Posts tagged Calvin Klein
March Madness: Round 3
Mar 29th
We’re going strong into the second to last round of March Madness. The trends have been neck-in-neck, with them breaking out of their style niche shells to get a leg-up on the competition. Check out the winners who earned themselves a spot in the finals!
1. Peplum vs. Neons
This was a fight to the fashion death. The growing popularity of Neons versus the timeless yet trendy design of Peplum. Both started this competition with a strong celebrity backing, a following in the street style brigade, and a cult following in all major retailers. The high-fashion element paired with sell-ability ran through the veins of both of these trends, making them true competitors in the style world.
However, after a fierce battle, Neons emerged the victor. Blame the weather, blame the spring fever, blame the people who wished they had come of age in the ‘80s, but Neons have gained a blazing following that rivals The Hunger Games. Only it’s probably bigger, since people who wore the trend 25 years ago are probably just as excited as the younger fashion followers.
2. Jennifer Lawrence vs. Mixing & Matching
The girl who probably knows how to now survive any post-apocalyptic scenario against a trend that can make you look like you got dressed in the dark. You’d think this would be an easy fight. However, the Mixing & Matching trend has extended beyond the people whose closets emulate Pippi Longstocking’s and has become a style phenomenon. It truly runs the gamut, from mixing brights to create colorblocking to mixing metals and stacking jewelry to mixing prints that actually look like they’re supposed to go together. When done properly, this trend has an element of fashion genius, which is how it inched above Jennifer Lawrence – who has put in a tremendous style effort during her Hunger Games press tour.
This girl brought out the big guns, sporting only the best from Prabal Gurung, Marchesa and, most recently, L’Wren Scott (her only misstep was a Calvin Klein choice for a NYC screening). She’s announcing herself in the best way possible, but the fact that she’s still in the starting out phase of her style identity gives Mixing & Matching an edge to dominate Spring 2012. Check back with us come summer, there may be a rematch in the works.
Met Gala 2011: The Solids, the Sequins and the Sleeves
May 6th
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala is the high fashion event where the style elite can push the envelope in the hautest way possible. Unlike the Grammys where celebs show up wearing cans of tuna or weird disco sunglasses, the Met Gala showcases the true potential of designers, fashion-forward celebs and ingenious stylists. Join us as we break down the top trends, the fashion elite and the style disasters that graced the Met Gala red carpet.
Americandy
While this is a great event to showcase haute gowns and bold picks, it is also refreshing to see a group of ladies strutting their stuff in simple, streamlined ensembles by American designers. Michael Kors must have worked overtime, dressing Diana Agron (below, right), Brooklyn Decker (below, left), Emma Roberts, and model Caroline Trentini. From Brooklyn’s hot pink, high slit fierceness to Caroline’s nude, textured concoction, Kors got it right, sending out the perfect amount of American minimalism with the Met Gala-required wow-factor.
Always the American minimalist, Claire Danes showed up in a metallic Calvin Klein Collection gown, while Zoe Saldana (below, center) also donned the designer wearing a strapless pale lemon dress. Both were low-key looks, yet they managed to not underwhelm us with their fresh choices in color.
Got Something Up My Sleeve
One of the biggest trends of the night was sleeves. These stars must have finally been affected by the raging winter the rest of the country experienced, because you could not take a step without bumping into a not-bare arm. However, this trend seemed to work only on the stars who were able to keep it simple. The stand-outs of the night got this trend exactly right, including Renee Zellweger in a nude Carolina Herrera gown with just the right amount of sparkly detail on each hip. Naomi Watts also must have gotten dressed with Renee, because she too showed up in a nude gown with sparkle accents (by Stella McCartney), however hers created this ethereal feel with the illusion sleeves and light, translucent material. Gwyneth Paltrow brought the classy element back to gold in a stunning Stella McCartney, open-back, fitted gown, along with Sarah Jessica Parker in a silver, high-neck Alexander McQueen creation with the perfect silver-on-silver pattern detail. Going for a bit of a fashion risk, Ashley Olsen (below, right) encompassed the overall image of the evening in a vintage Christian Dior black gown with full, ivory, off-the-shoulder sleeves.
However, her sister, Mary Kate (below, left), missed the mark with her oversized Givenchy dress that looked like it was fit more for a trip to an Amish 1970s beach rather than a costume gala. Iman also looked like she was out of another decade a Stella McCartney gold, belted jumpsuit, and in the bad, 1980s type of way. But the biggest trend offender of the night? Christina Ricci in Zac Posen, evoking a morbid, just-raised-from-the-dead-in-a-Tim-Burton movie motif.
Surprise Designer: Topshop
When I think of the Met Ball, I think of haute couture gowns with feathers, studs, sequins and an expensive designer label attached. This year, however, three stunning starlets graced the gala in a label even we frugal fashionistas can afford. Jessica Szohr (below, center) edged things up a bit in a black velvet and tinsel minidress, while Maggie Grace (below, left) hit the red carpet in a limited-edition black gown by the mainstream label. Finally, Ginnifer Goodwin (below, right) wowed in a knotted green dress with a deep v front, which was ever so slightly overworked with the matching green eye makeup.
FashioniSTA Best Dressed: Diane Kruger in Jason Wu (left). Between her use of the illusion, sleeves and bedazzled trends, you’d think this would be a complete miss. But she managed to make it all work, evoking an old Hollywood glamour rather than a trashy mash-up of trends, which is definitely not easy to do.
FashioniSTA Worst Dressed: Fergie in Marchesa. Not only is this dress an atrocious bridal nightmare from 1982, but the overly bronzed makeup and borderline frosted hair just added to the disaster. Bring back Grammy 2010 Fergie please!
Most Improved: Rather than give this to an actual person, this award goes to Valentino’s daisies, making their big comeback as appliqués on Dakota Fanning’s tulle dress. After seeing Michelle Williams in these daisies at the Golden Globes, we thought that this trend would die a slow, painful death, but they have come back at the right event, on the right starlet, and in exactly the right way.
~Ashley, FashioniSTA, Second Time Around
FashioniSTA File: Oscars 2011
Mar 5th
The biggest awards show is without a doubt the Oscars, and this ceremony brought out some of the best outfits of the year! In comparison to last year’s gala, we noticed a lot more poise and polish. Last year was a mixed bag of prints and ruffles and experimental fashion, and this year was a definite return to the glitz and glamour that is expected at such a show. We break it down from the gowns to the jewels, FashioniSTA style!
Big Time Jewels
We know that the first thing that catches your eye is the dress, but this year’s show brought out such a wide variety of shiny accessories, that we just can’t ignore them. Hailee Steinfeld’s Fred Leighton’s diamond headband was an adorable addition to her youthful, ballerina-esque ensemble. Céline Dion’s Bulgari pendant was stunning, and an exquisite addition to her streamlined gown. These jewels saved some of the outfit disasters that hit the red carpet, such as Nicole Kidman’s gorgeous Fred Leighton necklace (right) that offset her poor Dior gown choice.
But some jewelry choices were just plain distracting. Amy Adams in Cartier should fire her stylist, that necklace is not meant for that neckline, and the cuff is jewel overkill. And wait until we get to Reese Witherspoon, her emerald earrings are just the tip of the iceberg.
Mismatched Hair Choices
One bizarre trend this season was horribly underdone hairstyles paired with fabulous dresses. Sharon Stone looked great in John Galliano for Christian Dior, but what was going on on top of her head? She had a serious bubble with out of control wisps. Amy Adams tried hard to channel Veronica Lake, but she was in some serious need of conditioner and the choice was all wrong for that L’Wren Scott dress of hers. And poor Sandra Bullock just can’t seem to get a break at the salon – her Vera Wang dress was out of sight, but it looked like someone just grabbed chunks of her hair and pinned them at random. I feel like this is how my hair looks when I’m at the spa. But for Reese Witherspoon (right), she had the exact opposite problem – wonderful ponytail fall, but paired with the earrings and the outdated dress, it was too much. If she lost the earrings and paired the hair with a different dress, like Hailee Steinfeld’s Marchesa, for example, and Witherspoon would have been too adorable for words.
The FashioniSTA Picks
Marisa
Best Dressed: Cate Blanchett (right) in Givenchy Couture was breathtaking. It was 
everything that a red-carpet gown should be - unique and on the cutting edge of fashion yet wearable so that the actress was still the focus. Her earrings were small so as not to distract from the beautiful beading on her shoulders and chest and her hair was soft and simple - a perfect match. I loved everything about this dress - the color, the beading, the cut-out, the draping - but what really made it a show-stopper was the way in which Cate wore it. She can handle an edgy dress with ease - an Oscar-worthy red carpet moment indeed!
Worst Dressed: Thank God Melissa Leo won the Oscar for best Actress in a Supporting Role so that there was something to focus on other than that atrocious Marc Bouwer dress. The heavy-handed lace, the gold foil lining, the high collar, the structured shoulder, the spider-beetle necklace (what in the world??!!)…there was WAY too much going on and none of it was flattering. I loved her in the Fighter, but I hated her in that dress.
On the Fence: Gwyneth Paltrow looked absolutely stunning in the metallic column dress by Calvin Klein Collection. It fit her to a T, her hair matched it perfectly and the way it moved…incredible. However, I was totally put off by the jeweled brooch at her hip and matching earrings. The brooch at her hip totally distracted from the clean, statuesque lines of the dress and I thought that the multi-colored stones on the jewelry were too much. Her stylist could have definitely introduced an additional color to the ensemble, but just one color would have been best. I am thinking big emeralds…
Rookie of the Year: Hailey Steinfeld’s tea-length Marchesa dress was the perfect choice for this young star. It was appropriate for the occasion and most importantly, it was appropriate for her age. She looked like a princess and I am sure that she felt like one too. The makeup was clean and simple - subtle liner and mascara and a pink lip - and the silver headband and ballerina bun kept it youthful and fun. I hope that she had a fabulous time!
Biggest Comeback: Sharon Stone has ended up on Worst-Dressed Lists more often than Best-Dressed Lists of late. However, she redeemed herself last night. The form-fitting black dress with feather embellishments was both classic and of-the-moment all at the same time. But, the feathers and the asymmetrical neckline placed Stone directly in line with the current trends. Her clutch was simple and added some additional texture and her hair was in a classic French twist, but with some added height for drama. I may have preferred if her makeup artist didn’t have such a heavy hand with the eyeliner (it makes her look a little crazy and, let’s be honest, Sharon Stone doesn’t need any help looking crazy…), but other than that, it was a red-carpet A+!!
Ashley
Best Dressed: Anne Hathaway in Valentino Couture, before the flash photography got a hold of her. It was the epitome of timeless elegance when I saw it on the red carpet coverage, and it makes me very sad that the photographs ruin it. Cate Blanchett’s allusion to my fave holiday - Easter - was also a breath of fresh air. Fashion-foward that works. 
Worst Dressed: Florence Welch (right). Looking like what I’d imagine the wife in the attic in Jane Eyre, I’m borderline shocked that Valentino would let this loose on the red carpet. But then again, they also designed that daisy disaster that Michelle Williams wore to the Golden Globes.
On the Fence: Mandy Moore in Monique Lhuillier. I loved the gold sparkles with the illusion detail, but something about this felt wrong. Between the color of the dress, her skin tone, her makeup, and her hair, she just looked washed out, and a little old.
Biggest Comeback: Celine Dion in Armani Privé. Although she’s never been a worst-dressed offender, I can’t recall the last time I saw her on a red carpet. She made her big comeback in the best way possible, by wearing a killer dress (she had twins recently?!) and paying homage to her last Oscar appearance with her “Heart of the Ocean”-esque pendant.
Rookie of the Year: My girl crush on Selena Gomez grows every time I see her on the red carpet. Although she wasn’t part of the Oscars until the Vanity Fair after party, she looked AMAZING in a red Dolce and Gabbana gown. Her hair, makeup and accessories were the perfect complements to the dress, her overall look was just stunning.
Leslie 
Best Dressed: Halle Berry (right) in Marchesa. She looked radiant in a nude strapless crystal corset gown. It had has silk tulle ruffles that made it look like she was floating on a cloud. Halle Berry never disappoints me and this dress proves it.
Worst Dressed: Scarlett Johansson in Dolce and Gabbana. The purple doily looking ensemble was terrible, I personally think she’s beautiful all the time but that gown did nothing for her and her figure.
On the Fence: Amy Adams in L’Wren Scott. The royal blue sequin gown was to dieeeeeeee for but the accessories through me for a loop. Granted they were Cartier but the emerald green necklace and bracelet on blue??? No idea what she was thinking but none the less she was wearing a spectacular dress.
Rookie of the Year: Hailee Steinfeld in Marchesa. Truly a pretty little ballerina moment. I thought it worked really well for being that she’s fourteen, it was modest and a great approach to the Oscars. I’m sure we’ll see more of her in the future.
Best Dressed: Matthew McConaughey’s better half Camila Alves (right) in Kaufman Franco… I know, I know, not exactly who you would expect, but that dress was JUST TOO GOOD. The Oscars are all about polish, and that Camila was the essence of sleek. Same could be said for Jennifer Hudson in Atelier Versace. Execution? FLAWLESS.
Worst Dressed: My biggest “ugh” of the night went to Mark Ruffalo’s wife, Sunrise Coigney in Jean Paul Gaultier. What…was…that?! Oh, and Reese Witherspoon? I think I saw your dress when I was perusing the Cosmo Prom Issue back in 1996…only then it was made by Zum Zum and not Armani Privé.
On the Fence: Cate Blanchett in Givenchy…in the end, I liked it, but it just seemed a little too “walking art” for me. Jennifer Lawrence donned a Calvin Klein sheath, and she looked jaw-dropping sexy. But for the Oscars? It felt a little too casual.
Biggest Comeback: Sandra Bullock in Vera Wang. That dress was so gorgeous on her, and if you recall the walking nightmare that was her Golden Globes outift, I think we can all agree that Bullock is back on track.
Rookie of the Year: Hailee Steinfeld — at 14 years old, she drew that design, brought it to Marchesa, and they made it for her. Rookie? Welcome to the Big Leagues!
Stay tuned for bigger and better things from the FashioniSTAs!!
Golden Globes Fashion Trends Breakdown
Jan 19th
The Golden Globes marks the first big award show of the new year, making it part of the season of fashion holiness. This year a plethora of celebs graced the red carpet, some in outfits that made me want to be a better fashionista, others in ones that looked like a child put it together…in the dark. Check out the hot trends that were on hand that evening, and then stay tuned for our FashioniSTA Police Files as we break it out down who we think wore it best and who needs a fashion detox in a confined style boot camp.
Sunrise, Sunset
A big theme of the Golden Globes fashion parade was an array of orange, pink and red shades. From Emma Stone looking very California girl in a sherbet-colored Calvin Klein t-shirt dress to Sofia Vergara in a red/fuchsia Vera Wang corset gown, the spectrum was bright with stars who at least tried to push the envelope. January Jones was also a lady in red, wearing a fringed and very revealing Versace number, who ended up bearing a striking resemblence to Wonder Woman in some of her photos. On the pink side of things, Lea Michele donned a cotton candy pink, ruffled Oscar de la Renta – which bore a striking resemblance to the other ruffle dresses she wears, Julianne Moore attempted a one-shoulder look in and Natalie Portman styled her baby bump with a Viktor & Rolf pink silk draped gown, with a large, red rose protruding from her chest as a bonus – did anyone else think of Beauty and Beast? I mean, who doesn’t love a good Disney allusion?
Emerald City
Having four big-name actresses wear a usually absent color makes people go gaga for green, which would explain why pretty much every media outlet is making us believe that every dress down the red carpet was this shade. Catherine Zeta-Jones (in Monique Lhuillier), Angelina Jolie (in Versace), Mila Kunis (in Vera Wang), and Elizabeth Moss (in Donna Karan) all showed up wearing this emerald jewel-tone, which is a nice change from the usually-muted tones that make it down the carpet. This was a great way to bring a little holiday spirit into the new year, and while I had been missing my Christmas tree, I think I can safely say I’ve gotten my evergreen fix. Big stars in gorgeous gowns? Sounds like a pretty fabulous Christmas gift to me.
Vintage Frocks
Going vintage is always a great way to stay classic on the red carpet, but go too far, and it can look like an old-school nightmare. From Scarlett Johansson in Elie Saab to Sandra Bullock in Jenny Packham to Leighton Meester in Burberry, there was no shortage of flowy, embellished dresses, with the occasional retro-print thrown in there - see Michelle Williams in Valentino or Heidi Klum in Marc Jacobs. Maybe it’s just fashionista delirium, but some of these looked like they belonged in the back of a closet at a retirement home. There’s nothing FashioniSTAs love more than a good vintage (or vintage-looking) find, but we could be on the fence about some of these looks, whether or not it’s just the styling that went awry.
Glitteratti
No awards show would be complete without celebs in sequins. Olivia Wilde wore a Marchesa black tulle number that looked like it could single-handedly restore the American economy with all that gold sprinkled on it, combined with the serious sparkle she had on her shoes. Amber Riley (in Oliver Tolentino), Anne Hathaway (in Armani), and Carrie Underwood (in Badgley Mischka) also went with sequined gowns, providing a little extra sparkle on the red carpet. Jennifer Lopez pushed the glitter envelope with a Zuhair Murad encrusted capelet over his white, demure, yet body-skimming gown, and while different from her sexy style that we know and love, this can be considered the style of “Mommy J.Lo.”
Hungry for more Golden Globes fashion? Who isn’t?! Stay tuned as the FashioniSTAs give you their insider opinions on who walked the walk in the right dress, and who needs fashion rehab.