I’ve definitely been doing my own search for the perfect Oscar dress, and I’ve found some options already! But the process can be daunting, even for the most fashionable of us. For expert advice and a professional perspective, I turned to three professional stylists to get their recommendations for Oscar night.
Help me choose a dress, bellas!
Tamika Martell-Price is a wardrobe coach and personal stylist, and the executive director of the Dangerous Curves Ahead fashion show. Click here to follow her on Twitter.
I think there is a definite difference between what a correspondent would wear versus what a celeb guest would wear. Since you are working and ‘on duty’ you have to look fab but also be ready for anything like chasing down Halle Berry for an interview 🙂 Also, everyone unfortunately is fair game to be listed/mentioned on the Fashion Police Show on E! whether they are plus size, tween actor, or seasoned pro.
Comfort & fit are definitely your top priorities in finding your red carpet look as a full figured correspondent. A great option is a jersey gown which is not only comfy but it drapes beautifully. Another stylish yet functional option is an empire or shirred waist chiffon dress that screams elegance while still maintaining comfort.
Here is a dress that would look great on you 🙂 I would suggest it in Spruce or Earth.
(Sidenote — I found a similar dress in plus size! Love this Adrianna Papell in emerald or eggplant
Aramide Esubi is a fashion stylist and blogger at TheSassyPeach.org. Click here to follow her on Twitter.
For the Oscars I would love to see you in a long gown, flowy at the bottom for some drama and movement. My top 3 color choices are emerald green, purple and red. If I had to pick a celebrity muse it would definitely be Queen Latifah. She always looks beautiful in gowns and dresses and in my opinion it’s when she looks her best. As far as designers go, Pamella Roland and Georges Chakra are who I would call up first on my batphone! The design aesthetic of both Pamella Roland and Georges Chakra are very flattering to a woman’s shape and curves and Queen Latifah has actually worn designs by them both on several occasions!
Hope that sounds good to you! If I styled you, you would look SMASHING! (Not that you wouldn’t anyway, you’re going to look gorg I just know it!)
Charles Wade is a renaissance man and stylist to the stars whose work has been seen on BET, Vibe, Vibe Vixen, and MTV. I’m especially a fan of his work with Solange Knowles. Charles is very versed in red carpet fashion. Click here to follow him on Twitter!
There’s definitely a difference between working the Oscars red-carpet and “working” the Oscar’s red-carpet! Considering it’s LA and you’ll likely be in the sun in the middle of the day, fabric choice is key and then the sIlhouette for your body type. I’m a huge fan of color and length for this event because I think many of those actually working will simply opt for LBDs or standard cocktail dresses in pretty stock colors. A longer dress will give your more options shoe wise to maximize and/or increase your height and increases your options for shapewear to create a seamless silhouette.
Although this Rachel Pally cotton dress for most would read “casual”, cotton Is not only wearable and comfortable but this dress can be merched up and worn again! I’d love to see this dress or something similar (like one of those legendary Monif C convertible numbers) with jade, turquoise (also super wearable again and can be found reasonably) and a little gold jewelry, a discrete vintage clutch, and a killer platform peep-toe like these or these for an overall funky and a lil forward color block moment…
Back to shape wear, one big tip I’d offer in picking a dress is one that creates a seamless, shapely silhouette enhanced by layered undergarments like Spanx. Stylists in the know say: one to tone, two to tighten, and three to transform. So with a dress like this, a great minimizing or if needed, maximizing bra and as close to a full body shaper over that with one additional lighter and smaller shaper will lift and hold everything in place and allow this sort of dress and lighter weight fabric to fall and skim the bodily sexily. Note: when layering shape wear, stay far away from pantyhose! Overkill and you’ll roast and possibly faint… not chic. It’s all about great, lightweight shape wear and knowing your personal limit. I’ve seen as many as five worn on shoots but out and about, two is a safe bet.
Super helpful insider tips that I’ll be using on the big day. Which dress is your favorite, bellas? What do you think I should wear?
I REALLY love the purple dress or the pink dress!!!!
I love the Adrianna Papell dress. Did you get your lip-glass added to the swag-bags? Have fun at the Oscars.
kam
Love the shapewear tip. I never thought of wearing more than one.!
Purple!! Purple!! Purple!!! 🙂
the 1st one. hands down!
Patrice – I cannot WAIT to see you work that red carpet!!! I think the Adrianna Papell. And purple seems to be your signature color! I’m definitely not feeling the Rachel Pally – we do NOT want to see our Bella all covered up! LOL
SOOO excited for you (doing a happy dance!)
I love the PR jade! Enjoy the Oscars 🙂
The AP in eggplant, for sure. You gotta go with purple, girl!
Door number one for sure.
IMO, I’d put about 90% of the same amount of effort into shoewear. Unlike the celebs who saunter down the carpet and then sit down somewhere, you’ll be out in the sun for a long time, possibly in the same spot and/or quickly catching up to someone.
So definitely look for COMFORTABLE cute shoes too.
I would definitely go with the purple dress! That one’s a winner!
Bella,
You should definitely rock the Adrianna Papell in Grape. Pairing it with your Lipglass (I purchased 2 by the way!!!) would be a fabulous look!
I think the purple with cap sleeves would look great on you Bella.
Purple with not much frill at front or back – emphasise cleavage but don’t have a draped body as it will make you look wider – should look like one you wore to a recent wedding and maybe have a small sleeve.
PR JADE! The others are too safe (although you would look beautiful in all of them)
I really like the eggplant dress. I seems like it would be very figure flattering.
The Adrianna dress, for sure, in eggplant. But what shoes will you wear? Can you work in high heels? And how will you wear your hair?
Good points, esp about the frill. I went back and looked at some of the Pamella Rowland dresses and some of her longer ones are really nice and would work well IMO. Check out some of the chiffon collection and the spring & summer collections.
The Pally dress styled up to the max. I have that dress in 3 colors and have worn it all over the globe. It looks great after standing in the sun and moving around for hours. If you were just going to be a guest I would go for #1 like the rest of the respondents.
The first dress is (The Pappell in eggplant) is a knockout and would look amazing on you. I like the second one, but it does not wow me. The third one is frumpy! Since you are working, make sure that shoes you pick are sexy but walkable. I can’t wait to see you on the red carpet. You are going to rock it out!
I love all the options! I am in love with Charles Wade selection….(I love black and that dress in black with some gorgeous gem detailing around the waist(like a pendant) and/or V neck would be awesome!) I’m sure you will look fab in everything!
Wow! The Adriana Papell in eggplant would look lovely on you, the colour and the cut would flatter your figure and give you WOW factor. Whatever you wear you will look great!
The purple dress, hands down!
yes that first purple dress is amazing! and it looks right up your alley bella plus it looks so comfy too! I could dance all night in that if i had to 😀
The Pappell dress I think would really flatter you. I like the idea of the wide belt. Also, take a look at the color “stream” with your “All My Purple Life” lipglass. I’m not sure if the eggplant color with your purple lipglass would pop. I’m just saying try them on with your lipglass and see. God bless you sweetie! I’m sure you’ll be looking haute on the red carpet.
– Seleema
The Pappell dress I think would really flatter you. I like the idea of the wide belt. Also, take a look at the color “stream” with your “All My Purple Life” lipglass. I’m not sure if the eggplant color with your purple lipglass would pop. I’m just saying try them on with your lipglass and see. God bless you sweetie! I’m sure you’ll be looking haute on the red carpet.
– Seleema
Nice wearable dresses.
I vote for Pamela Roland!!!
Jesus laying spanx?? 3 pair!!! As you can see this what got my attention in the post. Oh yeah I like the the Rachel Pally cotton dress.
Sorry I was lightheaded from just thinking about 3 pair of spanx, I meant to say layering.
The purple one would look great on you!