Looks of the Week
Welcome back! Hopefully if you spent all day Monday missing the weekend like I did – Ode To The Weekend – Tuesday was a little easier to face. Let’s get our week started stylishly with some great looks – I’ve got everything from movie premieres to men’s fashion to blogger street style on the docket for today, so enjoy!
Such a relaxed, chic look. Not only do I love the casual striped top paired with leopard print heels, cropped pants are one of my favorite things about Spring!
Purple & black is a great color combination, it makes this look dramatic while the cut of the dress keeps it demure. How do you feel about the heels with visible socks trend? I think that it's incredibly cute...
The black petal shorts with tights and pale shoes is a very sweet, girly combination, really great for Spring. My favorite part is definitely the silver collar necklace worn visibly over the pale blouse.
The edgy, rock n' roll vibe is what made me stop at this look. I love the studded belt, stacked bracelets and leather extras mixed with the moody fabric of the mini dress. This is a great nighttime look!
Garance Dore captures a look here that's perfect for Spring. I love the un-matching brights, they're eye-catching and fun.
Natalie Portman looked adorable in a chic head-to-toe Christian Dior ensemble. (I'm not jealous, I swear.) Love the demure dress, the classic trench, and the ooh-la-la shoes. Anyone else ready to run away to Paris for Springtime fashion with me?
I love love love shift dresses, but what initially caught my eye here was the gorgeous combination of colors and textures. I just wanted to reach out and touch it! And again with the adorable socks & heels combo...
If you're excited to throw on some brights for Spring but need to work your way up to a more all over look, this is the perfect segue for you. Add a single gorgeous, colorful piece and go with neutrals, black, or another dark hue for the rest of your outfit. Baby steps!
This is a gorgeous, dramatic, eye-catching gown - Just what Zac Posen does best. Sometimes its fun to see the runway version versus the "real life" outcome. Miss Lily looks stunning, as does Hilary Rhoda. Well done ladies!
Who knew layering cable knits could be so chic? The slightly contrasting greys add a depth to this look while the knits have a really great texture. And somehow his popped collar manages to look anything but pretentious.
A white suit can be incredibly chic (so long as you don't spill...) and I especially like the polka dot pussy bow blouse Bruna paired with it. Those T-Straps are pretty killer too!
And last but hardly least…
Neiman Marcus did a great piece recently that featured Chriselle Lim from The Chriselle Factor, LA’s Marie Hindkaer Anderson from Blame It On Fashion, actress Ashley Madekwe of Ring My Bell, Annabelle Fleur from Viva Luxury, Liz Cherkasova of Late Afternoon fame, and Nini Nguyen of Nini’s Style, called Bloggers Wear: Daytime Clutches.
As much as I love red carpet fashion and scoping out what my favorite A-list fashionistas like Diane Kruger and Zoe Saldana are wearing on the street, I also love to see what real people are wearing in their real lives, and bloggers give us some great looks to aspire to. Oh, and I LOVE day clutches.
Have a great rest of the day, back tomorrow with more!
And the Oscar goes to…
Did you watch the Oscars last night? Per usual, I skipped watching the show live and merely enjoyed the highlights online and via Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook after the fact. There were some gorgeous gowns and great tuxedos out there to enjoy though, I must say. What was your favorite look?
I absolutely adore Leslie Mann and was thrilled to see her on the red carpet. I think that this sleek Roberto Cavalli gown suits her slim frame perfectly and the color is very pretty against her pale skin.
The dramatic gold detailing and flowing train on Jessica Chastain's gown made it one of the highlights of the evening. She looked absolutely stunning.
Rose Byrne is someone who I'm really enjoying lately, she seems to be trying out a new look and its fun to watch. I loved this black sequined Vivienne Westwood gown with the drop earrings, she looks beautiful & statuesque.
Another sequined stunner was Ellie Kemper, who donned a gorgeous bronze sheath that was perfectly complimented by her dramatic gold earrings, cocktail ring and clutch.
Gwyneth's Tom Ford gown was one of a kind. I loved the floor-length cape - SO Katherine Hepburn - and the cuff was fantastic.
I wish more fashion insiders did red carpets... Wouldn't it be a kick to see all the magazine editors dressed to the nines instead of just judging everyone else's looks? Anyway, Nina Garcia knocked one out of the park in this Jean Paul Gaultier Couture sheath. Gorgeous.
Polka dot gown? LOVED IT!
Octavia Spencer has been choosing some great Tadashi Shoji gowns on the way to this red carpet and the designer worked incredibly well for her yet again. Gorgeous!
Yes, this dress was very busy - between the ruffles, the diamond bow broach, the tiers and the silhouette, there's a lot going on. But it suits her somehow. Well done!
When I saw this Giambattista Valli Haute Couture gown in December I knew it would make its way to the Oscars. Emma Stone has been embracing brilliant jewel tones lately with great success (remember the emerald Gucci suit?) and this frock did the trick yet again.
Rooney Mara looked head turning in her favorite designers of late, Givenchy. I like the uniqueness of this dress, yes there were other white dresses, but with her hair & makeup, the train and the intricate back of the gown, she was in her own category.
Stacy Keibler looked like she was auditioning for the role of the Oscar itself, but in the best possible way. Her Marchesa gown was flattering and fashion-forward, perfect for the Oscars red carpet.
Viola Davis was a vision in Vera Wang. This color is just breathtaking on her.
Source, Source, Source & Source
My favorite looks? Emma Stone, Jessica Chastain and the two visions in white – Rooney Mara & Gwyenth Paltrow. I loved all of these looks for different reasons and couldn’t narrow it down any further if I had to. Emma brought the standout color, Jessica brought the drama and Rooney & Gwyneth both brough the unexpected – gowns that were unique, unusual, and totally head turning.
And don’t worry my loves, I’ll cover the Oscar tuxedos and afterparty dresses in my Looks of the Week post later on today.
Happy Fashion Monday!
SAG Awards
Yes, you read the clock right, it is a rare and coveted midday MCLV post! Lots to do this week and no time to take it slow.
The SAG awards were the latest award show on the road towards the Oscars and I thought that most of the ladies whose dresses I’ve loved lately performed well.
Stacy Keibler looked tan and statuesque in this gorgeous black lace Marchesa. I love the off the shoulder silhouette!
Regina King was a vision in a pale lavender, tiered Alberta Ferretti gown.The fit is perfect and I like that she accessorized with darker, metallic jewelry & clutch.
Natalie Portman was a vision in a deep-burgundy colored strapless Giambattista Vallie gown. A simple updo and minimal accessories kept the look from going overboard. That color really suits her!
I think Dianna Agron is absolutely adorable, but she doesn't always wear the most flattering dresses on the red carpet (LOVED her MET gown last year though) so I was excited to see this fuchsia Carolina Herrera number. The cut and color are flattering, the accessorizing is minimal but sweet and her hair is gorgeous.
It takes quite a woman to make red-lace Valentino look sweet and demure! Michelle Williams managed to make this midi-length gown all her own, rather than let it overwhelm her petite frame.
While this would have been even more striking in a bright color, the cutouts and dramatic silhouette of this Zac Posen gown kept it from being anything but boring. I love her silver cuff and great cocktail ring as well.
Marchesa can be busy and over the top but Viola Davis chose wisely with this gorgeous white & gold gown. The soft curls and beautiful cuff were perfect!
Jayma Mays was stunning in Reem Acra - The color, the cut, the train, were all absolutely perfect for her.
It's these type of looks that prove you don't need to be a size-zero Tween to stand out in Hollywood. Mary Steenburgen looked stunning in this fitted, draped David Meister Gown. I LOVE the broach like piece at the waist and the stacked bangles, absolutely perfect on the accessories.
Emma Stone's tea-length Alexander McQueen was one of my favorite looks of the evening. Gorgeous accessories - shoes, gold detailed clutch & earrings - and a beautiful, interesting, stand-out dress.
I almost didn't recognize Kristen Wiig in her draping, white Balenciaga halter gown. She looked chic and well-put together, and I loved her dramatic choker necklace.
Zoe Saldana looked phenomenal in shimmery white Givenchy Haute Couture with silver accents. As much as I love this gown on her and as well as it suits her, her unbelievable spiked diamond collar and cocktail ring were without a doubt my favorite pieces of the night. Amazing!
Golden Girls. And Boys.
The 2012 Golden Globe Awards were Sunday night and the ladies & gents did not disappoint. Join me.
One of the most talked about looks of the night was Angelina Jolie in cream & red Aterlier Versace. Whether you're a fan of hers or not, its hard to argue that this isn't a striking, head-turning look.
I love dramatic black and white gowns and I absolutely adored the sequin embellished open back of this J. Mendel dress. Such a great choice for her.
Nicole Richie was an art deco goddess in Julien Macdonald. Loved the dress. Loved the stacked bangles. Loved the stand out clutch. Would kill for the ring and earrings. Kill.
Shailene Woodley was by far the most well-dressed of the starlets her age. Her strapless Marchesa was a beautiful fit and color, I just wish she's added some bright jewelry or a flashy clutch.
The drama queen of the night was Evan Rachel Wood in a knockout green Gucci gown. Say that three times fast! The cut, the sequined embellishments, the feathery train... Fabulous.
If you'd shown me this gown prior to the red carpet, I would have assumed she was the wearer, so it is very much sticking with her style of late. Something dramatic and out of character is always nice at these more important awards shows, but I have to admit that she looks striking. No faults here!
The high in the front, low in the back hems are not my favorite, but this Christian Dior gown is breathtaking. She looks phenomenal, from her diamond encrusted headband to her strappy cream sandals. Bravo!
Haider Ackermann has been Tilda Swinton's go-to designer for the last few years and you have to admit that this combination gown/blazer suits her unbelievably well. And the fit is absolutely perfect. Love the double cuffs.
Nicole Kidman was quite a sight in studded Versace. She's been a fan of the pale, almost bridal looking gowns the last few years but I have to say that I like this one best of all of her choices lately.
Helen Mirren held her own in Badgley Mischka, outshining stars half her age. Proof that aging gracefully is where it's at!
Jessica Alba always chooses eye-catching, flattering gowns for the red carpet, but one of her real strengths is her accessories. She always has AMAZING jewelry. And these earrings and cuff are just as gorgeous as expected.
There were lots of neutrals and sequins on this year's Golden Globes red carpet and I found Miss Natalie's dress all the more striking for how much it stood out from her peers. Similar cut and style to Angelina's, but in a much more striking color combination.
This wasn't the most loved gown of the evening, but personally I couldn't take my eyes off of her. The color was divine with her skin tone and hair color, the cut suited her extremely well and it was a head turning look overall.
Ready for some yummy men in tuxedos? Me too.
Swoon. Mr. Darcy.
Bradley Cooper looked dapper in a strandard bowtie tux & some questionable facial hair.
Personally I'm a big fan of ties over bowties with a tux so Channing Tatum's look really did it for me.
First, I have to say that I was devastated that two of my all time favorites didn’t appear to be in attendance for the Golden Globes. SOB. But in Diane and Zoe’s absence Evan brought the glamour.
My favorites?
- Best jewelry – Nicole Richie
- Best hair – Charlize Theron (LOVED the jeweled headband)
- Best dress – Couldn’t decide on just one. Top three: Tilda Swinton, Evan Rachel Wood and Emma Stone. With Charlize Theron & Angelina where right on behind them though.
- Best tux – Colin Firth. Of course.
Afterparty pictures later today…
The King is Gone
In a shocking upheaval in the state of fashionable affairs, Christian Dior fired its head designer of 14 years last week following a highly publicized antisemitic rant by the designer. If you Google John Galliano or Christian Dior you will find hundreds of blogs and news pieces discussing everything from JG’s intoxication during the video, to the state of the runway shows that were less than a week away, to who will replace him at the helm of Dior. It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if there was a Lifetime movie or mini series in the works and I am confident that more than one biography depicting the rise and oh so dramatic fall of John Galliano will hit the shelves this year.
And while it is tragic to me that an individual in such an influential position has chosen to use his power to cause such devastation, especially in a day and age when his words were disseminated around the world in a matter of hours, I would like to focus on the fallout rather than the event itself. While JG’s publicist picked him up, dusted him off and spirited him away to rehab, as we all know is the protocol for celebrities these days, there were various results in the City of Lights.
Christian Dior immediately and unceremoniously fired JG. No second chances. No demotion. The CEO of Christian Dior has issued several public statements, including the following one moments before the Christian Dior Fall 2011 runway show on 7 March: “Such statements are intolerable because of our collective duty to never forget the Holocaust and its victims, and because of the respect for human dignity that is owed to each person and to all peoples. These statements have deeply shocked and saddened all at Dior who give body and soul to their work, and it is particularly painful that they came from someone so admired for his remarkable creative talent.”
The new face of Christian Dior’s Miss Dior fragrance, recent Oscar winner Natalie Portman, issued the following statement mere hours after the video was made public: “I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano’s comments that surfaced today. In light of this video, and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way.”
In the end, both the Christian Dior and John Galliano Fall 2011 runway shows continued as scheduled, a decision which was reached at the last-minute if the concern and panicked debate swirling around the internet in preceding days is any indication. An intimate salon showing of the John Galliano collection held an interesting surprise, though whether it was planned or inadvertent I doubt we’ll ever know, one of the models displaying the 20 looks proudly sported a Star of David tattoo on her slim arm.
There are opinions galore available on this subject and while I am interested in hearing yours, I don’t want to turn this site into a soapbox, so I will not be lecturing you on my beliefs.
What I wish to say on this topic is that despite the appalling statements that were made and the tumultuous circumstances resulting from them, I found at least some solace in the reactions of the public figures involved. No, I’m not so naive as to believe that PR played no role in the aftermath, but despite that factor I thought that the public generally reacted with the appropriate dismay. The front row at the Christian Dior and John Galliano shows were notably sparse, the Paris police are pressing criminal charges for racist comments, Christian Dior & Natalie Portman immediately condemned the designer’s views and extricated themselves from business dealings with him and every media outlet I have had access to has covered the story with, at the very least, a neutral stance. In fact, the only person that I heard loudly defend JG was stylist Patricia Fields, who brushed his words off as merely being theatrical (Daily Mail link).
That is not to say that there weren’t those who mourned this loss to the fashion world, like the young man in the first picture who carried a sign lamenting JG’s departure from the industry. But from what I read and heard, those who threw their support behind JG were very clear that they supported his creative genius, not his ideals or his actions.
In your opinion, did Christian Dior handle this situation well? What else could the house have done?
If you’re interested in a review and photographs of the two shows, please see the links below:
Moi Contre La Vie 