Best Dressed Oscars 2013

Holy Oscar Sunday, aka the biggest red carpet event of the year. And despite the major lack of color, the drama in the dresses were bigger than the Best Picture nominees.

Amanda Seyfried

Looking fierce in McQueen. The light colors became an extremely repetitive trend of the night but at least Amanda brought it with the texture and structure of her gown. The light shade was a perfect match for her light skin tone and big dolly eyes. On top of the coloring, the shape was perfect for Miss Seyfried! Not only was it so smart of her stylist to stick with a slim fitting gown for her tiny figure, but the collar and cleavage was totally Oscar appropriate. Take note of your co-star Hathaway. This is how to show off your assets correctly!

Amy Adams

Like the real life Disney princess she is, Amy Adams looked like a dream in this lavender gown. It's not a red carpet until Oscar de la Renta is present and those ruffles certainly drew attention. While I would have preferred a little bit more diamonds or sparkle, Amy knocked it out of the park with that train alone.

Jennifer Hudson

Midnight blue was as close as we got to color on Oscar night, so thank you for that Jennifer Hudson! The shimmer, the slit- all so fierce! I'm usually not a fan of long sleeve dresses, but this Roberto Cavalli was full of so much detail. Particularly loving the material at the top and how it transitions to a light flow at the bottom of the dress. Completely fitting and perfect for her performing role of the night!

Jennifer Lawrence

It's Jennifer Lawrence's world and we're just living in it. This girl doesn't even need a Harvey Weinstein Oscar campaign, that's how hard she's winning everyone over this year/award season. Owning her recent Dior spokeswoman role, J.Law came in full elegance with this amazing train. Although I definitely love the look, I wish and hope in the future Dior provides Jennifer with edgier looks. Jennifer is so young that she deserves bolder dresses, like the ones fellow Dior ladies Mila Kunis and Marion Cotillard sport. Nevertheless, this gown is timeless and perfect for the Oscars!

Jessica Chastain

Oh hello 60s glamour! Jessica nailed it when she described her dress as a "Happy Birthday Mr. President" gown. The Armani Prive with vintage Harry Winston jewels were perfect for Hollywood's newly A-list leading lady. The champagne color went surprisingly well with her pale skin tone and that red lip definitely helped her stand out, instead of being washed out. Jessica Chastain was the definition of Hollywood glamour.  

Zoe Saldana

What do you do when your gorgeous ex-boyfriend is the sole reason for every woman's swooning this award season? Show up in the most intricate dress of the night to clarify you are the hottest of all the fashion risk takers. Obviously. At least, that's what Zoe Saldana did in this Alexis Mabille gown. Who knew black and white could be so fabulous? I was immediately won over when I saw my favorite trend (ruffles) but the belt plus the open slit train? Best dressed of the night, easily. 

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.

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. 

The British Are Coming!

The British invasion is everywhere. Due to the catchy music that's making it big in America,  their hilarious talk shows (yes, I've stooped that low), and the funky fashion trends-- I'm truly headed for an identity crisis. I didn't realize how strong the Brits were influencing me until I found myself complaining in the NYC Topshop how the London store was clearly superior. While I still stand by this point, it was a little ridiculous to say considering I've never been to the London store. I can admit I've taken my London respect a little too far but I still wanted to share some England fashion that I'm loving! It's not a new groundbreaking fact that Europe is more fashionable, but who knew they were responsible for more than just the fashion icon that is Victoria Beckham?!

Topshop

First thing is first! I've been aware of Topshop for a while but the actual worship only kicked in recently. The store has a vibrant vibe where you really can create any look you want depending on which pieces you put together. That's what's so great about Topshop, it's full of potential fashion risks and creativity. Because of it's loud prints and styles, the shop may not be for everybody but I personally love it for that reason. These type of clothes allow the everyday girl to experiment for affordable prices. Only warning with Topshop, the clothing runs pretty small and a lot of the tops are midriff baring. If you really love the top but are unsure about the style, throw a solid tank top underneath a peplum top. Otherwise, be careful with the sizes. 

(Check out the July 2012 Hitlist to see what's currently hot at Topshop)

Cheryl Cole

 

I guess she's kind of the Britney Spears for the Brits?! Cheryl completely owns the flashy pop-star appearance that fans love to see. Let's be honest, nothing catches the media's attention more than a charismatic beautiful star. With her different hairstyles, energy lifting choreography, and colorful music videos, Cheryl Cole is the ultimate muse in England.

Cher Lloyd

Despite her comparisons to Cheryl Cole, Cher's style differs a lot. For one, the nineteen year old singer is much more rough around the edges. While she's had her fair share of fashion no-no's, Cher and her fashion have matured quite well. Cher brings a bit of rocker chic with her crop tops and fancy fedoras. 

"British fashion is self confident and fearless. It refuses to bow to commerce, thus generating a constant flow of new ideas whilst drawing in British heritage."
-Alexander McQueen

Best Dressed at the 2012 Oscars!

From Billy Crystal's fabulous job hosting the show to Queen Meryl winning her third Oscar (#flawless #icon #livinglegend), the 2012 Oscars were filled with so many memorable moments. Not only was the show way more bearable than last year, the but red carpet was pretty successful too. See which A-listers brought their fashion A game...

Penelope Cruz channeled some old Hollywood glamour with this timeless look! Has she ever not looked drop dead gorgeous at the Oscars?! All of her past appearances were pretty gorgeous but I think this one will always be remembered. It's a shame she wasn't nominated because this Armani Prive dress plus that statue would have made iconic photos. Nevertheless, Penelope still made a fab appearance!

I love that Gwyneth Paltrow always gets criticism for being too high status(like that's even an insult) and then strolls out to the Academy Awards in this Tom Ford dress. The pure white, the diamonds, the cape...ah! Oh GOOP, please never change your ways! Call her an ice queen if you want but there's a reason Gwyneth is such a HBIC, and this is it! 

Yes, Stacy Keibler and the Oscars are an odd and totally wrong match. Yes, she matched the Oscar statue. And yes, she looked absolutely amazing. Let's be honest, when you're George Clooney's girlfriend, your trips to the Academy Awards are numbered...which is why you better work it when you are there! Stacy looked like a golden goddess in this Marchesa dress. The shininess, the flower, the hair-- A+ ! Her Oscar dress didn't bring Clooney any winning luck but I think this is the most memorable look from any of Clooney's past dates!

 Milla Jovovich brought the sexy sassiness to the Oscars with this Elie Saab gown! The glimmer was sleek, her red lips were on point, and her eyes were practically glowing. Angelina's little leg pose on stage seemed forgettable with this action star at the ceremony.

BEST DRESSED:

Simply a masterpiece. I've been pretty oblivious to all the hype, both fashion and movie wise, surrounding Jessica Chastain. That was until she strutted into the Academy Awards with this Alexander McQueen dress. Not only was the dress beautiful and refreshingly different, but her hair color definitely increased the overall elegance of this look. The detailing on this gown is so gorgeous that I can only imagine that the picture quality just doesn't do it justice. Jessica truly showed the glamour of a modern Best Dressed look for the Oscars!

"A dress should be tight enough to show you're a woman and loose enough to prove you're a lady."

-Edith Head, Oscar winning costume designer

It's the Fall, It's the Fall, It's the Fall!

Get your Hunter boots ready ladies! Summer is over and it's time to revamp those wardrobes for the new fall fashion. Before you start your annual September shopping trip, here are some trends to keep in mind...

1. Lace

This might be the biggest, but trickiest, new trend of the season. Lace is fun but can go wrong very easily. Be subtle when wearing this pattern. Think Emma Stone at the MTV Movie Awards, NOT Scarlett Johansson at the Oscars. 

2.Velvet

Keep warm this winter by staying comfortable and stylish. The dark colors usually look better in a velvet fabric, instead of bright colors. Nicole Richie and Vanessa Hudgens have both sported sleek, navy velvet dresses.

3. Pop of Color

This trend is the perfect way to avoid having a basic wardrobe. Obviously it would be ridiculous to waste money on a bright colored cardigan that doesn't match a variety of items. Instead, buy a cream colored cardigan that can match a pink, blue, and purple top. Don't get a crazy colored sweater that can only be worn a few times. Get the black sweater and get a vibrant scarf to liven up the look. Invest more money on the different scarves that way you can mix and match. 

4. Bold Prints

Fall is the perfect time to break out that cheetah print shirt. Try new things! Stripes, plaid...they all work well when paired with a solid print. An abstract top can still appear tame when worn with black pants. 

 

"It's a new era in fashion - there are no rules. It's all about the individual and personal style, wearing high-end, low-end, classic labels, and up-and-coming designers all together."

-Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen, The Mastermind of Fashion

"I want to empower women. I want people to be afraid of the women I dress."

-Alexander McQueen

This past weekend, I finally got the chance to check out the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Met. I was so excited to see McQueen's designs in person. However, nothing could have prepared me for the emotional experience. McQueen was obviously a fashion genius but also a deeply disturbed man. His tragic death last year gave the exhibition a haunting effect. The layout really showcased McQueen's dark mind. He viewed the art of fashion in a very interesting way. Everything about the exhibit left an impact on me. The details of McQueen's designs, his thought provoking quotes, and of course the jaw dropping clips from his runway shows. Alexander McQueen was an artistic legend. The exhibit does a beautiful job of keeping McQueen's legacy alive. I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside the exhibit but I thought I'd still show a little glimpse of McQueen's powerful mind.

"It is important to look at death because it is a part of life. It is a sad thing, melancholy but romantic at the same time."

-Alexander McQueen