The 2018 Oscar Nominees: Past Red Carpet Looks (Part 2)

Let's see, my last Oscar fashions predication entry left off in the middle of the Documentary Feature category, so let's pick up right where we left off!

Joslyn Barnes - Documentary Feature (Strong Island)

Barnes and her co-conominee, Yance Ford, walked the red carpet at the Gotham Awards in 2017. barnes wore black pants, a white tunic, and a loose-fitting black velvet jacket. Casual, but classy.

She wore a similar ensemble to the 2015 Toronto Film Festival, paired charcoal gray pants with a white tunic, an unstructured black jacket, and a long print scarf.

Yet again at the 2017 IDA Documentary Awards, Barnes wore black pants with an unstructured black jacket with wide gold cuffs and a black tunic.

I think it's a pretty sure bet that Barnes will show up at the Oscars wearing black pants, a loose-fitting black jacket (probably in an elegant fabric like velvet or brocade), and a black top (it IS a formal event, after all), hopefully paired with an artistic accent like a colorful scarf or a large statement necklace.

Laura Checkoway - Documentary Short Subject (Edith+Eddie)

Checkoway attended the 2017 IDA Documentary Awards wearing a simple below-the-knee black lace dress with long sleeves and a high neck.

In her publicity photo for the 2017 Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival, she again opted for black, this time wearing a v-neck black collarless blouse with a wide sparkly belt.

The only other "event" photo I could find of Checkoway was from some kind of tribute luncheon, and once again she was dressed in black, so I think it's a fair guess to propose that she'll be wearing black at the Oscars. I predict a less formal look than an all-out gown, but I'm expecting a cocktail-length black dress with a simple silhouette and perhaps just a hint of bling in some accent or accessory.

Elaine McMillion Sheldon - Documentary Short Subject (Heroin(e))

Sheldon took home a Peabody Award in 2014, wearing a simple wide-strapped black sheath with ruched sides.

At a screening of the film, Sheldon went very casual with distressed black jeans and an adorable black and white polka-dot blouse.

The only other photograph I was able to come up with was from an interview with Trevor Noah, when she wore a conservative white blouse with a simple black jacket.

Based on these looks, I predict she'll stick with basic black, possibly with some white accents, and perhaps it's not too much to hope that she'll find a way to work some polka dots in there somewhere.

Kate Davis - Documentary Short Subject (Traffic Stop)

Back in 2010, Davis went hippie chic to the premiere of one of her films in these striped aqua and gray bell-bottoms with a gray jersey and funky dark gray jacket.

For the premiere of her current film, Davis opted for a trendy handkerchief-hemmed black zip-front tunic over sheer black leggings.

A few other more candid, casual photos I stumbled across leads me to believe that Davis will also opt for basic black at the Oscars, probably not a gown, but possibly either a funky pantsuit or a cocktail dress.

Rachel Shenton - Live Action Short Film (The Silent Child)

A former actress, Shenton is no stranger to red carpet couture, as evidence by this daring backless black column she wore to the 2012 InsideSoap Awards.

That same year, she sported a slinky red mermaid gown at the NTAs (the UK equivalent of the Emmys).

I couldn't find any more recent red carpet appearances, but I did find a still from a television interview just a few weeks ago, at which Shenton wore a black turtleneck with brass button detailing on the sleeves, paired with a rust crinkle skirt. Simple, and artistic rather than "actressy."

I predict that Shenton will be presenting herself in a more serious and subdued light, so I expect to see an elegant, somewhat conservative gown, likely in black or another neutral color, and much less slinky than her previous red carpet looks.

Katja Benrath - Live Action Short Film (Watu Wote/All of Us)

This past October, Benrath picked up a Student Academy Award for this film wearing a lovely peacock-colored halter gown with a beaded keyhole bodice and a slight train.

Being a newcomer to the red carpet, there aren't a lot of formal photos of her, but she wore this casual but elegant black-and-white outfit to a film premiere, pairing white trousers with a long sleeveless black tunic and a huge black-and-white printed wrap. Funky without being crazy.

Her behind-the-camera shots, however, show a very serious and subdued side, as shown in this conservative gray sweater.

I predict a gown most similar to her peacock gown from the student Oscars - likely a classic silhouette but with some kind of funky or artistic detail or accent.

Tatiana S. Reigel - Film Editing (I, Tonya)

At the Film Independent Spirit Awards, Riegel layered a long black coat over a black sweater over a black and white polka dot shirt, paired with cuffed jeans and accessorized with a long double strand of pearls. A nice funky, contemporary, casual, but still classy look.

At the nominee brunch for the same event, Riegel paired another pair of cropped, cuffed jeans with a black blazer edged with white piping over a black-and-white striped tee. A bit more casual, but still well put together.

Based on these looks, I predict a simple black pantsuit for Riegel's Oscar appearance, probably with cropped pants, a slightly tailored jacket, and flats.

Mary H. Ellis - Sound Mixing (Baby Driver)

My apologies to Ms. Ellis for my failure to find even a single photograph of her. Based on this alone, I predict she will either not show up for the ceremony or she will dress very casually and unobtrusively.

Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer - Production Design (Beauty and the Beast and Darkest Hour)

A team for many years, Greenwood (left) and Spencer are shown here at a pre-Oscar luncheon in 2013. Spencer is wearing a brightly embroidered black jacket with gold and green edging over gray pants and a black top, which Greenwood wears an all-white pantsuit.

That same year, Greenwood attended an Arts Directors awards ceremony in a black gown topped with a midnight blue duster and accented with a bright metallic gold purse and a turquoise statement necklace.

Back in 2005, the pair walked the red carpet as Oscar nominees, with Spencer in a simple black gown with sheer sleeves and yoke, and Greenwood in a spangly black and silver skirt with metallic gold top and long black satin jacket. (Note: The woman on the left is Costume Designer Jacqueline Durran, who is also nominated again this year. Scroll down for more about her.)

Greenwood's style seems more consistent, so it's a pretty safe bet that she'll opt for a long jacket over either a conservative gown or more likely wide-legged pants in an elegant fabric. I'm going out on a limb to predict that Spencer will go for another simple, conservative but elegant, black or deep blue gown.

Alessandra Querzola - Production Design (Blade Runner 2049)

Another behind-the-camera type who doesn't appear in many online photos, this photo seems to reflect Querzola's everyday style: a loose-fitting sweater and a few simple necklaces. Other photos show her sporting a black leather biker jacket, a simple black cardigan over a white camisole, and a plain tank top.

I think it's fair to expect that if Querzola attends the Oscars, she'll opt for a more casual look, like a pantsuit or wide-legged pants with a long, loose tunic top.

Mary J. Blige - Original Song ("Mighty River" from Mudbound)
Blige was also nominated in the Supporting Actress category, so you'll have to go back to Part 1 for my predictions for her.

Kristen Anderson-Lopez - Original Song ("Remember Me" from Coco)

Anderson-Lopez walked the red carpet with her husband and co-nominee, Robert Lopez, at the 2017 New York Film Critic Awards is a lovely black dress with sheer yoke and short sleeves, emblazoned with red flowers. It was understated but very classy.

She got a little more funky at the 2016 Actors Fund Gala in this terrific black-and-white ensemble with flared contrasting hip panels.

And of course, Anderson-Lopez picked up an Oscar in 2014 for Frozen, wearing this stunning black mermaid gown with blush pink yoke.

I hope she goes with a gown with a silhouette similar to her 2014 Oscars gown, but I'd love to see the fabric sporting some bright multi-colored embroidery in a nod to Coco and its colorful artwork.

Diane Warren - Original Song ("Stand Up for Something" from Marshall)

Warren tends toward a funky, rocker-chick style, as displayed in her 2015 Oscar look, which paired skinny black pants with a metallic silver tailored jacket. The contrast of black and shiny silver eliminated the need for any further bling. Simple and sleek.

She toned it down just a hair for the 2016 Oscars, pairing slim black pants and a simple black jersey with a charcoal gray jacket with a hint of sparkle. A little more elegance but a little less pizzazz.

But she dialed it back up again for the Grammys just a few days again, pairing her signature skinny black pants with a tailored black jacket over a bright geometric print tunic.

It's safe to say she'll be wearing a tailored jacket and black skinny pants, but I'm going to take it further and predict that her jacket will be either a metallic fabric or a metallic pattern such as brocade or embroidery, worn over a loose tunic.

Lucy Sibbick - Makeup and Hair (Darkest Hour)

Sibbick, along with co-nominees David Malinowski (left) and Kazuhiro Tsuji, appeared at a screening and panel discussion of the film for a group of makeup artists. Sibbick wore a lovely white lace button-down blouse with teal pants - classy but not overdressed for the event.

I only found a couple of other photos of Sibbick, one being this publicity shot from Make-Up Artist Magazine, in which she wears a plain gray button-down shirt and a black wrap skirt, and another being some kind of panel or interview where she's wearing a black blazer and a plain white blouse.

I hope she opts for something with more interesting details for the Oscars, although a neutral lace top with a brightly colored full skirt could work really well for her, kind of a dressed-up version of her first look, above. But I could also see her in a deep teal pantsuit.

Jacqueline Durran - Costume Design (Beauty and the Beast and Darkest Hour)

Here's a closer look at the long, angled, denim jacket with belt and shawl collar that Durran wore to the 2013 Oscars, paired with cropped black pants with a satin cuff. Funky and different and very "costume designer-y" without being too crazy or ugly. 

Earlier that year, Durran wore this bright blue and black print wide-legged romper to the premiere of Anna Karenina, for which she won the Oscar for Best Costume Design. Even paired with a gray and blue wrap, I didn't love this outfit at all. 

The only other formal photograph I could find of Durran was from a dinner honoring British Oscar nominees in 2014, to which she wore black cropped pants and a red, orange, and white houndstooth patterned jacket. It was creative and different, if a bit casual. 

Costume designers are notoriously unpredictable on the red carpet, but since I have to make a guess, I'll predict that she'll wear a bright blue gown/pants combo outfit, something like the outfit Meryl Streep wore to the Oscars last year. 

Consolata Boyle - Costume Design (Victoria and Abdul)

At last year's Oscars, Boyle wore a tea-length black dress with silver beading at the neck, paired with a fringed black velvet wrap and black tights. Extremely subdued, almost to the point of frumpiness.

For the pre-Oscar party that year, Boyle wore wide-legged black velvet trousers with a charcoal gray tunic with a handkerchief hem, topped with a large gray shawl with black print. Less frumpy, but still overly basic and with a shapeless silhouette. 

Boyle has worn similar outfits on the red carpet for years, so it's safe to assume that we'll see some variation of black pants, a long black tunic, and either a long jacket/duster or a giant shawl in a neutral print. But I'm really hoping she might work just a hair of color in somewhere this year!

Phew! I think that's all the female nominees! My apologies if I missed anyone. But I promise that if you wear something eye-catching, I'll mention you in my real red carpet review! See you all at the Oscars!