Step aside, sexy starlets. This year’s awards circuit has welcomed a refreshing break from the red carpet’s vixens, thanks to Oscar nods for both the youngest and oldest nominees ever in the Best Actress category. Quvenzhané Wallis, 9, captured critics’ adoration in the indie breakout “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” while Emmanuelle Riva, 86, broke all of our hearts in the tour de force “Amour.”
The result? All eyes are on the youngster and woman of a certain age, as both age groups face challenges every time they step onto the carpet.
“The trickiest age is the tween situation,” says Teen Vogue’s style features director, Andrew Bevan. “Not to quote Britney Spears, but they’re ‘not a girl, not yet a woman.’ ”
“You don’t want them to look too ostentatious and like they’re playing dress-up, and there shouldn’t be sex appeal,” he continues. “But then you also don’t want them to look like little baby dolls, because that can look like they’re playing princess for the night.”
When going glam, Wallis rocks a trademark look: She has some 20 puppy purses in various colors and breeds that she’s known to wear on the red carpet.
“She specifically wants a dress that will go with her animal purse, which I think is great because there’s nothing weirder than child actors trying to be adults,” says Bevan. David Meister, who has dressed Wallis in frocks on four separate occasions, agrees.
“The biggest mistake you can make is trying to put a young person in something that is too adult,” he says.
Ari Seth Cohen, author of “Advanced Style” and an expert on fashion for the older set, says there can be just as much to keep in mind when you’re a seasoned actress.
“As women get older, they get more conscious of their body,” says Cohen. “They want to accentuate certain things, but maybe not show their arms or too much skin. It’s hard to find something that will do both at the same time.”
Cohen’s go-to tip?
“The things that look best are things that are worn with confidence,” he says. “Everyone has their rules about what is ageappropriate, but Helen Mirren [for example] might be able to pull off something that others couldn’t.”
“Once you’ve reached a certain age, you can take risks and express how you feel,” he says, suggesting bold colors and bolder accessories.
Click through the gallery for Cohen and Bevan’s red-carpet commentary on the looks of Oscars past.
