And The Oscar Goes To...

As every red carpet darling knows, the culmination of a successful awards season is the Academy Awards - more commonly known as the Oscars - and every style savvy starlet is desperate to turn heads with her choice of gown for the evening.

While the hues of choice at the Golden Globes were nude and emerald, the favourable colours at the Oscars seemed to be red and plum. I actually lost count of the number of red gowns I saw but for me the most memorable - and ironically the simplest dress of the bunch - was worn by Oscar newcomer, and best actress nominee, Jennifer Lawrence. She went for old school, minimalist Calvin Klein and looked incredible. Normally I'm not a great fan of red - particularly when it looks like the wearer is channelling Pamela Anderson's Baywatch years circa 1993 - but Jennifer Lawrence is just so fresh-faced and beautiful that she pulled it off with gusto. Had that been Pammy herself she would have looked cheap and tarty, but J Lawrence was a picture of sexy elegance.

Another winner for me was Hailee Steinfeld. She disappointed me at the Baftas after a spectacular debut at the Golden Globes so I was interested to see what she would rock the red carpet in at the Oscars. And she definitely came up trumps. Her princess-goes-to-prom Marchesa gown was absolutely beautiful on her. She went for a simplistic pale pink hue which suited her skin tone and dark hair perfectly. She was definitely the belle of the ball.

Natalie Portman has upped her game after, what I viewed to be, a disappointing frock at the Globes. Every gown has gotten better and better as the awards season has progressed and on Sunday night the Swan Queen took to the stage to collect her much deserved statuette looking every inch the Hollywood megastar. I found it quite fitting that her plum off-shoulder gown was designed by Rodarte who had a hand in the costume design for Black Swan. In my opinion it showed that Portman was there to celebrate the movie - and film itself in general - and not just fashion. She looked beautiful and has that lovely pregnant glow about her now. Her hair was fabulous and I am in love with those earrings.

I'm a big fan of Michelle Williams' look so I was pleased to see that she had gone for a more red-carpet appropriate dress on Sunday night - and one that was 100 times more flattering on her than her previous effort at the Golden Globes. As much as I liked her Valentino gown (and was probably one of the few who did like it) it wasn't the most flattering garmet the Dawson's Creek survivor has ever donned. She rocked the red carpet in Chanel Haute Couture and Harry Winston jewels. Her make-up was impeccable and she is stunning with that perfect pixie-cut blonde hair.

One star who has done well this awards season is Mila Kunis. But I have to say I'm unsure of her lilac Elie Saab gown. The colour itself looked wonderful on her because of her dark skin tone but the overall style of the dress isn't really pulling me in. The more I look at it, the more I think the skirt looks like ripped lace curtains and she's only pulling off that very low-cut round neckline because she has such a small bust. I do love the nipped in waist though which creates a lovely hourglass shape for the slender starlet.

Jennifer Lawrence

Hailee Steinfeld

Yummy Mummy Natalie Portman

Michelle Williams

Mila Kunis

Host for the evening Anne Hathaway - who apparently paid stylist Rachel Zoe a six-figure sum to dress her for the night. I think she ended up looking like...Anne Hathaway at every other award show. But skinnier. Somebody get this girl a cheeseburger.

I've heard a lot of people say they don't like Florence Welch's choice of frock for the evening but I love it. I think she rocks it and it's her style. She looked odd at last year's Brit awards in that fancy gown she wore - this is much more her and I think she got it spot on.

Gwyneth Paltrow actually looks amazing. I never thought I'd see the day I liked a metallic silver dress that actually has the ability to double up as a jumpsuit but she pulls this off magnificently.

This is how older women should do understated sexy elegance. Every woman over the age of 50 should take notes from Dame Helen Mirren.

There's been a bit of debate over Marisa Tomei's 1950 Charles James gown - she's been included in both the best dressed and worst dressed lists. Personally I think it's fabulous. Very goth chic, very stand-out. I think she made a statement with this gown and she looks gorgeous.

This on the other hand made a statement for all the wrong reasons. I did wonder where my granny's old Christmas tablecloth from 1990 had disappeared to and now the mystery is solved. Shame on you Melissa Leo - good job it wasn't raining or your doily might have melted.

Doesn't Reese Witherspoon make a lovely looking pint of Guiness? Just look at the head on that... Also - big shout out to her Legally Blonde days - that's what that ponytail is for right? Erin Brockovich springs to mind here as well...

Last but not least, Scarlett Johansson, looking hot-to-trott in Dolce & Gabbana. Sexy, simple, tousled dirty blonde bob, great make-up - wowsers. Ryan Reynolds is missing out.



-PS - I also have to pass a quick comment on how amazing the men looked at Sunday's ceremony. It's a lot harder for them than the women to 'stand-out' with their suits but kudos go to Iron Man Robert Downey Jnr, Russell Brand and Mark Wahlberg who looked effortless, cool and hot. Sizzling.

-PPS - Mark Ruffalo's wife is called Sunrise. That is all.