Are Big Designers Passing on Awards Shows?

By Kendra Gilbert on January 29th, 2010

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How can there even be a headline that asks the question, “Are the top designers avoiding awards shows?” Especially following two glamorous awards shows whose red carpets boasted dresses from Alexander McQueen, Christian Lacroix, Oscar de la Renta, Lanvin, Carolina Herrera, Gucci, Versace, Valentino and Vera Wang. It just doesn’t make sense.

I hold an opinion completely opposite to that of New York Times fashion critic Cathy Horyn. She is of the opinion that red carpet glamour has taken a header this year and that designers are backing away from dressing celebrities for their awards shows like the Golden Globes and Academy Awards! I think she may be living and writing her column from a cave somewhere. I just don’t get it! And how can Horyn criticize this year’s awards show fashion as boring and then go on to say that Tea Leoni’s button-up shirt paired with a long skirt at the Golden Globes this year was one of her favorite looks of the night? That kind of high-low combination on the red carpet was done with much more impact by Sharon Stone at the Oscars in 1996 when the actress paired a Gap turtleneck with a Valentino trumpet skirt! Leoni’s look was a poor knockoff. And that’s the look the Times picks out among the amazing dresses from the night? How about the hot-pink Lacroix on Diane Kruger? It’s got the European edge, the couture label, and it certainly didn’t blend into the “preponderance of blush pink” on the Golden Globes red carpet that Horyn so despised.

But of all the many designers featured on 2010’s red carpets so far, there was one designer noticeably absent. Chanel! I think a red carpet always needs at least one Chanel gown and so far there hasn’t been a single one. Here’s to hoping someone, maybe Diane Kruger, brings out the Chanel for the Oscars.