2012 Oscars: Fashion

It's red carpet time. And this year it's a super star-studded one. So let's get right to it with my picks of the trends, some personal faves and the best and worst dressed.

The carpet was full of glitz and Hollywood glamour. Thankfully people realize that it was the Oscars and kept it elegant.

Let's take a look at the trends that I saw on the carpet. The biggest trend you could see what the black and white. Simple colors, but boy did they make a statement.

First the classic look that never really goes out of style: black.

Anna Faris in Diane von Furtstenberg

If anyone knows why Anna Faris was at the Oscars, please let me know. She did look elegant in this long-sleeved Diane von Furtstenberg, and her new bob is cute too.

Tina Fey in Carolina Herrera 

I think Tina's finally found her stride on the red carpet. She was the only one that Carolina Herrera did this year on the carpet and it sure shows. That gown fits her like a glove and the jewels were perfect. And I have to mention her awesome hair? That is totally the look I'll be trying for my next dress up event.

Melanie Griffith in Yves St. Laurent

Melanie looked surprisingly great on the red carpet. This black Yves St. Laurent suited her perfectly it felt modern without being too young.

The other big trend was the white gowns. A white gown can easily look bridal if you do it wrong, but check out how these ladies made white look amazing.

Milla Jovovich in Elie Saab Couture

This one shoulder Elie Saab was one of the first on the carpet and is just absoluetly stunning. The modern take on the one shoulder dress with a shoulder pad for emphasis is really modern and fresh. Milla was a model, so this dress looks amazing on her.

Cameron Diaz in Gucci

Cameron is usually not on my faves lists, but she's finally getting her style right for me. This Gucci gown looks great on her, combining the simpler top with the embellished, flowing fabric fins on the bottom gives the dress the right amount of fabulousness. The simple necklace and short bobbed hair compliment the look perfectly.

Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad

If someone else had worn this dress I would have loved it way more, but Jennifer Lopez just annoys me. Stop inviting her Academy! The dress was gorgeous, but the "moño" (updo) she always insists on wearing is just too much. This would have looked better with flowing 40s style waves.

Octavia Spencer in Tadasji Shoji

This year's Best Supporting Actress was amazing in "The Help" and she has looked nothing less than elegant on the carpet this year. She's beeing loving Tadasji Shoji on the carpet and you can see why, the dress nips her in at the waist and the all over sparkle is the perfect compliment to her lastest accessory, Oscar.

Rooney Mara in Givenchy Couture

Rooney is usually always in black, so it was awesome to see her in white tonight. Though she strayed from her traditional black, she kept her non-traditional style in this funky creation from Givenchy couture.

Picking the best dressed was super hard this time, so I wanted to include some of my other faves on the carpet.

 Penelope Cruz in Armani Prive

Penelope Cruz is another one that is usually a fave for everyone except me, but tonight I really liked her. The dress was amazing (and in a color I don't think was worn my anyone else) and the vintage hairstyle was just the right touch.

 Lesley Mann in Roberto Cavalli

Who thought funny could look so good? Lesley joined her hubby, Judd Apatow, on the carpet and looked every bit as glamourous as Oscar demands.

Natalie Portman in vintage Christian Dior Couture

Polka dots on the red carpet. When I saw Natalie, I thought she looked great, but then I noticed the polka dots. This vintage Dior is beautiful and oh so modern.

 

Emma Stone in John Batiste Zuali

This is the one person that had a fashion oops, but I love Emma. Red always looks good on us readheads, but that looks like the dress Nicole Kidman wore a few years back with the neck bow. Had she worn something else, I'm sure she would have been a best dressed.

Funny ladies were all over the carpet thanks these hilarious "Bridesmaids":

Ellie Kemper in Armani Prive 

She called this gown "rust" colored, and it is the perfect shade on her. I also love her heavy bangs and the fact that she went without a necklace to let the dress be all the sparkle she needed.

 Maya Rudolph in Johanna Johnson

Maya kept it simple on the carpet, but I loved the sparkle at the waist and shoulders. I wish this dress showed off some decolletage though.

 Kristen Wiig in J Mendel

Kristen Wiig is hilarious and gorgeous, but this dress just doesn't do it for me. She loves wearing the nude dresses, but she was a nominee for writing "Bridesmaids," I think she should have stepped it up for Oscar night.

Melissa McCarthy in custom Marina Rinaldi

Melissa McCarthy is my favorite Bridesmaid and on of my favorite funny ladies lately. She really took it up a notch for Oscar night. Its such a vast improvement from the Golden Globes. The blush color looked perfect with her skin tone and the beaded neckline and empire waist make it Oscar worthy.

 Rose Byrne in Vivienne Westwood

I loved Rose Byrne's simple hair, and the dress was nice, but all I could notice was the matchsticks she's holding at her sides, she calls them arms. I just wanted to take her to Subway and get her a sandwich.

 

Wendi McLendon-Covey in Simin Haute Couture

Wendi looked totally elegant on the carpet. She's usually dressed in character (remember her slutty cop on Reno 911?), so it was nice to see her all dressed up Hollywood style.

Now here goes, the best and worst dressed. I'll start off with the best dressed men:

5. Jonah Hill

Maybe it's because I just saw "Moneyball," but I'm loving Jonah Hill lately. I love that he's doing the real actor thing. He's a young guy, so I was okay with the black shirt. Keep it up Jonah, you'll be back to the Oscars soon.

4. Gary Oldman

Who doesn't love Gary Oldman? He looked great on the carpet. His glasses are adorable and all he looks a little Commissioner Gordon to me, which is always good. 

 

3. Christopher Plummer

Captian Von Trapp! He finally got his Oscar and Christopher Plummer knows how to wear his tux. He went with what looked like a velvet jacket, and it looked great.

 2. Brad Pitt in Tom Ford

Brad, tux, clean hair. 'Nuff said.

1. George Clooney in Giorgio Armani

Mr. Clooney. Do I even have to mention why George Clooney in a tux is the best?

Now, the best dressed women:

 5. Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford

This was definitely the "wow" of the night on the carpet. Gwyneth's simple Tom Ford was just so different, yet so chic. I mean, a cape? That just rocks. The dress was beautiful without the cape too, but on the carpet the cape was the talk of the night.

 4. Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton

I couldn't wait to see what Michelle was going to be wearing on the carpet. And when I saw her arrive in this coral Louis Vuitton I was so happy. This dress was perfect for her. Since she played Marilyn Monroe in her nominated role, she couldn't go too va-va-va-voom on the carpet. This dress suited her to a tee. The color was fresh and the silhouette was cute and pretty for this modern girl. I also loved the brooch she wore at the waist. This is modern Hollywood at its best.

3. Angelina Jolie in Armani Prive

Angie and Brad strolled on the carpet minutes before the show started, but seeing her dress was worth the wait. This Armani Prive is different and modern and she knew how to show it off. She's back to her typical black on the carpet, but she really makes it look amazing. She didn't even wear big jewels, just a red lip and great waves in her hair. Angie gets is right again.

2. Viola Davis in Vera Wang

Let's forget the fashion for a minute and I have to say that Viola Davis should have been the Best Actress winner this year. Have you seen "The Help"? If you haven't you should. Viola looked stunning in this emerald green Vera Wang. The earrings and cuff and the green eyeshadow were just perfect. And she wore her hair natural, which totally worked (plus, I'm sure she was comfy). The neckline of the dress is amazing and she filled it out perfectly.

 

1. Jessica Chastain in McQueen

This black and gold McQueen creation is perfectly on trend with what is hot this season and Jessica Chastain wears is perfectly. This color could look weird on a redhead, but it looks picture perfect on Jessica. Her simple hair and drop earrings really let this dress shine. Jessica is officially on everyone's radar now.

Here comes the fun part, the worst:

5. Pharrell Williams

Pharrell was trying to give some hipness to the Oscar orchestra music. What he was able to do was great. This was no reason to have your tailor put bias binding along all of the lapels and edges of your tux. 

4. Steven Speilberg

Speilberg, we LOVE having you back in the movie making business and especially at the Oscars. But what is up with that tie and the collar of your shirt?

3. Nick Nolte

Nick Nolte keeps getting all these great roles, which is awesome, but why is he getting them now when he looks like a homeless hobo half the time? But on the carpet Nick looked a little better than usual, except for the tiny bow tie. It looks like he stole it from his grandson.

2. James Cromwell

You seem to be the only one that didn't get the memo, but the Oscars is time to drag out the tux. This suit just won't do.

2. Sasha Baron Cohen

I know you're trying to pimp your new movie, but the Oscar carpet is not the place to do it. I was kinda pissed when the Academy said that "The Dictator" could appear on the carpet. Sasha Baron Cohen is a good actor, but these over-the-top character are just over.

And the worst women:

5. Berenice Bejo in Elie Saab

Maybe it's because she's French and Argentinian, but I just don't like this gown. The color, the long sleeves, and if you look close the sequins are like sequin matchsticks. The dress just doesn't work.

4. Glenn Close in Zac Posen

This would have been great without that jacket. But when I first saw this I thought she had borrowed a jacket from her date. And she could have done her hair, just saying.

 

3. Shailene Woodley in Valentino Couture

You're in a movie with George Clooney and it's nominated for Best Picture, so you go out a find a dress. It's a shame you're like 20 and the dress makes you look like an old lady. Shailene is young and adorable, but this dress does nothing for her. And I don't even think she's wearing earrings. This is the Oscars, the most important red carpet ever, glitz it up!

2. Meryl Streep in Lanvin

When I looked up the designer of this gown, I wasn't surprised that it's Lanvin. Lanvin had been improving for me, but this dress looks like the same garbage bag looking stuff they usually come out with. Meryl Streep may be a great actor, but on the red carpet she's just a consistent disaster.

 

 

1. Sandra Bullock in Marchesa

This one really pains me. Sandy is usually one of my faves. She's so fun and always looks the movie star part. I know she's personally not nominated this year, but she could have worn something that says, "I already have my Oscar." The top on this is so baggy and frumpy it looks like an over-sized shirt she got at Goodwill. Sorry Sandy, you're at the bottom.

And that's it for the red carpet. Did I miss any of your faves?

all pictures from TVGuide and People.