For the second year in a row, red was a strong trend on the red carpet as well as lots of ivory, cream and silver. The styles were either classic or more risky with origami-like details. Jewelry was kept to a minimum unless it was a truly standout piece. The guys stuck with tradition except for iconoclasts who opted for black-on-black looks or, in the case of Mickey Rourke, mostly white.
HITS
Taraji P. Henson — A beautiful, layered dress that seemed to unfold like a flower. Her floral statement necklace only added to the theme.
Anne Hathaway — Hathaway's dress was compared to the gown Marion Cotillard wore last year. The shimmering metallic gown with paillettes definitely stood out in a season when there weren't a lot of standouts.
Brad Pitt — It's hard for Pitt to look anything but great and, of course, he did. Period.
Frieda Pinto — The "Slumdog" superstar wore a jewel-toned blue gown with lace overlay by John Galliano. The rich color set her apart, and the single shoulder look was very modern, yet the dress also evoked a Bollywood feel.
Evan Rachel Wood — The irregular ruching on Wood's dress was a high point for Tiffany Teague, a fashion department coordinator for the Savannah College of Art and Design. Wood kept the rest of her look very understated and elegant.
MISSES
Melissa George — George wore a white corset gown which brought to mind the '80s ... not a bad thing in and of itself, but the overall lingerie effect was not so fun.
Sean Penn — Penn and Philip Seymour Hoffman both went for the not-so-hot black-on-black look. "I can see how as a guy, if you have a lot of occasions to wear black tie, you want to mix it up, but it can go bad so quickly," Teague said.
Vanessa Hudgens — Hudgens noted on the red carpet that her black Marchesa gown with floral blooms across the bodice was a short dress that had been converted into a longer one. When she said it, suddenly you could tell.
Natalie Portman — Portman herself looked beautiful, but her pink gown, though different in color, was not very memorable.
SPECIAL MENTIONS
Mickey Rourke — You just have to take note of the man who said well in advance that he would never wear a tux on the red carpet. Rourke showed up in a white suit with contrasting black vest by Jean Paul Gaultier. His accessories included a choker with a picture of his deceased pet.
Sarah Jessica Parker — Parker has a way of dressing like a princess, and her poofy strapless gown in "barely mint" (her words) by Dior Haute Couture definitely felt fantastical.
Kate Winslet — Winslet's gown was a bold choice, particularly for her, with it's almost color-block effect in gray and black. The dress had a lot going on, said Teague, but her hair looked fabulous.
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
