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Oscar night: A red-carpet review

Anne Kingston on the best and worst sartorial choices

By Anne Kingston

March 2, 2014

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THE GOOD

“Nairobi blue”: Best supporting actress Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o–the breakout style-setter of awards season–created a new colour trend when she told one red-carpet interviewer that the hue of her plunging Prada reminded her of Nairobi–“a little bit of home.”

Presenter Naomi Watts gleams chic in a sleek cap-sleeved Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein capped with architectural Bulgari jewels.

This is what 84 can look like: Best supporting actress nominee June Squibb in a glittery emerald jacket and gown by Tadashi Shoji.

Best strapless of the night: Sandra Bullock in night-sky satin.

Kate Hudson continues the red-carpet cape craze with her billowy cover-up.

Best Actress Oscar winner Cate Blanchett is statuesque in a soft gold sequined Armani Prive glowing with gold Swarovski crystals.

The king and queen of the pastel prom: Matthew McConaughey and wife Camila Alves.

Madame X: Charlize Theron takes ’50 Hollywood glam and brings it into the 21st century in a va-va-va-voom black Dior that channels John Singer Sargent, only with visible “illusion” straps.

Only in Hollywood could Jennifer Lawrence, in strapless scarlet Dior, be called “brave” for wearing the same hue she wore to the Oscars in 2011.

THE BIZARRE

Taking blue-rinse to the next level: Liza Minnelli in cobalt-streaked hair and matching satin PJs that look like they survived a Studio 54 sleepover.

Pharrell Williams, here with his wife Helen Lasichanh, left his hat and big-boy pants at home and shows off his leg tats in a Buster Brown tuxedo.

Bulletproof: After last year’s pink Prada “nipple” dress debacle, Anne Hathaway wisely armoured herself in a mirrored Gucci.

Amy Adams put the décolleté on constant view in American Hustle, but it’s under wraps in a sleek strapless navy Gucci column that managed to boast breast flaps.

Lady Gaga channels the Chrysler building.

THE BAD

Sally Hawkins tapped into multiple 2014 red-carpet trends: pale colour, metallic sheen, long sleeves and doily-like embroidery. Unfortunately, they were all in the same dress.

Anna Kendrick mimics the much-mocked Angela Jolie leg thrust in a fussy Victorian dominatrix number that’s designed by J. Mendel but could have come from K-Mart’s “Fifty Shades of Grey” collection.

Emma Watson does designer bed-head goth in Vera Wang.

Tags:

Anna Kendrick Anne Hathaway cate blanchett Charlize Theron Jennifer Lawrence Kate Hudson matthew mcconaughey Naomi Watts Sandra Bullock Lupita Nyong'o Oscars 2014 June Squibb Camila Alves Oscar Awards Oscars red carpet

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