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
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
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
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.
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
Designer, Borris J. Powell
Designs
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
Blogger, Candid
Candace
Host, Candid
Candace Chicago
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
Co-Founders, Cece &
Melinda with Raymi Productions
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
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
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
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
Founder, Monika Dixon
Public Relations
Owner, BeeCloser
COO, JMP Global
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
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
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
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
