Posts tagged Valentino
Get the Red Carpet Look
Mar 5th
I’m still in awe over the dresses from this year’s Oscars. There really weren’t any looks that I didn’t love or thought to be distasteful (even Lady Gaga surprisingly rose to the occasion). What really keeps me watching these red carpet events is the confidence that these women ooze. I know, I know. They are all A-list celebrities, but you have to remember that with the right dress and accessories you can feel like a celebrity too. With that being said, after watching the Oscars there are a few looks that would work perfectly as inspiration for pieces in our own closets.
The Cape - As seen on Kate Hudson, a cape is an accessory that can amp up a red carpet look. For us, a cape of more substantial material can do the same as an everyday look. With jeans and a t-shirt or dressed up with skinny pants and an oversized hat, the cape can take your look to a whole other level. How chic does a cape look just draped every so slightly onto the shoulders?
The Lace LBD - Who doesn’t love a little black dress? Oh wait, no one. It is the staple piece that we all already have in our closets (if you don’t, then you got to get one - life changing!) because it makes women feel like a powerhouse. So, why not add sophisticated lace to your LBD? Let’s take Diane Kruger’s Valentino frock. What is so prefect about this dress is that you’re showing skin and totally covered up all at the same time. How provocative is that?
The Flirty Skirt - I couldn’t write a blog post about the Oscars and not include Lupita Nyong’o. Her custom Prada gown was straight out of a fairy tale. How fun would it be to twirl in a flowy skirt until you were dizzy, like when you were a kid? That’s what her dress makes me want to do. Off the red carpet, a long or short flirty skirt is all you need to feel like a princess.
I am definitely going to be on the hunt for these pieces after watching the Oscars! These pieces can transitional your wardrobe and make you feel like a celebrity. Don’t take my word for it, just look at how amazing these ladies look!
~Taylor, fashioniSTA
Photo Credits: Refinery29 and Pinterest
The Grammys: Get the Look
Jan 30th
To pick a “best-dressed” from the Grammys has always seemed like an overly ambitious decision to make. So many stars, so many designers, so many styles who could possibly pick one (or ten) favorites? But from all the looks, there was one that stood out to inspire a unique addition to our wardrobes. The look we can’t wait to embrace was inspired by none other than the sensational Katy Perry. Katy’s unique Valentino dress on the red carpet (the dress that opened Valentino’s spring 2014 show in Paris) and her stunning ice blue gown for the after party had one thing in common - tulle.
A tulle skirt is definitely the easiest way to incorporate this fairytale fabric. While the texture itself is whimsical and bold, we like the look of pairing it with a toned down piece like denim or a sweater. For a more versatile approach, a tulle top is great for layering! Make it the top layer over a camisole, or the bottom layer under a sweater or jacket. But wait, it gets better. Tulle is a great option for this time of year, where it’s no longer the cozy holidays, but not yet springtime sunshine. Tulle’s elegant flair hints at the remnants of winter, while its femininity calls for the beauty of springtime.
We can’t wait to try incorporate a touch of tulle to our looks! Thanks Katy Perry for the inspiration, I hope we can rock it as well as you do!
Photos from pintrest.com and huffingtonpost.com
The Golden Globes to Your Closet
Jan 17th
Yes, we all saw the overwhelmingly unanimous decision that Lupita Nyong’o was the best dressed at the 2014 Golden Globes. But dear fashion magazines, how is that supposed to help us? I’m sorry but we are not about to try to pull off a fire engine red cape. We’re looking to these celebrities not just to adore their glamorous wardrobes, but for style inspiration! Luckily many other stars among the best dressed flaunted styles that we can’t wait to try. Here are our favorite looks from the 2014 Golden Globes to inspire our every day style.
1. Olivia Wilde
Designer: Gucci Premiere
Inspiration: Emerald Green
With a color like this, we just can’t take our eyes off her. So why not try to incorporate such an eye-catching color into your wardrobe? We love the idea of adding a pop of emerald green to your go-to looks. To add a little zest to your casual every day wear, how about shimmering emerald heels? Or glittering emerald nails anyone?
2. Kate Beckinsale
Designer: Zuhair Murad
Inspiration: Beaded Texture
There is just something so glamorous about beaded texturing. Kate’s beaded gunmetal gown turned a simple metallic dress into a spectacular work of art. We love this look so much that we are determined to add more beaded accents to our wardrobe. Whether it be a touch of beads in a headband or a beaded skirt, the texture give the piece a one-of-a-kind, hand made feeling.
3. Naomi Watts
Designer: Tom Ford
Inspiration: White Gold
While many fear light hues will wash them out, Naomi shone brilliantly in her embroidered, white gold gown. We can’t get enough of this color for its ability to add some shine to winter outfits without going all out holiday sparkle. The elegance of white gold is perfect for a blouse, for a sophisticated look without being stuffy. On a more casual note, we love this white gold shimmer skirt with a laid back T-shirt. It’s just enough to sparkle without wearing sequins. White gold’s versatility makes it a great piece to wear when dressing up or down.
4. Amy Adams
Designer: Valentino Couture
Inspiration: Minimalism
Talk about a statement! We are drooling over Amy’s plunging neckline and the ruby red color. In fact, the outfit is so stunning that she felt no need to over accessorize. We’ll take a page from Amy’s book and say, let your outfit do the talking! While it’s fun to dress up a simple outfit with bold accessories, the opposite can be just as appealing. When it comes to a bold style, own it! Don’t let accessories distract from your sleek outfit. Like Amy, rather than sport bold jewelry, rock a bold color (and we love the idea of red and maroon)! We love this eye opening idea. Sometimes less is more.
Photo Credits: Pintrest.com, Vogue.com, eonline.com, Huffingtonpost.com
Dear Santa…
Dec 25th
I’m sure you’ve been anticipating a rather extensive list, as usual. But as a fashioniSTA, what else do you expect? For your convenience I’ve narrowed it down to my top ten items. You can find every item on my list at STA. And while you’re there, maybe you’ll even get some more ideas! So here it is.
A Fashionista’s Christmas List:
- Chanel Earrings (STA 324 Newbury St.)
- Fur Vest
- Tory Burch Boots (STA Philadelphia)
- David Yurman Crossover Ring
- Juicy Couture Watch (STA Haddonfield)
- Louboutin Pumps
- Alice and Olivia Sequin Dress (STA Englewood)
- Hermes Cuff
- Valentino Kaleido Gem Tote (STA South Miami)
- Louis Vuitton Scarf
Now I know fashion isn’t really your forte, so I understand if this list is a little intimidating to tackle. So if you can’t get them, it’s okay. I can always go to the…
SALE at STA the day after Christmas! From 9am-12pm everything at STA is 50% off!
Then after 12pm, there’s 20-30% off the entire store!
As a present for myself, I’ll be hitting the after Christmas sale at STA. I promise I’ve been good all year. Merry Christmas Santa.
Sincerely,
A FashioniSTA
Photos from STA Facebook pages and pintrest.com
The Top Seven Looks to Know from the Grammys
Feb 11th
Best dressed and worst dressed are fairly subjective. So this Grammys, we’re giving you a look at the seven red carpet appearances that you should know.
1. Taylor Swift in J.Mendel - A mixed bag on this one from critics, personally we like the grecian-dominatrix look, but admittedly it’s not her best.
2. Florence Welch in Givenchy - The reviews with this were all over the place, but either way it’s worth seeing this surely Jurassic Park-inspired ensemble. (And it’s worth noting that emerald green is the color of 2013.)
3. Kelly Rowland in Georges Chakra Couture - It seems like the halftime show wasn’t the only boost to this former Destiny’s Child member’s career. This dress has elevated her to style stardom by critics and fans alike.
4. Rihanna in Azzedine Alaia - This was probably the biggest red carpet surprise of the night, with her pure elegance blowing the disco ball-wearing attendees straight out of the water. People are dying over this more classic look, and we are right there with them.
5. Beyonce in OSMAN by Osman Yousefzada - Bey can do no wrong, so basically everyone should know what she’s wearing. This pants option is a pseudo-fashion risk, yet not as buzz-worthy as some of the others.
6. Adele in Valentino - Yet another look that ran the spectrum of the critics’ picks. Some love this look, while others thought it was a bit dowdy and overrun with the floral print. We’re somewhere in the middle, but she definitely stood out.
7. Katy Perry in Gucci - This one is universally not liked, between the cleavage and the in-your-face spring green color. We’re right on board with that.
Stay tuned for our Oscars coverage in two weeks!
Photo credit: latimes.com
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
Anne Hathway and the Oscar Eight
Mar 5th
The verdict may still be out as to whether or not Anne Hathaway was a good host, but no one can argue that Rachel Zoe is an incredible stylist. Anne Hathaway changed no less than 7 times last night, for a total of 8 show-stopping looks. The FashioniSTAs break it down, one quick change at a time!
1. Valentino Couture Red Gown – Ashley’s Favorite Pick
Marisa: Classic Valentino red on the red carpet, escorted by Valentino Garavani himself. I don’t like red gowns very much because I am not a big “red” person, but it was hard to argue with this one.
Ashley: I LOVED this option when I saw it on camera. It was super elegant and the color was perfect on her skin (although the red nails were a little overkill), and it just screamed “Movie Star.” Then I saw it in photos, and I don’t know what flash some of these photogs are using, but they now have the uncanny ability to completely destroy dresses with one click.
Kim: The color looked stunning on her, but I felt the dress itself was predictable — just another fancy dress in a sea of fanciness.
2. Givenchy Grecian Studded Gown – Leslie’s Favorite Pick
Marisa: Givenchy can really do no wrong this awards season - Florence Welch at the Grammys, Cate Blanchett at the Oscars - and this silver embellished Grecian gown is no different.
Ashley: It was hard picking a favorite because this one was so spectacular as well. The detail was incredible, and even with her skin being so fair, she pulled this dress off beautifully.
Leslie: Rachel Zoe proved that she knows her stuff by putting Anne in 8 wardrobe changes, truly spectacular on Rachel’s part and Anne carried them all well. But this one was my all time favorite, as soon as walked out she show-stopped the place.
Kim: This dress was so gorgeous. Very royal, very appropriate for the moment.
3. Custom Lanvin Tux – Marisa’s Favorite Pick
Marisa: This was my absolute favorite Anne Hathaway moment of last night. Not only was the outfit made custom for her by Alber Elbaz himself, but it was paired with dedazzled Brian Atwood pumps and a Brigitte Bardot-inspired ponytail. In the words of Zoe herself, I die.
Ashley: The overall look of this ensemble was genius. It worked with the number that she performed, and the pumps were incredible. It was the perfect way to infuse some life into the evening!
Kim: I wasn’t sold on Hathaway’s charm until she busted out this little number, coupled with a song-and-dance routine. Who knew that girl had pipes? Seriously, my heart melts from her cuteness every time I even see a picture of this outfit.
4. Vivienne Westwood
Marisa: I am on the fence here. The gown had potential, but I got distracted by the large necklace and drag-queen hair…
Ashley: This one was the only atrocious look out of the pack. The hair, the necklace, the dress, the whole look was so overdone and it ended up looking like a costume rather than couture. Unless she’s playing Mother Ginger in an off-season performance of The Nutcracker, she should have lost this look.
Kim: I liked the dress, but I’m with Marisa on this one — the hair and the necklace just ruined it. The slight deconstruction of the dress needed to be paired with a more wild look, so the polish up top was poorly matched.
5. Oscar de la Renta Fringed Dress – Kim’s Favorite Pick
Marisa: This dress was both fabulous and fun. Even Anne couldn’t resist twirling about on stage to make the fringe float.
Ashley: Gorgeous. This was everything an Oscar dress should symbolize: drama and energy. I’m loving the whole ’70s trend that’s coming back, and this was the perfect example of this style done right. I’ll throw it over to Kim to sum up this look, I have a feeling she might like this one…
Kim: Out… Of… The… Ballpark. YES YES YES, Hathaway! Lots of fringe is seldom done right, and she struck gold with this one.
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6. Armani Privé Cobalt Dress
Marisa: “Fierce” is the word that comes to mind. The color was out-of-this-world and the structured silhouette was futuristic, yet somehow it still looked classic and elegant. Giorgio Armani has still got it!!
Ashley: As a closet superfan of Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, I love anything with a futuristic flair. This color was also a great nod to the upcoming Spring brights, and Armani has continued to wow this awards season (minus the misstep with Reese Witherspoon at this show).
Kim: The color was fabulous! I could have done without the shine, and I’m just not a big fan of that shoulder line, but I really enjoyed seeing Hathaway bust out the bold colors, and this dress is one of them.
7. Atelier Versace Burgundy Gown
Marisa: Donatella certainly knows how to make a show-stopper. The intricate, body-hugging banding details and subtle shimmer made it sexy, but the color kept it regal and classy. Love.
Ashley: The structure of this dress was so intricate, and the color was a great shade against Anne’s fair skin. This was a great choice for the host, it really popped on stage, but if it had been photographed on the carpet, the detail might have gotten lost, and the color would have clashed with the carpet.
Kim: I love the hue and the detail of the dress, but you could really only see it up close. From a distance, it was just another big dress. The color, in my opinion, was the only saving grace of this piece.
8. Tom Ford Sheer, Bedazzled Gown 
Marisa: This was an interesting choice by Zoe and I loved it. This long-sleeved, high-neck dress was still “Tom Ford-sexy” and had a bit of a vampy edge to it. It was also one of the only examples of his first women’s collection at the Oscars.
Ashley: This was my least favorite, and probably the most unflattering option. This would probably have worked better if it was super short and Anne Hathaway was debuting her short program for the Women’s Figure Skating portion of the Olympics.
Kim: This just seemed SO matronly on her. I thought she was supposed to represent a more YOUNG and HIP version of the Oscars?
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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.
Jellies are Back and Ready to Jam
Jun 28th
Paging 1996: you lost your jelly shoes and they somehow ended up in 2010. I was thinking about sending them back, but then I reconsidered. While I may not be ready to publicly fess up to my secret love for BSB and snap bracelets, after seeing the recent comeback of jellies, I may be ready to take this romance public.
It’s not difficult to see why we have revisited this trend. It’s almost like the shoe gods all got together and thought of a way women could have cute, comfortable shoes that can’t be ruined unless you set them on fire. Even then I’m pretty sure you can mold them back together. The only problem was they were hideous, to put it mildly, and I have the emotional scars to prove it when I tried to bring them back in the eighth grade. But now that one glitch has been solved as designers such as Tory Burch and Burberry have stepped up and taken on the challenge.
The main difference between what we wore 15 years ago and what is being shown now is the color scheme designers are using. It’s all about going opaque for a modern twist. We all remember jellies as being horrifically transparent, like Saran Wrap laced across your feet. But now you can use jellies as a way to update your current wardrobe choices with flats, flip flops, and sandal options. Everyone and their mother has a pair of Tory Burch Reva flats, and while they are now a classic staple, you can experiment with Burch’s jelly Reva flats in bright pink or blue, guaranteed to make you stand out and withstand a freak rainstorm. Or go for classic black for a hint of edginess behind your seemingly demure footwear.
Ready to rock the world with your jelly footwear? Go for it with a pair of magenta, gladiator jelly sandals from Diane von Furstenberg paired with a romper for weekend fun in the city or at the beach. Or go with a pair of clear, embellished d’orsay flats from Stuart Weitzman – a true tribute to the ‘90s. Only for the truly fashion fearless, you can wear these with a bright sundress to really stand out, or go for the shoes in black for more versatility (and to look less like you still worship NKOTB).
Should you not be ready to fully revisit the days of Saved by the Bell and Tamagotchi pets, you can always try the jelly trend in a subtle flip flop. Try a clear, check pattern from Burberry or a bright (and less jelly-like) pair from Tory Burch, great for a relaxing day outside or even a casual barbecue. Or you can go 2010-fancy with a pair of bow flip flops from Valentino – perfect for the weekend or if you happen to have a black tie event starring Lady Gaga. These could definitely venture outside of the beach without looking out of place, especially in opaque ivory or red. Or you could always keep your jellies as poolside-only attire, for those who prefer to keep their fashion risks on the down-low.
Remember girls, clear is for the risk-takers, opaque equals modern subtlety. Until next time!
~Ashley, fashioniSTA, Second Time Around