It was the biggest awards night of the year for show-business. This year we saw lots of common trends in what the celebrities wore: capes, sparkle, shades of pink, the return of pants and men in velvet tuxedos. More than any other awards show I’ve seen, the celebrities came dressed well. Some played it safe, but lets take a look at who shone bright (and the few who didn’t).

BEST

Awkwafina - She looked badass in this perfectly tailored DSquared2 sparkly pink tuxedo. The oversized bow at the neck gave it some interest. The tossled hair and light makeup were perfection. Chopard jewelry was the perfect icing on the cake.

Melissa McCarthy - Melissa never looked better than in this feminine take on a tuxedo. The white and black satin caped outfit with tuxedo pants hits all the right notes. If I was going to be picky, I would have gone with a slimmer cut on the leg, but now I’m knit-picking. She looks elegant and gorgeous and very on-trend.

Octavia Spencer - Octavia was glowing in this glittering blue Christian Siriano gown. The colour was perfect on her. She looks relaxed and ready for a win. Her hair and makeup are great. Loves it!

Michelle Yeoh -She looks exquisite in this nude and metallic gown by Elie Saab. The dress has so much detail that I could look at it for hours and it moved so lovely on the red carpet. Jewelery was the best of the night - the Chopard drop diamond earrings were mesmerizing and her cuff was monumental. Make-up beautiful, hair was meh. Clutch by Roger Vivier.

Angela Bassett - Angela wowed in this hot pink Reem Acra gown with dramatic bow detail. The “Black Panther” star brought plenty of drama to the red carpet. Pink was certainly the colour of the night. The oversized bow would usually bother me, but because its far enough away from her face, it doesn’t distract from the look. The rest of her styling was on point.

Jennifer Hudson - Seriously - she looks better and better everytime I see her. Jennifer looked fantastic in this asymmetrical red Elie Saab couture gown. Wearing red on the red carpet is always a risk but the colours are different enough that it photographs well. The ruffle and scallop details give the look a romantic feel. Hair and makeup flawless.

Constance Wu - This pleated marigold custom Versace gown was the talk of the red carpet. Constance wore this off-the-shoulder pleated dress with a light cape detail. Stunning hair and makeup. Her Atelier Swarovski jewelry were eye-catching - earrings were an incredible statement piece.

Emilia Clarke - I loved this purple shimmery sculptural Balmain gown. Emilia looked gorgeous in this color. Of course diamonds are the perfect touch to add a bit more sparkle and she chose the perfect lip shade. Emilia has the potential to be a fashionista and hopefully we’ll see her take more risks in the future.

Stephan James - This amazing custom Etro red velvet tuxedo set the bar for men’s fashion for the evening. While I disliked the white patent boots and would have gone with black, he is young enough to pull it off. The oversized bowtie and lapel pin made him stand out on the carpet.

Mark Ronson - Mark looked dashing in this Maison Lancel shawl tuxedo with white piping details. The oversized velvet bowtie gave the look a bit more of a relaxed feel. And I want to steal his Roger Vivier shoes right off his feet. You a size 11 Mark?

Gemma Chan - Someone brought the drama to the Oscars in this hot pink Valentino parachute dress. It floated as she glided down the red carpet. The high collar and sleveless details add to the stunning design of this dress. One of the best looks of the night.

Helen Mirren - Helen looked sexy and playful in this vivid pink Schiaparelli gown. The hidden layers of colour gave the dress different colouring at different angles. And Helen’s diamond wreath necklace was everything!

Amy Adams - l enjoyed Amy in this Versace gown. It fit her perfectly and showed off her assets. The pattern was interesting and this is how you should do white on a red carpet. No one is hearing wedding bells with this showstopper! And I love that she was dripping in platinum and diamond jewelry courtesy of Cartier.

Rachel Weisz - I was shocked to see Rachel in this red rubber Givenchy couture dress. While I love the sexiness of the dress, I thought the innocent schoolgirl styling of the headband and hair didn’t work with it. But I love the mini cape and the rubber detailing on the body of the dress. The color is perfect for her and I think its a great fashion moment, from the ears down. Jewelry by Cartier

Jason Momoa & Lisa Bonet - Both in Karl Lagerfeld in couture Fendi. They looked exceptional matching in dusty pink. I think Jason outshone his beautiful wife in the tuxedo, they both wanted to pay homage to the late Lagerfeld. I loved the fact that they colour-coordinated but can someone please tell me why he is wearing a scrunchie on his wrist?

Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet in Fendi couture

Emma Stone - Emma has been disappointing me at several of this seasons events but not tonight. I love this sequinned maroon Louis Vuitton column dress. The diamond pattern was unique and the shape was memorable.

Jennifer Lopez - Her Tom Ford mirrorball inspired dress was beyond words. Tom Ford hasn’t been dressing as many celebs this awards season - but when he does, he does it well. This was the perfect dress for Jennifer and her figure. Her hair and makeup (as always) were flawless.

Allison Janney - Allison looked glamorous in this Pamella Roland velvet tuxedo-esque gown. It shows of her sleek frame and height and photographs well. Black is always a safe choice on the red carpet - especially dripping in Chopard jewelry (enough that warrants having a dedicated bodyguard alongside her). You can tell Allison fells comfortable and pretty - and what more could you ask for?

Lady Gaga - The newly single Gaga turned heads in this black Alexander McQueen with leather gloves. But its very possible that you missed the dress because you were blindsided by the 128 carat canary diamond she was wearing around her neck. The ‘Tiffany’ diamond was last worn in 1967 by Audrey Hepburn for a photo shoot and its the third time this necklace has ever been worn. While I wouldn’t have normally paired a yellow diamond with this dark dress, Gaga lightened the her look with platinum hair and fresh light makeup. An iconic look for years to come - classy and edgy.

Krysten Ritter - This is how you dress a baby bump. She looked crazy beautiful in this figure hugging Reem Acra lace dress. Stunning.

FAILS

Regina King - Ok - this is a beautiful Oscar de la Renta dress but the overall look was too bridal for the red carpet. There was nice detailing along the hip over the slit. But the Chopard jewels and Louboutins weren’t enough to save this look. But please let me know where you’re registered at.

Tina Fey- Tina looked like she was in a bridesmaid’s dress…which is not surprising that this is custom Vera Wang. Her hair and makeup are gorgeous. The colour is lovely on her but the rest is a snoozefest.

Charlize Theron - This backless baby blue Dior couture gown could have been a hit, but it mostly looked uncomfortable. The mock turtleneck and pointed shoulders with long sleeves just seemed overdone. I can’t tell what the fabric is - but it looks poly and itchy (though hopefully it isn’t). The Bulgari necklace is fab - hair and makeup look fine. Overall forgettable.

Maya Rudolph - Dress was too big and swallowed her up. The matching dress and cape detail were just too much. The pattern is too busy. But at least I know who took my grandmothers’ old curtains.

Laura Harrier - Beautiful girl but the styling was all wrong. The baby blue Louis Vuitton dress and matching shoes derailed quickly. The ruby and emerald statement necklace and the green eyeshadow and red nails all clashed with the softness of the dress. I would have changed the shoes to a silver metallic heel to add some interest. And the dress itself, while ok, looked a bit too much like a prom dress.

Yalitza Aparicio - This Rodarte dress was pretty but not what we would expect for a best actress nominee. Rodarte is an incredible designer and they should have helped her find a dress that would help her make a statement. Sadly, no one will remember this one.

Brie Larson - While this Celine (by Hedi Slimane) dress is beautiful, it makes the pale Brie look like ghostly. Had the hair been darker and the makeup more prominent, MAYBE this could have worked. But if Beyonce wore this to the Grammys, she likely would have been best dressed. Sorry Brie.

Glenn Close - Glenn was way over-the-top (I can’t believe I said that!) in this Wes Gordon for Carolina Herrera gold capped dress. The dress had over 4 million beads and weighed 42lbs. It also was the envy of Liberace’s ghost.

Linda Cardellini - Well who doesn’t love a mullet dress cut down to the navel?!?! This pink Schiaparelli should be burned immediately. If not sooner. It’s so bad. And before you fire your stylist, please take them for an eye examination first. Thanks.

Photos courtesy of Pinterest

2019 Academy Awards Fashion Critique

BEST

FAILS