- Title: USA/FILE: The best and worst in past Oscar night fashion
- Date: 7th March 2010
- Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (MARCH 04, 2010) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARCHANA RAM, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY JOURNALIST, SAYING: "Well, Penelope Cruz topped our list. Her 2007 Versace gown had everything: it had a beautiful color, a pink, looked gorgeous against her skin. It had the drama, a beautiful train, so memorable, it had a great fit. It had all these elements which really set the standard for what Oscar fashion should be. She just looked impeccable. For our number two, we chose Nicole Kidman - she at the time, was married to Tom Cruise - she was starting to step into her own and get those formidable roles. She couldn't have chosen a better color: it was a really striking chartreuse. It is not something that is done on the carpet that often, and she really did it well. She looked beautiful. It was John Galliano for Dior; it was one of his first pieces for that collection."
- Embargoed: 22nd March 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Fashion
- Reuters ID: LVA37TL89Q1MO3ASZF6EYRVCMHRW
- Story Text: As Entertainment Weekly noted, it doesn't take a statuette for a star to emerge from the Academy Awards a winner.
While most eyes are fixed on stage for the contenders and campaigns, surprises and snubs, winners and wannabes, for others, the red carpet is the most important event of the occasion.
Plunging necklines, barely there ensembles, backless numbers and millions of dollars worth of of bling characterize the fashion at the pre-Oscars strut, in front of thousands of cameras and to an audience of millions, worldwide.
The best and worst in past Oscar night fashion has been examined by Entertainment Weekly journalist Archana Ram, who has rated the stars' style sense for the past 20 years.
According to Ram and her team, Penelope Cruz set the standard for Oscar fashion over the past two decades, for the Atelier Versace gown she wore in 2007.
"It had a beautiful color, a pink, looked gorgeous against her skin," Ram told Reuters Television.
"It had the drama, a beautiful train, so memorable, it had a great fit. It had all these elements which really set the standard for what Oscar fashion should be. She just looked impeccable."
Entertainment Weekly judged Nicole Kidman second, who in 1997, stepped out in a striking chartreuse John Galliano for Dior number.
"She at the time, was married to Tom Cruise - she was starting to step into her own and get those formidable roles," noted Ram.
"She couldn't have chosen a better color: it was a really striking chartreuse. It is not something that is done on the carpet that often, and she really did it well. She looked beautiful."
But often the most memorable Oscar looks are the ones fashionistas wish they could forget.
Ram judged Celine Dion as the ultimate fashion flop, for her 1999 "menswear debacle". She said: "There was just so much going on: there was a hat, there were glasses, an ill fit suit, it was backwards. There were too many things in one.
"It just didn't look red carpet appropriate and she could have done so much better."
And Bjork's infamous swan dress, designed by Marjan Pejoski, that she wore on the 2001 Oscars red carpet also was judged a fashion faux pas.
"It just looked off and it just wasn't right for the Academy Awards," said Ram.
Others to be rated in the decade of fashion disgust included Jada Pinkett Smith, Faith Hill and Uma Thurman. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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