Let's Play Barbie: Oscars 2011 Red Carpet

The Oscars is The Event of all events for actresses (or their stylists) to pull out all the stops and dazzle viewers with world class fashion.  Unfortunately, everyone is afraid of being on worst dressed lists and ends up playing it safe.  But!  What if I could choose what actresses would wear on the red carpet?  Well, I'm glad you asked...

ANNE HATHAWAY

Anne is hosting, which means many costume changes (I hope!).  Her uber important role, coupled with an incredible ability to pull of tricky couture gowns, should result in some stunning fashion moments.  I have an amazing lineup chosen for her.

                    Christian Dior Couture Spring 2011, Rodarte Fall 2011, and Prabal Gurung Fall 2011

Louis Vuitton Spring 2011, Gucci Fall 2011, Atelier Versace Spring 2011, Diane von Furstenberg Fall 2011

MICHELLE WILLIAMS

Michelle has a penchant for slightly frumpy and overly twee dresses.  She is never going to do straight up  bombshell, and I am ok with that.  Keeping this in mind, I have chosen some modest, yet fabulous, couture options for her. 

                                     Christian Dior Couture Spring 2011, Valentino Couture Spring 2011, Elie Saab Couture Spring 2011

NATALIE PORTMAN

The Best Actress Oscar favorite (or so I hear) needs a fierce maternity gown to live up to her Black Swan role.  These dresses would be perfect for a Black Swan reference, and I think they would work as maternity wear...although I am not an expert in this area.

                     Christian Dior Couture Spring 2011 and Oscar de la Renta Fall 2011

DIANE KRUGER
This is a woman after my own heart, who actually takes risks on the red carpet.  I have decided it is time for her to have a McQueen moment.  She can pull it off, so why not?

                                       Alexander McQueen Pre-Fall 2011 and Alexander McQueen Spring 2011

TILDA SWINTON

Tilda always brings the avant garde to the red carpet.  With her striking features and commanding presence, she can pull off just about anything.

                                Haider Ackerman Spring 2011, Givenchy Couture Spring 2011, and Alexander McQueen Spring 2011

CATE BLANCHETT

Cate the Great has proven time and time again to have impeccable taste.  She would work these sparkley column gowns to the max.

              Armani Prive Spring 2011, Oscar de la Renta Fall 2011, and Ralph Lauren Fall 2011

JANUARY JONES

There is a 99.9% chance that January Jones will wear Versace, since she is the face of their spring ad campaigns.  I would be completely happy with that, because these gowns are works of art.

        Atelier Versace Spring 2011

HELEN MIRREN

Helen Mirren looks indisputabley awesome for her age.  I am always amazed at how stylish and well put together she is on the red carpet.  She seems to favor Elie Saab, whose feminine designs work well for her.

 Elie Saab Couture Spring 2011, Naeem Khan Fall 2011, and Ralph Lauren Fall 2011

AMY ADAMS

Amy is kind of run-of-the-mill when it comes to the red carpet.  I think she should amp up her style with this dramatic Gucci (fresh off of Milan's runways) or Reem Acra.

                   Gucci Fall 2011 and Reem Acra Pre-Fall 2011

JULIANNE MOORE

Julianne is a gorgeous woman; it's a shame she usually ends up wearing dresses that don't work for her on the red carpet.  I think she should stick with a sleek, flattering silhouette.

Atelier Versace Spring 2011 and Neem Khan Fall 2011

HELENA BONHAM CARTER

And lastly, Helena always brings the kooky to the red carpet, which is why I love her!  She likes her dresses dark and a little bit crazy, and I found just the one for her.

                         Jean Paul Gaultier Couture Spring 2011

That's a wrap.  I can't wait to see what turns up on the red carpet on Sunday!

Fall 2011 Fashion Week: London

Christopher Kane Fall 2011

I really enjoyed the London shows this season.  They were bold, colorful, inventive...everything I want for spring, and yet they were fall collections.  Fashion is funny like that.  Standouts included Jonathan Saunders, Christopher Kane, and Erdem.

JONATHAN SAUNDERS

Jonathan Saunders's collections are very wearable--he relies on color, pattern, and styling to elevate his looks from clothes to Fashion.  Every look in this collection had a crisp simplicity that was very refreshing.  Saunders likes his woman covered up, but still feminine.  Shirts were buttoned all the way up and slim pencil skirts fell below the knee--very on-trend this season. The color blocking and silver chromed platforms gave each look a modern edge.











CHRISTOPHER KANE

Christopher Kane has become one of my favorite designers to watch.  He is not scared to be experimental, and yet he keeps his silhouettes quite modest.  This season he accented his garments with clear plastic squiggles filled with brightly colored dyes, reminiscent of fruit freeze pops.  The collection began with leather and macrame pieces, shifted to black crepe dresses (all with the bright squiggles), and ended with sheer sequin-embellished dresses.  Kane's lineup is sure to be popular in fashion editorials in the next few months.













ERDEM

Erdem Moralioglu took his girly florals to the next level in his fall collection.  Each print looked like a work of art--the blues were evocative of a Chagall painting, the greens of Monet's water lilies.  Most looks combined 2+ prints and were accented with splotchy pink/red/blue gloves.  The whole show had a dark, moody feel, unusual for a collection full of florals.