wrapping up oscar coverage

The big trends we saw at the Oscars were asymmetrical necklines and strapless dresses. Before we say good-bye, though, we have to make sure to cover ...

The Good

Gwyneth Paltrow in Zac Posen, courtesy oscar.com



Rachel Weisz in Vera Wang, courtesy oscar.com



Reese Witherspoon in Olivier Theyskens for Nina Ricci, courtesy oscar.com

The Bland

Rinko Kikuchi in Chanel Haute Couture, courtesy oscar.com



Jessica Biel in Oscar de la Renta, courtesy oscar.com

In Biel's case, the color was spot-on for 2007's spring and autumn trends, but there's something about the execution that was lacking. Plus my boyfriend's first comment when he saw her was, "She's not wearing a bra!" You know it's bad when a man who can barely properly identify undergarments can tell.

Beyonce in Giorgio Armani Prive, courtesy oscar.com

In pictures where you see only Beyonce's top half, she looks great. Then you see her strike that pose and she suddenly looks like a streetwalker.

Jennifer Lopez in Marchesa, courtesy oscar.com

OK, there's nothing wrong with this dress. It's a very pretty dress. But for some reason, I just don't like it. She looks like a rich, pregnant woman in the '70s.


And the Ugly

Jada Pinkett Smith in Carolina Herrera, courtesy oscar.com

Let's not even discuss the fact that this ensemble looks like it's from 1999. The gown is doing a serious disservice to Pinkett Smith's breasts, and there is just no reason a woman should tolerate that. She's hot! She's a mom! She has a wonderful family! She should not have to carry around four boobs, all of which look like they belong on a bodybuilder, on the biggest night of the year!

Anne Hathaway in Valentino, courtesy oscar.com



Anne Hathaway in Valentino, courtesy oscar.com

Anne gets two pictures, so that you can admire both of the big, hideous, black velvet bows on her dress.

Kirsten Dunst in Chanel Haute Couture, courtesy oscar.com

Dunst looks like a drowned poodle. However, she is positively the picture of perfection next to this Bond girl's hot mess:

Eva Green in Givenchy, courtesy oscar.com

the oscars: cate blanchett

Cate Blanchett in Giorgio Armani Prive, courtesy oscar.com

Like I said, flawless and stunning, as usual. This is one of the few dresses with a narrow skirt that didn't strike me as too informal for Oscar night. I'm sure being an otherworldly beauty helps in the "able to pull off any outfit" department.

live blogging the oscars: helen mirren (hot hot hot!)

Helen Mirren in Christian Lacroix, courtesy oscar.com

I'm obsessed with Helen Mirren tonight. Can you believe she's 62?! Jack Black and Will Ferrell were so right when they sang about wanting to go home with her. We should all be so lucky to be that hot when we're 62.

live blogging the oscars: cameron diaz

Cameron Diaz in Valentino, courtesy oscar.com

I'd probably be more enthusiastic about this dress if I weren't so ambivalent about Cameron. I find her much-cited "down-to-earth" personality charming, but there's something about her that I find so stupid-looking at the same time ... which is pretty much the way I feel about the dress, too.

live blogging the oscars: maggie gyllenhaal

Maggie Gyllenhaal in Proenza Schouler, courtesy oscar.com

Loved Maggie's Proenza Schouler dress, especially if you overlook that tiny bit of post-baby pudge she still has when you see it from the front (not that I could look that good that soon after inflating to five times my normal size). I also liked the dress she wore at the dinner for the technical awards, which we saw briefly as she described it.

Maggie Gyllenhaal in Proenza Schouler, courtesy oscar.com

live blogging the oscars: penelope cruz

Penelope Cruz in Atelier Versace, courtesy oscar.com

Penelope Cruz is the epitome of the Oscars: glamorous, tasteful, and just exciting enough to not fall in the "Jennifer Hudson" category. Plus, what you can't see in this picture is, her jewels are absolutely stunning yet conservative enough that she doesn't look like she's dripping with diamonds. (Only complaint: I would love to see some bling on her neck.)

live blogging the oscars: jennifer hudson and kate winslet

Jennifer Hudson in Oscar de la Renta, courtesy oscar.com

It's hard to find pictures so soon, but so far everything looks pretty bland. Case in point: Jennifer Hudson, who is absolutely beautiful and should be rockin' her hot bod, is wearing a color that doesn't make her gorgeous skin glow the way it should, yet the dress has nothing obviously wrong with it.

Kate Winslet in Valentino, courtesy oscar.com

Kate Winslet was the same: nothing to complain about, but nothing to rave about, either.

I'll post a pic of Cate Blanchett as soon as I find one. As usual, she was flawless and stunning.
Update: Cate Blanchett post is available here.