Tag Archives: Karen O

Out of the Box: Look of the Week

10 Nov

The trickle of film celebrations has turned into a stream and this is a bumper Look of the Week. Fabulous frocks, ladysuits and stunning December issues celebrating the good things about this year. Yes, there are some good things among the garbage.  At the 21st annual Hollywood Awards, Zoe Kazan’s Gucci botanical frock is a delight. I can see Kazan in a lot of the new Gucci pieces and this is right in my style wheelhouse. Also to file under outfits that I adore; the ladysuit! Noomi Rapace mixes a lace cami with menswear inspiration and not only picks a great color suit, but doubles down with her pumps.And for an entirely different take on the ladysuit. Kate Mara’s metallic Burberry number is giving futuristic retro vibes.I can’t see a slip dress and not think about the ’90s. Throw a white baby doll tee under it/cardigan over it with Cons for that season 1 Felicity vibe and then heat things up without one a la Felicity in the season 2 premiere.

Tatiana Maslany has opted for the latter at the Hollywood Film Awards in Diane von Furstenberg. Throwing all the flame emojis in Viola Davis’ direction because this iridescent Alberta Ferretti gown is smoking hot.Emily V. Gordon continues to impress with her range of floral frocks and this Saloni London number is another hit. As are her shoes. And as a fan of a suit outside of the usual black/grey/brown/navy spectrum, I am very much here for Kumail Nanjiani’s choice here.

Hopefully we will continue to see the Big Sick team getting fêted and it is one of my favorite films of 2017. Wearing vintage Balmain to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Patron of the Artists Awards is Tracee Ellis Ross and once again her love of fashion goes deep and far back. Love the pop of red on her bag and pumps.
The LACMA Art + Film Gala was presented by Gucci so it is ruffles and lace for Kerry Washington, in a distinctive look. I continue to be enamored with everything Gucci is doing right now.

Also a good time to mention that I spoke to Scandal costume designer Lyn Paolo last week and you can read that here.

Karen O spits rainbows and this Yeah Yeah Yeahs reunion is giving me all those undergraduate feelings. *digs out “Pin” poster*Drawing hearts around this photo of Greta Gerwig and Saoirse Ronan at a screening of Lady Bird and Ronan is driving my desire to get some velvet pants.

I mentioned on Twitter that when I saw this photo of Allison Janney, my jaw hit the floor. Two days later and it is still having the same effect. Everything I love about a women in a tuxedo is on display here. The Cut continues their run of excellent profiles of women I find very interesting and this Aidy Bryant one is now different. The shoot itself is also fabulous and just because Bryant is not a sample size; it doesn’t mean she shouldn’t look as high fashion as anyone else who appears in these editorials. Something she discusses in the interview and she recalls having to wear her own clothes when she did a shoot with her SNL co-stars:

“It was just humiliating. The other girls had racks of clothes to choose from and were wearing these thousand-dollar dresses, and I had two sacks or like one matronly mother-of-the-bride dress. Those were the first times where I was like, Something is different here and this isn’t fair. This is a fucked-up situation, and it’s purely because of my body. Not because I’m less funny — it’s my body. It’s the only reason that I’m treated differently right now. And it lit a fucking fire in me.”

The original reason behind starting this blog was to discuss costume influence on my own style and Bryant’s costuming in The Big Sick ticks all those boxes. Fuck having to compromise on what you wear just because you’re not a size 6. Teen Vogue will cease to have a print copy next year and while it is the digital platform that has made this magazine one to watch for, I am still sad to see this one depart the print landscape. Over the years there have been some stunning covers (this Amandla Stenberg made a huge impact on me) and this Hillary Clinton cover (HRC is also the guest-editor of this issue) is pure art.
Another case of my jaw hitting the floor this week and Edward Enniful’s first edition of UK Vogue as the new editor-in-chief, is making a huge impression with this stunning shot of Adwoa Aboah. I can’t stop staring and I cannot wait until I get my hands on a copy.

There is a scene in Call My By Your Name that takes place in front of a bunch of magazines and I ended up in a Google image hole of Vogue Italia covers from 1983 and it reminds me of that period. The Samira Wiley Out 100 cover from three years ago is still one I think about. Such a stunning image and again this annual issue delivers. Jonathan Groff has had another really strong year and he gives great casual sweater pose.Also having an incredible year is Emmy award winning Lena Waithe. This cover is fabulous and I love how confident her gaze is here.

Out of the Box: Look of the Week Oscar Special

7 Mar

Award season has come to a close and we’ve got one final post to look at the best looks from the annual post-Oscars Vanity Fair party. We’ve already covered the Oscar red carpet, but the real fun and japes come afterwards as everyone can finally relax and know there are no more tight fitting gowns to wear for months. Plus there’s a whole host of faces who didn’t appear at the awards and who are also letting loose, just because.

2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter - ArrivalsEvan Rachel Wood’s emerald green Elie Saab Couture gown is simply stunning and this is my favorite look from the entire night. It’s elegant and striking and this dress paired with red lips and the short curly bob makes her look like a 1940s star.

US-ENTERTAINMENT-FILM-OSCARSThere is a lot more color on show at the VF party (the less nude metallics the better) and Leslie Mann’s gorgeous yellow Jenny Packham frock is on point. It’s got an ethereal quality that comes with this designer and the detail is in the delicate beading along the neckline. It’s really very pretty and the kind of dress I’d want to run through a meadow in, if there was a meadow nearby and it wasn’t muddy.

2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter - ArrivalsHere is Zooey Deschanel in an Oscar de la Renta dress that comes from the same Spring 2014 collection that I suggested would be perfect for Jess in a New Girl fantasy costuming piece last year. This is the more formal version and unsurprisingly I think Deschanel is killing it and I’m a big fan of the curly hair approach; it adds a romantic quality to the look.

Amy Poehler VFHere’s another sunny floral appearance with Amy Poehler in Peter Som. The halter neck gives it a relaxed feeling without detracting from the fancy pants event and she looks fantastic.

Amy PoehlerBonus Poehler being held later at the party by an all star comedy line up including Bill Murray, Paul Rudd, Bill Hader, Adam Scott, Nick Offerman and Andy Samberg. Megan Mullally is also rocking an amazing floral gown (and grabbing a handful of Poehler at the same time).

Olivia Munn and Jane Fonda

While I’m not overly enamored by Olivia Munn’s Alexander McQueen boob harness (the rest of the dress is beautiful), I do love this shot of Munn with her Newsroom co-star Jane Fonda. Munn’s expression says all it needs to as Fonda is showing just how it’s done in Nicholas Oakwell.

2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter - InsideKaren O and Amy Adams both feature on the best of the red carpet and this shot of them celebrating with Spike Jonze with his Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Her shows off their change of clothes for this party. Still coveting Karen O’s amazing red lipstick.

2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter - InsideIt’s Jennifer Lawrence and Larry David (JLaw and LD if you will) and if they do any more Curb Your Enthusiasm, then this is one guest star I want to see. Lawrence also changed for this party into this super shiny mirror ball like Tom Ford, proving once again that this Dior contract is good for no-one (well maybe her bank account).

Best of the 2014 Oscar Red Carpet

3 Mar

So after nearly 7 hours of red carpet and the actual award show combined (yikes, that is a VERY long time and no wonder my snacks ran out) we have chosen our favorite red carpet looks. While the Film Independent Spirit Awards were awash with color and pattern, the Oscars were more on the muted side with dark gowns and a whole lot of nude metallics on display. Here are our highlights of the red carpet and a couple of bonus shots from the show.

Lupita Nyong'o red carpetStarting with Lupita Nyong’o as she has been the star of this award season and this gorgeous pale blue Prada gown is the perfect dress for the Oscar winner. Nyong’o’s speech was touching and from what I could tell everyone on my Twitter feed had a very blurry screen during this moment. The one divisive aspect was the headband and for the record I am pro this accessory.

Lupita Nyong'o OscarsHere’s an extra shot as it looks stunning in movement and Nyong’o helped design this gown; I would totally want something I could swish like this if given the opportunity.

Kate HudsonNow this is how you do old Hollywood glamour and Kate Hudson’s Atelier Versace gown is oozing with style. The semi-cape is giving me so much life (and it’s a shame she ditched it when she presented) as are the slightly boxy shoulders. The combination of the delicate beading and deep plunge give it that extra oomph; I can totally understand why Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell were beaming when she stepped out on stage.

Amy AdamsI saw some refer to this as boring, but I really like that Amy Adams chosen something as simple and sophisticated as this navy Gucci Première frock. It’s tuxedo inspired and the lapels are such a great detail; it’s the opposite of the plunging American Hustle type gowns we saw earlier in this awards cycle and it’s wonderful.

Karen OO, Karen O you look incredible in black Camilla Stærk. Another plunging neckline and the broach really set it off, plus this is also a little capey so you know I love it. The gold and black geometric clutch adds the right amount of glitz to this ensemble.

Karen O performanceBonus Karen O! Performing “The Moon Song” with Ezra Koenig with heels placed to the side, they made this song feel really intimate in a venue that large. The red gown is flowy and spectacular and I love that Koenig’s socks match Karen O’s dress. Excuse me while I go listen to this song on repeat.

Olivia Wilde and Jason SudekisBold statement ahoy – sorry Brad and Angelina (because I’m sure they will be reading), but here is my best dressed couple of the evening. Wilde is wearing a black Valentino column dress with a mock turtleneck and the white open back gives it that something extra. It’s all about monochrome with her accessories and she looks incredible. By accessories I mean her clutch and jewelry, not her baby bump as E! decided this was part of the accessory discussion. Jason Sudeikis is snazzy in Prada and I’m totally digging the beard.

Emma WatsonEmma Watson is shimmering in metallic Vera Wang, going for a pewter hue, rather than all the many nude sparkly affairs that were on trend last night (but none that I really liked). The slight mermaid kick of the skirt and the lighter top turn what could have been a nothing dress into something special. As does the dramatic dark lipstick which I’m coveting quite hard.

Emma Watson and JGL

And because I’m sure this pairing sparked new real life shippers here is Emma Watson presenting with the always dapper Joseph Gordon-Levitt. You’re welcome.

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