The Best and The Worst: Oscars 2015

We all waited with bated breath for the red carpet arrivals at the most prestigious night in Hollywood: the Oscars. As we’ve seen in previous years, what you wear to the Oscars can make or break you in the fashion world too; a year later and we’re still obsessing over last year’s Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o’s powder-blue Prada number. As far as memorable red carpet gowns go, this year certainly had plenty to offer. 

BEST DRESSED: EMMA STONE

Emma Stone first rose to fame as the quirky girl-next-door character in comedy cult classics Superbad and Easy A; years later, Emma emerges on the famed Oscars red carpet as a Best Supporting Actress nominee for her role in Birdman. Though she might have missed out on the Oscar, Emma wins the title of Best Dressed celebrity of the night. It’s not only the luminous mustard yellow colour (odd choice, we admit) of the gown that catches our attention, but Emma, wearing a chartreuse custom Elie Saab, embellished with shimmering beading, looked every inch the Hollywood star that she has undoubtedly become. Exuding ethereal elegance, Emma shines on the red carpet.

ROSAMUND PIKE

JENNA TATUM

She mightn’t have been up for any awards that night, but that didn’t stop actress and wife of Channing Tatum Jenna from going all-out at the Oscars this year. Jenna wears a Zuhair Murad Couture dress with delicate silver beading and matching silver accessories, not to mention that on-trend low cut top that reveals just enough (dresses slit to the navel are no longer a thing, please can we all bear this in mind). She finishes things off with slicked back hair, smokey eyes and a bright red lip.

CHRISSY TEIGEN

Chrissy Teigen shows us, yet again, that she is the ultimate glamzon in this Zuhair Murad Spring 2015 Couture dress. The designer clearly wanted to get his work out there, and he definitely couldn’t have picked better women to showcase his pieces. Chrissy, Model and wife of singer John Legend, doesn’t let the dress overwhelm her: yes, it might have plunging neckline, a high thigh-slit and more embellished pearls and crystals than we could even begin to imagine, but she shows that to wear a dress like that you have to own it. The baby blue colour perfectly sets off Chrissy’s bronzed skin (whilst we sit here looking pale as ever in the depths of winter… great) and sneaky slit shows off Chrissy’s legs that seem to go on for days (and aren’t covered in tights and/or jeans.. another painful reminder). Chrissy’s choice of those traditional hollywood curls and and a bold, dark lip add the final touches to this awe-inspiring look.

REESE WITHERSPOON

Reese Witherspoon, Rosamund’s fellow nominee for Best Actress,  also made an impression on the red carpet in this monochrome Tom Ford dress. Reese didn’t end up walking home with an Oscar that night but she definitely scored some serious style points in this simple but sophisticated number. Though sparkles and slits are sure crowd-pleasers, Reese opted for something more pared down. Far from being boring, the dress hugs Reese’s curves in all of the right places and, when complimented with bold diamond jewellery, serves to secure Reese’s place on the Best Dressed list.

WORST DRESSED: LADY GAGA

Lady Gaga. Did we really expect anything else? Notoriously theatrical Gaga certainly put on a performance on the red carpet this year, wearing  a glittering Alaïa gown complete with kitchen gloves. Yes, you heard right: kitchen. gloves. However, Lady Gaga’s questionable outfit choice was soon forgiven (but, I assure you, NOT forgotten) by her stellar rendition of a medley of songs from the Sound of Music in celebration of the film’s 50th Anniversary. Perhaps it was the fact that newly engaged and super-loved up singer Gaga had many other things (and some might argue more important things… we beg to differ) on her mind that account for whatever went on with her choice of attire (kitchen gloves, I repeat, KITCHEN GLOVES), but we’ve got to hand it to Gaga, who’s life seems to be going great as of late!

SOLANGE KNOWLES

Solange Knowles opted for red on the red carpet at the Oscars this year: and while we usually salute risk-taker Solange’s style (Bride in a Jumpsuit anyone? HELL YES), her outfit on this particular occasion sadly fell flat. Jumpsuits CAN be worn everywhere, but not when they’re as loose and and layered as this: Solange is swamped in the sea of fabric that envelopes her, with only her head, which is smiling as always, poking out from the top. Nothing about this outfit works Solange, sorry!

KEIRA KNIGHTLEY

CHLOE MORETZ

One of the youngest and most promising stars to grace the red carpet at the Oscars this year was Chloe Moretz, who continually receives recognition for her acting talent as well as her bold choices on the red carpet. Sometimes these go well for her, but this wasn’t one of those times. The floral Mui-Mui gown looks worryingly similar to our grandmother’s curtains and matching bed-sheets (so that’s where those things went), with the dated print significantly aging the 18 year old star. We know pocketed dresses can be a thing, but not in this case. Better luck next time!

MARION COTILLARD