House of Fraser Blog

The stars were shining bright for the Academy Awards. With shocks in the winners department, the dresses were surprisingly less shocking.

If you haven’t heard, here are the big winners:

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow – The Hurt Locker

Best Actress in a leading role: Sandra Bullock – The Blind Side

Best Actor in a leading role: Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart

Foreign language film: El Secreto de Sus Ojos

Best Actor in a supporting role: Christoph Waltz – Inglorious Basterds

Best Actress in a supporting role: Mo’Nique – Precious

Best Animated feature film: Up

It was certainly a surprising list of winners, with no sign of Avatar for any of the main awards. Sandra Bullock was a particular surprise as only a few days ago did she win a Golden Raspberry for ‘Worst Actress’. But whether you agree with the winners or not, it’s time to critique those gowns.

Upping the style stakes

These are the ladies who took style risks and it paid off. From hot newcomer Carey Mulligan in Prada to Diane Kruger in Chanel, we are loving their looks. Carey Mulligan’s dress was an edgy take on red carpet dressing, whilst we fell in love with the romance of Diane Kruger’s look. Rachel McAdams worked watercolour beauty in a fab Elie Saab gown, whilst Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Dries Van Noten print dress was simple yet striking. Zoe Saldana’s Givenchy Couture dress was a work of art, whilst Meryl Streep pioneered simplicity in her stunning Chris March ensemble.

Playing it safe

These are the ladies who know how to work red carpet glamour, they don’t take style risks, but opt for clean, timeless elegance. Amanda Seyfried looked like a princess in her Armani Prive moon-shade gown. Sarah Jessica Parker looked understated in Dior, whilst Cameron Diaz opted for heavy embellishment in her Oscar de la Renta creation. Sigourney Weaver’s goddess draped Lanvin dress was incredibly flattering, whilst Precious star Gabourey Sidibe also worked draping beautifully in her Marchesa gown. Kristen Stewart took a step back from her usual edgy style and went for fishtail simplicity in a moody Monique Lhuillier. Other starlets to note are Helen Mirren who looked graceful in a silver dress by Badgley Mischka and Penelope Cruz who was dressed in Donna Karan.

Missed the mark

These are the ladies whom we expected more from and who failed to deliver. Kate Winslet went for a yawn-worthy bodiced dress by Yves Saint Laurent, whilst Vera Farmiga went 1980s Barbie crazy in her not-so-understated Marchesa dress. Charlize Theron chose spring’s hot colour, lavender, but this Dior dress was not nearly ‘wow’ enough. Sandra Bullock obviously decided to dress like an oscar in case she didn’t win one, her slippery gold Marchesa looked old fashioned and unflattering. Jennifer Lopez meanwhile came over a little Lady GaGa in her Armani Prive.

Who was your favourite Oscar look? Which designer would you pick to wear on the red carpet?