Maybe it's just our sense of egalitarianism, but we really do feel like all the ladies nominated for the Oscars on Sunday night deserve to win. It would be impossible to choose between Gabourey Sidibe's powerhouse performance as an impoverished Harlem teen in Precious and Carey Mulligan's portrayal of a very different adolescence in An Education. Instead, we choose to focus on what's really important: what they're going to wear! We wish we could peek into the minds of the Philip Bloch and Rachel Zoe, but for now we'll have to use our intuition. Here are our Oscar fashion predictions.
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Anna Kendrick
1. In her 24 years, Anna Kendrick has starred in both a blockbuster hit, Twilight, and a smaller, introspective film, Up in the Air. This awards season, she's been seen in everything from a dreamy Marchesa to a short, bright yellow Pucci . We think on Sunday she'll opt for something more similar to the former: either a structured and shoulder-baring Armani Privé gown or an ethereal and embellished Elie Saab.
Above, from left: Anna Kendrick, image via Photo Agency; Armani Privé spring '10 couture, image via Style.com; Elie Saab spring '10 couture, image via Style.com.
Carey Mulligan
2. It's no secret that Carey Mulligan is popular around here, and you've got to admire a girl who's willing to defy the Nuclear Wintour. Anna recommended that Carey wear a short dress to the Oscars, advice Carey chose ignore because it wasn't exactly what she had dreamed of at the tender age of six. We think she'll go with either this strapless Marchesa in a youthful pink or a sophisticated draped number from Chanel's spring couture runway.
Above, from left: Carey Mulligan, image via Daily Mail; Marchesa fall '10, image via Style.com; Chanel spring '10 couture, image via Style.com.
Gabourey Sidibe
3. Gabourey Sidibe has been one of the most inspiring stories all Oscar season, not just because of her brilliant performance in Precious, but also because of the way designers have embraced the opportunity to dress her. It's been a good year for women who don't fit sample sizes (that would be most of us), and the news that Gabby selected red carpet favorite Marchesa from numerous volunteers has us hoping that change is here to stay. We see her wearing a bright jewel tone, like this dress from Marchesa's spring collection, or something dark and elegantly subdued from the fall collection.
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Above, from left: Gabourey Sidibe, image via The Frisky; Marchesa spring '10, image via Style.com; Marchesa fall '10, image via Style.com.
Maggie Gyllenhaal
4. Maggie Gyllenhaal has been good in the past for red carpet surprises, famously wearing a somewhat divisive Stella McCartney jumpsuit to the premiere of the Dark Knight. But we loved the sexy peach sheath she wore to the Golden Globes this year, which featured exquisite origami pleating at the hip. For the Oscars, we think she'll go with a strapless Valentino with ruffled details (a more grownup version of her Golden Globes dress) or a nude goddess-like dress by Amanda Wakeley.Helen Mirren
5. Helen Mirren is proof that life after 40 isn't just about fashion sandals and modest cuts—it's also about knowing what looks good on you and wearing it with class. She looked absolutely stunning in a silver Badgley Mischka gown at this years' SAG awards. The smoky pewter accents really set off what we consider to be her most striking asset, that beautiful head of gray hair. We hope she does a repeat performance at the Oscars, in either a simple, low-cut Pamella Roland or a '20s-flavored Chanel couture dress.
Above, from left: Helen Mirren, image via Photo Agency; Pamella Roland fall '10, image via NYMag.com ; Chanel spring '10 couture, image via Style.com.