Red Carpet Roundup – 2013 Grammy Awards

The Grammys are always so much fun to watch because musicians  seem to have so much fun with their fashions…. they don’t hold back – they have such a flair!!  Last night was a tad more high brow ( no one showed up in meat or laid an egg) but, rest assured there plenty of red carpet hits and misses!

Starting with the worst of the worst

10) Jennifer Lopez – Everything about this dress by Anthony Vaccarello is wrong, the slit, the fit and the overall boringness of the “I have to expose myself to be relevant” mentality. 

Jennifer Lopez

9) Adele wearing  floral draperies. This is a common mistake; your dress does not have to match your shoes excatly. She would have been better off picking one bright color to go with the floral shoe!

8) Kelly Clarkson wins big in the singing department but, unfortunately is a huge fashion fail. It seemed like a safe choice, a non-descript little black dress but, this one is not the right one. Blah and ill-fitting. Kelly has so much going on for her in the talent department,  but, girl needs some fashion advice…  badly!

kelly clarkson grammys dress 2013

7) Lisa D’Amato in a really strange dress fit for a hoe-down.I can’t stop humming Entrance of The Gladiators. I’ll wait while you google it…..

 

6)Florence Welch vs. Godzilla. Wearing a green sequined Givenchy gown is a great idea, unless it has spikes made of _______!  What?

5) Kimbra in Jaime Lee Major. In many ways , I think this dress is adorable…. Fun, sparkly, silly, youthful  and just a little of this and that. But, the color combination is all wrong. Seriously….. it’s the Grammys – don’t be shy!

Kimbra and Gotye

 

4) Kelly Rowland in this unbelievably well-fitting and show-stopping gown by Georges Chakra.

3) Katie Perry is all grown up and very sophisticated in this beautiful Gucci gown. Top to bottom perfection.

Katy Perry

2) Justin Timberlake has never looked better than in this Tom Ford suit.

Justin Timberlake

1) Rihanna  is RED HOT, sheer perfection in Azzedine Alaia. It doesn’t get any better than this!

Rihanna

2012 Red Carpet Fashion Fails

No ‘End of Year’ blog would be complete without a fashion roundup. There were so many fabulous red carpet moments that it is hard to find a top five or even ten to highlight. However, the really, really hideous ones are not only less in number but, also really standout this year!

First, let me state for the record that bad red carpet fashion does not include outfits that are intentionally designed to shock or be a costume. Any Halloween outfit even for a charity ball is automatically excluded, any outfit by Lady Gaga or Niki Minaj or Madonna or Elton John is automatically excluded. This helps to level the playing field. Seriously – if you are trying to look ridiculous, it shoudln’t count.

My pick for the 5 Worst Red Carpet Fasions of 2012:

 

Stella McCartney in Stella McCartney. Really? There is really nothing nice to say about this puckered, weird, ill-fitting jumpsuit, so I won’t even try.

 

 

Florence Welch in Alexander McQueen. I get that she is an artsy actress and very intense and all….. but, yikes! Somebody buy this woman a full length mirror.

 Fantasia Barrino in a hot, sequined, mess. I wonder why I couldn’t find any name associated with the designer of this gown. Hmmm… Maybe nobody would admit they had anything to do with it?

Fergie in Jean Paul Gaultier. At home this may have seemed risky, edgy and really avant garde. On the red carpet it was absolutely hideous. The worst part is that she is really a total knockout. 

 

Beyonce in Givenchy Haute Couture. #1 – this is the Met Gala. #2 – the inner part is like a bodysuit made of sheer nude fabric that is puckered and bunched up in places. This is perfect for a Halloween gala but nothing else.

 

 

 

 

Make your 2013 New Years Resolution to read Bridal Expo’s blog every day and like us on facebook for up-to-date tips, trends and specials on all things bridal and wedding related!

Happy New Year

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

2012 Grammys Red Carpet Roundup

There was a pall cast over the Grammys as the superstars of music gathered to celebrate their success and to mourn the death of one of the Grammy greats, the late Whitney Houston. It was hard to be excited and impossible to think of anything else, even the red carpet seemed somber, as if every artist was respectful of the delicate balance between life and death, fame and fortune. It was a lovely  (last minute) tribute to one of the most memorable voices of my lifetime.

The atmosphere picked up as the attendees and honorees began to arrive. The 360 cam ( one of my favorite pieces of technology and another which I barely understand) was fired up and the red carpet show was underway!  The fashions this year were particularly underwhelming, except for a few stand-outs and it was hard to find anything worth really talking about.

The amazing Adele kept it simple in a black beaded Armani gown, a little too simple. Although her  hair & makeup was A+, and the three quarter sleeve was nice,  I found it otherwise completely  boring.  You are spectacular and  no matter what Karl Lagerfeld says – size isn’t everything!

 

 Carrie Underwood wore an all-over sequined gown by Gomez-Garcia…. snooze.

 

 Katy Perry’s blue hair looked great with the color of this gown but, the Elie Saab couture gown bordered on frumpy. Sloped shoulders, the odd bra-less bustline, and the fabric that looked like a 3rd grade art project made of popcorn and sequins.

 

Fergie looked ridiculous in Jean Paul Gaultier. Maybe if the undergarments had been the same color, maybe if the outer layer hadn’t been international orange, I don’t have the answer.

 

Rihanna was off the charts spectacular in this gown she designed with the help of Georgio Armani. The right accessories in all the right places didn’t hurt one bit, either. The plain gold made this simple gown an elegant knockout!

 Cyndi Lauper looked more like her old ‘unusual’ self than she has in a long time. I loved it! She was funky, a bit older but funky. She is odd, over-done and looks like she stepped out of a Tim Burton movie – but it works for her, time after time!

 Robyn, you must have a lot of nerve to wear this monstrosity to the Grammys. A lot of nerve and really, really bad taste. There is just nothing favorable about this white satin mullet dress…. nothing. I don’t see any designers stepping up to take credit so I will assume that it was a bad Home Ec project.

 

 Kelly Osbourne’s sparkly gown by Tony Ward was gorgeous! LOVED this dress; the fit, the Grecian-inspired one shoulder and side drape. She should have changed her hair color since this was the only thing that clashed. Keep it pastel if you want, just not that shade.

 

 The Grammys were a fitting tribute to Whitney Houston, a glamorous affair that she once dominated. Her presence was felt at the Staples Center last night as  her music played, when Jennifer Hudson gave a moving tribute, and as musical talents across the board gave their heartfelt condolences and paused to appreciate a life cut short. Remembering Whitney at her finest:

 

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Crimes of Fashion – 2011 Red Carpet Faux Pas

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

 

Country Music Awards 2011 – Hits and Misses

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