That rose really didn't need to be there. It didn't ruin the dress but it did nothing for it either. Personally I think the gown would have looked lovely without the rose and in a darker shade.

THe dress was perfect.
You ALL need a life.

I thought she looked cute. Not something I'd wear but she carried it off. Why no comments about Tilda Swinton? Her outfit looked ghastly.

I think that without the rose, the dress would have been boring.

I think she is one of the most talented actresses today and how she wants to dress is entirely her business. You are being petty in even asking the question.

The only thing dumber than *tasteless* people who set themselves up as authorities on how other people should dress are the fools who listen to them! The rose MAKES that dress!

In my humble opinion: I loved the dress and the red rose was the perfect touch. It took the attention away from the belly area and brought it up to her beautiful neckline. The red purse in her hand looked like an extension of the rose and the shoes were an elegant addition. On the other end of the spectrum, Jane Krakowski's dress was a nightmare and it made her bump look 3x its size. Pregnancy is beautiful but don't try to dress like the slim diva you were before the pregnancy. I think Natalie's dress embraced it and was yet subtle. That's my 2 cents...

She looked beautiful and sophisticated and classy. All who criticized are jealous!

I think she always looks like a kid who got into her moms closet...

Great dress to wear on Valentines Day.

When I saw "controversy" in this article's title I thought: "Was the dress made from the skin of Chinese prisoners? How much 'controversy' can a dress have?" Wearing a diaphanous garment to William and Kate's wedding might be controversial. Or if Natalie, a nice Jewish girl, cheekily called a male muslim 'porkchop' that could be controversial. But a silly gaudy rose? Yawn.

The rose de-emphasizes her baby bump, and points to her lovely face and neckline. A bad style would be dark on top and bottom, and light around her stomach. that emphasizes the largeness of her tummy. Natalie did well with this dress, having people comment on the gorgeously presented rose and the red purse to go with it, like carrying the rose stem.

The rose de-emphasizes her baby bump, and points to her lovely face
and neckline. A bad style would be dark on top and bottom, and light
around her stomach. that emphasizes the largeness of her tummy.
Natalie did well with this dress, having people comment on the
gorgeously presented rose and the red purse to go with it, like
carrying the rose stem.

I love the way she looks in the dress. I don't HATE the rose, but it does seem like a different color and texture for a large applique might have given a more refined look to the gown.

I think that she wore the flower in deference to her condition....pregnant women are all about blooming.

How nice it would have been if the writer stopped at liking the dress. How super sensative can one be about a flower? Good hevans, it was only a flower. Get a life.

Natalie is so pretty in an innocent baby faced cute way, what she wears is irrelevant. She makes the dress look great not vice versa. Her intelligence and the way she carries herself is pretty remarkable. She will no doubt be remembered as one of the great actresses of her time.