February 2008 Archives

We're not really sure what to call this trend.

Natalie Portman (in Rodarte) and Marion Cotillard (in Chanel) both have dresses that are flanked with draped fabric.

We're sure there is a technical term for this type of garment but we sure don't know it. The fabric panels create an ethereal look and when they extend longer than the hemline of the dress (like Marion's), the effect is quite unusual and striking.

Natalie's photo via instyle.com.

Natasha Bedingfield wore the wrong shoes to the 2008 Brit Awards in London (England's version of the Grammys). Chunky black heels are definitely hot right now, but Natasha got it all wrong here. The thick strap around the ankles makes her legs appear much shorter than they are. Had this dress been cut at the knees, it would have been much more flattering to Natasha's gams.

Continuing our red carpet week, it was a formal affair at the London premiere of The Other Boleyn Girl where Natalie Portman wore Christian Lacroix and Scarlett Johansson opted for Stella McCartney.

Who looked best?

We think it's kind of a toss up. But the interesting thing is their postures. Natalie's shoulders are back, which lengthens her neck and gives her a very regal look. Scarlett's slouched shoulders make the bodice of her gown look ill-fitted.

Shoulders back Scarlett!

We blogged about Marion Cotillard's floral dress last week and recently discovered it on the Chloe website, styled very differently from how Marion (our favorite style muse) chose to wear it. Which do you prefer? We think Marion's choker was a nice accessory choice, but would have liked it better if she'd left the clutch at home so she could show off the cute pockets on the dress.

By the way, you can purchase it at net-a-porter.com for $3,795, but we recommend some more budget-friendly options here.


Photos via instyle and chloe

Angelina Jolie has an interesting fashion strategy for concealing her baby bump.

Option 1: A vintage Hermes dress so voluminous that no one will guess she's expecting, but everyone will be talking about it.


Option 2: A Western Costume dress so skintight that everyone will guess she's expecting and will still be talking about it.


Angelina's black dress photo via people.com and fashion credit via usmagazine.com

STANDOUTS ON THE RED CARPET

Everyone went strapless: Keri Russell, who probably should have been nominated for her performance in Waitress, wore a beautifully-fitted mother-of-pearl organza gown by Nina Ricci. Amy Adams wore a stunning emerald green Proenza  Schouler gown, but what we loved most about her ensemble was her tiny gold bag. It would only fit a credit card and, actually, Amy admitted she had nothing in it. But its delicate gold mesh material and eagle clasp were striking. We want it. Lastly, Cameron Diaz looked very fresh in a barely blush Dior by John Galliano dress.


AND THE WINNER IS....

Marion Cotillard was the night's big winner in Jean Paul Gaultier. After her win for Best Actress for her transcendent performance as Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose, Marion had this to say:

"I'm totally overwhelmed with joy and sparklers and fireworks and everything which goes like bam, bam, bam, I just ate all those things."

We're going to go ahead and name her our Best Dressed of the Night, and not just because we love her style in general. Marion is always wearing cutting edge chic including Chanel and Chloe. She has fun with fashion and really gets it. A lot of style critics are questioning her choice of this mermaid-esque Gaultier gown, saying that it looked like fish scales.

So what.

It was very fashion forward of her and we applaud her for wearing a French designer (how patriotic), and we think the way it was styled with her hair down in loose curls and two delicate long gold chains was brilliant. Thank goodness she didn't wear a dark red lip stain.








MAD FOR MARCHESA


Several stars chose to wear Marchesa including Anne Hathaway, who called her dress "diaphanous chic" and a very pregnant Jessica Alba.


Both were solid color draped dresses with neckline embellishments. Both also wore their hair up and opted out of wearing a necklace. We loved both takes, although we preferred the purple feathers on Jessica's gown over the red rosettes on Anne's.




SAFE BUT NICE

Most stars chose dark, voluminous dresses with trends like ruffles and sheer fabric. Jennifer Garner wore Oscar de la Renta, Penelope Cruz wore Chanel Haute Couture (actually navy), Hilary Swank for Atelier Versace and Kristin Chenoweth wore Armani Prive. They all looked stunning.

Photo via eonline.com and people.com

First it was Lucy Lui's character in Cashmere Mafia who was supposed to fill Carrie Bradshaw's shoes as the most fashion-forward lady on television. The Sex and the City connection was natural, since Patricia Field is stylist for the show, but reviews from the early episodes said Lui's outfits were too outlandish.

Enter Lindsay Price. On NBC's new show, Lipstick Jungle, Price plays fashion designer, Victory Ford. The show is based on the successful novel of the same name by Candace Bushnell (author of Sex and the City too) and the character of Victory is supposedly based on the life of New York designer, Cynthia Rowley.

Our bets are on Lindsay to fill the SJP role.

Sophia Bush was definitely the darling of Fashion Week....she attended more shows that hardly any other celeb. But as much as we love the moire effect of the chocolate brown trench dress she wore to the Marc Jacobs show, she needed to wear a camisole underneath instead of a nude bra.

Katie Holmes is easily on her way to becoming our favorite Steal This Style star with previous honors here, here and here and now she's done it again. We're crazy about this relaxed early-spring look with a casual fabric jacket, print scarf and navy ballet flats.

1. Swing Set Jacket in navy, $118 at anthropologie.com
2. Straight Jeans, $29.99 (on sale) at gap.com
3. Lotus Print Scarf, $6.80 at forever21.com
4. Long-Sleeved Tiny Fit Tees, $10 (on sale) at oldnavy.com
5. Suede Knotted Ballet Flats in true navy, $39.50 at gap.com

Photo via instyle.com

Keira Knightley wore a pale pink Valentino mermaid dress to the 2008 Baftas (British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards) in London, England. The awards show is like the Oscars of England and Keira was nominated for Best Leading Actress for her role in Atonement. Marion Cotillard took home the win for her performance in La Vie En Rose.