BAFTAs 2006: red carpet commentary

Ziyi Zhang at the BAFTAs 2006 Compared to the Brits last week, when it came to fashion, the red carpet at the BAFTAs actually looked like an award show: people actually managed to wear suitably swishy dresses that actually, for the most part, suited them. Ziyi Zhang, for example, looked absolutely gorgeous.

Michelle Ryan also looked pretty good too (if a bit bridesmaidy to Ziyi’s bride) and Felicity Huffman’s dress was very nice and suitable for a woman her age - although a bit more suitable for a woman her age at a summer wedding rather than a black tie awards ceremony in February.

Michelle Ryan and Felicity Huffman at the BAFTAs 2006

Along with the ladies in white, good old black was a popular colour too: Neve Campbell made it look rather non-descript but still quite classy whereas Kristin Scott Thomas and Christina Ricci added ruffles and sequins … but I’m not sure they should have done.

Neve Campbell, Kristin Scott Thomas and Christina Ricci at the BAFTAs 2006

Another senseless ruffle was the one on Thandie Newton’s chest. It just seemed like a strange addition to an otherwise alright dress. And at least it was a subtle colour unlike the glaring purple and red of Rachel Weisz and Ruby Wax’s dresses respectively. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate colour but I’d have preferred Rachel’s dress if it was a bit more aubergine and Ruby’s dress if it was a bit more… or a bit less… oh I don’t know. I liked the shape of it a lot, it just made her look shorter than she already is.

Thandie Newton, Rachel Weisz and Ruby Wax at the BAFTAs 2006

One last thought: bras. BRAS. Mischa, Charlize: BRAS! I know the eight-year-old boy look is the favoured look in Hollywood but seriously, it’s an award show and you’re wearing an expensive fancy dress so WEAR A BRA. The flat chest, boobs start in your belly is not attractive. Bleugh.

Mischa Barton and Charlize Theron at the BAFTAs 2006

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I agree that Thandie Newton’s bow looks like an afterthought - perhaps she split some nacho sauce down it in the limo on the way and just ripped off the bottom Christina Rici’s dress to cover it up.

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[…] Hilary Swank, Jennifer Aniston and Rachel Weisz brought more understated elegance in their long black dresses. All lovely (except Jennifer’s peculiar necklace) but not terribly exciting: nice but a safe bet. Rachel did though prove once and for all that black is a slimming colour - she looked less pregnant now than she did a month ago at the BAFTAs. Charlize Theron also went for black, but statement-making black instead of elegant-black. In most shots, it looks far too stiff and structured. Her gorgeous body was just hidden away beneath the angles and her regular head and hair sticking out the top looked like they’d been made up for a completely different dress. Michelle Williams also seemed to be going for a statement making dress - it’s just unfortunate that the otherwise nice (if bright) dress seemed to be stating that the whole world should look at Michelle’s groin. Hi there pubic area! Keira Knightley’s dress seemed doing the wrong thing too - rather than making her look elegant, it made her look like she was permanently bent over. Jennifer Lopez also brought colour to the proceedings but with a not terribly flattering to her hip region train (but then again, the skirt itself would have looked peculiar without it). Ice queens Uma Thurman and Nicole Kidman went for the paler end of the spectrum though: they both looked a bit washed out by their white frocks and Nicole especially looked a bit too over preened for her own good. Her dress also smacked very much of designer wedding dress - I wonder if a celeb’s being thrifty for a change and she’s got another date in mind to wear the dress for a second time… So that just leaves us with the shock frocks. The ones that should never see the light of day again. And yes, we’re looking at you, Helena Bonham Carter. You know you’ve done a bad thing, don’t you? I can see the regret in your face. Not only have you selected a dated dress that makes you look like you have a beer-gut and that you’ve drunkenly snagged your hem while getting out of the car, you’ve accessorised it with 1980s hair, a clashing bag (in both colour and fabric) and mumsy shoes that even the most fashion-impaired bride would reject for being too dull. Oh, and I can tell that you’re planning to get your boobs out to distract us, Ms Bonham Carter but it won’t work I tell you, it won’t work one bit. […]

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