Fashion: February 2007 Archives

By Maureen Jenkins
Staff Reporter

In a year filled with an amazingly diverse group of Academy Award nominees and films, it’s only fitting that looks spotted on the Kodak Theatre red carpet spanned the style gamut, as well. There were starlets in strapless gowns and beautifully bare necks; over-50 actresses in dramatically stunning flesh-tone gowns. And while we won’t call any names, there were those who would have done better to skip the oversized shoulder bows, cropped jackets and overdone dress jewelry and let their lovely gowns speak for themselves.

But here, a peek at those whose red carpet looks earned them four-star reviews tonight.

See photos of these outfits and more in the Sun-Times fashion Oscars photo gallery.

By Doug Elfman
Sun-Times TV columnist

I watch the Oscars pre-show with friends on my sofa. It occurs to me again how hard it is to be a woman, every time my pal Maria Phelan, 28, says, "I hate that dress." ...

By Paige Wiser
Sun-Times Columnist

Joan Rivers' mink stole matches the red carpet. Classy!
 
Maggie Gyllenhaal arrived at 5:09 p.m. That's a little early for a star of her stature, yes? When you're in the next "Batman," you can arrive fashionably on time.
 
Melissa Rivers and Sarah Silverman: separated at birth?
 
Al Gore, being interviewed by Ryan Seacrest, is asked who would play him in the movie of his life. "William Hung," he responds. Funny! At least, it was funny three years ago!

Sponsorship update: The fashion camera on the TV Guide Channel is brought to you by Jell-O. The countdown clock is sponsored by M&Ms. And I guarantee you that no one at the ceremony tonight has ever, ever had any, not even the pastel ones.
 
Jennifer Hudson has arrived in a gorgeous gown, and ... a metallic shrug? Help. Can we please open up commentary to the general public? Because I'm struggling to stay positive here.

Chicago nominee Jennifer Hudson, the favorite to win best supporting actress for her show-stopping role as Effie White in ‘‘Dreamgirls,’’ has started the big night on a sour note — thanks to her fahsion choice. The early buzz from the red carpet is astonishment at her metallic python bolero over a floor-length brown gown by Oscar de la Renta, picked out by Vogue’s Andre Leon Talley.

‘‘I love you, but there’s too much going on here,’’ said fashion critic and E! commentator Jay Manuel as he deconstructed the bolero jacket on television. (By the way, he was no where near Miss Hudson when he said that.)

By Cindy Pearlman

Jennifer Hudson, we love you, but please ditch the "Star Trek: Next Generation" coat.

Beyonce, who is performing tonight, on Jennifer Hudson's chances: "I hope she wins. I hope Eddie wins." What about "Dreamgirls" getting dissed as best picture? "I can't complain. Eight nominations is not so shabby," she says. ...

A timeline takes us back through the highs and lows of red-carpet gowns.

But not to worry: The Miami Herald tells us that, this year, outrageous is out.

At the Oscars, it's all about the bling. "It's all about the jewels," celeb Stylist Phillip Bloch told "Good Morning America Weekend Edition." "Now more than ever it's not just about the classic diamond. … People are more willing to take chances and do different things with jewelry … just to jazz it up."

And precisely for that reason — and, no doubt, because the film "Blood Diamond" got such a high profile this year — Amnesty International USA and Global Witness have asked artists and filmmakers to wear a red teardrop pin to raise awareness about conflict diamonds and their impact on child soldiers. Artists who will wear the pin at Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony include nominees Leonardo DiCaprio, Ryan Gosling and Djimon Hounsou. ...

Before we start dishing about what haunting and heinous outfits come parading down this year's red carpets, here's a quick look back at three great gowns from last year's Oscars. And then, there's — gulp — this little number presented this week in New York. C'mon, we dare you.