We all have a soft spot for award season. The dramatic dresses, the red carpet, the glitz and of course Joan Rivers making a mockery of everyone in her eye line. It’s too entertaining to miss.
But after Sunday night’s 84th Academy Awards (arguably the show pony of all award shows), I can’t help but wonder what happened to brave fashion choices? Bjork in her swan dress and egg-shaped purse, Cher with her bra and knickers on display under a sheer piece of fabric, Celine Dion in her bizarre white satin trouser suit or Diane Keaton in a black man’s suit and tophat.
When the most cutting commentary that journalists and so-called “style experts” can come up with is that a dress is simply “boring”, I’m afraid Hollywood is in a bit of a style rut.
The fun in fashion is watching people, especially those in the public eye, express themselves sartorially in a way that shows us a bit of their personality. Whether it’s Drew Barrymore wearing daisies in her hair or Lady Gaga arriving in an egg (no doubt texting from her Blackberry inside),it’s nice to see people with access to the most amazing stylists, makeup artists and money make some kind of effort to bowl us over with their creativity.
When Angelina Jolie’s right leg is the only thing garners its own Twitter feed, you long for the days of Bjork’s swan dress. Judging by the sea of black and white dresses, column dresses, strapless dresses and gowns with trains - it seems to me that Hollywood fashion is turning into a bit of a snoozefest more akin to prom night than an A-list red carpet event.
Where are the amazing couture gowns, the unique designer creations? You can wear a long black evening dress to any event but although most of the celebs out in force on Sunday looked beautiful, they could have taken down the gloss a notch and showed up in something more original - whether or not they end up being labeled “Worst Dressed”. I’d argue that looking like everyone else is worse than being considered a bit eccentric in your dress sense.