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Golden Globes Fashion Watch

So who YOU think was the best and worst- dressed at the Globes? Some of my favorite designers were on display, and below is my recap of who rocked it, and who totally missed the mark:

My top dresses:
-Kate Hudson in Marchesa- dressed by, who else, my girl Rachel Zoe! Gorgeous, architectural white gown- can I get married in that? Please? The combination of the jewelry and the bag were perfect. Looking good is the best revenge, Kate, so well done!

-Nicole Kidman in Nina Ricci- Amazing gown, but did she have the right undergarments on? I think not. The color on this could have gone terribly wrong with her skin, but luckily her auburn hair pulled this dress out for her and made it work!

-Marion Cotillard in Dior- Amazingly sexy. Hope she was wearing Poison perfume of the same house, because she was smoking!

-Christina Aguilera in Versace- the clean bob with the futuristic detail on this gown, plus the soft color make for an amazing palette. I’m shocked by how good she actually looks, and thank heaven’s she took a break from channeling Marilyn Monroe for one evening.

-Diane Kruger in Haute Couture Christian Lacroix- the color, the elaborate draping, the perfect accessories. This is why this woman is one of my style icons!

Honorable Mention:
-Lea Michelle in Oscar de la Renta- pure fantasy! Sophisticated and sweet for a newcomer, although everyone knows that black doesn’t photograph well.

My worst five:
-Mariah Carey in skintight black Herve Leger. Now, I’m not blaming this on Herve- his signature bandage dresses can typically make any woman look svelte. However, Mariah, once again missed the mark. You were so close! Simple jewelry, glowing skin, simple hair pulled back- all you had to do was cover up! And that’s the one thing you still don’t get about class.

-Tina Fey in Zac Posen. The length plus the mismatched shoes plus the umbrella= total Mary Poppins. Not exactly what she was going for, I’m sure.
Ana Paquin- the look is blinding, the shoes absurb. No. Just NO!

Other dresses of interest:
-Fergie- lovely, albeit simple gown from Elie Saab. The gown- great. The fit on Fergie left something to be desired. It looks like she has two bald midgets in a headlock!

-Maggie Gyllenhall in a peach frock by RM by Rouland Mouret. Now, I love this designer, love his clothes, even love this dress- however, the shade of peach matches too perfectly with Maggie’s own skin, and washes her out. The sharp slash of red lipstick across her face does nothing to help this. I think she’s got amazing style, but this is a classic case of falling in love with the dress on the hanger, and not looking objectively at it on your body.

-Emily Blunt in Dolce & Gabanna- amazing dress, however, not sure about the dress on Ms. Emily.

-Ginnifer Goodwin in Vionnet. Cute, like always, but is the dress exactly appropriate for the event?

Who was your favorite?

Sex and the City- The Fashion Line? SJP Confirmed for Halston!

Many of you may know of my deep and abiding love for all things Sarah Jessica Parker- after all, this blog is only in its infancy and I’ve already mentioned her a few times! Her alter-ego, Carrie Bradshaw, introduced a generation of girls to the wonders that are Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, and Christian Louboutain. And more importantly, her off-screen persona is a fashion savant as well. In fact, my unfortunate perm during senior year was a direct result of trying to fashion myself from rural simpleton into chic metropolitan fashion icon (insets).

Always a fashion risk-taker, SJP is the latest celebrity to collaborate with a designer on a new line, and she’s teaming up with the amazing house of Halston, best known in the 70’s, where the looks were modeled at no other than Studio 54! I myself have been having a 70’s flashback lately; absolutely craving a long, red dress with the trademark Halston sleeves (insets).

SJP’s title is yet unknown, but the rumor circulating the fashion circles is that she’ll be named Creative Director for Halston Heritage, the secondary line that features the archival looks, meaning that the primary line, designed my Marios Schwab, is safe. Compared to Lindsanitiy’s fashion debacle (see post below, “Lindsay’s Fashion Flunk”); SJP scored herself a TWAY better deal- obviously the more astute business woman! SJP gets an equity stake in the company, as well as her executive title.
Do we smell a trend brewing on the horizon? Until recently, celebrities had to start their own lines, if they wanted a piece of the fashion pie, with varying degrees of success (read: Beyonce Knowles; House of Dereon, J. Lo; Sweetface, Sean Combs; Phat Farm, etc.). But with Lindsay and SJP leading the way, a host of other celebs are sure to follow.
Who’s next? Rumor is, Lady Gaga is being tapped for a currently unknown label. Will no pants be the trend next fall?

Janice & Holly vs. San Antonio

K, so normally I write about all the beautiful, stylish, gorgeous things we all can’t afford, as well as the ones we can (thank you online sample sales!), however, I could not pass up the opportunity to share with the world the wonders that are Janice and Holly. Anyone remember that show on the BBC, Absolutely Fabulous? This is the senior version!

Recently, I went on a business trip to Branson, Missouri. What’s in Branson, you ask? Well, not much, save the world headquarters of Bass Pro Shops and a bunch of old-timers hanging on their fame (I’m looking at you, Presley’s Country Jubilee). Rumor has it that they bring in residents of old folk’s homes by the busloads. Don’t get me wrong, the landscape is absolutely beautiful; it’s just not a metropolitan style mecca. Just saying.
Anyway, as I’m flying out, these two women are in front of me in the security line, and they were an absolute trip. Holly is wearing her velour jumpsuit with the world “GLAM” bedazzled to the back, with BIG red curly hair and is making a hullabaloo because her white long-haired dog, Precious, has to get out of the carrier. Janice is in her 60’s and cannot figure out why the security thing keeps beeping at her, despite her huge belt buckle, sequin fanny pack, Christmas ornament earrings, PLEATHER PANTS underneath a skirt, red boots, platinum bun, and oh by the way, we learn she has a steel rod in her back. I’m not kidding; it seriously took them 45 minutes to get through security in an airport that literally had four gates. Bring on the LOLs.
As luck would have it, I’m seated directly beside them on the plane, and the whole way I hear about how they were both stewardesses back in their day, how wonderful Precious is to travel with (her seat mate didn’t seem to agree, as he somehow found an open seat in the back of the plane), and how Janice and Holly are going to San Antonio to see the sights. San Antonio, you’ve been warned.
I hope I’m still out on the town with my girls when I’m that age! These ladies were quite a pair, and it made me think about all the crazy fashion choices we’ve all made and regretted. Sure, we shudder at the acid-wash jeans and neon accessories of our youth now, but we were just kids, it was 80’s, that was Mom’s fault, right? But what happens when you get older- are the Christmas sweaters and Mom jeans inevitable? Do we just default to the Sag Harbor section at JC Penny’s, pull our pants up to our armpits and give up? Nay, I say, rage, RAGE against the dying of the style!
Speaking of questionable choices: a couple of years ago, I found a legit Louis Vuitton fanny pack in a vintage store in San Francisco, and I snapped it up for a mere $30. I was envisioning myself as Carrie Bradshaw, the way she does her ironic little 80’s throwback accessories, but still looks totally chic. I’ve yet to rock it. Which brings me to my last and final question: is it ever really OK to sport a fanny pack?

Sneak Peek at the new Rodarte collection for Target

You know, I truly believe that fashion is wherever you find it. Sure, it would be great to walk into DVF or Chanel and walk out with an armful of shopping bags, but for most of us, that just isn’t attainable. I had to learn this painful lesson firsthand when I was the smallest girl in my grade in middle school and was forced to shop in the kids section (gasp!) Trust, they do not make dress up shoes for little girls without patent leather and bows- thus my adolescent scars! And don’t even talk to me about pants- been hemming all my life thanks to my 5’ 2” stumps that I suffer painstaking Pilates classes to give the effect of lengnth- thank you StitchWitch!

Anyway, finding great steals, shopping sample sales, heck, even raiding the thrift stores are all acceptable, and BONUS, don’t cost an arm and a leg. That’s why I am SUPER excited about all the new designer collections at the suburban style mecca, Target! The Luella Bartley collection that came out last year was only the beginning. Followed by Alexander McQueen, Proenza Schouler and my girl, Erin Fetherston collaborated with the retailer to bring wearable couture to the general public.

So imagine how PUMPED I am for Rodarte at Target next week! Rodarte is totally unique from their color combinations to their ethereal aesthetic- remember when Reese Witherspoon wore that totally amazing futuristic sheath to the screening of that alien kid’s movie? Such a risk for her (she’s so classic- I always think of navy when I think of her), yet so wearable- she looked tough and delicate at the same time. I’m dying over the little sheaths with futuristic detail. And thigh-high cream boots? YES, PLEASE!

Other excitement coming down the pike? I hear John Paul Gaultier is also in the queue for an upcoming Target collection.

What other resources do you guys tap to develop a hot wardrobe on a limited budget?

Lindsay's Fashion FLUNK!

The self-bronzed Lindsanity’s fashion show, from house Ungaro, was widely trashed in the press. Sadly, I can see why.

What’s up with all the orange and pink? The color combinations are totally Brady Bunch and very strange. Also, can we discuss the heart appliqués? Seriously- is this what I’m supposed to wear when I’m driving my Delorian around? Also, not a big fan of the open midriff, but I guess that’s Lilo for ya.

I will say, there are a couple of hits in this collection of misses- there’s a pretty, draped white one-shoulder number, and look #2, the hot pink Halston-ish looking one with the gold chain belt is hot. I would rock that one, but I think I’ll pass on the heart pasties.