Let’s talk about Cate. The queen of the red carpet turned up at the Oscars in a baby blue-seafoam fluttering gown by Armani Privé that, frankly, was fit for a fairy princess.
One could just picture a Disney fairy in those feathered floral appliqués and a magic wand.
But somehow, Blanchett’s poise, confidence and beauty allows her to pull it off. A lesser character would be laughed off the red carpet and onto the fashion police radar.
Kudos to Queen Cate.
Cate Blanchett can wear the fairy princess gown and appear adult.
No other actor can pull that off.
Meanwhile, my fearless prediction that Valentino would rule did not quite pan out. Olivia Wilde wore a white goddess gown with winged shoulders, bare back and barely there bodice from the haute couture collection. The dress was not my favourite from the collection, but also goes to show how catwalk does not always work on the red carpet.
Speaking of white, not only were the nominated actors at the #OscarsSoWhite pale, the overriding trend in colour was white, with a touch of cream and pastels. It was the year of the bride, with Rooney Mara as a kind of medieval goth bride in full on lace Givenchy with a belly triangle cutout. Oh, and topknot hairdo.
Otherwise, jewel tones sparkled. Loved Saoirse Ronan in her emerald Calvin Klein, for the nod to Ireland, her sweet demeanour and the simplicity of the gown.
As for best actress Brie Larson, her Gucci gown was a mess from the gorgeous jewelled belt down. The simple bodice simply did not mesh with the pleated ruffled skirt. Nice blue, though.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Lawrence wore Dior, with a daring sheer lace bodice and ruffled lace skirt, while fellow Dior muse Charlize Theron was in a red plunging column. Hard to see how those two dresses could come from the same house.
And let’s talk about Alicia Vikander, who compromised her it girl status with a canary Louis Vuitton gown, flecked with silver sparkles and with a poufed high-low hem. She arrived early, making quite the entrance with the attention-getting colour, but as the evening wore on, the lemon shade went sour.
Still, worst dress of the evening goes to …….Heidi Klum, in a mess of a lavender Marchesa.
Brie Larson’s Gucci had a split personality, but the belt was beautiful.
Olivia Wilde: not the best Valentino.
Alicia Vikander: Louis Vuitton lemon.
Saoirse Ronan: a nod to the Emerald Isle in Calvin Klein.
Worst dressed: Heidi Klum in a lavender bomb from Marchesa.
