Sunday, February 26, 2012

Oscar Hot List


From gorgeous gowns to couturish cocktails, we caught up with an elite squad of chic Chicagoans to find out their top picks on what to wear and where to be seen on Hollywood’s most notorious night, The Academy Awards.


Alexis Cozzini
Owner, Sarca

How will you be ringing in the Oscars? My boyfriend just bought an amazing TV so we’ll be viewing the show at his house with a few friends.

Who are you wearing? Since we’ll be staying in, I will probably wear my favorite David Lerner leggings and Coatpeople sweater. However, if I were a celebrity and attending the Oscars, I would definitely want to be seen wearing Marchesa or Chanel on the red carpet.

Chanel Couture

What are your pre-award rituals? I always watch Red Carpet Live on E! This year, I will also be prepping a fabulous selection of small bights such as mini heirloom tomato BLTs and pear tartlettes and popping Prosecco, of course!

Favorite part of the show? The opening performance – it really sets the tone and lightens the mood. I also look forward to hearing about what the celebs receive in their post-show swag bags!

Top pick for Best Actress: Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

Top pick for Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Top pick for Best Picture: The Artist


Amanda Puck
Executive Vice President, XAPR

How will you be ringing in the Oscars? Hosting the red carpet at the only Academy-sanctioned Oscar event in Chicago – Oscar Night® America at the Gene Siskel Film Center.

Amanda at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards

Who are you wearing? White and black tuxedo jumpsuit from Space519 and YSL wedges.

What are your pre-award rituals? I always have a few cocktails and a great meal before hitting the red carpet as the show is so long.

Favorite part of the show? The red carpet and I can’t wait to see Billy Crystal’s funny opening number.

Top pick for Best Actress: Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Top pick for Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Top pick for Best Picture: The Artist

What she'll be mixing: 
The Chicago Red Carpet Cocktail Martini
2 oz - Stoli Original
1 oz - Freshly made Raspberry Puree
½ oz - Simple Syrup
½ oz - Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
1. Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
2. Garnish with a large fruit gummi.

Amy Tara Koch
Author, Bump It Up

How will you be ringing in the Oscars? I will be at home with friends enjoying the best fashion show of the year. I will be dishing Oscar fashion on Windy City LIVE on Monday morning so I will be taking lots of notes.

Who are you wearing? Something slouchy and fabulous by Zero + Maria Cornejo paired with a dramatic smoky eye and bright red lipstick for instant Hollywood glamour.

 Red Carpet-ready Lips 

What are your pre-award rituals? Research who is wearing what on all of the gossip and fashion sites, pour myself a glass of bubbly and watch the arrivals on E! News.

Favorite part of the show? Oscar arrivals are the most glamorous fashion show of the year. I like them even more than the awards.

Top pick for Best Actress: Viola Davis, The Help

Top pick for Best Actor: Brad Pitt,
Moneyball

Top pick for Best Picture: The Help

Borris J. Powell

How will you be ringing in the Oscars? I will be at home in front of the big screen. I have two appearances the next day with local media to dish on the red carpet, so I want to be in a place where I’m not distracted.

Who are you wearing? More than likely I’ll get dressed up in one of my own signature, custom jackets.

What are your pre-award rituals? I watch the red carpet fashion show with friends and we nominate our favorite couture creations.

Oscars Designer Challenge winner, 
Borris J. Powell, and the "Black Swan" dress

Favorite part of the show? The red carpet. It’s the ultimate fashion show.

Top pick for Best Picture: The Help or The Tree of Life


Candace Jordan
Blogger, Candid Candace

How will you be ringing in the Oscars? I will be covering Oscar Night® America at the Gene Siskel Film Center for my column in Sunday’s Chicago Tribune Magazine, Candid Candace, and my new show, Candid Candace Chicago, on Watch312.com. 

Best Couple: Candace and Chuck Jordan

Who are you wearing? Ivan Grundahl, one of my favorite designers.
  
Favorite part of the show? Seeing the fashions and hearing the speeches. 

Top pick for Best Actress: Viola Davis, The Help

Top pick for Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Top pick for Best Picture: Midnight in Paris

Cece Gonzalez & Melinda Joseph

How will you be ringing in the Oscars? On the red carpet at the legendary Drake Hotel for the Oscar Viewing Party.

Who are you wearing? Stylish gowns from the International House of Couture.

What are your pre-award rituals? Reading and watching the movies before the Oscars and checking which actor/actress is getting the best buzz on Twitter.

 Oscar LIVE! on Twitter

Favorite part of the show? The red carpet is glamour at its finest. Love to see the fashion and what the stars are wearing.

Top pick for Best Actress: Cece: Viola Davis, The Help; Melinda: Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Top pick for Best Actor: Cece: Brad Pitt, Moneyball; Melinda: Demián Bichir, A Better Life

Top pick for Best Picture: Cece: The Help; Melinda: Moneyball

Donna LaPietra
Co-Owner/Vice President/Producer, Kurtis Productions

How will you be ringing in the Oscars? In front of our screening room TV with Bill and a few friends who have seen nearly all the films and are serious film buffs.

Who are you wearing? I actually have a t-shirt with a statue that says “BEST HOSTESS” that I always wear with comfortable black leggings.

 Best of the Best

What are your pre-award rituals? Channel-flipping to catch the best red carpet interviews and fashions and preparing nominated film-inspired food. This year I’m serving:
Moneyball: Mini hotdogs, popcorn, and peanuts for snacks

The Descendants: Hawaiian pineapple salad, hibachi skewers, and chocolate-covered macadamia nuts

Midnight In Paris: Champagne and croque monsieur mini sandwiches

The Help: Hummingbird cupcakes, a southern-style dessert

Favorite part of the show? A really well-delivered acceptance speech (there aren’t many) and the beautifully-edited salute to those who passed away in the year gone by.

Top pick for Best Actress: Viola Davis, The Help    

Top pick for Best Actor: Jean Dujardin,
 The Artist



Top pick for Best Picture: The Artist  

Lindsay Avner
Founder & Executive Director, Bright Pink

How will you be ringing in the Oscars? With my girlfriends, wine, and lots of chocolate.

Who are you wearing? lululemon...obviously!

Kristin Cavallari: lululemon lover (of course!)

Favorite part of the show? The pre-show red carpet hour.

Top pick for Best Actress: Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo


Top pick for Best Actor: Brad Pitt, 
Moneyball

Top pick for Best Picture: The Help


Melissa Muoio
Assistant Editor, UrbanDaddy Chicago

How will you be ringing in the Oscars? This year, I will be attending the Elton John Oscar Party with my boyfriend in LA.

Sir Elton John and David Furnish 
at the 19th Annual Elton John 
AIDS Foundation Oscar Party

Who are you wearing? I have the honor of wearing a beautiful beaded coral dress by Emilio Pucci. 

What are your pre-award rituals? I will be primping for the party with a glass of champagne in hand. I also like to guess which designers celebrities will be wearing before they hit the red carpet.

Favorite part of the show? As a stylist with experience in the entertainment industry, I live for the red carpet showdown. It is ridiculous how much prepping and primping goes into every celebrity.

Top pick for Best Actress: Viola Davis, The Help

Top pick for Best Actor: Jean Dujardin,
The Artist



Top pick for Best Picture: The Artist


Monika Dixon
Owner, BeeCloser 

How will you be ringing in the Oscars? I am looking forward to watching the Oscars with friends and family at our home this year.

Who are you wearing? All Saints’ baby blue waxed denim skinny jeans with a white chambray t-shirt from Sarca and a pair of Isabel Marant's 'Willow' sneakers with their cool concealed wedge heels. 

Star Sneaks: Isabel Marant's "Willow" wedges

What are your pre-award rituals? I love watching the red carpet and pre-red carpet preparations.

Favorite part of the show? Recognizing the year's best film always gives me goose bumps and I look forward to the Best Actress, Documentary Feature, and Music awards. I also like discussing the red carpet dress choices with my girlfriends. 

Top pick for Best Actress: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady


Peggy Lanigan
Regional Marketing Manager, Central Region - Dom Pérignon, Moët & Chandon

How will you be ringing in the Oscars? Moët & Chandon Impérial is heavily involved in the Oscars, including this week’s press conferences, red carpet arrivals, Governor’s Ball, and more. I will be watching the big event with a small group of friends.

Who are you wearing? I haven’t thought about it yet, but I’ll be all over what the celebs are wearing.

Who Do You Love, Baby?

What are your pre-award rituals? Chilling several bottles of Moët & Chandon Impérial, of course!

Favorite part of the show? The red carpet interviews and the award for Best Actress – it’s always so fun to watch, especially if it’s a first time winner.

Top pick for Best Actress: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady

Top pick for Best Actor: George Clooney, The Descendants

Top pick for Best Picture: The Artist


Samantha Saifer Berngard
Senior Director of Marketing, Skoog Productions

How will you be ringing in the Oscars? At home cooking dinner with my husband and indulging in a nice glass of red wine.

Who are you wearing? Subconsciously, I am wearing a pastel Maria Lucia Hohan gown with Viktor & Rolf high heel bow sandals and a Lanvin clutch. In reality, I am sitting on the couch in my lululemon sweats.

 Gown Goldmine: Maria Lucia Hohan designs

What are your pre-award rituals? Watching the celebrities walk the red carpet is my absolute favorite part of any awards show. I always tune into E! News because my brother works behind-the-scenes so I always keep my eye out for him. I am also a huge Fashion Police fan.

Favorite part of the show? When I can see how much shorter Ryan Seacrest is than the women he’s interviewing. I also love the red carpet arrivals – it’s exhilarating to see which fashion choices become trends for the upcoming season.

Top pick for Best Actress: Viola Davis, The Help

Top pick for Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Top pick for Best Picture: The Help or Midnight in Paris


Rachel Schwanz
Event Planner & Caterer, Entertaining Company

How will you be ringing in the Oscars? Catering the Center on Halsted Party.

Who are you wearing? A black Yigal Azrouël dress or an ivory Cynthia Rowley.

Creative Cutout: Maria Wilde in Yigal Azrouël

What are your pre-award rituals? Normally I’m getting the house ready for guests. This year, I will be running around for someone else's party.

Favorite part of the show? The red carpet and the dresses.

Top pick for Best Actress: Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Top pick for Best Actor: George Clooney, The Descendants

Top pick for Best Picture: Moneyball

Photo credits:
Photo of Candace Jordan courtesy of Gintas Zaranka
Photo of Monika Dixon courtesy of Parrish Lewis

Posted by Kerry & Sally Shorr

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