The “What to Wear” Frenzy Officially Begins

As DC recovers from its inaugural hangover (both literally and figuratively), celebs flocked back to Hollywood to prep for the next big party of the year—the Oscars.

Brad Pitt (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Angelina Jolie (The Changeling) could pick up his and hers golden statutes.  Both nabbed nominations for their respective lead roles during the 81st Academy Awards nomination ceremony in Los Angeles.  Angelina goes up against Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married, Melissa Leo for Frozen River, Meryl Streep for Doubt (her 15^th), and Kate Winslet for The Reader.

Pitt’s flick, which seems to mirror Demi Moore’s real-life reverse aging process, leads the pack with 13 total nominations.  Slumdog Millionaire is next with 10, while The Dark Knight and Milk racked up eight each. The late Heath Ledger also scored a supporting actor nod for his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight on the one-year anniversary of his death (chilling), otherwise the movie was shut out of the top noms.

While it’s nice to be nominated, what to wear is almost more important.  The announcement kicks off a month-long sprint for stylists to pillage Barneys and boutiques to find just the right red carpet moment looks. Bananas!

ShoeMinx predicts color, blues and lemongrass (the new black), will liven up the promenade and one-shoulder gowns will be en vogue. And don’t be surprised to see a dress or two from newly minted fashion darlings, Isobel Toledo and Jason Wu pop up.  Everyone wants to hang with the cool kids in town.

Angelina has been playing it fast and loose lately with her look.  Well, for her at least.  The occasional non-black ensemble here, an asymmetrical hairstyle there . . . who knows, maybe she’ll eventually wear an actual color.

Amy Adams (Doubt) and Penelope Cruz (Vicki Christina Barcelona), will be battling it out for the top spot in the best supporting actress category.  And there may be competition for some of the same dresses; both actresses have the same stylist, though Amy might have a lock on every black dress in town that’s not already hanging in Angelina’s closet.

Rachel Zoe will be cultivating Anne Hathaway’s Oscar night look for the second year in a row.  Expect to see her in a state of frenzy in the front rows at Fashion Week.  Boo, if only the second season of  The Rachel Zoe Project was on for a sneak-peek at the selections!

There’s a twist to this year’s telecast.  Producers are keeping the names of the presenters under wraps, well trying to at least.  Reportedly calls have gone out to Keira Knightley, Kate Beckinsale, Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kristen Stewart, and Jennifer Aniston.  If the thought of some sweet gowns isn’t enough to pull you in to cozy up to the TV machine, how about the utterly devilish, yet delicious, thought of pairing Jennifer up to present to the cuckolding couple, Bradgelina?  Ratings blitzkrieg!

The awards will be handed out Feb. 22 at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by master of ceremonies, X-Man series star Hugh Jackman.

Read the complete list of Oscar nominations here.

Jimmy Choo has been the “Sole Man” of late, getting priceless promo on famous peds from the Golden Globes to DC’s inaugural balls. But will JC continue to be the man or will Rene Caovilla step up on Hollywood’s Night of Nights?

By ShoeMinx Red Carpet Watcher Paige Muller

Party Politics Never Looked So Good

With all the star power in DC to celebrate the swearing-in of Barack Obama, Constitution Avenue looked more like Wilshire Boulevard than a political capital.  All eyes might have laser locked on Michelle Obama and her inaugural dress, but there was fashion aplenty at a gaggle of galas across town. And it seems like our First Lady’s one-shoulder look is already trendsetting: Ashley Judd was one among many sporting a one-shoulder gown.

No metal glove in sight, Beyonce was lovely in a lavender Armani Prive gown with jeweled detailing (of course, it wouldn’t be Bey without some bling) at the Neighborhood Ball, the first stop on the First Couple’s dance card where she serenaded them with the Etta James song, “At Last.”  A song that was on repeat in some way, shape or form at the 10 balls Barack and Michelle attended.  No doubt the song had new meaning for the couple at the end of the night.  Silver sandals like these from Pelle Moda are the perfect accompaniment to decadently detailed dresses.

Mariah Carey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Alicia Keys, Faith Hill, Adam Levine, Sting, Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, Queen Latifah and Stevie Wonder were also on hand for the special night.

After a bit of a red carpet cool down during the “Bride Wars” promo blitz, star Anne Hathaway came back strong in a red Dior gown with gold embellishment on the blue carpet at the Creative Coalition Ball.

Baby, it might have been cold outside, but Rihanna was red-hot in a sexy mustard-yellow Jasmine DiMilo mini-dress at the Recording Industry Association of American’s Inaugural Ball, where she performed a medley of her hits including, “Disturbia” and “Rehab.”  Is the color a nod to Mrs. O’s inauguration outfit or just a happy coincidence?  RiRi paired her dress with a pair of black, studded ankle straps.  And her breasts.

Sporting a silhouette similar to Mrs. O’s, Jennifer Lopez wore a mint green one shouldered Marchesa gown when she performed at the Inauguration’s Western Ball.  Jen’s most visible accessory besides her dangling earrings?  Her wedding ring, which had been missing at the Golden Globes because it supposedly didn’t go with her dress.  Huh, ok.  Evidently “diamonds are forever” just as long as they coordinate with your outfit.  Amid rumors of marital discord, JLo and hubby Marc Anthony indulged in some “we are oh so happy” PR PDA, including a smooch and saccharine sweet talk when they joined each other on stage for a duet.  “Man, she’s cute,” Anthony said after Lopez exited the stage.

Like many celebs, Jen hit several events.  She wore brilliant blue Marchesa gown with matching strappy heels to the Latino Inaugural Gala and beat Beyonce for sheer sartorial excess in a “Viva Las Vegas” Chanel cocktail dress with intricate jeweled detail to the Artist and Athletes Inaugural Ball.  Jenny from the Block completed her look with gold Jimmy Choo heels.  Boy, we don’t envy the hotel bellhop that has to get all of her designer luggage to the car.

The MTV and ServiceNation’s Be the Change: Live From the Inaugural Ball, brought out stars like Tobey Maguire, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher and Rosario Dawson.  Moore, who appears to taking up the mantle of “Fashionable Over 40″ from Sharon Stone, was fresh and lovely in a strapless Donna Karan dress, paired with black pumps.  Hey, Demi, is there something about a picture of Dorian Gray that you’d like to tell us about?  True, this isn’t the most fashion-forward look but there’s just a je ne se quoi about it that makes it work on her in a way it wouldn’t on someone else, like say . . . Jennifer Aniston.

By ShoeMinx Inaugural Reporter Paige Muller