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. 

For those of you who don’t live in Los Angeles, the Academy Award buzz might not be that loud, but with less than week to go, it’s downright deafening here in Tinseltown. From red-carpet beauty secrets to perfect party planning, everyone here has Oscar on the brain–including us!

It’s no secret we live for awards season, and with the biggest yet to come, we thought we’d focus on the best of the best–a no holds barred, love fest of fashion!  After countless google searches and trips down memory lane, here are our favorites (in no particular order):

2008 saw Marion Cotillard make a daring entrance in a mermaid-inspired Jean-Paul Gaultier. Covered in varied fish-scales (there really isn’t a better way to say it), and veering away from garish thanks to its pale hue, it gave off a radiant glow that we’re still basking in.

Traditionally trendy and twee don’t make for red-carpet worthy ensembles and combined together, it’s generally a sartorial death knell. Michelle Williams pulled off the impossible at last year’s award show in a strapless peplum gown by Louis Vuitton, in Tangerine Tango and made it look effortless with a gamine hair cut!

Somebody tell Zooey Deschanel that the indie darling gauntlet has been thrown down. 2012 also the saw the emergence of Marchesa and Sandra Bullock make cap sleeves sexy–if you’d asked a year earlier, we’d have sworn it wasn’t possible!

Charlize Theron has a history  of wowing at award shows–take this slinky Gucci look from 2004! Her hair, the silhouette–everything about this look is timeless. Lauren Hutton gets a nod from us in her grecian-inspired gown, simple belt (you know how we feel about belts) and her fresh faced beauty. 1975 has never looked this good.

And love or hate GOOP–Gwyneth Paltrow knows what works and isn’t afraid to take risks–proving once again at the 84th Academy Awards that she’s a star through and through in Tom Ford. Yes, we know we raved about it last year too, but it’s simplicity and striking cape created a statuesque silhouette to rival that of Oscar himself.

What have been your favorite Oscar looks throughout the years? Leave them in the comments below! Also, stay tuned for tomorrow when we cover the worst (or most daring, depending on who you ask) dresses of the last 20 years!

Photos via Getty Images. 

Today we take a moment to wish some of the 20^th century’s biggest stars a very happy birthday. Songs have been written about them, they’ve been held up as the Hollywood standard of handsomeness and beauty and no one can dispute their talent. Sound incredible? They were.

Photo via Tumblr

Born April 5^th, 1916, Gregory Peck was one of the most popular movie stars from the ‘40s to the ‘60s. The California native was best known for his role as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (for which he received an Academy Award). He was named one of The American Film Institute’s “Greatest Male Stars of All Time” and was named to the “International Best Dressed List”. Honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his humanitarian work, Peck was definitely more than just a handsome face.

Photo via listal.com

With her famous eyes, contentious demeanor and incredible career, Bette Davis is one of American cinema’s most celebrated leading ladies. With more than 100 films, television and theater credits attributed to her at the time of her death, it’s easy to overlook the strides she made for women’s equality in Hollywood. Co-founder of the Hollywood Canteen (for which she received a Distinguished Civilian Medal from the United States Department of Defense) Bette was also the first female president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. She won two Academy Awards, was the first actress to accrue ten nominations for acting and was the first woman to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute. No wonder this incredible woman is often imitated! Born today in 1908, she is widely considered to be one of the greatest female stars of all time.

Photo via imdb

With 75 films under his belt and widely acclaimed by his peers, Spencer Tracy is one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars. Nominated for nine Academy Awards, he received consecutive Oscars in 1937 and ’38. In 1942 he appeared with Katherine Hepburn in Woman of the Year, sparking a popular partnership that produced nine movies and launched their long-term love affair. He has been ranked one the “Ten Greatest Hollywood Legends” by the American Film Institute and his work continues to wow film scholars today.