The Academy Awards Red carpet remains the venue where stars attempt to make their mark in fashion history, dawning elegant hair styles, exquisite jewelry and the much anticipated gowns. In attempts to boast unforgettable looks, some will push the envelope and come out striking, others will be unsuccessful with their risk and the scared will play it safe.
The 2012 Oscars Red carpet looks were no exception. Pushing the envelope were stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, Nancy O’Dell and Sacha Baron Cohen, redefining fashion on the red carpet. Paltrow, who not long after rapper, Niki Minaj dawned a cape at Grammy’s, also attempted to wear one, has received harsh criticism for pushing the envelope. Paltrow who looked stunning in Tom Ford, wore a basic elegant white gown but took a risk adorning it with a flowing white cape. While the range of her success can be argued by a few, it is clear that she has changed the status quo of the cape in fashion.
Arguably less elegant, was Sacha Baron Cohen who took things too far after staying in character the whole night. Wearing uniform fit for a dictator, and accessorizing with an urn allegedly containing the ashes of the late North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-il, Cohen is making headlines for his Red Carpet publicity stunts. It is clear that Cohen took away from the elegant culture of the Oscar’s, but however offensive his stunt, he has changed the ways that the Oscar red carpet ceremony will commence.
Toping the Best Dressed list are Viola Davis, Mila Jovovich, Angelina Jolie and Meryl Streep. Viola Davis, who has now become a household name and mega super star following her nomination for the motion picture, “The Help” shined on the carpet. Wearing a stylish, bright green gown by Vera Wang, she became the epitome of elegance. The long shiny gown was complete with pleats that followed from the bottom. Making headlines is also 17th time Oscar nominee, Meryl Streep, who stunned in an age appropriate gold gown. Speckled with glitter, a slightly plunged neck line, a well defined bust line and a ruched side train, the much talked about Lanvin gown was striking enough to turn many heads. It is safe to say that the gown appeared to be age-defying.
Although many amazing gowns made their debut on this year’s Oscars Red Carpet, many
excellent stars disappointed with their fashion choices. Amongst those that played it safe were Natalie Portman, Jennifer Lopez and Emma Stone. Portman, who was arguably one of the more undressed stars dawned a red tube Christina Dior gown with the standard polka dot print. Her basic choice did not seem fit for the over the top red carpet event, and even appeared to be quite juvenile or old-fashioned. Receiving critique for one of her more modest appearances is Jennifer Lopez who wore a Zuhair Murad gown. The nude colored gown was embellished with side swept stripes, a plunging neck line, and long sleeves with cut outs. Lopez, who once made Red Carpet history in 2003 with a gown that topped the headlines, failed to make the same statement again.
