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Oscar fashions described as demure

By: Petra Canan Posted: 02/23/09 10:27pm

The annual Academy Awards are a night for fantastic fashion, and the 81st Oscar ceremony last night was no exception.

The gowns were gorgeous and the big fashion names in full force, but if I had to sum up the styles of the red carpet for both men and women (excluding Mickey Rourke for whom there are no words) I would say “demure” fits best.

The ladies took a more laid back approach, with sleeker silhouettes and colors that were either rich, like the deep red worn by nominee Amy Adams, or soft, from the off-white gown donned by nominee Taraji P. Henson or the slate grey worn by nominee Meryl Streep.

While there were a variety of shapes and silhouettes, many of the gowns were either strapless or off one shoulder.

Overall, the ladies looked clean and chic, with a few exceptions. Beyoncé looked a bit uncomfortable in her curve-hugging black and gold gown, and Miley Cyrus too closely hearkened to her Disney roots in a gown with full skirt of petals adorned with silver sparkle.

The men took a dapper approach with leading stars like Brad Pitt in classic tuxedos. Sean Penn, who took home the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role, stepped out in a black suit with black dress shirt. More modern, but still clean and appropriate.

To choose fashions of a more reserved nature, while still paying tribute to the formality and tradition of the event, was a fitting move for a show that began by commenting — through song and dance — on the economy.

In Seams

Features Editor Petra Canan takes a look at today’s most worn or scorned trends in fashion and checks out what the stylish women of MSU are sporting around campus.

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