Oscars 2014 fashion: Best and worst dressed, from Jennifer Lawrence to Angelina Jolie & Lupita Nyong'o

Jennifer Lawrence was one of the best dressed on the night in trusty Dior (Picture: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

These days, the fashion on the Oscars red carpet outside the Dolby Theatre generates as many headlines as who wins those little gold guys inside.
But, put a foot wrong on this red carpet and the pictures will haunt an actor for the rest of their career.
Which explains why many are reluctant to take any risks with their look. Jennifer Lawrence opts out of the dress race completely by always wearing the same designer, while Tom Ford calls it ‘a bubble of 1950s Barbie clothes’.
Hopes for some maverick style choices from the class of 2014 were therefore not overly high. However, some did try to burst Tom’s bubble – thank God for Lupita Nyong’o.
Here’s our best and worst dressed picks on a night when the dresses – and tuxedos – were pale and occasionally interesting.
Best dressed
1. Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita rounds off a perfect red carpet performance over recent months (Picture: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Newcomer Lupita has definitely won red carpet season and signed off with a beautiful plunging Nairobi inspired powder blue Prada gown, complete with a simple crystal hairband. Sounds twee on paper but stunning and fresh in the flesh.
2. Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer looks divine in Dior again (Picture: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

She kept us waiting but Jennifer provided the perfect scarlet sign-off to this year’s red carpet in a fitted strapless red Dior gown with peplum detail and another backwards necklace. And obviously not wanting to break with tradition, she also took an early tumble on her way up the carpet. Red hot from J. Law.
3. Naomi Watts

Naomi keeps it simple in sequinned Calvin Klein (Picture: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Naomi kept it simple in white Calvin Klein Collection ice beaded cap sleeve dress with a spider’s web Bulgari necklace. Her look was refreshing on a night when many went for the Disney princess look.
4. Cate Blanchett

It’s sophisti-Cate in Armani Prive (Picture: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

She had to be on there, didn’t she? It’s not our favourite look of red carpet season from Cate but this nude cap sleeved Armani Prive gown with flared tulle skirt did bring a little old Hollywood sophistication to the night, especially with the waved hair and stunning drop earrings.
5. Kate Hudson

Kate gives us old Hollywood glamour in Versace (Picture: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Speaking of old Hollywood glamour, Kate Hudson brought that and more in her beaded Versace dress, with a deep v-neckline and cape detail. Oscar glamour at its finest.
6. Olga Kurylenko

Bond girl Olga shows sustainable can be stylish (Picture: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

We had to add in an extra place on the list for Olga who wore a striking – and sustainable – deep dusky pink gown. It was the winning design from this year’s Red Carpet Green Dress competition by Berlin student Alice Elia. Sustainable can be fashionable.
Worst dressed
1. Kristin Bell

Kirsten in one of the Disney princess gowns that seem to typify the Oscars red carpet at the moment (Picture: Reuters/Lucas Jackson)

Kristen’s Roberto Cavalli dress summed up everything we find dull about Oscars fashion at the moment. In insipid lilac and looking like something you’d wear to your prom – or your wedding – it was too sickly sweet. And we’re not sure about the two lifeless strands of hair hanging down either to be honest.
2. Charlize Theron

Nice but the straps spoil it (Picture: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Charlize definitely lost out to Jennifer in the Dior wars. The shape of this gown is gorgeous but those thick ‘invisible’ straps holding it up ruin the whole look. Perhaps we should just zoom out so we can’t see them.
3. Amy Adams

Just a little uninspiring from Amy (Picture: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

There may well be many who disagree but this tuxedo inspired navy Gucci gown just felt a little underwhelming. It’s sleek and a great colour but this is more dinner at the White House than Oscars red carpet.
4. Angelina Jolie

Angelina’s dress seems slightly staid for the former hell-raiser (Picture: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

At least she’s not in black or white, or black and white, but this gold Elie Saab dress is not one of our favourites. It feels a little too staid. Although there’s no denying she still looks beautiful and Brad’s not a bad accessory.
The jury’s out
Pharrell Williams

The sublime or the ridiculous from Pharrell? (Picture: Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

We’re torn. We thought Pharrell could do no wrong with his fashion choices but shorts to the Oscars? We can’t decide whether it’s sublime or ridiculous. We sort of love it but it gives us an excuse to look at a few more pictures…