I think it’s modern and forward and I love it.
Maria Bakalova, nominated for best supporting actress in Borat wore a custom Louis Vuitton with Moussaieff jewelry. She looked like a modern princess straight out of a 21st century fairy tale. Which she was. This is a great way to and an award season – on top of the fashion game.
Tiara Thomas in Jovana Louis is another look that I thought would be a better fit for the GRAMMYS – she won a music award, I’m not that far off, anyway it’s still fantastic. And she was one of the best dressed. From the bell bottoms, always love a bell bottom to the diamond lariat to the feather jacket, I want one in black, the pieces worked together to create a flawless look.
Viola Davis, nominated for best actress for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was a goddess in this white custom Alexander McQueen gown, Forevermark jewelry and Jimmy Choo clutch. The bodice is drop dead, breathtakingly intricate embroidered appliqué, its pattern inspired by thistles weaving organically around the body, and made of thousands of glass bugle beads that took a full week to complete.
Diane Warren in Valentino was one of the first looks I noticed on the red carpet. I love the sequin turtleneck and I’ll be stocking my wardrobe with them, pronto! This photo isn’t great and doesn’t do the look justice. Valentino creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli outdid himself creating a look that is both authentic and fantastic.
Red carpet style star and nominee, Regina King nails it again in custom Louis Vuitton and Forevermark jewelry. This stunning ice blue gown with it’s silver sequin detailing and art deco influence was a look at really evokes true Hollywood glamour in the 1930’s. And it avoid appearing as costume with a modern, sleek bob and subtle jewelry.
Emerald Fennell in this Gucci gown was so pretty. So pretty. It’s like Mother Earth walked off the runway. I loved everything about this look – the ruffles, subtle sequins, the colors. I’m looking forward to see more from this talented, award winning renaissance woman.
Academy Award winner, Halle Berry in made a stunning statement in an orchid Dolce & Gabbana gown. I normally don’t like bows this large on the front of a dress or gown but I think it worked well here. A subliminal message of a glorious present.
Margot Robbie was sublimely divine in Chanel Haute Couture and Fine Jewelry. The metallic gown has an intricate silver floral pattern. It took 205 to assemble and has luxurious details you don’t notice at first glance. Those details give this dress a look of ease and quiet refinement.
Ariana DeBose in Atelier Versace, Harry Winston jewelry and Stuart Weitzman shoes offered another bright spot on the red carpet in this blaze of orange. This is her first Oscar red carpet appearance and she held her own!
Vanessa Kirby in Gucci and Cartier jewelry struck all of the right notes. In this dress the drama may be quiet but its there. The dark lip and nails are a nice contrast. The beautiful but simple Cartier necklace make Kirby, a first time Oscar nominee, the focal point.
Zendaya in a yellow custom Valentino Haute Couture and Bvlgari jewelry was a burst of sunshine. The mermaid vibes from the beachy, wavy hair was perfection. When she stepped on the red carpet if looked as if she was being followed by a wind machine. It was manifique!
Mia Neal made history winning the Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. She looked like a queen in CDGNY. I love that she wore navy. No one else did. The beadwork is exquisite and the train gave us the perfect amount of drama the red carpet needs.
Marlee Martin was a vision in Vivienne Westwood for RCGD in collaboration with Tencel. The silver gave this Academy award winner the sparkle she deserves. The intricacy and detail were beautiful. I hope we continue to see her on the red carpet.
Nicolette Robinson in Zuhair Murad. This ballgown was anything but basic. It was not overly accessorized but it didn’t need it. The voluminous skirt which its high slit was enough to capture everyone’s attention. And keep it!
Jon Batiste in Dior Men. My favorite men’s look of the night. The tuxedo has a fit that’s fantastic and it’s well styled – a boutonniere, a brooch and a pocket square.
Erick Oh looked great in Dior Men head to toe black. Call me crazy I love that you could see the bows on his shoe laces. It’s cleaner and less distracting. Kudos for the black furnishings
Daniel Kaluuya, winner of Best Supporting Actor for Judas and the Black Messiah in Bottega Veneta and Cartier jewelry including the Santos de Cartier Skeleton timepiece. This look very real and creditable, maybe not as formal as some of the others but still respectful.
Charles D. King in Frère by Davidson Petit-Frère tuxedo and shoes by the same designer, Piaget watch, Neil Lane Couture brooch and XIV Karats tuxedo studs and cufflinks. One of my favorite menswear looks of the evening. I love the chocolate dinner jacket. I love the way the look is styled – the brooch, the shoes. Formal but authentic.
Colman Domingo in Versace, Christian Louboutin shoes and David Yurman Jewelry. I loved this look too. Head to tow color can be hard for a man to pull off, let alone pink but Domingo did just that. If I’m being picky I would prefer a burgundy shoe but that didn’t ruin it for me. It was well done.
Derek Cianfrance looks great in the navy tuxedo
Riz Ahmed, nominated for best actor in Sounds of Metal was flawless in black head-to-toe Prada and Girard-Perregaux watch. The black tee makes this look modern and the cummerbund keeps it formal. A fashionable shoe doesn’t hurt.
And the worst . . .
I’ll start with these two. Garnish doesn’t begin to describe Martin Desmond Roe and Travan Free in custom Dolce & Gabbana. I usually love the combination of yellow with black bur you do want to avoid comparisons to bumblebees. I will say that as much as I hate these looks the jackets are special. Rowe and Free’s jackets honored the victims of police brutality – the lining is inscribed with the names of several victims.
Very talented director. Obviously. Chloe Zhao in Hermes and a pair of sneaker. I don’t care if it’s Hermes I don’t like this. She looks like a little girl between the dress, the sneakers and the braids. I have to assume the look was intentional but I’m not sure on the message. There’s nothing wrong with looking like a little girl. If you are one.
I HATED adding Glenn Close, nominated for best supporting actress for Hillbilly Elegy to this list. I have loved her in so many roles but I did not love her in this. She’s wearing Armani Privé , Christian Louboutin shoes and Kwiat and Fred Leighton jewelry. The beadwork is exquisite and the color is gorgeous – perfect for her. But there’s way too much going on and it doesn’t work. From the waist up it’s flawless. It should have been a shorter jacket instead of a long tunic and the gloves need to go. She did serve us an iconic moment – doing Da Butt!
Celeste Wait in custom Gucci and Gucci High Jewelry – if the fringe and patent cuffs weren’t bad enough, there’s a heart shaped minaudière. Am I the only one who thought of the scene when the evil queen in Snow White instructs the Huntsman to “bring me her heart”?
Leslie Odom Jr in Brinoi tuxedo and Cartier ring. I hated adding this to the list too. I really love the tuxedo- the fabric and color are gorgeous, but I hate the way it’s styled. The gold shirt with the black turtleneck underneath tipped the scales for me.
I want to know two things. What is Dana Murray hiding under that Christopher John Rogers dress? Why didn’t someone tell her it wasn’t attractive?
Jeremy Molod. I’ll state the obvious. The jacket is ill fitting to say the least. The pants have creases. And the shoes! The shoes!!!! And the hem is coming out on the left leg of his pants. Where was this man’s stylist? This is why you hire a stylist when you walk this red carpet. Whether you’re a star or not. This says to me not only does he not cares but he doesn’t pay attention to detail. And then I ask myself, would I want to work with him?
Laura Dean may be a talented actress but she’s not a style star. And that’s ok. For the Oscars she gives us Oscar – Oscar de la Renta gown and Pomellato jewelry. For me the turtleneck and the feather skirt don’t work well together. I love the dramatic idea of a feather skirt but here it looks like Big Bird dipped in bleach.
Blood clot. This is a case of simple isn’t always better. If a look is simple it has to be perfect. So many things wrong with this look. I would have padded the shoulders, dropped the waistline and raise the hemline. Actually I probably would have worn something else for the Oscars. Olivia Coleman in Christian Dior Haute Couture and Chopard jewelry. I love the shoes!
I love that Tyler Perry was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and I loved his speech. The custom Giorgio Armani didn’t work for me at all. The tiny tie throws everything off. He needs to work on fit and proportion.
I acknowledge that using tie dye for evening can be a challenge. It can easily be an eyesore. In this case this look is like a melted popsicle that no one wants to eat. Kori Rae topped this off this look with studded platform shoes which didn’t help.
