The Independent Film Spirit Awards were held the day before the Oscars and saw Moonlight sweep the ceremony. There were many big stars there on the night but for me my favourite dress was worn by a newcomer. Lily Gladstone who was nominated for Best Supporting Female for her work in Certain Women wore a Adrianna Papell with a fabric I can’t shake the feeling I’ve seen somewhere before.
The next day the 89th Academy Awards too place and the stars came out in a dazzling array of gowns. To make sure this post doesn’t end at 100 words and two photos I’ll add in the gowns that my wife and mother liked. Well they liked several but these are the ones they offered up as a favourite if they had to only pick one and believe me they didn’t want to.
My mother liked Taraji P. Henson wearing custom made Alberta Ferretti for best dress then Meryl Streep’s, Nicole Kidman’s. Others enjoyed were Kirsten Dunst and Auli’i Cravachi’s white dress on the red carpet, Denzel Washington’s wife, Samuel L. Jackson in his blue velvet suit jacket and Aldis Hodge. Alberta Ferretti has been designing for 44 years and once in the 1990s renovated a 13th century castle into a hotel.
Karen’s favourite was television presenter Guiliana Rancic wearing Georges Chakra couture and enjoyed the trend of blue velvet throughout liking Taraji’s dress and SammyJ’s suit as well. She was also taken with Auli’i Cravachi’s red dress that she performed in on stage and Ruth Negga’s dress.Lebanese based Georges Chakra is a major international haute couture fashion house regularly dressing celebrities and featuring on fashion magazines in Gossip Girl and The Devil Wears Prada. A Chakra collection has been present at every Paris Fashion Week since 2001. Rancic who covers several red carpets a year for her work with E! Entertainment Television Network uses him as one of her go to designers.
Which leaves me in the awkward position of repeating one of their choices. There were no clear stand outs for me, that’s why Brie Larson’s Rodarte dress from the Golden Globes remains so special. A real immediate absolute favourite don’t always come around. That said I think my favourite Oscar dress is Taraji’s too. For the sake of variety I will point out Felicity Jones looked cute, I liked Busy Phillips dress and I think Nicole Kidman’s dress showed off her figure well.
So what was your favourite dress at the Oscars? Did you enjoy Janelle Monae trying to channel Halle Berry’s classic dress wearing Ellie Saab herself, 
was there a favourite suit of the evening, 
anybody dig the gold outfits
or was red more your colour
or did you stand up and applause any dress that got the twins out front and centre? Let us know below.
Until next year.
-Lloyd Marken
Back to the Drawing Board Productions 
My favorites were the gold or 20s style–loved Nicole Kidman’s and Emma Stone’s dress best.
Yes they were lovely Cindy. I think Nicole should dresses in that style a bit more often.
I liked Nicole Kidman’s and Taraji P Henson’s, as well as a few others. I liked Reese W. and Jennifer Anniston’s, but I am sure there were others. I am not very decisive!
It can be very difficult to pick cannot not? 🙂
I understand why you live Jennifer Garner! My youngest daughter and I like her fun movie with Mark Ruffalo, “13 Going on 30.” Sweet teen story with some interesting twists.
Yes Jennifer Garner is indeed a talent. Beyond the more obvious traits I admire displayed in the previous post’s photo she is a damn fine actress. Someone who can get up and sell the full adolescent abandon of singing Love is A Battlefield in one scene, wield sai and sidekick Daredevil in another and then in another speak to a fake pregnant belly and convey the hopes and love of an expecting adoptive mother really is a talent that shouldn’t be wasted. She was also quite darkly humourous as a meanie in Butter. Sadly she’s fallen into the old Hollywood trap for actresses over 40. I guess she can make a living playing Mum now but Garner can do that and so much more. I hope she gets the opportunity. Until then, I too enjoyed 13 Going on 30. At the time of Alias, it was a good reminder that she could play happy.
I used to like Jennifer in any role but feel she will have her awesome role once again!! Butter she was wicked in!
I liked how stirred and moved we were at Nicole Kidman’s role on Lion. (My date thought she was just a fluffy or flighty actress. I believed her in the role which means Jennifer can also be offered this sort of passionately caring role!)
I have not seen Lion yet but it appears Nicole is dolled down and playing someone very real. That is always interesting to see an actor do. Nicole has always had a terrific range but often in films either not worthy of that effort or just plain not seen. Thank you for the recommendation.
I hope Jennifer gets a great role soon too.
Hey Robin, Reese Witherspoon didn’t attend the Oscar ceremony this year. Are you referring to someone else or Reese’s get up at the after party or perhaps a lovely yellow number she wore at the Golden Globes last month?
Probably my eyes were glazed over, Lloyd! I liked the yellow gown from the Golden globes! Thanks for keeping me in line. haha
Haha, no lines were crossed. Just curious. 🙂 Anyway Reese’s gown at the Globes was lovely.
How about Sonny Patel’s outfit. Those tennis shoes were the coolest.
That kid is so insanely cute and talented it is not even funny. The shoes complete the picture and are indeed the coolest just like their wearer.
I’ve only got eyes for Nicole. The classy and classic look definitely becomes her.
I absolutely agree Paul, I mentioned to Cindy that style really suits her body. Initially I wondered if a different colour for contrast would be nice but I do like that dress.
I love the dress in the second photograph, with its greens and reds and blues and golds. Absolutely beautiful, and it shows that you don’t have to show off your body in a cheap way to look beautiful.
I’m all for showing skin John but it is as you say not necessary and this was a beautiful dress worn by an exciting new talent. I look forward to seeing how her tastes evolve as her stocks rise.
I generally prefer to see these ladies in a short black dress. The iconic LBD.
However, I am going 100% with Salma on this occasion, for a couple of obvious reasons.
best wishes, Pete.
I put Salma in just for you Pete so I’m glad to hear it. 🙂
Yum Yum!
I agree with what seems to be the emerging consensus: Nicole Kidman’s dress was my favorite.
An excellent choice. 🙂
Samuel L Jackson is the man!
He looked very sharp. I was looking forward to what Mahershala Ali would wear but I think Sammy J wins it on the night for me for best dressed male.