Angelina wins the Oscars

The dresses seem to get plainer and less adventurous every year but Angelina would still have come out on top on previous, more exciting red carpets. Her charisma balances the fact that she has a very specific look – long with a thigh-high split and in black pretty much covers it. But I like the velvet and the owning it pose.

I also enjoyed Michelle Williams’ red, daintily-ruffled and tiered dress, and Rooney Mara’s white Givenchy, which suits her bird-like body and her perfectly black, smooth and shiny bowl-shaped haircut. I love Michelle, and I loved her in My Week with Marilyn even though it wasn’t a very good film, but my most significant brush with Rooney Mara is still her tiny role in The Social Network. Presumably that will change.

I’m also a loyal fan of Gwyneth’s (Emma! Shakespeare in Love!) and I defy everyone who slagged off her famously, allegedly bad Oscars outfits of previous years. I liked the pink thing and the ruched goth thing. And I like her futuristic self-cleaning white cape thing too.

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Makeup Monday: Platinum locks vs. dark brows

Just as I was considering darkening my highlighted locks for the winter, I came across this image of Michelle Williams at the Venice Film Festival with her newly platinum hair and dark brows, and it got me wondering if this is something I could ever pull off. I love this look on her, she naturally has an edgy style and the platinum colouring dramatises the cropped cut and sweeping fringe. I would certainly love to see more ‘normal’ people try it. One thing seems pretty certain, you have to wear strong make-up to emphasise the eyes to prevent a pallid, drained effect!

Here are some other ladies who have lightened it up:

Amber Rose

Agyness Deyn

Scarlett Johansson

Beyonce

I’m pretty certain that I’m lacking the commitment and funds (not to mention the bone structure) to pull of the continual upkeep that a style like this requires, and will probably stick with my plan of softening up my colour for the winter, but it would be fun to go this dramatic wouldn’t it?

Would you, could you, should you?

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Gemma Arterton gets it right

I have wanted to like Gemma Arterton for some time but things haven’t been right in the style department. I will not repost that picture from the Bond premiere because it would be unjust. She is stunningly beautiful and having been to see Prince of Persia at the cinema last week I can confirm she is also charming. I’m relieved to see that someone has started styling her for the Prince of Persia publicity junket and she looks great, because she deserves to. I predict a fashion moment sometime soon.

Speaking of fashion moments, it’s always great when celebs finally hit on the thing that really suits them, a la the little collection below.

Blake Lively in Michael Kors

Michelle Williams in Vera Wang

January Jones in Versace

Sometimes of course, they’ve known all along:

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