Red Carpet: Oscars 2012

There were some amazing fashions on the red carpet this year. I had so much fun watching the pre-show carpet and believe it or not, I really liked some looks that were on random people in the background of the red carpet footage too -- they were either guests of the actually famous people or people with headsets working the event. Whodathunk? Obviously I'll never find pictures of them too, so enjoy my favorite celebrity looks from the Oscar carpet!

[ mila jovovich in elie saab / gwyneth paltrow in tom ford / octavia spencer in tadashi shoji / rooney mara in givenchy ]

White was having a moment on the carpet this year. Mila Jovovich was one of the first to arrive on the pre-show and looked so glamorous in this 2009 Elie Saab gown. Gwyneth Paltrow rocked a Tom Ford CAPE! So let's just take a moment to digest that. Amazing. I really loved her ensemble, with and without cape -- but I could have done without the low/loose ponytail. Octavia Spencer looked absolutely beautiful in this beaded Tadashi Shoji gown and it worked every inch of her body just right. Loved it! Lastly, ahh... Rooney Mara in Givenchy couture. She kind of came off like a twat in the red carpet interviews that I saw, but that can't stop me from admiring this structural masterpiece! It's hard to say because there were so many gorgeous gowns, but Rooney's getup might be my overall favorite.

 [ viola davis in vera wang / meryl streep in lanvin / michelle williams in louis vuitton ]

I loved Viola Davis' Vera Wang gown from the waist up -- I just wasn't feeling the chiffon at the bottom. But I couldn't not include her because she looked absolutely stunning -- I especially loved that she wore her hair natural because I seriously LOVE natural hair. I wish I had it. I've discussed this before though so enough about that. Green just pops off her skin in the most gorgeous way. And I wish I had her skin too. DAMN. Can I skin her and wear her??? It rubs the lotion on its skin. It puts the lotion in the basket. Okay, enough serial killer talk. Back to dresses. Meryl Steep looked gorgeous and sexy in this eco-friendly Lanvin gown. Cougar! Michelle Willaims... what to say about Michelle Williams. I love her style. Remember that yellow gown she wore a few years back? Gorgeous. I'm loving this peplum trend, it appear to be quite flattering for all sorts of body types. It's hard to pick between this Louis Vuitton coral dress or the white Givenchy, but I think what Rooney Mara wore edges this one out for the top spot by the tiniest margin.

 [ berenice bejo in elie saab / kristen wiig in j. mendel ]

Berenice Bejo looked gorgeous in this mint green Elie Saab gown. I am generally not a fan of mint green, but I couldn't get over the beading and cut of the dress. Kristen Wiig is muh gurl. I am in l.o.v.e with her and I thought she looked amazing and true to her own style in this J. Mendel gown. Giuliana, on E!, was all butthurt that she didn't put her hair in an updo because apparently that's a MUST of the Oscars... shut up Giuliana! Of course when Angelina Jolie showed up with her hair down and her leg comically posed out the slit of her dress, no one said anything about her hair. Nevertheless, Kristen looked beautiful and was definitely one of my top looks of the night.

[ jessica chastain in alexander mcqueen / nina garcia in jean paul gaultier / tiny fey in carolina herrera ]

It was hard for me to find a picture that did justice to how great both Jessica Chastain and the Alexander McQueen gown she is wearing looked on the red carpet pre-show because pictures that capture the richness of the dress tend to over saturate her hair color. I really loved the gown -- it was interesting and fresh while at the same time feeling really classic. Nina Garcia was one of the hosts of the ABC pre-show and I really liked her simple Jean Paul Gaultier gown, so just I had to feature it! Keep in mind that the picture washes out all the details, it wasn't too simple! Last, but not least, Tiny Fey looked probably the best I've ever seen her look in this custom Carolina Herrera gown. It fit her perfect and worked wonders for her figure. Gotta love that peplum!

Best dressed? Worst dress? Share your thoughts in the comments!

[ images via here, here, and here ]