Sometimes the best performances are restrained. The actors hold back so you can see more of the talent and beauty of the character. The same came be said of awards-show fashion.
The Marchesa column gown worn by Sandra Bullock on the red carpet at Sunday’s Academy Awards was refined but elegant, its embroidered bodice beautiful yet understated.
And eschewing the ubiquitous updo, Bullock wore her hair straight and cleanly swept to one side. The red lipstick was a glam touch.
Also modern were the metallics and shimmery fabrics that continue to cast their spell over Hollywood, whether in the gold Oscar de la Renta worn by Cameron Diaz, the silver-bodice Yves Saint Laurent chosen by Kate Winslet or the silver embroidered gown worn by Helen Mirren.
In contrast were a number of actresses who let their dresses wear them, instead of the other way around.
Jennifer Lopez, Zoe Saldana, star of “Avatar,” and Vera Farmiga, from “Up in the Air,” were among those who fell into the trap of wearing gargantuan gowns. Lopez’s ballgown contained enough fabric for several dresses, and Saldana’s dip-dyed purple number looked like it belonged on the stage of the Folies Bergere. Farmiga’s silk crepe Marchesa strapless dress had immense swirls of pleats that wrapped around her body, ending in a still more pleats in the train.
Refreshingly, blue had its red-carpet moment at the 82nd awards ceremony, shown well by Mo’Nique in her one-shoulder draped dress. The color was also worn by Gabourey Sidibe in a Marchesa dress, and in a Dries van Noten style that looked sleek and sexy on Maggie Gyllenhaal.
When it came to hair and makeup, the profusion of outsized updos — Sarah Jessica Parker’s being a major offender — was dated. It was a relief to see hair that looked soft and gently curled, as worn by Diaz and Winslet.
The guys held up their end of the costume party nicely, many in Tom Ford (Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin, Ryan Reynolds, Colin Firth and, naturally, Tom Ford), Gucci (Jeff Bridges) and Giorgio Armani (Samuel L. Jackson). The men also also get credit for having the ultimate accessories on their arms — the wives and girlfriends who make them look good, including such beauties as Matt Damon’s wife, Luciana, and George Clooney’s model-girlfriend, Elisabetta Canalis.
