Accessorise with Sandra Bullock and The Blind Side

Sandra Bullock tackles The Blind Side

Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) has it all; the perfect family, a beautiful house and a job she loves. But when she spots 17-year-old Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) walking the below freezing streets in shorts and a T-shirt her instincts kick in. On finding out he attends school with her children, she gives him a place to stay for the night. But that night turns into a lifetime of love and a big change for Michael and the Tuohy family.

This heart-warming tearjerker is not the work of experienced Hollywood writers, but the true life story of one family opening up. Based on the bestselling book, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, the movie became an unexpected success – appealing to sports fans and emotional-types alike. And we have to say congratulations to Sandra for winning the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role last night.

Michael improves not only his sporting skills but his lifestyle, learning a lot of important lessons along the way. Starring Tim McGraw as supportive husband, Sean and Kathy Bates as Michael’s tireless tutor, Miss Sue, The Blind Side has stolen American audience’s hearts, and is set to do the same across the pond when it’s released in the UK this Friday.

Written and directed by John Lee Hancock (The Rookie), the film isn’t just a tale of a family taking in a homeless child; it’s about protecting that blind side, in both football and family terms. Hancock says: “It really is two different stories, one of which is more of a question: Who is Michael Oher and why did the stars align to shine so brightly on this kid from the projects in Memphis? And then on the other side, it’s a great story about how this unique family evolved, and the unconventional mother-son relationship at its centre. Sports, specifically football, was the engine that propelled the story forward, but he could have been a dancer or a pianist-it wouldn’t have made any difference. The journey that Michael and the Tuohy family go on is the heart of the movie.”

Having won numerous awards for her role, it’s strange to think that Sandra Bullock found it extremely hard to figure out the role of Leigh Anne at first. Hancock tried to explain this amazing woman to her, but it wasn’t until she met her that she realised: “How can you explain that kind of energy? By the end of one day with Leigh Anne, I was exhausted. She manages to do what she wants to do in the manner she wants to do it. She doesn’t care what it takes; she just gets it done her way. It was terrifying to think of playing her, but it was a challenge I couldn’t say no to. She’s such an amazing person.”

Sandra, who recently joked about wearing a potato sack to the Oscars, does not have much of an interest in fashion although she has become a bit of a style icon in recent films like The Proposal. When it came to costumes for The Blind Side, Leigh Anne’s were simple; her designer clothing had to reflect her lifestyle. Using brands like Gucci, Armani, Jimmy Choo and Dolce and Gabbana, costume designer Daniel Orlandi let Leigh Anne’s affluent lifestyle and creativity show through her clothes. The designer outfits also contrast Michael’s clothes and childhood neighbourhood, much like her character.

We’ve found Sandra’s glamorous Gucci sunglasses and some convincing lookalikes – perfect since the sun has started to shine. And if you want to get the full look, add her white ToyWatch (or a cheaper alternative) and Gucci purse into the mix.