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| The Oscars red carpet showed us the most diversity of the night | The Oscars red carpet showed us the most diversity of the night |
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| The Oscars red carpet was awash in sequins and lace, velvet and silk faille. There was Calvin Klein, Valentino, Chanel, Marchesa and plenty of Armani. And don’t forget the Bulgari and the Piaget. But the most striking aspect of the arriving guests — in this season of homogeneity among the nominations — was the diversity. While the list of nominees lacked for people of color, the parade of men and women — presenters, performers, guests — in their borrowed finery reflected our popular culture and those who consume it. | |
| There was Common in his white Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo, Mindy Kaling looking old-Hollywood glamorous in an off-the-shoulder black gown with an extravagant violet sash that served as a train. It was designed by Elizabeth Kennedy, a New York-based entrepreneur who has worked for both Donna Karan and Isaac Mizrahi. And The Weeknd was there with his hair. | There was Common in his white Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo, Mindy Kaling looking old-Hollywood glamorous in an off-the-shoulder black gown with an extravagant violet sash that served as a train. It was designed by Elizabeth Kennedy, a New York-based entrepreneur who has worked for both Donna Karan and Isaac Mizrahi. And The Weeknd was there with his hair. |
| Young Abraham Attah, from “Beasts of No Nation,” arrived in a trim tuxedo and wearing Toms shoes. The shoemaker — better known for casual canvas slip-ons than tuxedo slippers — was donating 10,000 pairs of shoes to Ghana, where Attah grew up. | |
| Academy Award winner Louis Gossett Jr. walked the red carpet in his usual head-to-toe black, except for a very large hanky pouring out of his breast pocket. Whoopi Goldberg obsessed about the “building” of her dress to red-carpet interviewers as if she were talking about her new chifferobe. Priyanka Chopra, star of ABC’s “Quantico,” was wearing a white, strapless Zuhair Murad gown with floral embroidery. And Kerry Washington showed off her fashion chops in an Atelier Versace gown with a black leather bodice. | Academy Award winner Louis Gossett Jr. walked the red carpet in his usual head-to-toe black, except for a very large hanky pouring out of his breast pocket. Whoopi Goldberg obsessed about the “building” of her dress to red-carpet interviewers as if she were talking about her new chifferobe. Priyanka Chopra, star of ABC’s “Quantico,” was wearing a white, strapless Zuhair Murad gown with floral embroidery. And Kerry Washington showed off her fashion chops in an Atelier Versace gown with a black leather bodice. |
| And John Legend, wearing a Paul Smith tuxedo, was accompanied by his wife, Chrissy Teigen, who was wearing a fitted, red-floral-embroidered Marchesa gown. | And John Legend, wearing a Paul Smith tuxedo, was accompanied by his wife, Chrissy Teigen, who was wearing a fitted, red-floral-embroidered Marchesa gown. |
| But it’s the big nominees — for acting and directing — who garner the most time and attention. Even Dr. Jill Biden, walking the red carpet, couldn’t get much excitement or attention from E! Entertainment’s Ryan Seacrest, who pretty much just told her to go have fun. Her husband, Vice President Biden, was at the Oscars to introduce Lady Gaga. | But it’s the big nominees — for acting and directing — who garner the most time and attention. Even Dr. Jill Biden, walking the red carpet, couldn’t get much excitement or attention from E! Entertainment’s Ryan Seacrest, who pretty much just told her to go have fun. Her husband, Vice President Biden, was at the Oscars to introduce Lady Gaga. |
| For the nominees, the Oscars red carpet is an opportunity to indulge their wildest fashion fairy-tale dreams. More than the Golden Globes or the SAG awards or the Independent Spirit Awards, the Oscars welcome extravagance; observers expect haute couture — or something close to it. | |
| On the red carpet, Lady Gaga talked about how her friend and stylist Brandon Maxwell created about a dozen possible ensembles for her to wear on Hollywood’s big night, and she chose a white trouser-skirt-strapless-bodice ensemble that surely solidified her transformation from kooky-costume-wearing pop star to serious-singer-who-wants-to-be-a-movie-star. | On the red carpet, Lady Gaga talked about how her friend and stylist Brandon Maxwell created about a dozen possible ensembles for her to wear on Hollywood’s big night, and she chose a white trouser-skirt-strapless-bodice ensemble that surely solidified her transformation from kooky-costume-wearing pop star to serious-singer-who-wants-to-be-a-movie-star. |
| Alicia Vikander continued her awards-season streak of Louis Vuitton dresses, but for the biggest of them all, she steered clear of anything too aesthetically challenging and chose a princess dress: a strapless ballgown with a bubble hem that was adorned with silver sparkles. It’s hard to fault an actress for turning away from fashion’s edge and choosing something that is more traditional and, quite simply, pretty rather than cool. Brie Larson’s Gucci gown was a tower of delicate ruffles in a joyful shade of cobalt blue. And Rooney Mara looked refined and elegant — and sexy, too — in a white Givenchy Haute Couture gown that looked as if it had been stitched from delicate, antique lace. | Alicia Vikander continued her awards-season streak of Louis Vuitton dresses, but for the biggest of them all, she steered clear of anything too aesthetically challenging and chose a princess dress: a strapless ballgown with a bubble hem that was adorned with silver sparkles. It’s hard to fault an actress for turning away from fashion’s edge and choosing something that is more traditional and, quite simply, pretty rather than cool. Brie Larson’s Gucci gown was a tower of delicate ruffles in a joyful shade of cobalt blue. And Rooney Mara looked refined and elegant — and sexy, too — in a white Givenchy Haute Couture gown that looked as if it had been stitched from delicate, antique lace. |
| But it was Cate Blanchett who managed be both beautiful and daring with a pale seafoam Armani Prive gown that engulfed her in a controlled swirl of petals. Of course, designer Giorgio Armani essentially created the art of red-carpet dressing many decades ago. He was responsible for Leonardo DiCaprio’s tuxedo and Charlotte Rampling’s column with a discreet slit and a print that called to mind houndstooth. It was sophisticated and mature — but a far cry from dowdy. | |
| Armani even dressed young Jacob Tremblay, who should win an honorary Oscar for most charming on the red carpet. | Armani even dressed young Jacob Tremblay, who should win an honorary Oscar for most charming on the red carpet. |
| The other gentlemen acquitted themselves well. Eddie Redmayne was dressed in a velvet tuxedo from Alexander McQueen. He noted, however, that he was rather warm in it, a comment that surely stirred no sympathy in all those women in their Spanx and stilettos. Most of the men stayed with classic tuxedos, although several felt the need to go tieless — a move that didn’t make them look cool, only half-dressed. | The other gentlemen acquitted themselves well. Eddie Redmayne was dressed in a velvet tuxedo from Alexander McQueen. He noted, however, that he was rather warm in it, a comment that surely stirred no sympathy in all those women in their Spanx and stilettos. Most of the men stayed with classic tuxedos, although several felt the need to go tieless — a move that didn’t make them look cool, only half-dressed. |
| Jared Leto, of course, stepped onto the fashion ledge with a black tuxedo trimmed in red by Gucci. It isn’t likely to put him into the best-dressed category, but it was a vote of confidence for Gucci designer Alessandro Michele and it put his bold, gender-bending fashion in front of all of middle America. | Jared Leto, of course, stepped onto the fashion ledge with a black tuxedo trimmed in red by Gucci. It isn’t likely to put him into the best-dressed category, but it was a vote of confidence for Gucci designer Alessandro Michele and it put his bold, gender-bending fashion in front of all of middle America. |
| At heart, the red carpet arrival extravaganza is a chance for fashion fans to indulge their passions; it gives design houses an opportunity to put their wares on Hollywood’s most famous faces. It gives actors a chance to celebrate their brand. And, of course, it is a delight. But this time, the red carpet also served as a reminder of all the things that the Oscar nominations were not. | At heart, the red carpet arrival extravaganza is a chance for fashion fans to indulge their passions; it gives design houses an opportunity to put their wares on Hollywood’s most famous faces. It gives actors a chance to celebrate their brand. And, of course, it is a delight. But this time, the red carpet also served as a reminder of all the things that the Oscar nominations were not. |
| It was a chance for a host of well-known actors and actresses — of color to walk in front of a throng of media and to stand in the spotlight. | It was a chance for a host of well-known actors and actresses — of color to walk in front of a throng of media and to stand in the spotlight. |