Best Dressed: Golden Globes 2013

Roll out the red carpet and couture, award season has begun!

Katharine McPhee switched up her game a little with this sultry look. Stepping away from her typical sweet and girly appearances, Katharine was sleek in her black, revealing dress. Not only did she give Angie's left leg a little dress slit competition, but she was part of the few to break away from the bright color theme of the night. If you're going to basic with black during award season, you better make it a standout look. And with a fierce topknot like that, Katharine definitely stood out!

J'adore Dior! Ah, the power of the French. Marion Cotillard probably had the simplest appearance at the awards but still looked incredible. The coloring, the draping, even the lack of jewels - all looked effortlessly timeless! 

Continuing the trend of simplicity, Hayden Panettiere stunned in a Roberto Cavalli gown. White slash slightly pink? However you want to define the color tone, it was gorgeous and completely complimented her youthfulness.  In addition, that fit was perfect for her petite frame.

While the neutrals and natural looks were a pleasant change, it's still not a red carpet unless there's some high fashion show stoppers. For Emily Blunt, her fashion moment came in a Michael Kors cutout. The British actress looked elegant in her gold gown and unique texture (Shimmer? Flowery? What is it?). Emily kept it modern and classic. 

When presenters steal the nominees fashion moments (another theme of the night). This past year, Kate Hudson has been all glamour so it only made sense that she'd strut into the Globes like the epitome of Hollywood royalty. Only Hudson's bubbly persona could make a dramatic McQueen dress look sweet and sophisticated.

The Sound of Style

Singers and fashion can be an iffy combination. Sometimes they get it right, but usually due to over the top theatrical costumes, they get it wrong. Really wrong. Fortunately, two very classy ladies have been changing the unstylish face of music. And thanks to them, the Grammys red carpet might not have to be such a freak show after all.

Marina and the Diamonds

First, let's start with my queen - Marina and the Diamonds. Don't let the stage name fool you, this is one singer not a band. Marina Diamandis won my heart with her materialistic and self loving hit, Primadonna. How could I not adore someone who was singing about all my core values and making statements like "all I ever wanted was the world"! In addition to her incredible vocal talent and entertaining song writing, Marina has a quirky and girly style. Or as Marina would would put it, style that is inspired by Marilyn Monroe, Madonna, and Marie Antoinette. In her music videos, she's playful with her varying themes (See: American dream, HBIC Power & Control, and a sultry Heartbreaker). On stage, she stays true to her Electra Heart persona with a simple silhouette, high platforms, and the trademark heart drawn on her cheek. She has the appearance of a barbie doll but the kind of soul that can connect with you through so many relatable experiences in her music. 

Lana Del Rey

And then there's Lana Del Rey, a bit more melancholic artist. With themes emphasizing on wasted youth, short love, and abandonment, Lana's dark image can get a little depressing. But like Marina, she's a lyrical goddess. Throw in a little sass ("I'm your little harlot, starlet, Queen of Coney island"), some danger ("kiss me hard in the pouring rain, you like your girls insane"), and some sadness ("been trying hard not to get into trouble, but I've got a war in my mind"). Lana loves living on the edge and the storytelling of her music videos show that. Other things to note in those lengthy videos is her style, from her heavy makeup and long nails to her classic appearances. Del Rey describes herself as a "self-styled gangsta Nancy Sinatra". Her mix of retro and rebellion has won over major fashion fans, earned Vogue editorials, and landed her a contract as the spokesmodel for H&M.     

 

Gatsby? What Gatsby?

There's really nothing I'm looking forward to more in 2013 than The Great Gatsby movie. Fitzgerald's novel is my favorite book and probably the most useful thing I ever got from high school. There's just something so intriguing about the New York City tale and its selfish characters. Like Daisy. Her richness makes her appealing, her vapidness makes her sympathetic, and her carelessness makes her hateful. Even from the brief trailer, Carey Mulligan's portrayal showed so much of that love/hate complexity. Along with Leo DiCaprio (Swoon! Best he's looked in years!) and Tobey Maguire, the A-list names are perfectly cast.

While I don't understand some of Baz Luhrmann's approaches, like making this in 3-D, I'm completely won over by the movie's sparkly and Prada costume designed style. Pop more of that champagne and continue on with No Church In The Wild playing--the modernity of this film is already blowing Mia Farrow and Robert Redford's Gatsby attempt out of the water. 

Fashionistas of the Year

As another year comes to an end, it's time to bow down to the women who brought their fashion A game this year.

  

Gwyneth Paltrow is the epitome of high class glamour, and her style completely reflected that this year. Gwyneth started off the year by showing up to the Oscars in not only a timeless Tom Ford dress, but accompanied the look with a sleek cape. Really, who else could pull that off? Not one to be forgetten, Gwynnie continued to keep everyone oohing and ahing with her Prada dress at the Met Gala. With style like this, Paltrow's 40th birthday bash on her yacht with Beyonce and Jay-Z seemed to take a backseat to her 2012 highlights. 

 

From movie star glam to a model's every day fabulousness. Miranda Kerr knows how to wow at events, fashion shows, and in editorials, but her street style surely inspired countless Pinterest boards this year. For Kerr, the streets of NYC were her runway and errands were only done in the fiercest stilettos. Hailing a taxi while juggling a baby never looked so effortlessly flawless. Miranda Kerr is living the Park Ave mom dream.

Considering she's probably going to win an Oscar for her performance in Zero Dark Thirty, it makes sense that Jessica Chastain was the fashion siren on red carpets this year. From film festivals to award shows, Chastain was topping those best dressed lists. She made her first big splash at the Oscars in a intricate Alexander McQueen dress that complimented those red locks beautifully. Then came the Cannes Film Festival, where she looked like Hollywood royalty in Gucci (and with the rave reviews she was getting for her performances, she basically was). And most recently, Jessica experimented with a bold leather blue Jason Wu dress at a Fashion's Night Out event. One thing we can certainly conclude from her 2012 style is that when Jessica is on stage accepting that Oscar, she'll most likely be making a bold fashion statement for 2013 as well. 

Movie Review: Les Mis

I cried, I laughed, I swooned...I rushed to the bathroom to see how badly I damaged my makeup. I knew that Broadway's biggest musical was going to leave an emotional impact but was not prepared to be leaving the theater as such a mess. As expected, Anne Hathaway's "I Dreamed A Dream" sequence produced many tears and "cosigns" to her much talked about Oscar hype. But after Hathaway took the audience into a deep depression, I thought my emotions were safe because really, what could be more saddening than selling your body for your child's sake? Turns out, there were still more revolution children involved to continue my bawling.

My particular favorites in the movie were Samantha Barks and Aaron Tveit. As someone who is too attached over Eponine singing On My Own, I was ecstatic over Samantha's casting. Considering how short the role seemed (seriously, did anyone else feel like her part was severely cut?), she left a huge impact in the film. And then there was Aaron Tveit. I have a special place for Aaron in my heart after meeting him in his Catch Me If You Can days. It was a beautiful moment when his baby blues looked into my eyes as I blabbered on about how perfect he was and then instructed my sister where to stand when she took our picture. In that moment, I melted and knew he was a major husband contender. Of course, Les Mis only confirmed that belief. Aaron was incredible as Enjolras. And when he held up the iconic red flag? Maybe that wasn't the most appropriate time to be swooning, but I did...along with more crying.

Despite the mixed reviews on the film, I thought Les Mis was well done. Like the film version of Rent, which I will defend till the day I die, no one is ever pleased with how Broadway musicals are transformed into Hollywood movies. The two are nearly impossible to combine, but at least Les Mis was done justice (Remember when TSwift was in talks to play Eponine? This could've taken an awful turn...). Besides, I rarely see people in the movie theater so affected to the point of blowing their noses from crying and then clapping loudly at the end of films. In my experience, Les Mis did succeed with brining the stage atmosphere to the movies.

It's Prada or Nada

My jaw is actually dropping from this Prada Resort 2013 campaign. The flapper look has been making a comeback for a little while now, but these modern day Daisy Buchanan and Holly Golightly styled photo-shoots are beyond perfection. Kudos to Prada for not only continuing their great styling leftover from The Great Gatsby set, but also subtlety tipping their hat to the modern day flapper look. Both eras love accessorizing but there's something a bit edgier and riskier with today's ever experimenting generation. While the 20s' style was utterly timeless, it's more preferable to dazzle those Hamptons parties with straight long hair and high platforms nowadays. 

Fashion's Ultimate Angelic Secret

With the holidays approaching, so is fashion's most extravagant and energetic runway show. The Victoria's Secret angels are back lighting up the glittery Manhattan runway with the help of show stopping performers like Rihanna, Bruno Mars, and Biebs.  Here's a sneak peak of some highlights from the show that airs December 4th on CBS!

High Fashion

In addition to the old school pros (Lima, Ambrosio, Kerr), the angels were a bit more high end fashion this year. Two particular fierce scene stealers were previously returning angel Karlie Kloss and newcomer Cara Delevigne. The 20 year old, who typically models for designers like Oscar de la Renta and Burberry, was definitely in a new element. Those sharp eyebrows might be a different look for VS, but maybe it's what the brand needs? With the Brazilian era slowly coming to an end (never forget you and your JT hating ways Gisele!), a little British youth may be what's needed to spice up this new generation!

Shine Bright Like a Diamond

It can't be easy or all that great for the self-esteem to be put next to lingerie models whose lives revolve around being in the best shape. So it only makes sense to get Rihanna, possibly one of the most confident performers in the music industry right now, to accept the challenge. No worries about the styling VS producers. Ri Ri even performed in her own lingerie. New secret fantasy bra contender anyone?

Fantasy Bra

....speaking of which! Alessandra Ambrosio got the honors of wearing the $2.5 million Floral Fantasy bra. Strutting around in the only bra that actually monitored so intensely by security, Alessandra official made her mark as VS vet.