Red Carpet Style: Best Dressed and Runner-ups at the Oscars 2012

So, I don't know about you all, but last night's red carpet at the Oscars left me feeling unsatisfied.  Sure there were some high notes like Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen and Natalie Portman in vintage polka dot Dior, but for the most part, I felt the looks fell flat when there were so many amazing dresses to pick from.  For instance, Penelope Cruz, one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood, looked matronly, and Michelle Williams' peplum clashed with the bottom of her dress.  Overall, I wanted more pizazz and style and less frumpy.

Here's my top five picks and then some who I think were almost there.  Let me know if you agree/disagree!

Best Dressed:

1.  Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen

Red Carpet Style: 24 dresses I'd like to see at the Oscars

Today is the big day everybody!  I'm super excited to see what the celebrities are going to wear on the red carpet, and I know fashion month is still going on, but I threw in some looks from Fall 2012, Pre-Fall 2012 and the spring couture shows.  Some of my picks are serious wishful thinking, but here's hoping some of them show up.  Women like Sandra Bullock, Emma Stone, Chloe Moretz, Rooney Mara and Michelle Williams will be there, so I have a feeling we will be seeing a star-studded and fashion-forward red carpet.

Let me know if you agree/disagree on my picks!

Red Carpet Picks from Pre-Fall 2012

Award season is upon us, and I know I say this in a lot of my posts, but there's so many great looks this season, from Pre-Fall alone, that deserve to have a moment.  Here's some of my picks, and one (green Jason Wu dress) already got rocked by Emma Stone at the Critics' Choice Awards!

What do you think?  Any I left out?

Burberry

Favorite looks from the Oscars

Here's a list of my top 10 favorite looks from the Oscars on Sunday.  I'm not going to lie, I wasn't too impressed with the show or the style.  

However, there were some high notes like Hailee Steinfeld, Cate Blanchett and Penelope Cruz, and when Anne Hathway put on the metalic blue Armani Prive dress during one of her many outfit changes.

Natalie Portman looked great although I thought her dress was rather lackluster for Rodarte.  I wish there had been more bright colors like we've been seeing on the streets in the major fashion cities, but most went for either nude tans, pinks or whites.

What did you think?

1.  Hailee Steinfeld in Marchesa

Pre-fall Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier's pre-fall collection features two dresses that were worn on the red carpet for the Golden Globes, and I'm going to predict that maybe two more will end up at the Oscars.

Lhuillier is an expert when it comes to making a gorgeous dress that makes a statement.  My guess is the white shimmery dress and one of the purple dresses will have a "red carpet moment" by the end of awards season if they haven't already.

More picks for the Golden Globes and the Oscars

After my earlier post about the 15 dresses I thought needed a "red carpet moment," I went back to my folder and looked at the other 23 and decided these dresses deserved some recognition as well.  So, keep your eyes pealed tonight, hopefully a couple of my picks will have made the cut for the Golden Globes!

Also, if any of the dresses in this post or the previous post get picked, I'll probably end up revamping the idea for the Oscars.

Nina Ricci