2008 Oscars® Spotlight

Penelope Cruz walks the Red Carpet at the 79th Academy Awards

Golden Oscar glam

by Constance Droganes

Designers worth their sketch pads know what a golden Oscar night can mean. Global publicity. The chance for newer, cult-followed designers to vault from obscurity to household names. It can all happen within hours of a Hollywood A-lister walking the red carpet in one of their glam gowns.

Just think of Elie Saab. In 2002, the emerging Lebanese designer became an overnight hit when Halle Berry wore his gown while accepting her “Monster’s Ball” Oscar. Red-carpet exposure has also helped confer instant celebrity on such designers as Randolph Duke, Vera Wang and Narciso Rodriguez.

“The red carpet is a challenge for the designer and the stylist,” says Marcy Medina, the West Coast Bureau Chief of Women’s Wear Daily. “For them it’s all about how do we make this person look amazing and then get credit for it?”

For Oscar-bound celebrities, however, it’s all about selling their image to the world.

Celebrity know-how
A great red-carpet entrance starts with the celebrity themselves, says Medina. “If a star knows what they like they won’t let a stylist tell them what to wear. These women usually look the best on the red carpet because they own the looks they wear.”

Penelope Cruz is one such example. “She knows what she likes. She uses a stylist to help her find a gown, but ultimately she’s in charge and it shows.”

Going the glam distance
When Oscar-ready actresses walk the red carpet, that moment represents a natural progression of looks they’ve worked on throughout award show season.

“The Oscars are like football’s Super Bowl,” says Medina. “Celebrities save up for that big Oscar gown moment, when they’ll wear something they wouldn’t have chosen for the SAG awards or the Golden Globes.”

Once again Medina points to Cruz. “Look at what she wore throughout 2007. There were big skirts, body-conscious gowns. Clearly she and her team mapped out what she would wear for the entire season and went with that.”

Oscar’s new fashion babes
“Of this year’s possible Oscar nominees Cate Blanchett is definitely one to watch,” says Medina. “She’s not a breakout fashion star. But she’s always got a great look, much like Angelina Jolie. People always know she’ll look fantastic on the red carpet.”

Keira Knightly, W magazine’s most recent cover girl, is Medina’s young Hollywood pick. “No matter what she wears Keira always turns out real A-lister style.”

Marion Cotillard, the Golden Globe winning star of "La Vie En Rose," could also score serious Oscar fashion points in 2008. “She’s new to Americans, but the French adore her,” says Medina. “She’s like an ingénue, but she’s not really because she’s in her thirties. People will definitely be watching what she wears to the Oscars.

Red carpet ready
When it comes to Academy Award fashions, some trends are golden. Others are not. For Medina, these red-hot runway influences should make a strong style statement on Oscar night.

Body talk
“Last year it was all about strapless and showing off the shoulders and décolleté,” says Medina. “The focus this year, however, is on body-conscious dressing that accentuates the waist.”

Neck and neck
“I think we’ll see a lot more interest around the neck at this year’s Oscars,” says Medina. “Halters, asymmetrical necklines, bows up top. This trend should be a big one on the red carpet.”

Sheer delights
From Alexander McQueen to Marc Jacobs, sheer spring fabrics were a major runway force and should influence Oscar looks in a big way. “Sheer is huge,” says Medina. “It will translate well to Oscar gowns because you’re using mesh, chiffon and other fabrics that are a little diaphanous.”

Colour confidential
In a season where neon hues and subdued neutrals coexisted on runways, Medina says a few colours could be key Oscar basics. “Black, white and metallic colours are always going to be big, as will gold. It’s so reminiscent of old Hollywood.”

Print it
Big, painterly floral prints were spring staples at Carolina Herrera, Balenciaga and at Dolce & Gabbana. But Medina says they won’t fly on the red carpet. “Prints look busy and photograph a little strangely. As a big, all-over red carpet look they don’t translate very well.

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