The Oscars 2012 Red Carpet Illustrated | A dozen dresses, one dictator and a dog

At the 2012 Academy Awards red carpet on Sunday night there was an early indication that military chic might be the trend of the the day when Sacha Baron Cohen appeared in full military regalia with a pair of sexy army girls for company (more on that later). But in the end he was on his own – there was the usual abundance of sequins, satin, tulle, trains and stupidly small handbags that you’d expect for the biggest event in the movie awards calendar. Following the artistic amazingness that was our BAFTA Red Carpet Illustrated post, I again asked a host of willing volunteers (thanks, Twitter) to choose their favourite Academy Awards 2012 fashion look and illustrate it. And again the results were so darn cool. Here’s what they came up with.

Angelina Jolie in Versace by Hilary Killam. Visit Hilary’s website.

Angelina Jolie’s black velvet Versace thigh-split dress sparked not one but two comedy moments of the evening: her leg-revealing stance was aped by one of the screenwriters of The Descendants while he was picking up his award, and then the leg got its very own Twitter page. A pretty LEGendary Oscar’s outfit for her then you might say. (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.) Emma Stone in Giambattista Valli by Amanda Nunes. Visit Amanda’s website.

In a lovely raspberry red shade with a cute bow flourish at the neck, Emma Stone’s Giambattista Valli gown set off her porcelain skin and auburn locks beautifully. Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen by Faye West. Visit Faye’s website.

In a sea of block coloured gowns and simple shapes (this is the Oscars after all, and most actresses play it safe for fear of landing on the pages of the glossies with a big red cross by their oufit), Jessica Chastain’s intricately embellished Alexander McQueen was one of the edgier frocks on show.

Penelope Cruz in Armani Prive by Naomi Austin. Visit Naomi’s Facebook page.

Wearing an Armani Prive dress in a delicate shade of powdery duck egg blue and a figure hugging bodice, this kind of classic glamour really suits Penelope Cruz.

Rooney Mara in Givenchy Couture by Janneke de Jong. Visit Janneke’s website. 

Rooney Mara chose Givenchy for the umpteenth time, and while some critics argued the unusual bust detailing was a bit unflattering, you can’t deny that white dress + dark hair + a red carpet = a pretty great equation.

Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz by Dana Bocai. Visit Dana’s website.

It doesn’t look like she’s going to get an Oscar any time soon, but the artist formerly known at J-Lo was widely credited as the winner of the best dressed Oscar attendee thanks to her shimmering striped Zuhair Murad gown. Meanwhile, Cammy from the block went for a Gucci dress that was such a delicate peachy tone it was almost matched her hair. Judy Greer in Monique Lhuillier by Amber Grayson. Visit Amber’s website.

I didn’t even know who Judy Greer was before the Oscars (apparently she was in The Descendants) but this Monique Lhuillier dress sure got my notice. A column of shimmering silver beading on black, it’s like a skyscraper in dress form. Esperanza Spalding by Claire Kearns. Visit Claire’s website.

Singer Esperanza Spalding, who performed at the ceremony, ended up on a lot of best dressed lists, but no amount of Googling could reveal to me who her pale blue dress with the extra long train is by. If you know, then do me a favour and leave a comment below? Cameron Diaz in Gucci by Hilary Killam. Visit Hilary’s website.

A very frothy and shimmery hem was balanced out by a simple top half on Cameron Diaz’s Gucci gown in palest powder pink. Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton by Lizzie Donegan. Visit Lizzie’s website.

Michelle William’s lost out to Meryl Streep in the Best Actress category, but she totally won fashionwise in this adorable coral silk mousseline Louis Vuitton gown. Berenice Bejo in Elie Saab by Jo Ley. Visit Jo’s website.

I secretly hoped Berenice Bejo would wear one of those amazing flapper dresses from The Artist, but no, she went for a very grown up Elie Saab gown. She was one of several actresses who went for pastel colours, which is also a big spring 2012 catwalk trend. Sacha Baron Cohen as The Dictator by Steve McCarthy. Visit Steve’s website.

So like I said, Sacha Baron Cohen wasn’t just aiming for that ‘military chic’ look, he was in character and causing havoc as General Aladeen to promote new film The Dictator. He claimed his suit was by John Galliano, but somehow I doubt it. If you haven’t seen the video of him pouring Kim Jong-ils ashes over Ryan Seacrest, I strongly advise you do so now. And last but not least, he may not have been clad in designer threads, but how adorable is Uggie, the Jack Russell terrier that starred in The Artist? He’s basically the cutest thing on the Oscar’s red carpet don’t you think? Uggie the dog by Dana Bocai. Visit Dana’s website.

Check out more brilliant fashion illustrations from some of these illustrators in the BAFTAS 2012 Red Carpet Illustrated.