Ahh, I love this time of year- the smell of hairspray and anxiety in the air- Award Show Season. The Grammys are always fun to watch, but the Oscars are like hunting season on the red carpet for fashion, beauty, hair, and all things in between. All the top celebrities are putting themselves on a silver platter (or a cutting board) for all of us at home to ooh and awe and gasp. I mostly look forward to refreshing, inspirational, and elegant ideas for weddings, fashion shows, photo shoots, or even Rittenhouse’s annual gala.
Fashion is all about taking risks. You have some that try too hard, some not enough, and others who were born in Laboutins.
Halle Berry and Jennifer Aniston both looked absolutely stunning, with a perfectly placed pixie and a big blonde blowout, though not exactly anything new here. Kristen Stewart – I’m all about the messy-day-after-my-blow-out waves, but your signature cocaine-chic look is really outdated. Seriously. Kate Moss claimed that years ago. It’s not a shag carpet, it’s THE red carpet, show some respect: relax your shoulders, put some concealer on and wash your hair. Now, let’s get creative: like Melissa McCarthy. Though one of the funniest female comedic actresses right now, her hair,unfortunately, may have been funnier. I thought she was kidding, or was going to reference Hairspray or let everyone know she has recently became a member of a Harley Davidson bike gang. CHELSEA HANDLER! WERE YOU CHANNELING SNOOP DOGG CIRCA 1993?! Murder was the case. And you killed it. Not the cool hip way, the kind that even d-O-double-G would be ashamed of. SMH.
There were many trends duplicated and replicated this year. Who wore it Better?
Pixie cuts are definitely making a comeback, and while Anne Hathaway appeared to be in the in between grow out phase, Charlize Theron was flawless. I love that she flipped up the front to show off her face instead of the usual bang. Speaking of bangs, Jennifer Hudson’s blunt fringe left her hair looking mullet-esque. Kelly Rowland hit two categories- her hair in a top-knot showcasing her feminine, eyelash-grazing bangs. Salma Hayek’s high-bun was just loose enough and bedazzled with a simple head piece to pull together her look. Kristen Chenowith on the other hand, had her hair so tight and high, she looked like Tinkerbell; And not in a good way…I wanted to flick her into Never-Never Land!
A white form fitting gown is so elegant…on the right body type. No one told poor Kimmy K, whose pregnant belly left us, well, EXPECTING more. Fortunately Miley pulled this look off even with her bleached faux hawk and tattoos- like a punk rock goddess.
There were so many celebrities rocking vintage waves: Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Zoe Saldana, Miranda Kerr, but Jessica Chastain took the cake! She was a rose-gold timeless beauty, they should reshape the Oscar statue after her; Maybe even the Statue Of Liberty- (is that too far?) Stacy Kiebler’s ‘fob’ (faux bob) took a close second. The triangular shape was perfect for her face and the retro look balanced out the sparkles. I was absolutely in love with Naomi Watts and Amanda Seyfrieds hair, who both wore perfectly tousled bouffants and pulled back into intricate low buns. Jennifer Lawrence’s “crispy” updo left much to be desired, especially as I was anticipating her usual casual chic style, especially considering she was a front runner for her first oscar award. Her ended up being unfinished and not in keeping with the red carpet style required for the event-don’t worry girl, I’m available for next year! Maria Menounos’s extra large hair was tied down with a simple straight strand of her own hair that wrapped around like a head band. It was super girly and fun to go with her hot pink dress. Jennifer Garner, Amy Adams, and Jenna Dewan-Tatum all had boho updos with soft tendrils around their faces. When asking for a style like this, expect flyaways and a little frizz; not only is it part of the style, but you want to avoid looking like a 90’s prom victim.
Last but not least, Emma Roberts. This style was so simple she may have done it herself: side-parted with a sweeping bang and pulled into a low donut bun. And it was gorgeous. It suited her face shape AND her dress, which is harder to do than one may think.
All in all, it’s always fun to gawk over the celebrities and admire them for their daring choices. Moral of the story, choose a hairstyle for your face shape, not the style itself. We all want to wear the the new “it” thing, but I don’t wear crop tops for a reason.
