Kerry Washington attended the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in a champagne Donna Karen gown. Fortunately, Vanity Fair stuck with their traditional black carpet, so the dress wasn’t washed out by the beige nonsense like at the Oscars. Unfortunately, the dress isn’t great. And it’s too bad because Kerry has been killing it of late, too. Her styling is fabulous but the tattered neckline and messy gathering at the waist makes it look like she tried to upcycle a satin bedsheet. At least Kerry knows how to work a gown. She’s elevating this.
Me expecting Kate Beckinsale to hit the mark at the VF party is starting to feel like Charlie Brown kicking the football. I got my hopes up when I saw the clean perfection of this Tony Ward asymmetrical neckline. And then I looked down and got sad. As someone who isn’t eager for the sheer skirt trend to come back in the first place, I certainly don’t want it paired with all of my grandmothers saved tinfoil balls. And I’m tired of Kate in a high ponytail. She looks fine in it, but we’ve seen it so many times.
Emma Roberts brought divorce party realness to VF in this Dolce & Gabbana corseted gown. I love these two pieces separately. The lace bodice with chiffon skirt is quite pretty. And the sheet lace-trimmed widow’s cape is sexy and dramatic. But because it has a defined choker, it’s competing with the dress’s neckline. It’s also throwing off Emma’s styling, which would have worked for the gown alone. But with the cape, it looks like she’s play-acting.
I’m waffling on Minnie Driver’s Emilia Wickstead gown. I mostly love it. I don’t like the pearl ladder on the side. I love the green floral print and am choosing to believe that’s Minnie’s shout-out to St. Patrick’s Day coming up. The top is a little boring, but I love the full luscious skirt. The winners though, are the back detail and earrings. I’ll bet this was amazing in motion.
Photo credit: Cover Images, JPI Studios/Avalon and Getty Images
Did Kerry Washington get dressed in the dark? That dress is a disaster. It doesn’t even fit right.
Kerry’s dress looks like she is playing a mummy going to a party. Minnie driver’s dress looks like a comforter. I like Kate’s dress without the silver crap on it. I actually am surprised that I like Emma’s dress.
It definitely feels like the people who don’t NEED to make a statement looked great…I don’t understand wearing a ball gown to a party though. It just seems so cumbersome. It feels a bit like…”Looks like you didn’t get invited to the Oscars” even if they were
I am baffled. Utterly baffled. I simply cannot like one aspect of any of these looks and I always find something I adore or like.
My same thought was what is going on on this page lol.
They are all awful. Kate Beckinsale’s dress made me laugh. Oscar fashion was pretty bad this year.
These dresses are all a hot mess.
Minnie looks ready for the St. Patrick’s day parade. Emma looks like a Victoria wedding ghost. Kerry looks great but that bodice is cut way too low. And while I like Kate’s dress – she should have left that silver thing at home.
These are all misses. Minnie especially, looks like she stole someone’s old Laura Ashley shower curtain.
I think Emma Roberts looks amazing- I‘ve never seen this kind of cape before. Very beautiful and very special – maybe a bit weird for a party where you might need your hands.
Emma’s is the only one that I like here — that lace cape is so cool.
I rarely like anything Kerry chooses to wear.
I like Kate’s minus the giant tinfoil.
Minnie Driver! Where has she been? Haven’t seen her in a few years. I like the gown.
Kate B gown is being attacked by tons of wrinkled aluminum foil. Geez no.
I love Kerry Washington but she never quite gets it right for me, dress-wise. But it’s usually not as…odd as this dress.
Just here to say that I love Hecate’s posts. Thoughtful, funny and well written!
“Me expecting Kate Beckinsale to hit the mark at the VF party is starting to feel like Charlie Brown kicking the football.”
I love this site so much!
I love Kerry Washington’s look! Exquisite! Everyone else in this post is a miss for me tho. I find it very odd that people wear one gown for the Oscar’s then another, equally uncomfortable gown for the after parties.