Chloë Sevigny also went for the big-ruffle look this year. I've seen it panned (the right decision) and applauded. I think the color is too pale and cold against her skin and washes her features out, but perhaps I'm affected by her facial expressions. The whole evening she looked like she had a fish-oil pill stuck in her throat -- I'll be generous and say she was so nervous about being nominated that she couldn't control her expressions. Which is odd, because apparently she's a better actress than Jane Lynch or Janet McTeer, who were also nominated in her category.
Another which was dumped on -- but without as much fanfare of dumping as the Hendricks dress, was one worn by Jennifer Morrison (I only sort of recognize her -- I think she has a regular role on House). While I'm not a big-ruffle fan, I do (I discover) like lots of little ruffles. The fabric looks like a muslin (but probably isn't). The color isn't quite as rich, but I think it makes a nice monotone look against her ash blonde hair.
Emily Blunt wore something similar, which I think people liked. At least, I think it's similar (although a smoother line) and I liked it, too. I'm not so sure about the color -- it makes her skin look a little yellow. And what's with her makeup? Her face looks like it was photoshopped in from another occasion.
Then we come to Drew Barrymore, of the crystal growths on shoulder and hip. Clearly a dress designed by someone looking at the trees, not the forest. -- By which I mean, the tumors themselves, up close, are intriguing to look at (all that cut glass end and shimmer), but on the whole dress--! Have I mentioned "growths"? And if you take them off the dress, then it's just a boring dress. But it is a nice pale ... what is that color anyway? In the olden days, we would have called it nude but that would be politically incorrect today.
3 comments:
Amy - I agree completely about Hendricks! I'm personally not a fan of a huge ruffle, but she looks so beautiful in that dress! The pale peach sets off the beauty of her pale skin and red hair so well! I also heard a critique saying it didn't fit right and wasn't figure flattering! I don't know what 'figure flattering' means if not the way that dress fits her. Her waist looks naturally teeny, and her much commented on breasts look amazing! Is it just getting panned because she is not 'hollywood beautiful' Both the things I love about her in the dress - the color of her skin again the color of the dress, and her figure in the dress - are not hollywood. No fake tanner, no stick straight curveless body. I did read one review on jezebel that was attacking the idea that she's a 'big woman' which is just inane, shes teeny she just has an insane chest. That same article didn't like the dress and said something like "Shes a great example of how a stunningly beautiful woman is stunningly beautiful no matter what she wears" But I like her dress! I just don't get the criticism. I agree with the other dresses, Drews growths = yuck. Chloe is sour and the color is bad for her. The lots of pale muslin ruffles is pretty and unexpected and not skin tight and I like it. And the purple is a bad color and Emily Blunt looks sour. I've seen a lot of unflattering pale blues and greens and purples this year, not just red carpet but in stores. I do not like the trend. End of my ridiculously long comment, and thank you for also liking her in that dress. I was worried I was the only person on the planet.
And thank you for commenting! Not to diss my readers, of whom there are not many and a few of them have troubles with the commenting feature on blogspot, so I rarely expect many comments... but given the (surprising) number of people who chimed in last time, I was expecting more of a reaction this time.
I do think that things have changed since 2008 -- it's a lot easier to see the dress photos online than it was (which I'm not sure is a good thing -- should evening gowns be covered by the NYTimes and other major news outlets, aside from in their Style section later in the week?). So maybe the 2008 "column" (I say tongue in cheek) was more unique at the time - hence more excitement.
Glad to hear there's another voice in the wilderness about Hendrick's dress, too. Check in tonight for my other surprise-like (that I heard only one critic talk about, and it was negative).
I think Hendricks looks luscious. The others struck me as nothing special. No, I take that back...Chloe Sevigny dress was terrible, terrible, terrible. Terrible fit, terrible color, terrible look. Maybe she looks so sour because it has just dawned on her that everyone else there has a better dress than she does. That would be pretty painful. She is normally very stylish.
Drew Barrymore's dress is in a category by itself. I wonder what she was thinking? It has a fantastic fit, but the color and the lumps? I don't think it would be just a boring dress if you got rid of the growth and juiced the color. There are other ways to accent hip & shoulder.
Apologies for not commenting more. No time. But I truly appreciated your comments. I would have missed the dresses entirely, if not for your commentary.
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