As always, the Oscars last night were all about glamour. Echoed in the gowns and the bags, Oscar fashion was at its best… and the bags were a big part!
My favorite handbag choice of the night had to be Taraji P. Henson’s Mary Norton Roseanna clutch. The style and shine of the bag made it perfectly elegant for the occasion and a fitting complement to her stunning Fred Leighton necklace. The deep red of the bag really popped against the ivory of her Roberto Cavalli gown, and the addition of a bold color really reflected a fun and outgoing personality. Great choice all around for the Best Supporting Actress Nominee!
Henson wasn’t the only star who chose a red clutch for the evening. Amy Adams paired her beautiful red Carolina Herrera gown with a simple VBH clutch in the same red tone. Amy is quickly becoming a favorite on the red carpet, and I applaud her choice of an understated style with her bag to not compete with her dress or her bold Fred Leigh
ton necklace.
Heidi Klum followed suit by pairing a red clutch of the same shade with her origami-inspired Roland Mouret gown. She chose a red dress again this year as her Oscar fashion in support of awareness of women’s heart health, and I think only Heidi could have pulled off this asymmetrical gown with such ease.
But all the clutches didn’t match the red carpet. Gold was also a favorite of many of the stars, no matter what color gown they had chosen. Anne Hathaway paired a gold Roger Vivier clutch (with his signature buckle) with her creamy paillette-covered Armani Prive gown. I love how the slim shape of her bag reflected the slim silhouette of her gown.
Another celebrity who chose to pair a gold clutch with a cream-colored dress was Miley Cyrus, who (like Taraji P. Henson) chose a Mary Norton Roseanna clutch to complement her dramatic tiered Zuhair Murad gown.
Jennifer Aniston also chose a similar color palette, choosing a gold clutch to go with her slim Valentino Couture gown. Aniston’s less structured clutch reflected her usual style of being a bit more casual and laid back on the red carpet than most.
Not all the gold clutches were paired with light-colored gowns though. Alicia Keys chose a gold and silver Zufi Alexander clutch to set off her gorgeous pink Armani Prive gown. I loved the detail of the gathering on the bodice of her dress, but since the Oscars tend to be dramatic, her choice to add some sparkle with her clutch was a great one.
Amanda Seyfried paired a gold Kotur clutch with her fiery orange-red Valentino Couture gown. With the detailing on her gown, in this case a large bow, she didn’t need too much detail in the bag area. Even though this wasn’t one of my favorite looks of the evening, I applaud her as a newcomer for showing some style drama on the red carpet.
And Halle Berry accented the gold detailing on her Marchesa gown with a bright gold Jimmy Choo clutch. I really like her choice because I really think it helped to accentuate her gown. I don’t think choosing a black clutch would have had the same effect.
And, of course, classic black clutches were a staple as they always are on the red carpet. Angelina Jolie matched her black Lana Marks Cleopatra clutch to her Elie Saab gown. Though I usually enjoy when Angelina wears a color since she’s so known for being in black, this time I really loved how her black gown and clutch were a perfect backdrop to her dramatic emerald Lorraine Schwartz earrings and ring.
Diane Lane took a page out of the same Oscar fashion book, pairing her black Lauren Merkin clutch with a black Dolce & Gabbana gown. Though Diane has also worn some fabulous colors in the past, her understated choice kept the focus more on her Best Supporting Actor Nominee husband, Josh Brolin, making it perfect for this year’s show.
Jessica Biel also chose a black clutch (by Prada), but she took a different route, pairing it with her draped off-white Prada gown. Though I wasn’t the biggest fan of the gown (looked like a bit too much material all around for her beautiful figure), since it had such a grand detail, she made a great choice going simple with the clutch.
And, of course, it wouldn’t be a red carpet without some bags from Judith Leiber! Penelope Cruz carried a gold clutch (yes, another gold clutch) by the handbag giant that added a pop of color and sparkle to her Balmain Couture gown with ornate lace detailing. I think her bag choice made the ensemble a bit for modern, as her gown was vintage.
Freida Pinto, of the night’s big winner, Slumdog Millionaire, paired a sparkling silver Judith Leiber clutch with her very detailed John Galliano gown in a bold blue. A great choice in my opinion, as the silver picked up the detailing in the dress, and they complemented each other very nicely.
Not one to fade into the crowd, Viola Davis choose another silver Judith Leiber to contrast with her striking gold Reem Akra gown. With her jewelry in silver, the clutch fit right into her ensemble.
What was your favorite Oscar fashion on the red carpet? What bag-gown pairings did you love? Were there any where you think the star got it wrong?
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