Amanda Seyfried in Armani
The way the tulle is crafted in this dress, to create a striated/striped effect, is really magnificent. But I've stared at it all night, and I think I don't love the actual design. Is that crazy? I rarely like gowns that hit a lady's pubic bone and then go buck wild. This dress is based on a design that closed the February couture show in blue. I can't tell if it's because the model is walking, or if the skirt actually is a skosh higher right in the front there, to give it that cool swooshy look -- a highly technical term there -- but I like that a lot and miss it here. I also liked it in blue with the jewels, so maybe I just wish she hadn't had it remade?
From this angle it makes the top seem like a body cast, and the bottom look like it's, well, coming out of hers. I think it's BETTER from the front, for sure.
Am I nuts for also wishing the bodice stopped right at the seam from which those extra ruffle explode?
I do love this photo, though, where it appears her dress and Regina's are merging.
Olivia Colman in Dior
I feel like this is what you wear when the show STARTS at 1 a.m. your time and you have to go sit in a mostly empty auditorium all night and wait for your category, which you know you're going to lose. I'm not saying she doesn't look nice! It's just a definite level down on the glamour scale.
But I did love her saucy mask. And her shoes.
Angela Bassett in Alberta Ferretti
I love Angela, and this dress was every bit as BIG as her delivery of the monologue that led into the In Memoriam montage. She went all in on that thing as if she was on the 911 set in a scene opposite Buck, having to act three times as hard to make up for how his acting is three times worse. I think this whole thing wore her a bit, to be honest, which is a rarity in Bassetland.
I am also surprised someone didn't try wearing this backward. (Not her. Someone ELSE. Like the Sofia Carsons of the world who like a giant Giambattista Valli.)
Reese Witherspoon in Dior
I had called this for Natalie Portman. Can we agree that Reese Witherspoon is the Natalie Portman of former youth actors who are not actually Natalie Portman? ... No? Okay then. I liked this dress on the runway, but it was dark and I didn't notice the belt -- which I don't dislike, but on the red carpet here it felt unnecessary, perhaps. Honestly, though, this all felt like a win other than her makeup. The smoky eye was very messy and the lipstick was too pale pink. It made for a discordant whole.
Han Ye-ri in Louis Vuitton
I didn't have any pics of Han Ye-ri on her own, but I'm not sad to see Youn Yuh-jung again. It's Vuitton, and it's MORE good custom work from them. The buttons are like tiny, extremely spiky suns.
Colman Domingo in Versace
I mean... ABSOLUTELY, yes.
Halle Berry in D&G
My friend SWORE that, during the show, this bodice moved around on her in ways that were perilous to the privacy of her nipples. But I didn't notice and couldn't rewind. The color of this is fine, but I wish she'd gone with a necklace of some kind, and completely different hair. Someone on Twitter posted a shot of her side by side with an illustration of Ramona Quimby, and that is SPOT ON. She totally looks like she had to cut chewing gum out of her bangs and went too far. I have never seen Halle Berry's head look less than awesome, but somehow that hair and makeup has done it. It's really... an achievement.
She did work her gown. Is it petty that I'm pleased D&G got stuck with the Ramona haircut? Probably. But here we are.
Renee Zellweger
While we're here... I bang on a bit in a later post about how the Oscars ended, so I won't go into it here, but I was also surprised they dispensed with the tradition where the reigning Best Actress hands out Best Actor, and vice versa. I can only conclude they thought Joaquin Phoenix was more important for their big anticipated ending (which blew up in their faces), and that annoys me deeply. Renee looks very nice and very usual. This dress is very much in the Renee Zellweger Wheelhouse.
Ariana DeBose
Ariana is in The Prom. That take on cutouts is fun on her, as is the color.
Martin Desmond Roe and Travon Free
These two are a hoot, and they won. Both their tuxes, which work beautifully separately and together, are custom D&G, which is interesting because...
93rd Annual Academy Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 25 Apr 2021
... inside, they bear the names of 17 Black Americans who've been killed by police (they added Daunte Wright's name at the last minute). It's noteworthy to me that their stylist went with this idea to Dolce & Gabbana, given the particular blemishes on their reputation. They did, however, knock this extremely meaningful assignment out of the park, with all the care and seriousness (and dashes of zest) the moment warranted. I hope it's a sign of the brand making strides in a better direction. (That THR story talks about the custom shoes, also with names on them, which were lost by FedEx until shortly before the ceremony. I guess the HEAD of FedEx got involved? STRESSFUL.)