Golden Globes 2015

Yessssssss… Award season has begun, which to me means the red carpet’s Battle of the Dresses is ON good people of Hollywood!  The Golden Globes, a ceremony I have always viewed as the drunken, more entertaining version of the Oscars, gives us not only an early indication of the season’s winners, but also a welcome glimpse at the latest show stopping frocks (or sparkly jumpsuits, as the case was this year).   

It is worth mentioning, before we get to the fashion nitty gritty, that the glorious Tina Fey and Amy Poehler presented the awards for the very last time on Sunday (a total travesty, someone throw even more money at them, QUICK!) Their opening monologue (below) was, once again, my serious highlight of the night… These two ladies and their on-point humour shall be greatly missed. 

Right, back to the fashuuuuun and my Best Dressed of the night… With so many of the stars dressed immaculately, but oh so predictably, at these events, I will always be drawn to the women who choose not to play it so safely (or clevagey).  No one, in my opinion, looked better at this year's Golden Globes than TLC's serial red carpet winner, Emma Stone.  Wearing a bejeweled Lanvin jumpsuit, the actress oooozed confidence and cool, with just the right amount of quirk.  Diane Kruger looked every inch the blonde and icy screen siren wearing one of my favourite designers, Emilia Wickstead.  I also adored beautiful Brit Felicity Jones’ unusual, teal Christian Dior gown, which although divided opinion, had me at hello. 

Special mentions must go to Leslie Mann for her yellow Kaufman Franco sequinned dress/green clutch combo (and for just always being the sweetest, most cute-as-a-button thing I ever did see), Sienna Miller’s stand out Miu Miu dress worn with rocky, choppy hair, and Anna Kendrick in her Cinderella by name/role, Cinderella by nature/dress, in fairytale Monique Lhuillier.

It has to be said, shiny Golden Globes may have been highly sought after by many a Hollywood hand, but the real winners were these three dapperly dressed dudes, all holding super smokin' and strikingly dressed ladies in their arms;  Benedict Cumberbatch with his fiancé Sophie Hunter (in Erdem), Joshua Jackson with long-term love Diane Kruger (in Emilia Wickstead) and Jamie Dornan with wife Amelia Warner (in another of my favourite designers, Husihan Zhang).  High five gentlemen, we salute you.

Below:  When Bad Dresses Happen to Good People.  Ohhhh… There’s always one who lets the side down… ok, perhaps five.  I met Lana Del Rey in LA once, she was LOVELY, unlike her dress on Sunday.  Rosamund Pike was scarily good in 'Gone Girl,' ironically as her cutom-made Vera Wang dress was scarily bad.  Lupita Nyong’o, who topped EVERY best dressed list last season, clearly has decided to let everyone else have a go this year, wearing this Giambattista Valli 'thing.'  Michelle Monaghan wearing a 'Throwback Thursday' to the awesome nineties… except it was a Sunday, and this Jason Wu dress was not awesome.  Kate Mara in Miu Miu. Has the 'House of Cards' actress stepped in a puddle?  Do puddles even exist in LA?!  And don’t get me started on that belt... No Kate. No. 

For the full list and details of the evening's winners see HERE

New Face of Dior: Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence's adverts for Miss Dior were released earlier this week, and now a new behind-the-scenes video now also gives us an insight into the making of the campaign.

"Dior represents beauty and strength in women and that's how I feel when I'm wearing his clothes... It just makes you feel so confident… Being part of something with such incredible history is an honor..."  Jennifer Lawrence.

Amazingly, when Jennifer saw these photographs on the Oscar's red carpet last week, she remarked candidly, "that doesn't look like me at all. I love Photoshop more than anything in the world. Of course it's Photoshop, people don't look like that."

Trend: Canary Yellow

blog_213337_1932969.jpeg

Here comes the sun... Ok, kindof!   We all knew Canary Yellow was going to be a big and bright SS’13 fashion trend after DKNY tickled us with their NYC Cab hues and then more delicate tones soon followed in the Zac Posen, Jenny Packham and Carolina Herrera spring runways.  On last week’s freezing, snowy EE BAFTA's red carpet, Marion Cotillard (in Christian Dior) and Rising Star nominee Andrea Riseborough (in Vivienne Westwood) bravely led the way, both looking stunning in their LYD (Long Yellow Dresses!)   
Lemon, Canary, Mustard… Get ready for the highstreet to flood with an array of glorious sunshine shades – just add some simple jewellery and pouty red lips... 

blog_213337_1932971.jpeg

Above:  To emulate the feathery Bridget Bardot or Girl-Of-The-Moment Lena Dunham (at this month's Grammy Awards):  Rag & Bone Knitted Ribbed Dress - RRP. £195.00, Nars Nail Polish in Amchoor (designed by Thankoon Panichgul of Thankoon) - RRP. £14.50, Whistles Structured Tee - RRP. £75.00, Topshop Mustard Brocade Cutout Dress - RRP. £59.00.

SS'13 Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week

Ooh la laaaa… For five days a year, a few selected designers present some of the most beautiful and otherworldly creations during Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week.  Haute Couture means ‘High Fashion’ in French and the ultra-luxe, super detailed pieces are made on an individual basis (for those that can afford it!)  Last week Christian Dior, Giambattista Valli, Jean Paul Gaultier and Maison Martin Margiela all showed their latest haute couture creations but it was the glitteringly elegant Elie Saab dresses and the floaty, intricate Chanel collection which really caught both my eye and imagination...

Described as an 'Ode to Delicacy,' the Elie Saab SS’13 Haute Couture show in Paris (above and below) was utterly breathtaking.  Totally timeless and totally dreamy.

And speaking of dreamy… Beaded and sequined Chanel Couture gowns glided down a forest-styled runway filled with Coco Chanel’s favorite flower, the camellia.  The traditional wedding finale was also anything but ‘traditional’ with two brides walking, hand in hand, down the runway together – perhaps Karl Lagerfeld's stand against the thousands of Parisians who recently marched in protest against the legislation of same-sex marriage? 

I loved the striking red bejeweled pouts at the Christian Dior show (below left) and the extreme false lashes at Chanel (below right)  which resembled dark, feathered tears.

2013 Screen Actors Guild Awards

Award Season is in full swing and unlike the Golden Globes, which was a sea of beige fishtails, last night's 2013 Screen Actors Guild Awards was all about the navy.   Marion Cotillard, my favourite red carpet chéri (above), looked utterly sensational at the SAGs in a stunning Dior satin gown, complete with a tied bow sash and pocket detailing which kept the look fresh and modern.   Below (L-R):  Other navy red carpet beauties included SAG award winner Jennifer Lawrence in a tiered Christian Dior Haute Couture dress, a mermaid-like Amanda Seyfried in Zac Posen and Nicole Kidman in Vivienne Westwood

Mila Kunis Returns As Miss Dior

Mila Kunis has returned for her second year as Miss Dior for the French fashion house’s Autumn/Winter’12 handbag campaign.  The beautiful black and white photographs, with their 1960’s film noir feel, were taken by Mario Sorrenti and styled by Carine Roitfeld.

Looking seductive and sophisticated in the campaign, whilst being hounded by paparazzi, Mila recently said that Christian Dior designs are "very classic, very consistent, really elegant, and really beautiful," as these photographs certainly go to show – those handbags are all gorgeous! I’m running off to find a bow for my hair, c’est tres chic!

Kate Moss 'Checking Out' of The Ritz in Paris (Vogue US)

I can’t believe I have only just seen this stunning US Vogue editorial, ‘Checking Out,’ published last April.  Photographed by Tim Walker and styled by the magazine's creative director Grace Coddington, Kate Moss wears a dramatic selection of Haute Couture SS’12 designs (Valentino, Dior, McQueen, Givenchy to name but a few!)  The supreme decadence of Marie Antoinette is channelled in the opulent surroundings of The Ritz Paris.  

I have a desperate urge to hop on the Eurostar right now.
Or have a pink bubble bath at the very least.

Diane Kruger at Cannes 2012

If there was one celebrity who rocked the red carpet at Cannes 2012, it was Diane Kruger. I am a big style fan of this actress and it is hardly surprising that not one on the French Rivera came close to outshining her or her incredible wardrobe of gorgeous gowns.

Above: (L-R) Diane in edgy Balmain, looking utterly breathtaking in Giambattista Valli Couture and in a short Versus dress with sky-high Jimmy Choo stilettos.

What really struck me about Diane Kruger's faultess Cannes style however, was the continuous use of her favourite and prettiest accessory - her boyfriend Joshua Jackson.  Joshua manages to match every one of Diane's outfits picture perfectly.
No sparkly designer clutch could possibly compete.

Above: Quirky and cute in Chanel

Above: Summery in Calvin Klein

blog_100585_1597891_1339087088.jpg

Above: Divine in Nina Ricci

Above: Prabal Gurung (Look at those shoes!)

Above: Dazzling in Vivienne Westwood

Above: Extremely elegant in Jason Wu.
Black and navy happens to be my favourite colour combination.

Above: (L) Her last and most show stopping dress by Christian Dior.  
(R) 
Diane later changed into this more dinner friendly Jenny Packham ensemble.


Below: Other outfits I really liked were those of Audrey Tautou and Kristen Dunst...

Whilst promoting her latest film 'Thérèse Desqueyroux,' Audrey Tautou personified French chic in this frilly white shirt teamed with casual navy trousers, and later looked particularly Audrey Hepburn-esq in this gorgeous gold Prada dress. J'adore. 



Kristen Dunst looked hot (pink) in this gorgeous fuchsia Christian Dior Pre-Fall 2012 gown with Louis Vuitton jewellery whilst promoting her new film 'On The Road,' having looked very demure and angelic earlier that day in a white, retro Dolce & Gabbana dress accessorised sweetly with a floral headband. 

Gwyneth Paltrow Flying High at the Oscars

My favourite look from this year’s Oscars was undoubtedly Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford. Despite Angelina’s left leg trying its best to pull focus, Gwyneth was stunningly statuesque in a white column gown with matching cape. With natural make up and a soft, relaxed ponytail (an unusual red-carpet trend at this year’s awards) Gwyneth looked breathtakingly fresh, modern and elegant amongst the annual swarm of frills and fluff.

Gwyneth revealed, “I saw a pic of Jackie O in a white dress with a cape and it's been a while since anyone's worn a cape, frankly, except for Superman." The picture she described (left) was of Jackie O in the cream chiffon gown and sweeping cape she designed herself and wore to the inaugural ball in 1961.

Coming a close second to Gwyneth was Oscar nominated Michelle Williams (below) always a red carpet favourite of mine, wearing a pomegranate-coral coloured peplum gown by Louis Vuitton. I loved her clashing pink clutch bag, bright pink lips and the adorable diamante bow brooch attached to her waist.


A special style mention should go to Natalie Portman (far left) the picture of timeless elegance, who chose to wear a 1954 Christian Dior vintage couture polka dot gown despite having her choice of every new dress off the runway. Also, the Oscar nominated Rooney Mara (left) who wore a unique, backless Givenchy structured dress with origami folds and lace details – the white gown along with her porcelain skin, deep red lips and blunt, raven hair created a startlingly striking look on the red carpet.


Right: Cameron Diaz, who rarely ever puts a foot (or Choo) wrong on the red carpet in my opinion, shone in both her contrasting dresses on the big night; a beautiful and shimmering, pale pink Gucci dress for the awards, followed by a dazzlingly bright orange dress by Victoria Beckham for the Vanity Fair party.