By Lauren Zazzara
Features Assignment Editor
The Academy Awards is one of the biggest nights for the fashion industry. The night requires luxurious, statement-making and dramatic attire.
There’s a reason why hundreds of websites post slideshows of what the stars wore. Reporters always ask the famous question: “Who are you wearing?” There was live online streaming of the red carpet. Fashion at the Oscars is the epitome of high fashion, where with a few alterations, clothes go from the runway to real life.
Julianne Moore, who took home the Oscar for best actress for her role in “Still Alice,” wore a white sequined Chanel couture gown. Little rosettes adorned the neckline, waist and the bottom of the streamlined dress. With a slick chignon and some diamond rings and dangling earrings, the look was simple yet elegant.
Meanwhile, Eddie Redmayne, who picked up the Oscar for best actor in “The Theory of Everything,” wore a navy blue Alexander McQueen tuxedo. Black lapels and a black bowtie added an appropriate amount of playfulness to his young appearance. A white button down and black watch made his ensemble more mature and traditional.
Like Moore, Lady Gaga also wore white; although, in true Gaga fashion, her ensemble was a bit more dramatic. The sparkly, custom-made Azzedine Alaia featured short sleeves with oversized armholes, a cinched waist and a wide skirt. Gaga finished the look with red dangling earrings, red lipstick and red gloves that looked like what one uses to wash dishes.
Meryl Streep looked sophisticated in a black Lanvin blazer and slim black maxi skirt. The jacket and skirt balanced out the deep V-neck of her blouse, creating an outfit appropriate for a 65 year old. A sparkling belt defined her waist and increased the formality of the look. She added a simple, understated box clutch.
The best look of the night was Emma Stone’s lime green Elie Saab gown. The gown was long sleeved and high necked, making the slit on the side of the skirt less shocking and more tasteful. The dress had two layers—the bottom layer being solid lime and the top layer sheer with sparkles placed in a subtle geometric pattern. The color complemented Stone’s red hair. Her soft waves made the look more youthful, as did a coral lip and two silver bracelets.
While Emma Stone impressed viewers, Solange Knowles (Beyonce’s younger sister) confused them. She chose a coral Christian Siriano dress that had pants in the front and a train in the back. With long sleeves, a turtleneck and an oversized shape, the look slightly resembled a Snuggie in its sloppiness.
The fashion at this year’s Academy Awards was elegant, yet unsurprising. It would have been interesting to see a woman in a well-tailored tuxedo or an innovative shape of a gown. But at the end of the night, it was the films the stars helped create—not the clothes—that really mattered.
