My Oscar Fashion Review

Okay, so how great were the Oscars this year? I actually really enjoyed them, I mean the relentless ad breaks began to get on my nerves but they were more than made up for by the actual show. Neil Patrick Harris was the perfect host, his jokes landed, his likeable personality shone through and the boy can sing and dance (of course with the help of the beautiful Anna Kendrick and sudden appearance of Jack Black). I am not too man enough to say I cried at a couple of moments, one been Common and John Legend's performance - it was powerful I tell ya. A few of my Oscar predictions came true, the company my friend works for won an Oscar last night (so I am now officially one step closer to been best friends with Meryl Streep - it is my destiny, I can taste it), all in all it was worth staying up till half 4 in the morning to watch, and I will do it again next year.

Now what I would normally do is praise my favourite dresses of the night and follow up with who I would re-dress. This time I thought I would do it a tad different. I didn't go against these fabulous women's choices - instead I just tweaked them a tad. Just a couple of small changes that I personally think would make them a tonne better. I am not one to against the heavyweights of Chanel and Elie Saab, this is purely my opinion. So, are you ready? Here are my tweaks.

Lupita in custom Calvin Klein 

I am not mad at this dress, I think it is beautifully made and sculpted to perfection. I can't even imagine the work that it took to sew on this many pearls perfectly. My only slight criticisms would be that I don't like the keyhole cutout on her chest or the weight/amount of material on her shoulders. The hole in the chest is way too distracting and I think actually cheapens the look, and lemme tell you there would be nothing cheap about this dress. The weight on the shoulders to me looks like a mistake, last minute decision to not have sleeves so her stylist bunched them up to create the almost cowl neck appearance. 

So what I did was I filled in the hole with more pearls, I slimmed down the material on the shoulders and for fun I filled in the neckline, bringing it right up to the chin almost. It was an experiment but I like the results.  

Zoe in custom Atelier Versace 
This dress didn't need much to make it better. It is classic Versace where it clings in all the right places with good structure around the chest and stomach. For someone who had twins not 2 seconds ago we have to applaud the body. There is just one big no no for me here - I can not stand spaghetti straps! They are ugly, cheap and you can be the thinnest person in the world but they will cut in to your shoulders, creating 2 lumps on each shoulder where it has pushed down all skin and muscle and separated it like Moses and the red sea. Plus you will forever be pulling them up.
All I did was remove the straps and you have to agree it looks so much better, the décolletage looks super hot now it hasn't been split in 3. Also a little cheeky thing I did was lift the underarms of the dress just to create a more flattering neckline.

Julianne in Chanel
I will never hate on this woman, the work she does is outstanding and that award had her name engraved on it for years now - it just had to be the right moment. My only issue with her dress was the band that ran around her hips. It elongated her torso, which I don't believe any woman in the entire world has requested from her designer. She almost has no shape in this dress, could have been the intention, but this woman has a banging body - ya got it ya flaunt it.
All I did was raise the band to her waist. I didn't bring in her waist to emphasize it, the illusion did the work for me. Doesn't it look so much better. It gives her a shorter more natural torso and legs for days. Winner.

Emma in Elie Saab
Emma can't do no wrong in my eyes, she is an example of human excellence. This dress however ... I just don't get the colour choice. I mean how would you even describe it? First of all is green or yellow? I just don't get it. The dress is beautiful don't get me wrong, the colour just doesn't give it justice. Elie Saab is a fashion house I have admired for years, the create dresses of such beauty, the epitome of feminine , so delicate - I couldn't admire them more.
I just made one simple change -  the colour. I took it from the drab yellow/green and make it a soft pink. I feel this colour compliments Emma's skin colour and hair colour so much more, it adds to the fantasy element and lets face it -  red hues were a popular colour of choice last night.

Nicole in Louis Vuitton
She is always one the people I look out for on E! Red Carpet Live. She is a fashion girl at the end of the day. She pushes the envelope with her choices and I have huge respect and admiration for that. This dress though, I love in parts and just scratch my head at others. I will start with what I like; the material, I know a lot of people won't like it or understand why. Let me let you in on a secret, you don't have to understand. Thats what make fashion fun. I like it because it is different, it doesn't require any accessories because it already is the star of the ensemble. That slit! It is perfect. Just the right height, just the right placement, enough said. What I don't like are the accessories. What is that belt? It looks like she spilt on her dress, ran to a haberdashery store before the awards, saw some shocking ribbon to distract from said spillage and strut on the carpet. It just doesn't work. Once again I applaud her choices, but even the Queen trips sometimes.
So what I changed was obviously the belt, I enjoyed the placement and the simplicity so I didn't get rid of it, instead I think a black belt would have worked so much better. It adds a more polished, finished look that I think the Oscar's asks for. Also a little change I did was a created a sweetheart neckline, I was just experimenting and I think it works. It is a very boom boom boom dress, there wasn't any extra pizazz or flirty element, and I think it is now elevated with just simple changes.

My Oscar Predictions and Wants

Here it is, it's the big one. The Award show that every one who loves films will watch, anyone in the film industry will watch and anyone wanting to slag off a gorgeous actresses' fashion choice will watch.  It's the 87th Academy Awards! Before I give my opinion I must admit something; I haven't seen all the films I am about to talk about. However, I have seen all the trailers so that's kind of the same thing.

BEST PICTURE

"American Sniper"
"Birdman"
"Boyhood"
"The Grand Budapest Hotel"
"The Imitation Game"
"Selma"
"The Theory of Everything"
"Whiplash"

For me one of the best films of the year has been snubbed. I thought 'Wild' starring Reese Witherspoon was completely ignored. It was a beautiful film, amazing locations, a deep emotional story and outstanding performances. Anyway, the winner of this category has to be 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' - it was absolutely stunning. It made me laugh, made me emotional and my days the cinematography was unmatched. I also wouldn't be mad if 'Boyhood' won, if we want to award a film then we have to take in consideration the process it took. This film took 12 years to create after the genius idea of using the same actors throughout the years was thought up.  Instead of these different places of time having to be created for the screen, the director used the actual time.

BEST ACTOR

Steve Carrell, "Foxcatcher"
Bradley Cooper, "American Sniper"
Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Imitation Game"
Michael Keaton, "Birdman"
Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything"

I have to give it to Eddie Redmayne for this one, in what could be described as a boring film with an unlikeable list of characters he shone! His transformation into Prof. Stephen Hawking was exceptional, I have to admit I got lost in the character, I didn't see Eddie anymore and guess that was the point, so job well done there. He is going to be a legendary British actor in years to come, I can see it now - plus that face is a bit oosh! I talked about 'Wild' been snubbed before so I might carry on the trend. A couple of actors who I believe were snubbed are Andy Serkis and Toby Kebbell for their work on 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes'. Stay with me here, I know they played almost non speaking apes but they were amazing! Think about it, they played apes to the point that it was hard to even consider that apes weren't used. I know it was heavily reliant on CGI but at the end of the day it was Serkis and Kebbell doing the work, the computers added fur and an ape face to it. The Academy has to start recognising these types of acting as worthy of an award.

BEST ACTRESS

Marion Cotillard, "Two Days, One Night"
Felicity Jones, "The Theory of Everything"
Julianne Moore, "Still Alice"
Rosamund Pike, "Gone Girl"
Reese Witherspoon, "Wild"

I think we all know Julianne Moore will win this, I mean she should start looking for a safe route towards the stage and have a speech prepared now - with none of this 'I wasn't expecting this' crap. She is an outstanding actress and someone I hope to be as I grow up. Anyway, I don't think we should discredit Reese Witherspoon quite so fast. In my opinion she gave one of the best performances of the year and as an actress she really pushed herself. It was her alone on the screen most of the time, telling this amazing story of growth and escape. Plus I have only seen the trailer to 'Cake', and I absolutely love all the attention it has brought to Jennifer Aniston but it would have been lovely for her to get a nod. As the Millennial Generation it would be great to see the star of one of the shows that made my childhood finally be recognised for something other than Rachel Greene.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Robert Duvall, "The Judge"
Edward Norton, "Birdman"
Ethan Hawke, "Boyhood"
Mark Ruffalo, "Foxcatcher"
J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash"

Having only seen one of these films I can only give the award to Ethan Hawke, and it is completely deserved; he dedicated 12 years to this film playing the same character. He was believable as the father of 3 who loves his kids and just wants them to be great. I do however feel like Tony Revolori as 'Zero' from 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' was snubbed. As a newcomer in a star studded cast he really shined, his dry approach to the role shouldn't be taken for granted, he made this character great, loveable and the perfect sidekick to Ralph Fiennes.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood"
Laura Dern, "Wild"
Keira Knightley, "The Imitation Game"
Emma Stone, "Birdman"
Meryl Streep, "Into the Woods"

This is like Sophie's choice (get it? Meryl won the Best Actress award for that character. I'm hilarious). I have love for all these women. They are all titans of the field. I have reasons why all these actresses should win.
Patricia - Amazingly cast as the mother of two, struggling with bad relationships, bettering herself through education and showing us how great an actress she truly is.
Laura - what isn't to love? I think this character almost mirrors who she really is. She is loveable, kind, warm human being.
Keira - British pride once again, loved her from 'Bend it like Beckham' all the way to today, she will be a gracious winner. However she is preggers so she already has her prize this year.
Emma - I yelped like a girl when I found out she was nominated. Why she wasn't nominated for 'Easy A' I will never know. Love this girl.
Meryl - One more for the cabinet it seems. When isn't she nominated? She could take a year off, make a Vine video and be nominated for Best Actress, Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Make-up and Costume. This woman is a gift to the entertainment world.
All this been said, I think it is Patricia's year. And well deserved it would be.

So those are the main awards that we will all be talking about and my opinions. I am almost always wrong when it comes to these awards, but if every other award show tells us anything we can pretty much guess who will win.

Here are some other winners I would love to see this evening.

BEST DIRECTOR

Wes Anderson, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Richard Linklater, "Boyhood"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Robert Yeoman, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

BEST FILM EDITING

Sandra Adair, "Boyhood"

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Adam Stockhausen (Production Design) and Anna Pinnock (Set Decoration), "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Milena Canonero, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

"I'm Not Gonna Miss You," by Glen Campbell, "Glenn Campbell: I'll Be Me"

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter and Scott Fisher, "Interstellar"

Jared Leto - An Appreciation

Below I was writing about male music acts that I love, and in shock I realised I forgot one major act who I absolutely love - THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS. I often forget things when I make my little lists and I normally just let them go, but I couldn't let this go. I have the biggest man crush on Jared Leto, I am not ignoring Shannon and Tomo from the band - but the heart wants what it wants. These are my five reasons why I love the man we call Jared. (side note - I could talk about him for a day easily, this is a quick list)

1. Thirty Seconds To Mars

He is the front man for this great band. His vocals are superb and he is an amazing show man. Watch any live performance from the band and you will understand what I mean. The band's music is so special, every song is powerful wether with the message or just the pure power all 3 of them have. Their music videos are inspiring, each one is a mini movie all of its own

2. His Acting

Not just an amazing singer but also a celebrated actor. He doesn't do many films, but when he does my god he picks roles that are perfect for him. He is obviously picking the right roles because this year alone he won a Golden Globe and has also been nominated for an Oscar. Good luck for March 2nd!

3. His Transformations

This could probably go under the heading for acting but I felt it was deserved of its own paragraph. Just check out the images for 'Chapter 27' - that is him! He is barely recognisable. And that isn't a fat suit that is all him. On the other scale look at images of him for 'Dallas Buyers Club', he fasted and lost a tonne of weight. It is scary and impressive how dedicated he is to his work.

4. He Cares

He isn't just one of those celebs that say how much they support or are against something, he actually does stuff. For example his tour was completely environmentally sound, he filmed one of his music videos 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle to showcase the damage of global warming whilst working with a environmental company to minimise their own impact whilst filming and he is often showing support for many organisations, including one that created a law against animal cruelty.

5. The Body

Allow me to be crude for a minute, his body! When he isn't slimming down or fattening up he can be seen sporting one of the best torsos I have ever seen. He must live in a gym when not doing all of his amazing things. I am equally jealous and appreciative.

-You're Welcome-