IDENTITIES 2011

It felt great to be back in this familiar setting — this time, as someone watching from the front row (across from Anna Sui and Bryanboy — nice).  Of the fashion shows on campus, IDENTITIES tends to stay truer to the meaning and purpose of one, and with this year’s event sponsor MCM, it presented some beautiful, colorful prints on light fabrics reminiscent of those seen in the fall runway shows.
Anna Sui, honorable guest and this year’s recipient of the Harvard-Radcliffe Asian American Association Leadership in the Arts Award.
Meet my new best friend Bryanboy!  He was ever-so friendly; I let him know I was a huge fan and thankfully he was flattered, not creeped out.  It was sweet getting to know him, realizing he’s like anyone else — world-famous fashion blogger aside, he travels and works until exhaustion, meeting so many people only to touch their lives for a brief couple seconds.  You’ll always have a friend in me — safe travels and until next time!

Marc Jacobs Collection RE 2011 violet radzimir flounce back tiered dress; FENTON/FALLON for J. Crew earrings; Marc Jacobs Collection RE 2009 black leather peep-toe heart platform.

REVIEW: At the Oscar’s

So, the breakdown of the worst and best dressed at the Oscar’s.  For kicks, let’s begin with the worst and work our way towards the best.  That way once we finish, our lives still have hopeful agendas.

Worst dressed:

1. Cate Blanchett, in Givenchy Haute Couture
I like the softness of the lavender, but sorry, I cannot agree with such an odd architecture and what could only be described as coral virally growing over the shoulders.
2. Helena Bonham Carter
3. Marisa Tomei, in Charles James Vintage
4. Florence Welch, in Valentino Couture
Florence Welch’s red carpet look wasn’t terrible but her unkempt hair and pale skin tone oversold Bohemian and indie chic, moreso than warranted by haute couture.
5. Mandy Moore, in Monique Lhuillier
The dress itself was beautiful and delicate, however she still managed to add quite a few years to her age.  These things are seemingly trivial when you have a dress like that, but they are crucial when it comes to the big picture.  Hair and accessories — that part in the middle and those oversized discs.

Now take a breath.  Best dressed:

1. Hilary Swank, in Gucci Première
Watching Hilary Swank make her stops on the red carpet then grace the stage took my breath away, in all honesty.  The design and the way it fell was perfect.
2. Mila Kunis, in Elie Saab Haute Couture
3. Jennifer Hudson, in Atelier Versace
Recently, there hasn’t been a time when I didn’t comment on how fabulous she looked; she has undergone such an amazing transformation.  Here she continued to stun in a classic gown.  I adore the boldness of color, after all it is a prominent trend we’re seeing this spring.
4. Halle Berry, in Marchesa
5. Natalie Portman, in Rodarte
In January I criticized Natalie for her faux pas at the Golden Globe’s, and it seemed as if she took my words into consideration donning a darker, jewel tone on a more matte material.  Though modest, she was still fashion-forward with a pair of fringe earrings — not too much, but the right amount.

REVIEW: At the Golden Globe’s

Let’s take a look at who wore what and fashion highlights of the event.

1. Natalie Portman, in Viktor + Rolf
Although lovely and sweet, the mommy-to-be made a poor choice with shiny, easy-wrinkle fabric. Light colors like pink are difficult to appear slim in; now combining textile and body shape, her spotlight for Best Actress in a Film Drama should have been one of slight embarrassment.
2. Anne Hathaway, in Armani Privé
When I first saw the structure of this dress, my thoughts immediately directed to Haus of Gaga. Considering Armani has designed exclusively for Lady Gaga, I wasn’t far off at all. Tall, slender, stunning!
3. Annette Bening, in Tom Ford
Tom Ford, enough said.
4. January Jones, in Versace
As the new face of Versace, the Mad Men starlette wowed the red carpet in this classy couture piece, a seductive twist on Roaring Twenties glamour.
5. Emma Stone, in Calvin Klein Collection
Simple and clean. A dress like this one would have been difficult to pull off, but it fell on Emma Stone’s frame perfectly.
6. Olivia Wilde, in Marchesa
[BEST DRESSED]
Absolutely gorgeous.
7. Christina Aguilera, in Zuhair Murad
[WORST DRESSED]
It was so sad to see Christina Aguilera do no justice for French designer Zuhair Murad. She took his elegance and rendered it trashy. To put it nicely, she may not be as thin as she once was, but she should have the common sense to wear a dress that fit at the very least; her cleavage was overflowing, and her curves were exaggerated, unflattering.
8. Leighton Meester, in Burberry
As much as I love Leighton Meester’s style on Gossip Girl, I must admit this Victorian England look was too old for her. The light, sheer fabric was wonderful, but the line and amount of it (covering) was meant for someone a decade older.
9. Eva Longoria, in Zac Posen
What break-up, what heartbreak? Eva looked absolutely fabulous in this sleek, black Zac Posen piece. The only personal commentary I can think of: “You go, girl!”
10. Sandra Bullock, in Jenny Packham
A few months ago I wrote a piece on up-and-coming British designer Jenny Packham and praised her for her use of textile and palette. The dress itself was beautiful, however Sandra Bullock donned it in a rather outdated bohemian fashion. This season’s forecast? Bohemia is now urban and haute.

The 10 supermodels of 2010

Wrapping up the year, French Vogue announced its 10 supermodels of 2010.  So who made the list?

1. Karlie Kloss
Who hasn’t seen Karlie? She’s the industry’s “it”-girl appearing in the most Fashion Week Spring ’11 shows and gracing editorials and designer ad campaigns basically everywhere.  The November issue of American Vogue gave a behind-the-scenes look at her hectic schedule this past Fashion Week season and its overlapping Fashion’s Night Out.  Success comes at a fabulous price, one we’re all willing to pay if we get the chance, of course.
2. Mirte Maas
3. Lindsey Wixson
4. Abbey Lee Kershaw
5. Karmen Pedaru
6. Ginta Lapina
7. Daphne Groeneveld
8. Frida Gustavsson
Frida is certainly one of the prettiest faces on the runway, and I admire her for staying true to herself refusing to lose weight despite her agency and the industry’s demands; it also promotes a healthier image!  Here in French Vogue, she is praised for having the “true body of a woman.”  Are we going to see more models with a bit feminine shape?  After the heroin chic 90’s and Kate Moss, let’s hope so.
9. Arizona Muse
In model-mode, no one can pull off androgyny quite like her, though off-camera she has all the glamour and beauty of the Roaring Twenties.
10. Barbara Palvin

LOVE VS

Last night I figured, To hell with self-esteem, I’m watching the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show! Now, there’s absolutely nothing practical or “ready-to-wear” about the show, but we’re left in awe and mesmerized by the imagination, artistry, extravagance — what have you — of this annual event.  Taking place in New York this year, the show featured Tough Love, Country Girls, Game On, Heavenly Bodies, Wild Things, and PINK with guest performances from Akon (“Angel”) and Katy Perry (“Firework” and a medley of top hits), who looked sexy herself in custom-designed VS looks.  What’s not to love?