FIRST of all, this year’s Best Actress, Marion Cottilard, stole my heart. I could do without the fish fin motif on her gown but she’s stunningly gorgeous, her speech was a study in Gallic charm, and I’m in love:
Also a study in absolute elegance and soignee gorgeousosity from across the pond, I give you the incomparable Helen Mirren, who looked even more splendid this year than she did last (and who thought such a thing was possible?):
(THAT’s how you wear red lipstick, kids, and she looked much better on the stage). Cameron Diaz, get on out of town with your drunken pronunciation, inelegant carriage and your death-colored lipstick. Step out the way and let the real stars show you how it’s done, honey.
As for the rest of the crowd, we were a bit tired of seeing so many black gowns that reminded PeaceBang of a community theatre production of “The Merry Widow.” Penelope Cruz, I’m lookin’ at you. Jen Garner’s was nice, but I’m not so into the tatty bottom thing.
Tilda Swinton can do whatever she wants in my book. She’s a true fashion eccentric and she’s riveting. Anyone who could casually turn her Oscar speech into an absurdist riff on George Clooney’s “Batman” era has my attention and respect. She’s a big, weird, fabulous clothes hanger of a woman with some of the greatest bone structure God ever gave to one woman.
Also a winner in the “Know Thyself” PeaceBang Tribute is writer Diablo Cody, a former exotic dancer who won for Best Screenplay for “Juno” and who did a sort of Pebbles Flintstone look for herself. I LOVE that she shunned a pair of famous designer shoes as a “cheesy publicity ploy” and opted for gold flats.
It was unfortunate that the minimally-talented, over-exposed Anne Hathaway made her presenter’s appearance in a de trop red gown 
only to be followed by the luminescent Katherine Heigl in a second memorable red gown. Heigl may as well have had a banner across her chest reading, “HERE’s how you do a red gown, Hathaway!” Indeed, Miss Heigl. Indeed.
Jon Stewart did a marvelous job, and the cutest moment of the evening was when he brought the adorable little songstress from “Once” back onstage to give her a chance to give her acceptance speech without being cut off by the infernal Bill Conti (love ya, Bill, we know you’re under strict orders from the producers — but in the future, cut off gushy Julia Robertses or Halle Berrys or whining, indulgently weepy Gwynny Paltrows, not sweet girls from Ireland who still have some perspective about themselves and what the award really means).
Okay, but can we talk about Katherine Heigl’s makeup? What was going on there? [Bad lighting or shadow; she looked incandescent indoors under the proper lighting. – PB]
I didn’t see the Oscars at all, but looks like a lot of red dresses were there. Who on earth is Marion Cotillard? Did the Brits win everything this year? I already know that Cate Blanchett looked stunning; she always does, but then I’m biased because she’s one of my favorites.
I think Helen Mirren winds hands-down for classiest, followed closely by Katherine Heigl.
I’m a brand-new “Beauty Tips” addict! I’ve already learned a lot and even wore makeup to church this week for the first time! (I’ve been really afraid I would mess it up, so I’ve avoided it, but you gave me the courage!) Thanks for providing such a fun passtime.
Here’s my burning question: where, oh where, are the accolades for the gorgeous Ruby Dee? She is in her *eighties*, mind you, a national treasure, and she is spectacular.
(That’s not directed at you personally, PB… I’m just lamenting… I can’t find one photo of her, anywhere, and I live in a cave with no television).
P.S. Helen Mirren really does look divine.
Peg, here’s the one photo I found of Ruby Dee from imdb.com.
PB – I finally saw the pic of Tilda Swinton. Oh my god – that dress is horrible!!! She looked like the Grim Reaper of the Borgs. But maybe she is a class unto herself, like Bjork.
I also liked Hathaway’s dress more than Heigl’s, which seemed kind of old fashioned, Oscar Statue-esque. Hathaway’s look was both fresher and more old-world.
Nicole Kidman’s dress was boring, and then the necklace was CRAZY! Who needs over 1000 carats of diamonds on their neck.
And why doesn’t Cameron Diaz ever do her hair?
And heaven only knows why Jessica Alba is so famous these days (haven’t all of her movies been crappy? I don’t know; I’ve never seen any because they all look so … crappy), but at least SOMEBODY (female) wore purple.
I absolutely loved Helen Mirren’s dress.
Here is a link to a full length photo of Ruby Dee from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
http://www.jsonline.com/site/photographerphotos/gallery.aspx?catid=1070
She does look fabulous.
I LOVED Amy Adams’ green dress. So pretty.
CC
PB, all a matter of taste isnt it? I also had the exact opposite view of Hathaway/Heigl Loved the darker red. But then was it Heigl who got to podium and said she was terrible at this or was really nervous? Could be charming, to me I wanted to say Girl, act like you have been here before! (just a lesson in poise I thought)
Also a lesson learned: If you ever have to walk on stage with a big necklace, maybe practice and evaluate asymmetric breast capturing. I loved Nicole but I cringed and wanted to adjust her necklace which was askew when she was at podium. lesson learned.
Hope I am not coming across as mean – it was instructive. For people in public eye.
Totally agree with you on Diablo!
love and kisses, biscuitx
Hi Victoria,
I need an email for you to send the sermon I gave yesterday that I’d like to share. Hardest sermon I’ve ever given.
Debra
Thanks, h sofia and Maggie, for the links to the lovely Ms. Dee. Glad to see she wasn’t completely overlooked!
It clearly was the year for red. Those at the gathering I was at agreed that Helen Mirren won for Best Dress, hands-down (though Katherine Heigl and Ruby Dee also looked fabulous–I only wish Ruby Dee had the chance to wear hers up on stage, to present if not to accept).
Tilda Swinson might be a fantastic actress, but she did not have to show up in a velvet Hefty bag. Come on, now.
And did you get a load of the thing that Daniel Day-Lewis’ wife was wearing? Oh. My. She did know that she’d be on camera when he won, right?
I thought the top of Amy Adams’ dress was strange-looking, but the color looked marvelous on her.
My favorite fashion duo were the women who won for best Documentary Short (Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth for Freeheld, for the record). Both wore silver dresses (though they were very different from one another), and both of them looked fabulous (in an “I can’t afford a stylist and a couture gown but, darn it, I’m nominated for an Oscar” kind of way).
I think that this year’s fashion “oops” was the tendency to wear dresses with a stripe of fur or feathers (or flowers) right on the bosom. A very odd fashion choice made by many (Jessica Alba, for one).
Finally, what was that thing on the neckline of Cate Blanchett’s otherwise-lovely purple maternity number?
m
PS-Here’s a lovely picture of Ms. Wade and Ms. Roth.
http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=photoGalleryAlbum&galleryid=1030&order=3
PPS-And here’s one of Rebecca Miller with Daniel Day-Lewis. It doesn’t quite capture that the large crystals in the center of her dress were green, but they were.
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/jJZTRpn1KBD/80th+Annual+Academy+Awards+Arrivals/sRSPREHZvou/Rebecca+Miller
[Thanks for this, honey. Out of respect for the great Arthur Miller of blessed memory I did not discuss his daughter’s HEINOUS frock. I think I’m just still in shock over it. – PB]
oh dear. Rebecca Miller truly ought to have more taste than that. seriously. And dear Daniel looks so GOOD in the link above. sighhh
I will have to imagine a better dress for her to take the shame away!
Well, gotta disagree on a couple of things:
1) Tilda Swinton looked like a corpse wrapped in a funeral parlor’s velvet drapes. Sorry, her skin frankly has a sickly pallor, and the hairdo was way too severe, and that dress was a mess…and by the way, her “American” accent in that movie was laughable. Almost as bad as Madonna’s attempt at a British accent.
2) While I agree that her dress was a disaster, I can’t agree with your comment that Ann Hathaway is minimally talented. While I actually am not a big fan of Brokeback Mountain (it was waaaay too long, as far as I am concerned…a decent editing hand was sorely lacking in that finished product) I was very touched by her work…she gave a wonderful performance, IMHO. Can’t say the same for Katherine Heigl…what on earth has she done that is even remotely worthwhile on the big screen? Some trendy movie about bridesmaid dresses, or pregnancy? She was way out of her league at the Oscars, and it showed, no matter how beautiful she looked in that dress.
I agree with you completely in regards to Marion Cotillard and Helen Mirren, though.
Whoa; Rebecca Miller looks gorgeous in the face and figure, but her attire is exploding ugly bows. I just … don’t get that at all!
Rebecca Miller is not only beautiful, but also quite talented in her own right as an actress, writer and director.
She has no taste in dresses, however.
m
My favorite moment of the evening was Daniel Day-Lewis kneeling before Helen Mirren as she knighted him with his Oscar. Now and forever: The Queen!
And was that a garbage bag Tilda Swinton was wearing?