The Oscars- Live Blogging The Red Carpet

Stay tuned...

Maybe we can just focus on young Hollywood instead of Mariah Carey and co. . Anna Kendrick, Zoe Saldana (not crazy about the dress, but oh well) and the stunning Amanda Seyfried bring back beauty and glamour.

Now if we can just muzzle the E! people everything would be perfect.

Is Maggie Gyllenhaal wearing a tie-dye dress? Why?

When I grow up I want to be Sigourney Weaver and wear flowing red dresses. And be tall.

I'm not watching in HD, so I might be missing something on Tina Fey's face, but I think she needs to fire her makeup artist. If her eyebrows look off on TV I can't even imagine what it's like in real life. Unlike Sandra Bullock. I love the bold lipstick on her.

I have a personal rule about people younger than 18. I don't talk about them unless I have something extra nice to express. Let's just say that when Miley comes of age she's toast.

I was sure Sarah Jessica Parker's dress was a vintage Halston. It's actually a Chanel and she's rocking it. And despite what Seacrest says, while she has aged, she's doing it gracefully. Her hairdo is perfect for the dress.

What was Charlize Theron thinking? Would anyone attempt a guess?

For the eleventy millionth time: Guys, please shave for award shows. Especially if your beard grows in weird patches. Keanu looks ridiculous. Goodbye, my teen fantasies.

I got a glimpse of the ABC red carpet show, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but it makes you long for Ryan Seacrest. At least he doesn't take himself so seriously.

Photos: Just Jared and Faded Youth Blog

Oscars 2009 Red Carpet Recap

So what did we have, other than the Tim Gunn alternative on ABC (I will never watch the E! red carpet show ever again)?

Red dresses:



Asymmetric necklines:



Belted dresses:


Godawful dresses:


When it came to hair, the formal updos are back, replacing the messy buns as they ought to for such a glamorous event. Those who opted to let their hair down have done it in long and pretty waves.

My favorite part was the attitude towards makeup. There was no one ruling trend and the stars went for individual looks and let their tastes (or that of their stylist) and their best features make a statement. Queen Latifah was radiant in the nude, natural look while Evan Rachel Wood was all glam. Angelina Jolie was all about her eyes (and earrings) while Tilda Swinton chose a bold red lipstick (I'm not sure that was the best choice ever, but at least she's never boring). Generally speaking, things were quite tasteful on the red carpet last night, and I think we can officially say that the overdone, too dark smoky eye is gone (and not a moment too soon).



All photos: A Socialite's Life

Oscars 2009- Red Carpet Live Blogging

First question of the night: Does Ryan Seacrest want to shoot himself after having to interview certain underaged so called celeb?

It looks like the cool guys are still not shaving. While Zac Efron is scrubbed clean (and has ridiculous hair), Dominic Cooper is scruffy. I'm willing to forgive him anything because of the accent.

Some interesting jewelry on gorgeous Amy Adams, Taraji P. Henson and creepy Madonna (who seems to have gone overboard with the inner-eye highlighter).

Heidi Klum confirms my early suspicious: Her dress is highly uncomfortable. I'm not crazy about her hair: she seems to be sharing a stylist with little Zac Efron.

What's eating Sarah Jessica Parker? Is it the dirty water dress or whatever it is she's done to her face (botox, probably).

Natalie Portman is redefining pink and stardom. She's stunning.

I considered saying something about Robin Wright-Penn, but decided not to. Being married to Sean Penn is hard enough. I wouldn't be smiling, either.

A perfume moment: Apparently Evan Rachel Wood is wearing something by Benefit. I'd never have guessed in a million years. Good thing she hasn't ruined one of my favorites for me. I used to like her in her pre-Marilyn Manson days. And before I heard her talking unscripted.

Should I bother commenting on that thing sprouting out of Jessica Niel's dress? Does anyone care? It makes her look stiff and unapproachable. Oh, wait...

More dresses, hair, makeup and what's up with Reese Whitherspoon tomorrow, as photos and clarity become available.

Images: Faded Youth Blog, A Socialite's Life and Just Jared

A Closeup On Oscar Looks

Today I'm almost happy that I haven't joined the HDTV crowd just yet.

My planned post for today was a more in-depth discussion of the Oscar hair and makeup looks. I did the red carpet live blogging last night based on what I could see on my modest sized regular TV screen. Today I have already gotten emails asking for specifics, how-tos and general advice about achieving a super glam look. To reply them and for my own post I started going through the closeup photos on Just Jared.

Short answer: Don't do it. Please.

You all know that there's often a big difference between gorgeous and elaborate makeup for a special night out or even a big event when you are face to face with people, and a camera-ready look. When it's "real", you don't want to appear caked-up and painted. You don't want to look artificial and you don't want to scare children and small animals. Notice the "you don't want" theme. What else you don't want? Cameron Diaz skin:


Except for serving as a warning for the hazards of smoking and sun exposure, I'm not sure what good is this picture.

Heidi Klum was the glamorous of them all, right? The most exuberant dress, the most done hair, the furriest creature that died for her eyelashes... She also wears way too much bronzer.


Something that I see in most of the pictures is the old trick of dabbing a very shimmery eye shadow in the inner corner of the eyes. This is a good highlighting technique as long as you don't abuse it. Nars have many colors that would work well here. I'd suggest to avoid real metallic silver. It's just too much and tends to look sci-fi.


If you're not playing up your eyes too much, consider a bold red lipstick. Katherine Heigl got it almost right. Except for the extra bronzer and the smoker's skin, that is.


I have full respect for Tilda Swinton's choice of wearing a dress that doesn't cling or reveal anything she doesn't want to show and not making it about her cleavage. I can also deal with a no-makeup look. I hesitated about even posting her picture, because I don't want this to be a discussion of her wrinkles. Ms. Swinton is 47 and opts not to do botox. It shows, but in my opinion (and I'm very pro-botox and surgery. In five to 10 years you'll find me at the doctor's office regularly), it's a better look than whatever taxidermy procedure that creates the face we've come to recognize as Renée Zellweger.
All this was just the escape clause for the following: Tilda still needs mascara.


To end on a positive note, Anne Hathaway looks perfect with a luminous and balanced makeup. Not too much on the eyes and not too little on the lips. Of course, she's also twenty five, so how hard is it to look great at that age (very, if my memory serves me right, but that's not really relevant)?

Instead, let's look at a few 30-something faces that actually got it right: a very black volumizing mascara (and probably some individually glued lashes), some highlight on the eye and a my-lips-only-better lip color:





All images except the ridiculous first one are from Just Jared, where you can try facing the real closeups at your own risk.

Oscars 2008- Blogging Live

Does anyone even cares what Lisa Rinna is wearing? It's blue, her lips are inflated. What else is new?

Heidi Klum, on the other hand, is magical in a Galliano red dress and Gallianoed hair. No soft-messy 'do for her, thankfully.

Excuse me and Ryan Seacrest for a minute while we both go drool over George Clooney. We'll be back soon.

Drooling is over. Anne Hathaway is another one in bright red (Marchesa). And lots of bones. I like the color and she looks glamorous and pulled together, but I'm a sucker for red dresses.


Is the entire Church of Scientology and Tom Cruise going to come after me if I say how horrible John Travolta's hair piece looks? It appears painted or glues or whatever. Ridiculous.

I'm not a Kelly Preston fan, but her very yellow Cavalli dress is an improvement from her tacky self. I can't help it: I like colors and tonight we see a lot of it. Amy Adams in Proenza green, Jessica Alba in a plum Marchesa and all that red. It's a long departure from the days Jenifer Aniston ruled the red carpet in her black dresses. So far, it looks like not many a-listers wore black. Among the few who did, Jennifer Garner and Hilary Swank stood out. Jennifer pulled it off, even through that bizarre Gary Busey attack. Hilary was ok, but for a fashion icon, her dress failed to excite. On the other hand, black is sort of original all of a sudden, and for a Versace dress it looks more classy than anything Donatella has touched in a very long time. I'm still not crazy for the floral applique.




While I couldn't care less what 15 year old girls wear on the red carpet, I much prefer to talk about someone who chooses her clothes by herself. Helen Mirren is, as always, glamorous and classy, proving that red is a timeless color.

Katherine Heigl is another one in bright red, and as Ryan Seacrest pointed, her lipstick was the reddest ever. I think I like her look, despite the bronzer explosion on her face.


Cameron Diaz looks sad and uncomfortable. Between the way too pale (though well constructed) Dior dress she keeps tugging on to prevent a nip-slip and that just-got-back-from-the-gym hair and face, she's not doing herself any favors.

Photos: Faded Youth Blog, Just Jared, DListed