Remember last years blah champagne colored carpet? I’m pretty sure that person got fired and they brought back the appropriately appointed RED carpet. But this year it seemed like color was missing. There were metallics, some very pale pastels and lots of black, as well as some odd sculptural designs and an obscure nod to mermaids. So who slayed and who should slay their stylist? Read on for my recap of Hollywood’s biggest night.

I’m gonna pull an Al Pacino and get straight to the point faster than he can say Oppenheimer.

My Favorite Looks

Zendaya

She just doesn’t get it wrong, and no detail is overlooked. The bangle is just enough, the earrings match but don’t feel “too matchy”, the hair and the way the flip balances out the shoulder detail of the dress, all are perfection. Even the length is just right, not overflowing but just fanned out just enough. This is my favorite.

Brittany Snow

I loved seeing this sunny shade of yellow, which can be tricky for some to wear if it’s not the right shade for their skin tone, especially on a blonde. It’s a clean look of spring sunshine and the chunky necklace gives it just a bit of edge. No earrings needed with with the statement necklace and the sleek blowout is the right compliment. I liked this so much I wanted to borrow it for another actres, but I’ll get to that in a minute.

Carey Mulligan

This is the kind of dress that makes you do a little bit of gasp because it’s so different and unexpected but full of glamour. She almost looks like a statue. The ONLY change I would have made would be to hop on over to Tiffany’s and throw on some vintage diamonds around her neck. I just think it would finish things off to perfection and fill in some of that void.

Best Dressed Couple

These are goals people. There’s something about Mary… I want her arms and her face and her hair. And Ted Danson looks dashing.

Best Dressed Males

Matt Bomer is on here because, well, just look at him. But Colman Domingo in double-breasted Louis Vuitton was just a lesson in details. The crystal buttons and the jeweled detail on the bow tie were so elegant. And check out those boots. I loved it.

My Least Fav

This pink look makes me think of dental floss, you know that flat kind that is more like a tape? Or bubble gum tape, remember that stuff? I would definitely be the idiot who would get my foot caught in one of those loops at the hem and trip. And the green leather? It just gives me the vibes of Alice in Wonderland and the creepy caterpillar.

The Trends

Mermaid Couture

Look closely, all of the dresses below had a bit of “Little Mermaid goes to prom” feel to them. I don’t hate any of them but I’m not in love with them. I also think these pale colors are really hard to pull off. And yes, as a personal stylist, a bit of me died knowing how her stylist must of felt about her zipper breaking on that night, of all nights.

Star Trek Shock

This was probably my least favorite trend. The oversized sculptural shoulders felt very alien-ish and I don’t understand the sequin underwear outline on Emily’s dress. They all just look weird to me, kind of like the harness of a roller coaster.

Star Trek Chic

I’m okay with a little bit of sculpture to the dress. Both of these felt modern but worked well. Fun fact: Gabrielle’s look was actually a hybrid of a mini dress that she requested to pair with the maxi skirt – I love how it came together.

Black

I mean you really can’t go wrong with these looks. Everything is covered, no spray tan needed and no wardrobe malfunction. The long length and long sleeves can easily be overwhelming, but their lighter complexions and hair keep it all balanced.

Oversized Capes

I loved Da’Vine in the Holdovers and I think she knew tonight was her moment. She was favored to win and she dressed like a winner. I love the color and the way she carries herself in this look, so confident. Arianna, on the other hand, is getting swallowed alive by a chewed up piece of bubble gum, or maybe she was tired and just brought her comforter with her in case she needed a nap.

Polka Dots

I don’t dislike polka dots but there is something very cutesy and a bit casual to them. I think if you are going to take it black tie formal than you need to sex it up a bit like Leslie Bib did. I also love the red clutch as an accent. Love Jennifer, and her hair and makeup were beautiful, but I think this dress didn’t work for this night. It almost looked a little too old for her but maybe it was the wrap. A really amazing black patent or diamond belt would have made it a bit better.

The Fixes

There were some looks that I think could have been swapped or adjusted just a bit.

Billie

I get that she is artsy and I can appreciate that this is Chanel, but the secretary/schoolgirl mashup doesn’t feel right for the occasion. I would have loved to see her do a feminine take on the male tux like Kate did. I think it would have been edgy but sophisticated and chic.

America

I know many people loved her look and I get the nod to Barbie but I just don’t love this shade of Barbie pink on her. I feel like it kind of washed her out. I actually would love to see it a bit darker and then go with a statement earring and keep the neckline clean.

Charlize

It’s clear that this genetically blessed woman could wear a trash bag, but still I usually like her fashion choices a bit more than this one. I’m not a fan of chokers for the way the kind of cut off the neckline, (kind of like what fitted capri pants do to anyone’s mid-calf ) so I would take that off for a cleaner look.

May I Borrow Your Dress?

As I mentioned, I really loved Brittany’s yellow dress. So much so that I think it would have been a total moment on Emma.

I would even have Brittany keep on her statement necklace as I think it compliments Emma’s dress nicely. And the yellow of Emma’s necklace would be stunning next to the yellow dress.

Another Swap

Margot is also one of those painfully perfectly beautiful people but I think she kind of gave up last night. The extra ruching in the gown feels heavy on her and the overall look is just so dark. And then the hair. I’m not sure what happened there.

To me the only way this hair works is if she goes for a bo-ho undone Mermaid trending look, so she would need to borrow Hailee’s dress. And I took off the neck thing because it feels like a choker. Hailee’s perfectly done hair and bronzed makeup look would be a better fit for Margot’s dress. And yes, my photo editing skills are not at the top of their game so please don’t think I am trying to give Hailee body dysmorphia.

So there’s my thoughts for this year’s show. I thought Jimmy Kimmel did a good job hosting, but I really don’t need any political input when I’m watching these kind of shows – it should be an escape from all that stuff. I absolutely loved how they brought out previous winners to say something about each nominee – it felt genuine and authentic, even more so with the female nominees. It was a nice way for each person to be recognized and feel special about their nomination. The Ken performance was a 10 as far as fun, and it brought the show back to life when it was starting to drag. I’m still waiting for movies that are fun and a box office success to be celebrated at the Oscar level. Al Pacino’s rush to get the winner was one of the more odd moments of the night, and that includes a naked John Cena. I’d give the overall show a 7 out of 10. Let me know your thoughts! Did you like it? Were you bored? Was it “kenough?”

Thank you so much for reading my red carpet posts. I truly hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them. If you have anything special coming up and need a cocktail or formal dress, be sure to check out my favorite dresses in my latest catalogue, Event Dresses. You can view them for inspiration or click each photo to shop the dress.

Suzie

By the way, if you are wondering how they walk in those heels? Well I think it is harder than it looks.