This year’s Oscar hosts, James Franco and Anne Hathaway, may have earned mixed reviews, but guests at the Union Square W Hotel’s Oscar viewing party seemed to enjoy themselves anyway.
The bash, co-hosted by fashion website Refinery 29, featured movie-themed cocktails, concession stand snacks, mini hand massages by Bliss Spa, and other treats. A four-person style panel, made up of Refinery 29’s New York editor Kristian Laliberte, fashion and food blogger Carol Han, and fashion designers Timo Weiland and Jonathan Simkhai, provided commentary throughout the evening.
Laliberte singled out two of the youngest actresses at the awards — both first-time nominees — as the best dressed of the night.
“I loved [Winter’s Bone’s] Jennifer Lawrence, wearing Calvin Klein. She’s only 20,” he said. “And [True Grit’s] Hailee Steinfeld is 14 years old. Whoever her stylist is — very smart.”
Han echoed the praise for Lawrence and Steinfeld.
“Jennifer Lawrence looks amazing, and I really like what Hailee Steinfeld is doing,” she said. “I think that her Marchesa dress is great tonight. She’s taking these really high-end designers and making them age appropriate. For a 14-year-old it’s really amazing.”
“I also think Mandy Moore, in Monique Lhuillier, looks the best she’s looked in years,” she added. “I have no idea what she’s doing at the Oscars, but let me tell you, she had her moment on the red carpet and she looks really sophisticated.”
As always, there were some flops. Han thought Best Actress winner Natalie Portman’s look was particularly lackluster.
“I’m a little bit disappointed with Natalie Portman’s dress, to be honest,” she said. “I loved her dress at the Golden Globes, but I thought this one looked a bit typical.”
Laliberte, meanwhile, seemed downright offended by the sartorial choices of Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem, who presented an award in matching white tuxedos.
“That was so stupid,” he said. “I didn’t like it. And they’re both looking a little chunky.”
