"Those poor Italian fashion designers; what with the Galliano racial outburst and the Oscars, who cares about Milan Fashion Week? It’s much more fun to see if Dior can pull off the show without its Creative Director and to see what's floating down the far more important international red runway (carpet).
The Oscars – as with all awards events – is a stage, with all the goldfish more than aware that the world's scrutinising eyes are glued to the bowl. If there’s a new relationship to 'out' (a la teen heart throb Justin Bieber and Disney’s Selena Gomez) or the new designer dress to unveil – then it's the perfect photo opportunity to do so. The films are without doubt a by-product of this show, who knows who won best cinematography? Bet you know who wore Rodarte though.
As I sit side-saddle upon my high horse, in my trusty French Connection skinnies and old shlumpy jumper, I feel – as many do – qualified to join the debate that annually divides the dinner table. I say divide but I think the common ground lies firmly under Madge’s foot. Just as well she wore her daughter, as the rest was a typical obese display of flesh - at least her classmate Helen Mirren patriotically dressed her age in chocolate Vivienne Westwood.
Always represented at the Oscars is Marchesa, but it wouldn’t win any prizes this year for the beaded toilet brush Halle Berry wore. Still, less disappointing was the performance of Harvey Weinstein (Marchesa’s British founder – Georgina Chapman’s beau) as the esteemed Executive Producer of the Kings Speech.
Anne Hathaway was destroyed by much of the media but she did wear red Valentino – the colour du jour - which scores her at least half a point. The red front-runner however was the beautiful Sandra Bullock who came as ‘Pretty Woman goes to the opera’ in Vera Wang – it even looks good from the sympathetic-head-tilt vista.
Scarlett Johansson wore violet, wrapped in Dolce Gabanna lace with a keyhole back, a statement dress for a statement girl. In my opinion, she was missing the most desireable accessory – Ryan Reynolds – whom she divorced in December. If rumours are to be believed, she’s been vintage shopping and picked up an antique in the form of Sean Penn!
Serial non-conformist Helena Bonham Carter went predictably off piste with a dress by ‘Alice in Wonderland’ costume designer Coleen Attwood teamed with a hen-night-esque union jack garter. Helena refreshingly claimed that she wanted to celebrate film as opposed to fashion. I’m a huge fan of HBC’s, particularly her ability to set the identity cat amongst the army of faceless pigeons.
It would be nice to see more of a British Designer presence at the awards overall but as these A-listers seem too scared to get it wrong on this lime-lit platform, maybe this isn’t the right place for upcoming designers. It would show a bit of gumption though - and that seems to have been checked in at the cloakroom on their way in this year...
"
