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.
I wasn't in awe of Rinko Kikuchi, but she certainly was in awe of herself. Girlfriend was posing on that carpet like nobody's business!
Not particularly feeling Tammy Lynn Michaels' look.
Is this a maternity gown, Jennifer? Because it surely looks like one. Pretty neckline, though.
Celine Dion looked ho-hum, but good. The dress is a lovely color and this is much better than her usual fare.
This is just okay, Beyoncé. I didn't love it.
Anika Noni Rose wasn't my favorite of the night, but she was my favorite of all the Dreamgirls.
Queen Latifah looked classy, but not the least bit sassy.
I guess I'm one of the only who didn't like Nicole Kidman's gown. I think it was a weird choice. I didn't like the similar style gown on Charlize last year and I don't like it this year on Nic.
I thought Reese Witherspoon looked very Morticia Addams and that the edges looked like cabbage leaves.
Jennifer Hudson. I am so sad to say this, but I was greatly disappointed. This dress was just okay and that little gold lame bolero jacket was uncalled for. Bad, bad, bad choice. And I can't believe Andre Leon Talley was behind this. God. Thank God Jennifer took the jacket off so she wasn't photographed holding the Oscar in it. But, wow. She's looked so much better. 
What. the. HELL, Catherine Deneuve??? What that hell???? The brooch-thingy on your gown makes you look like you've been pierced through the heart and it is now oozing out of your chest and leaking blood down the front of the dress. Is that seriously the look you were going for - stabbing victim? Really???
Cameron Diaz never looks good. Never. She makes my head hurt. She looks deranged. This is a crazy person's idea of formal wear. The bodice looks pilgrim-ish and the dress is an awkward length that cuts her just above the ankle. This whole thing looks like a wrinkled dinner napkin. I mean, dude. Run an iron over it - God! Not to mention that her skin looked oily and her hair looked like it'd been attacked by a weedwhacker.
Jackie Earle Haley looks exactly like a gimlet and I'm not even sure what a gimlet is.
Kirsten Dunst is wearing her grandmother's fancy dressing gown.
(sigh) I don't even know what to say about this, Faye Dunaway. You should channel yourself playing Joan Crawford and beat either yourself or the designer with a wire hanger. And honey, the hair. The hair. Do something with it. At some point, all that long, straggly hair just ages a woman, don't you think?
Even Ryan Seacrest said your dress "wasn't [his] favorite", Anne Hathaway. And Ryan is a tiny little Elf of Delight. He never says mean things. It pained him. And yet, he wanted to scream out, "That dress was ugly!" I am mad at you for causing Ryan pain.
Mark Anthony is a zombie. He is. Everybody protect your brain.
Peter O'Toole is too old for this mess.
Oh, Meryl. Why must you do this?
Do I really have to tell you that Patricia Field looks a hot buttered mess in this? And that she needs appropriate undergarments, stat?
This is the loveliest I've ever seen her. Very old school glamour with such classy hair and make-up. I've read that a few of the bloggers didn't love her red lips, but I think they really wor with this understated but elegant gown.
Awesome, Rachel Weisz! Such a beautiful liquidy platinum gown with fabulous jeweled edging. I love this glamour paired with carefree hair and deep berry lips.
Djimon Honsou is still trying to seduce me with his ebony elegance and I have no problem giving in.
I bow before Her Majesty. Come on - you can't tell me that Helen Mirren isn't the most fabulous "woman of a certain age" to walk the red carpet in a long while. So sexy, but regal and coolly elegant. Ahh!!!
Not many women would look great in such a bright shade of yellow. Keisha Whitaker wears it fabulously well.
Cate Blanchett. Ridiculously flawless.
Sara Ramirez. 
Vanessa Williams. 
Sienna Miller. 
Beyoncé. Most reviewers seem to think that Bey is a bit wrong for this - some say it was way too much, others say it's predictable from her. I have to say that I disagree. I'm no huge fan of Bey's (though Sarai is - that's another story), but the girl did the damn thing in this gown! Okay, okay - I know I have a totally over-the-top sense of style and maybe that's why this gown did it for me, but whatever, y'all! I love it! She is totally Deena'd out! In fact, if I may say so, she looks like a Black Cher. Am I the only one who thinks that? Girl is fab.
Jennifer Hudson. Awesome, awesome, awesome. Slenderizing, but hugging the curves just right. Jennifer was wise to let Vera dress her. Girlfriend does glamour the right way. In stunning contrast to Beyoncé, Jennifer was understated, but equally glam and she looks womanly and wonderful. Oh, and please take notice of the make-up. Jennifer was one of the few who used some darn color! Yay! Deep berry-colored lips and shimmery eyes. Yes, indeed! Good for you, JHud! You're one of my favorites of the night!
Eva Longoria. I am not loving this dress. But what I am loving is that Ms. Eva took the smoky eyes thing to a new level by using blues! Yay, Mamacita!
Angelina Jolie. No. Most bloggers seem to love her in this, but I am opposed. I say, Nay! This color does nothing at all to flatter her complexion and she had a sour look on her face all night. I mean, maybe one of the kids was sick, maybe she'd rather not be there, but for real? Stay home! Not to mention that she looks like she needs to eat a burger. I usually think Angelina is beautiful, but not this time.
Jada Pinkett Smith. Jada knows she needs to give me this dress! That is the most perfect shade of peachy-pink ever! Go 'head, girl!
America Ferrera. Not ugly at all. A fabulous shade of purple and well-constructed. Also, Ms. America is rockin' wonderful, healthy-looking make-up, unlike most of the women that night. Woo-hoo! One of my faves!
Penelope Cruz. I should hate this gown, but I love it! It's against all my rules - black and ruffled and frou-frou. But it is sheer elegance and class. Lovely, lovely, lovely.
Cameron Diaz. Apparently, she took all the tissues she's been crying into since her breakup with Justin and tacked them to her gown. No. Not a good look. I do have to say, however, that, unlike most of the beauty bloggers, I'm feeling the make-up - I love a deep red lip with pale skin.
