2012 Oscar's Red Carpet: Close But No Cigar

Feb 27, 2012

As is tradition here at CHS, we will start with the dresses that I neither loved nor hated.  The dresses left me wanting but not loathing.  Basically, the gowns that made me yawn.

Rooney Mara in Givenchy

On the positive side, I was grateful to see Rooney Mara in a color other than black.  On the negative side, the decoration on the bust did nothing for her.  Also, why she insists on continuing to dress like Lisbeth Salander is anyone’s guess.  Oh, and if someone good get the girl some Crest Whitestrips that would be great.

Sandra Bullock in Marchesa

This dress was a total snore.  It’s a similar silhouette to her epic Marchesa from 2010 but with colors and embellishments that are pure Mother-of-the-Bride.  Now, if you excuse me, I need to chug a Red Bull, the dress is putting me to sleep.

Natalie Portman in Dior Haute Couture Vintage

Once you’ve worn a baby pink strapless gown with a bright, red, sequin rose on the bust, anything is a step up.  I like this dress, it fits well, I’m not crazy about the dots, but that’s vintage for you.  I also wouldn’t have done such a pointy necklace, it’s distracting.  

Also, did anyone else notice all of the women in black nail polish?  Is that back in vogue, now?

Berenice Bejo in Elie Saab

Usually, Elie Saab can do no wrong in my eyes, but the commenters during last nights liveblog all agreed that the beading looked like something grown in a Petri dish.  I also didn’t like that the dress, bag and shoes were identically color matched.  Had the earrings not been emerald in color, I would have begun to wonder if Bejo’s stylist had a deal with Dyeables.

Cameron Diaz in Gucci

Cameron Diaz is almost 40, and it really feels like she aged overnight.  Photos of her the past few months with the overly bleached hair and the overly tanned skin make me worry about aging gracefully.  But even though this look is not the red carpet Cameron of old, it’s okay.

Elie Kemper in Armani Prive

This dress came the closest to making the best dressed list, but when I added it, I realized that it was only the rich coppery color that I loved.  Color aside, the gown itself is just okay, so it belongs on the list of also-rans.

Award Shows

share this post

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Helena says:

    Rooney Mara is beautiful in an other-worldly kind of way. I agree about her teeth, though. Her pallor really makes their non-whiteness obvious. She did spend the last 2 years smoking like a chimney as Lisbeth Salander…Fincher ought to have paid for a few bleaching sessions.

  2. DB says:

    I can't find a single picture of Rooney Mara smiling anywhere, so I can't tell if I agree on the teeth or not. She told Seacrest that she picked the gown out the morning of – that explains why it looks too big on her.

  3. Stephanie says:

    Rooney's dress is Givenchy.

  4. Katie says:

    I love Ellie Kemper, but her hair was bad. Bad.
    I loved the color of Berenice Bejo's dress, but I don't think it worked for her.

  5. K says:

    Also loved the color of Elie Kemper's dress- didn't love that it seemed to be the exact same color as her hair. Again, this photo makes it looks better than it was.

Join The List

Stay up to date on the latest from Capitol Hill Style!

sUBSCRIBE

Tuesday Outfit: Bright, Business Casual

Several of you have sent e-mails and DMs asking for more business casual and casual work attire for women in senior roles and management.  Offices are leaving professional attire behind in favor of denim and what one reader described as “dressy workout clothes.”  So how do you dress like the boss when you need to […]

12

READ MORE 

Recent Posts

Gift Guide 2023: Low Cost, No Cost

Are you tired of Gift Guides, yet?  Yesterday, I got one from my accountant.  My accountant.  And I like Rick, but I am not so hard up for suggestions that anyone will find a one-year subscription to Quicken under the tree. But because how much we love and like people is not determined by how […]

7

READ MORE 

Monday Morning: December 5, 2023

This weekend, I got two hours to myself for the first time in months. Really to myself. My child was asleep. My dogs were asleep. Kyle was off playing cards with his friends. My house was clean, and there was nothing else to do but sit in my bed and scroll Instagram. It was glorious. […]

4

READ MORE 

VIEW ALL POSTS

How To Wear It, Style, Top Posts | December 6, 2023

Tuesday Outfit: Bright, Business Casual

Several of you have sent e-mails and DMs asking for more business casual and casual work attire for women in senior roles and management.  Offices are leaving professional attire behind in favor of denim and what one reader described as “dressy workout clothes.”  So how do you dress like the boss when you need to […]

12

READ MORE 

Features, Gift Guide, Posts | December 6, 2023

Gift Guide 2023: Low Cost, No Cost

Are you tired of Gift Guides, yet?  Yesterday, I got one from my accountant.  My accountant.  And I like Rick, but I am not so hard up for suggestions that anyone will find a one-year subscription to Quicken under the tree. But because how much we love and like people is not determined by how […]

7

READ MORE 

Features, Monday Mornings, Posts | December 5, 2023

Monday Morning: December 5, 2023

This weekend, I got two hours to myself for the first time in months. Really to myself. My child was asleep. My dogs were asleep. Kyle was off playing cards with his friends. My house was clean, and there was nothing else to do but sit in my bed and scroll Instagram. It was glorious. […]

4

READ MORE 

The Counter, Top Posts | December 4, 2023

The Counter: The Post-Product Era

When I was in my 20s, I bought every trendy nail polish, eye color, and lip gloss.  Sure, I could only wear them on the weekends, but why not wear emerald green liner?  In my 30s, I became enamored with skincare and took every “must-have” product for a spin.  But in my 40s, my skin […]

22

READ MORE 

RECENT POSTS

©2023 CAPITOL HILL STYLE | SITE BY LEIGH THE STUDIO