Red Carpet Recap: American Snooze-ic Awards

By admin|November 24th, 2014|Celebrity Style, Red Carpet Recap, Why Did You Wear That?|

Oh, sorry. I just woke up. I can only assume that my deep slumber was induced around the same time I slammed my hand to my forehead upon One Direction taking the stage to accept the award for Artist of the Year. Either that or I had too much wine. Maybe both. In any case last night was the 42nd annual American Music Awards held at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles and hosted by a basically blacked out and slurring Pitbull (Mr. Worldwide, if you will). While I look back on the evening, I can’t actually tell you who won or gush over any particular performance (except maybe Lorde’s), but there are a few key things I did deduce from the evening. If you do not already own a leotard, get one. Without a nary Beyonce, Miley, or Katy in the auditorium, there was no lack of spandex to be seen. Also, J. Lo and Fergie made the message clear that the old guard hasn’t gone anywhere and a Pilates class sure doesn’t hurt.

As far as the red carpet, there were about fifteen “celebrities” who actually walked it, leaving my options for best, worst, and WTF very limited. Black was the overall favorite for the evening and the ladies who donned the official color of New York, looked sleek, stunning, and sophisticated whether in long gowns or short shifts. The skin showing of choice last night was most certainly the legs with sky high slits as well as micro minis. Green, coral, a bit of navy, and peachy flesh tone were the favored hues worn by songstresses. Rita Ora was pleasantly surprised to find out that she was the only one wearing a skin flattering yellow frock.

The favored hairstyle for the evening was soft tousled waves more often than not in buttery blonde. Manicures were more like claws with long pointed tips not to be outdone by fingers covered in elaborate rings on multiple fingers. Statement clutches and sky high heels finished off the ladies’ looks.

And we can’t forget the fellas. Wyclef Jean and Imagine Dragons channeled their rocker style in tailored tees and leather, while Aloe Blacc spelled it out for us. Nick Jonas’ suit made me feel even more awkward than his crotch grabbing Flaunt Magazine spread. I quipped that I hoped 5 Seconds of Summer were also five seconds from a shower. Magic looked like lost tourists who had wandered onto the red carpet after a tour of Hollywood Boulevard (rude!) and Sam Smith seemed to have forgotten his socks.

I wonder if Pitbull’s hangover is as bad as mine.

All But Basic Black:

Charlie XCX in Vivienne Westwood, Selena Gomez in Giorgio Armani, Fergie in Halston

Mary J. Blige, Christina Milian, Jenny McCarthy in Cushnie et Ochs

Little Babe Dress:

Nicki Minaj in Alexander Wang, Meghan Trainor in Ted Baker, Lauren Cohan in Blumarine

Golden Coral:

Elizabeth Banks in Peter Pilotto, Julianne Hough in Zuhair Murad, Jhené Aiko in Alice + Olivia

Flesh Take:

Jennifer Lopez in Reem Acra, Selena Gomez, Morgan Stewart

Leggy Ladies:

Kendall Jenner, Heidi Klum in Versace, Kylie Jenner in Alexandre Vauthier

Micro Trend:

Becky G, Lele Pons, Noah Cyrus

All That Glitters:

Jordin Sparks in Halston, Olivia Munn in Lanvin, Zendaya

Whatever Suits You:

Jessie J, Iggy Azalea, Gigi Hadid in Prabal Gurung

Ill Suited:

Ne-Yo in Anthony Franco, Ansel Elgort in Kent and Curwen, Nick Jonas in Armani

Male Order Babes:

Wyclef Jean, Imagine Dragons

Leading Ladies ( DaBest):

Kate Beckinsdale in Kaufman Franco, Rita Ora in Zac Posen, Taylor Swift in Michael Kors

Led Astray (Dafuq?):

Bleona Qereti, Frankie J. Grande, Diana Ross

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did You Wear That: Let’s Keep This Private

By Kirsten|December 24th, 2013|Why Did You Wear That?|

As mad for plaid as I am? So are Hedi Slimane of Saint Laurent, Rossella Jardini of Moschino, and Mr. Lagerfeld himself. But if you tossed that old school uniform or it doesn’t quite fit the way it did as a teen, do not fret. Perhaps it’s time to be the teacher rather than the pupil and there are some very grown up ways to add plaid that are more collegiate than kindergarten. Let me school you for a moment. Pop a varsity jacket on with distressed denim and pumps, add a plaid jumper over a turtleneck, or polish off those penny loafers- but never forget your over the knee socks. (Pro-tip: for cooler climates, layer over the knee socks atop sheer stockings in the same shade or patterned color family). Pick a piece or two to achieve the look, but don’t go for extra credit by overdoing it. You should look subtly nostalgic, not like you just stepped out of a time machine.

1. Rag & Bone Raquel Boiled Wood Varsity Jacket, 2. Marc by Marc Jacobs Maya Plaid Wool Skirt, 3. Rag & Bone Beeman Velvet Tassel Loafers, 4. Theory Nikay Catalogue Cotton Blend Dress, 5. Saint Laurent Two Tone Leather Penny Loafers, 6. Missoni Shimmer Stripe Thigh Highs, 7. J. Crew New Schoolboy Brushed Stretch-wool Twill Blazer, 8. Vivienne Westwood Rocket Tartan Mini Skirt, 9. Robert Clergerie Serana Leather Wedge Pumps, 10. Elkin Basset Dress, 11. Gucci Beverly Patent Leather Pumps, 12. Plush Fleece Lined Thigh Highs, 13. J. Crew Wool Varsity Jacket, 14. Free People Lady Macbeth Skirt, 15. Bop Basics V-Neck Cardigan

You’re dismissed. xx, WhyDid

WhyDid or Why Don’t: The Rest Is a Little Scrunchie

By Kirsten|October 16th, 2013|Why Did or Why Don't?|

Alright, when I said the 90’s revival was something I could get behind, I seem to have forgotten about one trend that probably should stay tucked safely inside that decades’ time capsule. The scrunchie. Ah yes, that fabric covered hair tie of school days past. Be it in your hair or on your wrist, you were nobody without a color coordinated scrunchie. Despite the upside of the scrunchie (less stress on your tresses), I’m not sure it’s one hair trend that I want to see resurrected. And isn’t that why they invented these?

As Carrie Bradshaw so adeptly stated in an episode of Sex and the City:

“Okay, but here’s the thing. Here’s my crucial point. No women who works at W Magazine and lives on Perry Street would be caught dead at a hip downtown restaurant wearing a scrunchie!”

But alas, designers like Vivienne Westwood, Ashish, Missoni, and Marc Jacobs sent looks down the catwalk accessorized with this beauty throwback (you can buy a $95 Missoni one here). Even “it” girls Fearne Cotton and Cressida Bonas have been seen keeping stray strands at bay with the aid of a scrunchie. Former “it” girls all over the trend? Lisa Turtle, all three Tanner girls, and, gasp, even Sarah Jessica Parker herself.

xx,

WhyDid

image via

Red Carpet Recap: Requirements Were Met.

By Kirsten|May 7th, 2013|Celebrity Style, Red Carpet Recap|

Julie Macklowe in Zang Toi, Zandra Rhodes, Madonna in Givenchy, Sarah Jessica Parker in Giles Deacon

Since 1948 the Metropolitan Museum of Art has hosted the Met Ball (also known as the Costume Institute Ball) to fete the opening of the fashion exhibit at the Costume Institute. Every year, the event has a theme that attendees are encouraged to channel with their chosen attire. This year’s theme was deemed Punk: Chaos to Couture and that got the fashion world in a bit of a tizzy. A stripped down rock starting between 1974 and 1976 characterized by DIY principles and sub-culture rooted in anti-establishment and rebellious youth, would fashion’s elite really relate to the theme seeing as some of them hadn’t even been conceived when punk was present? The red carpet proved to be a bit of a crap shoot, which was made especially apparent when Hailee Steinfeld referenced Avril Lavigne as “punk.”

Some ladies played it subtle by simply accessorizing with studded jewelery or faux-hawk coifs. Dramatic dark smokey eyes and deep berry lips were also favored on the red carpet. But the real stars of the red carpet were the women who really went for it. Anne Hathaway went full blown blonde, SJP sported an exquisite mohawk headpiece by Philip Treacy, and Madonna said, “to hell with pants!” in Givenchy. Rooney Mara, Nina Dobrev, and Minka Kelly were the perfect mesh of modern and punk embracing the look in sexy lace and smoldering makeup. While Blake Lively, Taylor Swift, and Amanda Seyfried were stunning, they veered to the side of safe. Which can’t be said for some like Coco in Emanuel Ungaro, a tie dyed Elle Fanning, and a seemingly confused Olsen twin. And I’m left wondering if some of these ladies didn’t get the memo or are just party poopers who simply ignored the theme altogether.

So, who got punk and who got punk’d?

Perfectly Punk:

Donatella Versace, Anne Hathaway in Valentino, Rooney Mara in Givenchy, Lauren Santo Domingo in Dolce & Gabbana, Minka Kelly in Carolina Herrera

Miranda Kerr in Michael Kors, Emma Watson in Prabal Gurung, Dakota Fanning in Rodarte, Carolyn Murphy in Nina Ricci, Allison Williams in Altuzarra

Punky Pants:

Kristen Stewart in Stella McCartney, Nina Dobrev in Monique Lhuillier, Jaime King in TopShop, Jessica Biel in Giambattista Valli

How Supermodels Do Punk:

Karolina Kurkova in Mary Katrantzou, Gisele Bundchen in Anthony Vaccarello, Anja Rubik in Anthony Vaccarello, Cara Delevigne in Burberry, Brooklyn Decker in Peter Pilotto

Punk Princesses:

Julianne Hough in TopShop, Taylor Swift in J. Mendel, Blake Lively in Gucci, Gwen Stefani in Maison Martin Margiela, Amanda Seyfried in vintage Givenchy

Pretty, but not Punk:

Gwyneth Paltrow in Valentino, Anna Wintour in Chanel, Kate Upton in Diane von Furstenberg, Kate Beckinsdale in Alberta Ferretti, Heidi Klum in Marchesa

Pieces of Punk:

Jaime King, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Lawrence

Emmy Rossum, Sienna Miller, Jessica Alba

You’ve Been Punk’d:

Ashley Olsen in Dior, Elle Fanning in Rodarte, Miley Cyrus in Marc Jacobs, Nicole Richie in TopShop, Nora Zehetner in Marchesa

Coco Rocha in Emanuel Ungaro, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Gucci, Christina Ricci in Vivienne Westwood, Beyonce in Givenchy

Who were your favorites?

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did You Wear That: Don’t Be a SAG

By Kirsten|January 27th, 2013|Celebrity Style, Red Carpet Recap|

Style Stars:

Amanda Seyfried in Zac Posen, Anne Hathaway in Giambattista Valli, Jennifer Lawrence in Christian Dior

Judging by tonight’s Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG), I don’t watch enough TV… or at least I’m not watching the right TV shows… because I didn’t know who half of the people walking the red carpet were. One would have thought that could have been easily cleared up by simply tuning into the red carpet pre-show interviews, but the opposite was true. Somehow, E! left me ever more befuddled than before by presenting the most awkward interviews and time spent talking about dubstep, juggling, and making it rain. This is probably the only time I’ve been left wondering, “Where’s Seacrest?” While scouting for the night’s best dressed was more like a game of “Where’s Waldo?” watching the b-roll footage, I managed to identify the evening’s style stars, style stalls, and overall trends.

It’s clear that winners wear blue and while navy may not officially be the new black (which was still incredibly strong), it was the color that ruled the crimson carpet. If you weren’t black and blue, you might have shimmered in metallics and if you were looking to punch things up, pink was the go to hue.

Blue Belles:

Giuliana Rancic in Max Azria, Nicole Kidman in Vivienne Westwood, Busy Philips in Gabriela Cadena

Black Beauties:

Amy Poehler in , Tina Fey in Oscar de la Renta, Kelly Osbourne in Jenny Packham

Shiny, Happy People:

Naomi Watts in Marchesa, Helen Hunt in Romona Keveza, Jennifer Garner in Oscar de la Renta, Katrina Bowden in Badgley Mischka

Pink Ladies:

Nina Dobrev in Elie Saab, Freida Pinto in Roland Mouret, Lea Michel in Valentino

Style Stalls:

Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen, Julianne Moore in Chanel, Morena Baccarin in Basil Soda

Oh, I feel some of your salty stares right now, but I stand firm on my worst dressed choices. It all (mostly) comes down to one simple thing: fit. While Jessica Chastain proves a redhead can wear red on the red carpet, she looked more Jessica Rabbit than sexy starlet and unfortunately, that includes wearing a dress that is two sizes too small. Remember, my friends, “wrinkles point to the problem areas.” It pained me to include Julianne Moore because, to me, she is a classic beauty and remember she was one of my best dressed at the Golden Globes? This slinky black and white Chanel, just skims a little too low– now I know these are the SAG awards, but the top of this dress simply makes her look, ahem, saggy. As for Morena? Two words: swamp thing.

Below, some SAG accredited starlets prove that black is not always a safe choice and not all trends need be followed.

Julie Bowen , Claire Danes in Givenchy, Naya Rivera in Donna Karan