Oscar fashion lessons: Backwards necklaces and misplaced brooches?

By Brittany Anas

The red carpet at the 2013 Oscars show was a fashion parade complete with winter white gowns, cascading dress trains and soft, bouncy, side-swept curls. Most of the stars flaunted classic, romantic styles — with nude and champagne dress colors and dangling diamond earrings. We think Jessica Chastain said it best when she described her old Hollywood, copper-colored Armani Prive dress by saying: “I definitely think it was a happy birthday, Mr. President kind of dress.”

Then, there were a few of our favorite stars who broke from the fashion script: Reese Witherspoon wore a vivid blue, structured Louis Vuitton gown and 9-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis carried a playful Prada puppy purse.

But here’s what the Oscars really taught us about fashion.

• We can wear our necklaces backwards … on purpose! Both Anne Hathaway and Jennifer Lawrence were backward-thinking with their necklaces, letting the jewels sparkle on their backs and adding interest to their dresses. We think Lawrence wore it best because Hathaway’s necklace looks like a mistake with her criss-crossed dress backing.

Until they start manufacturing “backwards” necklaces, try wearing a long chain like this neon painted necklace from Aeropostale draped in the back against bare skin.

• We can pin brooches in our hair. Sandra Bullock gets the award for most creative hair accessories. She pinned a brooch in her hair and it doubled as a sparkly barrette.

These “elegant ever after” hair clips from Claire’s are sparkly stand-outs that could be clustered in a trio behind your ear.

• We can wear white in the winter. Call it “champagne” or “cream” or “marshmallow white.” Stars like Zoe Saldana and Charlize Theron wore shades of white that look crisp and fresh — yet appropriate for winter.

A cotton-silk creamy white blouse from Anthropologie that is on major sale has winter-appropriate detailing, including a triangle scalloped hemline and an embellished, vintage neckline.

• We can carry tiny hard-cased clutch purses: Kerry Washington, Jane Fonda and Jennifer Anniston all carried miniature clutch purses that almost resemble sunglasses cases.

For a night out when you just want to carry your bank card, cell phone and lipstick, try out a hard-cased clutch, like this studded clutch with, yes, a rhinestone skull snap closure from JustFab.

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About Brittany Anas

Brittany Anas is a newspaper reporter, which she says is basically like going on a professional scavenger hunt every day. She became hooked on fashion in the early 1990s when her mom sewed her a pair of MC Hammer pants and matching headband. Brittany lives in Denver, Colorado and loves spending time with her southern gentleman of a boyfriend and their pot-belly pig-gremlin mix that the rescue organization described as a “Boston Terrier.” She fancies polka dots, Detroit Pistons basketball and brunch. Brittany blogs at LoisLaneLifestyle.blogspot.com and Twitters from @BrittanyAnas. Find her on Pinterest or ping her on Google+.