Oscars 2012 fashion: The best - and the worst - dressed stars
By Felix Mercado
Felix Mercado is a celebrity stylist and president and owner of Say it With STYLE. Here is his take on the fashion hits and misses on the Academy Awards red carpet:
(CBS) The 84th Annual Academy Awards red carpet sparkled from all the bling, but for me the fashions and host Billy Crystal were underwhelming. I still think Melissa McCarthy should have hosted this year's show. I digress!
While most wish for the opportunity to attend the Oscars I feel this is not the time to be bold or you'll go home wishing you never went! Overall, most everyone looked good, but not great.
Pictures: Best and worst dressed
Pictures: Red carpet arrivals
Pictures: Highlights from the Oscars ceremony
Pictures: Stars in the press room
Complete Coverage: The 84th Academy Awards
This is the Oscars, people... NOT the Golden Globes! Sigh... so here are my red-carpet picks for the best and worst:
Best Dressed
Michelle Williams. One word - spectacular! She was jaw-dropping in a coral, strapless, peplum, tiered number by Louis Vuitton. While there are a lot of details on this dress, it's just perfect. I also love the fact that she didn't wear earrings and opted for a necklace instead. With hair that short, earrings bigger than the size of a pin can go very wrong very fast.
Milla Jovovich. The Oscars presenter wowed in a white, bejeweled, one-shouldered gown by Elie Saab Couture. Words cannot describe how absolutely stunning this dress is on her. Other celebrities need to take notes from Milla - she knocked the stiletto out of the park!
Octavia Spencer. This is the absolute best she's ever looked. Flawless, but predictable, in Tadashi Shoji, her go-to designer throughout this awards season. This is a perfect dress for a plus-size woman - pulls you in to give the illusion of a hourglass shape. Wonder how many pair of Spanx she's wearing underneath, though. Ouch!
Ellie Kemper. The "Bridesmaids" star looked gorgeous in an Armani Prive copper strapless number. There wasn't one thing wrong with her look or the dress. Just perfect!
Jennifer Lopez. She looked unbelievable in her Zuhair Murad dress with a plunging neckline. Ladies, if you're going through a breakup or divorce, this is how you're supposed to look. Take notes and make your ex gag.
Sean "Diddy" Combs. While I'm not a huge fan of his, I must say he looked handsome, for a change!
Pharrell Williams. He looked dapper in a three-piece tuxedo.
Jean Dujardin. Great looks, great accent and handsome in a tuxedo... what more can this fashionista ask for?
Worst Dressed
Melissa McCarthy. The best supporting actress nominee she was a hot mess in her Grecian-inspired gown. Marina Rinaldi should be beaten with that dress. Plus-size fashion is supposed to complement, not insult! I'm offended!
Emma Stone. "The Help" star was a red alert in her Giambattista Valli costume. Big bows, bold color and volume rarely work well together, and this dress is a perfect example of what NOT to wear to the Oscars.
Viola Davis. She wore a hunter green Vera Wang. Unfortunately the dress had way too many competing elements (pleats, embellished details, biased seams) and I hated everything about her hair! This is the one event at which extreme anything is a NO-NO!
Anna Faris. She was a total miss in Diane von Furstenberg. Sorry, Anna, but you looked like an overdressed showgirl with bad hair.
Lea Thompson. She was a mess in in entirely too much metallic. She looked as though a gigantic sequin was swallowing her whole.
Berenice Bejo. Her Elie Saab, seafoam green, vintage-inspired dress was underwhelming. This dress would have looked so much better on Tilda Swinton... and that isn't a compliment!
Jonah Hill. The all-black thing just didn't work for him or me!
