Ivy Says

I was psyched that I stayed up way past my bedtime to watch some of the stars walk the Red Carpet at the 2012 Oscar’s last night. My caffeine intake didn’t help; all in all it turned out to be a major snooze fest. Tradition reigned as stars opted for conservative pieces rather than risky creations. I definitely missed three of my favourite A-List red carpet divas Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron and Cate Blanchett so I didn’t have much of a choice but to settle with mediocre. White was a big hit but so were sequins, beadings, embellishments and embroidery.  My favourite trend of the night was that accessories were kept to a bare minimum, with actresses opting for one statement pieces and some for no jewelry at all.  Check out some of my favorites and not-so-favorites below:

Cameron Diaz

Few can pull of this figure-hugging cream strapless Gucci with feminine ruffles and soft sequins so Cameron Diaz makes it on my best dressed for giving us some of that red carpet glamour while keeping things age-appropriate but still on the safer side of things.

Emma Stone

I loved Emma Stone in that purple reddish Lanvin number she wore to the Golden Globes this year, but there is something about the oversized bow tie and overwhelming and excessive fabric contrasting with her small frame and snow white skin that just doesn’t work for me. Plus, she stole Nicole Kidman’s memorable 2008 Oscar look.  Her dress is Giambattista Valli and is accessorized with a Louis Vuitton bracelet and earrings.

Milla Jovovich

This previous model looked every inch the red carpet glamour girl in a beaded one-shoulder Elie Saab gown and matched it with a dazzling Edie Parker clutch. Her side-swept hair and hot red lips matched perfectly! One of the best dressed ladies of the night.

Meryl Streep

Even one of the best actresses of our generation can get it wrong sometimes, and although Meryl goes home with her third Oscar, she still gets it wrong in this ill-fitted metallic gold wraparound Lanvin that not only matched her metallic shoes ,earrings and hair but also the little golden statue she took home. It was all too much gold for my taste, resembling a Lebanese mother at her son or daughter’s wedding.

Gwyneth Paltrow

It’s fashion statements like this that make us Fashion nerds tune into the Oscars in the first place and Gwyneth Paltrow brings it in this stunning Tom Ford gown with a dramatic cape accessorized with a a gorgeous diamond cuff. Her sleek unfussy hair matched perfectly. I bet Angelina Jolie saw that look and kicked herself for not doing it first.

Angelina Jolie

Just because you’re Angelina Jolie it doesn’t mean you get to put on a old black frock to the Oscars , show us some leg and then call it a day. Even Angelina can get it wrong and she gets it very wrong in the oversized boring black velvet Atelier Versace gown. She didn’t even bother with her hair. She makes it on my worst dressed for the night.

Sandra Bullock

She puts the G in glamour in this black and white Marchesa gown with metallic embroidery accessorized with Lorraine Schwartz jewels. I love this look on her because it’s so elegant yet fashion-forward although I would have loved to see her hair in a different updo and slightly more makeup. She still makes it on my best dressed list!

Anna Faris

The zoo called, a seal escaped and seems to have made its way to the Oscars. Anna Faris looks like a pile of  blubber in this Diane von Furstenburg black long-sleeved sequins dress and her new bleached bob is really not helping. One of the worst dressed of the night.

Glen Close

Style knows no age and Glen Close pulls a Tilda Swinton on us in this gorgeous forest green silhouette-hugging corset-fitted Zac Posen gown. To keep things age appropriate she topped it off with a tuxedo blazer. Ladies take notes! One of the my favorite red carpet looks.

Rooney Mara

This high-fashion meets classic couture gown is one of the night’s stunners by fashion house Givenchy. It’s one of those dresses that would look good in every color and I would have loved to see it on an A-lister since Rooney Mara’s bland facial expressions really don’t do it any justice.

Michelle Williams

Best Dressed of the night! Michelle channels her skinny inner Marilyn Monroe and looks VA VA VOOM in this classic old-Hollywood strapless perfectly-fitted Louis Vuitton gown with a flirty skirt at her waist and a bow brooch. She kept things fun adding that candy colored pink clutch. Only a few can pull-off this look and Michelle does so with flying colors!

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