Fashion and Celebrities

By Malu Fernandez

Last week was all about the Oscars. Everyone had Oscars fever?between Oscars-themed parties to taking the day off to watch the Oscars live. The Oscars is an annual event to honor the Hollywood film industry?s best of the best. But the best part for me starts at the beginning of the Oscars where another event takes place. It?s the fashion show on the red carpet. As the stars walk down the red carpet and wave to the gallery of star-struck fans, endless flashbulbs go off to capture who is wearing what so the public can choose who had the best dress for the night.

During the old days, fashion was dictated by the big studios like MGM and Paramount with the likes of Edith Head at the realm. Today, movie stars are dressed by stylists like Rachel Zoe and Andre Leon Tally. For this year?s Oscars, the red carpet was full of mediocre gowns. Perhaps it reflected the mood of a nation in recession, where everyone was afraid to go all-out glamour for fear of any backlash against the current economic crisis. But I just wasn?t excited with the choices made. I noticed a sea of fishtail gowns at the show which kind of reminded me of the serpentina gowns Rene Salud was famous for in the ?80s when he did all those beauty pageant gowns.

My picks for the ? Oh my, what were they thinking?? are the following: Some women can never get it right but I was surprised that Nicole Kidman, who is normally impeccable, looked dishevelled in that feather mess she was wearing. Reese Witherspoon, who always manages to look great all the time, looked much older with all that smoky eye shadow and her gown was just overpowering her. Jennifer Aniston?s Valentino gown, although on its own was fabulous, did nothing for her short self. Perhaps she thought about the gown way too much and picked out the Valentino feeling she would outshine Angelina Jolie. Fashion wise, she failed miserably because Angelina simply can?t be bothered. The woman can put on a potato sack and still look beautiful. Although it was voted by Vogue as the best dress at the Oscars, it was the worst dress of the evening?Prada?s bed sheet on Jessica Biel. That?s what happens when you trust your fashionista friends way too much. The gown probably looked great on the runway in Milan it didn?t hold up in real life. It was, after all, a vote within the Conde Nast publications (Prada equals adverts equals dollars, you do the math.) Ms. Biel looked like she stepped out of a shower. What happens when a famous Disney star makes the Disney studio dress her up? She ends up looking like a Disney character on a float at Disney World! That was how Miley Cyrus looked, her gown was a living testament to the seashells on Little Mermaid. Another Disney star who looked absolutely awful was Vanessa Hudgens. Although she claims the gown was Marchesa, it looked like her Pinay mother hired a kusturera and did it at home. It was just horrid! I mean couldn?t she get some freebie from her stylist and what?s with the earrings from the mall????

The best dresses, however, were in white or cream, Marissa Tomei?s Versace gown was the epitome of couture. The detail on her train was impeccable. Another hot white light was Penelope Cruz in a 60-year-old Balenciaga. Need I say more? Real couture holds up after 60 years so those of you who haven?t raided your abuelita?s closet for her old Ramon Valera gowns get cracking pronto! Newcomer to the scene Evan Rahel Wood looked fierce in her blush cream gown she looked perfect. Natalie Portman looked stunning in her lavender gown as well. Queen Angelina can really work a black dress?remember her Armani Prive dress at Bafta all black with a splash of yellow there is only one word to describe her: fabulous! Jennifer Aniston should have just stayed home! The other queen, Queen Latifah shows us how a plus size woman should dress up. She had a Swarovski detailed gown in midnight blue by Carmen Marc Valvo.

Nowadays, celebrities dictate the trends and some of them have crossed over to the fashion industry. Some have been successful and some should just stick to acting. The Olsen twins definitely have a sense of style and they have had much success with their foray in the fashion industry. Sean Combs aka P. Diddy has turned Sean John into a multi-million-dollar industry. Jlo chose to hit the target market of the bridge and tunnel group in NYC so she has a following, but the latest success is the new Victoria Beckham line. Although she had some help from designer Rouland Moret, her new line was well received during New York fashion week. Even Justine Timberlake has a new line of menswear.

Once you become a celeb, so many doors open for you in other industries. But some celebs like Jessica Simpson and Paris Hilton should just stick to being celebrities. I wonder, if Angelina will make a line of baby clothes made in Africa.... hmmm.