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At Least There Were No Cement Shoes

March 8, 2010 by WendyB

Gorgeous blogger Stacy of taffetadarlings came over to watch the Oscars with me last night. I wasn’t excited by the fashion. These days, a red carpet isn’t a red carpet for me if Gaga‘s not on it. I know she’s not an actress, but who cares? The producers recognized Michael Jackson in the memorial video even though The Wiz, a theme-park film and a posthumous concert film aren’t a particularly impressive cinematic oeuvre.

I spent the whole show complaining about the popularity of a color that reminds me of cement. The Hollies sang about a long cool woman in a black dress. Walter Mosley wrote about a devil in a blue dress. Has a cement dress ever inspired art? No. Do you ever say to anyone, “Wow, cement really flatters your complexion!” Doubt it.

Here are some of the women in various shades of cement. Winner Kathryn Bigelow …

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… Kate Winslet in light cement …

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… Elizabeth Banks in ruffled cement …

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… and Helen Mirren in sparkly cement.

Embed from Getty Images

Mia Wasikowska wore cement the day before to the Independent Spirit Awards. Just say no to cement, kids!

Embed from Getty Images

The look I liked the most belonged to a woman with a mohawk who had taken over my old job of lurking near George Clooney on the red carpet. I am desperately seeking a picture of her so if you find one, let me know. I love her hair and want to see the rest of her outfit.

Other than the mohawk sighting, the most thrilling moment for me was when purple-clad Elinor Burkett pulled a Kanye West during the speech for best documentary short. Crazy is the new chic!

UPDATED TO ADD: The mohawk lady has been found! Thanks to Full Frontal Fashion for posting the picture and gorgeous blogger Dream Sequins for pointing it out to me.

Courtesy Full Frontal Fashion. Click for their Oscar story.

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Filed Under: awards shows, Celebrities, oscars Tagged With: oscar picks

Previous Post: « Oscars Memory: Red Carpet With George Clooney
Next Post: Jewel of the Month: Freudian Links »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. La:Dolce:Vita Fashion Fix says

    March 8, 2010 at 8:15 pm

    Lmao @ Cement.. haha… I so agree with you. Fugly, fugly, fugly!

  2. lisa says

    March 8, 2010 at 8:17 pm

    I found most of the gowns yesterday pretty underwhelming. Nothing really stood out–but then again, I was never one to notice the pavement more than the buildings around me. 😛

  3. A@Chicagos Got Style says

    March 8, 2010 at 8:17 pm

    Hahaha your post cracked me up!

    … but… I must say that I like a nice cement-colored dress, especially Kate and Kathryn’s.

  4. stacy says

    March 8, 2010 at 8:25 pm

    yep… not the most flattering color for most complexions! still, it could work with some wendy brandes jewelry!

  5. Brie says

    March 8, 2010 at 8:28 pm

    I actually like the cement colour. Yes, I am a fan of grey.

    And my anti-spam word was: ohplease

  6. K-Line says

    March 8, 2010 at 8:28 pm

    C’mon, I like to think of it as “dove grey” 🙂

  7. Ella Mode says

    March 8, 2010 at 8:40 pm

    I was always inspired by “Lady in Red”. Since a child I thought THAT was the attractive color. 😉

    That wasn’t the same lady with the Chanel bag, was it? Someone hanging around on E! had a Chanel flap just hanging off her body, which is just so never seen on the red carpet—a shoulder bag. I hate those tiny purses they carry and discard for pictures! But that’s a rant for another day. Anyway, I did think something along the lines of her not being “somebody” with that bag (although not poor). How sad though? The Oscars are far too much for the pretty faces!

    This woman also had a big black outfit of sad shapelessness, if that helps.

    BTW I got an error while trying to listen to the Spam word. Probably not a huge rushy deal.

  8. hiyaluv says

    March 8, 2010 at 8:53 pm

    Elizabeth Banks’ dress is almost like a cement blue. I’d say that one is the best of the lot. I totally missed the mohawk siting so if you find pics, please repost. Thanks luv.

  9. hiyaluv says

    March 8, 2010 at 8:55 pm

    I must clarify that the ONLY reason that I would say Elizabeth Banks’ dress is the best of the lot is because of the color of cement-not because of all that mess that is supposed to be a train of sorts… I suppose?

  10. I. Grace says

    March 8, 2010 at 8:58 pm

    I knew we could count on you for a post Oscar fashion policing. Cement! So classic WendyB musings…. LOL!

  11. Eli says

    March 8, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    We’ve already seen everything on the runway anyway…I think they should let the celebrities dress themselves again, then maybe I would watch

  12. Charlene says

    March 8, 2010 at 9:12 pm

    I personally think that a lot of these dresses looked lovely and lovely on the actresses themselves– but I have to agree, I would’ve loved to see more bright colors and drama, instead of playing it safe.

    And Elinor Burkett?? Fascinating, but not. Classy. D:

  13. thebeautyfile says

    March 8, 2010 at 9:56 pm

    I can’t. I just died. Oh my g-d, this was amazing. You cracked me up. Putty isn’t really a good look on anyone.

  14. ms. smart says

    March 8, 2010 at 10:10 pm

    excellent observation. haha very funny.

  15. deja pseu says

    March 8, 2010 at 10:14 pm

    LOL @ cement. I think a lot of the pale not-quite colors made the women look washed out. Especially the blondes wearing nude makeup. One website I saw was making fun of Demi Moore for managing to match her skin exactly to her dress.

  16. eyeliah says

    March 8, 2010 at 10:19 pm

    I know, where was the color!

  17. Kelly says

    March 8, 2010 at 10:35 pm

    Helen Mirren is a beauty!

  18. Tina says

    March 8, 2010 at 10:37 pm

    I loved Mia Wasikowska in In Treatment…more than in cement. When is that show coming back, HBO?!?

  19. Ella Mode says

    March 8, 2010 at 10:46 pm

    Oh I just saw on E! there WAS another woman with a Chanel. This one had a short skirt and looked cute.

    I don’t think either had the mohawk. 😉 Actually this other pursed-one was hovering around one of the actrESSes.

  20. Style Artisan says

    March 8, 2010 at 11:36 pm

    Oh my god! Check out the muscles on Kathryn Bigelow’s arms! She looks like she could pick up the cement truck that poured her dress!

  21. Candice says

    March 9, 2010 at 12:39 am

    Where’s Bjork when you need her???

  22. Midtown Girl says

    March 9, 2010 at 12:41 am

    Next time I’m watching the Oscars with you & Stacy!

    I didn’t get the cold pastel colors either – not flattering at all ;-(

  23. Vegetable Assassin says

    March 9, 2010 at 1:26 am

    I actually kind of dug some of the cement colours, but really I enjoyed the nude dresses quite a bit more than expected, including Demi Moore’s. And I was all about the flouncy flamenco type skirts on some of those ladies too. Oddly, I was pleased with Sigourney Weaver for wearing that colour of red that she sported – it was a nice change and suited her complexion. There was a severe lack of anything wildly creative though, I thought, which is sad. I guess that red carpet really needed some Wendy B. have you heard of her?

  24. sharon rose says

    March 9, 2010 at 2:39 am

    Hi there-your style presence was sorely missed for sure, you would have outshone in one of your stunning gowns!!

  25. Sabine says

    March 9, 2010 at 6:28 am

    They (or their stylists) probably think it looks more ‘together’… But I agree: No to cement!

  26. Joy D. says

    March 9, 2010 at 7:31 am

    my pet peeves: they left farrah fawcet out of the tribute, I don’t care about avatar, and im glad spill.com did a review. I am happy awoman finally won best director, first time ever!

  27. Tor (fabfrocks) says

    March 9, 2010 at 8:06 am

    I have never thought of that colour as cement before – you’ve put me off it for life! Otherwise, I was really underwhelmed by most of the dresses x

  28. Jennifer says

    March 9, 2010 at 8:50 am

    Sometimes I like to wear shades of grey at once, though more when I want to remain anonymous. I was very disappointed with Kate Winslet’s choice. I thought it was rather plain.

  29. La Belette Rouge says

    March 9, 2010 at 9:09 am

    Cement is the new black.

  30. Iron Chic says

    March 9, 2010 at 9:33 am

    Helen Mirren rules my world and she is allowed to wear cement and/or putty if she wants.
    My vote for worst dress goes to Penelope Cruz.
    Bridesmaid-burgundy and too much fabric.

  31. enc says

    March 9, 2010 at 9:52 am

    I saw that mohawked woman! I think she had on some sort of biggish, flowy top, but I might have mixed her up with someone else.

    I didn’t dig cement either, but I was fascinated by the profusion of it. So much in such large numbers!

  32. Miss Peelpants says

    March 9, 2010 at 10:48 am

    I applauded the prints most of all. Even bright jewel tones look boring these days, because they’re all the same bloody style.

    I didn’t much LIKE it, but I applaud Charlize Theron’s boobie-whirls just for being a bit wacky and the fact that she must have KNOWN she’d be ripped to shreds for wearing them.

  33. Make Do Style says

    March 9, 2010 at 11:46 am

    It was truly a builders convention!

  34. Couture Carrie says

    March 9, 2010 at 1:08 pm

    Nice trendspotting, darling WB!

    Helen Mirren looks so lovely!

    xoxox,
    CC

  35. Maddy says

    March 9, 2010 at 2:43 pm

    You are so right! I was not floored by any of the gowns on the carpet. Sure, some of them were better than others. But all the nudes, pastels and “cement” colored dresses were killing me! I missed the days of the beautiful, bold gowns! Where was the DRAMA!?

  36. Sally says

    March 9, 2010 at 3:22 pm

    Hah! Good point, Wendy. Although the sparkly takes on cement are a LITTLE less washy-outy.

  37. Nadia says

    March 9, 2010 at 4:46 pm

    i was really happy that hurt locker won best picture

  38. Susan says

    March 9, 2010 at 5:24 pm

    LOL- I love your writing so much 🙂 however, I am still a fan of “cement” XD
    xoxo

  39. ThatGirl39 says

    March 9, 2010 at 5:53 pm

    Man, Kathryn Bigelow (and am trying really hard to resist adding Male Gigolo here), must have a really HEAVY cement dress as her muscles are flexing there!

  40. Kristin says

    March 9, 2010 at 6:02 pm

    Totally spit out my bubbly when she hijacked the microphone!

  41. dreamsequins says

    March 9, 2010 at 7:17 pm

    They posted a good photo of the mohawk lady on Full Frontal Fashion blog (Sundance).

  42. enc says

    March 9, 2010 at 7:37 pm

    Well, I had Mohawk’s outfit wrong, didn’t I!?

  43. deka says

    March 9, 2010 at 7:38 pm

    i wasnt excited about the muted colors either – very boring!

  44. The Preppy Princess says

    March 9, 2010 at 7:58 pm

    This post demonstrates perfectly why I love reading you… you notice and articulate things my little pea-brain never even considers. Cement is a good word and there was a lot of it, with lots of beige-ish/ecru-ish blahness thrown in. And most of the bright tones were not well designed or well worn, although we did like Helen Mirren.

    Great job Miss Wendy,
    tp

  45. Jaime @ La vie...J'aime says

    March 9, 2010 at 8:29 pm

    Lol I agree- let’s have some color! 🙂

  46. Rosie says

    March 10, 2010 at 4:57 pm

    In regards to dress colours in art: We can’t forget Chris de Burgh’s Lady in Red 🙂

    Allas! The ruffle trained dress would have been amazing in a bright red or a midnight black! Or any colour other than cement.

  47. fashionherald says

    March 10, 2010 at 11:40 pm

    The only part of the Oscars we saw was that crazy best documentary short moment, and I was like Huh, wtf? And then I got all crazy and started a fight with my husband. Stop being crazy, people, it’s catching!

  48. Topaz Horizon says

    March 15, 2010 at 12:01 am

    it’s the fault of all these stylists. i used to enjoy the red carpet myself because you really get a sense of the stars’ style and personality. i mean, sure some of them are dressed awful but because they’re stars, they can get away with it and it’s just so fascinating! the red carpet was a show, too!

    now? no. it’s like one big commercial.

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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