Bridal Expo

Please bear with me as I am still recovering from the Oscars. While I try to be concise with my fashion wrap-up, the best analogies and comparisons always come to me a couple of days later. So I thought I would share those with you, two days after the 2013 Academy awards…  in hopes that you might understand how my creative process works. Some people are more visual than others, we see things differently than most people, color is important to us.  We see repetition in shapes, designs, patterns and we can’t help comment. You want to take a visual person (like me) shopping with you because no matter how much it hurts, we will say to you, “Hey, Jennifer – don’t wear that purple gown with the ruffle thing in the back or you’ll wind up looking like Barney.”

Or in a kinder manner, delicatley let Nicole Kidman know that this dress is only a good idea if she plans on wearing it for Halloween as Cleopatra.  All she will need is a good headband. “Hello, Costume City?”

Or we may point out similarities bewteen fashion and architecture. In fact, it almost appears as if Stacy Keibler and Halle Berry were having a contest to see who could look  more like the Chrysler building. Or maybe the joke is on them and the designers planned this!

Even the sexiest mom alive is not immune to a little critique from a shopping pal like me. If I had gone in the fitting room with Heidi, I would have steered her more in this direction

and less in this direction. “No, Heidi, turn left  – that is the Forever 21 section”

Chubby, plump or (dare I say) fat women need to realize one thing: You are not a size 2 . A gown is not going to make you look any thinner or fatter than you already are. Lose weight or don’t – nobody cares…. we love your talent and charm.  It doesn’t have to be black but, it shouldn’t be this:

For the record, Melissa McCarthy ‘s hair and makeup – flawless.

If I were friends with Adele, I would tell her to do something about the creepy, pointy, vampira manicure and cut a smidge off her hair.  

Good vs. Not-so-much

For her dress, try to branch out a little because the 3/4 sleeve, black sparkly gown is starting to look like a uniform. Here is a clue: If drag queens can imitate all of your songs without a costume change, there might be a problem.

In the end, everyone needs a good friend to take shopping, someone to hold their purse and take a digital picture and to be the voice of reason. That person should be the most  discerning  person you know because they will make sure that your side-boob is not showing and that you do not look like a cartoon of  yourself (or anyone else).

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

There were very few surprises at the 85th Academy Awards –  including the red carpet appearances leading up to the show itself! The only surprise (for me) came from the lack of any real standout on the red carpet, with the exception of  Helena Bonham Carter. That’s not a compliment, by the way.

I thought Seth Macfarlane was a very good host and  his Lincoln joke was hilarious. Well, played, Seth. Maybe the boob song was a bit much for some – but not for me.  FYI it was a spoof  on how the Academy sent out a ‘side-boob’ memo asking everyone not to show too much of the body part made famous [in part] by the creator of “Side-boob hour with Peter Griffin”. I also knew he would not be deemed the worst host EVER since there are two words to prevent that from happening: James Franco.

Seth looked appropriately Oscar-worthy in his well fitted tuxedo that was neither too shiny or too tight to do a little dance.

Charlize Theron- For me, this Dior gown was probably the most understated and under rated gown of the evening. Perfect, flawless and I am not even a fan of peplums (hello? 1984 called) But, this one is sweet, slightly beaded and not overpowering. My favorite gown of the entire evening – hands down!

Amy Adams looked beautiful in this Oscar de la Renta gown but, her hair was way disheveled. Perhaps a pre-Oscar party? Or maybe she was trying to match her hair to the jagged, scrunchy effect on the tulle?

Jennifer Lawrence was considered (by everyone except me) to be  the best dressed at the 2013 Oscars in this beautiful gown by Dior Haute Couture. But, the fit is all wrong and frankly the brocade made the whole thing look even bigger than it was. Sorry, this didn’t do it for me. The dress needs some serious alteration and  the backward necklace was all wrong. Jennifer is darling and can wear anything but, this was not herbest look.

Jane Fonda continues to look amazing. She looked flawless. Her gown was brought to you by Sprint.

Anne Hathaway won for Best Actress in a supporting nipple:

“It doesn’t matter how you get knocked down in life, all that matters is that you’ve got to get up!” – Powerful words, Ben… really powerful words.

Best  Picture, Best Speech (ever), Worst tie – Ben Affleck.

But, seriously - where did you get this tie? It’s too square, it’s crooked, it’s awful.  Next time use a clip on – or have George or Bradley pick one out for you.

Jack Nickolson used to dress like this:

Now he dresses like this:

What is with the baggy, puffy suit that looks like it fit the ‘before’ picture of   weight watchers? You are super wealthy and super famous  so there is no excuse – get a stylist, and a decent suit…. now.

Did Reese Witherspoon’s gown come from the Prom Outlet?

Because  Helen Hunt’s gown came from H&M !

Of course, $700,000 worth of jewelry doesn’t hurt!

Overall, nothing for me was overwhelming. There was no standout, there was no showstopper and no one really made any kind of fashion statement other than the same lack of  ” Fabulous” we have seen over and over. For me – I think we may have jumped the shark with the pageant beading. Most of the women over 30 looked like they had just hopped off the plane from Atlantic City. Not mentioning any names. ( Catherine, Kristen, Heidi)

 …oops, looks like Heidi didn’t get the ‘booby’ memo!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

No, it wasn’t just you, the Oscars were little odd this year. It was as if there was a huge inside joke that everyone knew and as everyone waited for the punch line with great anticipation ……. it never came. However, this years fashions did not disappoint. 

 I loved seeing Tim Gunn on the red carpet. This is exactly where he belongs. He asks all the right questions  and he saves the acting talk for the interviewers with bigger chops.  I have been tuning in since I was a small girl merely to see what the stars will be wearing so,  the red carpet is my favorite part of the show!

Penny’s Picks for  best dressed:

Mila Kunis - The biggest shocker of the night for me was how much I loved this Elie Saab couture gown. The only reason so many design elements (lace, ruffles, draped chiffon, blouson top) work on this gown is because it was constructed impeccably, like a work of art. Every fold, every drape, every small lace ruffle is sewn to perfection.  Mila made every one’s top ten list in this designer gown, and the top of my top ten list. Surprised? Me, too!

Natalie Portman – Although I feel she lost it in the accessory department (hello, beaded tassels?), the purple Rodarte gown looked magnificent and comfortable enough for the mom-to-be to carry home a  small statuette and a  bun in the oven. 

Anne Hathaway – Most critics were all over her red Valentino gown, accusing the star of wearing her window treatments, etc. I disagree for two reasons – the fit was perfect and it was pure Valentino couture.  In addition, each and every gown that she wore during her multiple costume changes was A+ with the exception of the midnight blue Versace. I thought it fell flat.

Gyyneth Paltrow – Again, I disagree with most critics. Her gown was sleek, cool and totally retro. She was not nominated and was there to look good. She did!

Sharon Stone - Carried off  the Black Swan theme to perfection in this one-shouldered Christian Dior gown, regardless off how the critics slammed her smoky eyes. I thought she looked magnificent for a woman of any age.

Jennifer Hudson -Was a vision in Versace. The tangerine color looked marvelous with her skintone and the fit was unbelievable. The side drape and fitted bodice showed off her stunning slim physique.  In all fairness, she was stunning when she won her own Oscar and was much heavier. *Memo to her stylist - ”make sure the cleavage is the same color as the chest.”

Mandy Moore – Her Monique Lhullier gown was breathtaking. The fit and the detail  of this champagne/nude gown reminds us that this little girl is all grown up and also that Monique Lhullier can do no wrong. Her bridal gowns are equally as impressive.

Hailee Stanfield - Also wow’d the crowd in her champagne/ nude creation by Marchesa. She opted for a fuller, ballerina-length skirt which is extremely flattering and appropriate for a young woman at the age of 14.

Sandra Bullock – America’s sweetheart proves once again that she can  look red hot on the red carpet with this  amazing red Vera Wang gown. But, we already knew that. Her makeup and accessories were  toned down leading me to believe that she and her stylist agreed -when you look this good in this gown, you don’t need any extra help.

 Hilary Swank – This Gucci Premiere couture gown is pure Hollywood glamour. Hand sewn crystals,  ostrich feathers – who knew this much detail could be so sexy?  Grey is not an easy color to wear but,  Ms. Swank pulls it off effortlessly.

Celine Dion – She had twins? In this simple, fitted Armani Prive gown it is hard to imagine she has given birth to one child, much less three.  The slim fitting gown had an absolutely perfect fit for her, the horizontal darts accentuated her toned physique and the only detail on the gown (other than the silk shantung fabric) was a small band that seemed to help the gown curve perfectly over her bust-line.  Was it just me or did this necklace remind anyone else of the gargantuan blue diamond stunner she wore when she sang the theme from Titanic?

Tune in tomorrow for my picks for the Worst Dressed at the 2011 Oscars. In the mean time, you can click  on this link  to view Bridal Expo’s very own red carpet couture runway show!  http://www.bridalshowexpo.com/fos_video_bride.html?PHPSESSID=c2893cac5707631701337f218a200fd2

 - Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago