Jenny Packham | WhyDid.com

Why Did You Wear That: Here Comes the… Dress.

By Kirsten|November 4th, 2010|Why Did You Wear That?|

Most little girls dream of the day they will meet Prince Charming, have a grand princess wedding and live happily ever after. I’m not sure that I vividly recall doing such a thing, but I bet it’s safe to assume that someone who loves all things girly and pink probably did as well. I get the feeling that my fantasy more closely resembled Pretty Woman because as girly as I am, I have never wanted to look like a princess or wear a any sort of ballgown.

(Oscar de la Renta)

Just ask my mother. I have never worn something normal to a formal event in my life. If only my mom knew how to use a scanner, I would present you with photographic evidence. For goodness sake, I wore shorts to my senior prom. Oh, the dismay of the faculty’s wives. It’s safe to say that I marched to the beat of my own drum and never wanted to show up in the same thing as anyone else. So, it came as no surprise to anyone who knows me that I felt the same way about wedding dresses that I did prom gowns.

(Yolan Cris)

I remember seeing an Hermes dress in Hampton Magazine a couple of summers ago that was little more fabric than a tissue. I marked the page and let my girlfriends know that was what I would be wearing as I walked down the aisle (who I would be marrying was not important). At this point in time I thought I knew two things: I would be married on the beach and true to form would wear something far from fussy.

(Marchesa)

When I set out looking for a wedding dress recently, I had something really special in mind. I’d done my due internet diligence just like all good brides to be (… and basically every girl I know) and concocted a “vision” in my head. I had my heart set on something a bit offbeat, preferably by Jenny Packham. I absolutely did NOT want to look like a frou-frou bride. As a matter of fact, I really didn’t want to look like a bride at all.

(Jenny Packham)

Last week while in NY (because I can not imagine wedding dress shopping anywhere else), a friend called in a favor and scored an appointment at a “fab” bridal salon. We rushed right over (a few proseccos in) and got started. After filling out some minor paperwork, we were ushered into a curtained dressing room and I spoke with my fairy dressmother about what I envisioned. Immediately she got it. I loved her after two minutes of speaking with her. She also had an obsession with Jenny Packham and all things off color. We were like wedding dress soulmates.

(Monique Lhuillier)

I stripped down (thankfully, I’m not shy) and the fun began (mind out of the gutter). There was Marchesa, Monique, Vera, and Jenny to mention a few. She gave me exactly what I wanted, but then brought in a few things that she thought I might want to try. While I literally loved everything I’d tried on prior, I was shocked when I fell hard for a dress I would have never picked off the rack. I couldn’t hide my smile once I was all zipped in and everyone knew that just like my fiance, this was “the one.”

I walked in wanting one thing and left wanting something completely different. Hm… so is the story of my life. I will still be reciting my vows seaside despite my change in attire… at least I got something right.

For the record, it’s amazing what a veil and some A-clips can do.

xx,

WhyDid

P dot S: I will reveal my fairy dressmother as my wedding day approaches. Heaven forbid anyone have… gasp… the same dress as me.

Friday Frocks: Here Comes the Bride

By Kirsten|October 8th, 2010|Friday Frocks, Why Did You Wear That?|

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We all know that the LBD is crucial to every woman’s wardrobe, but there is one dress that will probably be the most important dress a woman ever wears (unless, of course, you’re being inaugurated as the first female prez). This dress… is the wedding dress. You could spend a good portion of your adult life weeding through all of the different options. Sigh. In a sea of white… how will you ever choose? Here’s only a teeny tiny smattering of options:

2385890443_14598547e5_o Dress by Johanna Johnson

monique-lhuillier-kelis_300 Dress by Monique Lhuillier

OscarDeLaRenta Dress by Oscar de la Renta

25e952003232f074_fashionblog-wedding-dresses Dress by Elizabeth Fillmore

elizabeth-fillmore Dress by Elizabeth Fillmore

bridal-gown-wedding-dress-77622

Dress by Jenny Packham

JennyPackham_Fall2009_03_F JennyPackham_Fall2009_03_B

Dress by Jenny Packham

BadgleyMischksa03 Dress by Badgley Mischka

pronovias2 Dress by Pronovias

Screen shot 2010-10-08 at 1.35.44 PM Dress by Pronovias

vera-wang-wedding-gown Dress by Vera Wang

The possibilities are seriously endless. Good luck!

B t dubs, none of these are my choice… that would be bad luck.

xx,

Whydid

Red Carpet Recap: The Money Shot…

By Kirsten|March 8th, 2010|Red Carpet Recap, Why Did You Wear That?|

Typically I find the big award shows to be one big snooze fest. It seems like a lot of people wearing the gowns they weren’t able to wear at their senior proms. However, this year I was pleasantly surprised. Despite the fact that I spent my morning doing the oh-so rigorous Intensanti with WhyDon’tYouActLikeALady, I didn’t fall asleep (let alone yawn) during the red carpet pre-show. Below are some of the good, bad, and just plain ol’ ugly.

The Good:

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Speaking of pleasantly surprised, Meryl Streep looked stunning in Chris March (Project Runway). She is a great example for the older actresses everywhere (take note: she covered her ARMS!!). An absolute perfect choice.

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Sandra Bullock has really never looked better. Her hair and makeup make her look totally feminine and this dress by Marchesa is truly a departure for her. Obviously Oscar worthy.

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Some may disagree with me, but she’s SARAH JESSICA PARKER for crying out loud! Would you really expect her to wear some run of the mill satin gown? Abso not! The pale yellow of her Chanel gown is beautiful on her and I love, love, loved her gigantic hairdo. Matt, you’re not looking too bad either.

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Despite the fact that Miley is slouching as if she’s got osteoporosis at age 17, I thought this was a wonderful choice for her (Jenny Packham). It’s a little more grown up, while still maintaining a youthfulness about it. Well played, Hannah Montana.

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At first, I wasn’t a believer. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a sucker for Rachel McAdams. She’s a gorgeous girl. This dress absolutely grew on me like fungus and it is so different from the typical tulle and taffeta. Bravo, Elie Saab!

Not a huge Cameron Diaz fan, but I am a fan of her in this Bulgari creation. She looks absolutely delightful.

Elizabeth Banks looks amazing in this grey number by Atelier Versace. My only call out? That cheeseball headband. Just too much.

robert-downey-jr-290

I don’t usually find the men’s outfits all that enthralling, but I do love that Robert Downey Jr. decided to be playful with his accessories. Sometimes it gets so boring with everyone in the standard black and white.

The Bad:

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I’m 50% sure that Tina Fey is, in fact, wearing a Bump It. Yes, a Bump It a la Snookie on the Jersey Shore. This Michael Kors dress would have been okay on her, if she had just styled the rest of herself correctly.

nicole-richie

This dress by Reem Acra isn’t HORRIFIC, but it does remind me of something my grandma would wear by the pool in Palm Beach. To “top” it off, her hair looks like she was getting in a last minute pre-Oscar workout and didn’t have time to wash it, let alone, dry shampoo.

2010-03-07-amandaseyfried

I have a serious girl crush on Amanda Seyfried, but I do NOT have a girl crush on her Armani Prive. It is not a flattering color for Amanda and it is just too much dress for her. Better luck next time.

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I think someone summed it up best when they said, “George Clooney looks like a lesbian.” I mean, I have to agree. What is going on? And what is going on with Elisabetta’s shawl? Are we really at Junior Prom?

The Ugly:

First of all, WHY ARE YOU HERE??? That being said, your Armani Prive frock is a fashion fail. It looked like cotton candy gone wrong (as if that’s even possible). For a curvy girl, you should know better than to draw more attention to your hips than you need to.

Maggie, Maggie, Maggie. Really? Were you on your way to a luau and lost your way? Your Dries Van Noten looks like a Hawaiian shirt gone all kinds of wrong. Mahalo.

Oh, did you forget you silverware? No worries, Carey’s got you covered in her Prada gown encrusted with all different types of hardware. Dig in.

Diane Kruger is typically a fashion dream come true, but she’s kind of my worst nightmare in this dress by Chanel.

Yike, yikes, yikes! Zoe Saldana is fashion schizophrenia in her Givenchy gown. The top is actually kind of beautiful. Unfortunately, the red carpet isn’t shot from the waist up. The bottom looks like a cross between a purple poodle and a garden of hydrangeas.

Okay, seriously? Do I even need to go into a diatribe about the nipple covers on Charlize’s Dior gown?

And the Ridic:

I mean, this is all I’m going to say (quote), “If fashion was porn, this dress would be the money shot.” Um, thanks for the… err… visual, Gabourey.

All we really wanna know is where was Lindsay Lohan? Now back to the beach.

xx,

WhyDid

Red Carpet Recap: SAG Awards Red Carpet 2009

By Kirsten|January 28th, 2009|Celebrity Style, Red Carpet Recap|

Forget the awards, let’s get to the stuff people REALLY care about… the clothes!!!

I hate when critics are too kind to celebrities just because they like them. I get it, she’s America’s sweetheart- blah, blah, blah- but that’s no reason not to tell her her dress is ugly. That’s like not telling your best friend she has spinach in her teeth! Don’t worry, I promise to hold nothing back.

So let’s start off on a good note:

SAG Awards Arrivals