BEST

Janelle Monáe - She rocked the red carpet in this custom Ralph Lauren silver gown. While staying true to her own style, this dress channeled the iconic Grace Jones. Janelle totally shone - but the necklace and jewels from Forevermore didn’t hurt. Her hair and makeup are perfection as always. The past few years Janelle has owned the red carpet and has become the one to watch. By the way, the dress is embellished with a mere 168,000 Swarovski crystals.

Rebel Wilson - Old Hollywood glamour has never looked so good. Rebel stunned in this custom metallic gold dress by Jason Wu. Her hair and makeup perfectly matched the outfit. And while she might not have been nominated, she certainly was a winner!

Molly Sims - She is no stranger to the red carpet or runway - but more importantly, she knows what works for her. Molly totally wows in this Zuhair Murad couture gown. With it’s metallic and sequinned top and it’s flowy satin skirt, this dress highlights Molly’s best features. She finished the look with nude Christian Louboutins, a Judith Lieber clutch and Chopard ring. Hair and makeup are flawless and breezy. One of the best dressed by far!

Gal Gadot - This stunning Givenchy Haute Couture gown showcases Gal so beautifully. The dramatic sheer lace top and dramatic pink ruffled skirt are just what the red carpet needed. Her hair looks incredible pulled back and I love the bright red lip. The statement necklace from Tiffany & Co. perfectly completed her ensemble.

Mindy Kailing - I don’t always love Mindy’s fashion choices but she looks like Hollywood royalty in this Dolce & Gabbana canary yellow gown. It appears that some of the A-listers are beginning to warm up to D&G, but if I can look beyond the label, this one-shoulder sweetheart neckline dress is perfect for Mindy. It is perfectly tailored and makes her look like a million bucks. Speaking of a million bucks, think a bit higher. She is wearing over 135 carats of diamonds from Chopard - enough to warrant it’s own security guard. Love the hair but I would have gone with lighter make up.

Charlize Theron - This Dior Haute Couture gown was perfect on Charlize. While I would have loved to see her in something more dramatic, I respect the style and the full look. I enjoy the one-shoulder detail and the sweeping train. I love the hair and the makeup and the showstopping necklace by Tiffany & Co.

Scarlett Johansson - This might be my favorite look of the night. Nominated for best actress, she showed up as a winner. This Oscar de la Renta gown certainly turned heads. I especially appreciate the crystal draping atop the corset and champagne skirt. The dress was sexy and modern but still classic enough if she had won the award. Jewelry by Forevermark.

Renée Zellweger - I was most excited to see what Renée would wear on the red carpet tonight. I knew it would be something simple and classic - but she brought the sparkle in this one-shoulder Armani Privé gown. As long as the dress doesn’t look bridal, white is a great choice for the red carpet. She kept the hair and make up simple and just added a few extra diamonds by David Webb.

Olivia Colman - She looked like a total winner in this velvet Stella McCartney dress with an asymmetrical cape. I love the keyhole details on her shoulders - it adds a structural interest that many dresses were lacking this year. Love her new blond pixie cut and her fresh make up. Shoes by Jimmy Choo.

Kristen Wiig - This dress isn’t for everyone but I think this is the best Kristen has ever looked. This is Kristen’s fashion moment - she proved that she can rock couture in this daring Valentino dress with side cut-outs. The black opera gloves were perfect to bring the drama with this outfit. The ruffles are everything! The only thing I would have changed are the shoes - a black pump would have completed the look so much better. But I’m really being knitpicky. This is a total 10/10!

Brie Larson - Brie is another actress that is unpredictable on the red carpet but I was relieved to see her in this gorgeous Celine gown. And while it could be a bit reminiscent of Gwyneth in 2012 (Queen of the Cape Dress), she stood out with over 13,000 Swarovski jewels, a dramatic neckline, and high slits. The light pink worked perfectly on her. Hair and makeup are flawless - not to mention the Bulgari jewelry.

BORING

Idina Menzel - Idina looked pretty in pink - pretty forgettable. This J. Mendel dress failed to deliver any wow factor for this superstar. Love her light makeup and her 60+ carats of Harry Winston diamonds.

Penelope Cruz - Penelope usually brings the drama to the red carpet but this Chanel halter-dress was such a snoozer. While I love the pearl belt, I’m not a fan of the oversized flower detail. She kept her hair and make up simple and looked beautiful as always. Please find a new stylist and bring your regular za-za-zoo!

Salma Hayek-Pinault - You notice how Salma went from Hayek to Hayek-Pinault? Yup - her husband is the Chairman and CEO of Kering - a luxury group that owns Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, and Yves Saint Laurent. So she literally could have ANY dress she wanted. And this is what she chooses for Hollywood’s biggest night? Yawn. While I will forget this Gucci dress, I am in love with her stunning bracelet from Boucheron.

Regina King - While Regina looks fine…that’s about as much credit as I can give her. This pink Versace dress lacks the punch and panache that Regina deserves. Her hair and makeup are just ok but at least I can’t fault the Harry Winston jewels.

Florence Pugh - It might be Louis Vuitton, but it looks more like a bridesmaid dress than a red carpet look for a nominated actress. The colour is refreshing on the red carpet, but the dress is forgettable. Her hair and make-up and jewels are all lovely.

WORST

Billie Eilish - I understand that Billie is young and wants to assert her style - but this is just such a wasted moment. You can look hip and not look like you live in a dumpster. Why Chanel allowed this is beyond me. This Chanel pantsuit is embellished with several Chanel brooches. She accessorized with as many pieces as she possibly could - from the fingerless gloves to the rings, scarves, and hair clips.

Margot Robbie - Another Chanel-Crime. This vintage Chanel dress does nothing for Margot. I almost always love her fashion sensibility but this dress belongs on Sophie Loren. The caped sleeves scream matronly. The brooch in the centre is hideous. As for hair and make up, the lip is too bright for the dress and it’s the Oscars, you coulda splurged and touched up the roots. Just sayin’.

Laura Dern - Armani Prive meets the O.K. Corral? This dress reads too saloon-girl for me. Is her next role in a spaghetti western? Hard pass on this black and pink gown. Sorry Laura but congrats on the win.

Cynthia Erivo - All eyes were on Cynthia as she was nominated for best actress. She also performed a powerful number in front of the entire audience. Unfortunately she failed to deliver in this Atelier Versace number. There was just too much going on from the high slit, the cross strap, the mesh cut-outs, the heavy beading, the petal details and sweetheart neckline. Is this a couture gown or figure skating outfit? And the styling just made it worse…with her 9 rings and multiple earrings (courtesy of Piaget), it was just overboard. Shoes by Stuart Weitzman.

Natalie Portman - Did Natalie go goth? Is she attending a lavish funeral after the awards show? What a drastic departure to days gone by. Natalie showed up in this Dior Haute Couture gown? that left us all a bit puzzled. It was dark and well…sinister. Why oh why? Jewels by Cartier.

Saoirse Ronan - I always look forward to seeing what Saoirse is going to wear on the red carpet - but tonight I literally had to look away. What the hell? This Gucci dress is a train wreck. The colours don’t work well together. Peplums are so 4 years ago. From the peplum up, gorgeous. The rest is beyond hideous. Hair and make up, beautiful. Biggest disappointment of the night.

Billy Porter - This had to be the ugliest outfit on the red carpet. Billy is a veteran and I want to see him slay on the carpet. This Giles Deacon Couture ensemble just looked dumpy. The top I could give a pass (though not formal enough for the event), but the skirt gave me a headache. Jimmy Choo boots underneath just killed any hope of glamour. Billy, I’ll be in NYC in June. Please let me take you shopping!

2020 Academy Awards Fashion Critique

BEST

BORING

WORST