Ally: I’ve had a long day, so my contribution to this post will be an exercise in laziness. Yay for setting high expectations!

L-A and I thought it would be fun to focus this Favourite Friday’s theme on some of our favourite Oscar dresses. This of course in light of the upcoming Oscar 2012 extravaganza on Sunday evening (speaking of which, are you joining us at The Khyber?)

I’m predicting that Michelle Williams will make me cry by wasting her God given beauty in a Little House on the Prairie Ensemble. This entire awards season I’ve been so disappointed in her and her BFF Busy. I’m disappointed because I expect more, I know she can give more.

See 2006:

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A beautiful, canary yellow, Vera Wang.

My next favourite is actually from the 2011 Oscars. It was a shocking favourite, as I really didn’t know what a Jennifer Lawrence was…

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I know many disagree with me on this choice, and that’s cool. Why don’t you go hang out with Lea Michelle and the other band geeks and bedazzle your semi-formal dresses while I continue on. There were no sequins, no crazy old lady hair, no over-the-top jewellery that required a security guard, just a dress that you could honestly only ever wear when you are 21 years old. And I dig that.

Going way back to 1952, we have a four month pregnant Lauren Bacall…

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Wearing a gorgeous Christian Dior dress that could go from Oscars to Toga Party. What more could you ask for?

In 2003, the gorgeous (but now really annoying for a reason I can’t put my finger on) Kate Hudson wore Versace:

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And here is where I fear I will lose a lot of you…

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It’s no secret I love Sienna, so admittedly I am biased. However, she gets full marks for trying something different for the love of GAWD, bringing some colour, and keeping some resemblance of her own quirky day-to-day style while walking a red carpet (see bangle on arm). I loved it.

L-A? What say you?

L-A: Unsurprisingly, I say I disagree on most of your choices. I’m okay with Michelle Williams’ yellow number only because it reminds me of a time when everyone didn’t wear some variation on chamagne or beige or what *yawn* have you. I’m finding the red carpet super boring these days. At least wear a swan and give me something to bitch about. I respect swans and Bob Mackie numbers. I do not respect a gown that blends into your skin tone.

Anyway, let’s focus on favourites. Because that’s actually hard. It’s so much easier to hate on dresses.

Kate Winslet, 2002

 

Winslet, honey, you look stunning. I love this Ben di Lisi dress. It fully deserves to be on every Best Oscar Dress list out there. Also, I like this was her choice before she started to win EVERY AWARD EVER (someone just give her a Tony and a Grammy already). Classy, totally ready to be nominated as Best Supporting Actress, but not overdoing it. (Worst: when presenters go crazy on the gowns. Ladies, take a breather. Wait until they nominate you).

Amy Adams, last year

Kind of has a Jessica Rabbit thing happening, but not because of the top. I like it. The colour of the L’Wren Scott number  is lovely, she sparkles and she looks good.Way to work the red carpet, kid.

Gwyenth Paltrow, 1998

Okay. Don’t revoke my license to be a fashion blogger. Just hear me out. I think you’ve got to give anyone wearing any kind of gown in 1998 a break. We were still feeling our way towards straight legged jeans and lower rises back then. I also give this Calvin Klein number a pass, nay – a win, because if you’re going to be nominated for Best Actress, OWN THAT SHIT. Go big or go home. I think Gwynnie knows she’s an okay actress, but not the greatest. I think she knows she’s never going to be the next Meryl who gets nominated 17 times. So good for her. Go big, pink and satin. Do it.

And now for the classics…before there was a Ryan Seacrest and a Giuliana and a Natalie (who’s Natalie?) to harass everyone and provide us with serious snark fodder.

Old Timey Hollywood

Audrey Hepburn, 195-something

I know. Audrey in Givenchy. Obvious. But I like it. And it’s of it’s time. Because you couldn’t wear that now. Not without me yelling at you via the Twitter and the live blog about showing up in a white dress that doesn’t even make it to the floor. (Actually, that’d almost be refreshing. Take note ladies of Hollywood.

Liz Taylor, 1970

Some serious cleavage on the go and a tan that has her looking a bit like a handbag (although, not orange like today’s faux tans. Seriously guys, we’ve all agreed real tans aren’t actually healthy, so let’s just go with normal skin colurs), but I love the dress. The blue on her is amazeballs and I love the hair.

Liz Taylor, 1957

She’s WEARING AN EFFING CROWN. I love it so much. Not a move for amateurs. And if you win, you can’t give anyone earnest modesty like Swifty or Winslet. Oh no. You’ve got to own that statue and accept it like you’re Madonna accepting a Golden Globe. You’ve got to say, “bitches, this is mine and I knew it would be. I don’t even know who else was nominated, so I’m not going to pretend it was an honour to be in your company.”  Also, the dress could totally work on today’s red carpet. Hopefully with some colour.