Frederick's of Hollywood Blog

Last night was the culmination of awards season–and while we can’t say it was the most awe-inspiring Academy Awards we’ve ever seen, we still loved it in all of its tiered, shiny and strangely-placed-darts glory. We watched, we winced, we cheered and we fell in love with look after look.

Whether it was styled in ’20s art deco fashion or goddess-like columns, metallic shone brightly last night. From Naomi Watts in futuristic-Hollywood glam (Armani Privé) to Nicole Kidman’s cesarean-chic sequins (sorry, L’Wren Scott), those who chose to wear it did so with varying degrees of success.

Halle Berry was incredible in Versace, and Jennifer Hudson got everything absolutely right in a long-sleeved Roberto Cavalli.

Taking styling cues from Chris de Burgh–not always a great idea. However last night’s ladies in red looked incredible–with Jennifer Anniston finally moving away from body-hugging silhouettes and into a sweeping Valentino (though we wish she would’ve had an hairstyle to match–the long, tousled hair made it look like she got ready in the limo). Olivia Munn looked incredible in a deep red Marchesa gown. And can we all just take a moment to appreciate that Sally Field is 66 and absolutely killing it in her Valentino?

Keeping the basics alive seemed to be a sub-theme of last night. Blue (in various shades of cobalt, navy and midnight) and white were the two other big color trends on the red-carpet. Quevenzhané Wallis is stunning, age appropriate and her dog purse is beyond adorable. Helen Hunt’s H&M dress looks exactly like an H&M dress and though Reese Witherspoon was going for a Veronica Lake look, she missed it by a large margin thanks to an unflattering neckline.

Jennifer Lawrence and Charlize Theron (both in Dior Haute Cotoure) are a tie for best-dressed. Though the two gowns are on opposite ends of the sartorial spectrum, the clean lines, elegant silhouettes and impeccable styling make each look pop. Meanwhile, Queen Latifah was downright regal in Badgley Mischka. Who was your best-dressed of the night? Leave your picks in the comments, below!

Photos via Getty Images. 

One of the perks of working in the heart of Hollywood is the proximity to hot happenings. And what’s the hottest thing that’s happening right now? The Academy Awards!

The glamour is currently coming together around the intersection of Hollywood and Highland and since it’s just a short hop, skip and a jump way from the office, we decided to head up for lunch and bring you the little seen behind-the-scenes set-up!

There is something eerie and all together awe-inspiring about watching it all come together. Knowing that in a few short days, the eyes of the world will turned to the area where your standing, and that the red-carpet so painstakingly placed will be filled with A-list stars from every corner of the globe.

The stretch of Hollywood Blvd. and Highland is home to some of the best Hollywood has to offer: Weird and the wacky tourist photo ops meet high-end shopping destinations under the shadows of some of the most famous Los Angeles institutions.

The Chinese Grauman Theatre, The Roosevelt Hotel (temporary home to Marilyn Monroe, It-crowd hotspot & site of the first ever Oscars!) are just a few of the historic landmarks this section of the Boulevard offers up—in our minds a more fitting place to host the pageantry of the Oscars doesn’t exist!

Every time we journey past this spot, there are reminders of the Hollywood greats who once stood here. From Bette Davis’s (and many others) handprints to the walk of fame, it’s easy to forget in the every day hustle and bustle that we work in the midst of an incredible legacy.

And even though we know this corner well, we’ll still be glued to the television on Sunday, marveling over the glitz and glamour alongside everyone else–that’s the magic of Hollywood!

Yesterday we featured the timeless, the ethereal and the downright swoon-worthy Academy Award looks from 1975 on. Today, we’re doing a 180 and bringing you the worst (or most daring, depending on who you ask) Oscar dresses of the last 20 years. These are the looks you talked about, puzzled over and winced at–the “What were they thinking?!” ensembles that haunt top stars to this day!

It’s always easy to pick on the ’80s, the decade when all fashion bets were off, but that’s a little too easy–oh, sure we’ll include a few but there are plenty to choose from every decade. Read on to see our picks for the most sartorially challenged, who wore it worst and those who took Oscar a little too far.

Many critics have made a turn back time joke about Cher’s Bob Mackie look from the 1998 Oscars. We’ll refrain, if only because she is an inspiration to us–just know we were very, very tempted.

Before vampires were a red-carpet staple, and long before she was a glamorous A-List-Goodwill-Ambassador-mother-to-6-children and one half of the duo known as Brangelina there was: Angelina, Interrupted. Undeterred by her dress and creepy affection for her brother, the Academy awarded her an Oscar shortly after this picture was taken, and an international superstar was born.

Tilda Swinton exists in a time and space so far removed from our boring mortal existence that she can do no wrong. Sure this dress is included in every worst dressed list from Marie Claire to the Hollywood Reporter, but we kind of don’t care. We just added it in because it gave us yet another reason to fawn over her. Also, it’s Lanvin, 2008 and she looks comfortable *shrugs*.

Faith Hill can and does reign as a country queen (and one of music’s most beautiful women), but this shimmering rainbow number is better suited to a cereal box, where it’s sickly sweet appearance would go relatively unnoticed.

We admire Helena Bonham Carter’s dedication to a look–even if said look started in 1987. That is all.

When Whoopi Goldberg presented in 1993, she wowed the crowd in a shimmering, patterned number with matching shoes and all was almost right in the world–then she pulled back her skirt to reveal matchy-matchy pants and here we are.

It wouldn’t be the Academy Awards without someone taking Oscar literally. It doesn’t matter is you’re the esteemed Meryl Streep (in 2012, no less), the stunning Cate Blanchett (wearing Valentino, circa 2005) or Mid-nineties Lizzy Gardiner, wearing American Express–sometimes you have have to go for the gold. Do you have an Oscar look you love to hate? Leave it in the comments, below!

Photos via Getty Images. 

Individualism rocked the Grammy red carpet last night, (thanks in part to the rules that CBS threw down) making for a surprisingly refreshing evening. With a ban on the bare, the curve revealing and the visible thong, (certain) stars shone in sartorial splendor.

Some (we’re looking at you T-Swift) played it safe in Grecian-inspired beauties but the rest ranged from cake-toppers to the swinging sixties, dinosaur-inspired couture and beyond! Read on to see our hits, misses and must-haves.

Photos via Jason Merritt/Getty Images. 

Yes, yes, yes! Adele can do no wrong in a couch-inspired Valentino with matching shoes. Florence Welch stuns in a risky Givenchy interpretation of a dinosaur and we love every second of it. Plus, emerald!

Photos via Jason Merritt/Getty Images. 

Kimbra and Ashanti both veered straight into NO. The diminutive Kiwi (in a Jaime Lee Major gown) looked positively fairy-like, and while that’s usually a good thing, there was something a little manic pixie about the whole ensemble. Ashanti and Tony Ward may have been going for dramatic, but either they missed the mark or we just didn’t get it. Hint: It’s the former.

Photos via Jason Merritt/Getty Images. 

Now we reach the perfect part of the evening. Rhianna and Kelly Rowland nailed red carpet glamour, sex appeal and impeccable style. Ri-Ri was resplendent in a crimson and Alaia, proving once again that he is a very important designer and Kelly took the rules and broke every one of them in Georges Chakra Couture. Ladies, take note–this is how you do the red carpet. Who was your favorite look of the evening?

The hottest styles, the best-sellers and the pieces you can’t live without–here are the top ten styles we’re crushing on for V-Day:

Valentine’s Day is our favorite time of year, from the delicious anticipation to the giddy preparation! Our Valentine’s Shop is full of tempting ideas and styles to make you (or your loved one) swoon. See what the stars have in store for your love life and lingerie drawer in the Heavenly Horoscopes (BTW Libra, things are looking good!) or find the perfect pick for the Hopeless Romantic in your life. Are you a guy? We’ve got you covered! Visit the Gift Guide and follow our suggestions to find the right present for your leading lady. What are you waiting for? Shop the Top Ten and more at fredericks.com!