SuzySaid.com - National Edition

As with every year there were a lot of winners and even more losers as it pertains to dressing for the Academy Awards. With my somewhat educated eye I carefully took it all in, assessing every look that came across my television screen, and then did a little additional online research to make my ultimate best and worst dressed decisions.

When I look at the layouts that I pulled together based on my evaluation, I see some distinct trends throughout most of the looks of that evening. Pastels, buns (of all shapes and sizes), draping, and embellishment seem to be the predominant themes. Now I'll go into more detail as to how I think some women got the trends right and how some interpreted them so very wrong.

Best Dressed of the night:

1. Sarah Jessica Parker. This will be my longest paragraph as I personally think that SJP's look in this Chanel gown stole the red carpet. The silver "rose embellishments" (as I call them), paired with the yellow cream drape is so regal looking. The design of the dress perfectly accentuates her body by the thin silk strip across the neckline calling attention to her toned arms, and the plunging drape to her toned back. Another major highlight – the hair! It's bigger than life and expertly coiffed, but still appears a little soft because of the baby hairs that were left loose in the front. Lastly I love the way she owned the trend of the stack of non-matching bangles, which so many others tried to pull off and failed.
2. Rachel McAdams. My second favorite gown of the night is this artistic creation by Elie Saab. This dress to me looks like a silky interpretation of a Monet painting, beautifully brought to life by the perfectly placed strips of color. I also love the chandelier earrings that Rachel paired with the dress; they're the perfect addition of glamour to a look that simply is not trying too hard to be stunning.
3. Tom Ford. As always and as expected Tom Ford, in Tom Ford was by far the best dressed man of the evening. As men don't have many options about what they will wear on a night like this, it's all in the details like the flower on his lapel, the oversized bow tie, the pocket square, and of course, the his signature perfect amount of scruff.
4. Nicole Richie. When I saw Nicole in this gown I thought she had found some amazing vintage piece, but no, it's a gown by Reem Acra. The signature mark of this designer is her out-of-this-world beadwork and this dress is no exception, (the entire red carpet I wondered how someone as tiny as Nicole could carry the weight of it all!) The cut is also so distinctive and incredibly flattering without showing a lot of skin.
5. Demi Moore. I thought Demi could not look lovelier than she did in this dress. The neutral peach tone was of course exactly on-trend, (ala Rachel Zoe), and the sexy, silky masterpiece of draping which IS the gown, is Versace at its best. Other highlights were the perfectly chosen and perfect amount of diamond accessories she was wearing, as well as her loose and lovely up-do.

Worst Dressed of the night (I'll try to keep this short and not-so-sweet):

1. Zoe Saldana. Your Givenchy dress looks like a "Project Runway" catastrophe. The bodice is a stunner but from the middle down you look like a piñata.
2. Miley Cyrus. She must have misread the invitation, as she looks more appropriately dressed for the MTV music awards. The top of this dress by Jenny Packham is: 1. Too small for her, 2. Too slutty for the Oscars, and 3. Makes even skinny Miley look "hippy".
3. Charlize Theron. REALLY Dior? Still shocked by this one… I mean who looks in the mirror when trying this dress on and doesn't see the gigantic elephant, (this time "rosette boobs") in the room? Charlize needs to get some honest friends and a stylist, ASAP.
4. Diane Kruger. The big question I want to ask Diane when I look at her in this dress by Chanel is; will you be heading straight to the Moulin for Can-Can dancing after the Oscars or are you going to the Vanity Fair party first?
5. Jennifer Lopez. Pink bubble wrap was an interesting choice Armani – enough said.