The MTV Movie Awards and its fashion identity crisis

The MTV Movie Awards may be going through a bit of a fashion identity crisis. Like the 17-year-old versions of ourselves, it feels neither mature nor young and fresh; chic nor inventive.

The red carpet at Sunday night’s event seemed sandwiched between the irreverent flare of the VMAs, the youthfulness of the Teen Choice Awards and the semi-sophistication of the Golden Globes.

The result: a lot of lackluster minis with short hem lines.

“Total Recall” co-stars Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel were matchy-matchy and slightly bland while presenting the award for best cast.

Continuing the trend, the Hilton sisters wore tiny and boring black and gray numbers (surprise); Ciara donned a barely draped red Balmain and at least seven glitzy rings; Julianne Hough showed her midriff in a black lace Sally LaPointe; and Christina Ricci wore a classic black strapless with watch face embellishments by Christian Siriano.

Shailene Woodley (Jordan Strauss - Invision/AP)

Shailene Woodley, Emma Stone and Charlize Theron were among the highlights. Woodley looked sleek and sexy in Stella McCartney pants and a plunging vest, while Theron looked like the professional she is in a red Lanvin with a just-right touch of peplum. Stone’s sculpted black top and bubble skirt by Martin Grant was a good choice. And Elizabeth Banks deserves credit for her black lace Elie Saab jumpsuit, which was just unconventional enough to suit Effie Trinket’s alter ago.

Charlize Theron (Joe Klamar - AFP/Getty Images)
Emma Stone (Joe Klamar - AFP/Getty Images)

Kristen Stewart, on the other hand, exhibited the classic MTV Movie Aard look: an uninspired tube dress.

She paired the Giushem by Guillermo Jop frock, which boasted a color combo reminiscent of the opening credits from “Saved By the Bell,” with a pair of black Louboutins for red carpet photos, then switched to her signature Converse sneakers.
Kristen Stewart (Joe Klamar - AFP/Getty Images)

After an impressive showing at Cannes (seriously, those Balenciaga pants and that red Reem Acra dress were to die for), this felt like a fashion regression for Stewart.

Similarly, Mila Kunis’s uber-short Fendi left much to be desired, and Josh Hutcherson’s fedora should have been checked at the door.

More photos from the 2012 MTV Movie Awards:

MTV Movie Awards 2012: Johnny Depp accepts generation award by jamming with Black Keys

MTV Movie Awards proves that ‘Twilight’ is better than ‘Hunger Games’ and ‘Harry Potter’