Awards Season red carpet highs and lows

I love awards' season. I look forward to seeing all of the gowns make the transition from the catwalk to the red carpet. I love hearing the words 'what are you wearing?' come out of Skeletor's...sorry, I mean Guilianna Rancic's mouth. I even love the E! mani-cam.
The more interesting thing for me is how everyone has an opinion when it comes to the stars outfits. We all feel like we belong on the panel of Fashion Police. Who the hell are we to judge, sitting in our jammies with a cheap wine in hand and our laptops at the ready? I don't claim to be an expert, and when I really think about it, there is a part of me that isn't entirely comfortable with all the judging of (mostly) women for their look. But then there is another part of me that thinks its all in good fun- and at the end of the day, you will never please everyone- even if you are Jennifer Lawrence.
So in the lead up to the Oscars this weekend, I thought we would take a look back at the high's and low's of the awards season so far. I have asked Ashlee and Sinead to give their 2 cents, and also asked a few of the men in our lives for their opinions as well: be them friends, husbands, or boyfriends. One of my favourite things about fashion is how differently men and women tend to see things. What a lot of women view as fashion-forward and edgy, a lot of men view as, well, just plain stupid.
I have put together the most talked about outfits of the season(I couldn't include them all)which we will review. You know who Ash and Sinead are- no introductions needed. Joining us we have John- a man who is forced to sit through episodes of Fashion Police and Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model but actually prefers watching shows like River Monsters and Gold Rush; Mark who isn't as ignorant as the average man when it comes to fashion, but still seems to watch an awful lot of the most boring sport in the world, soccer; and Fergal, who I imagine is somewhere in between John and Mark. As an Irish dancer, Fergal has been more exposed to the stupid things we women do for fashion, but still also thinks a lot of the things we do are stupid. These men will be giving us an insight into the male psyche. And yes, they have proven themselves to be very deep creatures indeed. So, here we go- lets take a look, one ceremony at a time.

- Emily 

The Golden Globes

 

Sandra Bullock
Emily: I want to like this- I LOVE the colour blocks. Maybe with different shoes or if it was on someone a bit more fashion-forward...Zooey Deschannel maybe??
John: 'I don't know what to say- is that some obscure country's flag that she has wrapped around her?'
Ashlee: 'She looks gorgeous but the dress just doesn't seem like her at all. I'd imagine it on one of Disney's princesses before she meets her Prince charming.'

Margot Robbie
Emily: 'She's hot- there's not much more that needs to be said. She will always be Donna Freedman to me though.'
John: 'Flawless...hot. The only criticism is that the slit should go even further up and the neckline is a little conservative!!'

Jennifer Lawrence
John: 'What can I say? J-Law, you let me down. Was the electrical tape an afterthought? She looks like a hurley grip.'
Emily: As the face of Dior, I feel like they let her down here. They never do her amazing body justice. It's not terrible, but I was disappointed.'
Ashlee: 'Meh, I just don't think she's all that. And her dress, well it bores me.'

Emma Watson
Emily: 'I get that she was going for a full on fashion moment here, but I just don't really buy her as a 'fashion' girl.'
John: 'The red thing looks like a red hospital robe worn with business pants. How is that fashion?'

Sinead: 'Not my favourite, but I respect that she went for something different!'

Fergal: 'She's old enough now...that's good'
Ashlee: 'I think Emma is beautiful but I'm not a fan of this number. It's eye catching from the back but it's pretty drab from the front.'

Caitlin Fitzgerald
Emily: 'I actually don't really know who this chick is!!! But the colour is amazing on her, the high neck is cool, and I love the coral in the accessories. This is definitely in my top 5 of the season so far.'

Lupita Nyong'o

Emily: 'I love it. Amazing. The complete standout of the night. Not just the dress but her skin/make-up. She looked completely radiant.'
John: 'She looks like Cardinal Richelieu from Dogtanion and the Muskahounds'. (this confuses me, which prompts John to do a google image search. Plenty of LOL's follow as he shows me THESE pictures)

Sinead: 'My favourite dress of the night has nearly been ruined by these dog pictures. But only nearly... I freakin love it!'

Fergal: 'Can she fly?'
Mark: 'As a red blooded male,she is the stand out presence on the red carpet throughout the season, effortlessly emitting a modern playfulness mixed with classic ethereal beauty beyond her years!! I'd like to know her!'









Lena Dunham
Emily: 'As a fan of his designs, I am angry at Zac Posen for letting her go out like this. I think it was a bit mean, given he is renowned for making gowns that are structured in a way that compliments the female form. I know she is all about positive body image, but as someone who DOES relate to her body shape, it actually depresses me to think that if I was famous, I might look like that on the red carpet!'
John: 'I think she looks angry and out of place'

Sinead: 'Let's be honest. It's not great'

Fergal: 'She'd definitely beat me up'

 
Reese Witherspoon
Emily: 'This should be good. The colour is gorgeous, but I think it's the cut that is a little unflattering.'  

Sinead: 'Her body looks bangin' but I'm really not a fan of this dress' 

Amy Adams
Emily: 'This was cooler with the cape, but I think she was wise to ditch it as Lupita stole the cape show. I am just surprised she wore something that could have been a costume from American Hustle.'
John: 'You need bigger boobs to pull off that look.'

Fergal: 'Well covered up by her standards (as opposed to in American Hustle)'

Zoe Saldana
Emily: 'I say this, acknowledging that I did study fashion design at a local college, but it looks like something made as a project at a local college. Plus, its a weird length on her. On the catwalk it was actually sitting on/just below the knee, and it looked a lot better that way.'
John: 'She looks ridiculous- Is that supposed to be a belt? Does it go around her whole body?'(I ask him, why would it be a belt when it is around her shoulders?)'Well, that's my question. Seriously, is that tying her arms to her body?'

Sinead: 'I know a lot of 'fashion people' praised this dress, but I'm sorry, it looks like a bad TAFE project made from off cuts'

Drew Barrymore
Emily: 'I like this a lot. I think it's super pretty, and a really nice way for a pregnant lady to dress. The colours and the details are really beautiful.'
John: 'She looks like a marshmallow with hundreds and thousands sprinkled on it. Or one of those swimming caps that old ladies wear.'

Fergal: 'That is a scary sight'
Ashlee: 'What was she thinking? Her hormones are probably all over the place. It looks like a shower curtain'

Cate Blanchett
Emily: 'Second, only to Lupita. Cate is just amazing. She has a way of making everything she wears look elegant, but not in a boring, snobby way. Like, she still comes across as approachable. The back of this dress was stunning as well.'
John: 'She looks evil. I dunno, just what an evil person would wear. She looks like the crow queen, like she's just going to turn into a crow and fly away'

Sinead: 'Our Cate can do no wrong. What an icon, this dress is so beautiful'

Fergal: 'She looks like a dominatrix. Scary, but intriguing' 
Ashlee: 'Cate Blanchett is stunning. Her dress is fab, I love the high neck, the black lace and just how elegant and poised she is.'

The Critics Choice Awards

Lupita Nyong'o
Emily: 'This isn't her greatest look, and it's still pretty great. Given she is so petite, and given her short hair, she can pull off the cutouts without them looking trashy.'
Sinead: 'This girl can do no wrong! She looks incredible. Take note trash bags, THIS is how you do cut outs!'

Jessica Chastain
Emily: 'I love the colour, but this does nothing for her body at all. She can do better.'
 
Margot Robbie
John: 'Nice box gap but where's the cleavage?! When does she take her jacket off? I hate jumpsuits, no easy access...lol.'

 

The Screen Actors Guild Awards

Cate Blanchett
Emily: 'It's on a rare occasion that Cate lets me down, but I don't like this.'

John: 'She looks like a clam. Or lady parts...eww.'

 

Hannah Simone
John: 'Is that Cece(from New Girl)? She doesn't look as hot as I know that she is.'

Fergal: 'It looks like a christening gown'
 

Sandra Bullock
John: 'Isn't she my mothers age? Why is she dressing like 20 year old? I don't want to see a 60 year old thigh.'

Emily: 'I actually think this is the best she has looked on the red carpet in a while. And yes, she isn't in her 20's, but her body is amazing and I reckon she pulls it off.'

Fergal: 'It just reminds me of Christmas'

Michelle Dockery
John: (John appears to be speachless)'She looks ridiculous.'

Sophia Vergara 
John: 'Yeah, hot.'

Kerry Washington
John: 'She looks like she's been tarred and feathered...with pink tar'

Emily: 'This was just a bit weird. I'm all for remaining fashion-forward whilst preggers, but I think this was too far.'

Jennifer Lawrence

John: 'Yeah, hot. I wish she didn't have a boys haircut though'

Fergal: 'She looks like she's been wrapped in bin bags'

Claire Danes

Sinead: 'I love Homeland, but what is she at?! Hire Lupita's stylist.'

Fergal: 'Nice dress, pity she's so bloody annoying: "Abu f---ing Nazir!"'

The Grammy Awards

 

Beyonce
John: 'Am I the only one who doesn't like Beyonce? All she is is an arse'
Emily: 'I think this is classic Beyoncé, in that it would look completely slutty on anyone else(a bit like Paris' outfit!!). It completely works with her curves.'

Sinéad: 'Amazing. Queen Bey has done it again. This dress is incredible & she is working it!'

Daft Punk
John: 'Why are they copying the Rubberbandits??'
Emily: 'I think they look super cool- very schmick'

Sinéad: 'These guys are so cool. Such dudes! I wanna be them'

Madonna

 

John: 'F--king hell, like talk about clinging onto any bit of attention that she can. She's disgusting.'

Fergal: 'Has she come as an Orthadox Jew? She needs to work on her beard'

Mark: 'Madonna looks like she was channelling the spirit of a 1960's pimp!'

Emily: 'I agree with all of the above. So much so, I am going to include some pictures...'

Anna Kendrick
John: 'I like it.'
Sinead: 'I've always been kind of underwhelmed by Anna Kendrick, however her recent red carpet & fashion week outfits have made me rethink my opinion. Girl's got style (or at least a good stylist anyway)'

 

Kelly Osbourne

John: 'My most hated 'Celebrity' on the planet'

Emily: 'I don't love her, I do like this.'

Paris Hilton

John: 'Paris who? So 2005!!'

Fergal: 'I didn't recognise her with her clothes on hahaha'
Emily: 'I love when she tries to be a singer...I think that's why she's there. Nothing in this world is still an amazing pop song. Fugly dress though.'

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

Emily: 'I think they both look super fun'

John: 'Yeah, cool. But that does look like a plastic table cover(Ryan). Could I pull off a velvet suit? I don't think so.'

Wiz Kalifa and Amber Rose
John: 'Is that Edgar Davitts?'

Emily: 'Apparently that's some soccer player. I think they look cool. She had a baby only a few months earlier...That's insane.'

The BAFTA's

 

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

Emily: 'This just isn't my cup of tea really. I get it, but I just feel indifferent about it'

John: 'Ridiculous, why is she dressed up as a boy?'

Ashlee: 'Angelina looks effortlessly cool in her ensemble. She did what Madge tried to do at the Grammy's, but she needs to trade her arm candy in though cause he is looking old!'

 

Cate Blanchett

Emily: 'I am bored by this. And the necklace is ugly. But it's not bad. It's just not up to Cate's usual standards.'

John: 'It looks like one of the muppets is hugging her from behind.'

 

Lupita Nyong'o

John: 'I wonder how she can walk in that. It's a lot of dress to hold if she needs to go to the toilet.'

Emily: 'Bright colours really do suit this lady. I don't know how she is going to top these looks at the Oscars. I can't wait to see!'