FIRST FASHION

Why can't these chicks from Marvel's The Avengers get their act together?

Smokin' catsuit-wearing Scarlett Johansson and Cobie Smulders kill it on the big screen as super-assassin Black Widow and S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Maria Hill respectively.

But for their red-carpet premieres, both were far from being red hot.

You'd think Smulders is the female lead of the movie, considering she was the one in the elaborate floor-length gowns and Johansson in the blah cocktail dresses.

Although the 30-year-old Canadian actress managed to upstage Johansson ever so slightly, that's not to say Smulders was smouldering.

Indeed, the styling of the mother of a three-year-old girl left her looking a good decade older.

Which is a real pity because Smulders is, as all her fanboys out there can attest to, quite a looker.

1

At the Los Angeles premiere, she wore a Donna Karan sleeveless number with sheer panels and copper-and-black sequined embellishments.

But there's just something very "old lady" and dated about the reptilian/tribal print.

The uneven plunging bustline and overall busyness of the entire garment were also unnecessary distractions.

2

You can't ignore a lady in red - or can you?

In London, she turned up in a slightly frumpy scarlet Alexandra Vidal silk georgette and organza long-sleeved mermaid gown with textured hemline, but let's not pretend we haven't seen this every year at the Oscars in various incarnations.

There's a time and place for thin white headbands, and this definitely wasn't it.

3

Smulders finally lived up to her surname at the Tribeca Film Festival premiere in this simple yet stunning bright orange crepe V-neck gown from Reem Acra.

Everything from the embellished cap sleeves to the complementary gold accessories to the polished hair and make-up screamed glam.

The colour and cut were absolutely perfect on her, so at least she ended the promo tour on a high.

This article was first published in The New Paper.