2012 Academy Awards: Best and "Worst"

The Oscars deliver easily the most drool-inducing fashion of the year. And every year, it's difficult enough for me to pick Best Dressed, let alone Worst. There really are no bad dresses at the Oscars these days, it's mostly just great dresses on the wrong people.

In any case, let's get to the drooling, shall we?

Emma Stone is easily one of my fashion favorites - she's such an elegant risk taker and really hit it out of the park last night with this vibrant Giambattista Valli gown. Jessica Chastain made it to many people's Best Dressed lists with this patterned Alexander McQueen creation. I really don't think Ellie Kemper got enough credit for this stunning and shimmery Armani Prive garment. Rooney Mara's lacy white Givenchy was so delicate and just the epitome of feminine. Viola Davis stepped out in an emerald green Vera Wang gown that accented her bod in all the right ways.

Meryl Streep was so glamorous in this gilded Lanvin frock. As soon as I saw Michelle Williams in this coral peplum dress by Louis Vuitton, I was in love. Some may not agree, but I was digging Sandy Bullock's Marchesa colorblock creation! The top was a bit slouchy, however the dramatic draped back made up for it. Natalie Portman went with classic polka dots in vintage Dior. Gwyneth was a HUGE hit in this bright white Tom Ford creation. Everyone, myself included, was going gonzo over this cape!

And now for the mis-hits of the evening...

Anna Faris looks like she put on a sequined reject from the Liza Minnelli collection. Believe it or not, I'm not about to complain over J. Lo's cleavage (I think most people forgot about the infamous green Grammy dress circa 2000). Overall I was in love with the plunging Zuhair Murad frock with the exception of one detail, the arm cut-outs. They weren't necessary to me and the cuts make her arms seem bigger than they are, which is never flattering. The shape of Stacy Keibler's dress was amazing, but I could gag over the color. That shade of gold makes it seem straight out of a bad 80s prom. Ordinarily, I love Shailene Woodley's fashion choices, and I do adore her Valentino gown but it would look better on someone twice her age. The dress is beautiful, and on someone as young as Shailene it just ages her. I like the caramel-colored strapless number Kristen Wiig chose, it just leaves something to be desired - a big piece of jewelry, a sparkly belt...something! Many people loved Angelina's black velvet Atelier Versace number, I, on the other hand, thought it was just too safe for her. The dress itself is wonderful, and for the Oscars it makes me yawn a little bit.

Who were your Oscars favorites? Who was on your Worst Dressed list?

2012 Grammys Fashion: The Glam, The Blah, and The Gaga

The Grammys don't have the best reputation when it comes to style, but there were quite a few winners last night (I mean, besides Adele)! And as usual, some seemed to have forgotten that there are cameras at the Grammys.

And the Best Dressed awards go to...

I struggle with Julianne Hough's fashion sense sometimes, but she knocked it out the park with a simple and chic Kaufman Franco design with criss-cross detail. Katy Perry donned a pale blue Elie Saab gown to match her blue locks. Taylor Swift sparkled in a gilded Zuhair Murad design. Gwyneth Paltrow kept it classic in a black Stella McCartney dress with dramatic cut-outs. Kelly Osbourne dazzled in a gold one-shoulder Tony Ward number (on a totally different note, she makes me want purple hair!). Kelly Rowland's Alberta Ferretti gown was absolutely dreamy - so delicate and feminine!

Rihanna sported a scandalous black backless Armani dress with a deep V. Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott was sultry in a strapless purple ombre Monique Lhuillier, complete with a thigh-high slit. Alicia Keys had a geometric theme going on in her structured Alexandre Vauthier dress with a bold statement necklace. Carrie Underwood was a stunner in a bright white beaded Gomez-Gracia gown. Some may not agree, but I adored Adele's second dress way more than her floor-length red carpet number. She channeled 60s vintage in her black polka dotted design as she took the stage to perform "Rolling in the Deep."

And now, the blah...

Fergie managed to pull off a fashion oxymoron - she was covered from the neck down, but was still successful in showing off her underwear. Robyn was a bit of a train wreck - the skirt of her high-low ensemble looks too tight and too short in the front. Her shoes do bring me a little bit of joy because they remind me of the Spice Girls craze of 1998. I can't tell if LaurieAnn Gibson was going for dominatrix or patent leather superhero in that red and black disaster.

And for the Gaga portion of the evening (surprisingly, more than just Gaga are in this category)...

Gaga had us scratching our heads in this Versace number complete with golden sceptor and face netting. The next person, you probably haven't heard of (unless you're hip to Russian pop singers, that is) but today she's probably high on the Google scale - Sasha Gradiva. I actually think Sasha's blush pink gown would've been stunning on it's own, but she went the extra mile and added that Terminator accessory. Nicki Minaj didn't have any crazy sceptors or arm guns, but she did show up with a stranger accessory - a "priest." Which made total sense when she reenacted The Exorcist on stage.

What did you think of last night's Grammys fashion? Who were your favorites and flops?

 

Style Report: 2012 SAG Awards Fashion Recap

Awards season is perhaps fashion's happiest (and most ferocious) time of year, and the 18th Annual SAG Awards were no exception. We witnessed some fierce frocks in spring-y hues (which we're secretly longing for!), then there were others that could only be described as head-tilting.

Lea Michele is always a favorite - she has a rockin' body and loves going out on fashion limbs. She definitely shines here in a daringly high-slit Atelier Versace gown! Zoe Saldana is always on my Best Dressed lists because she can do no wrong with me - always classy, always fabulous. Such is the case here with Zoe's crystal studded Givenchy haute couture. Notice the tiny daggers on the collar? Gorgeous. I'm a sucker for fuchsia, and I'm adoring Dianna Agron's v-neck Carolina Herrera dress. The dress is so striking, it does all the talking! Jane Krakowski went for classic black in her Antonio Berardi design, and the twist of the peek-a-boo bodice was provocative yet understated. I just can't get enough of Regina King in that lavender tiered Alberta Ferreti number! The color is stunning on her, and it's totally unexpected that she would go with such a soft look.

Viola Davis is working it in this Grecian Marchesa gown! It's got just enough glitz to stand out without being over-the-top, which I can appreciate. Who can say anything bad about Sofia Vergara? Seriously with that bod, I'd wear nothing but form-fitting dresses too! Of course, she's the epitomy of beauty in this raspberry hued Marchesa dress. Emily Blunt took the biggest color risk in a jade Oscar de la Renta frock that's as elegant as it is bright. Rose Byrne did a modern twist on the go-to gown and wore a 70s-inspired sparkly Elie Saab jumpsuit. Comfortable and chic - I can get on board with that! Emma Stone is posh and mod in head-to-toe Alexander McQueen (jealous, because I would DIE to wear HTT McQueen).

And now for the head-tilting part of the SAGs...

I really want to love Emilia Clarke's Chanel dress, but I can't help but feel like there's too much going on. Between the feather-looking skirt and elaborate neckline, that bears nothing interesting, I'm just lost. I don't know what Busy Philips was thinking when she dressed herself in that tie-dye horror of a dress. It's really something you'd see walking on the beach in the summertime, not on the red carpet at a big awards show. I actually love the Ramona Keveza gown Kaley Cuoco's wearing...I just don't love it on her. I feel like she looks uncomfortable, and it's not accessorized well which makes it look as though she picked it out 15 minutes before Prom. I like the direction Amber Riley was going in with this Badgley Mischka, but what is with that ginormous bow on her boobs? It serves no purpose except to call attention to an area that already gets attention, fail.

Who were your SAG Awards fashion favorites? Any "head-tilters" I missed?

2011 Emmys Fashion: Hot Styles and Hot Messes

TV's most prestigious awards show was last night, so that means we're in for another celebrity edition of style hits and misses!

This year's Emmys hostess with the mostest, Jane Lynch, knocked it out of the park with four beautiful gowns.

The Best Dressed list doesn't stop there, as there was no shortage of dramatically stunning fashions.

Kate Winslet sizzled in  a sophisticated cap sleeve Elie Saab gown with a plunging neckline. "Mad Men's" Christina Hendricks shows off her voluptuous figure in a glitzy Johanna Johnson number. Minka Kelly  rocked a lacy navy blue Christian Dior frock.

Jayma Mays looked heavenly in a blush pink Zuhair Murad gown with a beaded, transparent bodice and tiered tulle skirt. Kelly Osbourne looked nothing short of spectacular in a plum-colored fishtail gown by J Mendel. "Dexter's" Jennifer Carpenter was sleek and sexy in a silvery Tony Ward Couture dress with a thigh-high split. Kristen Wiig goes for the gold in a metallic Zac Posen number with a deep v-neckline.

Last up for the Best Dressed group, we'll begin with Emily Blunt's deep blue Elie Saab gown with a plunging neckline and heavenly ruffle skirt. Sofia Vergara showed off those dangerous curves in a peachy Vera Wang one-shoulder dress. Lea Michele's red Marchesa gown may not look like much from the front, but it's a different story in the back with a deep cowl and rosette sleeves. With Gwyneth's dress, I think you'll either love it or hate it--there has been no inbetween. Gwyneth wore an intricately beaded two-piece Pucci gown that was meant to mirror Middle Eastern style.

And now for the fun part...Worst Dressed!

Dianna Agron's purple, drape-y number does absolutely nothing for her figure - it hangs like a grandma robe. Oh, Paz de la Huerta, were you drunk? Her dress reminded me of something awful I used to see at high school dances (and the girls usually looked a bit messy, a la Paz). Black dresses are usually go-tos for awards season, but Rachael Harris did nothing to dress it up. She's wearing a pair of trendy, and rather boring, glasses (which I'm not sure are necessary?) and that's it! No rings, no bracelets...I'd even venture to say no earrings. BOR-ING. Julianna Margulies was going for avant garde in her white frock, but it just does nothing for her! The top is too stiff to compliment her and it kind of looks like a reject Christmas ornament.

After seeing this, I think Julianne Hough needs to fire some people. The hair, bleh. The make up is pale. And the dress is a disaster! Two-tone pink and beige with a see-through belt just doesn't do it for me, and it sure didn't do anything for Julianne. Normally, I love Heidi Klum's style (duh, she's gorgeous), but why this dress, Heids? She may have been throwing a bone to ex-"Runway" contestant Christian Siriano, but it turned into a bomb. The skirt reminds me of coral...or brains, either way it ain't cute.

 

Who were your Emmys Best and Worst Dressed? What did you think of this year's Emmys style?

2011 VMA Fashion in a Nut Shell

We all love award shows! Usually it means fierce fashion, awesome performances, and the occasional candid moment of sheer hilarity.

And the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards delivered! Well....mostly.

As with pretty much any awards show, there was the good, the bad, and the just plain strange.

We'll start, on a good note, with the best dressed crowd.

VMAs Best Dressed by fashionistaerin on Polyvore.com

Beyonce was absolutely stunning in a floor-length, one-shoulder orange Lanvin gown (not to mention her newly preggers glow!).  Zoe Saldana rocked the black carpet in a black, embellished Barbara Bui mini dress. Newlywed Kim Kardashian flaunted her hourglass figure in a metallic Kaufman Franco gown. Katie Holmes strutted her stuff in an Azzendine Alaia dress and lace-up booties. Selena Gomez went for high-drama and a touchy of edgy in a Julien MacDonald mini dress with matching train.

Katy Perry 2011 VMAs by fashionistaerin on Polyvore.com

Even though some may disagree, I'd like to nominate all FOUR of Katy Perry's VMA looks for best dressed also. She began the night in a geisha-inspired mini dress. Then she presented an award in a Victorian-inspired, floor-length purple Tom Ford dress (which I'm still in love with!). Next, Katy accepted an award in a mod Dior Couture dress with neon Giuseppe Zanotti heels. I have to be honest about this one, I didn't love the cheese hat (who knew she was a Packers fan!?). However, the quirky stylishness of the overall outfit outweighs the oddity that is that hat. Katy ended the night in a Furne One "Breaking Records" black mini dress (how appropriate!).

Worst Dressed 2011 VMAs by fashionistaerin on Polyvore.com

I'm not sure what Kreayshawn was thinking when she donned a sequin Minnie Mouse dress, but it was definitely lost in translation. Top it off with a pair of Nike sneakers and you have a strange, unconnected mess. I thought you could never go wrong with a classic LBD, but JoJo proved me wrong. The overall idea is great - black dress with sky-high black pumps, nice, right? Wrong, when you add a butt-flap to the mix. And finally, for worst dressed, is Deena from "Jersey Shore." I know their whole schtick is to be gaudy and over-the-top, but seriously? You can't just let someone else dress you for one night and leave the zany stuff for the clubs on the Shore? Needless to say, the too-tight-on-the-titties, rainbow-sequin mini dress and green contacts didn't do it for me.

The Strange 2011 VMAs by fashionistaerin on Polyvore.com

Lady Gaga never fails to surprise us with her arsenal of odd outfits, but she took it a step further this year by being in drag and committing to her alter ego character, Jo Calderone, the ENTIRE time. Who can blame Gaga? She probably wanted to be comfortable at an awards show, even if it is just once...and in drag. I don't know if I can say what all is strange to me about Nicki Minaj's outfit (if you can call it that), but I'll try. We'll start from the top - why the SARS mask? The huge cupcake necklace didn't make much sense. Then there's the whole metal ensemble of cone-shaped boob cups, and something that resembles a skirt with a pink tutu and purple bloomers. With a hodge-podge of tights under leg warmers under long socks with mismatched bedroom shoes. Complete with what I can only assume is a TAIL made out of tied-together stuffed animals. PHEW! I think I got it all.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, was your 2011 MTV VMA style report.