It’s no secret that I love a good ruffle. Or a frill. Or the odd flounce. Nor am I adverse to a big full skirt. So I should have been ecstatic at this years’ Oscars red carpet roll out, right?
Well … not quite. You see, a frill, a ruffle and a flounce are very easily – ahem – overdone. Now you don’t usually hear me say that. But in the case of ruffles, they should be approached with caution, restraint and chosen with care.
Perhaps the problem was that every stylist in Tinseltown got the same runway report after recent shows? Whatever the reason, the result was of too much taffeta [too much?! did I say that?!] ruffled, pleated and gathered into yards of ruffles engulfing diminutive stars, leaving many looking as though they rocked up a few years too late for their prom. Or too early, in the case of Miley Cyrus. It spells a cautionary tale for all would-be brides preparing to frill up for their big day.
Don’t get me wrong – I loved many a gown this year. And those that got it just right were mainly experienced style icons who know their frothy limitations. And avoided looking like the top of a wedding cake.
It’s no coincidence that many of my favourites were in shades of platinum, shimmering gold and silver, embellished in sequins jewels or palettes. Metallics were a favoured by many stars that shone brilliantly and brightly.
So here are my hits and misses from the red carpet’s night of frock nights, with a word of warning … beware the frill.
The ‘Perry’ Best
1. Sandra Bullock – Marchesa
It was her night – if you are going to win an Oscar, this is the dress to wear. Timeless and chic, she dazzled in a sheath of bejewelled elegance. I love the nod to old Hollywood with sleek Veronica Lake hair and a dash of colour on her lip.
2. Jennifer Lopez – ArmaniPrivé
Breathtaking. Classic J-Lo red carpet glamour at its best. I love the modern sculpted lines of this gown, with va-voom from the hip and shimmering all over.
On some angles, she does look in danger of being swamped by all the curves, but Jenny from the Block knows how to carry it off with aplomb. She also does the best flawless hair “up dos”.
3. Cameron Diaz –Oscar de la Renta
I am not usually a fan of the A-Line skirt as they can often look neither here nor there … they do however tick my box when jewelled from head to toe like this!
Cameron often takes kooky fashion risksthat don’t pay off – so I love seeing her looking like the screen siren she is. Another immaculate take on Veronica Lake hair with a red lip.
4. Kate Winslet – Yves St Laurent
A sleek and very svelte silhouette for an old-school movie star. Kate is gleaming and polished in this perfectly fitted corset with signature Laurent draped skirt.
Effortless sophistication. Again with immaculately groomed hair to the side that works beautifully.
5. Sarah Jessica Parker – Chanel
I love that SJP chose a sleek soft gown amidst afrothy season. It is so refreshing after seeing her in acres of tulle in recent Carrie years, and smart of her to go against the “frilly” trend. She copped alot of flack for this choice, but I love the relaxed feel of this retro glamour.
6. Demi Moore – Atelier Versace
I love Demi in just about anything, but she looks like a goddess in this nude buff shade. The fine ruching is impeccable and the soft frills are feminine without being flouncy and prissy. Her hair, make-up and jewellery are spot on too.
7. Anna Kendrick – Elie Saab
Again I love blush on brunettes. She looks like a Grecian draped dream, soft and romantic. A picture of elegance.
8. ElizabethBanks – Versace
Pretty, young and fun in cornflour blue. The soft unfinished ruffles are playful against the architectural lines of the bodice, which really keeps the gown feeling light. Her hair and make-up are simple and chic, which helps keep it all toned down.
9. Rachel McAdams – ElieSaab
This dress is divine. I love the washed out pastel shade and the print makes a classic style somehow younger and fresher. Her minimal hair, make-up and accessoriesare perfect with such a big print – she looks gorgeous.
10. Maggie Gyllenhaal – Dries van Noten
Maggie is another red carpet risk taker and this one paid off. Again I love the relaxed feel of a print on the red carpet. The simple column dress has an ease that looks like she’s not trying too hard.
The ‘Perry’ Worst
1. Charlize Theron – Christian Dior
Cinnamon scrolls. That’s all I see. Shame.
2. Diane Kruger – Chanel
I loved this dress on the runway. But she has killed it for me. The proportions are all wrong for her tiny frame and overwhelm her – and underwhelm me. A statuesque willow, such as Nicole Kidman, needs to work this dress.
3. Zoe Saldana– Givenchy
I want to love this sooo much. There are elements that are just divine in isolation – the graduated colour, the tight tiny pompom ruffles, the jewel encrusted bodice. It almost looks like three dresses crammed together. But together it just looks disjointed and all the beauty of each detail is lost.
Despite the sea-anemone confusion of the dress, somehow she still manages to look stunning with flawless hair and make-up.
4. Vera Farmiga – Marchesa
She looks like she is about to be engulfed by a sea creature. Very brave choice – and I imagine in real life quite an amazing feat of construction. But the overall effect is too much. It really needs to lose a ruffle or two. Or maybe a different colour that isn’t so loud vibrating off all those ruffles.
5. Miley Cyrus – Jenny Packham
I actually think this dress is very age appropriate. It is a real shame the bustier doesn’t fit her properly. I just want to shout “stand up straight”, but I fear wardrobe malfunction. Wait for the tragic prom knock-offs.
6. Amanda Seyfried – Armani Prive
She is way too short to wear this dress. She looks like JLo’s younger [blonde] sister on her prom night, wishing she were all grown up like JLo. She is drowning in the yards of fabric. It’s also a bit old and serious for her – too space age verging on runaway bride. Her hair and make-up look gorgeous and luminous though.
7. Kristen Stewart – Monique L’huillier
I actually love this dress. Just not on her. This is a very serious dress and way too old for her. And looks as though she knows it. Awkward. A sulky teenager whose mother made her wear it? She could pull it off if she were 10 years older, with a sophisticated attitude and some jewels. This is definitely a case of the dress wearing the star.
8. Carey Mulligan – Prada
Another young new Hollywood starlet gets it wrong. The earrings are too big and overwhelm her delicate face and pixie cropped hair. The shoes are too clunky and heavy.
The beaded detail overthe bodice is actually scissors and other dangly bits n bobs. A bit too fashion/ art-school-project for my liking.
9. PenelopeCruz – Donna Karan
Burgundy is one of my least favourite colours. And the dress looks like a crumpled mess. There’s too much fabric scrunched in all the wrong ways. It feelsheavy, fat and she looks weighed down. She must be exhausted lugging around that cumbersome thing.
10.Mariah Carey – Valentino
Only Mariah can manage to make Valentino look trashy. A cheap colour, the dress looks 2 sizes too small, she is showing too much leg and bust, the brooch looks like a last minute addition, the gold shoe looks out of place … she should just go home.
Alex Perry’s golden rules for red carpet glamour:
So if you love ruffles, big skirts and all things flouncy, follow my simple rules to achieve fabulous frills and avoid serious spills when choosing your next special gown…
•DO be age appropriate. If you have youth on your side, don’t try to dress older than your age– you will just wind up looking like you are going to a school prom. On the otherside of things … mutton dressed as lamb is never a good look [yes Mariah I am talking to you].
• DON’T let thedress wear you. Your dress should never have more personality than you, nor should you compete with your dress for attention. Youshould never struggle to feel “at home” in a dress. Uncertainty shows. If you are not sure, then don’t do it.
• DO consider proportion and the right amount of volume for your height. Too much fabric, too many ruffles, or ruffles that are too stiff or too large canswamp you and be downright unflattering. Choose your ruffles wisely – they should compliment your figure, not drown you.
• DON’T fall for runway trends. Some gowns are made for the runway and should stay on the runway. They don’t always translate onto the red carpet or real life events.