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MET Gala 2012 The Bad……

May 10, 2012

It can only start with Anja Rubik in Anthony Vaccarello. If you haven’t seen coverage of that hip bone then you must have been hiding under a rock. For me it’s totally awful and tasteless. It’s not sexy milky curves, it’s an incredibly thin model whose hip bone probably comes under Unicef protection for abuse against humanity. This isn’t clever draping that looks as if it’s defying gravity holding onto the  body, this piece of fabric is holding on for dear life!

Sarah Jessica Parker in Valentino. I commented on this during Fashion Week season and let it be known again that current Valentino hurts my soul! This dress is matronly, sugary, shiny and frankly downright ugly. The two gold cuffs are bizarre extras that seem to have no place with the virginal nightgown. And is that a matching shoe???

Kristen Stewart in Balenciaga. Do you think she got out of her car and thought ‘Doh, I thought I was turning up to some edgy premiere, not Anna Wintour’s fashion castle’ and the shoes look like bandaged Egyptian mummy feet. Considering people are claiming her a No 1 best dressed on numerous magazine lists, for me this is a major backwards step.

Diane Kruger in Prada. I expect so much more from her; even if I don’t always like her fashion choices, they are at least high quality choices. This is a hippy slip dress with a big feather boa crawling round the hem. If you put your hand over the bottom half it looks like a perfectly average strappy top with a boho necklace and if you put your hand over the top half you have an over-played Ginger Rogers’ night dress. Together this does not work. Lovely colour though.

Jessica Chastain in Louis Vuitton. I don’t know why Jessica seems to like to dress like a much older version of herself. She looks like a trussed up bird in this dress and it’s not at all flattering to her figure with the line across the hip causing it to bulge. I do like the super sexy bodice and if only it was tailored onto a really tight skirt in much better quality fabric it would look so much less wagon trail.  Also this is the perfect example of where Hollywood hair doesn’t work and ages the look.

Emma Stone in Lanvin. This was custom made, CUSTOM MADE, and this is what they came up with? Her face says it all, it’s a grin-and-bear-it dress and the fact that there are paparazzi pictures floating around of this dress ripping in the car highlights even further that it was not fit for purpose. It’s far too girly and frilly and winsome and the hair is also very prom. Awful.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Prada. How unflattering is this on her legs? Surely no one does Tracy Anderson as religiously as she does in order to make her legs look bad in a dress? The side boob is not sexy and frankly isn’t necessary;  she’s just trying too hard. With the dipping hem, the frill and the racer front, this all looks as if it’s been cobbled together with no clear design direction.

Coco Rocha in vintage Givenchy. Yes, I know it was Elizabeth Taylor’s but that doesn’t mean it works for you, Coco. The dipped dyed hair is an affront to the house of Givenchy, Liz Taylor and the MET ball. This look is so mainstream now; as a top model you really should be ahead of the game not going with a trend that’s on the high street. I also think the pink top and pink ballet style shoes are so wrong and practically make a mockery of it. A black skirt would have looked so much cooler and some edgy shoes would have made this auction piece the real deal.

Jessica Alba in Michael Kors. Little to say on this bar that I expect so much more from her and putting hair on the opposite shoulder to the one shouldered dress is so lame.

Lily Collins in….. one guess, its dowdy, floral…. and yup, it’s Valentino. How any young girl would pick this off the rack as the perfect dress is beyond me. How any stylist would call in this dress for a young actress is beyond me too, and the fact that no one said that this is old, dull, fussy and prim is the final straw!

Claire Danes in J Mendel. I don’t want to Danes bash because, like everyone else, I think she’s amazing in Homeland.  Aside from the fact that she seems to like wearing white on the red carpet, this dress does not work for her proportionally. She is pretty short and this low wrap makes her look unnecessarily dumpy and heavy around the thigh. The dark roots in the hair really shouldn’t be there and I also think the whole look needs coloured jewellery to lift it. Can’t wait for season 2 though!

And finally Marc Jacobs in.. .. oh, who cares. I find this incredibly try-hard-to-be-noticed, unimaginative and frankly pretty childish.  And it doesn’t even look good. Yawn.

Source: Zimbio

Posted in Celebrity, Exhibitions, Fashion Commentary, Photography, Red Carpet, Shoes | 1 Comment »

MET Gala 2012 The Good….

May 9, 2012

I apologise for the lack of posts recently but I have been incredibly busy prepping for shoots, shooting, editing and crediting! So a good comeback post is the MET Gala which took place on Monday in New York. This event is often called the East Coast Oscars and I definitely get more excited about them because people can really flex their fashion muscles without needing to please the middle road. That said, this year wasn’t a great example of this: the out of the ordinary looks were rarely exciting and lots of people played in safe. The theme this year was Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, and was chaired by Anna Wintour, Muccia Prada and, bizarrely, Carey Mulligan. This post focuses on the good and tomorrow I’ll post on the bad, and yes, I mean you, SJP!

January Jones in Versace. This yellow is so vibrant and I love the geometric accents of darker colour and all the tailoring is so flattering to her body. The turquoise necklace is a nice touch; I wouldn’t necessarily have thought a strong-ish necklace would have worked but because her hair and make up is so simple I think it looks great.

Ginnifer Goodwin in Monique Lhuillier. Another bold choice with its strong orange colour, in this case softened by the draping, the lace and the sheer sections.  The only downside for me are the shoes, which needed to be strappy and either same colour, nude or black.  And still just loving her short hair!

Jessica Stam in John Galliano for Dior.  This for me is what the MET ball is about. Yes, it’s a tad Star Trek with a healthy dose of the orient but it’s also beautiful and intricate and high fashion. I love the vertical flick of the blush eye liner that echoes the shoulder profile and the arm full of bracelets. It’s all just so classic Galliano, which is why he is much missed.

Diane Von Furstenburg in Diane Von Furstenburg. I love this woman, she dresses so well and always looks intereting, smart and elegant. I love the bright colour with the whimsical puzzle pieces and the long gloves make this more gala.  I think the chunky necklace works but I would have ditched the earrings.

Marion Cotillard in Dior. It’s elegant and timeless, beginning with the demure neckline and then getting edgier as it goes down. It’s not crazily fashion forward but not quite classic either, which is clever. I don’t like the watch though, it’s a major no-no; if you’re going to a ball like this one you don’t need to check the time.

Constance Jablonski in Haider Ackermann. Everyone knows my love for this man’s work and it’s so good to see him represented by a model I also admire. It’s not necessarily the best of his lovely colour combos – I would have chosen his burnt oranges and maroons – but none the less it’s striking and beautiful.

Beyonce in Givenchy. Only Beyonce can do this, so you’ve been warned! But seriously, wow! She looks all woman and so much more, hence my inclusion of a behind shot. This is dramatic and theatrical, her make-up is perfection and she’s glowing. I just wish the body underneath was slightly closer to her skin tone so it looked even more nude.

Milla Jovovich in Prada. The first and only Prada look I’ve included in the positive column.  I love the loose drape of the bodice, the gladiatorial panels on the skirt, the slightly twenties look with the side swept hair, but what is with those yellow/orange nails?! Horrible.

Doutzen Kroes in Roland Mouret. In an evening that featured quite a lot of black and white, this look stood out the most. It’s geometric with a light and humourous touch, almost a court jester quality (am I reading into it too much?!), and great old Hollywood hair to set a chic tone.

And finally Rihanna in Tom Ford. I dread to think how much this dress would cost but it has massive impact. It looks like hangbag material, as hard and shell-like as an armadillo and yet magically is also seductive and effortless. I think the claw nails take the theme too far and it’s a shame about the hair, I’m sure that Mr Ford would not have passed off on that!

I don’t know who these girls are but I like the composition of the architectural looks.

Source: Zimbio

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Oscars Overview 2012

February 27, 2012

Because of the Oscars last night I have taken a break from Fashion Week write ups (now in Milan) to do Fashion Red Carpet write ups instead. In fact some of the best looks came from the Vanity Fair after party, which is a shame and a wasted opportunity. Anyway, in no particular order, the good and then the bad. Some stylists have clientele who have hit the jackpot and some others are being taken for a ride.

Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad. This shows off her curves in all the right places and yet she manages to look suprisingly demure. I would have preferred a bright nail colour to make this a bit younger; in fact there was a trend for nude nails which I find a boring option at a time when nail varnishes are really current and come in an incredible range of great colours.

Milla Jovovich in Elie Saab. In my opinion this couture collection could have provided many more dresses for the red carpet this season; this is a great example of the beautiful beadwork and body sculpting shaping that Elie Saab brings to his occasion  dresses. The white is a little wedding and there were some lovely blue and pale yellow options from this collection which would perhaps have worked better.

Sandra Bullock in Marchesa. I love the concept of this dress and the beading wrapped around the waist is really artistic, like frosty fingers. I think the top would be better a little more fitted and slightly looser hair would have made this softer but I love her so she gets a free pass.

Glenn Close in Zac Posen. Perhaps not the best pose for this dress but she does look amazing. The pleating around the bodice, the sharply cut jacket, the great colour make it a really flattering and youthful look for her, nice relaxed hair too to contrast with the formal column of the dress.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford. I want to love this because it’s Tom Ford and I do like it. It’s cool in its simplicity and the cape/cloak is new to the A-list red carpet. She looks long and lean and statuesque but perhaps it works the Ice Queen thing a bit much.

January Jones in Wes Gordon. I hadn’t heard of this designer before and I really appreciate how different this is. I’m not quite sure about the brown material but the mix of colours works beautifully and I love the soft green top with her wavey hair. Also, I’m so excited about the return of Mad Men that it’s probably clouding my judgement.

Elizabeth Banks in Chadwick Bell. I’m going to criticise spots later in this post but here is the perfect example of how they can work. This is sophisticated and the softness from the navy feathers is lovely. She looks grown up and beautiful.

Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen. The intricate pattern detail on this dress is absolutely stunning and combines soft and hard edges into a great look. The gold suits her colouring perfectly and I really like the softer hair. It’s a statement dress with a lot going on so it’s good that accessories are kept simple.

Rose Bryne in Vivienne Westwood. Firstly she is way too thin, but that said, this dress is amazing. It manages to look like liquid but also like armour and it works really nicely with the simple haircut. A great look, made even better by being by a British designer. I just hope she’s wearing both earrings.

Kate Beckinsale in Roberto Cavalli. I cannot believe I am putting Kate Beckinsale in the good column because usually her look is more contrived than this and overtly sexpot. Obviously this is still super sexy but I really love the pale yellow colour, the random patterning and the subtle see-through sections. A pleasant suprise.

Kate Bosworth in Prabal Gurung. I love this! It’s so pretty but edgy too, a flowery pattern but in hard jet beads.  I’m just not sure I love the shoes, they are a bit corporate.

Another Kate, this time Hudson, in vintage Versace. I don’t love the hair but she does look amazing in this red number. The fringe is so on trend and gave movement to the posed carpet shots.  It’s very low cut at the back and altogether really  flattering to her slim frame.

Natalie Portman in Christian Dior Couture. I don’t like this at all, principally because it makes her look old. Polka dots for me rarely work as an Oscar look, certainly not here.  Her hair is ageing and almost suggests a receding hairline. The jewellery is all wrong for this dress too, for me something more modern and chunky, perhaps in black jet, would have been better.

Penelope Cruz in Armani Prive. This is such a disappointment; the Armani Prive collection produces really stunning dresses and this is so bland. There is nothing exciting or eye catching about this 50s debutante look: the matching purse doesn’t make it any cooler and the ageing hair and dull diamond jewellery again give you an impression of her at 70! Sophia Loren look out.

Shailene Woodley  in Valentino. This illustrates my main issue with the fashion house since Valentino left, it has lost its sex appeal. This is matronly but also virgin bride; the girl is 20, why is she in something so covered up and boring? It’s disappointing that a stylist isn’t giving her young, fresh options like when Hailee Steinfeld hit the red carpet last year. I know ultimately it comes down to what the client likes but none of Shailene’s previous looks have been anything this conservative.

Viola Davis in Vera Wang.  This  is a Project Runway disaster. The frill swathed around the bottom of this looks like an afterthought hurriedly tacked on, the colour is unsubtle and the cleavage is overkill when there is so much else going on.

Berenice Bejo in Elie Saab. This doesn’t work for me. She is so charming and flirty in The Artist but this is an older woman’s dress with the covered arms and safe colour.  It doesn’t flatter her figure and as someone who knew she would probably have to be on stage to accept an award of some kind, I really think she could have worn something much more chic, stand-out and frankly French.

Colin Firth’s wife Livia in God knows what. This is so awful! Horrible frilly cups on the bodice, the bow on the high waist line and on the babyish bag, and what looks to be a train of some kind at the back. It’s such a mess and a mix of a christening gown and a costume for an Elizabethan drama. I’ve just found out this was Valentino too…I rest my case!

Emma Stone in Giambattista Valli. This has no neck, a severe parting in the hair and very little make up: this isn’t young or sexy or modern and as other people have pointed out, it’s very similar to the Nicole Kidman dress she wore back in 2007.

Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton. Although I quite like the colour, I don’t like the straight across neckline which needs to be pulled down in the middle to make a V frame. The bow brooch and pink bag are silly girlish touches which are not needed becaase she is so feminine already. It’s also a little heavy on her small frame. and the back of the bodice is a nude colour which looks really odd and almost unfinished.

And surely the joke of the night is Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace. Why is she standing like this? Why in every picture is she standing like this? And why did she present from the stage in this exact same position? It’s so contrived: yes, we know there is a slit in your dress but you don’t have to keep sticking out your boney knee to remind us, it looks so awkward.

Source: Zimbio

Posted in Celebrity, Fashion Commentary, Red Carpet | 3 Comments »

Versace Couture Spring 2012

January 27, 2012

I read a review about this collection saying that it was destined for the red carpet…..I would like to know where and who? I welcome Versace back to Paris’s couture arena but this was not a massive highlight for me. I loved some of the materials, the hints of metal and the beading, but the shapes felt a little like Armani Prive couture collection from 2010 with its elliptical shapes. I thought the greys were just as unforgiving as the citrus shades and although the cutting was designed to flatter a gym-honed body I found the effect rather hard and perhaps a little tacky? Altogether a little underwhelming.

Source: Style.com

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Golden and Tarnished Globes 2012

January 18, 2012

This 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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Has SJP lost her USP?

November 10, 2011

I 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.

Posted in Celebrity, Fashion Commentary, Photography, Red Carpet, Shoes | 1 Comment »

The Met Ball 2011

May 3, 2011

This 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

Posted in Celebrity, Exhibitions, Fashion Commentary, Red Carpet, Shoes | Leave a Comment »

THE Wedding

April 30, 2011

I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you, but the royal wedding between Prince William and Catherine Middleton happened yesterday at London’s Westminster Abbey. The much anticipated wedding and of course the extra day off work was the cause of great celebrations in London. More than a million people turned out to watch the couple get married, filling The Mall, Hyde Park and St James Park and generally enjoying the chance to take part in something genuinely carefree and communal. A couple of highlights for me were the trees in the Abbey, a coup de theatre which looked beautiful, and somehow modern as well as pastoral and the Aston Martin moment.  But on to the clothes, even though there has been an avanlanche of coverage already.

The dress was Jane Burton at Alexander McQueen and overall I liked it but I wasn’t blown away. Having seen so much press specualting that McQueen might get the nod for designing the dress, I had images of something incredible and yes, probably too fashiony for a Royal Wedding, or for this particular bride, but I did hope it would be more ‘extreme’, for want of a better word.  The lace was was certainly very flattering to her figure and the trademark corsetting certainly accentuated her tiny waist.  As there should be on a wedding dress, there appeared to be some great detailing in the bustle at the back, but I felt this was a bit lost under the veil.  One negative, she had too much hard eye make up on for the occasion and although this is her signature look, if she had done without the heavy black line under her eye it would have been great.

The second dress Kate changed into for the dinner and dancing in the evening was for me a bit of  a shocker. That horrible mohair cardigan I hope is not credited to McQueen because it looked totally wrong for an April wedding and the diamante beading at the waistline looked cheap, as frankly the white satin did as well. Why pick another full skirt? I would so have gone for something still bridal but more streamlined as a great contrast to the wedding dress, (like Pippa’s bridesmaid dress, more of that later), this one made her look bizarrely old and young at the same time. Also I think she should have stuck with her hair half up half down, or twisted into a soft rope on one side; she’s clearly obsessed with her hair, but it looked so everyday and incongruous against the dress.

As for the rest of the congregation it was a mixed bag. The Queen resplendent in yellow is beyond criticism and I loved her brooch. Camilla’s outfit I quite liked, the pleats in the coat looked interesting with the beadwork hung low on the hips giving it an almost flapperesque feel. Carole Middleton (Kate’s mother) looked perfect acceptable if a little underwhelming in a rather predicatble mother-of-the-bride shade and shape.

Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice were probably the most disappointing. These sisters regularly take interesting fashion choices and the night before they looked great at a celebratory pre-wedding dinner. But Beatrice’s nudey/beige Valentino was a little ageing and the hat is Isabella Blow but without the authority or the attitude to carry it off, but for sure Eugenie suffered more. When you have an ample bust the last thing you want to do with it is have a square neckline, bows and contrast piping so it looks like you have been upholstered in. The skirt is totally unflattering and looked messy and not as in normal Vivienne Westwood great messy, and her hat was too heavy. To think of all the amazing options these girls could have worn! It makes my fashion blood boil.

Samantha Cameron in Burberry. Now there has been alot of fuss about the fact she had no hat or fascinator, but I think she looks great.  The teal looked lovely against her colouring and the statement necklace by Erdem was a strong fashion choice. I personally think hats are not expected at weddings any more and I salute her choice not to conform. Her figure looked amazing for a women who had a baby less than a year ago and the burnt orange shawl was a relaxed splash of colour, and I loved that David and she held hands walking down the Abbey to their seats.

Sophie Windsor, the Countess of Wessex, behind Princess Anne. Sophie first: I liked the gilt brocade sleeve and belt, although the matching purse was overkill. The hat had just enough height and was at a nice angle, but I think I would have gone for a coloured shoe, nothing too garish but just to lift the look a little. Princess Anne was one of the few in a pattern, but the material was far too much like a furnishing fabric .

David and Victoria Beckham. David Beckham in Ralph Lauren looked the usual stunning man that he is. Victoria, in her own design, looked a little tense and reserved but I liked that it was a sumptuous navy and not black and I really liked the hat and the simple hair.   But, as always, I felt that just a hint of a smile would have made this outfit great.

David Milliband’s partner looked a bit of state. If you are on the shorter end of the scale then wrapping yourself in heavy fabric with a neckline that shortens your neck and then adding a flattening hat, is hardly guaranteed  to increase your stature . It also looks wintery, the sleeves are too long for her and the court shoes are boring.

Nick Clegg’s wife fared no better. Yes she’s Spanish, yes she can therefore be a abit of exotic but this is Evita gone wrong. The grey satin didn’t look expensive or classy, specially not wrapped in netting, and then the odd wrapped turban/flower affair wasn’t quite right either. When you first saw her at the Abbey, you had to take a moment to figure out who the hell it was and what a totally odd outfit to have worn.  And guess what, Nick Clegg did wear a morning suit, although by matching the jacket and trousers in grey he managed to make it look as much like a lounge suit as possible to please his doubters.

Pippa, Pippa, Pippa, so glad you’re not my little sister! (See what I did there?) Honestly, I thought she looked amazing and if I was Kate I would have been annoyed at how demurely sexy my baby sister looked on my wedding day.  The dress was Alexander McQueen and recreation of a dress Cameron Diaz wore to the Oscars last year and it looked beautiful. It skimmed her body and had just enough hint of cleavage and the buttons all down the back were beautiful.  She looked at ease in it and thoroughly classy, although I do think it was an odd choice to pick white for her and the little bridesmaids, but with the simple green and white flowers in the Abbey and the bouquets it all worked surprisingly well.

Now let’s hope for Happily Ever After……….

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Oscars 2011

February 28, 2011

Well, 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

Posted in Celebrity, Fashion Commentary, Photography, Red Carpet | 2 Comments »

Screen Actors Guild 2011

January 31, 2011

The 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

Posted in Celebrity, Fashion Commentary, Red Carpet, Shoes | Leave a Comment »

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