with the golden globes just around the corner (and the obsession that is idol even closer! but that’s not the story), we are again preparing to scan the throng of stars for things to talk about, good or bad. as the first major red carpet event every year, there is some pressure on celebs to create a striking “first” impression.
before 2010 celebrity couture officially starts next week, i would like to round-up and rank my favorite red carpet dresses of 2009.
10. jamie-lynn sigler in dkny
it’s probably the gold dress with the silver accessories and the bronze tan. it’s like the olympic medals melded into a woman to become jamie-lynn sigler.
from in style.
9. tilda swinton in haider ackermann
there is only one tilda swinton the world so there is only one person in the world who can pull this off.
from my it things.
8. penelope cruz in balmain and sarah jessica parker in dior haute couture
penelope cruz maintains the status after 2007′s best dress. of course, sjp keeps up with her on-screen fashion role.
from splendicity.
7. katy perry in basil soda
hey, don’t knock the giant pink gladiola sprouting from her waist. all things considered, this is one of the tamest katy has been and this dress is gorgeous overall, gladiola or not.
6. blake lively in versace
well, someone had to uphold the reputation of gossip girl. because i don’t think leighton meester did.
5. evan rachel wood in elie saab couture and marisa tomei in atelier versace
the two dresses made by origami experts.
from blogdorfgoodman and mahalo.
4. emmy rossum in carolina herrera
the dress equivalent of a mullet: business at the front, party at the back.
from zimbio.
3. drew barrymore in monique lhuillier
you think i’m just biased towards a filipina designer?… nah.
from style spot.
2. kim kardashian in ina soltani
armenian beauty + bosnian design = stunning.
1. angelina jolie in versace
of course i’d show off those legs and back if i had them. of course i’d show off brad if i had him.
continuation to this entry.
the bouquet: berries and crystals
deep colored blooms like red roses and burgundy lilies add to the richness of the season's theme. adorned with berries, they give you the idea of a mistletoe.
from kaboodle and wedding flowers and reception ideas.
i am very partial towards crystals in just about anything, so i'm all for bridal flowers bedazzled with swarovski crystals. especially during christmas!
from pink frosting and silk wedding designs.
bind the stem with luxurious fabrics or ribbons in christmas colors; if it's a winter wedding, instead of a traditional bouquet, warm your hands in a muff of flowers!
from wedding flowers and reception ideas.
ring bearer pillow and flower girl basket: lots of bows and twigs with moss or pine needles
overload the pillow and basket with satin and gossamer ribbons. they will take on the appearance of christmas presents.
from eliza fig.
not precisely what i imagined, but very good representations of what i had in mind nonetheless: twigs and moss or pine needles with mistletoe, berries, pinecones and flowers to make the pillow look like a wreath and the basket look like a goodie stash.
from etsy and inspired occasions.
candles: bright and cheery candle holders
bright and shiny colors lend a festive feel to these otherwise austere decors, and the rustic pinecone candle holders add flair.
from bridal people.
sendoff from church: snowflakes, stars and sleigh-bells
instead of rice, have the guests toss snowflakes and star confetti at the bride and groom.
from chico party.
let the guests jingle gold and silver sleigh bells as they toss confetti to the newlyweds. and these double as wedding favors too!
from bisman weddings and eliza fig.
why get married during the christmas season?
1. appropriate decors and trimmings are easier to find and are more reasonably priced this time of the year. 2. hotels, restaurants and halls are lavishly decorated already, minimizing reception costs. 3. christmas carols can form part of your wedding songs. 4. many family and friends from overseas are home for the holidays; all of you can reunite on the wedding day (not to mention, you don’t have to spend for their airfare at all!) 5. numerous additional design ideas like snowflakes, poinsettia, mistletoe, wreaths and berries can be included in the theme. 6. there’s magic in the air! 7. and, my personal favorite, you have the right to go crazy with sparkly things like lights, crystals, candles and glitter!
the wedding dress
for winter: faux fur and stylish jackets
if christmas happens during winter in your country, take warmth into consideration. remember, bundling up doesn’t mean looking frumpy and shapeless. you can keep the cut of your dream gown using warm fabrics like brocade or faux fur. you can even use a stylish coat or jacket.
fur, either trim or a full-on coat, adds the perfect charm to a winter wedding dress.
from bride and wed-shopping.
i have always loved the sight of a slim jacket over a bouffant skirt, like this cardigan (left) or this structured overcoat (right).
from fashionbride.
for the maximalist: gold and platinum with lots of embellishment
what is christmas decorating if not shiny? radiate the season in shades of the most precious metals in materials that sparkle and extra-elaborate details that will give the june bride a run for her money. this is december, this is the holiday, this is your chance to live out your most opulent fantasies.
yards and yards of material in gold or platinum in keeping with the traditional christmas scheme. you have the right to remain shiny!
from wedding ideas magazine.
pearls, crystals, lace, tulle... embellish to your heart's content!
dress at left from elie saab.
for the sweet and stylish: red and green bows
like christmas presents that come with a bow, an elegant dress with a sash tied into a nifty ribbon will evoke wonderful memories of the season.
whether on an art deco-inspired design (left) or a jane austen-esque cut (right) a sash pulls the dress together.
from bridalwave.
although a simple sash without the bow is also very attractive, the idea is to create a parallel to gifts. and they usually come with a bow.
from onewed.
for the bold: red and green dresses
red and green may not make a traditional wedding dress, but everybody knows they are traditional christmas shades. if you are courageous enough, why not take the plunge? reds in ruby or burgundy; greens in emerald or forest hues.
if you can handle it, go all out and wear the season's shades.
from red hot brides and bridalwave.
not that bold? then put the red and green in the details.
from house of brides.
and, finally, my favorite:
from okbbaru.
a long lean trench that drags down to the floor in a flowy train with fur trim and crystals around the waist. over a slinky gown. and those gloves, that purse, that little tiara! stuff sleigh-ride-in-the-snow dreams are made of!
one of the most ubiquitous trends in ss09 is the jumpsuit. a whole pants ensemble in just one piece, this throw-on suit has received mixed reviews from real-world women here and abroad.
hollywood, on the other hand, generally seems to warm up to this grown-up onesie, as evident in numerous red carpet and paparazzi-chance appearances. among the celebrity fans of jumpsuits, eva longoria, rihanna, kim kardashian and beyonce knowles happen to wear the style most frequently.
i myself like jumpsuits, i have always loved the look of them even before designers reeled them out of the 70′s and into the runways last year. i like them best in palazzo or wide-leg styles.
jumpsuit pros:
jumpsuit cons:
black formal, celebrity style:
plunging neckline (katie holmes), halter backless (maggie gyllenhall), corset (kim kardashian), boatneck (victoria beckham)
black formal, shopping around:
rachel pally
tart
wink
lighter and brighter, celebrity style:
purple (rihanna), light blue (laura ramsey), white (lady isabella hervey), beige (anita briem)
lighter and brighter, shopping around:
express
erin fetherston
70′s disco elements, celebrity style:
denim (alicia keys), floral (rihanna), sparkly (malin akerman), silver (sophie marceau)
70′s disco elements, shopping around:
arden b
dolce & gabbana
since i am on the shorter side, i don’t think i can wear the floor length palazzo jumpsuit without looking like a walking stump (nevermind eva longoria and kim kardashian, they certainly have more ideal figures than i do).
i think the jumpsuit gaucho would be a better alternative for me:
baby phat
newport news
what do you think of jumpsuits?
first off, i like jersey material. jersey knit, that is, not cotton. i have a ton of tops and a number of shift dresses in that fabric.
strangely though, i couldn’t stand wearing jersey when i was pregnant, especially jersey dresses. i had some issues with dresses that clung snugly onto or skimmed along my hips and thighs. which was a minor challenge since fashionable maternity dress choices in fabrics other than jersey were not easy to come by.
aside from that, i thought jersey was too casual for work or strictly formal affairs, and i didn’t want to be an “exclusion” to the rule just because i was pregnant.
one of the more apparent problems i encountered with maternity dresses not made of jersey is many designs seemed so dowdy and, well, exaggeratedly wide. of course, i understand the rationale behind making these dresses bigger, being fabrics that don’t stretch, but i hope retailers keep in mind that maternity clothes are not tents. an expectant mother would love to feel sexy now more than ever.
so if you are like me as a pregnant shopper, you might want to check out www.apeainthepod.com, one of my favorite maternity sites that offers styles such as these fabulous maternity dresses:
flutter-sleeve dress in silk and chiffon
sleeveless white dress with collar and pleats in sateen
ruched empire waist dress in denim
kimono style dress with baroque print
formal dress in velvet
sleeveless formal dress in charmeuse
work wear in knit and tweed
all photos lifted from www.apeainthepod.com.
some badly-taken photos at the leonardo salinas homecoming fashion show. sponsored by nokia, organized by the philippine daily inquirer. i couldn’t take better shots because i was too hungry to even try. and i’m not good at maneuvering around so many hoit and toit.
look out for the post in kikay exchange!
sam oh interviewing leonardo salinas during the early evening cocktails
leonardo salinas with sam oh
portraits of "women of salinas" on exhibit
nokia phones on display
interviewing leonardo salinas
the newly renovated rizal ballroom
i don't know how to take motion shots. so?!
the white evening dress i like.
probably my favorite piece.
actually, maybe this is my favorite piece.
just something yellow.
just something orange.
the coup de grace white dress.
leonardo salinas with the models, the "women of salinas" and nokia philippines general manager.
the evening's hosts.
what i found out today: new zealand has such a passionate group of sports fans called beige brigade which began as an over-zealous group of cricket fans in 1999. they wore home-made beige uniforms similar to the greatly criticized uniforms of the nz team. though nz has since changed their official color to black (thus the all blacks), the beige uniforms worn by fans have become so popular, they still persist in using it today. instead of donning home-made suits, the beige brigade now sells the outfits to interested sports fans and, get this, it comes with a contract outlining the expectations that comes with being a beige brigadier.
thinking of the beige brigade reminds me of my closet. there was a time when most of my clothes were beige. i don’t know how that happened, but that was it. whenever i shopped for clothes, i gravitated towards beige in its various intensities: caramel, tan, camel, taupe, khaki, you name it.
that had changed some time ago, since i introduced rich vibrant colors into my wardrobe (though this year, i think i have too many blacks. i really remind myself of the new zealand sports uniforms). but that doesn’t mean i quit on beige. it’s still my default color, but i have learned through time how to make it less boring.
many people stay away from beige because they think the color is too bland and it makes their skin look sallow. i have learned through years of beige experience that a good guideline is finding the right shade for your skin tone. keep in mind though, this doesn’t mean you should look for one that matches your skin color (unless, of course, you intend to look nude or something). look for a complementing shade. for instance, caramel and camel shades are best against dark skin. but i think flesh colored shoes are breathtaking, especially if they have stiletto heels.
then swing the blandness by adding some eye-catching details. i find that gigantic cocktail rings, ostentatious chandelier earrings and other outrageous accoutrements are best with neutral-colored outfits. another thing you can do, especially this colder season, is layer them over another color.
for dressier occassions though, i prefer cream colors. though they’re not classified under the beige tones, i am very partial to wearing them too. i like that they are deeper and richer than white and give you the sense of pearls or desserts.
i hope you’re ok with wearing beige now!
to continue my coverage of june as wedding month, i’d like to share little historical facts about my favorite things. shoes.
fact: around approximately 1000 a.d., a father of a saxon bride presents the groom with one of the bride’s shoes as a symbol of transferring authority. and get this: instead of the bouquet, the bride’s shoe is thrown to the bridesmaids. the one who catches it is next to marry. how hysterical would that be?
if this tradition still holds true today, i wish brides toss these:
christian louboutin white chiffon and satin (stella luna carries a similar style at a fraction of the price)
forever 21 peep toe pumps with ankle strap and flower detail (you can get any pair of peep toe pumps and embellish them with a flower brooch)
charlotte bridal boots from elegantsteps.co.uk
embellished strappy shoes from pakistan
bridal shoes with embellished straps and heels by badgley mischka
cerise bridal shoe by aruna seth
if brides throw these shoes to the bridesmaids, i’ll grab these beauties and run off lickety-split.
it’s june, the wedding month. why is it traditionally the wedding month in our climate anyway?
it’s not unusual for brides to dislike being upstaged by the bridesmaids, but do they say anything about the flower girls stealing their thunder?
i like flower girl dresses and the creative license behind designing them. unlike a bridesmaid dress, you can make a flower girl dress as princess-y and as poufy as you want and the wearer would love you for it. you can even let her wear a tiara and that wouldn’t look ridiculous. heck, a foliage headdress is a given for some. plus they get to carry a basket!
champagne colored dress with embroidery details and scallop edges. let's see the bridesmaid get away with something like this...
black dots on white with black sash and red flower brooch. i hate polka dots on grown women, but i adore them on little girls.
green organza, embroidered and embellished dress with adjustable waist.
striped, halter style with sash. perfect combination of traditional and modern elements.
ivory dress with pick-up skirt and brown sash. super cute if the bride has a similar skirt design. like a mini-me of sorts.
i have to say, though, that i like the simplicity of this one best. she can wear it with pearls, a pair of gloves and stockings.
let the little girls shine too! being a flower girl is one of the most remarkable childhood memories any girl can ever have. i know it’s one of mine.
photos from www.mygirldress.com
if you have seen the farrelly brothers’ epic comedy there’s something about mary, then you would know one of the funniest moments in comic cinema is when mary (cameron diaz) brought the private investigator/con artist to the architecture exhibit and asked him to identify one of the works, whether it was art nouveau or art deco.
could you have distinguished one from the other? so, what is the difference between art nouveau and art deco?
art nouveau (french for “new art”) began in the later part of the 19th century. it extensively incorporated natural, organic elements and the female form in its designs. it is greatly characterized by softness and fluidity, its distinct feature being the asymmetrical sinuous, undulating lines. just by this description, one can probably tell that the style is known for its decorative aspects.
artist alphonse mucha is one of the best representatives of this artistic movement. a more common example is gustave klimt.
art nouveau in interior design
art nouveau in architecture
art deco, on the other hand, achieved its height in popularity during the 1920′s to the 1930′s. it incorporated cubist and bauhaus influences in its designs. as opposed to art nouveau’s flowing lines, art deco makes full use of streamlined geometric images. it utilizes symmetry and boldness in design and color. it is influenced by industrial shapes and by art from indian, egyptian and native american cultures.
art deco architecture
art deco stained glass design
tamara de lempicka is one of the finest artists during the art deco period. another is jewelry-maker rene lalique.
although these were art at the turn of the twentieth century, they are still, without a doubt, influencing designs of today.
dresses with art nouveau prints by prada, mara hoffman and tibi
art deco inspired dresses by badgley mischka, holly fulton and zac posen
can you tell them apart now?
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