Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Oscar Fashion Hits, Flops

By Kate Schwartz,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 23, 2009 9:00 AM CST
Email

(Newser) – The red carpet was rolled out once again—who sashayed down it and who clunked her way along? Elizabeth Snead of the Los Angeles Times snarks and sings about this year's Oscar fashion, while Christopher Muther moans about the "battle of the bland" in the Boston Globe.

  • Frozen River's Melissa Leo somehow confused the Academy Awards with prom night. 
  • Zac Efron's no king of the Oscar world; he tried to channel Leonardo DiCaprio with his slicked-back hair, but ended up looking like a creepy French waiter.

  • Oh, Miley. We get that you're young enough to relate to the Little Mermaid. But your dress went from fishy to stinky.
  • Philip Seymour Hoffman took a wrong turn at Vail, ending up at the Oscars in a ski cap.
  • If Melissa Leo was playing dress-up prom then Penelope Cruz was playing pretty-pretty princess on the way to her wedding.
  • And don't forget Cruz's bridesmaid, Jessica Biel, who politely hid her figure behind a giant bow. Gotta let the bride shine!
Click the image to the left for the slideshow.

Singer Seal, left, and actress and model Heidi Klum rule as the most stylist couple on the Oscar carpet.
Singer Seal, left, and actress and model Heidi Klum "rule as the most stylist couple on the Oscar carpet."   (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Actress Melissa Leo, nominated for an Oscar for her work in Frozen River, made a big misstep. Hint: Picking a dress simply because it matches your hair color – or vice versa -– is not a good idea.
Actress Melissa Leo, nominated for an Oscar for her work in "Frozen River," made a big misstep. "Hint: Picking a dress simply because it matches your hair color – or vice versa -– is not a good idea."   (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Oscar virgins Taraji P. Henson and Viola Davis get high marks for their gowns.
"Oscar virgins" Taraji P. Henson and Viola Davis get high marks for their gowns.   (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Vanessa Hudgens left, and Zac Efron could have found matchy-matchy black and white success...but Vhud's white flowers look like a corsage that's taken root.
Vanessa Hudgens left, and Zac Efron could have found matchy-matchy black and white success...but "Vhud's white flowers look like a corsage that's taken root."   (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Understated might have been the better choice for Miley Cyrus, who appeared to take advice from Liberace's ghost last night, writes Rubin.
"Understated might have been the better choice for Miley Cyrus, who appeared to take advice from Liberace's ghost last night," writes Rubin.   (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Matthew Broderick can't help but zero in on his wife's eye-popping pick, a little too pale and Cinderella-like for Sylvia Rubin.
Matthew Broderick can't help but zero in on his wife's eye-popping pick, a little too pale and Cinderella-like for Sylvia Rubin.   (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman arrives at the 81st Annual Academy Awards...in Los Angeles...in a ski cap.
Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman arrives at the 81st Annual Academy Awards...in Los Angeles...in a ski cap.   (Getty Images)
Whoopi Goldberg arrives at the 81st Academy Awards Sunday...wearing Mickey Rourke's shower curtain.
Whoopi Goldberg arrives at the 81st Academy Awards Sunday...wearing Mickey Rourke's shower curtain.   (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
In vintage Balmain Penelope Cruz looked more like she was ready to get married than to attend an awards show, whines Muther.
"In vintage Balmain Penelope Cruz looked more like she was ready to get married than to attend an awards show," whines Muther.   (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Jessica Biel was the biggest fashion flop of the evening for Muther. Perhaps auditioning for a part at Cruz's wedding, she looked like a frumpy bridesmaid.
Jessica Biel was the biggest fashion flop of the evening for Muther. "Perhaps auditioning for a part at Cruz's wedding, she looked like a frumpy bridesmaid."   (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Finally, exclaims Muther, a stunner! Actress Evan Rachel Wood arrives in a flawlessly styled Elie Saab gown.
Finally, exclaims Muther, a stunner! Actress Evan Rachel Wood arrives in a flawlessly styled Elie Saab gown.   (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Hard to tell what's the better accessory: Angie's emerald earrings, or Brad Pitt.
Hard to tell what's the better accessory: Angie's emerald earrings, or Brad Pitt.   (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Actress Freida Pinto solidified her red-carpet mettle in an eye-popping blue John Galliano beaded chiffon gown with one beaded lace sleeve, writes Sylvia Rubin.
Actress Freida Pinto "solidified her red-carpet mettle in an eye-popping blue John Galliano beaded chiffon gown with one beaded lace sleeve," writes Sylvia Rubin.   (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Snead gave Winselt's snug gown high marks; Muther disagrees. When Meryl Streep shows up to the Oscars (finally) looking more stylish than you do, it's time to fire your stylist and start over, Kate.
Snead gave Winselt's snug gown high marks; Muther disagrees. "When Meryl Streep shows up to the Oscars (finally) looking more stylish than you do, it's time to fire your stylist and start over, Kate."   (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Actress Marion Cotillard a much-needed respite from all those other stuffy granny gowns, says Snead.
Actress Marion Cotillard "a much-needed respite from all those other stuffy granny gowns," says Snead.   (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Surprise! Meryl Streep got dressed up! Her taupe Alberta Ferretti off-the-shoulder gown, though a dull color, was as glamorous as she gets, writes Sylvia Rubin.
"Surprise! Meryl Streep got dressed up! Her taupe Alberta Ferretti off-the-shoulder gown, though a dull color, was as glamorous as she gets," writes Sylvia Rubin.   (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
The big No! of the night belonged to the great Sophia Loren, who got it wrong in oh so many ways: orange makeup that stopped at the neck and a bad bridesmaid's pale yellow chiffon gown with unfortunate ruffly cap sleeves, writes Rubin.
"The big No! of the night belonged to the great Sophia Loren, who got it wrong in oh so many ways: orange makeup that stopped at the neck and a bad bridesmaid's pale yellow chiffon gown with unfortunate...   (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Actress Natalie Portman was pretty in pink, agrees just about everyone.
Actress Natalie Portman was pretty in pink, agrees just about everyone.   (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Actress and singer Beyonce shows Miley how a mermaid dress should be worn: She's simply striking in a black and gold fishtail-hem number.
Actress and singer Beyonce shows Miley how a mermaid dress should be worn: She's simply striking in a black and gold fishtail-hem number.   (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Actress Amy Adams' hefty necklace would have looked better with a simpler gown.
Actress Amy Adams' hefty necklace would have looked better with a simpler gown.   (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
You'd think going blonde would make Tilda Swinton a little sexier. In this ensemble, no such luck.
You'd think going blonde would make Tilda Swinton a little sexier. In this ensemble, no such luck.   (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
Actor Robert Pattinson looks hot in anything. No need to critique this.
Actor Robert Pattinson looks hot in anything. No need to critique this.   (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Guest
Feb 23, 2009 10:54 PM CST
Ugh.
Guest
Feb 23, 2009 3:27 AM CST
...and someone should buy Goldie Hawn a mirror, btw!
AllisonMW
Feb 23, 2009 12:19 AM CST
Best dresses IMO: Taraji P. Henson, Viola Davis, Tina Fey, Frieda Pinto Worst dresses IMO: Penelope Cruz, Jessica Biel, Whoopi Goldberg

 
fashion • Academy Awards • celebrity • award show • actor • Oscars • Oscar fashion winners losers

More Newser Stories

Oscars Fashion: Hits and Misses

Chic Pups Are Channeling Nic and Leo

5 Steps to Fixing the Oscars

New Oscar Tech Stalks Stars

What Baby? Oscar Producers Beg MIA to Perform
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne