Oscar Fashion Flash Forward: We Dress Best Actress Contenders!

From Viola Davis to Rooney Mara, Team Truth is giving designer pointers

By Ted Casablanca, Misha Yim Feb 22, 2012 5:10 PMTags
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With such a huge honor at stake, Team Truth just can't afford to play nice. No, we're not talking about which chicks will be named Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress at this year's Oscars…this is all about that Best Dressed list.

Since so much is riding on these red carpet-ready looks, we have decided to give some very well thought-out designer tips to our favorite nominees: Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer, Michelle Williams and Rooney Mara.

Consider this a pre-Fashion Police intervention:

Viola Davis in Vivienne Westwood: The future Best Actress winner (at least in our opinion) turned heads in that fab Raoul number at the 2012 Critics Choice Awards…not to mention the Globes and SAG Awards too. There's absolutely no denying The Help leading lady can pull of bright colors.

So who do we call to dress the chick in a flashy design masterpiece? Vivienne Westwood, of course! Her gowns are elegant but a bit over the top (in the best possible way) Now just pick a unique eye-catching color, girls, and you're halfway there!

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Jessica Chastain in Marchesa: Viola's costar, the lovely Ms. Chastain, may be one of our fave Hollywood darlings, but when it comes to the red carpet department, she needs some extra Help (forgive the pun!). She will always be a star to us, but the gal has been playing it way too safe.

To ditch the plain-Jane look, we demand you steal the spotlight, in a blingy, Old Hollywood-with-a-twist Marchesa gown (à la Lea Michele at the Globes).

It's the Oscars after all, so why not go all out, right?

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Octavia Spencer in Jason Wu: While Octavia Spencer is flawless in all her Tadashi Shoji dresses, doesn't she know that other designers can create gowns to flatter a fuller figure? Plus, Octavia mentioned wanting to show off her assets: curves and cleavage.

We love that, which is why we want to see her expand her designer horizons. We have our eyes on a little number from Jason Wu's spring collection (made floor-length for the evening, duh).

It's elegant, sexy and would definitely flatter her assets!

Michelle Williams in Valentino: Marilyn Monroe—er, we mean Michelle Williams!—always looks effortlessly chic on the red carpet. How can we forget the beautiful canary yellow Vera Wang look she wore to the Oscars in 2006? She doesn't actually need any fashion tips from us, but perhaps a request can't hurt.

Any of the sweet floral looks from Valentino's collection would be a parfait fit for the petite fashionista. Whatever she wears, we're sure she'll impress…but Valentino would be a guaranteed knockout.

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Rooney Mara in Alexander McQueen: Last but certainly not least, Rooney Mara. She's quickly becoming one to look out for with her signature blunt bangs and goth-chic style. She's obviously got a very distinct look, so we can't wait to see what the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo star plans to wear on the biggest night in Tinseltown.

Would it be too obvious to suggest Hot Topic? Kidding! We mean Alexander McQueen. The famed label did do Kate Middleton's wedding gown. And Oscar night is where all the Hollywood royalty come to shine, right?

Tell us what you think of our fashion picks: Right on or ready for Joan Rivers to rip apart?! Sound off below!

PHOTOS: 2012 Oscars: Acting Nominees