The Academy Awards is one of the most glamorous events of the year. Actors and actresses, directors, producers and other entertainment noteworthies flock from around the world to the epicenter of the movie industry: Hollywood. This is the city where you can compare your hand prints with every huge star you can imagine and celebrity sightings are an everyday occurrence.
For the 89th annual Academy Awards, the Red carpet was rolled out and bejeweled with celebrities from the well established (like a still svelte Glenn Close) to the up and coming (nominee Octavia Spencer (The Help).
Normally the stars seem at home under the scrutiny. Many of them are known to play up to the cameras or to happily flirt with the interviewers. This year, though, there seemed to be a large number of actresses looking more uncomfortable that normal. Rooney Mara (nominated for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), for example, seemed at moments to be almost gritting her teeth and steeling herself to keep standing there.
The reason is simple: the weather.
L.A. is normally the perfect city for the Oscars because celebrities can show up and show off their haute couture. Dresses are chosen for appearance, not insulation. Even in February, in L.A. this is normally fine.
By all reports the day was surprisingly cool in L.A. It is still warm enough for most people around the world to think of in envy as they sit bundled up in February, but it is cooler than normal. It doesn’t need to cool off much for it to become cold when there’s a breeze and you are standing for hours, exposed on the red carpet in dresses that are usually sleeveless and low-cut.
Many of the stars looked absolutely fantastic, but I had the urge to start handing out shawls to some of these actresses. Somehow shivering just doesn’t seem very glamorous.
To find out more about the 89th annual Academy Awards, click here.