I'm not quite at the point where I can recommend a particular one, but might as well put up the product of my research. Adz and others might want to skip this post. Seriously. It isn't manly.
The Oscars are as important for what happens outside the show as for what happens inside. Style is absolutely everything. "Who are you wearing?" is cried and bellowed by the myriad snappers and paps that thrust themselves against the hoardings lining the red carpet.
Patrick Parr has a market I like: Who will make Best Actress's dress?
Let's start with an assumption: it's Cate Blanchett. She's 1/16. It's not
Awards season is jam packed with red (and blue) carpet appearances and the stars not directly affiliated to couturiers will likely be seen wearing a variety of Houses' works over the weeks.
In the last few weeks, Blanchett has worn:
Roksana Ilincic
Givenchy
Armani (at an Armani bash, granted, but also at the Golden Globes)
Valentino
Lanvin
Alexander McQueen (at the BAFTAs)
Prada
Gucci
Maison Martin Margiela
You get the idea...
http://www.oddschecker.com/awards/oscars/best-actress-dress-designerShe has also accessorised recently with Gucci (none of the other contenders have had handbags or shoes on her; those were all from other designers not on the bookies' list) and I wonder whether that's what's meant the price had come in a bit on that.
I think we can definitely discount McQueen (obvious English choice at the BAFTAs) and Armani (she wore two at the Armani do the other day and she won Best Dress at the Golden Globes for a stunning Armani gothic piece). That knocks out a good chunk of the price. We should be able to throw a dart or two reasonably confidently.
Lanvin caused a bit of a stir the other week when four of the top stars rocked up in pieces (including rivals Blanchett and Sandra Bullock). The extra tabloid inches for that suggest she won't have another Lanvin dress tonight.
She wore a Balenciaga dress to the premiere of Blue Jasmine last summer, which caused a huge stir, as it was a replica of a famous 1967 dress. Would she really wear the same House to the big show? It's a very bold label and I'm not convinced you want to go in there looking like poor Tilda Swindon did when she won. Cate had that criticism at the Deauville premiere of Blue Jasmine in Dior. It didn't work and she got some stick. No chance she's in Dior tonigh IMO. She also took some stick for her silver Prada dress at the Nominations do, which she chose to wear without the sweater that was used to soften it on the catwalk. Again, once bitten and all that.
Givenchy is a fair favourite IMO. You want long, elegant dresses and, this season, bright, powerful colours (the Fashion Weeks were packed with blues and fuchsias; vibrant colours). I'm struggling to commit to it as a recommend because it's 2/1 and there are a lot of assumptions to get me there.
Thought I'd share what I have done anyway. For anyone who's betting on coloursc black was sooooooo last year. Go with blues and fuschias and other bright colours.
Right, I'm off to eat a Yorkie bar, drink some milk from the carton and belch loudly.
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