The Democracy Diva has a cold, dear readers; no celebrity is safe from her congested wrath!

ANNE HATHAWAY in New York City
gown by Valentino, purse by Roger Vivier

From the top of her pixie cut to the bottom of her slightly too-long train, Anne Hathaway is dishing out some serious garden-party glamour. The fabulous Annie got married this weekend in a different Valentino gown (and an epic veil) – but until there are non-creeper, non-blurry photos of her wedding dress, we’ll have to settle for drooling over this instead. I love the florals, the sheerness, the metallic touches, the gorgeous neckline, and even the puffy sleeves (which are not for every woman). If this is any indicator of how Annie will be dressed for the Les Mis press tour, I’m more excited for the movie than ever before.

VIOLA DAVIS in New York City
gown by Alberta Ferretti

Viola, can you please be on every red carpet ever? I am in love with this blue on her, and I think the silhouette is incredibly flattering. I also particularly love when she rocks her fabulous natural hair, so this is working for me from head to toe. That cinched waist with the draping down the center is perfection – she looks itsy-bitsy width-wise but almost unfairly tall.

NATALIE PORTMAN in Los Angeles
g0wn by Christian Dior

This was my Fall 2012 couture red carpet prediction for Emma Stone. I think it’s a borderline ridiculous dress, but Natalie is the very image of a Dior girl. She manages to wear a glittering cupcake of a dress and still take my breath away. The silhouette is dramatic and eye-catching, but I think a little less length and width on that skirt would have gone a long way. And Natalie, brunette Jewish girls like us know better than to go blonde, don’t we? But I have to admit, I stare at the beading at the bottom and get absolutely lost in it.

DITA VON TEESE at London Fashion Week
dress by Burberry

This is what we professionals like to call MOTHERFUCKING KILLING IT, Anglo-style. And this is the first time in Democracy Diva history that I’ve seen a look and thought to myself, “I would kill a bitch for that umbrella.” You might not think to pair a modern burlesque star with Burberry preppiness, but in this case, it works perfectly – an unstoppably chic combo of the right woman with the right look at the right event. I mean, even the imaginary outfit I’d wear to the Burberry show isn’t nearly as awesome as this.

DITA VON TEESE at London Fashion Week
hat by Philip Treacy

Most non-British women should have their license to wear fascinators revoked – ever since Kate Middleton became Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, everyone and their mother has donned an absurd hat that they can’t pull off. Enter Dita Von Teese, the one Yank who rose above the rest to look chic as hell in her fascinator at the Philip Treacy show. Treacy is basically the god of adorable little British hats, so kudos to Dita for rocking his duds to his show like a native Brit.

ELIZABETH BANKS in Los Angeles
dress by Alexander McQueen, purse by Rauwolf, shoes by Jimmy Choo

It’s a tad on the severe side, but Elizabeth Banks can pull off these dramatic looks pretty darn well. The faux-bra doesn’t bother me, but the wrinkles in the skirt do. If they’re intentional, they should look a little less sloppy; if they’re actually wrinkles, shame on Lizzy, who is more than famous enough to hire some poor shmoe to follow her around with a hand-held steamer at all times. The hair is borderline mental patient, but I love the accessories and I think it’s still a powerful, eye-catching look overall.

PENELOPE CRUZ in San Sebastian, Spain
dress by L’Wren Scott, purse by Loewe, shoes by Salvatore Ferragamo

I am a huge L’Wren Scott fan – I think her designs are every bit as beautiful and elegant as she is, and I think she’s incredibly versatile, making classic garments that work on all kinds of women. Not that it’s difficult to make Penelope look gorgeous, but she doesn’t always dress herself to the best of her ability, so I’m thrilled to see her in this fabulous dress. Great color, adorable accessories.

JESSICA CHASTAIN in New York City
dress by Roksanda Ilincic, shoes by Christian Louboutin

I will lose my mind if Jessica doesn’t pry those silly-putty pumps from her feet and burn them in a fire forever, but I am all about this heavenly lilac color. Perfect with her skin and hair. The draping at the top only really works from some angles, but I love how chic yet simple the look is as a whole.

JESSICA CHASTAIN in New York City
dress by Oscar de la Renta, shoes by Jimmy Choo

Jessica, you’re too established in Hollywood to be dressing like such a red carpet virgin. The ivory/silver-tinged gold in the dress clashes horribly with the yellow-gold of those shoes, and I’m sick of her in these kinds of dresses on principle. And though you don’t look bad, nothing about this says, “I am obscenely talented, equally beautiful, and infinitely stylish, so SUCK IT, BITCHES!” And I think that’s a problem.

SOLANGE KNOWLES in Milan
gown by Rubin Singer, shoes by Jimmy Choo

Is my head cold clouding my judgment, or does Solange Knowles look . . . kind of awesome? And not “so-bad-it’s-good” awesome, but straight up, 1970s disco glamour awesome. Take note, Bey’s lil’ sis: that mismatched hipster shit you’ve been trying to pull off is not nearly as stylish as this Donna Summer phenomenon you’re working now. Burn that mother down, honey.

DIANNA AGRON in Paris
gown by Christian Dior

She dresses almost painfully conservatively, and it frustrates me to no end. There’s a lot of beauty in this gown, but it’s a lot of skirt on one tiny little frame, and I’m just not sure she needs all that dress. Also, fire your makeup artist – that blush is practically a hate crime.

JESSICA BIEL in Los Angeles
dress by Dolce & Gabbana, purse by Fendi, shoes by Louis Vuitton

Let’s play a game called Clip-On Bangs or Dip-Dyed Hair! Any takers? I love a dress with pockets as much, if not more, than the next girl, but do the pockets have to be so unflattering? The shoes are cute, but I don’t love the nude lipstick on her.

MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL in New York City
gown and shoes by Lanvin

A surprisingly chic and well put-together look from the often disheveled Maggie Gyllenhaal. It’s got a laid-back chicness that I’m really enjoy, particularly with the flats. I wish the hair and makeup were a little less matronly, because this is probably the most youthful thing she’s worn in awhile.

SELENA GOMEZ in Los Angeles
dress by Versace, shoes by Christian Louboutin

It’s sort of severe and sexy for an animated movie premiere, but flaunt it if you’ve got it, I suppose. I think the fit isn’t great, but her little Versace dresses (and big Versace gowns) are getting a little bit predictable – though not nearly as predictable as her love for Dolce & Gabbana.

MICHELLE DOCKERY
dress by Stella McCartney, purse by Be&D, shoes by Christian Louboutin

Love the dress, but Lady Mary needs to hire herself a ladies’ maid stylist to iron out those nasty little details. I know Anna’s dealing with her wrongfully imprisoned husband, but m’Lady, surely someone could fix up your hair and burn your accessories so that that fabulous dress and your beautiful eyebrows can shine.

LADY GAGA in Paris
dress by Comme des Garçons

Not enough people use fashion as a big, fat middle finger to the world, but Gaga does it time and time again. This time, she went literal. The gossip blogs obsess over her weight; she gives them something to talk about, in the form of this phenomenally ridiculous dress.

SARAH JESSICA PARKER in New York City
gown and cape by Valentino, shoes by Christian Louboutin

I hate the hair, I hate the makeup, and the dress/coat combo is so ridiculously overwhelming, matronly, and just plain hideous. Also, I know I’m a fucking broken record, but does everything have to have a wimpy little train? And the dirty dishwasher color of the gown really doesn’t do her any favors. Everything she’s wearing might be individually beautiful, but that doesn’t save her from being a hot mess when it’s all thrown together.

ANNA KENDRICK in Los Angeles
dress by Zuhair Murad, shoes by Brian Atwood

I warned you, dear readers – the return of Anna Kendrick’s little overembellished dresses! Darling, you look so much better without the ridiculously complicated shoes (how many personal assistants does it take to unbuckle those buckles?), the high neckline, and the eleven different shades of gold, tan, and nude. But I’m sorry to say, Zuhair Murad’s overdesigned little creations were all over the red carpet this week . . .

NINA DOBREV in Las Vegas
dress by Zuhair Murad, shoes by Jimmy Choo

I hate having to say things like this, but if you make me be this person, I will take it on as part of my duties as Democracy Diva:This is so three years ago.

OLIVIA PALERMO in New York City
gown by Christian Dior, purse by Valentino

Congratulations, Olivia! John Galliano’s drinking problem is no longer the biggest embarrassment to the Dior name.

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© Democracy Diva, 2012.
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