Because it's all about the dresses, right? Red carpet highlights from the 2009 Academy Awards
Ostensibly, it's all about the movies, the directors, the acting... and who goes home with those all-important Oscar statuettes.
But since Hollywood's golden age of glamour began in the 1950's, when the likes of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly graced the Academy Awards, the red carpet 'has been a can't-miss staple of the evening', according to CNN. 'Hollywood's hottest stars work with fashion designers, wardrobe stylists, jewelers, hairstylists and makeup artists to create looks they hope will go down in fashion history.'
However the fashion at the 81st Oscars Award Ceremony in Los Angeles yesterday brought a mixed response, with many commentators theorising that the recession had left many stars unsure as to how to dress, and a much more subdued tone than usual prevailed.
'Sex was out and understated elegance was in', according to Australian website news.co.au. 'For a moment one could have been forgiven for thinking Hollywood's Kodak Theatre had been transformed for a grand wedding, with legions of actresses this year inspired by myriad shades of designer white and many looking like glamorous brides as a result.'
The Times was less charitable, calling it 'a skimpy red-carpet offering with only a handful of high wattage stars', while the Daily Telegraph said that outfits 'veered between looking like something best-suited to the top of the Christmas tree or... a casting of the Wicked Witch of the West.'
Meanwhile, the New York Times noted how, in these recession-hit times, 'nobody is taking chances that brands won’t get a plug', with designers such as Giorgio Armani sending out press releases describing the dresses they had supplied to stars.
Whatever the verdict, those 'Best and Worst Dressed lists' are just as popular as ever!
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