OSCAR GOWNS SHOULD WIN AWARDS

Like The Young Victoria that won for Best Costume Design, the 2010 Academy Awards seemed to show the best of both tradition and youth in the gowns worn for the evening. Gone was most of the excess and instead, we saw many beautiful gowns on many gorgeous stars including the standouts for my Most Glamorous award for Sandra Bullock and runner-up Rachel McAdams. Some of the biggest names in the world of fashion design had their gowns worn for the occasion. This symbiosis has been very competitive of course, but the results that are the most successful always involve a combination of human elements that remain within the realm of art. The relationship between the star and their stylist has replaced the relationship that existed in the old studio system, where the costume designer and the star often had a close working relationship that resulted in the classic iconic looks. The desired look over the past few years at the Academy Awards has definitely been of the classic, glamorous movie star. Many fashion designers have also been designing gowns in that style that work beautifully at Award functions. Some of the gowns that seemed to work less well at the Oscars were those taken right off the runways. They seemed to have just that one-degree of separation that made several of them seem awkward. The favored styles leaned toward metallic finishes, dusty-rose colors, and asymmetrical designs. Over-all, this was one of the best-dressed Academy Awards in memory.

While The Young Victoria, with its beautiful costumes designed by Sandy Powell was very deserving of its Best Costume Design award, it would be refreshing to see a contemporary, not a historically costumed film, receive an Oscar. It is understandable that the historical and fantasy films make the big splash in costuming, but designing a modern wardrobe has the same function of delineating character and furthering the plot, while placing the audience within the story. One would have to go back to 1979 and All That Jazz to get close to a contemporary setting (for that time) for an Oscar costume win.

Sandra Bullock in a Marchesa gold beaded gown wins my Most Glamorous award for the Oscars evening. This was her big night and well deserved.

Of course the Fashion Police also selected Sandra Bullock as the Best Dressed, so just to show the contrariness of the Silver Screen Modiste, my runner-up for  Most Glamorous  is the beautiful Rachel McAdams in this wonderful Elie Saab gown from his spring 2010 collection. The Fashion Police thought it inappropriate for the occasion, which I disagree.The gown is reminiscent of Adrian's 1950 big swirling pastel patterned organza gowns. The Elie Saab on Ms. McAdams is a winning combination. 

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