Oscars 2018 | Best and Worst Dressed

This year's Academy Awards was filled with powerful messages of standing up for human rights, celebrating our differences, and supporting marginalized groups. The #TimesUp movement promoted wearing bright colors on the red carpet to display the wide array of people affected by injustice. Symbolism aside, there were also a lot of pretty dresses. And really...that's what this is about.

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Best Dressed

Greta Gerwig in Rodarte

The second I saw Greta walk out in this, I exclaimed "YELLOW!" There's something about a good yellow dress that just gets me every time. This felt like a throwback to Michelle Williams' 2006 Oscar look, right down to the red lip and the wavy hair. Complete perfection.

Margot Robbie in Chanel

Margot always looks great on the carpet, but this ice-white look was particularly appropriate for her I, Tonya nomination. While I always prefer a nominee's hair to look a little more "done," the rest of her styling brought the ensemble together, and the delicate detail of the top combined with the soft femininity of the skirt was dreamy.

Jennifer Garner in Atelier Versace

Jennifer Garner looks phenomenal in bold colors (remember her orange Valentino in 2004?) and this dress is no exception. Versace gowns can be a little fussy and overdone, but the solid color and flow of the fabric makes this one work. A good asymmetrical neckline never hurt anyone, and I ADORE that she added a pop with a sapphire earring.

Allison Janney in Reem Acra

Normally a sleeve like this would be a massive no-no, but somehow the simplicity of the rest of this gown makes it work. I could hardly believe it was Allison's first time at the Oscars because she carried herself so well throughout the night. A wonderful look and a well-deserved win!

Nicole Kidman in Armani Privé

Nicole Kidman is always a hit-or-miss on the red carpet for me, and this one was a MASSIVE HIT! It takes someone with Nicole's stature to pull off this type of dramatic gown, and everything from her hair to her jewelry was sleek and stunning.

Best Men

Chadwick Boseman

I am rarely okay with non-traditional suits at the Oscars, but this completely changed my mind about them. This is now the ONLY style I want to see from men on the red carpet. I want well-tailored, embellished suits all day, every day. I want everyone to be able to look this cool. #WakandaForever FOR REAL.

Common

Common has always been the best at the "classic with a twist." The charcoal grey suit was one I hadn't seen from him before, and he accessorized well with the lapel pin. He just always looks like a tall glass of water everywhere he goes.

Best Couples

Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon

To start, if you haven't seen The Big Sick you really, really need to. It's a great film, they're a great couple, and while writers often look underwhelming on the red carpet in comparison to the actors, Emily and Kumail really turned it out. Kumail's suit was impeccably tailored, and Emily's dress was whimsical and flirty. They make a great team.

Mira Sorvino in Ramona Keveža and Ashley Judd in Badgley Mischka

While not technically a "couple," Mira and Ashley showing up together was a significant move, as the two were among the first to speak out against Harvey Weinstein this past year and have been at the forefront of the #TimesUp movement. I loved that Mira's gown had subtle purple undertones that complimented the violet of Ashley's dress, and while their gowns were extremely different, they were both feminine and classic.

Who Wore it Better?

Metallic Beading
Gal Godot in Givenchy vs. Jennifer Lawrence in Dior

Both of these ladies were presenters, but one of them looked like, well, a presenter, and the other looked like she was nominated for every award in the book. Gal's beaded fringe Givenchy was one of the best looks of the night, and her glamazon jewelry is worthy of Daisy Gatsby. JLaw's gown looks like a cheap prom dress in comparison, and her hair and makeup was just wrong for the overall look.

Cranberry Suits
Emma Stone in Louis Vuitton vs. Armie Hammer in Armani

We all know I'm not a fan of non-traditional suits on men during the Oscars, and we all know I am a fan of Emma Stone playing with menswear, but in this case the tables are turned for me. Emma's look is way, way too casual for the Oscars, and she has pulled out more formal pants and jumpsuits in previous years that would have suited the event better. I'm all for breaking the glass ceiling, but there is a certain level of decorum at the Oscars that just demands a gown. Armie's suit is luxe, sharp, and suits the formality of the event.

Black and Gold
Lupita Nyong’o in Atelier Versace vs. Sandra Bullock in Louis Vuitton

Sandra's dress isn't terrible, but her styling killed it; wearing her hair down and piling on the eyeshadow makes her look heavy-handed and dark. Lupita, on the other hand, looks like a light, bright, golden goddess. She's a flawless Wakandan queen, and she can do no wrong on the red carpet.

Modest Sleeves
 Sally Hawkins in Armani Privé vs. Laurie Metcalf in Christian Siriano

I have grown up watching these two fantastic actresses on the screen, and I was thrilled to see them both nominated. The Shape of Water may have taken the awards, but Laurie was a clear winner on the carpet. Her Siriano gown fit beautifully and her styling was clean and polished. Sally's gown is frumpy and unflattering on her petite frame, and whoever did her hair should be immediately fired.

Pink
Soirse Ronan in Calvin Klein by Appointment vs. Viola Davis in Michael Kors

Viola Davis is hit-or-miss on the carpet, and this was a very, very definite miss. If Barbie was making a doll of Viola, maybe this would be an appropriate look to model, but it was all wrong for the Oscars. The neon color was terribly unflattering, and the cheap jewelry and matchy-matchy bag just made things worse. And her hair. HER HAIR. I'm all for letting your natural hair do what natural hair does, but slicking back the top was a terrible choice. Soirse's look was simple, sweet, and reminded me of Gwynneth Paltrow's infamous 1999 Oscar dress.

Worst Dressed

Adam Rippon

I have followed Adam's skating career since he made is Senior debut. I have loved every minute of his rise to fame and his pinnacle Olympic triumph. But I have two questions:
1. What are you doing at the Oscars?
2. What are you doing at the Oscars wearing a kinky leather harness?
Some fashion accessories are better left in the bedroom, boo.

Timothée Chalamet

I'm not against a white suit in theory. What I'm against is an ivory suit with a white shirt and tie, paired with clunky black boots. I don't care if you're young - do something like this at an event that isn't the Oscars. Or better yet, just don't do something like this.

Rita Moreno

While I give Rita props for still being able to fit into her old Oscar dress (pictured below,) I wish she had kept the top the same. Strapless gowns aren't quite so flattering in your 80s, and throwing on a necklace and above-the-elbow gloves to compensate doesn't quite work. I can throw her a bone for nostalgia, but that's about it.

 Salma Hayek

Oh...no. This Gucci gown makes me itchy just looking at it. From the Grecian beaded top to the 80s prom fabric and ruffle-tiered bottom, there isn't a single good thing I can say about this dress. The color isn't even flattering on Salma, and I thought she looked good in every color in the book. Just...no.

Tiffany Haddish

I've been loving all the people of color rocking Wakanda-inspired fashion lately, but there's a certain point where it crosses into bargain-basement costume territory. Tiffany unfortunately crossed that line. I adored that when she presented, she changed into "the dress" that she has worn at multiple award shows and wore to host SNL. She should have worn that dress all the way through instead of bothering with this weird number.

St. Vincent

I don't care if you're a musician and you're only there to perform. If you're invited to the Oscars, you show up in a dress and you work it because that's what the event demands. You do not arrive in a circus leotard. End of story.

Eiza Gonzalez

I'm not a huge fan of halter tops in any context, but in this particular case and in this particular color with these particular side cut-outs, the gown looks like it's trying to be a swimsuit.

Andra Day

Andra is a beautiful woman with a beautiful voice and I respect her talent and her body of work. I do not respect this dress. It looks like a grandmother's bedspread. I cannot. I CANNOT.

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Photos courtesy of EOnline, Vogue, and DailyMailCeleb.

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