Hollywood’s top actors took more risks with their movie roles this year than the wardrobes they chose for the Academy Awards.
With a couple of exceptions — most notably Mila Kunis’ sexy lingerie-style Elie Saab number — the dresses and demeanor on the red carpet were demure. High necklines or simple strapless designs dominated, as did upswept hairstyles and soft makeup. And there was less borrowed bling than in recent seasons.
Pale shades of ivory, blush, nude and pink were worn by many actresses, which lent a feminine, gentle quality to the red carpet.
Hailee Steinfeld, the 14-year-old nominee for best supporting actress from “True Grit,” wore a pale pink crystal embroidered tea-length dress. With a simple jeweled band in her hair, she was age-appropriate and lovely. In a red carpet interview Steinfeld said she helped design the dress with the designers from Marchesa and the result was “exactly what I had in mind.”
Also in Marchesa was Halle Berry, whose strapless nude and crystal encrusted gown had a skirt with a flourish of organza silk tulle ruffles.
Gwyneth Paltrow’s metallic embroidered sheath from Calvin Klein had a modern edge, which was echoed in her clean, straight hairstyle.Nicole Kidman, known for her high-fashion choices, went with an overly complicated white gown featuring silver beading and flared hip panels.
Hillary Swank, who seldom disappoints in a red carpet appearance, wore a silver strapless gown with an artfully feathered skirt.
Amy Adams has successfully worn navy blue at awards shows, and again chose the color in a L’Wren Scott gown with cap sleeves and a deep slit in the back.
Looks that wound up on our cutting room floor included Michelle Williams’s pale, matronly short-sleeved Chanel gown. She’s picked younger looks in the past and should go with her mood rather than play it so safe.
Another misstep was made by Sharon Stone, whose black gown look like it had a feather duster or dead bird on the shoulder.
The combination of lace cutouts over a gold background in the Marc Bouwer gown worn by Melissa Leo was almost as garish as her early-90s wardrobe from “The Fighter.”
With all the pale dresses, it was refreshing to see vivid color worn by a handful of actresses. Jennifer Hudson wowed in a tangerine plunge-neck Versace halter gown. Choosing red and looking ravishing in it were Anne Hathaway in vintage Valentino, Jennifer Lawrence in a sexy Calvin Klein crepe tank dress and Sandra Bullock in a strapless design.
Penelope Cruz’s plunge-neck dress was in a rich burgundy, and shades of violet and purple were worn by Natalie Portman (Rodarte), and Scarlett Johansson in Dolce & Gabbana.
Guys like Russell Brand and Christian Bale who wanted to look edgy wore black-on-black tuxedo looks, but others took a traditional route. Notable was Justin Timberlake’s sleek Tom Ford tux.
Suzanne S. Brown: 303-954-1697 or sbrown@denverpost.com
