Gold-plated glamour

In contrast to Virginia Postrel's Old Hollywood slide-show essay, about which I blogged earlier, Julia Turner says new Hollywood's dependence on stylists has rendered Oscar fashions boring.

Taylor says stars like Kate Hudson and Gwyneth Paltrow, lambasted for wearing this:




and this:



opted instead for safe, monochromatic looks that were overly tasteful.

Agreed, though I still think that's a pretty ugly dress. And, of course, there's no accounting for taste. For example, I can't agree with the conventional wisdom that Gwyneth looked picture-perfect in this:



Frankly, her breasts can't stand up to the challenge posed by this dress. The entire get-up leaves me (pardon the pun) flat.

And why was Patricia Heaton almost universally derided for wearing this:



I would proudly wear this ensemble. Though perhaps it's a bit much for my weekly jaunt to the supermarket. And I don't suppose it's quite de rigeur for the job interview that's up next on my social calendar.

Read the whole thing. And check out the get-up Joan Rivers is wearing. Looks like she found it after rummaging through Gandalf the Gray's closet.