2011 Oscars -- The Academy Awards

Elie Saab Haute Couture

     

     During the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, no one shined brighter than Mila Kunis in a lavender Elie Saab haute couture gown. As soon as I saw her on the red carpet I knew it was going to be really hard to top her that night. She has looked consistently beautiful this entire award season! She wore an emerald green, one shoulder Vera Wang gown at the Golden Globes and a red strapless Alexander McQueen at the SAG Awards this year. The Grecian draping was beautifully done and the cut of the top half of the bodice suited her frame so well. I love how she has worn different looks for all the red carpet appearances she has done this year. This light lavender Elie Saab gown is a much more romantic look in contrast to the dark and floral McQueen dress she wore to the SAGs. From her chic up-do to her minimal jewelry [drop earrings and single bangle], it's all such a perfect balance to this gorgeous lace dress. I guess having a breakout role in Black Swan has a lot of perks other than award nominations for best supporting actress -- so many designers are so willing to let you wear their beautiful dresses! Lucky. 

     I'm also completely in love with new comer Halee Steinfeld's Marchesa dress that she helped design with the designers Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig. It perfectly compliments her fair skin and the detailing of the bodice and big tulle skirt [which is my favorite part!] is perfection. From afar it looks like a strapless gown, but when you look closely, there's actually a very thin sheathe that becomes part of the bodice. I have to give to Amy Adams in this dark navy L'Wren Scott. As with Mila, we've seen her countless times on the red carpet this season and I must say, this gown is a winner this time around, except for the drop necklace that she could do without. However, her old Hollywood waves is gorgeous. 

     Oh, and, my oh my. Nude colors are a big hit this season and not just on the runway. Mandy Moore wore this biege Monique Lhuillier gown with an ombre effect [a very popular detail this season] while Michelle Williams opted for this creamy white Chanel gown. Her pixie haircut is perfect for this gown. What's more? I thought the pregnant Natalie Portman -- who also won last night's Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Black Swan!-- glowed in this plum colored, custom-made Rodarte gown. And how fitting! Laura and Kate Mulleavy, the designers of Rodarte, also designed the costumes for Black Swan. The sisters said that they "couldn't have been more thrilled to create a dress especially for her at the Oscars." And even though I'm not a big fan of Scar Jo, I thought the back detailing of her Dolce & Gabbana floral gown was beautiful and sexy. *Damnit. Come check out these Oscar fashions! What were your favorites?

Love, KB

Halee Steinfeld in Marchesa & Amy Adams in L'Wren Scott

Mandy Moore in Monique Lhuillier & Michelle Williams in Chanel

Natalie Portman in Rodarte & Scarlett Johansson in Dolce &Gabbana

Oh, and look who else I spotted on the red carpet. The very tan and talented
Valentino Garavani. 

P.S. here are Anne Hathaway's looks while hosting the Oscars. Her stylist, Rachel Zoe definitely did an amazing job dressing her for the entire night! 

Givenchy

tuxedo by Lanvin
custom-made Swarovski crytal pumps by Brian Atwood

Vivenne Westwood

Oscar de la Renta

Atelier Versace

Armani Prive'

Tom Ford

Patricia Field Creations: Sex and the City The Movie

"Year after year, twenty-something women come to New York City in search of the two L's: labels and love."

     I distinctly remember all of the hype to this movie during the summer of 2008. Women all around the country got all dolled up along with their girlfriends to go see it on its opening weekend. To avoid the hectic crowd and save a couple of bucks by seeing it during a week day instead of the weekend [when  in college, saving money is everything], I finally got to see this movie with four other friends a couple or weeks after its release. Even then the movie theater was still packed with women from their early twenties like us and some in their late forties/early fifties. From the opening credits of the song "Labels or Love" performed by Fergie to Jennifer Hudson's "All Dressed In Love" the movie was everything I thought it would be plus a lot of unexpected tears. Yes, I cried during the movie. Don't judge me. But aside from the great story which did the HBO series complete justice, the one thing that stood out the most to me was the fashion. Oh, Patricia Field how you've done it again. 

Carrie: vintage dress and coat
Eiffel Tower bag by Timmy Woods

Charlotte: dress and shoes by Prada and purse by Chanel
Carrie: shirt, vest, tie, and pants by Ralph Lauren and shoes by Manolo Blahnik
Miranda: dress by Alberta Ferretti and shoes by Luciano Padovan
Samantha: jacket by Thierry Mugler, Skirt by Valentino, purse by Fendi, and shoes by Roberto Cavalli

Samantha: jacket by Thierry Mugler and skirt by Herve' Leger
Carrie: vintage dress
Miranda: dress by Maggie London
Charlotte: dress by Salvatore Ferragamo

     I wasn't a die hard fan of the show when it was on air from 1998-2004. After all, I was only eleven when it first came on, for heaven's sake! I only began watching it during its episode- rerun-stage on other networks like WB (now known as the CW) and TBS. During its five year run on HBO and it's debut on the silver screen four years after the series had ended, Patricia Field has been the production's costume designer and stylist since day one. And boy did she not disappoint for this movie. The wardrobe this time around is much more sophisticated, beautiful and of course, expensive! Top design labels are definitely present with the fashion coming not only from New York City but also France and Italy. Pat Field did an amazing job of telling the story through the clothes. 

"Pat Field is an artist. She has a unique vision, because she's impulsive and collaborative, and almost like a Jazz musician. I mean I've had amazing experiences where I felt like, 'Oh, let her lead the way.' " 

- Michael Patrick King (writer and director of Sex and the City The Movie)

     Even though I'm more of a Charlotte than a Carrie, I couldn't help but obsess over her wardrobe soon after leaving the theater -- (1) the black Dior extreme gladiator shoes, the vintage clothes and accessories like the (2) black studded belt, (3) the green floral dress and coat she wore while apartment hunting, and (4) the red floral dress she wore to the auction (5) the 'Something Blue' Manolo Blahnik shoes, and (6) the Vivienne Westwood wedding dress. In that moment, I wanted Carrie Bradshaw's closet. It was incredible how the clothes were a symbol of time passing and how different the lives of the characters are since the finale episode of the television series. The only scene in which Pat Field did not style was the Vogue wedding dress shoot where the real life Vogue team was used. Fashion Trivia: From the make up artists to the hairstylists, even the photographer such as the renowned photographer, Patrick Demarchelier was featured in the film, along with editor at large Andre' Leon Talley and the west coast editor Lauren Howell -- all from the Vogue family. 

     If this was just a production about four women and their sex lives then of course I would have no expectations whatsoever about the quality of their wardrobe. The simple fact that this franchise is about four women and their sex lives while living in New York City makes the fashion that much more important. From Carrie, to Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha, Pat Field did an incredible job of having their characters tell their story through the clothes. To me, the love stories almost takes a back seat to the fashion, which is kind of shocking since I love L-O-V-E. Come check out these beautiful images from the movie. 

Love, KB

"It's all about those details that tell the story of how you dress."

- Patricia Field

Charlotte: dress by Valentino
Samantha: jacket by Thierry Mugler and skirt by Dior
Miranda: dress by Sinequanone

Zac Posen bridesmaid dresses

wedding dress by Vivienne Westwood

Something Blue - Manolo Blahnik

Charlotte: dress by Gianfranco Ferre, top Valentino, jacket by John Galliano, and gloves & pin by Chanel
Miranda: dress by Prada and coat by J. Mendel
Samantha: white mink and gloves by Sonia Rykiel 
Carrie: dress by Dolce & Gabanna and chinchilla by Lucien Pelat

Charlotte: dress by Vicki Tiel, shoes by Miu Miu, and bag by Chanel
Carrie: vintage cape by Yves Saint Laurent, shoes by Dior, and bag by VBH
Samantha: mirrored dress, shoes by Stuart Weitzman, and bag by Swarovski.
Miranda: dress by Carolina Herrera, shoes by Brian Atwood, and bag by Roberto Cavalli

Recap: Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week Fall 2011 RTW

Back to the CLASSICS.

     
     Now that the Fall 2011 Ready to Wear New York Fashion Week has finally wrapped up and I'm finally able to catch my breath from all of the amazing fashion, it's time to talk about the trends shown on the runway and of course my favorite looks.  And right now, the classics are making a huge comeback. I think it's safe to say that minimalism, color-blocking, and menswear inspired looks are here to stay along with the emergence of romantic and lady-like pieces that a lot of designers are showing this season. I DIE for every single piece in the Monique Lhuillier and Marchesa show. Go figure, right? Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig along with Monique Lhuillier showed a vast array of romantic gowns blooming in rosettes, lace, tulle, and fur. There were so many Oscar worthy gowns in those collections including a couple of Oscar de la Renta, Badgley Mischka, and J. Mendel dresses -- all labels that we are accustomed to seeing on the red carpet. 


     Tailored pieces and clean lines consume the Derek Lam, Phillip Lim, Proenza Schouler, and Marc Jacobs collections. I love how they've taken the idea of minimalism, but with a twist by mixing in a lot of colorful hues, color-blocking, over the usual black, white, beige, camel, and brown backdrop. The Derek Lam collection had these beautiful powder blue wool jackets and the Marc Jacobs line featured these colorful print blouses with high-waisted camel skirts. The menswear inspired pieces this season were made to suit a woman's body with the wide-leg, high-waisted trend in trousers and belts that were shown in many collections. Also, a lot of long, full-length skirts were shown for this upcoming fall season. As for the lady-like trend, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, and Tory Burch embraced this classic trend with Chanel-esque petite tweed jackets and feminine tailored suit dresses. It seems as if everywhere you look, everyone was inspired by the classics this season and I'm not complaining, it's my absolute favorite. Come take a look at my favorite pieces from this Fall 2011 RTW NYFW! 

Romanticism.

Luca Luca & Christian Siriano

 Monique Lhuillier & Badgley Mischka

 Vera Wang & Marchesa

Oscar de la Renta & J. Mendel

Betsey Johnson

Minimalism, Meanswear & Lady Like pieces, and Color-Blocking

Phillip Lim & Proenza Schouler

Carolina Herrera & Marc by Marc Jacobs

Derek Lam & Tory Burch

BCBG Max Azria & Diane Von Furstenberg 

Herve' Leger & Rodarte 

L.A.M.B

Love, KB