Amy Adams shows influence of 'American Hustle' on red carpet - Los Angeles Times
Advertisement

Amy Adams shows influence of ‘American Hustle’ on red carpet

Amy Adams took a V-for-Valentino plunge with her to-the-waist neckline at the Golden Globes.
Amy Adams took a V-for-Valentino plunge with her to-the-waist neckline at the Golden Globes.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Share via

Multicity film premieres, promotional tours and a months-long award season mean a whole lot of dressing up.

But today’s long run of red carpets does create an opportunity for an actress to tell a story with fashion choices. And so far this season, Amy Adams’ story has been to remind us that she’s not just the nice girl.

Sure, she’s played a Disney princess, a nun, a Muppets superfan from Smalltown U.S.A. and the doting (though strong) wife of a religious leader.

Advertisement

PHOTOS: Movie scenes from ‘American Hustle’

But Adams’ latest role in “American Hustle†casts her as a glamorous grifter in sexy-as-hell vintage Halston dresses with cleavage so arresting it deserved its own screen credit. And the sizzling 1970s spirit of those costumes seems to be influencing Adams’ real-life red carpet looks of late, which have been less sweetheart and more sexpot.

It all started at the New York Film Festival in October. The cleavage-baring, deep V-neck on the naughty-and-nice lavender Prabal Gurung sheath dress Adams wore to a screening of “Her†was merely a preview of things to come.

Advertisement

Later that month, she chose a similarly sleek, pastel blue sheath by Antonio Berardi for the Hollywood Film Awards. The padded shoulders and sharply cut neckline signaled a new mood for the actress. She meant business.

TIMELINE: Academy Awards through the years

In December, when the promotional tour for “American Hustle†kicked into gear, Adams turned up the heat even more. At a screening of the film in L.A., she chose a spring 2014 black-and-white striped pencil dress with a peekaboo sheer skirt by London-based designer David Koma.

Advertisement

At the after-party for a New York screening of the film, she went with a Joseph Altuzarra black dress with lace trim that was pure sex kitten, especially with her retro bouffant hairdo.

On Dec. 8, at the New York premiere, Adams worked a sleeveless black Elie Saab halter gown with strips of lace hugging every curve. And later that week at the premiere of her other film, Spike Jonze’s “Her†in L.A., she wore a Lanvin dress with modern-looking inverted pleating that was anything but basic black.

FULL COVERAGE: Oscars 2014

For the Golden Globes, she again channeled her “American Hustle†character, taking the plunge in a two-tone red, deep V-neck halter gown by Valentino.

But she’s never looked better than she did at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, where she opted for a Berardi electric blue gown with an asymmetrical, sharp-edged bodice that was a striking contrast to the curves of her body and rolled hairstyle.

We can’t wait to see what she wears to the Oscars. Might we suggest vintage Halston?

[email protected]

Advertisement

Advertisement