And the Winner(s) Is: The “BEST” & “WORST”Red Carpet Moments by Celebrity Hair Stylist Dennis Stokely!
LA-Story.com is thrilled to announce the return of Celebrity Hair Stylist, Dennis Stokely LA-Story.com. As Hollywood “took a break” thanks to the pandemic, Dennis Stokely took a break from LA-Story.com. He was greatly missed for the last year, though we kept in touch over that year.
If you want to see Dennis’s recent piece on fashion, beauty, and style from his perspective, do check out Dennis Stokely’s recent piece on a “Pre-Oscar Make-Over! Celebrity Hairstylist Dennis Stokely Does an Amazing Makeover on a Friend!”
93rd OSCARS “BEST” & “WORST” Red Carpet Moments
by DENNIS STOKELY, LA-STORY Contributing Editor!
Stars Fall from the Sky .. and Land on the Red Carpet…. after a year-long absence from Hollywood, with practically NO MASKS in sight!
Spread across several locations, this year’s 93rd Academy Awards was a much smaller affair. Covid-19 restrictions remained in place, with stars rotating in and out of the main set, Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. Masks were removed for camera shots but put back on after the camera stopped rolling.
And, alas, glitz and glamour has returned. The world can rejoice!
Here are my “BEST” & “WORST” red-carpet moments.
“BEST”–CAREY MULLIGAN in Valentino Couture
Awards season saw a string of subdued, neutral gowns. So, Carey surprised and stunned the red carpet in this gold-metallic gown with a bandeau top. Celebrity hairstylist, Jenny Cho, created a sleek, clean hairdo from the front angle. Fittingly, this masterful updo was more intricate and eye-catching from the profile and back.
Carey’s red-carpet moment was a BIG WINNER, one of the BEST of the night.
MARIA BAKALOVA in Louis Vuitton
This “newcomer” to the OSCARS stepped on the red carpet looking like a seasoned pro! Working with Hollywood uber stylist, Jessica Paster, Maria was put together perfectly, “to tell a story, a romantic story, with this magical princess vibe,” says Paster.
The soft, romantic, loose texture of her hairstyle looked sweet and effortless. Celebrity hairstylist, Byron Williams, created Maria’s modern, show-stopping coiffure from one of his all-time great inspirations, Hollywood royalty, Grace Kelly.
ZENDAYA in Valentino
“Yellow is my favorite color right now,” says hairstylist Mhendi McConnell. And, I agree!
After last year’s dark days of the pandemic, yellow seems like the sunshine the world needs, happy, fun, and beachy!
Zendaya continues to be a perennial red-carpet stunner. Without being nominated this year, she shows up looking like no one else in this light, flowy feeling, sunshine-yellow gown. California beach waves are always a go-to hairstyle, but rarely do they look so natural and yummy! Zendaya has my vote for ‘the most valuable player” over the last several years for red-carpet glam games! And, I am sure she will have a starring role on red carpets for years to come!
REGINA KING in Louis Vuitton
If ever, there was a power-player in Hollywood, Regina King left no doubt when she power-walked through Union Station clearly confident, radiant, and drop-dead stunning. Regina displayed the ultimate glamour flex in this spell-binding Louis Vuitton dream gown. The V-cut of her sky-blue, bejeweled gown and the center part of her sleek, chin-length bob gives her look perfect symmetry from head to toe. Regina is a veteran of Hollywood, but her red-carpet moment this year seems fresh, fashion-forward, and young! Kudos, to her entire glam-squad for pulling off “one of the BEST ever” Oscars looks.
ANGELA BASSETT in Alberta Ferretti
Red is always tricky on any red carpet. But Angela gives a master class in “how-to” do red right! The angel wings of this highly dramatic gown are a wonderful compliment to the simplicity of her ultra-straight hairstyle (most likely, very pricey extensions). The rose-colored statement earrings and rose-colored strappy heels are exquisite hues paired with the blood-red clutch and gown. Angela is one of the best examples of stars who effortlessly evolve throughout their careers, always looking on-trend, age-appropriate, and smashing!
“WORST”–NOT EVEN CLOSE!
GLENN CLOSE in Armani Prive’
We LOVE Glenn Close and her missing out on another Oscar– after 8 nominations– was very disappointing. But if anything is worse than losing out on an Oscar eight times, it might be wearing this dreadful get-up on the red carpet. We see so many references in this look: dress, pant-suit, salwar kameez (Ethnic dress paired with a tunic and bottom wear). And… the super-trendy “gray hair” craze doesn’t work for everyone– Glenn included. Her style team obviously made a clear choice to put her in this purple-beaded, costume-ish ensemble. Clearly a bad choice. I just “can’t” with this look. Maybe, one of the “WORST” all-time Oscars looks.
NO! NOT HALLE! HALLE BERRY in Dolce & Gabbana
One of the most naturally beautiful women in Hollywood, and the world, Halle has a very rare misstep on the red carpet. She’s been one of the “BEST” on countless red carpets for years. So, this look was the surprise fashion faux-pas of the night.
The odd color of the dress just doesn’t work with her skin tone and the hair is absolutely terrible! The mini-bangs and this too-short bob were big mistakes. Halle is well known as one of very few stars that can pull off short hair (Sharon Stone does it best). I am sure her hairstylist was going for another iconic short hairdo for Halle. This hairstyle is very distracting, almost wig-like. Of course, Halle gets a hall pass with this surprising red-carpet dud. I am sure she will be back in typical ravishing Halle Berry form for next year’s awards season!
And, there you have it! My two cents about all-things style from the red carpet at the 93rd Academy Awards held in Los Angeles, Sunday, April 25, 2021.
DENNIS STOKELY
Stevie Notes:
Dennis Stokely and I have had a couple of conversations about this list and it’s very interesting that we both agree on this list from Halle Berry’s wig (yes, we both think it’s a wig!) and the poor color choice of the dress. Glenn Close might have gone with this because it was something different from everyone else’s Oscar outfit, but the outfit was not flattering.
Thanks to Dennis Stokely for his insightful list of the “BEST and the WORST of Oscars 2021!” Dennis has such a great eye for fashion, beauty, and style.
Stevie Wilson
LA-Story.com
Want to leave a comment or ask a question? Please send an email to stevie.wilson@LA-Story.com
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