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Red Carpet Recap: Are We There Yet?

By |March 3rd, 2014|Red Carpet Recap, Why Did You Wear That?|

lupito nyongo cate blanchett oscarsCharlize Theron in Dior, Kate Hudson in  Atelier Versace, Cate Blanchett in Giorgio Armani, Lupita Nyong’o in Prada

It feels as if this particular awards season stretched out a bit longer than years prior, but maybe that’s the overall theme of 2014 thus far.  Long winters, long award shows, long winded speeches.  Tonight’s award show, the 86th Annual Academy Awards, was no exception.  Seeing as the red carpet arrivals started at five thirty (Eastern time) and the actual show didn’t commence until midnight, I literally spent six and a half hours of my life staring at dresses, listening to sometimes awkward interviews with Seacrest, and holding my breath in hopes that the music didn’t come on during winners’ acceptance speeches.  I couldn’t tell if I was still exhausted from the weekend or if the cold had finally taken a toll on my cognitive thinking because I’m pretty sure that every actress on the red carpet was required to wear the same dress.  Either that or I was watching 1984 and didn’t know it, which is entirely possible.  Fortunately, for the first time in WhyDid’s history, I was unable to award an entire category to the worst dressed women of the night.  Instead it went to our charitable roast beef hat wearing friend, Pharrell, who decided that full trousers were not fully necessary for the red carpet.  I might have let it slide because he’s so darn cute if he hadn’t somehow convinced his lovely wife, Helen Lasichanh, to dress in tandem.  I guess it would be hard to say, “no,” to those dimples.

As for the rest of the red carpet, nudes, metallics, and soft whites and pastels were the overall theme with a spattering of both basic as well as embellished black.  Navy was a trend for both men and women and first time Oscar winner, Lupita Nyong’o, deemed her hue Nairobi blue.  Everyone was going nuts over her headband, which I hated because it made her look too “costumey” and would have preferred she’d accessorized her decollete with a delicate lariat, but she gets a pass for that stand out shade of blue.  Speaking of hair, cropped pixie cuts were the biggest trend and soft subtle styles as seen on Jessica Biel and Naomi Watts were the second runner up.  Jennifer Lawrence in a pixie cut and who wore red, didn’t even wait until she was inside before repeating last year’s tumble.  She either needs a better seamstress or a higher tolerance for champagne.  A notable trend for men was wearing a white jacket with their tuxes and why, why, why is Jared Leto so damn pretty?  Rarely do I covet another’s hair, but if someone can get me in touch with his stylist, I’ll be forever grateful… or at least for the next month or two.  And while I finished wrapping up the red carpet, I realized that the real style mavens held out until the afterparties.

Pretty in Pewter:

oscars red carpet Giuliana Rancic, Jessica Biel in Chanel, Jennifer Garner in Oscar de la Renta

Long (Sleeve) on Shine:

angelina jolieAngelina Jolie in Elie Saab, Sarah Paulson in Elie Saab, Julie Delpy in Jenny Peckham, Sally Hawkins in Valentino

Flesh and Gold:

oscars red carpet Kristin Chenoweth in Roberto Cavalli, Jenna Dewan Tatum in Reem Acra, Portia de Rossi in Naeem Khan

Bright Whites:

kelly-osbourne-naomi-watts-oscarsKelly Osbourne, Calista Flockhart in Andrew Gn,  Naomi Watts in Calvin Klein, Laura Dern in Alberta Ferretti

Petal Pink Princesses:

camila alves penelope cruz Penelope Cruz in Giambattista Valli, Cristin Milioti, Camila Alves in Gabriela Cadena

Lavender Ladies:

kristen bell oscarsLady Gaga in Versace,  Kerry Washington in Jason Wu, Kristen Bell in Roberto Cavalli

 Basic Black:

julia roberts oscarsGlenn Close in Zac Posen, Julia Roberts in black Givenchy, Karen O in Camilla Staerk, Olivia Wilde in black Valentino

Embellished Black:

oscars red carpetAnne Hathaway in Gucci, Emma Watson in Vera Wang, Anna Kendrick in J. Mendel, Chrissy Teigen in Monique Lhuillier

Moody Blues:

amy adams sandra bullock academy awardsAmy Adams in Gucci, Sandra Bullock in Alexander McQueen, Kevin Spacey in Burberry, Liza Minnelli in Halston

Red on Red:

jennifer-lawrence-oscars-dressJennifer Lawrence in Dior, Ireland Baldwin, Bette Middler in Reem Acra, Olga Kurylenko in Alice Elia

White Knights:

jared leto matthew mcconaugheyJared Leto in Saint Laurent, Ryan Seacrest, Matthew McConaughey in Dolce & Gabbana

No Pants, Well, Kinda Are a Problem:

pharrell williams Pharrell Williams in Lanvin

After the Party It’s the Afterparty:

vanity fair oscarsKarolina Kurkova,  Evan Rachel Wood in Elie Saab, Sofia Vergara in Roberto Cavalli, Diane Kruger in Valentino, Jane Fonda in Nicholas Oakwell 

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did You Wear That: Spring 2014: Style Cheat Sheet

By |February 25th, 2014|Why Did You Wear That?|

snow flowerAlthough it was fifty degrees over the weekend and snow flurrying today, we really are in the home stretch of winter.  Just hang in there, pretty birds, relief is on the way.  While we wait for the last frost of the season to cease, let us refresh ourselves on the clothing that is just waiting to make itself quite comfortable in our closets come spring.  Since each fashion week presents collections a solid six months in advance of when we can actually get our greedy little hands on it, it’s easy to forget what we need to start scoping for and what to relegate to the back of our wardrobes for the time being.  The fashion elite may be a bit clairvoyant perhaps predicting the dreadfully long winter we’ve endured as the spring collections did not shy away from color, bold patterns, and plenty of shiny embellishment.  Though black and white were ever present, it’s time to drop the dull all black uniform and have a little bit of fun.

While florals are really nothing new for spring, this season’s are a bit bolder and less feminine incorporating the trend of black and white as well as darker tones as opposed to the predictable pastel colorways.  Speaking of which, Easter egg colors abound and are best done head to toe, but if that has you feeling apprehensive of emulating Great Aunt Ida, the presence of a pastel leather jacket or clutch will do the trick.

Along with bold graphics that will have even the biggest globetrotters giddy, art aficionados rejoice.  Patterns for spring give a nod to pop art using brights that make them downright framable.  Wearable art, if you will.

Embellishment was big and came in the form of fringe, 3D embellishments and gilded golds, bronze, and silver.  An alternative to shine in the form of straightforward metallics is presented in the option of iridescence.

And to those who attempted a croptop intervention on me… bad news: the croptop (which will live on through Fall 2014) is stronger than ever for spring.  Might I suggest enrolling in a Pilates class, like last week?  Though tops are shrinking bottoms get a bit of volume in the form of wide leg trousers and full skirts seen prevalently in the midi length.

Most notably to me was that all of the various trends seem to work together quite seamlessly and in some cases there’s quite a bit of overlap.  Full metallic skirts, crop tops with sheer panels, and boldy printed wide leg trousers make hitting a few trends at once a spring breeze.

spring 2014 fashion trends

  1. Fresh Blooms: Rebecca Taylor Sweet William DressJoie Talina B PantsElizabeth and James Klaus Floral Print Silk and Mesh Dress
  2. Go Wide: by Malene Birger Cosyna High Waited Silk-Satin PantsDiane von Furstenberg Salma Wide Leg Silk Pantsalice + olivia Pleated Eric Pants
  3. Dirty Pop: Paul Smith Black Label Maxi SkirtLisa Perry Patchwork SkirtM Missoni Neon Crochet Knit Mini Dress
  4. Heavy Metals: Rachel Zoe Pearl Sequin Fishtail SkirtDAY Birger et Mikkelsen Metallic Chiffon Wrap Dress3.1 Phillip Lim Crossover Biker Skirt
  5. Peekaboo Panels: Yigal Azrouel Scuba Waterprint Mesh SkirtRag & Bone Molly SkirtRebecca Minkoff Antoni Silk Top
  6. Full Circle…Skirts: JOA Striped SkirtTOME Taffeta Skirt, Tibi Full Pleated Skirt
  7. Team Spirit: SEA Cotton-Blend Tweed ShortsSacai Luck Striped Cotton and Taffeta Dress, Equipment Abbot Silk Bomber Blouson Jacket
  8. On the Fringe: alice + olivia Caitlin Fringe Maxi SkirtHaute Hippie Fringe Pencil SkirtJason Wu Cropped Fringed Crepe Top
  9. Buttoned Up: Diane von Furstenberg Trudy BlouseMiH The Oversize Shirt, Carven Silk Floral Print Collared Cotton Shirt
  10. Perfect Pastels: Halston Heritage Asymmetric Satin Twill Peplum Dress, J Brand Ready To Wear Durham Oversized Leather Biker Jacket, Lotusgrace Polka Dot Sheath Dress
  11. Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop Croptops: Tibi Cropped Embellished Cotton Blend TopJonathan Simkhai Cropped Intarsia Jersey TopBCBGMAXAZRIA Kaja Harness Top
  12. Black (and White) to Basics: A.L.C. Harrison SkirtDonna Karan Printed Silk Wide Leg PantsMcQ Alexander McQueen Slash Effect Stretch Knit Dress
  13. Iridescent Does It: Acne Tine Sequined Silk Georgette ShortsRoksanda Ilincic Oriel Colorblock Wool Crepe Dress, 3.1 Phillip Lim Colorblock Suede A-Line Skirt
  14. Global Graphics Clover Canyon Diamond Quilt Printed Cropped Track Pants, Diane von Furstenberg Phaedra Jacquard Skirt, Line & Dot Silk Palm Tree Print Dress

 

xx,

WhyDid

Red Carpet Recap: This Red Carpet Has Me Feeling Blue

By |January 19th, 2014|Red Carpet Recap|

best dressed sag awardsJennifer Lawrence in Dior , Lupito N’yongo in Gucci, Rita Moreno in Roberto Cavalli and Herve Leger jacket, Matthew McConaughey in Dolce & Gabbana and Camila Alves in vintage Donna Karan

Award season really threw me for a loop when it decided to have this year’s Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) on a Saturday.  One can only assume it is because the Kardsashian season premiere is on Sunday.  Anyway, the stars showed up this evening looking to have a good time and perhaps take home a cute little statue.  It would appear that some of these stars clearly read WhyDid because they really stepped up their game from last week’s Golden Globes (ahem, Jennifer Lawrence).  Others were repeat offenders and some I have never heard of but was pleasantly surprised by their presence.  Within the first ten minutes of red carpet arrivals, I predicted a theme. Even though Giuliana may have (incorrectly) deemed the night that of this year’s Pantone color “radiant orchid” the color that truly reigned supreme was blue.  From royal to navy, startlets and stars wore this color like it was the new black.  Other trends that I picked up on were matching one’s jewels to the dresses.  Once considered a bit of a fashion faux pas, it actually looked incredibly fresh and I’m thinking that statement earrings are making a major comeback.  Luxe fabrics in jewel tones were also awfully popular.  In the beauty department, sleek deep side parts and bobs were the favorites for hair while very clean, polished makeup and matching eyeshadow to dresses was almost as popular as coordinated earrings.  Both Kelly Osbourne and Jennifer Lawrence coined new terms – SWASS (Sweaty Ass) and armpit vagina.  Giuliana may not know her Pantone shades, but she does know when she sees a potential love match like that of Jared Leto and Emilia Clarke.  Imagine those blue eyed babies.

But down to what really matters… who was the best (above) and who was the worst?  Eff it.  I’m going rogue.  I’m giving best dressed to two young starlets, an 82 year old icon, and one of Hollywood’s sexiest couples.  The worst… well, I never thought I’d hate a crop top or Julia Roberts, but I guess this is why they say, “never say never.”  While many loved Cate Blanchett’s pink Givenchy, I found it to look like a vagina, my father said he didn’t want to know what I meant by that but I told him anyway: pink and drapey.  As for Julie Bowen’s Carolina Herrera, I’m just wondering why she’s wearing a toolbelt.  Oprah wore “the color purple” and Sandra Bullock and Jane Krackowski gleamed in green.  Nudes, blush and soft greys were also ever present and for once I was totally wowed by something other than Sofia Vergara’s, er, personality in Donna Karan.

Blue Angels:

sag red carpetJulia Louis Dreyfus in Monique Lhuillier, Amy Adams in Antonio Berardi, Jennifer Garner in Max Mara, Morena Baccarin in Monique Lhuillier

sag awards red carpetKelly Osbourne in Zac Posen, Ariel Winter in Badgley Mischka, Cathy Griffin in Antonio Berardi, Anna Gunn in Monique Lhuillier

sag awards red carpetAnna Chlumsky in Sophie Theallet, Claire Danes in Vionnet, Mindy Kaling in David Meister, Julianne Nicholson in Philosphy

Nudist Colony:

sag awards red carpet 2014Elizabeth Rohm in Marchesa, Emilia Clarke in Calvin Klein, Laura Carmichael in Vionnet, Isla Fisher in Oscar de la Renta

Grey Ladies:

sofia vergara sag red carpetSofia Vergara in Donna Karan, Kaley Cuoco in Vera Wang, Malin Akerman in Naeem Kahn, Hannah Simone in Marchesa

Lightweights:

sag red carpet 2014Sarah Paulson in Rochas, Natalie Dormer in Marios Schwab, Gretchen Mol in J. Mendel, Sarah Hyland in Pamela Roland

Green Beans:

sag awards red carpetSandra Bullock in Lanvin, Jane Krakowski in Roland Mouret

“Radiant Orchid”:

oprah giuliana rancic sag awardsOprah Winfrey in Badgley Mischka, Giuliana Rancic in Basil Soda

Better Luck Next Time:

worst dressed sag awardsCate Blanchett in Givenchy, Kerry Washington in Prada, Julie Bowen in Carolina Herrera, Julia Roberts in Valentino

Hey Jared, if things don’t work out with Emila, call me.  Also, I need your colorist’s number. Thanks.

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did You Wear That: Emmy’s Red Carpet- Taste the Rainbow

By |September 23rd, 2013|Red Carpet Recap, Why Did You Wear That?|

emmys red carpet 2013Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang, Anna Faris in Monique Lhuillier, Allison Janney in Lorena Sarbu, Zooey Deschanel in J. Mendel

Once it was confirmed that I was, in fact, watching the Emmy’s red carpet arrivals and not a live feed of the Beverly Hills High junior prom, I sat back, sipped some wine, and started taking notes.  At first I thought that purple was the hue that ruled the evening, but after collecting all of the red carpet arrival photos, I realized that the only pattern I was seeing was randomness.  From deep wine to all shades of green, the red carpet was more like a fashion rainbow.  I always appreciate diversity and was glad to not see the same ol’ same, but it seemed as if nobody quite got their look complete.  Example: for once, I finally liked the Prada Lena Dunham chose to wear, but her eye makeup massacre made it null and void.  Julianne Hough’s hair was to die for, but she seemed to forget her pants in J. Mendel.  Claire Danes’ Armani was ethereal, but her helmet hair was anything but.  Rose Byrne looked sleek and chic in Calvin Klein, while Julie Bowen looked like an extra from a country western saloon photoshoot in Zac Posen.  Michelle Dockery knocked it out of the park in Prada and Connie Britton’s Naeem Khan had me wishing I was just knocked out.  While not straying far from their norm, Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang and Christina Hendricks in Christian Siriano wore what works for them and worked the red carpet and their best assets.  My takeaway?  Much like the assorted shades of silk, chiffon, and sequins, this year’s Emmy’s ensembles were a mixed bag. Replica Designer Handbags are the best choice for your trendy fashion.  and I apparently need to watch more TV.

emmys 2013Kate Mara in J. Mendel, Taylor Schilling in Thakoon, Lily Rabe Vionnet

emmys red carpet 2013Claire Danes in Armani Privé, Kerry Washington in Marchesa, Leslie Mann in J. Mendel, Elisabeth Moss in Andrew Gn

emmys red carpetMalin Ackerman in Marchesa, Julianne Hough in J. Mendel, Kristen Connolly in Nicholas Oakwell

january jones julia louis dreyfusJanuary Jones in Givenchy, Julia Louis Dreyfus in Monique Lhuillier, Cobie Smulders in J. Mendel

emmy awards red carpetLaura Dern in Naeem Khan, Rose Byrne in Calvin Klein, Julie Bowen in Zac Posen

emmys red carpetMichelle Dockery in Prada, Kaley Cuoco in Vera Wang, Heidi Klum in Versace

emmys red carpet 2013Melissa Rauch in Rubin Singer, Carrie Underwood in Romona Keveza, Alyson Hannigan

emmys 2013 red carpetEdie Falco in Escada, Allison Williams in Ralph Lauren, Tina Fey in Narciso Rodriguez

emmys red carpetLena Dunham in Prada, Jessica Pare in Oscar de la Renta, Connie Britton in Naeem Khan, Anna Chlumsky in Badgley Mischka

emmys red carpetRobin Wright in Ralph Lauren, Lena Headey in Alessandra Rich, Christina Hendricks in Christian Siriano

 xx,

WhyDid

 

WhyDid Wisdom: Against the Grain

By |June 14th, 2012|WhyDid Wisdom|

square peg round holeHave you ever been doing something and thinking to yourself, “What the hell am I doing?”  You know you are going down the wrong path but continue on because you figure, “Hell, I’ve come this far.”?  It’s as if you’re watching yourself from the outside, but are unable to stop what’s playing out.  You’re a spectator of your own life.  You’ve got tickets to a movie you didn’t want to see and now you probably look back and wish you’d just put your foot down in the first place and said, “That’s not what I want.”

Well, as it happens, I am quite friendly with these feelings.  I let my life be guided by social “norms” for the past couple of years only to be kicked in the teeth after it all imploded and the universe had had enough of watching me squander and squirm.  I remember having a glass of prosecco with one of my best friends in between trying on wedding dresses and confessing to her that something didn’t feel quite right.  She assured me that feelings of anxiety were fairly normal, but I didn’t have the heart, or the guts, to tell her it was something more.  So I finished my prosecco, decided on a beautiful Vera Wang and continued planning a wedding and living a life that were so clearly not meant for me.

Since I was a child, I have had an alarmingly acute sense of intuition.  I have no idea where it came from and my father still tells a story of when it first became apparent.  The problem is that as the years have gone by and I lost more and more of my childlike purity of thought, I’ve lost touch with my intuition.  I’ve let other people’s perceptions of me influence who I was becoming and how I thought.  I’ve let people make me feel guilty for not seeing the good in others, but unfortunately and as it turns out, not all people are good.  My intuition was still there, but had become latent because I’d managed to always let people talk me out of it.  The combination of a big heart and laser sharp intuition are the stuff contradictions are made of.

whack a moleAs my situation continued, the uncertainty and feelings of uneasiness persisted and increased, but I just bopped them on the heads like a game of  Whack a Mole.  I was so scared to end it.  I was terrified of not fitting into the social norms and disappointing others that I didn’t listen to my own heart, my subconscious, my intuition.  When it became evident to all parties that this was a railroad engine heading straight for a brick wall, we braced for impact and let the train wreck derail.

Ironically, I consider myself lucky enough that he ended it.  The hardest part was letting go of the idea.  I knew it had been wrong all along, but was so stubborn (in my head loyal) by holding onto what I’d let others and myself tell me was right for me when in all actuality was totally wrong.  I’ve talked to more than a few women since then who have assured me that I am so fortunate to have not gone through with things.  Most of them are already divorced and still quite young and each one had had the same feelings I’d had.  And as hard as it was, I know I’m lucky.  Lucky because now I can start over.  Lucky because now I can become who I am supposed to be.  Lucky because I don’t ever have to wonder “what could have been?”  Lucky because I didn’t settle out of fear.

trainwreckWe trick ourselves into thinking and believing things that are not congruent with our true selves.  You didn’t even like that guy or want that job, so stop beating yourself up over over it.  Stop letting people tell you what’s right for you or what you “should” be doing.  Listen to your intuition.  Nobody else knows what the hell they’re doing either and many are just projecting their own feelings and insecurities about their own experiences onto you.  That’s their life, not yours and you’re not wrong for feeling what you feel.  I’ve never been wrong when I’ve had a gut feeling, but I’ve let people make me think I’m being “crazy” and in the end, I’m most angry at myself for not having listened to me.  This wasn’t the first time and it wasn’t even the last.  I’ve fallen victim to the same mistakes since then, but I’m still learning to reconnect with what’s been there all along.

We only have one shot at this.  Don’t let other people’s projections for you predict what you do and who you become.  Listen to yourself, your gut, your intuition, and don’t ever be scared to ask for what you really want.

xx,

WhyDid