Bafta fashion: Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis don’t quite get it right


The Help stars were well represented at last night’s BAFTA awards, and Kaiser just covered Jessica Chastain looking like a knockout for once. Here we have the two stars who have almost swept this awards season, Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis. I say almost because Meryl Streep took home best actress at the BAFTAs for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. You might remember that Meryl also won at the Globes while Viola was favored at almost every other awards ceremony. So it could be a toss up for the Best Actress category at the Oscars, although my money is on Viola.

Octavia Spencer is probably a shoe-in for Best Supporting Actress, as she’s won consistently this season and also took home the BAFTA last night. I can’t say her fashion was a hit, though. She wore her favorite designer, Tadashi Shoji. Instead of opting for a draped gown as we’ve come to expect from her she switched it up in this bizarre feather skirt and shirt dress shirt combo with a patent belt. I like her earrings, hair and makeup. There are just too many feathers going on in the bottom half.

Viola Davis was elegant in a pink one-shoulder Valentino gown with a thigh high slit and an understated bow detail at the waist. That is a well tailored gown with such a beautiful cut. She has the opposite problem as Octavia, though. She’s well dressed but her sparkly blue makeup looks clownish and her hair is all over the place. She’s had great styling in the past so let’s hope she gets it right at the Oscars.

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23 Responses to “Bafta fashion: Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis don’t quite get it right”

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  1. Katie says:

    I don’t Viola liked her outfit either. She looks self conscious in that full length shot and she’s holding the slit closed. Perhaps this is just a stylist misstep.

  2. normades says:

    Viola and Octavia have been so great this awards season I’ll give them a pass on this one.

  3. Mari says:

    Their outfits suit their personalities. They can wear whatever they want.

  4. LAK says:

    I loved the colour on Viola, but somehow the whole thing contrived to make her look like a tranny. Glam squad fail!

  5. kristiner says:

    Viola can be a pretty woman but she has one of the WORST smiles! It does nothing for her face at all.

    I’m sorry but this color is once again WAY too bright for her skin tone. People will mention when a pale person is in a pale dress and it washes them out but no one will say a person darker is just not looking good in a certain shade. I’m saying it. She’s too dark for that color.

    It’s so bright very few can look really pretty in it. Pale would look like Light Bright Ghosts. Really only people shades like JLo and Jessica Alba can pull this off.

    Too dark hell no. Too pale hell no.

    • TheOriginalVictoria says:

      Actually, she is not dark ENOUGH for that color. Truly brown folk who are neither light or dark have to be careful of what colors they rock.

      Bright colors like that work great on the tones of someone like Alek Wek or Ajuma. it really pops in the right way.

      She would have looked great if this colors was a little warmer

      I like what Octavia is wearing. It’s sopisticated, and edgy. The classic white collared shirt reminds me of Sharon Stone’s awesome gap shirt she wore at the Oscars. And the bottom is really edgy. I love the feathers.

  6. faye says:

    I also think they have looked great all season, not here. Octavaia looks like a bird in that skirt, and Viola’s wig and blue eyeshadow are not a good look.

  7. Cathy says:

    Octavia looks like a Ostrich in that skirt. You’re right about Violas make up, that color eye shadow doesn’t look good on her. I like the dress though.

  8. Marianne says:

    I like Viola’s dress. Apparently she did not get my hair memo from the SAG’s.

    I actually like what Octavia is wearing too.

  9. Nan209 says:

    I’m not in favor of Octavia’s dress because the shirt makes her upper body look short and the way the breasts fill out the shirt makes her look wide. I think the dress just didnt highlight her best features. But i also think that when youve gone to that many award cermonies (because youre that kickass) you can just go with what makes you comfy and screw the theatrics.

    However I like Viola’s dress. It’s a great color which compliments her beautiful skin and she has a wonderful figure which the dress hugs in all the right places. It’s sexy in a classy way.

  10. Franny says:

    Viola is clearly wearing wigs. It kind of distracts from her gorgeous dresses 🙁

  11. carrie says:

    not their best looks!

  12. JEAN HARLOW says:

    Viola Davis is just gorgeous. She has a beautiful demeanor about her, so humble. I love her silky smooth chocolate complexion.

    Octavia is the girl you wanna be best friends with.
    Outgoing, funny and personable.

    Love them both.

  13. Elvynn says:

    Viola’s dress was also a part of Colin Firth’s wife project. It was a Green dress made with recycled plastic bottle.

  14. Jessica says:

    I wish Viola would wear her hair natural like she did in the recent photo shoot. She was beyond stunning. I’m not a fan of this (her usual) more conventional look. The wigs have gotta go. She’s so very, very beautiful, but I think her hair and make up often distract from that.

  15. Happy21 says:

    Not fussy on either of their outfits.

    I wonder if they are sick of each other yet?!

  16. lucy2 says:

    They’re both beautiful women and have done so well up to this point. I guess everyone gets 1 bad look per season!
    Agree – Octavia had good hair and makeup and a not so flattering dress, and Viola had the opposite problem.

  17. Reece says:

    I love the color on Viola but it looks like satin. I have unbridled hatred of satin.
    Octavias dress doesn’t bother me. It’s not “OMG” but it’s nice.

  18. Zoey says:

    I love Octavia’s look! She is rockin’ it and it makes her waist look smaller.

    Love Viola, hate the hair and make-up though. She is so beautiful, I hope she dazzles at the Oscars.

  19. Maritza says:

    Now that I’ve seen how good Viola looks with her own natural hair I just don’t like the way she looks in her wigs. Octavia’s blouse reminds me of the time Sharon Stone did something similar. They both look good but they could have looked better in something more sophisticated. They are great actresses, love them both.

  20. original sandy says:

    i don’t like viola outfit, she looked beautiful at the last awards, make up and outfit, Octavia looks very good here.

  21. Tiffany says:

    Viola, you are beautiful and have a fantastic body. Why, why do you let stylist do this to you.

  22. taxi says:

    Octavia’s get-up isn’t flattering at all. She’s belted a non-waist & it makes her look even bigger and too short-waisted.