• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

Never Is the Next New Thing

  • HOME
  • SHOP
  • ABOUT
  • FAQ
  • CONTACT

Oscars 2008: Best Dress and Jewelry

February 25, 2008 by WendyB

The best outfits on the Oscars were from the archives: Cher’s Bob Mackie extravaganzas and Barbra Streisand’s Arnold Scaasi peekaboo pantsuit.

Embed from Getty Images

As I’ve said before, I don’t care for the self-appointed fashion police. They persecute anyone who does something a little different, only to cry buckets when people play it safe. That makes me feel stabby. At special events “eye-catching” is often better than “pretty.” Scaasi told Streisand, “Let’s forget about that elegant bit.” He was right. Eye-catching means people come up to you all night to talk about your outfit. Who cares if they like it or not? You’re still going to feel like the belle of the ball. If you wear your yawningly elegant Audrey Hepburn LBD, you know what you’re going to get? Drink orders.

That said, here are MY winners from the 2008 Oscars. For outfit, its Marion Cotillard’s fish dress. Hell yeah! Not only did she stand out from the crowd — she also flaunted her sense of humor. A mermaid dress with scales! What could be more fabulous? Okay! A swan dress with an egg purse is more fabulous but this is still good.

Embed from Getty Images

For jewelry, the fashion gold goes to Nicole Kidman’s extravagant, queen-worthy L’Wren Scott diamonds.

Embed from Getty Images

It’s all about being memorable, my peeps. Bring a fan if you have to.


UPDATED TO ADD: Read this for an annoying comment on celebrities playing it safe (after being terrorized away from taking chances, thank you very much) and young actress Saoirse Ronan’s stellar explanation of her gown choice.

You might also like
Flower Molestation: Versailles Edition
Even Better Than Peeps: Easter-Appropriate Jewelry
Put the Blame on Kenneth Jay Lane

Filed Under: Celebrities, dresses, necklaces, oscars, pictures of me, wear what you want

Previous Post: « The Perfect Outfit
Next Post: Anne Hathaway at the Oscars »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. enc says

    February 25, 2008 at 8:26 pm

    I’m in complete agreement with you about what you’ve said here! Everything is right on.

    You and Mr. Paul look great; you both smile so beautifully! And thanks for pointing out the ring, it’s gorgeous!

  2. altamiranyc says

    February 25, 2008 at 9:19 pm

    That fan, lol! Your smiles look so sweet!

  3. WendyB says

    February 25, 2008 at 9:25 pm

    Craig, imagine the abuse a celebrity would get for bringing a peacock feather fan! Good thing I’m not famous. I had the BEST time that night. Me and my fan had lots of fans.

  4. The Maiden Metallurgist says

    February 25, 2008 at 9:28 pm

    I totally agree! I thought the dress and that huge necklace were fantastic. I’m a fan of making a splash.

  5. Wendy says

    February 25, 2008 at 9:37 pm

    The emerald gown you are wearing is fantastic!

  6. Live Fabulously says

    February 25, 2008 at 10:06 pm

    i thought nicole kidman looked gorgeous despite all the critics. her necklace was spectacular – both in the front and the back.

  7. Susantha Herath says

    February 26, 2008 at 3:56 am

    Excellent!!!! All around!!!

    This is my blog about gems and jewelry http://srilankajewellers.blogspot.com

  8. bronwyn says

    February 26, 2008 at 5:26 am

    You and hubbie look completely fabulous together in this pic.

  9. Lynn says

    February 26, 2008 at 7:18 am

    Somehow your dress and fan reminds me of Isabelle Blow… Nice, Wendy!

  10. Lynn says

    February 26, 2008 at 7:24 am

    Nope, don’t want her ghost to haunt me for misspelling her name, I meant Ms Isabella Blow! Oooppss…

  11. lorelai236 says

    February 26, 2008 at 7:29 am

    You guys look mahvelous 🙂

  12. the iron chic says

    February 26, 2008 at 8:20 am

    I liked Nicole’s necklace too but I couldn’t tell if it was all soft or rough and catchy.
    Marion Cotillard’s dress was one of my faves.
    You know who can suck it though?
    Jennifer Garner.
    ha!

  13. Moira says

    February 26, 2008 at 11:07 am

    Exactly right. Marion Cotillard’s dress was stupendous! And I know it’s “the look” now, but ladies, put a little lip stick on. It’s the Oscars!

  14. CDP says

    February 26, 2008 at 11:33 am

    Fabulous post. The fashion gestapo should kiss all of our behinds.

  15. SkylersDad says

    February 26, 2008 at 12:46 pm

    To quote the obligatory Gay dude I heard commenting on the fashions, “It looked like Nicole Kidman ran into a chandelier”.

  16. Blue Floppy Hat says

    February 26, 2008 at 1:14 pm

    The Good: Marion Cotillard, Tilda Swinton (I want to be born redheaded and pale and nearly six feet tall in my next life dammit), Cate Blanchett, Diablo Cody (all my respect to her for chucking the diamond shoes and winning), Penelope Cruz (not as gorgeous as last year’s, but still more interesting than most of the other strapless gowns) and, erm, Anne Hathaway (even if it looked like a darker version of Kate Winslet’s dress the year she was nominated for Iris). And Nicole’s necklace, it’s hard not to stare at it.
    And Saiorse Ronan > Miley Cyrus, any day. She’s bloody thirteen years old, more power to her for choosing a dress she liked and not looking like a trussed-up young chicken in it- green suits her, and she looked like she was having fun.

    PS: You look lovely, is that the Zang Toi fan you posted a picture of a while earlier? I’m getting the urge to go out and buy some peacock feathers now..

  17. WendyB says

    February 26, 2008 at 1:19 pm

    Floppy, yep, that’s the Zang dress from my earlier post. The dress was originally shown with a long feathered train, which obviously was impractical for me. So he gave me a plain train and a feathered fan instead.

  18. Iheartfashion says

    February 26, 2008 at 3:11 pm

    You look fabulous in green!
    And I agree, why play it safe? I loved Marion Cotillard, and suspect she didn’t care what anyone thought of her fish scale dress.

  19. Miss Janey says

    February 26, 2008 at 3:39 pm

    Marion Cotillard was the best dressed. She remeinded Miss J of a fabulous French Mermaid. Yes, Miss J sometimes wishes she were a mermaid, OK?

  20. Dale says

    February 26, 2008 at 4:35 pm

    I go for Bjork over boring any old time. The mermaid dress was pretty damned excellent and Heidi Klum was muy hot.

  21. Judaysia says

    February 26, 2008 at 6:41 pm

    I loved Marion Cotillards dress and her hair. It was waved perfectly.

  22. miss cavendish says

    February 27, 2008 at 10:01 am

    I adore your peacock fan. Did you make it? I’d love to have some peacock feathers to stick in my navy blue beret!

  23. ambika says

    February 27, 2008 at 1:56 pm

    Wow, this post was pretty much exactly how I felt about Oscar fashion this year.

    I guess my feelings were summed up by, ‘Where’s Cher?’

  24. Shaz says

    February 28, 2008 at 1:14 am

    Marion Cotillard’s fish dress looka fabulous…but were is bjork when you need her??

  25. Prêt-à-Porter P says

    March 1, 2008 at 6:25 pm

    I liked the link about the stars in see through dress.
    The scaled JPG, stunning. The vast majority was “Nice” but safe, and promy dres, albeit with mor expesive gowns.
    And u are absolutely fabulous! And a peacock feather fan! I’m in awe!

Primary Sidebar

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.
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

ARCHIVES

CATEGORIES

Facebook Pagelike Widget

POPULAR TOPICS

NEWSLETTER

Subscribe for Email updates.
* indicates required

Original jewelry designs, photos and text are © Wendy Brandes 2007-2016. All rights reserved.

© 2016 · FOODIE PRO THEME COPYRIGHT BY · SHAY BOCKS GENESIS FRAMEWORK · BUILT ON THE WORDPRESS