Top 10 Oscar Looks

As I prepare for my personal Superbowl (the Oscars), I have spent considerable time thinking about why the Academy Awards are such a highlight to my year. The answer for me lies in the fact that, in America,  Hollywood represents our royalty. (The sadness of that statement can be saved for another blog, but the truth remains.) As the grand ball of our royalty, I expect an amount of class and beauty to be present in the attire of the court at the Oscars. I believe it should whisper of elegance and grace.

So, the hours pouring over gowns from ages past over the last week have birthed the following - my current top 10 favorite looks from the years past.


#10
Anne Hathaway in Georgio Armani,  2009
A newbie to the Oscars, she carried herself with grace and poise. The gown lays beautifully on her lithe frame while the shimmer,dark hair, and red lips bespeak elegance.

#9
Jessica Alba in Versace, 2006
Draped in gold, her skin just glows. Minimal jewelery and soft, piled curls complete her look as she sweeps across the red carpet.

#8
Sophia Loren, 1963
Ah, my heart breaks with the grace and beauty of this woman. She has been the epitome of class and exotic charm (with a hearty dash of sex-appeal) for half a century. Many are compared to her, but she is the original. The feathered collar, the upswept hair, the jeweled belt and small earrings . . . She presents as royalty.

#7
Penelope Cruz in Donna Karen, 2008
While this is quite a bit of dress, Penelope carries it off as no one (since Sophia Loren, really) but she possibly could. Her dark skin and dark hair warm the entire look, while the drop earrings and jeweled cuff sparkle on the dark canvas of the dress and her gorgeous skin. The dress wraps her in its regal red, sweeping up toward her face and highlighting her creamy chest, neck, and arms.

#6
Marissa Tomei in Versace, 2009
I could just stare and stare at this dress! It is absolutely amazing, full of lines and pleats and intricate folds. The silver color highlights the details of the dress, while not making it too overwhelming of a statement. Her unstructured hair and subtle jewelery are the perfect compliment to such a highly structured dress.

#5
Renee Zellweger in Carolina Herrera, 2004
I truly prefer Renee with this body shape/size, and this dress highlights her curves beautifully. The shade is a perfect pearl color that warms her skin, and her feminine jewelery add the right touch without overwhelming the look. The red lips, lined eyes, and darkened eyebrows enable her face to tastefully stand out, instead of being washed out with the white of the dress.

#4
Charlize Theron in Vera Wang, 2000
Another dress that I could just gaze and gaze at, this Vera Wang adds curves to Charlize's boyish frame. The halter neckline -- and especially the ruching in the back -- swings the eye in luscious lines while accentuating her broad shoulders and slender back. The pin-tucked hair tops the look in 1920's style.

#3
Grace Kelly in Edith Head, 1955
Grace Kelly is iconic, in and of herself, but so is her designer, Edith Head, and my list would not be complete without the mention of them both. Edith Head designed for both Grace Kelly as well as Audrey Hepburn for movie such as Rear Window, Sabrina, and Roman Holiday. Her looks, as much as her two leading ladies, bespeak class and royalty. This dress in its ice-blue sweeps around Kelly's frame and highlights her blond hair magnificently -- royalty in life as well as in Hollywood.

 #2
Diane Lane in Oscar de la Renta, 2003
I'm not quite sure how Diane Lane ended up as #2 (ahead of Grace Kelly!!). All I can say is that I am captivated by her in this gown. She is no longer part of the "young and sexy" class of Hollywood, but she has graduated to something far better. The golden fabric swaths her chest and creates enough mystery to draw our eye, but covers enough to encourage imagination. (Sexy is what is not seen.) The flowing feathers of the bottom half enable her to float over the carpet. Her softly structured hair seems the only reality in this ethereal vision.

#1
Kate Hudson in Versace, 2003
I don't know what else to say about this gown that hasn't already been said . . . the delicacy of the lace, the soft flow of the folds, the shimmer of her hair and the glow of her skin . . . sigh. Love this look. Hollywood royalty at its best.