On February 28th 2016, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hosted the 88th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, CA. The entire theater and its walkway is transformed into the elegant red carpet event, where on-lookers are dying to get a peak at the fashion parade of celebrities as they file into the theater to see who will win Oscar gold.
This year, among both men and women, blue is the new black when it comes to tuxedos and gowns. Black is always a traditionally classic color in formal wear, but navy and shades of blue have edged their way to the forefront of fashion on the red carpet. For decades, it was thought that you could never mix navy and black, but that fashion rule was tossed to the wind over the past few season and some really great looks were born.
One person who looked sharp in choosing to mix navy and black was Sylvester Stallone. He is wearing a perfectly tailored navy tuxedo by Yves Saint Laurent Couture, Heidi Slimane, with a black hidden-placket dress shirt, black bow tie, and ties it together with black lapels. Sly’s style is also heightened by his gorgeous wife Jennifer Flavin, who is draped in a black spaghetti-strap, slinky creation by the same designer.
TV co-host and retired football defensive Michael Strahan was also one of the guys who sported blue on the red carpet of the 88th Annual Oscars. Michael’s cerulean blue tuxedo is a great color for him and I like the dark navy lapels as an accent color, but the look is somehow lost with the selection of a bright white dress shirt and a regular neck tie.
For the ladies, blue was also a popular gown color. Cate Blanchett was dazzling in her Armani Prive light aqua blue gown. It was figure flattering, a fantastic color for her light complexion, and the detail of the flower petal appliqués was a beautiful feminine touch. However, on the opposite side of “dazzling” was the gown worn by Mindy Kaling. Her Elizabeth Kennedy creation had a deep navy bodice that was just too tight to flatter her curvy figure and the cobalt blue cape was awkward and heavy looking, in contrast to most capes of late.
