Late last night, a funny thing happened on the way to putting final touches on EW’s upcoming Oscar-themed issue. While standing among several colleagues, someone assessing the red-carpet photos said, "I don’t get it, am I the only one who liked Tilda Swinton’s dress?" I can still hear the collective gasp from those within earshot of the question, as if we shared one mind about the lopsided sack (pictured). Nevermind that Swinton triumphed in her category — the fashion verdict was in.
The truth is, we all have our moments of dissent when it comes to red carpet style. Take my first impression of Jennifer Hudson’s Oscar night dress: When she walked onstage to present (I missed seeing her red carpet arrival), I thought her fashion choice — a backless, white Cavalli with minimal snakeskin beading — was bold and modern. I thought she pulled it off, and at the very same time, I just knew that, come Monday morning, critics would probably call her out for it.
Not to sound like the coddling mother of a sloppily-styled Oscar nominee, but all the best- and worst-dressed lists are just someone’s opinion. So whose Oscar fashion choices are getting a bum rap that you disagree with? Ryan Seacrest’s umber-hued lapels? Nicole Kidman’s icicle-like neckwear? Rebecca Miller’s red and black extravaganza? Let’s hear it!
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I wouldn’t be caught dead in what Tilda wore, but she owned it. I appreciate that she has a unique style. I’m sorry, but I can’t look at Nicole Kidman without thinking that she has to stop the cosmetic procedures, now. I never even notice how she’s dressed anymore.
I have to agree with you about JHud, I thought she looked great. Her boobs were on another planet, but other than that she was ravishing. I think Tilda’s dress is actually one of the more subdued red-carpet looks of her history. And yes it is a horrible dress, but lets place the blame on Alber Elbaz at Lavin who designed the Glad-bagness of it all. At least Tilda takes some risks and doesn’t wear the same old thing like so many other actresses at the awards with the exception of the delightful Marion Cotillard. Bring back the drama, people!
I loved how Nicole Kidman and JHud looked. I assumed that would be the general consensus but boy was I wrong. As soon as I saw Tilda, though, I knew she would be on the worst dressed list for years to come. It was a classic.
Tilda Swinton’s dress looked as if she paid Project Runway’s Rommi to design a Grecian draped dress with one long sleeve using George Clooney’s Batman costume! Nicole Kidman had a beautiful dress. However the big diamond necklace was not neccessary. Hello? Mr. T much? She should have chosen a plain diamond choker.
The weird thing is that there were dissenting opinions between all the best and worst dressed lists on ET, Access, etc. Jennifer Hudson and Nicole Kidman both made the best dressed list and the worst dressed list on different shows. I thought Jennifer looked great, but I hated Nicole’s look. It really is based on opinion, although I don’t know how anyone could have liked Tilda’s look. Katherine Heigl topped the best list in the most places.
I loved Nicole Kidman’s dress and necklace. I thought it was almost understated for the Oscars. So weird that people are in a huff about it. But yeah, JHud was a no no no, all wrong. Cameron Diaz, stop tanning and enough with the nude makeup.
I’ve seen her on best & worst, but I thought Jennifer Garner looked especially fantastic in her black dress. As for Tilda, I wasn’t a fan of the sack-like garb.
I loved Nicole Kidman’s outfit- that necklace was amazing.
J-Hud looked not so great. she had major smush boob.
I liked Cameron Diaz’s look too. She’s natural and I think she would look wierd any other way.
I also really liked Hillary Swank. They are saying she’s to manly to wear that dress, but i thought she was one of the best.
Hey props to Tilden for wearing it – she was actually GRATEFUL that a designer had made it for her. Something that you sadley do not hear to much of these daya (cough-senceofentitlement-cough)
I liked Helen Mirren’s dress though if the arms had been red as well it would have put her on everyones best dressed list.
Yeah Snarf, but the whole idea of an actress wearing a designer dress to an awards show is to promote said designer. It looked as if her designer said “up yours” to the media.
Yeah Snarf, but the whole idea of an actress wearing a designer dress to an awards show is to promote said designer. It looked as if her designer said “up yours” to the media.
Sorry, computer snafu.
Is it just me, or is Renee Zellweger really not that attractive? I thought she looked horrible on Oscar night, and to me she looked like she knew it–fiddling with that too-short, wispy haircut. Too little makeup on her pale face, too.
I said it in my Oscar Diary and I’ll say it again. I commend Eric Stoltz for wearing that lopsided shiny potato sack to the Oscars. I believe he got the last laugh when he picked up the tropy for “Best Supporting Actress.”
As for a dress that people liked that i didn’t care for. I think Cate Blanchett is beautiful, but I wasn’t feeling her Oscar gown. It didn’t have anything to do with the fact that it was a maternity gown (when Catherine Zeta Jones was pregnant at the Oscars, she was on fire), but I didn’t like the little silver, um, illustration thingies (you can tell I’m definitely a fashion guru) at the bottom of her gown.
I really liked Nicole Kidman, when else are you going to wear a necklace like that but to the Oscars? I also loved Jessica Alba and I’ve seen her on a couple worst dressed lists. i also agree on Renee needing more drama with hair/makeup, though her dress was fantastic.
I thought Jennifer Hudson looked amazing. I loved the white dress and thought she looked much better than she did last year with that gold jacket.
I thought Tilda’s gown wasn’t substantially different from everyone else’s: shapeless pillars of fabric. But what I couldn’t get past was her almost complete lack of make-up, especially around the eyes. I don’t think that choice succeeded as a natural look, I think it just made her look ill.
Not only did Marion Cotillard take home the Oscar for best actress, she took home the top prize for best dressed. I thought she looked very ethereal. Not to mention Jennifer Garner, usually I’m not a fan of LBD’s but her gown was anything but basic black, from her hair to her jewelery all the way to her stunning gown, she was perfection! Also, in the red dress category I thought that Anne Hathaway’s dress was beautiful too.
I have to say that I thought Marion Cotillard had the best dress. I stood out, everyone remembers it and it flattered her figure and personality.
I meant it (the dress) stood out.
Word, Dan. Tilda’s face was horrifying. I missed her “Batman” comments because I was busy calling my mom over to see how grotesque this woman looked. I didn’t even notice her dress, just the peeled hard-boiled egg that was hovering above the mic.
I liked Nicole’s ensemble, but her over-collagened lips gave me the creeps. She needs to stop with cosmetic procedures before she ruins her beautiful face.
I loved Daniel Day Lewis’s tux but apparently the fashion elite did not. I thought it suited him and the brown satin trim was fantastic. Also Marion Cotillard’s dress was stunning. Best of the night by far. It had imagination and the details were breathtaking.
I thought Katherine Heigl looked gorgeous until I saw her at the podium presenting. Don’t know if it was visible on all tvs but on my HD her blush looked brown and was very distracting. Didn’t care for Cate Blanchett’s dress – she could have done better. I agree w/earlier poster that Zeta-Jones’ maternity gown was much more flattering. Also didn’t care for Jessica Alba’s and Penelope Cruz’s feathery gowns – that’s just too distracting. And while I liked Renee Zellweger’s gown, her hair was awful – and why does she always look like she just swallowed a lemon?
And my first thought when I saw Tilda Swinton’s dress was that she must have gotten a sleeve torn off getting out of her limo.
Ms. Swinton’s dress was completely her own. (Sorry I’m watching AI and it’s catching.) My sister thinks I’m insane, but I think it’s refreshing. I’d wear it. (Actually, my high school winter dance formal looked a little like it.) She has personality, she should dress like it. Don’t you get tired of the cookie-cutter dresses that the vapid and tired stylists insist are beautiful? Thanks, Christine for bringing this up, and brave enough to say the existing aesthetic is dull and made up.
Jennifer Garner wins my vote as best dressed, coif, make-up. Along with Marion Cottilard. The stunning Heidi Klum. Anne Hathaway. Helen Mirren.
Tilda Swinton? Well, even with her strange shocked expression to me she was better dressed than say Diablo Cody, who really is quite beautiful in her close-ups. Too bad about the ridiculous tattoo and leopard skin Golden Girls lounging outfit…
Jennifer Garner wins my vote as best dressed, coif, make-up. Along with Marion Cottilard. The stunning Heidi Klum. Anne Hathaway. Helen Mirren.
Tilda Swinton? Well, even with her strange shocked expression to me she was better dressed than say Diablo Cody, who really is quite beautiful in her close-ups. Too bad about the ridiculous tattoo and leopard skin Golden Girls lounging outfit…
Jennifer Garner wins my vote as best dressed, coif, make-up. Along with Marion Cottilard. The stunning Heidi Klum. Anne Hathaway. Helen Mirren.
Tilda Swinton? Well, even with her strange shocked expression to me she was better dressed than say Diablo Cody, who really is quite beautiful in her close-ups. Too bad about the ridiculous tattoo and leopard skin Golden Girls lounging outfit…
I think Tilda would have looked about 100X better if she’d worn make up and had her hair done. She needed to be more dramatic to carry off an avant garde monsterpiece like that.
Nicole Kidman needed either a different dress or a different necklace. The two did not belong together. And I agree with everyone else-she looks like a plastic doll with all the touch ups she’s done to herself.