Oscars 2011: Nicole Kidman stands by John Galliano in Christian Dior - but is still worst dressed of the night

By Tamara Abraham


Fashion fail: Nicole Kidman showed support for suspended Christian Dior designer John Galliano, in one of his gowns - but the white Oriental-inspired gown looked dated and ageing


Christian Dior needs all the good press it can get following John Galliano's arrest last week - but the fashion house failed to win the plaudits it was hoping for when it dressed Nicole Kidman for the Oscars last night.

The white Oriental-inspired gown seemed to wear the actress rather than the other way around - the colour was far too bridal and the embellishment dated and ageing.

And while the 43-year-old's make-up was fresh and pretty - she appears to have eased up on the Botox a little too - her hair was all wrong. The girlish ponytail was far too casual for such a formal dress and occasion and a chic up-do would have been far better.


Cate Blanchett was another that the fashion police had their claws out for. Though she went for a high-fashion choice in Givenchy Haute Couture, the lavender and yellow colour scheme was unorthodox, and, while the statuesque star somehow pulled off the bib-like top, it would have looked comical on anyone else.

Another surprising fashion fail was Michelle Williams in Chanel. While we hate to critique anything Karl Lagerfeld designs, the Blue Valentine star's 'greige' gown was not a flattering choice.

The capped T-shirt-style sleeves looked too casual and scruffy for such a glamorous event, and the bizarre seams at the bust looked as though the fabric had ripped.

Williams redeemed herself with flawless make-up though, and her gamine blonde crop looked fresh and modern.

Controversial: Cate Blanchett went for a high-fashion choice in Givenchy Haute Couture, but the lavender and yellow colour scheme was unorthodox and the cut-out front looked bizarre

Underdressed: Though Michelle Williams wore Chanel, the seams at the bust looked like she had ripped her dress in an unfortunate accident. Melissa Leo's Marc Bouwer dress looked a little like wrapping paper


Melissa Leo's Marc Bouwer dress also failed to impress - she too went for T-shirt-length sleeves on a dress embellished with what appeared to be silver foil, giving it something of a wrapping paper effect.

It is hard to criticise Helena Bonham Carter as she is so wonderfully eccentric, and her black dress by Alice in Wonderland costume designer Colleen Atwood was a vast improvement on recent red carpet attempts.

But for some unknown reason she hit the red carpet in bizarre round sunglasses - were the camera flashes too bright for her?

Eccentric: Helena Bonham-Carter shows off her Union Jack garter. She took herself far less seriously than Sharon Stone, who looked rather scary as she smouldered for the cameras in her gothic gown


She showed support for her fellow British stars by wearing a Union Jack around her calf by way of a garter - something she proudly flashed to the crowd as she walked the red carpet.

While Bonham-Carter clearly doesn't take herself too seriously, there were some who clearly do: namely Sharon Stone, who looked rather terrifying as she smouldered for the cameras.

The actress, 52, wore a black gown with an asymmetric neckline decorated with black and grey ostrich feathers. The knot of fabric above the knee looked awkward and uncomfortable though, and her make-up was far too heavy. A softer look, like that created by Nicole Kidman's artist, would have been much more elegant.

Bizarre: Helena Bonham-Carter hit the red carpet in sunglasses - were the camera flashes too bright? Fellow actress Sharon Stone wore a severe quiff and too-heavy make-up


Others who fell short of the mark were Michelle Williams's friend and plus-one, Busy Philipps. The dress, with its mixed textures and bows looked like a sweet wrapper, and made the slim actress look larger than she really is.

Virginia Madsen should have taken a leaf from Reese Witherspoon's book when she opted for monochrome - the ruffled dress was too tissue paper-like, making it look cheap.

And Mark Ruffalo's wife Sunrise Coigney went too far the other way with a far too fashion-forward look by Jean Paul Gaultier. The statement shoulderpiece on her dress was distracting, and the overall look was too aggressive with her severe haircut.

Trying too hard: Mark Ruffalo's wife Sunrise Coigney in Jean Paul Gaultier, Busy Philipps's 'sweet wrapper' dress made her look larger than she is, and Virginia Madsen's textured dress looked cheap


Nicole Kidman's dress was designed by British fashion designer John Galliano, who allegedly assaulted a respected art historian last week in an unprovoked attack in Paris.

The designer, 50, is said to have launched an anti-Semitic tirade against curator Geraldine Bloch, 35. Mr Galliano was arrested and has since been suspended from his job as chief designer at Christian Dior, putting his upcoming autumn/winter ready-to-wear collection for the fashion house in jeopardy.

A Paris police spokesman confirmed all details of the allegations against Mr Galliano, and said he was facing criminal charges.


Source:dailymail