The 2014 Academy Awards had the air of hairdresser panic about them; Los Angeles received rain, which throws a (potentially literal) kink in well-planned hair styles.
Stylists seemed to go safe and classic this year with sleek updos, deep side-parts and a fair amount of pixies still holding onto their trend lifespan. For those who opposed some of the laid-back Grammys looks, the Academy Awards provided ample amounts of classic Hollywood glam with some new twists.
Best Updos: Anna Kendrick, Giuliana Rancic and Olivia Wilde
Kendrick, Rancic and Wilde all showed up with beautiful, unique up-dos (as well as a number of other stars). Kendrick sported a deep side-part — she’s two for three on our trend list! — and a style that gave a nod to a traditional French twist. Rancic’s chignon was understated but chic and clean, which was a great complement to her princess-esque gown. Wilde stunned not only with her looser up-do and face-framing layers but also with her fit-to-burst tummy. Motherhood looks great on her!
Best Clean Side Parts: Idina Menzel, Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett
After seeing a parade of updos and pixies, it was refreshing to see these women let their tresses down and don dramatic, clean side-parts. Menzel’s pin-straight hair (later a tousled center part for her "Let it Go" performance) stood out from the curls, and we saw not a single flyaway. Best actress nominee Bullock looked very old-Hollywood with romantic curls and, again, not a spot of frizz. And Blanchett shocked everyone with hair down instead of her usual up; it was smoothed and gently curled at the ends.
Best Short Styles: Charlize Theron, Anne Hathaway and Lupita Nyong’o
If we learned anything from the 2014 Oscars, it’s that the short styles are very much alive and well. Theron checked off trends “pixie” and “side-part” in our Oscars to-do list with her smooth blonde style that had us thinking of Twiggy. Hathaway held down the fort for team brunette with her slightly tousled locks, and Nyong’o went where few women dare to go at awards shows — she won best supporting actress and a MODERN style award by pairing a glittering headband in her cropped ’do with her down-to-there, dreamy “Nairobi blue” dress.
Honorable Mentions: Liza Minelli and Kerry Washington
Do you know anyone Minelli’s age who can rock a sapphire-blue streak in her fringe like Minelli? Neither do we. We give her two thumbs up for potentially following New York Fashion Week trends and also still staying young and fun in some of her styling.
Washington showed up as another star fit to burst on the carpet, and she positively glowed in a purple gown with wavy locks half-up. Nobody was styled as Washington was for the Awards, and we commend her for stepping outside the trending box.
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