I am beyond excited to share this post with you all. After weeks of scrolling though the latest collections from New York to London, to Paris, to Milan, I finally made my picks for what each Oscars nominee should wear to this weekends ceremony! It’s not a scientific process, but I would say these are 1) all things I like, 2) mostly things I think these ladies might actually pick, and 3) chosen with a soupçon of wishful styling thrown in!
I did set myself some parameters: I could only choose from collections that debuted in 2018. Without parameters, I had dark visions of myself combing through archival images of Chanel shows from 1962 for vintage gems. And that’s a bit much. If there was any information about who they usually wear/might be wearing/have a contract with, I tried to factor that in. One disclaimer: there are still collections debuting through Oscars weekend at Paris Fashion Week, which I won’t be able to see until after the show – but celebrities could and likely will grab things from yet-to-be-debuted lines. And, of course, there’s no way to guess who will go with custom creations, but likely quite a few folks.
That all being said, if any of these actually show up on the red carpet on Sunday, I will proclaim myself a genius, buy a new pair of shoes, and treat myself to an entire cheesecake. Not necessarily in that order.
Margot Robbie
Previously this season:
My Oscars pick: Elie Saab Spring 2018 Couture
Margot’s aesthetic proved somewhat tricky to nail down. She’s an it-girl who’s tried a lot of different looks, but two trends I pulled out of her oeuvre are feathers and sparkles. I adore this Elie Saab gown and think it would make a real impact on her first Oscars red carpet as a nominee.
Greta Gerwig
Previously this season:
My Oscars pick: Andrew Gn Fall 2018 RTW
I had such a hard time picking something for Greta. Her taste leans towards whimsical, but she also favors clean, flowy lines. I had it narrowed down to two different dresses for her until an hour ago when I saw this come down the runway at the Andrew Gn show. I think it fits her aesthetic perfectly – it’s feminine and whimsical, but with elegant and flattering lines.
Saoirse Ronan
Previously this season:
My Oscars pick: Christian Dior Pre-Fall 2018
My best guess is that Saoirse will be wearing something custom, but I took a stab at it anyway. She was all over the place this season, from a frilly Rodarte to a slick, futuristic Atelier Versace. This Christian Dior is my attempt to split the difference – it’s sparkly and feminine, but the gunmetal color and the flow of the sequins have a spaceship quality to them.
Meryl Streep
Previously this season:
My Oscars pick: Alexis Mabille Spring 2018 Couture
Meryl Streep is tough – she has been to so many god damned Oscars after 21 nominations that she’s worn just about every different type of dress. Slinky and curve hugging, classic and a-line, pantsuits – she’s done it all. I think she knows she’s not going to win this year, so I chose something on the simpler but classic side. This Alexis Mabille gown is universally flattering, a gorgeous color, and incorporates some fun menswear details with the cuffed sleeves as a belt – perhaps a nod to her nominated turn as a woman breaking into the male dominated world of newspaper publishing?
Sally Hawkins
Previously this season:
My Oscars pick: Reem Acra Fall 2018 RTW
Sally is only 41 but has the aesthetic of a much older woman. I don’t mean that as an insult, I just mean her general aura and sense of style trends toward “older society doyenne” in a way that intrigues me. I love this celestial Reem Acra for her – it’s a silhouette we have seen her in before, but it adds some charmingly whimsical elements I could see her gravitating towards.
Frances McDormand
Previously this season:
My Oscars pick: Valentino Spring 2018 Couture
Frances honestly doesn’t seem like she cares that much about fashion, but she does like color and simple, flowing silhouettes. This red Valentino would be a stellar pick for the odds-on front-runner to wear while accepting her statuette.
Mary J. Blige
Previously this season:
My Oscars pick: Vionnet Fall 2018 RTW
I had a whole slew of options for Mary J. Blige, who gravitates towards asymmetrical necklines, one sleeved tops, and sexy, powerful patterns. And then I found this Vionnet and knew it was perfect.
Allison Janney
Previously this season:
My Oscars pick: Jenny Packham Fall 2018 RTW
Allison is the front-runner for Best Supporting actress, and she was also the easiest to pick a dress for. She likes form-fitting silhouettes, sparkles, and a bit of skin. And she always looks amazing. She’s already deployed a lot of sparkles this season, but I would love to see her in this Jenny Packham. A real, glittering, Oscars moment.
Lesley Manville
Previously this season:
My Oscars pick: Naeem Khan Fall 2018 RTW
Leslie here was TOUGH to shop for. She appeared on very few red carpets to support “Phantom Thread”. Best I could tell, she likes column dresses and interesting patterns. I love the swirling floral designs on this Naeem Khan and think she might too.
Laurie Metcalf
Previously this season:
My Oscars pick: Christian Dior Spring 2018 Couture
Laurie has worn some really lovely things this season, from her slinky and sparkly SAG dress to her classically elegant blue gown at the Critic’s Choice Awards. I would love to see her in a bright color and she’s worn this type of silhouette previously. “Eyes Wide Shut” mask and neck tattoo are not encouraged.
Octavia Spencer
Previously this season:
My Oscars pick: Christian Siriano Fall 2018 RTW
Octavia can be very predictable – she usually goes with her ride-or-die designer Tadashi Shoji. I didn’t see anything in their recent line that felt right for her, and while she could always go custom, I would love to see her work with another designer who does right by curvy women. This Christian Siriano would be a stellar change of pace on her.
That’s a wrap on the nominees, and stay tuned for my picks for presenters and performers coming at you tomorrow!
Fashion Wonk 