Fashion at The 2014 Grammy Awards

Although the Grammys are best known for Music’s A-Listers taking huge fashion risks on the red carpet, this year, the fashion seemed streamlined, calculated and polished.

Taylor Swift always knocks it out of the park on the red carpet as she looked statuesque wearing a stunning chain link Gucci gown paired with Jimmy Choo shoes. Her stylist, Joseph Cassell has been flawless with carefully selecting statement pieces for Taylor, from designers like Carolina Herrera, Elie Saab and Donna Karan Atelier.

TaylorSwiftxAnother fashion high note was John Legend’s wife, Chrissy Teigen in a gold hand beaded Johanna Johnson couture gown. Fit to perfection, this look on Chrissy was breathtaking. Designer Johanna Johnson, best known for dressing stars like Minnie Driver, Julie Bowen and Christina Hendricks also dressed one of music’s elite, P!nk in a gorgeous red charmeuse paneled gown.

JohannaJohnsonxR&B Superstar Ciara went through multiple fittings in Milan and Los Angeles to get her long sleeved beaded Emilio Pucci just right; and it paid off. The newly pregnant star looked gorgeous with her soft up-do pulled back and minimal makeup.

CiaraxBeyonce Knowles was a knockout in her Michael Costello Couture gown. Some compared this look to Jennifer Lopez wearing Zuhair Murad at a prior red carpet event, but we think Beyonce looked incredible with this white lace and nude patterned ensemble.

BeyoncexWe rarely see Madonna on the red carpet and always have high hopes for her,  but this was a fashion miss with this Ralph Lauren suit.  It came off costumey and the cane didn’t help her major fashion faux-pas.

Madonnax We’ll be curious to know what the Giuliana Rancic, Joan Rivers, Kelly Osbourne and George Kotsiopoulos on E!’s Fashion Police say tonight, and if they agree with us on our pics for Best Dressed at The Grammys!  At Bridal Expo Chicago Luxury, we’re always inspired by fashion as trends always have influence in the world of bridal.     -Jim Verraros for Bridal Expo Chicago Luxury Shows

{Photos courtesy Huffington Post}

The 2012 Golden Globes Red Carpet Roundup

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

Tuxedo Junction – Oscar’s Leading Men

No re-cap of a star-studded night of beautifully dressed A-listers would be complete if we didn’t discuss menswear.  For years my male friends have told me that they are stuck wearing the same boring suit while women can freely express themselves with a kaleidoscope of gowns at these affairs. I have always secretly thought they were right but, I always assure them that they, too, can express themselves with subtle choices. I was wrong.

Sunday night’s festivites were as much about the men as the women, some nailed it, some slid by and some really caught our attention. Most importantly, the men looked to me as if they all simultaneously stepped out of a Vintage Hollywood movie set. Lets get to it:

Here are my personal ‘Best and Worst’ tuxedo highlights from the 83rd Academy Awards:

BEST:

Jude Law  – Tasteful, handsome, talented. who could ask for anything more? In this Dior tuxedo with white tie and shirt, he looked every bit the gentleman on the red carpet and while presenting. Seriously – I loved this look. My absolute favorite look of the night, my favorite tuxedo,  a real tuxedo with a shawl collar and the thin stripe down the side of the pant leg. Bravo!

Justin Timberlake  – Thumbs up for your excellent taste in menswear. You truly have a sense of style that is timeless and flawless. This notched -collar Tom Ford tuxedo had all the right elements. JT’s  taste has really evolved over the years. Plus he brought his mother as his date – awwwwww.

James Franco – Wearing a wing collar is not easy and wearing it right (with the points tucked in) darn near impossible. He rocked several different custom-fitted Gucci tuxedos  and the fit was perfect for the job… except maybe that of co-host.

Colin Firth – Not only wore Tom Ford (formerly of Gucci) but thanked him in his speech. He didn’t take any risks and didn’t need to. Glamorous and sophisticated, he didn’t try or need to try to be edgy, he is all class.  Interestingly enough, Firth’s suit was made with “ethical materials” — meaning from managed, renewable resources — in line with the ecological beliefs of his wife, Livia.

Robert Downey Jr – Special thanks to RDJ for mixing it up with his white on white (on Blue) Prada  ensemble on the red carpet. It is hard to look bad when you look this good.  I could go on.

Hugh Jackman -Ferragamo designed this double-breasted tux just for him. Not really. But, if anyone can pull off  double-breasted, it is  Hugh Jackman. This is not for the faint of heart, this says you mean business and you won’t take NO for an answer. It is hard-core and you have to have the (whats the word?) to pull it off.

Josh Brolin – Looked fantastic in his Ermenegildo Zegna Tuxedo – or was it a suit? I guess the vest threw me off a bit at first and I wasn’t sure he was able to carry off this suit-tux. He followed up with the white tie and dinner jacket while presenting and I was sold. The man has style.

Special Thanks to Valentino and Kirk Douglas for showing us all how to look good no matter our age.

WORST:
Russell Brand – Russell Brand has nothing to prove, so why does he wear this? He is a good actor, a good singer and quite funny. Dear Russel, don’t ever wear a plaid shirt to a black-tie event, ever again, no matter how expensive it is. Period.

Christian Bale – This all black look is simply awful. Is he Batman or a hitman? I can’t tell. I know the beard is disconcerting but, he is a consummate actor so you have to assume he is getting ready for another role. I’ll give him that. (It looked terrible, though)

Mark Ruffalo – Attention: Everyone who knows what a pocket square is, stand up. Mark …. sit down. Your hair is gorgeous. You are handsome, talented and witty. Why did you leave a post-it in your breast pocket?

Mark Wahlberg – I said it before, its hard to look bad when you look this good. But, ( for me) Mark did it. Somehow he managed to have a bow tie that seemed too big, crooked, his studs were grey-ish ( I couldn’t tell) and overall he looked like he would rather be back in the gym. Photos, please.

83rd Acadamy Awards was a high point for men as most of them arrived in clean shave and sharp suits. Men and their smart looks took over the red carpet by storm. If you want a clean, good shave, I would advise you to visit the Instash website and check out their choices of top safety razor that they recommend.

What did you think? To check out all the latest trends in tuxedos, log on to www.bridalshowexpo.com to register to get tickets to a show in your area. Our men wear specialist will help make you look and feel like an A-lister.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago