Gorgeous blogger Stacy of taffetadarlings came over to watch the Oscars with me last night. I wasn’t excited by the fashion. These days, a red carpet isn’t a red carpet for me if Gaga‘s not on it. I know she’s not an actress, but who cares? The producers recognized Michael Jackson in the memorial video even though The Wiz, a theme-park film and a posthumous concert film aren’t a particularly impressive cinematic oeuvre.
I spent the whole show complaining about the popularity of a color that reminds me of cement. The Hollies sang about a long cool woman in a black dress. Walter Mosley wrote about a devil in a blue dress. Has a cement dress ever inspired art? No. Do you ever say to anyone, “Wow, cement really flatters your complexion!” Doubt it.
Here are some of the women in various shades of cement. Winner Kathryn Bigelow …
… Kate Winslet in light cement …
… Elizabeth Banks in ruffled cement …
… and Helen Mirren in sparkly cement.
Mia Wasikowska wore cement the day before to the Independent Spirit Awards. Just say no to cement, kids!
The look I liked the most belonged to a woman with a mohawk who had taken over my old job of lurking near George Clooney on the red carpet. I am desperately seeking a picture of her so if you find one, let me know. I love her hair and want to see the rest of her outfit.
Other than the mohawk sighting, the most thrilling moment for me was when purple-clad Elinor Burkett pulled a Kanye West during the speech for best documentary short. Crazy is the new chic!
UPDATED TO ADD: The mohawk lady has been found! Thanks to Full Frontal Fashion for posting the picture and gorgeous blogger Dream Sequins for pointing it out to me.
Courtesy Full Frontal Fashion. Click for their Oscar story.
Lmao @ Cement.. haha… I so agree with you. Fugly, fugly, fugly!
I found most of the gowns yesterday pretty underwhelming. Nothing really stood out–but then again, I was never one to notice the pavement more than the buildings around me. 😛
Hahaha your post cracked me up!
… but… I must say that I like a nice cement-colored dress, especially Kate and Kathryn’s.
yep… not the most flattering color for most complexions! still, it could work with some wendy brandes jewelry!
I actually like the cement colour. Yes, I am a fan of grey.
And my anti-spam word was: ohplease
C’mon, I like to think of it as “dove grey” 🙂
I was always inspired by “Lady in Red”. Since a child I thought THAT was the attractive color. 😉
That wasn’t the same lady with the Chanel bag, was it? Someone hanging around on E! had a Chanel flap just hanging off her body, which is just so never seen on the red carpet—a shoulder bag. I hate those tiny purses they carry and discard for pictures! But that’s a rant for another day. Anyway, I did think something along the lines of her not being “somebody” with that bag (although not poor). How sad though? The Oscars are far too much for the pretty faces!
This woman also had a big black outfit of sad shapelessness, if that helps.
BTW I got an error while trying to listen to the Spam word. Probably not a huge rushy deal.
Elizabeth Banks’ dress is almost like a cement blue. I’d say that one is the best of the lot. I totally missed the mohawk siting so if you find pics, please repost. Thanks luv.
I must clarify that the ONLY reason that I would say Elizabeth Banks’ dress is the best of the lot is because of the color of cement-not because of all that mess that is supposed to be a train of sorts… I suppose?
I knew we could count on you for a post Oscar fashion policing. Cement! So classic WendyB musings…. LOL!
We’ve already seen everything on the runway anyway…I think they should let the celebrities dress themselves again, then maybe I would watch
I personally think that a lot of these dresses looked lovely and lovely on the actresses themselves– but I have to agree, I would’ve loved to see more bright colors and drama, instead of playing it safe.
And Elinor Burkett?? Fascinating, but not. Classy. D:
I can’t. I just died. Oh my g-d, this was amazing. You cracked me up. Putty isn’t really a good look on anyone.
excellent observation. haha very funny.
LOL @ cement. I think a lot of the pale not-quite colors made the women look washed out. Especially the blondes wearing nude makeup. One website I saw was making fun of Demi Moore for managing to match her skin exactly to her dress.
I know, where was the color!
Helen Mirren is a beauty!
I loved Mia Wasikowska in In Treatment…more than in cement. When is that show coming back, HBO?!?
Oh I just saw on E! there WAS another woman with a Chanel. This one had a short skirt and looked cute.
I don’t think either had the mohawk. 😉 Actually this other pursed-one was hovering around one of the actrESSes.
Oh my god! Check out the muscles on Kathryn Bigelow’s arms! She looks like she could pick up the cement truck that poured her dress!
Where’s Bjork when you need her???
Next time I’m watching the Oscars with you & Stacy!
I didn’t get the cold pastel colors either – not flattering at all ;-(
I actually kind of dug some of the cement colours, but really I enjoyed the nude dresses quite a bit more than expected, including Demi Moore’s. And I was all about the flouncy flamenco type skirts on some of those ladies too. Oddly, I was pleased with Sigourney Weaver for wearing that colour of red that she sported – it was a nice change and suited her complexion. There was a severe lack of anything wildly creative though, I thought, which is sad. I guess that red carpet really needed some Wendy B. have you heard of her?
Hi there-your style presence was sorely missed for sure, you would have outshone in one of your stunning gowns!!
They (or their stylists) probably think it looks more ‘together’… But I agree: No to cement!
my pet peeves: they left farrah fawcet out of the tribute, I don’t care about avatar, and im glad spill.com did a review. I am happy awoman finally won best director, first time ever!
I have never thought of that colour as cement before – you’ve put me off it for life! Otherwise, I was really underwhelmed by most of the dresses x
Sometimes I like to wear shades of grey at once, though more when I want to remain anonymous. I was very disappointed with Kate Winslet’s choice. I thought it was rather plain.
Cement is the new black.
Helen Mirren rules my world and she is allowed to wear cement and/or putty if she wants.
My vote for worst dress goes to Penelope Cruz.
Bridesmaid-burgundy and too much fabric.
I saw that mohawked woman! I think she had on some sort of biggish, flowy top, but I might have mixed her up with someone else.
I didn’t dig cement either, but I was fascinated by the profusion of it. So much in such large numbers!
I applauded the prints most of all. Even bright jewel tones look boring these days, because they’re all the same bloody style.
I didn’t much LIKE it, but I applaud Charlize Theron’s boobie-whirls just for being a bit wacky and the fact that she must have KNOWN she’d be ripped to shreds for wearing them.
It was truly a builders convention!
Nice trendspotting, darling WB!
Helen Mirren looks so lovely!
xoxox,
CC
You are so right! I was not floored by any of the gowns on the carpet. Sure, some of them were better than others. But all the nudes, pastels and “cement” colored dresses were killing me! I missed the days of the beautiful, bold gowns! Where was the DRAMA!?
Hah! Good point, Wendy. Although the sparkly takes on cement are a LITTLE less washy-outy.
i was really happy that hurt locker won best picture
LOL- I love your writing so much 🙂 however, I am still a fan of “cement” XD
xoxo
Man, Kathryn Bigelow (and am trying really hard to resist adding Male Gigolo here), must have a really HEAVY cement dress as her muscles are flexing there!
Totally spit out my bubbly when she hijacked the microphone!
They posted a good photo of the mohawk lady on Full Frontal Fashion blog (Sundance).
Well, I had Mohawk’s outfit wrong, didn’t I!?
i wasnt excited about the muted colors either – very boring!
This post demonstrates perfectly why I love reading you… you notice and articulate things my little pea-brain never even considers. Cement is a good word and there was a lot of it, with lots of beige-ish/ecru-ish blahness thrown in. And most of the bright tones were not well designed or well worn, although we did like Helen Mirren.
Great job Miss Wendy,
tp
Lol I agree- let’s have some color! 🙂
In regards to dress colours in art: We can’t forget Chris de Burgh’s Lady in Red 🙂
Allas! The ruffle trained dress would have been amazing in a bright red or a midnight black! Or any colour other than cement.
The only part of the Oscars we saw was that crazy best documentary short moment, and I was like Huh, wtf? And then I got all crazy and started a fight with my husband. Stop being crazy, people, it’s catching!
it’s the fault of all these stylists. i used to enjoy the red carpet myself because you really get a sense of the stars’ style and personality. i mean, sure some of them are dressed awful but because they’re stars, they can get away with it and it’s just so fascinating! the red carpet was a show, too!
now? no. it’s like one big commercial.