Oscar fashion at the 83rd Academy Awards was a flashback of sorts to 2009 when the red carpet was awash in red dresses.
This year ladies in red made yet another big style statement led by show host Anne Hathaway. Nominee Jennifer Lawrence wore a minimalist red dress from Calvin Klein, while Sandra Bullock and Penelope Cruz also stepped out in scarlet. Jennifer Hudson and Scarlett Johansson wore variations of the color.
"It was a so-so evening of fashion. It was really about a lot of shades of red or the nude and silvers," said Michael Fink, dean of the school of fashion at Savannah College of Art and Design. "It is definitely a younger way of thinking as evidenced by all the body conscious slim-fitting gowns."
Halle Berry, Hilary Swank, Gwyneth Paltrow and young nominee Hailee Steinfeld all sported versions of the nude metallic trend.
Hair and makeup was relaxed, perhaps a little too much, Fink said. And jewelry again proved understated with most actresses wearing little or nothing at all.
"Everyone is just so overly dependent on a stylist, it takes the wack-a-doodle out of everything," Fink said. Even the usually out there Helena Bonham Carter brought it down a notch in black velvet.
Perhaps the most anticipated look of the evening was Natalie Portman. A very pregnant Portman has earned both kudos and criticism for the gowns she has chosen leading up to the purple Rodarte gown she wore to the Oscars.
"Maybe with the royal wedding coming up, people are auditioning for a ticket," said Fink of the unimaginative styles on the red carpet this season. " ‘See, I can be a really good guest!' It's so utterly tasteful it is bordering on boredom."
Fink's Faves: Michelle Williams in Chanel, Hilary Swank
Fink's Flop: Cate Blanchett in Givenchy Haute Couture "I would say it looked like a ‘Star Trek' uniform," Fink said.
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