2012 Oscars: PW Style Best/Worst Dressed Picks
To shake things up a bit, we here at PW Style decided to have all our contributors weigh in on the fashions at last night’s 84th Annual Academy Awards and, well, this proved to be rather interesting experiment in fashion democracy.
Not only did all seven bloggers choose a different starlet to top their “best dressed” list, but there’s even a few disagreements in the bunch. It’s a good thing we’re not a jury on a murder trial.
BEST DRESSED
Nicole: Michelle Williams & Giuliana Rancic (tie!)
“On one hand I have a huge girl crush on Michelle and think she looks absolutely darling in this coral gown (or any dress, for that matter). On the other hand, I couldn’t stop staring at Giuliana’s dress. Seriously, it’s just perfect.”
Jennifer: Berenice Bejo
“Berenice stunned in this beaded Elie Saab gown. The delicate mint green complimented her newly-dyed red hair, which was twisted into an elegant braid. Sometimes starlets try to avoid the long sleeve gowns, but the Argentine-French actress pulled it off with perfection. J’adore!”
Michelle: Gwenyth Paltrow
“There were a lot of gorgeous gowns on the runway this year, but Gwenyth looked so chic, regal and absolutely stunning in that dress. I was even happier when they showed her during the Oscars, so you could see that the cape jacket wasn’t attached, and came off.”
Emily: Jessica Chastain
“I’m normally biased towards her because she is a ginger goddess and was in my favorite nominated film (Tree of Life), but she looked perfectly stunning. Her choice was intricate yet elegant and the gold on black complimented her features wonderfully.”
Marissa: Mila Jovovich
“Mila didn’t have that old Hollywood-inspired air about her—she WAS old Hollywood. In a sweeping white sequined one-shoulder Elie Saab gown, romantic curled updo and perfectly red lips, she dazzled on the red carpet.”
Abigail: Meryl Streep
“I thought Meryl looked amazing, graceful.”
Lauren: Rooney Mara
“The short, blunt straight-across bangs contrasted against the femininity of an all-over lace Givenchy gown was surprising, but complimented each other well. She looked polished while still maintaining her edgy side.”
WORST DRESSED
Jennifer & Marissa: Sacha Baron Cohen
“Okay, seriously dude? Not the time for shameless self promotion right now. Such a shame really, because he can look quite dapper in a tux.”
Mark: Meryl Streep
“Who told her a gold dress was a good idea with her coloring?”
Michelle: Rooney Mara
“The girl gets crap for always wearing black, but I think white was a bad color choice for her. And that fabric that was over her boobs? It made her looks horrible! The color and the dress did not show off her best assets and the hairstyle did not help either. I just thought it was all wrong.”
Abigail: Angelina Jolie
“With those slits showing off these weird pre-pubescent legs…it was hard to look at.”
Lauren: Glenn Close
“The strapless Zac Posen gown she wore didn’t seem like it was age-appropriate, and throwing a blazer on over it just made her look all the more matronly.”
**All photos courtesy of People.com
Style Inspiration: Lisbeth Salander
If Karen O. of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs put her hair on Alice Glass’s body (of Crystal Castles), carried a taser, smoked hella cigs, rode a motorcycle and jammed a metal bar up a rapist’s ass, that would be Lisbeth Salander in a nutshell. She is the ain’t-takin’-no-shit-from-nobody private investigator/researcher and girl with the dragon tattoo of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which premiered nationwide last night.
Rooney Mara’s character was truly the emotional roller-coaster of the film. Amidst a dark childhood and a lifestyle of cigarettes, Coke and hacking computers, Lisbeth pushes the audience to the edge at ever corner; the edges of fear, courage, and eventually, love. Yet, her clothing plays such an important role in the film, as well. The removal of it reveals her tattoos, her scars, her bruises, her weaknesses. But while clothed, she is an impenetrable force not to be reckoned with.
Courtesy Buzznet
Courtesy W Magazine
I’m really diggin’ the effortless grunge – well I guess the whole point of grunge is effortless. But the difference between Lisbeth and the 90’s is sex appeal. I’m actually almost certain nobody, except maybe Kurt Cobain, got laid between 1990 and 1994.
Courtesy W Magazine
H&M’s New ‘Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’ Inspired Collection
The latest edition to H&M’s line-up of collaborations is not with a high profile designer, but is instead an ode to Lisbeth Salander, the fiercely tough and troubled protagonist of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Costume designer, Trish Summerville designed the 30-piece collection, as well as the costumes for David Fincher’s upcoming American adaptation of the film starring Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig.
Photo: W Magazine
“Salander’s look is very real and very lived in, with pieces that her character has worn for a long time, like her jackets that act as her amour to shield her from the world. I wanted the collection to have the essence and strength of Salander, with a fashion edge,” says Summerville.
The collection features leather pants & jackets, loose fitted t-shirts, hoodies, jewelry and more, ranging from $3.99 to $199 and hits stores December 14th, while it will also be available online.
The boyish yet feminine, hard-as-nails style is one that is being embraced more and more lately- from combat boots to bulky leather, making Salander’s look one to be coveted by girls everywhere. The collection may be inspired by a female character and modeled by women, but the overall look seems just as accessible for guys, too.
The clothes have an early Alexander Wang feel to them with a semblance to the layers and dark colors that Rag & Bone tend to possess. These trends remain active, as black never goes out of style, whether it’s an oversized sweater or a leather jacket.
Is this the start to more movie inspired collections for H&M and other retail powerhouses? It not only creates more buzz for the film, but also makes it easier for viewers to try to emulate the character that has their admiration.I think it takes the fun out of finding inspiration in a character to create your own look, but still introduces new and exciting pieces while switching gears from the usual trends we see in most stores.
–Emily O’Neill