I like to think of myself as a cinephile, even though I haven’t been to the movies in over a year. The last movie I saw in the theatre was “Respect” starring Jennifer Hudson, so yeah, it’s been a minute. Still, I am a lover of the art form – besides I frequently watch movies on TV. I love watching movies on TV, especially when I had cable and a DVR. There’s nothing like being up at like 2 in the morning, getting that ice cream I remembered I still had in the freezer and plopping down on the couch to watch a movie: ah, just bliss.
So, it should come as no surprise that every year I am glued to the TV before, during and after the Oscars.
I think people’s number one complaint about that show is that it’s long and boring. Yet when I watch it, it just seems to go by so fast…Okay, truth be told, as I’ve gotten older, I have less tolerance for sitting through categories like sound effects and makeup, but I can’t deny that I’m still dazzled by practically every moment of that telecast.
Ultimately it’s because I believe in movies, and the power of movies to stir the soul, or just make you laugh, make you think, give a thrill—when it’s good, it’s great entertainment. Just getting a glimpse at some of the categories of people that contribute to moviemaking is so interesting to me. That and the fashions.
I L-O-V-E love watching the red carpet arrivals to the Oscars. I remember back in the day, before September 11th I think it was, regular folks could go to the Oscars and watch on the sidelines. And I remember saying one day I’m going to go down there and watch the arrivals in person. Then September 11th happened and they stopped letting the public watch. I think they have stands now, and you can enter a lottery for a free ticket or something like that. Guess that’s the problem with saying one day. You betta start yo plans today ‘cause sometimes one day never comes.
Anyway, my grandmother and I used to eat popcorn, watch the red carpet arrivals and critique the gowns along with Joan Rivers. My Grandmother has since passed on, and watching the Oscar’s pre-shows is not quite the same, but I’m still mesmerized by the fashions. As such, here is my list of my top five all-time favorite Oscar looks…all-time as of right now, because it could change.
Coming in at No.5 – Celine Dion’s Fashion Forward Backwards Suit
I don’t remember how I felt about this outfit back in the day, when she showcased it on the red carpet. I would venture to say I wasn’t a fan. But over the years it has grown on me for its originality to the carpet. Nobody was wearing anything like that back then – I don’t even recall women wearing pants for such an occasion, so to come with this Dior pants suit with the backwards blazer, bear back, and all, looking back I can now acknowledge it with admiration.
No. 4 – Sharon Stone Bridges the Fashion Gap.
Much like the Celine Dion backwards suit, the thing that I like most about this outfit is the proverbial middle-finger it’s giving to red carpet fashion rules. Before anybody even heard of high-low – where you wear something designer with something much less expensive like mall fare—Sharon Stone did the damn thing with her Gap shirt and Valentino skirt and let the chips fall where they may. Turns out, they landed on her being a trendsetter. To this day you might find someone pairing Chanel with Shein, and they just might have the Basic Instinct star to thank.
No. 3 — Jennifer Lopez circa the first Bennifer Years
JLo is one of my favorite people to look out for at the Oscars. Unfortunately for those of us who love her looks, she’s skipped the show ever since she was snubbed by the Academy for her 2019 performance in “Hustlers.” I’m not always a fan of her red carpet fashions, but one thing’s for sure, no matter what she wears, she’s going to look regal. Never has that been more true than when she donned this, seafoam, aquamarine, turquois (whatever you want to call it) Valentino dream in 2003. She was giving Grecian goddess, Jackie O and old Hollywood glam all wrapped into one.
No.2 — Halle Berry’s Oscar-Winning Night
It was the gown that I anticipated the most during the 2002 Oscar’s red carpet and it did not disappoint. Back then I was more partial to the big poofy ball gowns. At that time for me, if it didn’t have poof, it wasn’t Oscar-worthy. Then here comes Halle, with a dress that was poofy, sleek and sheer all in one. Soon as I saw it, I immediately thought the dress was a stunner and that night Halle became an Oscar-winner. Now you can find this Ellie Saab creation preserved at the Academy Museum. I have to go see it in person.
No. 1 — Gwyneth Paltrow Makes it Plain
While there was a time I was really into the big poofy ball gown (still have nothing against it) I once heard it said, wear a big poofy ball gown they’ll notice the dress on the woman, wear a sleek understated gown, they’ll notice the woman in the dress. And I thought to myself, hmm, I’ll take the latter for $2000, Alex. There’s just something about the confidence you have to have to come with a dress with no lace, no bow, no frills – makeup understated and you in turn have to be the statement. Now I must admit, the dress, without the cape is less impressive, but with it, this Tom Ford number is everything! Love, love love!
Watching the Oscars last Sunday, I didn’t see any gowns that would make me want to update my list, but it did make me think about my everyday fashion. Fashion is clearly a way to make a statement without saying a word. I can’t help but wonder what my everyday fits say about me.
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