The Academy Awards marks the end of awards season and the Oscar red carpet is the fashionable curtain call. Award nominees have shown up at this year’s award shows in trends ranging from white to metallic and one-shoulder to lots of embellishments, but many saved their biggest fashion statements for the Oscars.
There are signs that the fashion-loving times are changing. This year, best actress nominee Reese Witherspoon showed her support for the #AskHerMore campaign (launched in 2014) which encouraged media to shift the focus of their red carpet interviews with actresses from questions about clothing to questions about careers.
While some media outlets seemed to honor the request, the rest of world stuck with playing the role of fashion critic, including us.
So here we offer our opinion on how four of the best actress nominees ranked based on their collective looks from the SAG, Golden Globe and Oscar award ceremonies.
See here for a full gallery of the Oscar red carpet.
1. Felicity Jones
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, left, and Felicity Jones arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Oscars: Jones wore a full-skirted, beaded Alexander McQueen gown that was one of most memorable…in a good way. It was dramatic, glamorous and she looked amazing.
SAG Awards and Golden Globes: Jones stood out in a blush-tone Balenciaga at the SAG awards. Some critics panned the voluminous skirt of her teal Christian Dior gown from the Golden Globes, but we think it made her stand out…again, in a good way.
2. Julianne Moore
Bart Freundlich, left, and Julianne Moore arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Oscars: Moore totally owned her Chanel couture gown in white, one of the hottest red carpet colors this season.
SAG and Golden Globes: Moore stuck with Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci wearing a flattering emerald gown to the SAG awards and a gown with ombre sequins and feathers to the Golden Globes.
3. Reese Witherspoon
Felicity Jones, left, and Reese Witherspoon speak on the red carpet at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Oscars: Witherspoon wore a custom Tom Ford double silk Georgette ice-blue gown with black velvet border.
SAG and Golden Globes: Reese stuck with her old hollywood theme which looks great on her, but we’d love to see her try something new. She wore white — this year’s red carpet favorite — to the SAG awards with a single shoulder Giorgio Armani gown and a sparkly, strapless Calvin Klein dress to the Golden Globes.
4. Rosamund Pike
Ethan Hawke, left, and Rosamund Pike appear on the red carpet at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
Oscars: Pike is clearly the risk taker of the red carpet. Red is always a trend and she wore it well in a figure-flattering, floor length lace gown by Givenchy.
SAG and Golden Globes: Pike won our hearts with the black Christian Dior gown with floral appliques and a high-low hemline she wore to the SAG awards. The white Vera Wang gown with plunging neckline and cutouts was remarkable, but left Pike a bit overexposed.
