My Favorite Looks from the Academy Awards 2012

The stars came out in full force for the annual fête we plebians know as the Academy Awards. As anticipated as it was that former host Billy Crystal was back to host this year's show after the seriously flawed attempt (and the great on stage fashion show that was Anne Hathaway) last year, I felt that there was a lot of "lack" happening all over the place at the show this year. Too much amped-up hype that lead to real time lacklusterism.
Even on the Red Carpet, that hallowed walkway leading into the theater, proved that this year there was a style confusion and a sense of boredom. There was very little in the way of clear trends being presented, as many of the gowns chosen proved: some stars wore color while others steered clear of it, there was very little sequins or embellishments, jewelry and accessories were sparse or used minimally, gowns were either strapless and sleek or full and sleeved with little variations in between. At least there was the ever present voluminous train on almost every gown, so at least we had that trend to fall back on, or over (the train was overkill, in my opinion).

For me, the gowns that stood out moved away from a sea of bore and into a bit more individual glamour.  They allowed the wearer to convey a bit of self and showed that they had exercised "choice" and overwhelmingly chose "personal style" as the showcase. The standout gowns for me also showed the best example of the "otherness" of the gown: how it lives within its "trend" but is not ruled by it (Esperanza Spalding, Penelope Cruz, Rose Byrne), great use of the ever-important tailoring (Octavia Spencer, Tina Fey), how it excels in pushing boundaries in Red Carpet dressing by making modern strides in new ways (Gwenyth Paltrow, Natalie Portman, Jessica Chastain), and for sheer daring (Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez).

Natalie Portman in vintage Christian Dior

Gwenyth Paltrow in Tom Ford

Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace

Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad

Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji

Esperanza Spalding in Prophetik

Tina Fey in Carolina Herrera

Rose Byrne in Vivienne Westwood

Penelope Cruz in Armani Prive

Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen

And the style party continued afterwards at the post-show parties. Many took more risks and let loose (it is a party after all) where the strict rules of the Red Carpet don't apply. I was surprised to see better choices at the parties than the show itself (Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez), and color was key (Kate Hudson), as well as sequins and embellishments (Kate Bosworth, Lily Collins).

Cameron Diaz in Victoria Beckham

Kate Bosworth in Prabal Gurung

Lily Collins in Monique Lhuillier

Kate Bosworth in vintage Versace

Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad

Next year there will be a whole other show called "At The Party", I'm quite sure. It is, after all, where the real fun style showed up this year. I hope next year some of the more daring stars come back and shake up the style show a bit and interject some panache and humor, or our favorite Oscar regulars show a bit more style evolution and daring in their choices for the Red Carpet as well as the parties.
If not, we will always have Bjork and Cher..!


-fggofstyle
(all photos via Getty Images, stylebistro.com, or nytimes.com except Gwenyth Paltrow via Harper's Bazaar.com)

Model Muggle: Emma Covers US Vogue

Vogue July 2011 cover
(photo via popoholic.com)

Emma Watson, in Vogue Italia 2008
(photo via vogueitalia.com)

Emma Watson puts us all under her spell again on the cover of Vogue's July issue. This is the first time she makes the coveted magazine's cover, but not her first time to cover a Vogue magazine, having donned both Vogue Italia and Vogue UK and doing two great editorials in each of them. This month's editorial shows a decidedly grown-up version of Emma, wearing key pieces from the Fall collections. I'm sure this is just the first of many major covers we'll see her on, as she closes out her run in the Harry Potter film series this summer and begins her new journeys in her young adult life. Enjoy!




-fggofstyle

Related articles

• Emma Watson's Complete Vogue Editorial Is Here (thegloss.com)

MOCA presents "Rodarte: States of Matter"

Rodarte: States of Matter from MOCA on Vimeo.

Recently, M and I explored the first art presentation of fashion and costume designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy, also known as Rodarte, at MOCA Pacific Design Center. This video perfectly captures the exhibit, which is very impressive for its small/large scope and for the up-close details you get to experience in Rodarte's fantastic and intricate design work. Definitely not a show to miss if you are in Los Angeles and a purveyor of design, fashion, and art. And what better way than to witness fashion as art, for what it really is, through the focused and genius eyes of Rodarte.
Enjoy!

-fggofstyle

"Influencers: The Documentary"

  I see influence abounding all around me all the time. I have often wondered how this visceral sense I have about it weaves its way into an intellectual and concise actuality. Its the contiguousness of creativity, I believe, and to me, thats beyond...good.

Please take a look at this great documentary about how creativity and influence thrives in our culture/world. Click *here* to view "Influencers: The Documentary", a film by R+I Films.

Enjoy!

-fggofstyle

Caught Up in the Embrace (Fashion Films of 2010)

I am a self-attested film buff, an expert of sorts (aren’t we all). Hollywood churns out the fare, and I am one of the first to go out and consume it. Be it a product of my environment or my genuine love of the art form, seeing a great film is a real joy for me.

I have been in a long-time love affair with the films of Pedro Almodóvar. As my “film lover”, he still does not disappoint. I am caught up in the embrace of “Broken Embraces”, his latest offering starring his muse, Penelope Cruz, is now my new favorite. I have screened it five times now. It takes me forward and back to the very reason I fell under his rapture by being a film within a film and a film about making films, by a true film maker.

What I am not going to offer here is a film review, more of an observation of the points of the film and its style that caught me and swept me off my cinematic (and fashion) feet.

First, you cannot escape the allure and power of the use of Red. It is the prevalent color, symbolizing “sangre”/blood, passion, fire, and Love. The color and its use to me are very Spanish. Red punctuates, accents, drives, and signifies scenes, characters and situations in the film. Sonia Grande, the film's costume designer, used red fashions from the likes of Christian Louboutin, Dior, John Galliano, and Valentino, among others, to dress and style many of the characters in the film.

Second, the film within the film, called “Chicas y Maletas” is actually "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown". This movie is still my most favorite one by Almodóvar. It is pure comic zaniness and delight, and is a must-see upon entering significantly in my life (you will have a movie night with me and this is what we will be watching!). In “Embraces”, we get a glimpse of the “making” of the movie, or rather, its artistic rendering. Red is also a prominent theme in that film.

Third, with lines such as "The last sensation she took from this world was the taste of your mouth", “Embraces” has it ALL: film noir, suspense, melodrama, comedy, heart, passion, and perfect writing (if that line alone is not something inspirational then…).

Lastly, “Embraces” shows us a modern and complex Spain, mirrored in a greater world view. It is a story that could really take place anywhere but one that is firmly planted in Spain, firmly ground in artistry, and purely Almodóvar.  This film is a blood red kiss to the loving heart of film making for Almodóvar and to those who have shaped and colored his visual world. And for me, I am entering it as a contender for my top five fashion films of 2010. Go out and get caught in the embrace of "Broken Embraces". May it's sensation last for you as well.

-fggofstyle

Short Film: I Heart Jumpers by Pringle of Scotland

It rarely rains in So Cal. Not so much in Scotland. I found this to be so cute and cheeky, and befitting of the weather recently.
Enjoy!

I Heart Jumpers: Pringle of Scotland
(TY Susie Bubble for the introduction of this. This is my form of flattery :-D )
-feelgoodguru

My Top 5 Fashion Films of 2009

As its major form of social entertainment and as its product of manufacture, movies are to Los Angeles what theater is to London or New York. Movies here dictate the currency of our pop culture and of the world right outside of our doors. I view a lot of films, it is no question. Going to see the latest film is very de rigueur here, and really is the most prominent topic of conversation all over town. There has been so many films released this past year that one can easily forget about many of them (so many are unforgettable anyway), or miss them entirely. A movie about fashion or a movie that has fashion at its center point, I am sure to make the effort to see, and hope that it will be memorable. Here are my choice picks of the top five fashion films of 2009, in no particular order:

The September Issue

To be privileged to get not just a sneak but a full tilt boogie peek into the hallowed halls of Vogue Magazine and to see Anna Wintour at work, was such a treat. The undeniable star of this film was and will always be Grace Coddington. Her keen and sharp eye and attention is unsurpassed, and I am so glad to have been able to witness it and to cheer her on!

Valentino: The Last Emperor

Valentino is truly the last of the famous international designers. What a great treat to see how this genius rules (and creates) his kingdom. The best part of it all: the endearing love and partnership between Valentino and Giancarlo Giametti. It is the most touching part of the whole film.

Nine

Another hit musical for our time, this time about Italian style, Italian life, Italian fashion! There’s even a costume designer (Dame Judy Dench) who easily whips up costume confections right in front of us (sequins, feathers, and mesh oh my!) a Vogue journalist (Kate Hudson, in mirrored glass mini skirt!) and all the rest of the gorgeous female stars in their distinct looks/costumes. We get to be treated to the fabulous Colleen Atwood’s fine costume work here and it does not disappoint!!

A Single Man

In Tom Ford’s world, everyone is gorgeous and everyone has style in everything on and around them. This film just dripped with true classic style, everywhere. From George’s fantastically dreamy Santa Monica home, to his sleek Mercedes Benz, to his sharp, tailored clothing he leads the pack when it came to men’s style in the movies (or out in the real world).  Everything was visually lush and it drew you in with wishes that the world was simple and stylish and classic like it was back in 1963.

(500) Days of Summer

Aside from all of the charm that this non-traditional romantic comedy gives us, it reflected back to us how we really dressed in our everyday lives. Zoë Deschanel’s “Summer” couldn’t have been styled more real: I see women dressing with the same indie flair every day in my favorite LA neighborhoods of Los Feliz and Silverlake, and young professional hipster guys wearing classic and modern clothing like Joseph Gordon-Leavitt’s “Tom”. The style was simple and realistic, and it reflected that face back to the audience who, in their indie-hipster garb, could easily see themselves in the characters. And as each of the characters grew, so did their clothing, also reflected in a real-time and concise way. And when “Tom” puts on his grown up suit, I swear the four times I saw this film I spotted guys in the audience mentally check how neat, presentable, and fashionable he looked, and took notice.

It is a New Year, and a new slate of films are yet to come out. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes up on the silver screen and hope to see some great fashion notes reflected back at me.

So far, “Sherlock Holmes” doesn’t miss a beat with its presentation on Victorian England style with a very subtle modern flair (Adler in pants and waistcoat!) and of course, “SATC 2” in the Spring, a bona fide fashion film if there is to be at least one for the year!

-feelgoodguru

"Sex and the City 2" Official Trailer

I can't help it, I'm excited for the next installment of the movie series of "Sex and the City"! Here is the trailer, just in time for the holidays, just in time 2 get u excited 4 next Spring. Get "Carried" away!