High fashion merged with Hollywood on the red carpet at the Academy Awards on Sunday (February 26), with Jessica Biel making one of the biggest statements of the night.
Resembling a real-life—though much more chic—Oscar award, Biel sported a shimmering gold-copper Kaufman Franco beaded gown accessorized with a bold African-inspired necklace from Tiffany’s.
“I thought Jessica Biel looked incredible, she almost looked like a Grecian goddess. She was wearing a gold dress, with silver accents. She had an amazing, real bold statement necklace. Her hair was pulled back really sleek,” said Kahlana Barfield Brown, fashion and beauty editor-at-large at InStyle magazine.
After being at the top of several worst-dressed lists this award show season, Brown said Nicole Kidman kept things simple.
“We’re use to seeing her take a lot of risks on the red carpet. For the SAG she wore this really bold, bright green dress. And I thought she played it safe for the Oscars. But when you saw it in person it actually did have a lot of details. There was a lot of shimmer, a lot of sparkle, but [I feel like] on-camera it didn’t read as strong as it looked in person.”
Emma Stone, winner of best actress for “La La Land” sparkled in a 1920s-inspired gold-fringed Givenchy gown, while “Hidden Figures” supporting actress contender Octavia Spencer opted for a silvery Marchesa adorned with a flounce of feathers.
Diamonds adorned the throat of “Hidden Figures” star Taraji P. Henson, poured into a cleavage-baring midnight blue velvet Alberta Ferretti gown with a daring split at the leg.
Velvet ruffles from Oscar de la Renta cascaded down last year’s best actress winner Brie Larson in an old Hollywood glamour look with a dramatic decolletage.
Isabelle Huppert, nominated for best actress for “Elle,” showed her typically refined style in a long-sleeved silver Armani Prive gown, while Ruth Negga, nominated in the same category for “Loving,” chose a long-sleeved lacy Valentino in the fashion house’s signature vibrant red.
Supporting actress winner Viola Davis poured herself into an off-the-shoulder red Armani, and Charlize Theron went for a metallic look in Dior.
“Chanel Pharrell!” proclaimed singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams, decked out in a fitted Chanel tux accessorized with a dramatic black bead necklace that fell down over the lapel.
“I thought for men Pharrell won hands down,” said Brown.
“He was wearing a Chanel tuxedo and he almost had a necklace on, like a chain necklace. It looked like something a woman would wear, but only Pharrell could pull it off and it just looked so fly.”
(REUTERS)