Jeffrey Sebelia's Post-Oscars Red Carpet Dish

by Jeffrey Sebelia Mar 1st 2007 // 1:31PM

Filed under: Awards, Oscar Watch, Speak No Evil by Jeffrey Sebelia

Jennifer HudsonEveryone I talk to is disappointed with the way the Oscars turned out. Everyone either complains that they were too boring or that there were too many train wrecks on the red carpet. I have one friend who was dissing what the woman who was up for most original song was wearing. A composer? You're dissing a composer? That's not fair. That person never meant to be seen by mllions of people. So I don't know if I've gone soft. or if the last few awards shows have been soooo bad that my standards have been lowered, but I actually enjoyed the Oscars.

But before I go into who I liked and why (and on the subject of what's fair) I want to talk about something I think might have a profound impact on Hollywood if it were implemented. I want to suggest that the person responsible for the outfit stand on the carpet next to the outfit ... now if the celebrities chose to go out on a limb and dress themselves then they should stand alone (like criminals choosing to represent themselves in court), but in most cases I think the stylists should stand up and take the claim or blame for what they have created. And knowing a lot of stylists personally, I can tell you that what you will find is two things: 1) hopefully being held responsible will cause that person to do their job objectively and maybe produce less train wrecks on the red carpet and 2) that most stylists don't know how to dress themselves. It would really be interesting. And then that is who we should talk to when we talk about what their celebrity is wearing. Can you imagine?

[To Jennifer Hudson's stylist] "So what did you choose to put Jennifer in tonight, one of the biggest nights of her life ... the apex of her Cinderella story ... the crowning event that should change her career path and life forever?"
[Stylist] Well I went to the floor at Macy's and picked up a turd brown dress by Oscar De La Renta with pockets in it.
[Interviewer] Why turd brown?
[Stylist] We like earth tones
[Interviewer] Why the pockets?
[Stylist] Not sure ... I thought Jennifer might need a practical place to keep her acceptance speech. Or maybe a pen to sign autographs with. Or gum, or credit cards, or something. What if her hands get cold?
[Interviewer] OK ... good looking out (wink) And what is she wearing on top? Is that a silver or gold python cropped mini jacket/shrug that doesn't seem to fit?
[Stylist] Yes, well ... we wanted Ms. Hudson to have some edge and glamour ... you know ... be current, and push the fashion envelope a little.
[Interviewer] Hmm .... it looks like something from the Jetsons cartoon
[Stylist] I see your point....well look at animation today ... the Jetsons were ahead of their time.
[Interviewer] The proportion is all wrong, the fabrication is cheap, and I think that matching it with that brown dress is a bad idea.
[Stylist] Well she can take it off when she gets inside.

Cate BlanchettAnd so it will go. That way someone as talented and beautiful as Jennifer Hudson can accept the highest award of her life, and look the part. And then maybe people can talk to her about how she is feeling, how great her life is, and how beautiful she looks instead of just mentioning that she seems to have lost weight. We should all have outgrown that hang-up by now and be able to focus on the abundance instead of lack in a person's life. And if she chose to dress herself, then we would all know that dressing herself is not one of her talents.

I think in this world that who ever dressed Cate Blanchett would have been one of that night's heroes ... What an amazing job. The fit, fabrication, accessorizing ... the whole thing ... right on. Armani Prive all the way.

Reese WitherspoonBeyonce, however, needs a little outside help. I think her look is too focused and becoming sterile and stale. And what's funny is I have a friend who was a model in Armani's show the night before the Oscars, and what I heard is that Beyonce came to the show, previewed the collection and took her dress right from the runway. In fact it left a hole in the Armani show. Very last minute, and not so thought out ... and it showed.

Anyway ... my best dressed list looks something like this;
Cate Blanchett
Portia Di Rossi
Helen Mirren
Reese Witherspoon

The worst for the night were these
Jennifer Hudson
Kelly Preston
(and E host) Giuilana Dipandi

But then ... who really cares what I think. I tend to wear stuff that most people wouldn't be caught dead in ... ha ha ... the irony.

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Tags: cate blanchett, CateBlanchett, jennifer hudson, JenniferHudson, oscar fashions, OscarFashions, red carpet, RedCarpet

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