Sunday night was the 91st Annual Academy Awards and we all know who took home the top awards of the night, but who did I think were THE BEST DRESSED?? Here is my TOP TEN LIST--Enjoy!

1. Gemma Chan in Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2019--Actress Gemma Chan of "Crazy Rich Asians" is THIS FASHIONISTA'S FAVORITE in terms of BEST DRESSED! By miles! The COLOR! The Gown! The Voluminous SHAPE! It's COUTURE!!!!! When Gemma walked onto the red carpet, I almost fell on the floor! Naturally, I recognized this bubblegum pink silk gloriousness from the Valentino Haute Couture collection from Pierpaolo Piccioli shown at the Paris Spring/Summer 2019 Haute Couture runway shows. I loved this gown; it was the perfect red carpet statement I was waiting for. Chan's stylist Rebecca Corbin-Murray chose it for its joyful color and glorious silhouette. I second that: Brava!

2. KiKi Laye in Atelier Versace--"If Beale Street Could Talk" actress KiKi Layne looked DIVINE on the 2019 Oscars red carpet in this stunning light pink column shaped gown from Atelier Versace. The fit was perfection and that GRAND statement of a draped fanned bow was magical! She was styled by Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald (who also styled Regina King), and I loved the youthful color, classic silhouette and extra-ness in fashion terms.

3. Jennifer Lopez in Tom Ford--When I saw Jennifer Lopez' name on the list of presenters, I couldn't wait to see what she would be giving...and she did not disappoint! JLo SLAYED the red carpet with this shimmering mirrored mosaic golden gown from Tom Ford. Her stylist Rob Zangardi of the styling duo of Rob & Mariel said she looked like a modern day Oscar statue. Si! It also reminded of...


4. Michelle Yeoh in Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2019--My fourth place Best Dressed goes to actress Michelle Yeoh in this nude/golden ball gown from Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2019. I loved the grandness of it, the SNATCHED waist and the overall statement she made on the red carpet. It was beautiful, Diva-like and super elegant.

5. Sarah Paulson in Brandon Maxwell Fall 2019--This was yet another FASHION statement at the 2019 Academy Awards red carpet. I loved the bright peony pink and voluminous shape of this silk ball gown from Brandon Maxwell's Fall 2019 collection recently shown at New York Fashion Week. Paulson was styled by stylist Karla Welch. Maxwell, incidentally, will be joining the cast of the new "Project Runway" on Bravo as a judge and since I am a Consulting Producer on the new season, I can't wait!

6. Regina King in Oscar de la Renta--I thought Regina King was one of my BEST DRESSED picks in this strapless ivory gown from Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia of Oscar de la Renta. I adored the gorgeous draping and how the silhouette curved onto the side creating a fabulous slit/opening, and ending in a long flourish of a train. Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald styled her gloriously. King felt she wanted to wear an American designer to celebrate "If Beale Street Could Talk" and its U.S. roots. She also celebrated the Dominican Republic in a way as well by wearing a design from Oscar de la Renta who hailed from there; the film was partially shot in the Dominican Republic as a result of Hurricane Maria's devastation of  Puerto Rico, where they originally were shooting for the film.  The gown is inspired by this dress in the latest Oscar de la Renta Fall 2019 collection:


7. Emma Stone in Custom gown by Nicolas Ghesquiere for Louis Vuitton--I know that the flange shoulder details might not be for everyone, but I loved them and more importantly, I adored the simple column shape and THAT fabrication: Mon dieu! This copper-and-gold sequined gown, custom designed for Emma by Nicolas Ghesquiere for Louis Vuitton was STUNNING and she was styled by Petra Flannery...


8. Charlize Theron in Custom Christian Dior Haute Couture--Charlize looked a perfect fashion statue in this fit-and-flare gown from Christian Dior Haute Couture. The gown was made of 16 meters of wool crepe and ice blue silk and took no less than 300 hours to make! The fit was on-point, as always and I loved the covered-up front juxtaposed with the open back. The squared-off pleated sleeves were a nice detail. Overall, she looked like a modern "Game of Thrones" QUEEN.

9. Constance Wu in Atelier Versace--"Crazy Rich Asians" actress Constance Wu looked like a beautiful Disney Princess in this marigold colored pleated tulle custom gown from Atelier Versace. Wu was styled by Micaela Erlanger and the dress featured a gorgeous draped bodice, very fitted waist and sequined neckline.

10. Glenn Close in Carolina Herrera by Wes Gordon--Glenn Close wore a golden sequined gown with matching cape by Carolina Herrera Creative Director Wes Gordon. The gown incorporated 3 million bugle beads dyed in gold and hand embroidered by 40 craftsmen in the Opera House District of Mumbai India. The beads were stitched together using the aari technique with a specialized thin needle following the lines of the seams of the gown.  Gordon said that Glenn Close "is the Queen of Hollywood and needed a gown fit for a Queen". Indeed.

Glenn Close in Zac Posen Fall 2012: Fresh off the New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 Runway, Glenn Close wore this Zac Posen Forest Green Gown with Pleated Train and Beading. Close decided to add a matching tuxedo jacket to the ensemble, and that is where I think the outfit took a misstep. The dress is nice enough (although I think the color is not great for Glenn)--and her hair and makeup always look great--but I would have love to see her try something a bit more outside her comfort zone. This is Mother Of The Bride--in a Multimillionaire's Wedding!! Your thoughts??? Please let me know by leaving comments below!!!

Desert Fabulous!
The 23rd Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala occurred tonight, Saturday January 7th, at the Palm Springs Convention Center, in Palm Springs, California, naturally. The Awards Gala brought out lots of A-List Hollywood stars (it was sponsored by Cartier and I'm sure they got some nice Goodie Bags, a nice free stay in Palm Springs and lots, lots more...as incentives to show up!).
Angelina Jolie showed up with her handsome husband, Brad Pitt. The 48-year-old actor was being honored at the ceremony with the Desert Palm Achievement Award for his work in both Moneyball and The Tree of Life. His pal and Moneyball co-star, Jonah Hill presented him with the award. Brad was walking with a cane and revealed to reporters that he injured himself when he wiped out on a ski slope while holding one of his twins. Miss Angelina, in case you were wondering wore a beige/putty fan-pleated blouson (she LOVES that silhouette!!) jumpsuit from Lebanese-born and Paris-and-Beirut based fashion designer Elie Saab. Pitt wore a Versace suit...and that cane. George Clooney and Stacy Keibler: Yes, another A-List Hollywood Couple showed up to the 23rd Annual Palm Springs Film Festival Awards Gala--with his semi-new girlfriend! The 50-year-old actor received the Chairman’s Award for his work in both The Descendants and The Ides of March. His statuesque (and gorgeous) girlfriend, actress, model and pro-Wrestler(!) Stacy Keibler, wore a black Alexander McQueen sleeveless and plunging-neck dress with shoulder-padded detail. Clooney's tuxedo suit was by Versace--just like Brad Pitt's (did the Versace PR team sponsor these two boys??) Hot in Black: Actress Charlize Theron wore a HOT, HOT, HOT LBD--Little Black Dress--in the form of this Lanvin Spring 2012 by Alber Elbaz. Interestingly enough it was very close in its shoulder emphasizing design, as Stacy Keibler's (I'm sure Charlize and Stacy were "bumpin" shoulders!). PS: It's ALL about these STRONG SHOULDER dresses ladies!!! The black crepe sheath dress also featured an original cut-out as seen above. Call it, the New SLIT! LOVE. Also: notice her heels: The Stacked PUMP is about to be GONE. It's all about this delicate late 70's Disco Strappy heel... Diva in Black: Black was a popular color at this 23rd Annual Palm Springs Film Festival Awards Gala. Actress Glenn Glose wore a black gown with a sweetheart neckline, fitted bust, godet panels at the skirt and elbow-length tight-fitting sleeves. I think she looks elegant and refined. Although I am not a huge fan of the sheer panels. Often these slightly sheer dresses look very different "in person" as opposed to seen in photos because the flash from the photographers cameras can be extremely harsh. I always advice everyone to take a flash photograph BEFORE you leave the house! You'll be surprised what the camera can reveal! We don't want any VPL (visible panty lines)!! Michelle Williams: The 31-year-old actress received the Desert Palm Achievement Award for her work in the film My Week With Marilyn, which was presented by her co-star Kenneth Branagh. She wore an above-the-knee muted gold satin and sequined cocktail dress from Prada. Again, this dress, also continued the "Shoulder Emphasis" silhouette with its impeccably beaded shoulder-covering torso detail. Oh, and what a surprise: no Super Stacked Heel...instead, a delicate slightly stacked gold strappy shoe. Good job Michelle.