THE SAVVY SHOPPER: The Academy Awards

Showing posts with label The Academy Awards. Show all posts

Sunday, March 15, 2026

Oscar Dress Picks 2026

Every year for fun, I select my favorite Oscar gowns. IMHO this year, not only are Jason Bateman and his wife, Amanda Anka, the best-dressed couple of the evening, but Amanda is wearing my overall favorite Oscar dress of the evening. I love its shimmer, the classy, revealing-yet-not-too-revealing skirt of the gown. It flatters her curves and is ultra glamorous from head to toe.

At the Academy Awards, black dresses were worn in abundance with other neutrals and not much color. The individuality was in the details of the frocks.

Alana Haim in Louis Vuittron (most daring!), EJAE in Dior, Rose Byrne in Dior

Alana Haim’s dress from the front angle is modern and cosmopolitan sans the huge side slits, which I didn’t notice right away. I wonder if it comes with a silk underlayer? I’m thinking, brrrr, air conditioning.

Teyana Taylor in Chanel, Demi Moore in Gucci, Emma Sands in Louis Vuitton

Zoe Saldana in St. Laurent, Gwyneth Paltrow in Giorgio Armani Privè, Anna Cathcart in Jenny Packham.

The last 3 are simple yet elegant dresses. I also love Zoe Saldana’s Cartier and Gwyneth Paltrow’s and Teyanna Taylor’s Tiffany necklaces. (Click the photos to enlarge.)

The overall look of Oscar night was sophisticated and grown-up.

Sunday, March 10, 2024

My Favorite Oscar Dresses 2024

America Ferrera in Versace

The show is not half over! This year's Oscar gowns are lovely and tasteful if not as drop-dead glamorous as other years. Would you agree? Many of the dresses look comfortable so perhaps more attendees decided to dial it down a notch to better enjoy the evening without the fuss or pain.

Left: Jennifer Lawrence wears Dior Culture, Middle: Anya Taylor Joy in Dior Couture, Right: Charlize Theron adorns Dior

Left: Emily Blunt in Schiaparelli, Right: Zendaya wears Armani Privè

Left: Michelle Yeoh in Balenciaga Couture, Right: Zuri Hall shimmers in Rony Abou Hamdan

The gowns are unique in a refined way! There's something of interest in each dress. Michelle Yeoh's long black gloves look so smart with her shimmering gown. Emily Blunt is elegant but her straps don't move with her. Jennifer Lawrance wears playful polka dots elevated by her diamond tennis necklace. More shine than vivid colors this year too!

All photos - Getty Photography

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Healthy Oscar Night Munches

This Sunday night millions of people will watch The Academy Awards. It's usually a long night, so many of us will make several trips into the kitchen for snacks.

A snack is supposed to be a portion of food that's smaller than a meal, but it doesn't always work out that way, does it? Ideally, snacks should be 200 calories or less. Healthy snacks are a combination of protein and complex carbohydrates. Snacks that are good for you will satisfy hunger, stabilize blood sugar and provide long lasting energy. Nutritious snacks are also low in calories and high in fiber.

Here are several food items I will have on hand to sustain a very long, but hopefully, entertaining night with the Oscars:

1. A walnut (unsalted) and almond (roasted, salted) mix – I buy pound bags of each of the nuts and mix them. About 24 nuts is 150 calories, or one snack.

2. Fruit: apples, cherries, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, plums

3. Cheddar cheese and whole grain saltine crackers

4. Swiss cheese and whole grain pumpernickel bread

5. Peanut butter – A dollop on apples, bananas, carrots or celery.

6. Yogurt: Coconut-pineapple, cheesecake and pomegranate flavors. Top with dark chocolate shavings.

7. Hummus

8. Spicy Popcorn – Make your popcorn anyway you like. I use a Hot Air Popper. Then sprinkle with a bit of olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt and cayenne pepper. Toss. It's awesome!

9. Spinach Dip – See below.

10. Red and sparkling rosé wine – Cheers!

Spinach Dip

Ingredients:

16 ounces 1% cottage cheese

10 ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

2/3 cup low-fat mayonnaise (Don't use fat-free. It's awful!!!)

1 small onion

1 stick celery, include the leaves

1 teaspoon garlic powder

A dash of onion powder

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste

1 teaspoon soy sauce

½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon cider vinegar

Seasoned salt to taste, begin with ½ teaspoon

Directions:

Throw all the ingredients into a food processor and blend until creamy. (Instead of celery, you can use a sweet turnip, or watercress, or red bell pepper to get a crunch with a different flavor.) Pour into a serving bowl. Use the dip for vegetables, whole grain crackers and crusty breads.

Watching the Academy Awards with family and friends is fun, but the show will undoubtedly run on ... and on ... and on. So while you stay up to the very end, satisfy your cravings and boredom with these healthy snacks, so you will still fit into your own dresses and trousers in the morning.

THE SAVVY SHOPPER