Julianne Moore in pale Chanel at the Oscars: style victory or shiny oatmeal?

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My wish for Julianne Moore’s Oscar dress was that she not wear something utterly embarrassing because one of her “friends” talked her into it. Like, I get the feeling that she’s worn some bad Tom Ford gowns in the past because Tom Ford talked her into it and I wanted Julianne to just own her style and wear something simple and elegant, because the photos of Julianne holding the Oscar are going to last a lifetime.

Julianne ended up going with a custom-made (by Karl Lagerfeld) Chanel gown which took nearly a thousand hours to construct. Yes, this somewhat bland gown in a shade of “shiny oatmeal” took a thousand hours to make. Was it worth it? No, it wasn’t. But Julianne did not embarrass herself. And I like how beautifully tailored this is. Her styling was pretty simple too – a pretty updo and nice earrings. Not the best, but not the worst. Plus, people just love her and I think everyone’s happy that Julianne finally won an Oscar.

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Viola Davis in this Zac Posen wasn’t my favorite either, but I still admired the look and of course I worship Viola. Viola was on-trend with this muted color AND with a statement necklace. I have to say, I think this gown looks better in still photos than it did in motion. Zac Posen’s gowns are famously overworked and over-designed, so it’s nice to see a more edited look from him.

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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49 Responses to “Julianne Moore in pale Chanel at the Oscars: style victory or shiny oatmeal?”

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  1. Tristan says:

    Julianne Moore looks wonderful!

  2. mia girl says:

    I liked the shiny oatmeal dress. Maybe because it was tailored so well and she actually looked comfortable in it.

    • Kiddo says:

      I give it a much improved and appropriate-wear for Oscars, and yet for anyone else it would have been boring. But Julianne has worn THE WORST dresses, so this a victory with a capital V.

      • Sarah says:

        I agree. Yes, we have a lower bar set for Julianne, but I thought she looked lovely. That dress fit her like a glove and she looked comfortable and happy. Good for her.

      • Diana B says:

        Agree with all the above. Plus, Oscar glowing really suits her.

  3. Falula says:

    I didn’t like Julianne’s at all. The detailing over the hip seems to be in the wrong spot, it throws off proportions and makes the fit look off to me. So happy she won though.

    • senna says:

      Yes, that hip seam is so odd. Why draw attention to one of the widest points of anyone’s body? It’s so not flattering. She transcended her dress, though; she still managed to look lovely!

      • JLo says:

        That’s how I felt, too. It would be more flattering if the middle band were at the waist instead of the hips. And I’m not a fan of such heavy embellishment, but it is very on trend.

      • minx says:

        I didn’t understand that either; there is no way I would want that detailing at my hips. The color did nothing for her either. But she still looked beautiful and happy, as she should.

    • Size Does Matter says:

      Totally agree. I would not want to draw attention to the widest part of my thighs.

  4. LaurieH says:

    Julianne Moore is usually a “miss” on the red carpet, and this is no exception. She has a bad tendency (or her stylist does) of putting her either in colors that are unflattering to her pale skin and wash her out or putting her in matronly dresses that age her. This dress – which I like in and of itself – is completely wrong for Julianne. Viola looks perfection – this is an example of choosing a style and color that flatters the skin tone and is age appropriate. She looks perfect.

  5. Lucy2 says:

    Jillians would’ve been better without the band at her hips, it cuts her off there. Otherwise it’s pretty.
    Viola looked very regal but I can see the point about the dress being overworked.

  6. Jade says:

    I love that colour and dress on Viola! But usually I love whatever she wears anyway.

    • Nk868 says:

      Same. Don’t like the necklace and felt the top wasn’t fitting right, though. Like it’s going for an off the shoulder loose vibe that would require a different (not thick and structured) fabric, but instead it looks like it needed to be taken in when she bent forward during presenting duties. Lovely color and the skirt is perfection. Had potential for best dressed but something went wrong

    • Audrey says:

      The color is good on her. But it’s poorly tailored. It looks too big in the waist. Shame because the rest of the dress is nice

      Not sure about the necklace either, just slightly too much, in my opinion. But I’m not big on statement necklaces so yeah

  7. savu says:

    The beading strip at the bottom is what made it totally lampshade-esque to me. It was forgettable. I wish she went with that emerald green from the SAGs with a few elegant changes added.

  8. QQ says:

    Im over all the carpet beigeness Both in colors and fashion risks but they both looked…AIIGHT

    Yeah i couldsee the crazy beadwork etc on Julianne’s dress but it’s still Blaaaanndd

  9. Ms Lib says:

    Boy that Zac Posen is amazing!

  10. Birdie says:

    Really like that dress on Julianne. I was very relieved when I saw that she didn’t wear something awful.

  11. LAK says:

    I adore JM, but my goodness Chanel evening wear is fug. It’s always too much detail. Clearly Karl doesn’t remember Coco’s dictat to always remove one thing. In this case, the detail at her hip line. Fug, fug, fugly.

  12. Brin says:

    She’s worn worse so I guess it’s better than some of her other choices.

  13. chloe says:

    The one nice thing I can say for Julianne’s dress is at least it’s fitted, to much white/cream blandness on tonight’s red carpet. Congrats on her win, it’s about time.

  14. Marianne says:

    I would have been ok with Julianne’s dress if the detail around her waist was removed. It kind of makes her look thicker than usual.

    Viola’s dress isn’t doing her favours. The colour is wrong on her, and its kind of boring anyway…

  15. Tracy says:

    Julianne’s dress was a bad color for her, and gave her no shape. She looked like a glittery shoebox, witha bold line of whatever-they-were across her crotch. But we do love her, so hats off to her and her win.

    One thing– Julianne, folks around you aren’t going to tell you this…but you just have to do something about your grey teeth. You’ve had stained grey teeth for years and years now. Girl, get thee to a dentist and pay for 3 sessions of teeth whitening. Makes you look old.

    • Valois says:

      Come on, her teeth are fine. I don’t get this American obsession with fake looking teeth. besides that, not everyone can get a bleaching without ruining his/her teeth.

  16. scout says:

    Moore’s dress was little odd and bland, but as usual she looks cute in anything. Viola Davis, on the other hand, is a vision. I LOVE her skin tone!

  17. Ginger says:

    I liked her dress but it wasn’t my favorite. I adored her styling. The hair is too good. I wish I could do my hair like that. I’m so happy she won!

  18. lila fowler says:

    Very blah. She and Rosamund should have switched dresses.

  19. Adrien says:

    She has a nice figure and lovely skin but her red carpet game is really weak. She looked radiant last night.

  20. Adiellybelly says:

    Juliannes dress reminded me of Downton Abbey. Gave me a 20’s vibe. That cut and hip design were boyish which was the preffered silhouette back then. She could have done alot worse. No viola, No

  21. EC says:

    Hated the Zac Posen dress, but then again I hate most Zac Posen dresses. And thank god Viola looks great in every color because that color is truly awful to be. Like on a mere mortal, forget it.

    What is the point of putting a horizontal band around the widest part of a very slim woman? Or any woman? I am so confused. The detailing is great, the sparkles are pretty, and if a dress has to be strapless, I like when it scoops up like that. She did just look so lovely and happy tho, so I can get behind the dress especcially when it fits ahhhmayzingly like that.

  22. paola says:

    I can’t believe she threw away the chance to win her well deserved Oscar in a really awesome gown.

    • bella says:

      amazing that i feel entirely opposite, paola!
      as soon as i set eyes on julianne on the red carpet…i said “wow, she nailed it for her night…she’ll look back on how PERFECT she looked while holding that well-deserved gold statue…”
      i’ve never seen julianne look lovelier…
      and i’m so THRILLED our boston girl brought home the gold.
      congratulations.

  23. siri says:

    Viola forever! God, this woman can truly walk her dresses. But she’s beautiful in whatever. This particular color, however, is perhaps a bit too soft for her…Julianne’s dress I don’t like, too much going on, bland color, and that middle section…hmmm… some color would have been nicer.

  24. Diana B says:

    She thanked Kristen Stewart and Alec Baldwin in her speach, but no Kate Bosworth????!!! the travesty!!! I laughed my ass off when I noticed.

  25. I Choose Me says:

    Julianne looks great and I’m glad she won. I would have liked to have seen Viola in colour but I like the outfit and for me she can do no wrong.

  26. WhiteQueen says:

    If one of the raws, any one, would’ve have been gone, the dress would be perfect.

  27. Chinoiserie says:

    Viola does not look good but I liked Julianne.

  28. tracking says:

    A bright red lip would have made a world of difference on Julianne. She needed a pop of contrast with all that oatmeal-y dress and skin!

  29. perplexed says:

    She’s one of the few Oscar winners on the actress side to seem poised when accepting the award.

  30. kri says:

    JM was beautifully styled, and her dresses usually make me feel like North west at Daddy’s show, so this was a major dress improvement. Not my fav by any means, but I’m happy for her. I always am waiting for Viola, because she is so striking, but this dress didn’t do it for me. Her skin tone is so gorgeous, and this dress was so bad it did nothing for her. Dammit.

  31. M.J. says:

    Julianne’s dress washed her out a little, but I somehow still really like this on her. I think it was a perfect dress for winning an Oscar in. She looked simple and classy.

  32. Lucy says:

    I actually thought she redeemed herself last night, style-wise obvs. And she finally got her much deserved statue!!

  33. Pandy says:

    I loved her dress when I didn’t see it up close – but I still liked it more than most of the dresses. Honestly, last night was a fashion flop for me. Maybe it was too much muted colors – so drab and dull. Everyone looked the same.

  34. serena says:

    Since Julianne always dress like crap, I think everyone is just happy when she wears something ‘not fug’. I’m not saying her Oscars’ outfit is beautiful, because it isn’t. On another person I would have called it awful, but since we ‘ve seen worse from Julianne .. yeah, I’ll let it pass.
    I like the top, I would have liked for the skirt to be wider, puffier and sleek.

  35. natalie says:

    I suppose those bands on Julianne’s dress are supposed to be flowers, or maybe barnacles, but they look like, pardon my crudeness, buttholes. I love her so much, I wish she had a decent stylist.

  36. Tania says:

    I desperately love both of these women for their talents. I thought they looked nice. I wish that Julianne’s dress was straight across at the top, and I wish that Viola’s had been better fitted for her gorgeous body.

  37. MissTrial says:

    Not a fan of Moore’s look. Too blah.

    Davis looks not so good, her makeup is too harsh.