I was working on a job yesterday, my last before Christmas, but can you guess where it was? That wall should be pretty familiar, specially for an Oscar winner.
Archive for the ‘Celebrity’ Category
Can You Guess Where I Was?
December 20, 2011Has SJP lost her USP?
November 10, 2011I know that making negative comments about Sarah Jessica Parker’s style credentails is pretty close to blasphemy in some fashion corners but in my opinion the pretty minimal fashion cred she had anyway seems to have vanished over recent months. I display below some genuine shockers from a woman people call a style icon.
First up: this dress is an abomination. I think bows under the bust line should not be worn by anyone over five, the material looks heavy and over-starched, and the colour of the bodice is not at all flattering to her skintone. There is what looks like a hair twist around her wrist and the whole thing is finished off with a pair of totally unremarkable shoes.
Wow, is really all I can muster. Philip Treacy’s extravagant creation is not meant for someone so small nor for indoor wear. This is not a case of ‘oh, that’s high fashion’, or ‘oh, that’s a concept hat’, it’s just bizarre head gear for an interview where the shadow over her face is comical and distracting rather than mysterious. This is ridiculous.
Who doesn’t love a fluorescent yellow dress with dirty blonde hair? Not I. Let’s work up: yet another dull pair of shoes and made even worse by being white. Liz Hurley wears white shoes, that’s all you need to know about their fashion status. Do I need to remind SJP that any fashion designer in the world would kill to have her wear their shoes but she chose these! Then the acid colours of the dress, the drawstring waist, another hair twist bracelet and all finished off with what look like cheap plastic beads in baby blue…
This is another treat. Her make-up and hair are ok but oh, the clothes. This is jumped up nightwear. The awful frilly uneven hem looks cheap and tacky and the dress, which does nothing for her figure, is covered by an oversized dressing gown/jumper/coat thing. The jewellry is a random pick from the miscellaneous drawer, and then, hello lover, there are those shoes again.
Tacky bridesmaid? Slutty mother in law? Either way it’s awful. Just gaze in sheer amazement and ask yourself how a grown up woman could really leave the house looking like this. The dress is white lace, with both an asymmetrical neckline and an asymmetrical hem, and there is no help from the accessories either, with the little hippy wristbands, that horrible Carrie-esque flower throwback and the nasty short necklace with a beige metal trim bag. It hurts my professional stylist’s insides.
Ah, the classic combo of jumper and skirt but wait, why does she look so uncomfortable? Is it because that burnt orange colour does nothing for her, or that she matched her bra to her cuffs, or that she borrowed the skirt from a colourful libriarian, or perhaps it’s that her hair is eating her shoulders?
This season was all about mixing bright block colours and it’s not so much that I don’t like this clashing mix but that it is TOTALLY unacceptable of any stylist/assistant/SJP herself to have put white shoes with this outfit. It immediately takes it to Saturday Night Fever territory, which is not a good way to go.
I am a great believer in not being too ageist when it comes to clothing styles or lengths, but honestly, has SJP forgotten that she left pre school about forty years ago? And that in fact this really isn’t a dress for any age, because it truly is so nasty. Again she’s gone with studs and a short necklace which is boring and ageing, but hurray, at least the shoes are a little better.
We come to the end of these fashion faultlines with a truly stand out performer. We’ve already had the trampy white lace dress above; this is its ugly sister. Note the horrible uneven hemline again and the old fashioned frill across the bust line. The slit tries to make it sexy but just increases the idea that her mother made it from her lace curtains.
Some Rafa to Help Kick Start Your Week
October 17, 2011This is the film from the new A/W campaign for Armani Jeans and Emporio Armani underwear featuring Rafa Nadal. The video was shot in Mallorca in an empty car park with Rafa undressing from a suit into a more casual denim look. He looks amazing and as you’ll know if you read this blog I love him, just a shame he’s not doing too well in the Masters out in Asia.
More Rafa
August 26, 2011New photos of my future husband Rafa Nadal for Emporio Armani underwear and Armani Jeans A/W campaign have arrived in my inbox. These new shots were taken in Mallorca by photographer Steven Klein and show a half-naked Rafa giving us his best ‘blue steel’.
The Met Ball 2011
May 3, 2011This year’s Met Ball was an homage to Alexander McQueen, in connection with the much anticipated ‘Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty’ exhibition which opens at the MET in NYC tomorrow (until 31st July). I’m hoping to see it when I’m over there in a couple of weeks time. Some years I feel there is more to criticize than compliment at the Met Ball, but this year I’m going to overlook all the faux pas and nearly misses to concentrate on the good selection of people who got it right.
First then, Liv Tyler in Givenchy. Does anyone look bad in couture Givenchy? I’ve yet to see it. Even though this is an incredibly elegant, oragami, feathered Ricardo Tisci invention, the ultimate in design and couture, she carries it off as if this dress was custom made for her. And I love the simple uber glossy hair.
Amber Valletta in Stella McCartney. Stella dressed a surprisingly large number of the A-listers last night and I thought this stood out as one of the best. I love the peacock feather pattern framing the hem of the bodice against the plain skirt. It’s simple but super elegant and I love the big statement earrings. It’s a far cry from Stella’s last questionable lemons and oranges collection.
Beyonce, in figure hugging Emilio Pucci. Now she is all woman. It is a pretty full on look with the high collar and I think she carries it off, firstly because of her amazingly curvy body, but also because of the smile. If she’d been too pouty and with big hair it would have made it far too much. I love the extra lace on the cleavage.
Blake Lively in Chanel. She looks amazing, there really is no if, but or maybe about it. I think the darker almost strawberry blonde hair really suits her and this dress shows off her enviable figure. The draping is beautifully subtle and I love the nude bodice with the delicate silver embroidery.
Brooklyn Decker in Michael Kors. It’s bright, very bright, but she looks young and fresh . Her shorter hair suits her so much better and makes her stand out amongst the usual blonde-extensioned swim wear models. I love the fact that the shoes are nude so that they look like her legs just continue to the floor. Great cocktails rings with a good smallish bag makes the whole outfit one of my favourite; simple elegance.
Christina Ricci in Zac Posen. This dress is really quite something. It’s slightly corpse bride but at the same time delicate and intricate like a line drawing. The insane sculpting on it makes it spectacular, though it’s a shame about the jutting hip bones. It’s totally different from what I’d normally expect Posen to do, and although it does reference his more familiar pleating and homage to a woman’s figure, it’s dark beauty definitely moves it into Alexander McQueen territory.
Daphne Guinness in Alexander McQueen. Well she would, wouldn’t she? One of the few woman who doesn’t get over powered by a Big Bird’s date night outfit, although she shouldn’t have worn the tights! This really is an incredible piece of artistry, with its beautiful lilac colour and dramatic silhouette.
Diane Kruger in Jason Wu. Her eclectic style can be hit and miss for me, but this is beautiful. She looks like a sexy grown up woman, the slit is pretty damn high but with long sleeves and a high neck she can get away with it. I like the Veronica Lake hair and the red lips. It looks effortless which is one of the qualities of great style.
Doutzen Kroes in Giambattista Valli. It’s big and red and I love it. Yes, it blends a little into the carpet but I love how it relies totally on the shape and the girl inside it to carry it off. Despite its huge train this is suprisingly simple but many an actress or model would easily get swallowed up in the red mist. I love that there are no accessories and the hair and make-up are kept simple.
Ginnifer Goodwin suprisingly in Topshop. It’s quite a look but I think it works for her and, although I think this can go either way as a description but here it’s meant as a compliment, it’s because she’s kooky. I love her pixie hair cut and the super strong blue eye makeup. The dress is stunning colour and although I think the ruched sides would be widening on most people she seems to carry it well. I love the turquoise and green necklace; I think I want that more than the dress and shoes!
Karolina K in Jean Paul Gaultier. She’s a model therefore she can get away with looks like this. It’s interesting, it’s different, it requires time to take in all the details from the lace straps, the feather hand bracelet to the messy bun. Top model, top look.
Leighton Meester in Louis Vuitton. I’m on the fence but I wanted to give her some marks for trying. Although I think full length is needed for the MET ball, this is something a bit alternative. She always trys different looks out and I’ve seen photos taken from varying angles where it looks great and where it really doesn’t. Maybe if she’d gone for large coloured jewellery, bigger hair and some other shoe, but somehow the sleek hair and diamond earrings bring it away from high fashion.
Michelle Williams in custom made Miu Miu and it’s another that I love. Since Miu Miu and Erdem used lots of swallow motifs a couple of seasons ago they have become a much seen symbol. Here I love the way the birds catch the light on this grown up and sexy dress. Her hair is just right for it too, she looks so great with it short.
Rachel Wood in Gucci. Burgundy, dark purple, aubergine,whatever you want to call, it is one of my favourite colours. It looks amazing against her white skin and I love the double layers over the bust and the hint of grey sparkle. Gothic and feminine and sensuous.
Shalom Harlow in Marchesa. Only a 5’11 plus model could handle this typically Marchesa dress, with its strong silhouette and curving fabric lines. It looks both structured and fluid as water. I like the small detail of the feather covering her parting.
Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen. The hair is a little full on, slightly too Dallas and hard. But wow, the dress is stunning, with its incredible beading detail and great body-framing seaming. Incidentally, I also love the white number with the yellow sleeves just to the side of her.
Vera Wang in, shockingly, Vera Wang. Although she is painfully thin, I love the colour and the pleating that goes all the way down the front; it looks bohemian and yet chic. I also like the grecian leafed headdress.
PictureSource: Zimbio
Gaga for Thierry Mugler
March 3, 2011This was an amazing runway event from Paris Fashion Week. Forget the clothes for now, which is wrong of me as a stylist, I know, but this time it was all about the drama of the set and the incredible lighting, which created great movement and a sense of gothic illusion as the models flowed through it. Lady Gaga made two appearances for her friend and stylist Nicola Formichetti who has newly taken the post of creative director for the label.
Oscars 2011
February 28, 2011Well, I have to say it wasn’t a waterfall of high fashion, but there were some lovely hits and some reliable misses; you can always count on Nicole Kidman right?
Starting with Cate Blanchett in Givenchy Couture and please understand that mere mortals could not pull this off, and I have no idea why this works but it does and she looks incredible! I love all the beading and the surprising flash of yellow at the back, the pale purple colour and pleated skirt just look amazingly good on her, so hail to the stylist who thought this would work and to Cate for making it stunning.
Hailee Steinfeld in Marchesa. After the austere black she wore at the Baftas it’s nice to see her back in something lovely. I think the hairband on her looks really pretty and the dress looks light and youthful but just princessy enough for a young girl going to the Oscars and with all Marchesa’s usual stunning sophisticated bead work.
Natalie Portman in Rodarte. She looked amazing and she needed to for collecting her Oscar. It made the most of her blossoming figure, the colour is absolutely stunning and I love the one-sided hair with the tassle earrings. I wish the dress went all the way down to the floor but I understand that you need to be safe. Love the beaded trim on the neckline and the just off the shoulders look.
Michelle Williams in Chanel. She looks beautiful, effortlessly chic. This dress is just the kind of thing she should be wearing: it’s flattering to her body, feminine and yet subtle and not too in your face. I love the white blond hair too.
Sandra Bullock in Vera Wang. Ignoring the facial expresion, I think she looks pretty good. It’s a lovely red and I like the two layers on the breasts, it cinches in her waist beautifully and thank god the awful bangs are nowhere to be seen. Maybe she could have worn just a little more jewellery and definitely not a matching red bag.
Amy Adams in L’Wren. I like this look, the blue looks great with her strawberry blonde hair, it sculpts her body beautifully and although the jewellery is a bit random I honestly don’t think it would have worked without it. It also helps that it’s not just a simple diamond necklace, the big stone at the bottom is great.
Gwyneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein. I just don’t know about this dress, it has potential but I don’t like the belt which looks like an afterthought nor that the clasp on it matches her earrings; when was that ever an accepted fashion practise? Also the hair is just a bit catalogue model.
Mila Kunis in Elie Saab. Again this is another one I’m not sure about. It’s just a little to0 nightie-esque. I like the bodice but then you lose me on the semi see-through vaguely shaggy bottom half. Lovely colour but a bit disappointing.
Scarlett Johansson in Dolce & Gabanna. I don’t like this, it’s far too matronly and the two tone raspberry colour mixed with flower pattern lace just doesn’t work. Is it me or has she lost her way with her look recently? Also it seems as if she is wearing dark underclothes, although this may just be the odd placing of the lace or the colouration. In the close-up pictures you can see that she’s wearing orangey eyeshadow which is very random.
Anne Hathaway in vintage Valentino. Some of the dresses she wore during the show were good but I don’t like this one for the red carpet; the whole thing is quite oddly proportioned, I think it needs to be pulled up or have the hair down or something, it’s so bottom heavy. I think for the Oscar host something a little more dramatic or sexy would have been good. I don’t see her stylist Rachel Zoe going ‘bananas’ over it, but maybe she did.
Reese Witherspoon in Armani Prive. The awful piece of hair on the back really doesn’t work and makes her look cheap and Princess Barbie like. The dress is ok but a bit mature I think for her. She can do old Hollywood so well and I don’t understand why she settled for this.
Jennifer Lawrence in Calvin Klein. Is it me or does she look like a blow up sex doll? Way too much hair and not enough jewellery. For someone so California pretty she could easily carry a more edgy, fashion forward dress. She looks like Donald Trump’s new wife not a hot young starlet.
Florence Welch from Florence and the Machine looking awful in who knows what (actually Valentino). It looks so much like your granny’s marriage bed attire. Why the high neck? Why the long sleeves? Why wear a colour the blends into you skin tone? I’ve seen her perform and she is incredible and she can carry off something much more radical than this. Her Givenchy Couture at the Grammys was so much more haute.
And finally Nicole Kidman in Dior. Now Dior could do with some good press right now but it’s not going to get it from this dress which is just odd. It looks heavy and bizarrely brocaded, like home embroidery or an altar cloth. Maybe she got up from the table too quickly and took the cloth with her. And I’m sorry but that piece of hair on her face is so not ok; why is her hair always so bad?
Source: Zimbio
Screen Actors Guild 2011
January 31, 2011The Screen Actors Guild awards took place last night and apart from being happy that ‘The King’s Speech’ did so well (if you haven’t seen it you really should, it’s amazing) it was overall a pretty poor show from a fashion point of view, yet again. I can’t believe how many outfits I’ve ignored purely for their uninspiring and non commital fashion sense.
One definite highlight was Hailee Steinfeld in Prada. I’m beginning to love her and ‘True Grit’ isn’t even out in the UK for two more weeks. Like the dress she wore for the Globes this is age appropriate, fun, fashion forward and fresh. Barely any makeup, lovely young shiny hair. She is a perfect example of style and grace – long may this continue.
Annette Bening in Tony Ward Couture. A round of applause for the 50+, damn, she looks good. No sleeves needed for this older woman, the gold colour is super flattering and the beaded details give just enough cleavage attention without being too brazen. It’s honestly one of the best I’ve seen her look. It simply says this is a great dress which hangs beautifully off my figure and I feel great in it.
January Jones in Carolina Herrera. I do like how completely different this look is from the much debated red Versace number at the Globes. This is elegant and classy and just a tantalising touch demure.
Natalie Portman in Azzaro. She’s having ‘a white moment’ as Rachel Zoe would say and it works. I like the closer fitting fabric and the way it cups the bump. We know it’s there, why hide it? The neckline is highish but I think it works here: too much cleavage would have been inappropriate and she hasn’t fussed by adding a necklace. She looks young, charming and ethereally pregnant!
Tina Fey in Oscar de la Renta. Somehow she manages to look great more often than not. This isn’t boundary-pushing fashion, not sexy kitten, but just right for her. The textured red dress gives her a great hourglass figure and she looks completely comfortable, sassy and simply groomed.
Mila Kunis in Alexander McQueen and I can’t quite decide… It’s nice but it’s not amazing. It seems almost not grecian enough and too Resort collection. I like the strong red colour but it really doesn’t do anything for her body. There’s definitely too much hair going on.
Claire Danes in Louis Vuitton. I quite like the dress but I’m never sure that flower patterns at award shows quite work unless they are very abstract. The belt is far too long and a bit ‘this is a trendy way to tie a belt’ and the make up seems a bit off too - I think it’s the eyes that don’t work for me. But she does look pretty.
Christina Hendricks in L’Wren Scott. Wow, this for me is not good. She seems to have forgotten how to dress her mighty cleavage, here her breasts look squashed and suffocated. Why not elevate them and give them a platform, rather than buttoning them up in black? It looks as though she’s wrapped a pretty expensive dressing gown around her and hoped that would do. Her stunning figure is totally lost in there. The eye make-up is way too heavy and those house slipper shoes are a total abomination.
Winona Ryder in Alberta Ferretti. She looks so confused! How old is she now? Surely not at the prom queen stage still? This white layered tulle thing is really awful and doesn’t flatter her. It makes her look much shorter and dumpier than she really is. The look is not helped by the obvious ‘up’ do hair and the rather Edwardian bag.
Nicole Kidman in Nina Ricci. I used to love this woman, so informal and amusing, but her Moulin Rouge heyday seems a long time ago and I think she’s actually lost the plot. From the waist up she looks like a Wild West barmaid and from the waist down she looks like a librarian. Why would you put a necklace on a dress which already has a ruffle collar detail? Why has she got hair all over her face?Did she think a touch of leopardskin shoe would redeem this? Why does she now look like she’d rather be anywhere but on the red carpet?
Source: Zimbio
Monday Blues? Let me help…
January 24, 2011…with some very lovely pictures of Rafa Nadal. These are the new photos from his Armani campaign shot by Mert & Marcus and wow, this fan is more admiring than ever. I loved Beckham’s underwear version for this campaign and really disliked the ones of Ronaldo; I find him totally unsexy with that disproportionately small head of his. Anyway, even though we think of Rafa as being quite shy and not at all an exhibitionist, these shots show he has a broody side and I love them. I hope there are lots more to come.
Golden and Tarnished Globes 2012
January 18, 2012This year for my take on the Golden Globes I am going positive negative positive negative until the end, where I get abit undecided and into murky water.
So, first up is Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace. This for me is vintage Jolie style and the best she has looked at a big awards ceremony in a while. Although I’m not usually crazy about cream, against her white skin and quite severe hair it softens the whole look and work. I love the slash of red high up on the shoulder replicated in the bag and lipstick. It’s a pretty simply styling technique and can look overdone and too matchy matchy but for her it works. She’s wearing this dress, not the other way around.
Michelle Williams in Jason Wu. Will this girl ever learn? Why get an elfin hair cut that suits you so well but then ruin it by going matronly? She has worn a round neck before and been panned for it and this is no better. Then the horrible insignificant hairband, which doesn’t seem to be there for any reason. The whole look seems tired and therefore so does she. She is so cute and could carry off real high fashion; where has the girl who wore that amazing yellow dress in 2006 gone?
Claire Danes in J Mendel. This is very simple at the front with an interesting back and I like the blocked black and white panels. The strong lip looks great and so does the twist of hair into a bun at the back.
Charlize Theron in Dior. This a hot mess of a dress! As you will know, I hate short at the front, long at the back dresses and this is no exception. This pale pink, beige, cream does not suit her skin tones and looks frankly a little tarty. The bodice looks like its stretched to within an inch of its life down into the waist band in order to avoid a mishap. Then there are three tiers of fabric for no good reason and finally the ankle straps on the shoes completes this mishap.
Evan Rachel Wood in Gucci. This dress is beautiful with its feather details and the lovely deep greens running through it. She’s part mermaid part bird. From the wider shoulder straps down it is super figure-flattering. Not sure about her hair colour, I prefer her darker look.
Jessica Chastain in Givenchy. A polo-neck is never acceptable for an evening dress and how old does she look? After a quick google, I find she’s 30 – she could be 50. Horrible Dallas hair and cheap looking pearl earrings don’t help, and I don’t want to bash her figure, but the cut of the dress and the high black belt widen her shoulders and does nothing to flatter her.
Zooey Deschanel in Prada. She has been known for overdoing the all out kooky look, but here she pulls off different in an interesting and chic way. I love the bright chartreuse colour in the beading on the front of this dress. Her hair looks great too, glossy and simple. She looks comfortable and confident.
Sarah Michelle Gellar in Monique Lhuillier. Wow! Unwisely she said her two year old picked this dress for her and it shows! This is so truly awful that my fingers are hovering over the keyboard trying to pick words to evoke my disgust. I love the fabric pattern which would work prettily under the summer sun, but to use it puffed out into great widening billows for a red carpet gown seems misguided. Maybe the child can make a den under it when the show’s over.
Nicole Kidman in Versace. I can’t believe I’m writing this but after several years of mistakes – and not just in her choice of plastic surgeon – she actually looks quite good. I love the pale grey with the body-shaping gold design and the simple toning accessories. It looks super luxury but not overly worked. Suprisingly impressive.
Kate Winslet in Jenny Packham. How short does this dress make her look? She normally shows off her curves to perfection but the white skirt is doing nothing for her body. I don’t like how hard the make-up is either; it’s odd because it’s so understated and yet somehow doesn’t seem very fresh. Good hair though.
Helen Mirren in Badgley Mischka. I’m a sucker for navy but how amazing does Helen Mirren look? I don’t need to say anymore; just look and pray we all look that good when we are her age.
Piper Perabo in Olivier Theyskens. I don’t understand what went through her mind, or the stylist’s? What was the message? What the genre, the reference, the mood? What was the…..? Nope, I don’t get anything from this dress except sheer volume (see what I did there)?! Although she still looks about 22 she is in fact 35 (thanks again google), and this dress is a major no no for anyone over 5years old (little Miss Gellar might like it…). It’s a bizarre colour with a nasty sheer panel down the front of the bodice, and all the photos are of her faffing around with it making random faces, which makes it even more uncomfortable. If only she could have at least worn it with laid back confidence, but it’s the childlike exuberance of ‘look mummy, I’m in a big dress’ that makes it worse.
Dianna Agron in Giles. I am impressed, I love this! It’s lazer cut, so much edgier than lace, and looks like tattooing and latticework and wrought iron but also Japanese art. It’s very cool. The upswept hair is classy and oldschool and she oozes glamour. Quinn A+.
Emma Stone in Lanvin. This is where we get onto the ‘yeah but, no but’ finalists. I love the colour: maroon, aubergine, dark purple whatever you want to call it, it’s my favourite. I like the draping, the bare panel at the side, the padded shoulders with the twist of pink detail, but I do not like the belt at all. It looks like a piece of KGB memoribilia and it totally ruins it for me. Damn you, belt!
Reese Witherspoon in Zac Posen. I don’t mean to be crude but what was she up to in the limo beforehand?! That hair is freshly mowed hair and it looks awful. Otherwise I like the tailoring along the panels of the dress, which does manage to make her look tall, but there is one strong feeling coming from this look, and I hate to say it, but it’s Country!
Natalie Portman in Lanvin. I like this, it’s cute and it’s pretty, but it’s just a little safe and perhaps a tad old for someone as stunning and fashion-capable as Natalie. But she does look stunning and as with Angelina’s dress, I love the fold of red on the top.
Heidi Klum in Calvin Klein. The one issue with loose backless dresses is that the forward silhouette is often not as form-fitting as it should be. I love the nude colour mixed with the turquoise necklace: it’s a combo that is used regularly and rarely disappoint. But it’s a shame the front isn’t more tailored as really that’s all you see in most photos and I think her hair is far too straight: step away from the straighteners, Heidi, and go for something a little more relaxed.
Tilda Swinton in Haider Ackermann. The Ice Beauty. I think this outfit is pretty amazing, it’s bold and different and sharp and no one else but Tilda could pull it off. The two heavy matching bracelets are a great touch of jewellery in an otherwise simple but beautifully tailored look. Only issue for me is I love Haider Ackermann but mainly for his lovely deep colours and wish I’d seen more people brave enough to weat them on the red carpet, including Tilda.
Kristen Wiig in Bill Blass. I like this 60s Saturday Night Fever look in the great nude colour with the long chain, it could almost be a jumpsuit from that era, but I do not like the oddly dyed, oddly large hair. Her face is pretty narrow anyway and having hair on either side of a similar size just makes it look tiny.
So, having chosen not to focus on the looks I hated, that’s about it till the BAFTAS.
Source: Zimbio
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