Red carpet at the Oscars: Red wine beats feeling blue

Too much blue makes a bad prom. Especially when it’s on the turquoise or peculiar design side as were three to four gowns strutted on the 500-foot red carpet Sunday evening.

Oscar night fashion for 2010 would have been better had there been, overall, more gowns like Penelope Cruz's -- wine red with cascading design. Anna Kendrick showed well in a blushy pale pink cascaded gown and Vera Farmiga in the swirling red cascade gown. George Clooney and Carey Mulligan get nods for personality. Clooney, before hitting the red carpet, took the time to go by the fenced out crowd that didn’t have a chance of getting into the show or hardly to get a look at the actors, and signing autographs and greeting them by hitting the pavement (although he seemed dour once ceremonies began -- called out for his serious mood by Alec Baldwin from the stage). Mulligan,  acknowledged what most every girl will go through. Even when told she has one of the hairstyles of the year, she stated she wanted to grow it out but kept having to keep it that way.

 

Matt Damon is a favorite return. Even in just a classic suit, he’s a standout.

Nicole Richie and Kendrick matched the rain that started early into the pre-show, Richie in a flattering silvery gown with a nod to culture and a rectangular open back.

It wouldn’t be a red carpet night without Sigourney Weaver in style that doesn’t sway far from what makes her ready to enjoy an evening whether or not that something is in the vein with what everyone else is wearing. Sunday was no exception, with something not everyone would choose, though the red with black accents still conveyed a classic Weaver look. It also would not be a red carpet night without Maggie Gyllenhall being one of those who can pull off any print, patterned or abstract gown beautifully. She shined in a silver, blue and black splashed abstract paintbrush-like, patterned strapless. It showed  charisma, just like she does.

Class would also be served better with a few friendlier on-carpet interviews to the announcers as in the case of Sandra Bullock and Meryl Streep.

Fashion and good attitude go together, and neither should be lacking.

Bullock’s choice of flowing hair with a comeback of the red lipstick was classic film mixed with classic fairy tale, but the gown was a little too reminiscent of Oscar gowns past. Streep’s updo was also a show-stopper.

Another showstopper of the evening worth noting was Sarah Jessica Parker, coupling a nice updo and a Chanel-made, pleated, glittery sheath gown bordered up top with silvery flower pattern and matching makeup.

While the red carpet crowd took some criticism for the posing, it worked for some, especially like Parker and Gyllenhall.

Sam Worthington was noticeable in a nice pleated shirt beneath the suit. Miley Cyrus had one of the best make-up showings.

Slits and trains were popular with most dresses. Smaller chandelier earrings were the scene rather than the larger, hoopy ones that were on the carpet.

Designers could have made better choices for the quite versatile “Avatar” star Zoe Saldana who wore instead an oddity that poodled out on the bottom into a strange rainbow of purple to black.

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KEY NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2010 OSCARS: