The A-listers must be holed up in a bunker saving their best for the upcoming onslaught of big awards shows, leaving us with mere crumbs to judge.
LILY JAMES
Premiere of Pride And Prejudice And Zombies in Los Angeles
Gown: Alexander McQueen
In her haste to get to the ball, poor Cinderella forgot to put her dress over her super-fancy slip, but still manages to be the prettiest girl in the room. Oh wait, wrong movie. Unfortunately, I can't generate much enthusiasm beyond that.
NATALIE PORTMAN
Premiere of Jane Got A Gun in New York City
Gown: Valentino
Clutch: Christian Dior
It's a great embroidered floaty-sleeved tulle number - for Keira Knightley. The harsh, vampiric make-up doesn't work on Portman either. Back to the drawing board, please.
JORDANA BREWSTER
Premiere of American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson in Los Angeles
Jumpsuit: Vionnet
Shoes: Rene Caovilla
Well, if a bathroom emergency crops up, at least she won't have trouble finding toilet paper. Just look down and pull.
KERRY WASHINGTON
Hasty Pudding Theatricals 2016 Woman of the Year Award roast in Boston
Top: Self-Portrait
Skirt: Sea
Shoes: Isabel Marant
Recipients are expected to clown around at this event, but Washington just looks crazed in this inexplicably funereal all-black ensemble. You're supposed to be bring the comedy, not tragicomedy.
VIVICA A. FOX
Premiere of Fifty Shades Of Black in Los Angeles
Top and skirt: La Perla
Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti
No need for scratch-and-sniff tech here. When a 51-year-old has-been actress steps out in what's literally an LBD made out of Spanx and mesh, you can almost smell the desperation reeking from the page.
MOST IMPROVED
SARAH PAULSON
She's quite the eccentric on the red carpet, but who knew she could do elegant? The first outfit - which a messy, smear-y toddler probably used as an art canvas or tablecloth - is typical Paulson, in that it's "off". But she pleasantly surprises with her sleek second choice, a seasons-old McCartney hourglass gown with signature metallic waistband. Various actresses have given this popular design a spin in black and navy over the years, but seeing it in raspberry makes me fall in love all over again.
Premiere of American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson in Los Angeles, Jan 27
Gown: Stella McCartney
Clutch: Lee Savage
Producers Guild Awards in Los Angeles, Jan 23
Dress: Prabal Gurung
Clutch: Edie Parker
Shoes: Stuart Weitzman
This article was first published on February 1, 2016.
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