the fashion report: 2011 Academy Awards

the 83rd annual academy awards are over, which means one thing: the fashion police are out and in full effect!

beside being entirely underwhelmed at last night’s production (sorry james & anne!), there were definitely some fashion stand-outs. check out my picks for best and worst dressed, and more!

*  *  *

i’ll start with my faves.

first up, miss reese witherspoon in a to-die-for ensemble. this giorgio armani prive gown is so simple, yet beautifully elegant. kudos to that hair do as well! and the best actress academy-award winner herself, natalie portman, shined in this marroon rodarte dress. perfect choice for her growing baby bump too! love the off-the-shoulder detailing.

‘best song’ performer mandy moore chose this subdued monique lhuillier gown. this is how you do red carpet, folks. her look is flawless right down to the exceptional fit of the dress. black swan actress mila kunis took lavender to new heights when she donned this elie saab haute couture beauty. breathtaking details and gorgeous overall design. loved it.

rounding out my top 5 was matthew mcconaughey’s baby momma camilla alves in kaufman franco. WOW, is all i can say. i couldn’t have been more in love with this choice… the ruching and lay of the skirt was muy fantastico!

*  *  *

we saw lots of RED on this year’s red carpet… and i must say they look radiant.

oscar host anne hathaway‘s chose this valentino gown for her first dress of the evening. while i liked the look, how much more svelte would this have been without the additions to the skirt? i would’ve gone ga-ga over this if it were a column dress. but good job, anne, i do like! newcomer jennifer lawrence tore it up in this form-fitting calvin klein collection gown. let’s call a spade a spade… she’s hot.

one of my favorites of the night – sandra b in vera wang! simply ravishing! that waist is perfection. i would’ve liked to see her wear her hair down for a change, but she still looks scrumptious. new mommy penelope cruz accompanied her nominated hubby (javier bardem) in l’wren scott. wasn’t my fave of the night, but you gotta hand it to her – she looks great!

presenter jennifer hudson wowed the crowd in atelier versace… what else can be said? she is workin’ it in this dress! you don’t see too many halter straps on the red carpet, but this definitely works. get it girl!

*  *  *

and now… for the worst. yikes, did these ladies have it WRONG.

i was brought to tears laughing so hard at marisa tomei‘s charles james dress. red carpet commentators loved it… until the camera panned down to the bottom. that looks like something that belongs under the dress, not on top! close, but no cigar. for best supporting actress melissa leo, i have one question: why are you wearing a doily to the oscars? please shred this marc bouwer dress as soon as possible. thanks.

nominee michelle williams picks this less-than-flattering sleeved column gown by chanel haute couture. this girl has a rockin’ bod, but even SHE looks awful in this sheet! i would’ve liked to see her in a strapless blue or red gown. next year, next year. resident beauty scarlett johansson slipped up big time in dolce & gabbana. i’m telling you, remove the old-fashioned lace, and i would’ve loved it. the color and cut are gorge, the lace is not.

an unusual choice from cate blanchett (wearing givenchy couture), that i would’ve liked if not for the circle cut-out. the light lavender and gold embellishments are glorious togehter… even the funky sleeves are working! but why is there a target-shaped hole on your chest?! bah!

*  *  *

well that about wraps things up! what did YOU think? agree or disagree with any of my picks?

live on the red carpet: the 2011 Golden Globes

award season is here! let’s kick it off with the 2011 Golden Globes… one of the most fun award shows all season. read below for live coverage of the red carpet!

3:00 – is it weird how excited i am?

3:02 – oh ryan seacrest. i like you, but not nearly as much as you like yourself.

3:03 – okay, wow. olivia wilde is looking FLAWLESS. great color, an even better fit. do i already have a “best dressed?”

3:05 – guiliana rancic looking quite skeletal today. pretty, but she’d look better with some meat on those bones!

3:08 – big bang theory‘s kaley cuoco awkwardly wearing a diamond ring on her ring finger when she’s not engaged? not feeling the hair either.

3:13 – totally awkward live moment on E! with kelly osbourne – stumbling a bit on air. train wrecks are always hard to watch! not loving the dress either.

3:18 – we’re off to a bit of a slow start! let’s get some celebs on the screen, E!

3:19 – j. love hewitt & bf up with on the platform. she really seems to be striking out in the fashion department lately. not loving tonight’s choice of ramona caveza, either BUT her hair and make-up do look lovely.

3:23 – julia stiles of dexter just arrived in a beautiful black ruffle ensemble. wonder if she’ll win for best supporting actress in a tv series?

3:29 – jim parsons of the big bang theory mentions the circular table seating concept of the Globes. i absolutely love how informal it is!

3:30 – 30 rock‘s alec baldwin looking quite gentlemen-like in his sleek bowtie. he mentioned he’s running for office? hmm… shall i say “spare us?!” stick with what ya know!

3:32 – ryan seacrest reveals that his “real name” is ryan seabrest

3:34 – this just in: hawaii 5-0‘s scott caan snores!

3:36 – donna karan-clad elisabeth moss chose a perfect color for her skintone – jeweled green.

3:37 – glee‘s diana agron looks radiant in j. mendel… but i absolutely HATE when people wear nude colors on the red carpet.

3:38  – WHOA, sorry ryan seacrest but your girl is looking not-so-great. julianna hough in a egyptian-inspired black & gold ensemble. bad choice.

3:4o – Golden Globe host ricky gervais on what he’s most looking forward to: “when it’s over, and i’m backstage having a beer.” HA!

3:43 – sarah hyland from modern family may be young, but her fashion choice is right on target!

3:44 - covert affair‘s piper perabo in oscar de la renta looks exceptional. dress is gorge, but hair and make-up is BREATHTAKING. the red lipstick keeps the black dress from being too boring.

3:46 – i love me some julie bowen! what a beautiful cut, but again i’m not a fan of the color. i wish this was red, orange or pink!

3:50 – never one to shy away from crazy fashion choices, helena bonham carter’s got a bee’s nest on her head and two different colored shoes on her feet.

3:54 – eva longoria steps out in BLACK zac posen. that seems to be the trend! gorgeous dress, though.

3:56 – pregnant nominee natalie portman looks stunning! love the pink & red, and especially that cute baby bump!

3:59 – breaking news… jimmy fallon & jason segal are “dating” as of this morning. got in an afternoon fight, but now everything’s better ;)

4:02 – i spy with my little eye january jones in brilliant red & emma stone in coral. LOVE IT.

4:09 – precious couple nicole kidman & keith urban up on the platform. sorry, nicole, but this dress is a huge MISS. keith on her rabbit hole role: “it’s important for nic to tell certain stories.” so cute.

4:14 – think i just saw my best dressed of the night: catherine zeta-jones in a stunning jewel-toned gown. wow! and hubby michael douglas reveals his tumor is gone! PRAISE GOD!

4:20 – modern family‘s sofia vergara gets it RIGHT in that beautiful red, hour-glass ensemble by vera wang!

4:26 – uh oh brad & angelina are here! angie in a versace green sparkle gown. pretty, but looks pretty old-fashioned. i think it’s funny that they always bypass E!.

4:27 – mila kunis in green too! WOW, love that color.

4:33 – another best dressed… temple grandin‘s claire danes! so pretty in pink and loving her jewelry.

4:36 – lea michele is always one of my faves, and tonight was no different. check her out!

4:40 – halle berry. oh my gosh. you are one of the most beautiful women in the world! why did you wear such an ugly dress?!?!

4:42 – ANNE HATHAWAY looking lovely lovely lovely in armani. very different, but i just love it.

4:43 – megan fox and her honey, both in armani. what an attractive couple! i actually like megan’s choice. pretty color!

4:45 – HATE jennifer lopez‘s dress. don’t even want to talk about it.

4:47 – another “hate”… for christina aguilera‘s hairstyle.

4:52 – the fighter‘s mark wahlberg so very much deserves awards for his movie. such a passion project!

5:00 – let the show begin! follow along here for coverage.

friends with no strings attached

two movies, same plot.

let’s get the run-down, shall we?

no strings attached. starring natalie portman and ashton kutcher. two friends try to do the dirty without letting emotions get in the way. but, who are we kidding, they probably end up falling in love anyway. release date of january 21.


friends with benefits. starring mila kunis and justin timberlake. two friends try to do the dirty without letting emotions get in the way. but, who are we kidding, they probably end up falling in love anyway. release date of july 22.

i suppose the only good thing about having two movies with the same premise come out in the same year is that… oh wait, there’s nothing good about that. hello, lack of originality!

the similarly-themed rom com’s start with the same intentions (sleep together out of convenience and/or boredom) and end up with the same predicament (guy falls for girl). seems like the only difference is that the mila/justin flick is a bit more raunchy!

sooo, which one tickles YOUR fancy?

‘black swan’ gives chills

oookay. i tuned into this trailer of black swan, expecting to get an inside peek into the world of competitive ballet. NOPE. it’s creepy.

starring natalie portman, mila kunis and winona ryder, black swan is due out in theaters december 1. i suppose i should’ve known there’d be twists with director darren aronofsky of requiem for a dream and the wrestler fame at the helm!

more than anything, though, there’s been a lot of buzz surrounding portman and kunis’ love scene (of course). kunis says, “anything sexual in this film is not there for the sake of being sexual. i think people are hoping it’s like two girls making out and pillow fighting. it’s not smut.”

then what is it? the synopsis explains:

“nina (portman) is a ballerina in a new york city ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. when artistic director thomas leroy decides to replace prima ballerina beth (ryder) for the opening production of their new season, swan lake, nina is his first choice. but nina has competition: a new dancer, lily (kunis), who impresses leroy as well. swan lake requires a dancer who can play both the white swan with innocence and grace, and the black swan, who represents guile and sensuality. nina fits the white swan role perfectly but lily is the personification of the black swan. as the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side – a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.”

enough with that. watch the trailer above. does black swan catch your interest?

the fashion report: 2010 MET ball

the MET ball (noun): a gala held at the metropolitan museum of art in which celebs far & wide gather for one purpose – to pay homage to fashion. look FIERCE, or leave.

i gots to say, i was more impressed than i usually am with the MET red carpet. there were definitely some shining moments. i couldn’t narrow down my picks for best – i chose 7! not much to say about the four above. heavenly, i believe would be sufficient enough to describe camilla belle (in jason wu), mila kunis (in vera wang), melania trump (in christian siriano), and anne hathaway (in valentino – her fave). WOW.

below, jennifer lopez worked it ouuuut in zuhair murad. love the silhouette and the design scheme – perfect for her coloring. jessica alba channels old school hollywood in this champagne colored sophie theallet gown. and i’m loving model bar rafeali’s choice of the hem, showing off her gorgeous gams in this rag & bone ensemble.

she’s been off the map recently, but claire danes came in strong at the MET ball, donning a brilliant form-fitting burberry gown. and of course, i loved rachel weisz’s custom-made oscar de la renta gown. who doesn’t appreciate a splash of color?

*   *   *

the MET ball saw a lot of white this year… some did it good, some, not so good. diane kruger chose this calvin klein gown – a great look for her. take a gander at those curves! really not jealous at all! jessica biel rocked the greek goddess look in her ralph lauren collection dress… loved the gown, hate the hair. two-toned brown has never been my thing.

kirsten dunst – what’s with the hemline? i can’t stand the it’s-a-long-dress-but-not-quite-touching-the-floor kinda thing. her rodarte for gap dress had me less than impressed. taylor swift was a different story in her ralph lauren collection ensemble – very age-appropriate and feminine. she might try switching the hairstyle every once in awhile… it’s pretty much the same on every red carpet.

and one of my faves for the night, emma watson in burberry. the stunner can do no wrong in my eyes… gorgeous!

*   *   *

aaaaand for the worst. and man, where there some unflattering choices! dear, sweet kristen stewart. in other words, what the heck is wrong with you? this chanel dress is HEINOUS in every way possible. and what’s with the hair/make-up? time to fire the stylist. the lovely gisele bundchen seems a little more like catwoman than a sophisticated MET attendee. not feeling the alexander wang gown at all.

sienna miller almost had it right in her emilio pucci gown – how much more gorgeous would it be as a full-length? and tina fey, oh tina fey. just because you’re known for being “funny” doesn’t mean you have to dress like crap. who wears a jumpsuit to the MET ball… honestly.

no words for katy perry. her cute circuit dress has actual LED lights included. doesn’t that just scream classy?

*   *   *

so, what do YOU think? agree/disagree with my picks?