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February 2019

Best and Worst Dressed at the 2019 Oscars

 

With its lack of host, endless organizational stumbles and too-close-to-call categories, no one really knew what to expect from the 2019 Oscars. But it turns out the big surprises came on the red carpet. It was a night filled with whimsy, colour, ruffles, shapes – and SO MUCH HOT PINK. Check out our picks for the best and worst looks of the night at the 91st annual Academy Awards:

BEST DRESSED AT THE 2019 OSCARS:

Jen: I thought Jennifer Lopez was going to be my favourite metallic look of the night until I saw Brie Larson‘s outfit, which I think edges out JLo’s because there’s clear strategy behind it. This is exactly what Larson needed to do before her big debut as Captain Marvel: look great but also like a goddamn superhero who can kick anyone’s ass. She rises to the task with this sexy, slinky Celine that fits her like armour. Take that, haters!

 

Nicole: Emma Stone’s Louis Vuitton gown is elegant and sculptural, with sleeves that look like tiny wings and sequined material that clings to her. I love that the sequins are layered so they didn’t lay flat. It fits perfectly and she keeps her accessories and makeup to a minimum to let the gown do all the work. It a bit of a weird look which is appropriate given the film she’s nominated for (The Favourite, which is also lovely and weird) and it feels like a grown-up choice. Love.

 

Jen: Yellow is a hard look to pull off on the carpet, but when it works it’s spectacular. Constance Wu‘s marigold Versace gives me memories of Michelle Williams’ iconic Vera Wang moment during Brokeback Mountain’s year and I heart it.

 

Nicole: I adore Rachel Weisz’s Givenchy gown. It’s a conventionally pretty gown with a flowing skirt – and then it’s topped with A HOT RED PLEATHER CROP TOP. God, I love writing those words. I’m on a real red tear right now so this immediately plays to my style obsession, plus the contrast of materials both in texture and shape make this such a daring and cool choice. She keeps her accessories tone-on-tone, opting for a black manicure and simple makeup. The headband brings the whole look back to feminine. Again, this weird gown feels wildly appropriate given the film she’s nominated for.

 

Jen: When I first saw Amy Adams I was disappointed by the colour because it felt too bridal and boring to me. But every time I caught another glimpse of her Versace dress, I feel more and more in love. I still wish it was in a brighter hue (paired with a stronger lip), but the fit is impeccable and it photographs SO well.

 

Nicole: Oh my god, Sarah Paulson in Brandon Maxwell is so awesome (I was going to write weird, but I have to stop calling all these amazing gowns weird). It’s the colour of the night and the shape is both unconventional and voluminous but also immensely flattering. Sarah is styled by Karla Welch, who often takes calculated risks with her clients (see also Tracee Ellis Ross in the same colour and volume of dress several times this year), however although she’s really pulled towards this colour and shape for her clients, this is one of the best iterations because it manages to be super interesting and lovely.

 

Jen: Pink was the surprise colour of the night, but IMO no one did it better than Gemma Chan in Valentino. Unlike Linda Cardellini‘s fuschia moment, Gemma’s wearing the dress instead of the dress wearing her. I think you have to be a “fashion” girl to really pull this off, and no one has been rocking couture this awards season as well Gemma. Plus it looks really comfortable and it has pockets (and she was using it to hide COOKIES!!), which always gets bonus points from me!

 

Nicole: Helen Mirren is so hot in this simple, flowing, vibrant pink Schiaparelli gown with a tulle overlay. It’s feminine, fresh and pretty. I’m not sure why people on social media were going after her makeup – I was so happy to see a bright lip on the red carpet. *sets out fuchsia lipstick for tomorrow*

 

Jen: Billy Porter hosted the Oscar red carpet preshow but he stole the entire show in this in voluminous Christian Siriano number. I could watch him spin all night long. Werrkkk!

 

Nicole: When I first saw Angela Bassett on the red carpet, I wrote “wowza” in my notes. I adore the structure of this fuchsia Reem Acra gown and although I wish the material looked less wrinkled, the shape is immensely flattering, the flowing low pony is so feminine and she looks every inch a goddess.

 

WORST DRESSED AT THE 2019 OSCARS:

 

Nicole: Glenn Close actually looks like she is wearing a 42lb gown – which she is. I feel like this Carolina Herrera gown is heavy, not at all flattering and it comes across like she is trying way too hard. When I think about Helen Mirren’s simple and flattering gown and hold the two side by side, Glenn looks overwhelmed. I guess 4 million beads will do that to a woman.

 

Jen: I had high, high expectations for Lady Gaga – if only because I assumed she would bring the weirdness. So imagine my disappointment when she showed up in this understated, underwhelming McQueen, with oddly jutting hips as its only distinguishing feature. She doesn’t even give us a bold red lip! At least the infamous Tiffany necklace is stunning.

 

Nicole: I actually like Melissa McCarthy’s Brandon Maxwell… outfit? I mean, I can’t call it a gown because IT’S PANTS. At the Academy Awards. I was a bit heartbroken because otherwise the shape is perfect, the colour suits her and the cape is amazing!

 

Jen: If Gemma Chan is my fave pink look of the night, then Kacey Musgraves is my least fave. She gets lost in this fluffy, cotton candy coloured mess of a Giambattista Valli gown. Tiered tulle is nobody’s friend.

 

Nicole: I want to love Charlize Theron’s Dior gown but damn. Although it highlights her tall, lean shape, the open back is not flattering and her whole (I’m guessing?) braless situation does not work. I also feel like the colour is doing her no favours. At least there isn’t a weird back strap on her dress like Irina Shayk’s. So there’s that.

 

Jen: No other nominee had a fairy tale narrative like Roma’s Yalitza Aparicio – but that doesn’t mean she had to dress like a princess. I wanted so much for her…and this Rodarte wasn’t it.

 

 

Miley Cyrus Talks Marriage, Music in Vanity Fair

Miley Cyrus Liam Hemsworth Vanity Fair

-In her new Vanity Fair cover story, Miley Cyrus talks about her marriage to Liam Hemsworth (“I think the reason we got married isn’t old-fashioned — I actually think it’s kind of New Age. We’re redefining, to be f**king frank, what it looks like for someone that’s a queer person like myself to be in a hetero relationship”), reveals that she felt “anger, relief, sadness” when they lost their mansion to the Malibu wildfires last year, and says her new music will have more of a “hip-hop-leaning” vibe.

-It’s happening! R. Kelly has been charged in Chicago’s Cook County with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving four people, at least three of them minors.

Jussie Smollett is being removed from the final episodes of Empire left to shoot after his arrest. Empire’s executive producers released a statement saying they “care about him deeply” but will keep him out of the show while the legal process plays out.  Meanwhile, police said that Smollett was unhappy with his salary, and that was why he did it but according to sources close to the show, Smollett never expressed dissatisfaction with his $100,000 per episode salary.

-The Vanity Fair Oscar party used to be the hottest bash of the year. What happened? According to the NYT: “The party has been stretched and stretched. It used to be a special insider event. Now it’s a weeklong corporate branding-palooza.”

-Today’s anonymous Oscar ballot piece has a tangent about banging Buzz Aldrin so there’s that.

-I very much enjoyed this oral history of Hugh Jackman’s opening number at 2009’s Oscars. I forgot how wonderful it was, and I had no idea that Dan Harmon and Ben Schwartz were behind it.

-Meanwhile, this is a great deep-dive ranking of every modern Oscar ceremony to determine what a watchable Oscars even is.

-Desus & Mero spoofed Green Book on their show’s premiere last night and it was great.

-The first trailer for Jordan Peele’s Twilight Zone features Adam Scott, John Cho, Greg Kinnear, Sanaa Lathan, Kumail Nanjiani, Alison Tolman, Jacob Tremblay and Steven Yeun.

Jenna Dewan teamed up with Step Up: High Water star Jade Chynoweth to dance to “Taki Taki” and now I just want to go home and watch all the Step Up movies again.

Ariana Grande made nice with Piers Morgan and people are not into it.

-I find it so odd that Netflix plays the “we might cancel this” every year with One Day At A Time. I don’t watch it, but it regularly lands on critics’ best of the year lists and people love it. Why is it the only show they treat like this publicly?

Fleabag’s new season is already airing in the UK and critics are calling the first episode an actual masterpiece. I need it in my eyeballs!

-I really feel like I need to start watching The Magicians after the reaction from last night’s episode, which apparently turned a slash couple into canon? I feel like it’s one of those shows no one reviews (maybe because it’s genre and no one take that very seriously?), but every critic I follow tweets about how much they love it. This pop culture-referencing scene has already sold me on it.

-Speaking of shows I don’t watch but everyone I follow seems to love, the future of Wynonna Earp is in jeopardy as production seeks funding for season 4.

-How To Get Away With Murder’s Charlie Weber and Liza Weil have split after three years of dating.

Scott Foley and Lauren Cohan‘s new ABC show Whiskey Cavalier is only getting medium reviews but I’m still into it.

-Barry considers revealing his hit man activities in the trailer for season 2.

Elisabeth Moss taps into her inner rock-star in the trailer for Her Smell.

Killing Eve’s Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer Are Ready To Slay Season 2

Killing Eve Sandra Oh Jodie Comer

-EW is really making me regret cancelling my subscription these days. First they had the romcom issue, and now they’ve followed it up with a Killing Eve cover.

-Elle interviewed Christine Baranski for their Legends issue and it’s everything I’ve ever wanted.

Gwyneth Paltrow is counter-suing the Utah doctor who sued her last month over a skiing accident that took place in 2016. Paltrow claims she was taking skiing lessons with her family in Park City when he was the one who “plowed into her back” causing a full “body blow.”

Jason Reitman said that his comment about wanting to give Ghostbusters “back to the fans” just “came out wrong.” Sure.  (Also, look on any tweet about this fiasco that was tweeted out by a girl — just pick one at random — and I guarantee some dude has replied with a link to an article about how the all-female reboot was a box office disappointment. What does that even prove?! The quality of a film isn’t based on its receipts.)

-Oh god. Chicago police say Empire star Jussie Smollett faked the racist and homophobic letter that was sent to him prior to his alleged attack because he was “dissatisfied with his salary” (which is estimated to be $100-$125k per episode).  However this particular case ends, it’s important to remember that hate crimes are real and on the rise.

Smollett is back on set after posting bail. God, I can’t even imagine what that’s like for everyone.

-This is a great interview with Pamela Adlon and the girls who play her daughters on Better Things.

-I don’t know why, but the idea of Drake and Adele spending a Sunday bowling together tickles me.

-Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House just announced a second season, and it will be inspired by Henry James‘ 1898 haunted-mansion tale The Turn of the Screw.

-Sunday’s Oscars continue to be messy. Now we’re learning that Kendrick Lamar and SZA will not perform the Black Panther song.

Dan Levy‘s talked to Stephen Colbert about what it was like for Schitt’s Creek to get the coveted Mariah Carey Twitter endorsement.

-Could a 27-year-old non-disparagement agreement thwart HBO’s Michael Jackson doc? His estate just hit HBO with a $100M lawsuit over Leaving Neverland.

-Ooh, Children of Blood and Bone is getting adapted. I dug that book a whole lot.

-Captain Marvel has passed Aquaman and Wonder Woman in ticket presales.

-I really appreciate this piece on *that* scene between Buffy and Spike.  I remember back in the day how it ruined his character for me in a way that he never really recovered from (even when he went on to do Angel), so I can’t even imagine what it would be like to watch it in the #MeToo era.

-I also like this piece on the issue of consent in body-swapping episodes of Orphan Black, Alias, Fringe and Buffy.

Taron Egerton takes on Elton John in the Rocketman trailer.