Saturday, March 3, 2012

The 2012 Academy Awards



Oh, the Oscars. This past Sunday was Hollywood’s biggest and most anticipated night of the year, unfortunately, this year, that anticipation didn’t quite pay off. Boring, bland, and safe plagued the red carpet, with almost no outings giving a shining beacon of hope for the nights dullness and lack of allure.  From the rough options, there were some celebrities that did manage to standout and bring their B game, but overall it just kept us wishing for more.

The first being Gwyneth Paltrow. Thank god for her sophisticatedly fashion forward presence of late, which without would have left the red carpet with no accomplishments or hopes for the future of the relationship between award season and fashion. The Tom Ford Fall 2012 cap-sleeved cream column gown complete with a diagonally-cut neckline and matching cape was the public’s first peek at Ford’s ultra-private collection for Fall, which debuted less than a week ago. This gown, which is indeed, simplistic was the nights true standout number. The elegance and precision of the gown combined with the impeccable fit and finishings elevated this gown to show-stopper status. The true winner though is the cape. This mere cape was the night’s only risk that was truly taken. Thank you, Gwyneth! Without this look our hopes of red carpet dressing would have been lost on a season that turned out safe and boring over the dynamically dramatic and daring qualities of red carpet dressing that we have all grown to love and dream of.

Next up, Michelle Williams, one of the two celebrities who dared to wear a bold color to this event. Her custom coral Louis Vuitton number took over 300 hours to complete, and it paid off. The intricately cut and delicately frayed tiers of silk-chiffon gave off that true Hollywood glamour that has grown to define the Oscars, as well as a modern, updated, and sophisticated example of how celebrity dressing should appear. What was most astonishing here was the fit. The bodice hugged her waist impeccably and the skirt and subtle train truly showcased the precision that Vuitton’s atelier offers. A noticeable trend was also the peplum that perfectly gathered around her midriff and fell to right below the buttocks, a Spring trend that has carried over to not only the Fall runways, but now the red carpet. No matter how you look at Wiliams: she was the epitome of fragility, delicateness, femininity, and glamor.

Rounding out the top three is newcomer Rooney Mara in Givenchy Haute Couture Spring 2012. Sculpted, feminine, and modern. The lightness via the tulle straps, free-flowing chiffon skirt, and delicate ivory mixed with the subversive darkness of the sculpted bodice, ornate beading, and svelte shape reinforces the perfect balance Rooney has struck between both worlds this entire awards season. What’s even more interesting is that she chose this dress the morning of the event. First of all, I can only imagine the nightmare her stylist must have gone through, but yet there is something so pure and practical to her ways that you can having nothing but respect and admiration for. Mara has sported Tisci all throughout this past year, and while I love this dress and the collection it came from, it was hard to not feel somewhat let-down by this number. While it is great that Rooney switched it up from her usual all-black options, there were some fabulous numbers that she could have donned that would have taken her above and beyond. Ricardo Tisci, Prabal Gurung, and Bottega Veneta all had better options for her and it’s a shame that she didn’t utilize them. While she looked great, it was hard not to have that voice in the back of your head screaming that it could have been better.

Without further ado, here is the Top 10 list:

1. Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford
2. Michelle Williams in custom Louis Vuitton
3. Rooney Mara in Givenchy Haute Couture
4. Emma Stone in Giambattista Valli Haute Couture
5. Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen
6. Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji
7. Viola Davis in Vera Wang
8. Meryl Streep in Lanvin
9. Mila Jovovich in Elie Saab
10. Glenn Close in Zac Posen

While this list is great, overall the night was shadowed with disappointment and missed marks. The real story here is that celebrities have grown fearful of the power of social media, especially at such a hot ticket event as the Oscars. It is understandable, having every stitch, every brush of powder, and every jewel being carefully looked over in the hopes of finding flaws by the world. Pressure doesn’t even compare. But in the end, you would hope that celebrities would realize that one wardrobe flaw does not ruin a career or a public image.

One thing that needs to be eliminated are all of the princess gowns, I’m talking to you Elie Saab and Marchesa, which may get you a nod for an okay outing, but those who stick to this convention are not doing themselves or the world of fashion any justice. It is designer’s jobs to push their clients, and create something that redefines American’s expectations of beauty, not the other way around. It would be nice to see this come into play again, in order to save us from another bland and lackluster year of red carpet dressing. After all, Bjork’s infamous swan gown may have been ridiculed by millions, but at least she tried, which is more than I can say for the majority of the attendees this year.

This Post is by: Connor Childers, CCFA PR Co-Chair