Oscar 2014 Red Carpet Fashion Extravaganza

It’s the biggest night in Hollywood so it means that it is also the biggest night for fashion. Stars put their best foot forward to celebrate the best in this year’s cinematic excellence at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, late evening on 2^nd March. The Red Carpet was glistening not only from the sporadic showers that day but also from the sheer magnitude of baubles worn by celebrities that day.

The 2014 Oscar red carpet was noticeably full of dark and nude hues when it came to the evening gowns. But a noticeable exception to this rule and one of the most stunning gowns of the evening was worn by Best Supporting Actress winner Lupita Nyong’o who showed up in a powder blue Prada dress in a princess cut and a yellow gold and diamond Fred Leighton headband. Prada designed this gown especially for Lupita for her big night. Another gorgeous gown in a light colour was Kate Hudson’s white Versace with a deep neckline and a cape for dramatic effect. The matching clutch carried by her gave it a really nice finishing touch. Another dress that cannot go without a mention is Charlize Theron’s strapless black Dior with a plunging neckline and a flowy train. She completed the look with the most expensive piece of jewellery on the red carpet a 31 carat Harry Winston diamond drop necklace which costs $15 million.

Jennifer Lawrence stuck with Dior for Oscars too with a red strapless number and slicked back hair reminding us of the yesteryears. Though the highlight of her ensemble was the Neil Lane diamond necklace she wore. Another stunning dress of the evening was Anne Hathaway’s halter black Gucci gown with a dazzling disco bodice and a slit at the back paired with patent leather pumps and clutch. It is said that there were 280 crystals on her disco bodice. Best Actress nominee Sandra Bullock was subdued elegance personified in a navy Alexander McQueen dress with sweetheart neckline and draping. Another stunner in blue was Amy Adams who wore a tuxedo inspired strapless Gucci gown. Another beautiful dress which you would be able to see from miles away was ‘Dallas Buyes Club’ actor Jennifer Garner’s shimmering silver tulle tiered fringe gown by Oscar de la renta.

A gown worth mentioning was the one worn by Ellen DeGeneres’s better half Portia de Rossi. Portia rocked a Naeem Khan mock neck off-white gown with intricate cut-out details throughout which resembled snowflakes. She finished the look with a brushed back coif and a thick gold bracelet. Pregnant actors Olivia Wilde and Kerry Washington proved that having a bump does not stop you from donning pretty gowns. Olivia Wilde wore a conservative yet elegant black Valentino dress and ‘Scandal’ actress Kerry Washington wore a carpet grazing amethyst gown by Jason Wu along with embellished heels nonetheless.

But in this sea of dark gowns the nude gowns seemed a bit out of place and tired. Cate Blanchett who won the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Blue Jasmine wore a nude Armani Prive sleeveless gown embellished with Swarovski crystals which blended so perfectly with her skin that she looked completely washed out. Angelina Jolie wore a nude Elie Saab dress which brought a certain shimmer to the red carpet but did nothing for her figure. Another disappointment in a nude gown was Jessica Biel who wore a straight cut strapless Chanel Couture gown with silver shimmer. Penelope Cruz who usually is flawless when it comes to fashion made a drab choice for the 2014 Oscars. She wore a flowing pale pink Giambattista Valli gown accompanied with Chopard jewels. Veteran actress Julia Roberts also looked like a disappointment in a black sleeveless lace dress from Givenchy with a peplum.

The men too were not to be left behind when it came to fashion. In the usual sea of black tuxedos Matthew McConaughey wore an ivory one button peak lapel Dolce and Gabbana tuxedo with a Chopard watch. His co-star from ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ too wore a white tuxedo with black pants by Saint Laurent and a watch by Piaget. Two time Oscar winner Kevin Soacey wore a dashing midnight blue tuxedo with black lapel and a bowtie by Burberry. Nominated singer Pharrell Williams wore a Lanvin tux on the red carpet with a pair of Bermuda shorts. The star of Wolf of Wall Street Leonardo DiCaprio wore a Giorgio Armani Made to Measure black one-button lape tuxedo. Brad Pitt looked like old Hollywood in his Tom Ford tuxedo and slicked back hair.

But the real show stealer was the jewellery worn by the stars this year. Gold made a strong comeback this year on the red carpet along with the usual fare of diamonds. The winner of the evening was no doubt the statement necklace by Harry Winston worn by Charlize Theron. The cluster pendant of the necklace has a feature stone of 31 carat square-emerald-cut flawless diamond set in a cluster of other diamonds. The necklace is estimated to cost $15 million. Social networking sites were abuzz with the 18 karat yellow gold and diamond headband worn by Lupita Nyung’o. She also wore 19^th century yellow gold and diamond snake coiled bracelet, 18 carat yellow gold and rose-cut diamond spiked crescent earrings, 18 carat yellow gold Frog ring and a 19^th century yellow gold and opal ring and finally a 1960s, 18 carat turquoise, gold and diamond ring.

Amy Adams wore an estimated $1.4 million worth of jewellery from Tiffany & Co. These included a 18 carat yellow gold rhodochrosite, lapis and turquoise diamond earings, 18 carat yellow gold ring with fire opal, pink sapphire, yellow diamond and spessertite garnet beads and gold Tiffany Metro diamond band rings. Best actress nominee Sandra Bullock choose to wear Lorraine Schwartz platinum and diamond cluster earrings along with platinum and diamond bracelets worth $1.8 million. A set of earrings which stood out were Angelina Jolie’s 42 carat round diamond drops set in yellow gold by Robert Procop. Presenter Anne Hathaway wore a $ 1 million and 100 carat diamond bracelet by Neil Lane and platinum and diamond stud earrings. Wolf of Wall Street actress Margot Robbie wore nearly $ 5 million worth jewellery by Forevermark Exceptional Diamond Jewellery by Rahaminov that included a 55.26 carat necklace set in platinum, martini set diamond studs set in 18k white gold and a Forevermark Swirl Ring set in 18k white gold.

So this was a look back on the red carpet fashion for the 86^th Annual Academy Awards. The good, the bad and the stunning.