Anne Hathaway's Bags and Style

I know that Anne Hathaway seems to be one of those actress of whom many people seem to have a strong and irrational hatred, but I love her. Yes, even after the terrible Oscars hosting gig this year. I don’t know why, but she just seems like she would be smart and charming in person; she’s the kind of girl who I’d want to have a cocktail with. That she showed up to the Rio premiere wearing glasses on the red carpet only makes me love her more.

I’m a glasses-wearer myself, and mine are also of the nerdy, plastic-framed variety. I love them. I have contacts and rarely choose to wear them, even for a night out – my glasses are another fun accessory, just like my bag or jewelry, and I never give up the chance to add an accessory to my outfit. It’s rare that we see an actress don her glasses on the red carpet, let alone a young celebrity, and Anne does a fine job of rocking hers with a purple Gucci cocktail dress and matching purple velvet Gucci sandals. Hopefully her bold move will inspire other stars to bring out their specks.

Bag Anne’s Gucci Style via Net-a-Porter! View the Gallery →

So how did you guys feel about Anne Hathaway at Sunday night’s 2011 Academy Awards? It seems as though reviews were mixed at best, and I thought that the ceremony was as boring as it could have possibly been, but I can’t shake my affection for Ms. Hathaway. She always seems smart and genuine in interviews, and she’s beautiful in such a classic way.

It only seems right that someone like her would wear vintage, and that’s exactly what she did on her entrance to the ceremony with a red Valentino dress and Mr. Valentino himself on her arm. There’s no better endorsement than having a fashion legend escort you in to the biggest night of your career while you wear a piece from his archives, although I’m sure that Anne wishes the show itself had gone a little more smoothly. View the Gallery →

If Anne Hathaway has ever made a red carpet mistake, I certainly can’t remember when it was. Hathaway may not be among Hollywood’s most ardent risk-takers, but somehow, her dresses always manage to be interesting and ever so slightly different, proving that it is possible to choose a conventionally attractive dress that’s still notable from a technical standpoint. You can have it both ways. If you’re Anne Hathaway, that is.

Hathaway’s copper paillette-covered Armani Privé number from last night’s Golden Globe Awards may be my favorite thing that I’ve ever seen her in. The dress is a study in subtle contradictions – the material is futuristic, the long sleeves and high neck are old-fashioned. The front is demure and covered, the back is entirely bare. The balance is perfect and the juxtaposition of the materials and structure work only because Armani is such a master. I could look at this dress all day; the pictures don’t do it justice. View the Gallery →

My personal style may be several orders of magnitude more esoteric than Anne Hathaway‘s, yet I somehow find myself almost always loving what she chooses to wear on the red carpet. I’m usually a bit iffy on a lot of the looks that Rachel Zoe picks for her clients, of which Anne is one, but when it comes to dressing her for the red carpet, they always manage to work together and hit it out of the park.

Take the shimmering gold Valentino gown that Anne wore to the 2010 Costume Institute Gala. When I see her in dresses like this, I totally understand why the casting director chose her for her breakout role in The Princess Diaries – she totally has that regular, stately look while keeping things totally feminine in romantic. This is one seriously pretty ball gown. View the Gallery →

So, I suppose that Anne Hathaway likes bright bags. Last we covered her wearing an obscenely bright Chanel Bubble Quilt Handbag, and now here she is rocking a Salvatore Ferragamo Gancio Levante Hobo with a considerably more wintry outfit. And a pair of rather cool, plasticky-looking sunglasses that I know I shouldn’t like but somehow do.

The brightness of the bag is perfect for a blistery day in New York such as this one, where Anne is pictured hand in hand with her beau, Adam Schulman. Cue the endearing noises. All right, stop. It’s getting annoying. Let’s deviate back onto that lovely path where we were discussing the Ferragamo. The leather is to be expected of the brand- it looks soft and supple, but has a unique sheen to it, and the folds are superbly placed.

I’m quite enamored of the whole outfit, actually- the bright, luxurious bag is off-set by the ethnic scarf and ripped light-wash jeans, while the black blazer pulls it all together and the glasses add a quirky touch. Here’s where we cue the applause; virtual claps, of course.

Bag Anne’s Style via Neiman Marcus! View the Gallery →

I must say, I loved Anne Hathaway in her princess days, and there is no doubt in my mind that she has done a brilliant job of revitalizing her career and proving herself as a serious actress. But with more fame comes more red carpet events and more coverage by the paparazzi, inevitable leading to many, many style opportunities. And Anne has taken that role with ease, breaking out gorgeous gowns and casual outfits alike.

Here she makes an unlikely pairing: an unbelievably bright turquoise Chanel Bubble Quilt Handbag with an otherwise quite normal and comfy outfit. But it works, and it works well. The bag adds some much-needed brightness to her outfit- a big, big improvement over the clown wig she donned earlier this much. Yep, it’s probably best to stick to the Chanel from now on for that color.

Bag Anne Hathaway’s Chanel Style via Chanel.com! View the Gallery →

Anne Hathaway looks gorgeous sporting the Valentino Embellished Clutch. Anne is savvy, as she choose to wear this clutch to an event hosted by Valentino. Of course, no surprise to stumble across Anne looking flawlessly gorgeous as she was photographed. While Anne’s personal life has had its trials and tribulations, Anne keeps herself together and always looks beautiful. Shop Valentino at Nordstrom. View the Gallery →