87th Annual Academy Awards: Lupita Nyong'o, Emma Stone, Jennifer Lopez, Meryl Streep and More

Neil Patrick Harris opened with a musical number, Patricia Arquette spoke about better wages for female actresses, and Melanie Griffith and Dakota Johnson sparred on the red carpet like mother and daughter.  The 87th annual Academy Awards were full of ups and downs, surprises, and predictable wins. So did the fashion follow suit? Well, that depends on how much you like white, whether red still does it for you, and if it doesn’t bother you that Jennifer Lopez wore an incredible gown that looked similar to the one worn by Robert Duvall’s wife Luciana. Here are the gowns that wowed and wooed us on the Oscars red carpet. Stand Alone Gowns

Not sure if everyone will agree, but Jessica Chastain‘s navy blue Givenchy was my personal favorite of the evening. Perhaps it was because not too many other wore navy blue, or maybe it’s that uniquely textured neckline.

It took 6,000 pearls to create Lupita Nyong’o’s incredibly textured Calvin Klein gown. Was it worth it! Hell yes! We were waiting for Lupita to wow us and she does it again. Is there anything this actress cannot wear?

I’m totally impressed by Jennifer Lopez‘s Elie Saab gown. Maybe it’s because for the first time, the risk taking by this triple threat completely paid off. The gown is incredible and the color actually doesn’t make her looked washed out at all, as it could. Does it even matter that Robert Duvall‘s wife Luciana Pedraza wore a very similar creation?

Emma Stone never follows the crowd and we love her for it.

This is my an amazing color and I wish more celebs wore it on the red carpet. I would have loved to see Julianne Moore in another emerald green. If more celebs wore this shade, Scarlett Johansson probably wouldn’t look so incredible. Or maybe she would.

Rita Ora had three outfit changes on Oscars night but perhaps her Marchesa gown was the most spectacular. Look at this dress and the way she wears it! More stand alone gowns in great colors…

Is anyone else excited by the fact that this gown has a great print..and pockets too?

Lady Gaga felt privileged to be wearing Azzedine Alaia on the Oscars red carpet (the first time anyone had done so) and she let everyone know it. She also let everyone know she was taken by giving a shoutout to her soon-to-be-hubby Taylor Kinney. Adorable! Not so adorable? Her red dish washing gloves. Was she taking a cue from Amal Alamuddin?

Is this the best we’ve ever seen Keira Knightley look? Quite possibly. Although her purple gown of past awards show was worth writing about, we think The Imitation Game actress saved the best for last. Love the ethereal look and the writing on the dress.

Don’t tell me fireworks didn’t go off in your heart when you saw this dress! Monochrome (Black and White) Personally, I hated the white trend on the red carpet and was hoping for more color. I think it made stars like Reese Witherspoon, Julianne Moore, and Marion Cotillard look like washed out brides. But alas, the stars wear what they think they should wear.

White 

Blush  I’m not a blush lover either, but I did appreciate Viola Davis‘ off-the-shoulder Zac Posen and Zoe Saldana’s femine form in Versace post-baby.

Metallics

Many critics hated Naomi Watts‘ Armani Prive, but I thought it was great.

Red Red makes itself known once again. I’ve been watching Rosamund Pike’s looks all awards season and this is certainly her best one yet. (Granted, I didn’t like the others.)

Everyone was talking about Dakota Johnson last night. I really wish she did something more with her hair.

  – Simona Kogan Photos: eOnline, People.com, Just Jared, Celebuzz