Oscars 2013: Our Verdict On The Best And Worst Of The Red Carpet Dresses

In Hollywoodland, the red carpet to end all red carpets is that of the Oscar Awards. There’s no other moment quite like it in the movie calendar, and the pressure to really bust out the big guns in terms of fashion is almost as great as piling on a gushing acceptance speech. A-list ladies prep and preen for this momentous evening for days, weeks… even months if they are in constant fittings with the chosen designer of their truly special, custom-made ballgown.

The Golden Globes and BAFTAs are but a mere warm up, a stretching of some moda muscle, so getting this outfit op right, or wrong - on such a globally pored-over high profile occasion - is potentially career-making, or career-denting. After all, there are only so many contenders for whom scooping up a golden statuette is possible, many more can make an impression on the fashion pack. It’s such an incredibly important night for the fash industry that some labels even refuse to showcase their red carpet wares at any of the earlier awards ceremonies for a shot at this exclusive brand enhancing chance. So who killed it on the carpet? And who should have a stern word their stylist? We’ve selected the best of the best and a few fashion mishaps, too…

Oscar winner went pale Jennifer Lawrence in Dior

1. PALE AND INTERESTING WINS OUT

The evening’s leading ladies, Oscar winners Jennifer Lawrence (Dior Couture) and Anne Hathaway (bespoke Prada with Tiffany & Co. jewellery), were the pied pipers of the pastels pack. Soft pinky tones, ultra-minimal jewellery and crazily pretty au-natural makeup. Kristen Stewart in Reem Acra and Jessica Chastain in Giorgio, Renee Zellweger in Carolina Herrera, Amy Adams in Oscar de la Renta and Amanda Seyfried in Alexander McQueen all took the same tack, but it was J-Law and Hathaway who hit the highest fashion notes.

Nude model army: actresses Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain

2. LADIES IN RED – RIGHT AND WRONG

Scarlet lady Sally Field

It’s become a classic combination – clashing your red dress against the red carpet. Maybe there’s some secret slimming jiggery pokery that happens, but either way, Jennifer Aniston in Valentino, Sally Fields and Kerry Washington in Miu Miu. Olivia Munn failed to impress with her red satin strapless gown, it was so low-cut that it looked dangerously on the edge of Grammys dress code. If only the fit had been a teeny bit better.

Jennifer Aniston and Olivia Munn were in the red

3. PHWOAR-OMETER

You can always trust Halle Berry to bring some sex appeal to the world’s favourite red carpet. She dazzled in Versace, as did the sassiest septegenarian on the planet, the one, the only, Jane Fonda in canary yellow from the Italian fashion house.

Halle Berry and Jane Fonda rock Atelier Versace

4. LBDs – BORING VS. BRILLIANT

Back in black: Helena Bonham Carter, Samantha Barks and Sandra Bullock

Naughty naughty Sandra Bullock and Samantha Barks, these black dresses are nice, but oh-so-dull. At least Helena Bonham Carter brought a wave of chaos with her dishevelled monochrome look, and Zoe Saldana’s Alexis Mabille Couture has some eye-catching detailing. Adele, as one could’ve predicted, also wore a black gown: hers was a super-sparkler from Jenny Packham.

Brilliant in black: Zoe Saldana and Adele

5. JEWEL BRIGHTS – SEEN IT BEFORE?

Reese Witherspoon in Louis Vuitton

None of the jewel-coloured brights felt as modern as the nudes from our winning ladies above, but nonetheless, Fan Bing Bing looked pretty-as in her shocking pink – and rather OTT - dress from Marchesa. Jennifer Garner and Reese Witherspoon also opted for vibrant colours – deep purple and sapphire blue. Both nice, but not memorable.

Pretty in pink: Fan Bingbing and Jennifer Garner

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