Oscars 2008: Fashion and Make-up Recap!

Okay, so truthfully, though awards season is usually my second favorite time of year, I wasn't as excited about the Oscars this year as I have been every other year.  Perhaps it's because of the writers' strike - I think I'm still trying to get myself geared back up into caring about television.

The overwhelming colors of the night were red and black.  The most common make-up seen was very fresh and very, very light - rosy cheeks and stained, bitten lips.  Very few women with over-the-top or glamorous make-up.  Most looked pretty, but not at all glam, facewise.

Anne Hathaway.  I loved this!  She looks like a statue of Venus - very goddess-like in the folds and draping.  I love the flower detail on the shoulder.  As you can see, she's one of the women sporting the very simple make-up with red stained lips.

Patrick and Jillian (Fink) Dempsey.  Damn him for being married!  He is some hotness, do you not agree?  And look at Jillian!  So pretty - I love the color, which came across onscreen as a vibrant coral.  I love her loose hair and sophisticated make-up.  Bravo to the Dempseys!

Ruby Dee.  In a ruby red dress, befitting her name!  She looks sleek and elegant in this gown.  I love that, as an older lady, she's still able to show the young chicks how it's done.  Go 'head, Ms. Ruby!

Amy Adams.  Veronica Lake revisited.  Love the hair and the emerald gown.  I hated that little gold mesh bag.  I thought it was hysterical that Ryan Seacrest pointed out that the bag is totally impractical and that there isn't even anything in it.

Daniel Day-Lewis and Rebecca Miller.  Dude.  I think D D-L actually believes he lives in an Edith Wharton novel.  I mean, check out the shoes - seriously???  Why is he wearing those shoes???  His wife is wearing an 80s prom gown that she's reconfigured for the Oscars - we appreciate it, Ms. Miller.  Good Lord.  I mean, it looks like she has tree ornaments stuck to the front of it.  And seriously, is that velvet?!?

Miley Cyrus and mom.  I love that she looks young and appropriate.  Again with the tomato red.

Jessica Alba.  I think she looks lovely in this eggplant gown.

Kristen Chenowith.  I feel like I've seen this on someone else before.

Jennifer Garner.  I feel like I should hate this because it's black and strapless, but I find the ruffling and whatnot on the bottom to be quite interesting.  I also love that she went with the subtle cat eye and nude lip, rather than the rosy cheeks and lips that everyone else did.

Marion Cotillard.  Another gown I think I should hate - but I love it!  It looks like it's covered in fish scales, doesn't it?  She's a modern day mermaid!  Love the long, wavy hair.  She is a fave.

Helen Mirren.  She is always one of my favorites.  The sexiest old chick out there!

Cameron Diaz.  Why do I even discuss her?  I almost always hate what she's wearing.  She's such a disappointment.  The dress is a huge, ugly, wrinkly mess.  It looks like she woke up that morning, wrapped her sheets around her and went on out to the red carpet.  A hot buttered mess.

Jennifer Hudson.  Oh, Jen, so much better! Yay!  I love the shape on her and that white looks great against her brown skin.

Tilda Swinton.  She looks like a vampire - and not the fly ones who hang out with the Lestat.  The loser ones, the dorks - the ones who stay inside eating rats rather than venturing out into the world.  I read that the dress was made of washed silk, but it looks like crushed velvet.  Gah.

Ellen Page.  She's really starting to chafe.  I get it, chick.  You're not "Hollywood".  You're a "serious actress."  But that's no reason for you to wear a garment bag to the Oscars.  Lord.  She looks like an old woman.

Spike Lee and Wesley Snipes.  Seriously.  Who invited Wesley Snipes?   I mean, is he Spike Lee's date?  He looks like 1989 from top to bottom.  Of course, 1989 is probably the last time he was relevant.  I'm not even going to comment on Spike, since he always looks like a beetle dressed in a pimp suit.

Cate Blanchett.  Always a fave - she makes very interesting choices.  I like this a lot, though it's not the best thing she's ever worn.  She's hugely pregnant, so she gets a bit of a pass.

Nicole Kidman.  I get the idea of the necklace, but the execution was bad.  I love the necklace, but it doesn't go with the dress at all and it slid around all night long.  Bad idea, Nicole - your new pregnant breasts can't accommodate that.  If you were flatter-chested it would have rested nicely and not been flying all around.

In other news, her face looks like it's made of wax.  Scary.

Penelope Cruz.  Reminiscent of Jennifer Garner's gown, yet this one is hideous.

Diablo Cody.  That's not her real name, right?  Diablo Cody is totally her stripper name, no?  Mine would be Sheba Lauretta.  Moving on ... I kind of like this.  I'm a big leopard-print fan and I like that it looks kind of loose and casual, but a bit glammed up.  The problem is that when she walked, she almost flashed her chocha.  Not good, hon.

So, here's the breakdown:

Best-dressed: Anne Hathaway, Helen Mirren, Marion Cotillard

Worst-dressed: Cameron Diaz, Rebecca Miller, Daniel Day-Lewis, Wesley Snipes

Most improved: Jennifer Hudson

Can't wait 'til next year!

All photos courtesy of Oscars.com.

Comments

[Kristen]

Wesley Snipes is beyond hideous. That said, I am so glad you mentioned Ruby Dee! She looked FAB, yet it seems no one is talking about her. Helen Mirren always gets the "aging beautifully" nod, but Ruby has 20 years on Helen and looks just as great. Did you see her eye makeup? I have never seen an octogenarian rock a grey smokey eye like that.

[Beauty Tyrant]

Oh I totally agree with you. Helen Mirren is so exquisite in her choice of dress. As for my pick for best dressed, Heidi Klum has to be the winner!! (though she really had no reason to attend the Oscars really :P) But I still love her, she looked ravishing in her red silk taffeta gown.

Kudos on the remark of Nicole Kidman's waxy face. I thought I was the only one who thought she looked freakish.

Oh by the way, don't forget that Katherine Heigl looked fantastic in her red dress but her makeup is horrible. She had blush that is way too red for her porcelain skin!!

[Beauty Tyrant]

Oh I totally agree with you. Helen Mirren is so exquisite in her choice of dress. As for my pick for best dressed, Heidi Klum has to be the winner!! (though she really had no reason to attend the Oscars really :P) But I still love her, she looked ravishing in her red silk taffeta gown.

Kudos on the remark of Nicole Kidman's waxy face. I thought I was the only one who thought she looked freakish.

Oh by the way, don't forget that Katherine Heigl looked fantastic in her red dress but her makeup is horrible. She had blush that is way too red for her porcelain skin!!

[Jules]

I agree with most of your choices but I have seen Jennifer Hudson look sooo much better. She is gorgeous and the dress is lovely but I dont think it flattered her boobs. Kinda looked like they were in some sort of harness.

[Toya]

Kristen - You are so right about Ms. Ruby. The smoky eyes look fab on her. Her make-up artist is to be applauded for allowing her to still be hot and sexy, despite her age.

Beauty Tyrant - I may be the only one who didn't love Heidi's gown. I thought it looked kind of ridiculous, actually. And being an avid "Project Runway" watcher, I thought the collar was reminiscent of the ones Chris has done.

Jules - I think Jennifer Hudson has looked better, too, but in comparison to what she wore on the red carpet of Oscars 07, this was a huge improvement.

[Victoria]

I love the fashion play by play. I am laughing my butt off at the diablo comments.. that flashing you chocha really got me!!! my lil niece calls it " showing your business" ..I hope this doesn't post twice my apolgies if it does..