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Style stars can be winners at the Oscars too

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-02-20 09:10

Anne Hathaway in Thakoon

Hathaway could become the fashion plate she played in "The Devil Wears Prada," although so far she's played it safe with traditional glamour-girl looks. Thakoon, says Stephenson, would push the envelope just enough — perhaps experimenting with fabric or color — to capture Hathaway's natural "fashion exuberance."

"She's young and she should dress young and wear clothes as fresh as she is. She can take classic glamour and turn it upside down."

Stephenson picks from Thakoon's downtown studio a short, one-shoulder dress made with upper and lower layers of black tulle with silver beading floating between the layers. A one-of-a-kind dress such as this one take about three days to make, the designer says.

It's a less traditional Oscar gown, but it's also dramatic and highly photogenic — and that's as important as looking good in person. "When these actresses hit the red carpet, they have to look like movie stars."

Melissa Leo in J. Mendel

A lesser-known star nominated for her role in the low-budget drama "Frozen River," Melissa Leo is a stylist's dream because "she hasn't made her fashion imprint yet," says Stephenson. "Melissa Leo is a white canvas, and I want to take her from zero to 100 in a single outing."

Stephenson suggests J. Mendel, a design house known for sophistication, glamour and luxurious details.

In the designer's workroom, she sees a navy dress with all-over vertical pleats that Stephenson says is a dramatic silhouette that a fine dramatic actress can pull off. The other choice would be a more ethereal, diaphanous purple gown that still defines the waist.

"So much about this is about how an actress feels that morning of the Oscars: Does she feel bold or delicate?" Stephenson says.

If she were actually dressing any of these stars for the big night, she adds, she wouldn't arrive with one dress that day, she'd have at least three — whittled down from 30 original choices.

Meryl Streep in Donna Karan

Streep is the most Oscar-nominated performer in history, yet has never emerged as a style star. That could change, Stephenson says, in a Donna Karan gown straight from the New York Fashion Week runway.

Her two picks would be either an all-over draped gown with a strong shoulder, or a fan-style strapless gown.

Karan's collection was sensual and stylish, while still embracing the dark colors and significant coverage that Streep seems to like. Stephenson says, however, that she might try to nudge both the designer and the star to make a switch to a rich jewel tone color — still dark, but more regal.

"I love seeing Donna Karan on the red carpet because the dresses are chic and sophisticated and ultimately you pay more attention to how glamorous the woman looks," she says. "You notice the woman first not the dress, and isn't that what it supposed to be about?"

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