Category Archives: Red Carpet Glamour

The 2012 Golden Globes Red Carpet Roundup

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Last night was the first awards show of 2012 and my personal favorite of all awards shows. The reason I love the Golden Globe Awards is many but, the main reason is that although still a very formal awards ceremony, the nominees and presenters seem to be genuinely having a good time. Maybe it is because dinner is included, maybe it is because some see it is a dress rehearsals for the Academy awards but, personally I  suspect it is because they can drink in their seats! The one thing that really stood out to me was that all of the same trends we are seeing  in bridal fashions were right there on the red carpet; each of them  beaded, belted, sequined and accessorized to perfection. It was a glamorous and yet confusing night but, I walked away with a better knowledge of red carpet fashion! This is what I learned from last night:

How to wear an all over sequined gown- Laura Dern in Andrew Gn. While I am not a big fan of these tiny belts or all over sequins, this one works. Also, the neckline had some detail which broke up the ‘all-overness’ of the sequined dress and the plunging ‘V’ showed off her svelte figure.

How to be boring and glamorous at the same time – Michelle Williams  in a beautifully fitted yet boring Jason Wu gown. The gown had no design interest and once again she  fell short for lack of proper accessories.  The tiny black belt and black headband were of no consequence and did nothing for the overall look.

How to wear Reem Acra. One of our favorite bridal designers had a great showing last night – Diane Lane’s gown was my favorite of the three and the most flattering on her. Madonna ‘s (too much material, girl) gown had way too much going on  and Julie Bowen’s gown didn’t have enough.

Why not to let your children pick your clothes- Sarah Michelle Gellar flopped in Monique Lhuillier. Tye dye? Really?

How to wear a simple geomtric look – Zooey Deschanel was adorable (as always) in Prada. Selma Hayek dropped the ball when she picked this Gucci getup.

 

  

How to wear silk chiffon – Kate Becksinsale’s Roberto Cavalli silk chiffon gown was embellished with beaded detail and a flowing skirt while the details of Charlize Theron’s Dior gown  were in the design and execution. Both looked incredible.

 

How to stop traffic at any age – Jane Fonda looked so incredible that she rendered George Clooney speechless.

 

Speaking of which, Stacy Keibler was all smiles as she shows how to perfectly accesorize.

 

How to do “Grannies Gone Wild” – Jessica Biel in Marchesa.

How to be a great host –  while it seemed a risky move having him return after offending so many A-listers in 2011, it paid off big time for the Hollywood Foriegn Press as the comedian showed us he really could emcee the event  in a relaxed, casual and confident manner. His tuxedo choice was smashing but I would have preferred to see a tie! What can you say about Johnny Depp? He is just so darn cool.

 

What did you learn from last night’s Golden Globes?

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

People’s Choice Awards – Winners and Losers

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Was it just me or was the fashion at the People’s Choice Awards all over the map? Someone should define whether it is formal, semi-formal, black tie or what! I don’t mind seeing a more casual awards ceremony but, I hate seeing some women in very formal gowns while others dress for a PTA meeting. People…. get this in order before I  blow a fuse,  its too confusing to me!

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I will let you be the judge and keep the commentary to a minimum. Here are my top winners and losers from the 2012 People’s Choice Awards.

WINNERS:
Host Kaley Cuoco in a peach Badgley Mischka. Gorgeous!

Neil Patrick Harris – Just because he always looks great and is perfectly dressed for an ambiguous dress code.

 

 

Lea Michele in MARCHESA. Strands and strands of tiny white beads draped and sewn into a fringe. The only word is MAGNIFICENT!

Nina Dobrev in head-to-toe green Elie Saab. Beautiful dress, although she lost me with her shoe choice.

LOSERS:

Miley Cyrus wore a white halter dress by David Koma. Looks like she bought this off the sale rack at the mall, next to the place that sells lava lamps and incense.

 

 

 

Chloe Moretz is in a Proenza Schouler black and green ruched knee-length sleeveless shift. Lifeless.

Lucy Hale in a black asymmetrical Cengiz Abazoglu dress with a beaded bodice. Busy.

 

 

Demi Lovato wearing  very formal Marchesa gown in a tangerine sorbet hue. A bit much, maybe. I still don’t know the dress code.

 

 

 

Last but not least – the worst look of the night (in my opinion) was Sharon Osbourne wearing what appears to be a futuristic tube of toothpaste. Actually it is just a shapeless floor length gown made of either sequins or aluminum foil. BLAH.

 

What were your best and worst picks from the People’s Choice Awards?

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Crimes of Fashion – 2011 Red Carpet Faux Pas

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The E! Fashion Police headed by the always irreverent Joan Rivers have released their top ‘Fashion Felons of  2011’ and I have to say I can’t agree more. For crimes of fashion so severe it will take a  phone call  from the governor to be pardoned, these  women have 12 months to reclaim their fashion status and endless walks down the red carpet to erase the memory of their 2011 faux pas.  Without further adieu, the envelope please:

7. Jennifer Lopez consistently makes the best dressed list but, not in this white beaded cape getup. The problem is that there is no reason for this cape. The beads make the sheer fabric look heavy and begs the question, “Why would anyone would wear a sheer tablecloth with heavy beading?”

6. Rihanna choice for the Grammys this year was Jean Paul Gaultier. Gaultier is best known for his bustier look and outfitting Madonna so, I’m not sure at what point this gown seemed like a good idea. I sincerely doubt if event he Material Girl herself would attempt to pull off this ruffled tragedy. But, I’m talking about it so I guess that is the whole point.

 

 

5. Nicole Kidman  wore a gown to the Oscars that was out of this world… and not in a good way. Futuristic, yet reminiscent of a bad 1980’s  gown, this Christian Dior peplum gown was not red carpet worthy. Someone please explain to me why she wore red shoes.

4. Cierra Wilson wore an Emilio Pucci to the VMAs. In addition to wearing the wrong shoes, this gown is probably the worst representation of an iconic design house that I have ever seen.

3. Nicki Minaj showed up to the Grammys in a head-to-toe leopard outfit she described as “a masterpiece by Givenchy, a miraculous piece of lioness meets her cub meets fierce-ocity meets fabulosity meets fashionista meets everything.” She was dead wrong.

2.  Helena Bonham Carter loves to dress up, or is it play dress up? Her appearance at the Golden Globes in a Vivenne Westwood tulle, print, draped bodice monstrosity was nothing compared to her mismatched shoes. Interestingly enough she has another pair at home just like them.

1. Princess Beatrice wore a fairly ordinary outfit to her cousin, Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton last April. What was not ordinary was her fascinator (hat) created by milliner-to the stars Phillip Treacy.  Compared to everything from a part of the female anatomy to an octopus, this hat even launched it’s own facebook page. The outcome- someone paid $131,648  when the hat was auctioned on eBay, all proceeds going to UNICEF. It seems she redeemed herself in the end.

Who were your choices for the worst offenders of 2011?

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

The Elusive ‘Little Black Dress”

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With all of the holiday gatherings in full swing,  the best thing any woman can have in her closet is the perfect ‘little black dress’. Since the 1920’s when Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel first introduced the idea of the LBD, it has been a rule of fashion that every woman should have at least one perfect dress of a neutral color that is versatile and flattering. Also because it is meant to be a staple of the wardrobe, it should be as simple as possible in style so that it can remain in your wardrobe for a number of years without appearing trendy or out of fashion. You can dress it up with accessories or tone it down with a sweater… the perfect little black dress can go anywhere anytime, for any reason!

Although that seems like a lot to ask of one dress, it is actually easier than you think.  Here is what to look for:

Quality– This dress should last several seasons so it needs to be very well made. It needs to be of high quality fabric and completely lined. It should be hand washed or dry cleaned only and never put into a dryer. If you can stuff it into a washing machine, it is not of good quality.

Style – Avoid ruffles, pleats, beads, sequins, complicated design elements and heavy fabric. Less is definitely more, visualize Audrey Hepburn or Jaqueline Kennedy and ask yourself if either of them would wear this.

Fit – Your LBD should not fit like a glove and should never be made of anything that drapes or stretches. Jersey, lycra, nylon are all out.  The purpose of this dress is to go from office to evening by simply changing accessories. A skin-tight dress will not be suitable for the office so it is disquaified, it is important to find a dress that flatters your figure without revealing your appendix scar. Don’t get stuck on a number, just go up one size if you need to.

Value – Nothing is of value if it is worth less than you paid for it. If you are on a budget, try shopping the better women’s stores during a sale. Do not feel guilty spending a little more on this dress, it will pay for itself. There is no guideline except stay within your means but don’t get cheap on this one… this is the most important piece in your wardrobe!!

If you make the right choice, you will never regret spending a little extra money for the perfect Little Black Dress.

Happy Holidays!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

Country Music Awards 2011 – Hits and Misses

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Last Wednesday’s CMA’s  was one of the best I’ve ever seen. Both male and female attendees brought out their best and brightest and from where I was sitting (in my living room)  it was a glamorous, couture, high fashion extravaganza. Of course there were a few exceptions. Here is my take on some of the CMA fashion hits and Misses:

You Go Girl – Taylor Swift not only won Artist of the Year but also Best Dressed. Her sheer silk gown by J. Mendel was the perfect choice.

 

Equally fashionable and perfectly coiffed was co-host Carrie Underwood wearing a gold,  cap-sleeved Reem Acra. I was also impresed with the way she carried off this gown from the  Zuhair Murad Resort Collection. Nice costume change!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With 8 costume changes she was bound to hit a few strikes; she lost me with this Georges Chakra runway gown from the spring collection.  I’m not sure of it was the color or the print or the way it sagged on her… whatever it was, it didn’t work. Let’s face it – it wasn’t that great on the runway.

 

 

 

 

 

 Two For One –  Tim McGraw and Faith Hill always look spectacular.  The very simple  Chado Raplh Rucci  gown is one time when it looks better on her than it did on the runway. I also loved that she went retro with the hair and makeup. Personally I would like to see some accessories.

 

 

Less is More– Jennifer Nettles in Naeem Khan. This gown has everything going for it; a perfect fit and just the right amount of sparkles.

More is too Much – LeAnn Rimes must have been channeling old school country music when she picked this Badgely Mischka gown. Too many ruffles does nto compliment her recently diminutive frame.

 

 

 

Costume or Gown? Nicole Kidman looke like Morticia Adams in this Jean Paul Gaultier. The color, the way she wore her hair, the choice of accessories was very severe. Also someone needs to tell Mr. Urban that the ultr-slim fitted calves on his suite is a little date. Pee Wee Herman’s tailor called…

 

Least but not Last – Reba McIntyre is a legend. Her voice, humor, fiery hair and true southern spirit. Maybe that southern thing is why she was wearing a gown that appeared to made from one of Elvis leftover Vegas jumpsuits and Scarlett O’Haras curtains. Tsk, Tsk Reba, you are better than this.

 

Check back tomorrow for the final roundup of hits and misses!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Sequins 101

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I remember the 80’s very well. The decade of decadence, the opulent era, the big sleeves, even bigger shoulder pads and  hair! Although an 80’s revival period is unlikely to occur I have noticed in the past few months that a plethora of super-sparkly gowns have re-emerged to create the illusion of a Miss America pageant at red carpet events.

To start things off, the term for a gown covered in sequins is ‘sequined’ not ‘sequenced’. If you can’t spell it or pronounce it, don’t wear it. Sequins are small shiny disks with a hole in the center for purposes of attaching them to fabric. They come in a million varieties of color, shape, size and hole placement and any one of those can cause them to look like glittering diamonds…oooooh! If not worn properly, they can add size and dimension to an otherwise adorable figure.

Take Amy Poehler at the Emmys… please. Although her gown was smooth and seemed to be a good choice on the hanger, she didn’t seem to understand the physics of reflecting light and the affect it has on your post-baby body.  That same gown in silk crepe would have been stunning, maybe with a bra and a long delicate diamond necklace to pull your eyes downward… and one size bigger.

Or how about Juie Bowen in this Oscar de la Renta gown? To me, this sequined print fabric is matronly and confusing. This gown would have been better in layers of silk chiffon of any color and would have transformed her into a femme fatale.

Although not sequined, Jane Krakowski’s J. Mendel gown was  pure Alexis Carrington, minus the two sizes too small corset. If this gown had been made of any natural fiber or any other fabric than space foil, she would have been a knockout. But the super shiny fabric seems to accentuate some over-zealous  darts.  I only mention this gown because it is apparently made of some sort of lame`, which was also big in the 80’s.

Last but never least –  everyone’s  favorite secretary and voluptuous beauty, Christina Hendricks wore a sequined, bedazzled Johanna Johnson gown so close to her own skin color that she appeared to be nothing but red hair and lips….. and huge boobs. This gown was either borrowed from the Miss Universe wardrobe department or from the set of Titanic. Either way, the overbedazzled fabric is not right for this gown. If this were made of silk charmeuse we could see that the asymmetrical seams are a perfect fit for her curvaceous physique.

Are sequins back? If so, when is too much just…. too much? And remember, just because you have a sparkly gown doesn’t mean you don’t have to wear jewelry!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago