Kristen Bell's Reem Acra gown is beautiful. I would have liked to see her in a bolder color that did not match her hair and skin so closely. Yet, it is the best dress of the red carpet. Lauren Alaina went with a short black dress with lots of sparkle. It was nothing special, but the blue heel was a great idea and brave (though I do not love the shoe on its own). The silver gown Grace Potter sported was really nice. I am not a huge fan of this plunging neckline on her, but the back of this dress was sexy and beautiful (sorry no pic of that). Hillary Scott was in the most simple of these looks. The dress flatters her and I like her bangles and clutch. I really wish she had worn a different shoe. Like so many of us that cover fashion, we want to see the end of all these nude colored shoes.
This group of ladies went with the short high school formal look. The beautiful Carrie Underwood had a bit of a fashion fail this round. The dress is eh ok. But those shoes just do not work. I think she was trying to add edge, but it just looked odd. Ashley Greene in Donna Karan Atelier was also a letdown. It does not flatter her and the shoes again do not work. Even though her hair is dark, she looks completely washed out. Poor, poor Jennie Garth. That is all I will say on that. Denise Richards would have looked fine if she were still a 17 year old girl. Oh, Elizabeth Cook! Yes, I am one of the rare people in fashion who like boots with dresses. That is only when they are worn with the RIGHT dresses. This one is not it. This is so not Nashville.
Paige Duke pulled out a mullet dress, and it failed. If designed right, they can, on the rare occasion, work. This is not one and, to add insult to injury, she wore cowboy boots. Rachel Reinert's dress has potential for some events. I am not thrilled with the "flames" that seem to be burning their way to her chest. In another print or solid, Samantha Stephens could have pulled this dress off. American Idol contestant Skylar Laine not only wore a mullet dress, but it was a mullet dress made of aluminum foil and shards of glass. Okay, not really, but it sure looks that bad.
There were many more looks, but I could not bring myself to critique any more harshly. So I just hope the next time the stars come South, they do better.
Photos: Jada Wong
