Showing posts with label Valentino. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Valentino. Show all posts

Wednesday, 27 February 2013

The Oscars 2013 / Dress to Impress!

Who watched The Academy Awards this year!? Well, I suppose that's a silly question to start with. Chances are if you're a frequent reader of a Fashion Blog anywhere in North America you probably did; at least to get an idea of what was chic and what wasn't. A celebration of Film through fashion, art, dance, and song; The Oscars is easily the most glamorous annual television event ever. From the simplest gowns in the crispest whites to the boldest, most colourfully composed ensembles; The Oscars and it's Designer line-up is consistently one of the most anticipated Fashion Events of the year, regardless of the celebration of Film it actually represents.

I myself am an enormous lover of Film, ever since I was young. I feel like great Film is almost synonymous with great traveling; it can hit you on the inside and change the very core, the very energy, of how you live. I've seen films that have changed my life; because they are that powerful, or that poetic, or that candidly beautiful; in whatever subject they may be in. When masterfully composed, a fantastic film is not so different than the composition of a symphony, a Fashion Collection, or a fantastic book. I've said it before though, so I guess it's no real surprise to hear, that the Creatives are an interconnected entity of sorts. So, in other words, when I watch The Oscars, I watch The Oscars - it's total eye candy for me, from beginning to end. From the fantastic clothing to the privilege of seeing some of my favourite performers represent the films they are being honoured for; which coincidentally happen to be some of my favourite films of the year. The entire night is a hell of a treat, and this year's show was no exception. But! As in true Fashion Blog form, this post will be about the dresses! So suit up, it's going to get fabulous.

This is my list of the Best Dressed at the 85th annual Academy Awards this year; and I'll emphasize, it's in no particular order.


1 / Jessica Chastain

Resplendent in this absolutely stunning Armani Privé gown, Chastain is flawless. From her red lips to her strawberry hair, to the stunning Champagne of the gown; flowing crisply to the floor and cut with the subtlest edge of intersecting lines and forms - taking what would normally be a very pretty beige gown to a visually spectacular piece. Gorgeous!




















2 / Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron is the personification of sublime in her absolutely impeccable Dior Haute Couture gown. Bathed in the crispest, milk white; Theron exudes a refined elegance that features one of this Season's hottest trends - the peplum!
























3 / Amanda Seyfried

Amanda Seyfried does not disappoint in this beautifully embroidered pastel masterpiece! A custom creation from Alexander McQueen, Seyfried's elegance carries with it a slight edge. We love the neckline! One of our favourites of the night.























4 / Stacy Keibler

Stacy Keibler was resplendent in this floor length stunning Naeem Khan dress at the Oscars. The folding metallic shapes and textural details were a Seasonal hit (lots of metallic!) and the addition of a slick, black belt to cinch everything in is the perfect accessory. One of the chicest on the carpet, Stacy definitely surprised us this year! Fantastic.





















5 / Adele

There is no denying the beauty of Adele. The songstress was an absolute gem on the Red Carpet in her brilliant, black, and sparkling Jenny Packham gown. Cinched at just the right point and brought together by those gorgeous, smokey eyes; Adele looked fabulous!























6 / Jennifer Aniston

Aniston was incredible in her stunning and strapless Valentino gown this year! Wow, a masterpiece of a Collection (we wrote about it here!) and it looks absolutely brilliant on her. One of our favourites of the entire night - Aniston needs no embellishment to make this dress shine.




















7 / Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence was easily one of the most beautiful women on the Red Carpet in her not-quite-white, absolutely stunning Dior dress. The Best Actress winner was easily a stand-out from the entire crowd, exuding a princess-like beauty that was unforgettably refined.






















8 / Anne Hathaway

One of my favourite Actresses (and the Winner of Best Supporting Actress this year!) Anne Hathaway looked soft and sublime in this subtle, pink Prada. A surprising choice for Hathaway, who was initially reported to wear a bold Valentino that night, the gown is an example of how beautiful something so simple can be. She looked wonderful.




















9 / Amy Adams

Amy Adams was perhaps one of the most resplendent stars on the Red Carpet this year in her powdery, silvery-blue Oscar de la Renta gown. Probably the most classic dress worn this year, the gown accentuates Adams' stunning beauty; both timeless and effortless at the same time. Brilliant.





















10 / Halle Berry (Best Dressed!)

This year my choice for Best Dressed at the Oscars is going to none other than the incomparable and beautiful Halle Berry. Looking absolutely on fire in her custom-created Versace gown, Berry exudes a beauty that is both chic and a little futuristic at the same time! We absolutely love the metallic elements, the intersecting pinstripes that cut her body just perfectly, and that gorgeous plunging neckline. Berry looked fabulous from every possible angle in this stunning gown; and stood out entirely from the every other star that night. Beautiful! Well done Halle!

There you have it! The best of the best, what's your opinion? Let me know below, especially if you think maybe I overlooked someone who deserved to be on this list! Until next year, happy Oscars!

D


Friday, 1 February 2013

#Obsessed with VALENTINO

Haute Couture, Spring/Summer 2013.
There are few other Houses that can evoke such sublime, epic beauty with such elegance, grace, and technical mastery. And that RED. Shoot me, Valentino must be a gateway to Heaven.

Thursday, 10 May 2012

The Met Gala in Dresses: The Worst

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala, held just this week on the 7th of May in New York, was bold to say the least in terms of dresses! Everything from gold metallics to neon hues dominated the Spring pieces this year. And if you've seen the best, and loved it just as much as I did, then it's time for you to see the worst! And this is not to say that these women are any less beautiful, talented, or incredible in their own right; but it is to say that sometimes a little can go a long way in terms of finding the right dress, especially when it comes to a night as momentous as the Met Gala. Here's why these women missed the mark!

Don't get me wrong! I love me some B! This woman is the fiercest of the fierce, and she is an incredible artist. But, to be honest, I didn't like the dress! There were a lot of mixed reviews. Some people felt it was fabulous, others didn't agree; I'd have to concur with the latter! The Haute Givenchy gown is immaculately constructed, but I feel like it isn't right for her. Your eye gets drawn to the body sculptor she is clearly wearing underneath and I felt it would've been more compelling if it wasn't so transparent. One of those "almost there but not quite" moments for me!












Christina Ricci sported this boldly vivacious Thakoon dress during the Gala this week. I'm all for the dramatic, but I think Ricci is totally lost between the billows and bustles of this fabric! It almost resembles an ice cream cone, or perhaps pickled ginger? The embellishments and textural embroidery are actually quite nice, but it's the shape and the execution on petite Ricci that is all wrong!



















Beautiful Emma Stone! And Lavin, oh we all love Lavin, right? This dress didn't do it for me girls! I love the colour, I love the shape. On her? No way! Emma is a gorgeous, young woman; the shape of this dress +  the neckline +  the length +  the hair? Stone ends up looking like she's trying to be extremely cute and extremely young, and, at least for me, it ends up looking a bit costume-y, doesn't it? No thanks my love, I think this is too much 13 year-old for the Met Gala.




















Coco Rocha, Canada's brightest sweetheart and one of my biggest obsessions right now! She is talented, fierce, tasteful, and above all, born in Toronto. But, what happened here? The world famous editorial queen was spotted at the Met Gala wearing this vintage Givenchy pant suit that does nothing for her! I love vintage Givenchy with a passion, but I feel like this doesn't work. I appreciate the Spring tones, but I think the pink shoes, the pink blouse, and the pink ombré are all together totally distracting when partnered with the monogram canary. Not to mention the fact that the ankle-cut length does absolutely nothing for Rocha's incredible legs. I feel like she tried to be demure but whimsical with this classic design, but failed putting it together.










Mary-Kate Olsen, fashion extraordinaire and power-sister, slipped on this black, demure gown from her own line, The Row. The gown is actually quite cool. I think the shape is interesting and the fabric is chic, I just don't think she wears it. And let's be honest girls, it's 20% the product and 80% how you wear it that makes it incredible. It's too dark for a Spring event, and she is drowned out by the tone in her hair and the darkness of her outfit. You can barely see the warmth in her face as a result, and she ends up looking quite vampiric, matronly, and dowdy.















My dear Sarah Jessica Parker; princess of Manhattan, lord of the heels, what have you done? The typically stylish SJP missed the mark in this Couture Valentino on the night of the Gala. The wallpaper-like pattern is overbearing for her small frame; and the fact that the fabric is full coverage doesn't do her any justice either. Long-sleeved gowns are definitely in, but it depends on the gown! The gold cuffs are an unusual addition, and the entire outfit ends up resembling too closely the closet of a young woman in the early 1900's. I feel like the dress has an identity that, in its own respect, is beautiful, but it too easily overtook the identity of the wearer. All you see is that dress and how it doesn't work, and all I want to do is get my wallpaper steamer out. 

So! What have we learned? The same thing we always do. Wear the dress, don't let it wear you! If you choose something powerful and bold, make sure you're bolder! It's the first rule of fashion, never forget it. ▲D

Sunday, 26 February 2012

The Academy Awards in Dresses

Some of the gowns at this year's Academy Awards were simultaneously on-point in trend and execution! There were some really brilliant and stunning pieces! To me, when it comes to a fantastic Oscar dress, the dress must never overshadow the presence of the actress wearing it. It's true, fantastic dresses, even as gauche or extreme as pieces by McQueen or Gaultier should be appreciated and admired when worn; but it can only be worn by someone who's presence matches and surpasses it. It's all about energy, personality; the frequency you emit as a person. If you think about it, that's why fashion is so important as a whole. It can be as stunning as ever as a piece created, but when it is worn, it is only as powerful as the person who can wear it. Fashion, in it's functional sense, is meant to be a reflection of your character. So, who are you? The dress should answer that. A single person can take a dress to a fantastic height as fast as they can destroy it. Here are some of my picks for not just the most beautiful dresses of the night (because there were many!), but the most beautifully worn dresses:

Emma Stone stuns in Giambattista Valli and Louis Vuitton. This gown is a brilliant example of Oscar-worthy elegance at it's best. It is a feminine, chic, effortless, and has a slight bit of interest around the face with the soft, over-sized bow that creates the illusion of an asymmetrical neckline, quite cleverly so. But the real reason it is so wonderful is the brilliant magenta hue and how it enhances Stone's stunning skin and eyes.


Leslie Mann is a powerhouse in this classic, sparkling example of beautiful draping from Roberto Cavalli. Cut in all the right areas, Leslie's gorgeous figure is enhanced by some fantastic hip-hugging drape work. The sequence and textural lines add just the right amount of interest in the waist, cutting the torso into an elegant hour-glass that floats away from the body like water; and the deep, rich navy is the perfect example of a pseudo-neutral done right.

Natalie Portman has consistently been the epitome of youthful class since her early days of film-making; and her dresses have always matched. Here, wearing a vintage Dior gown from Spring 1954, Portman looks refined, intelligent, and gorgeous. The simple, polka-dot pattern is an understated whimsical play on such an elegantly cut gown; empire waist, strapless, floating softly away from the body. The bold jewelry and fantastic black clutch make Portman look like she is straight out of 50's era Paris, stunner!

Louise Roe really surprised me in this piece by Black Halo! I have to say, this dress is the perfect amalgamation of structure and form with evening wear. Too often do we see stunning gowns oddly matched with blazers to create structure and add refinement. Sometimes they look fantastic, don't get me wrong, but this dress does it in a whole different way. It uses the shape of a jacket as the basis of the dress itself. The belt cinches in the waist at just the right spot to create the illusion of a fantastic blazer, but it quickly cascades below in layers and intersecting pleats of structured fabric. The result is a geometric, very modern dress that is as feminine as it is powerful. A statement piece without being tasteless or over-the-top. Fantastic. Not to mention that it's literally white hot, one of the best trends for the winter season in fashion.

Shailene Woodley in Valentino! This dress also surprised me because of it's unusual essence. We don't normally see tapered, long-sleeved dresses at events as glamorous as the Oscars, but this dress does it but measures up all on it's own. The white, once again, is definitely on-point with the season; but the texture on top and the streamlined texture down the centre of the fall, separated of course by the empire cut, make this dress the best example of stunning without the pretentiousness. With the sleeves looking almost like knitwear, this dress, which so many designers struggle to do, perfectly builds the bridge between casual and elegant for a night out in the city.

Penelope Cruz never ceases to look absolutely glamorous at every red carpet event. Her taste is never in question because it is consistently classic at every possible opportunity. Here, in Armani Privé, there is no exception to the rule. There is nothing uniquely interesting about this dress like the others, but it is so stunning on Cruz it could not go without mention. A beautiful and soft, almost lavender blue, takes this dress to the next level.

Glenn Close looks brilliant in this gorgeous forest green Zac Posen piece. A perfectly cut bodice cinches into a stunning fall that mermaids toward the back. Pair it with a blazer of the same tone (good on you Close!) adds the right amount of interest without taking away from the beauty of the dress.

Jessica Chastain is a queen in this Alexander McQueen gown. It's not easy to pull off a McQueen, and although she isn't my favourite look of the night, I'd say she did a fantastic job all her own. The beautiful gown is embellished in mirrored textures and patterns of gold, and Chastain did exactly right when it comes to accessorizing it, barely anything at all! Don't take away from the glamour that's already there, add a bangle and call it an outfit!

Kristen Wiig, one of my favourite comedy princesses, is a stunning sight in this nude gown by J. Mendel. Nude is a very big thing this year, but it's not easy to pull off if you don't have the right skin tone. The fact that Wiig has dark hair has pulled this look together for her. Her tresses add just the right amount of darkness and warmth to bring out the blue in her eyes, and the dress, oh the dress is just stunning all it's own! Simple, elegent, soft, without the need for the sparkle at all. Nude done right.

Anyways, there are many dresses I could nit-pick on and love. But to me, out of the dresses I've seen so far, my best dressed would have to go to the stunning Gwenyth Paltrow  in this incredible piece by the iconic Tom Ford. An elegant, white hot gown that brilliantly hits Paltrow in all the right spots. Stopping at just the right area and draped over by a beautiful, pristine cape of the crispest white! Paltrow has taken refinement to a whole other level than most of the women there on this night. Angelic in every sense; this dress is an absolute, stop-in-your-tracks, eyes wide open, stunner.

What were some of your favourite dresses at this year's Oscars? Have your say below!

D

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