Oscars’ Best and Worst Dresses: Red Carpet Recap

Posted on the 25 February 2013 by Jenmcd @jen_mcdonnell

Nicole is in the Bahamas for a corporate retreat, but that didn’t stop us from IM’ing about the red carpet Sunday night. I was watching the show in an office building so my wardrobe consisted of sweats and pigtails; she was probably wearing flip-flops and slurping some margaritas while commandeering a TV in her resort’s bar. So we possibly weren’t the most qualified people to judge others’ wardrobes, but since when has that ever stopped us? Let’s jump in, shall we!

(click on images for larger view)

Jen: Jessica Chastain was the first big star to arrive on the red carpet (which was weird, no?). I loved the old school Hollywood hair and makeup, but I’m not sure about her Armani gown. Fit is great, colour is not.

Nicole: It would be a stunning choice if she had opted for a color. What a great silhouette, great fit, disappointing colour. Octavia Spencer, on the other hand, does nude beautifully! Wow!

Jen: Amy Adams underwhelmed in a dove grey Oscar de la Renta gown. Colour, ladies!!
Nicole: Dear Amy, please find a lipstick in a hue that is not nude. Hugs, Nicole.

Nicole: Reese Witherspoon looked stunning in a teal Louis Vuitton gown and jewels, making the most of her mom curves.
Jen: I like Reese’s dress. She’s not a nominee so she went a bit more understanded than glam, which is the perfect choice.

Nicole: Oh, Jennifer Lawrence. It’s so, so beautiful up top until the pouf. Then it looks very, very bridal (though it photographs much better than it appears on TV). The shape is more structural and the fabric more interesting in photos.
Jen: I think I was most looking forward to this one, so it’s a bigger disappointment than the others. What a terrible paper lantern-y skirt. (Although she referenced ‘Father of the Bride’ and jokingly threatened Emma Stone in her red carpet interview, so I still love her.)

Nicole: Kerry Washington dazzles as the rare gem that makes a red dress work on the red carpet.
Jen: I love the colour and uniqueness of Kerry Washington’s Miu Miu dress; the chest area flattens her out a bit.

Jen: Zoe Saldana is wearing an Alexis Mabille gown. I’m loving the bust, not as in love with the bottom of it. Still great, though.
Nicole: There is a lot happening with Zoe’s dress, but I think I love it. The flowered bodice is lovely.

Nicole: When it came to Jennifer Hudson, I loved the colour and appreciated the front slit. It’s very modern.
Jen: I loved the colour of Jennifer’s Roberto Cavalli, but there was a weird belly issue happening, unfortunately.

Nicole: Helen Hunt was selling hard for H&M, of all brands. It’s really lovely, but it’s got a bit of a mermaid bottom. Kill the mermaid!!
Jen: Hey, at least it’s not Marchesa!

Nicole: Naomi Watts for the win in Armani. Wowza. Killed it. My favourite of the night.
Jen: Me too! This is why I want Armani Prive for my never-to-happen red carpet moment. Always so slinky! Remember Anne Hathaway at the 2011 Golden Globes? Her best look ever.

Jen: Speaking of Anne Hathaway, she says she’s wearing Prada but I think it’s really Gwyneth Paltrow’s old Oscar dress. The bow in the back is terrible. And is that a ’90s choker?! As if misprouncing Cards Against Humanity wasn’t bad enough…
Nicole: Anne’s nipples are terrifying. But I can’t look away.

Nicole: I’m underwhelmed by Jennifer Aniston‘s orange Valentino dress. It shortens her torso and makes her look a bit hunched. Lazy hair doesn’t help?
Jen: Yeah, I’m also disappointed by Aniston. At least it’s not black this time, though. Once again, she’s doing nothing to shoot down pregnancy rumours. And someday I’d love for her to surprise us with an updo!

Nicole: Nicole Kidman wears a deceptively simple sequinned tank dress that doesn’t quite work, coming off as garish instead of glamorous.
Jen: Nicole is once again wearing L’Wren Scott, but I wish she would have wore the one she wore to the Stoker premiere instead. This looks trashy. (Though it looked so much better in photos. Slinky and sexy, while when I first saw it on TV, the neckline looked like it was animal print for a sec.)

Nicole: Salma Hayek is gorgeous. Wow. So different from the boob show she usually gives us.
Jen: I like her Alexander McQueen dress, but she hurt herself by wearing a tiara!
Nicole: Haha. As if you’re going to judge a girl for wearing a tiara!!!
Jen: You’re right. I wear a tiara to wash the dishes. Carry on, Salma.

Nicole: And last but not least, Kristen Stewart is not fooling anyone with her virginal white Reem Acra dress. I know what you did last summer.
Jen: Mean! I don’t love this dress on her, though. It’s way, way too old. And the tulle on the bottom? Ugh.

(Jen: I also live-blogged the Oscars for MSN. Check it out here.)