Fashion + Style Archives - Page 4 of 12

Nuns on the Carpet: Gwyneth Paltrow and Shailene Woodley Oscars 2012

February 28, 2012 By Paola 2 Comments

A couple more Oscars posts I think and then we’ll get back to talking about knitting.

What was with all the nuns on the Oscars red carpet? Are they doing a remake of the Sound of Music or something?

Gwyneth went all Mother Superior on us – an utterly gorgeous dress though she’s not a good enough actress to make the born again virgin stuff convincing.

While Shailene Woodley turned up as the demure young penitent.

Gloriously, and rather randomly there was even a real nun walking the carpet. Mother Dolores is a former co-star of Elvis’ who now stars in a documentary about her life as a nun.

And speaking of the Sound of Music there were huge cheers at our Oscar party when Captain von Trapp FINALLY received his Oscar – a moment spoiled only by his refusal to lead the auditorium in a rousing chorus of ‘Edelweiss’.

Dressing in Adversity: Vicky Beckham, Melissa McCarthy, Anne Sophie Bion Oscars 2012

February 28, 2012 By Paola 4 Comments

(With honourable mentions to Princess Charlene and Gwen Stefani).

Appalling things obviously happened to the original dresses the following three ladies were going to wear, but adversity couldn’t dampen their determination to attend as they fashioned replacements out of stuff they had lying about round the house.

Fortunately Vicky Beckham is tiny enough to fit into one of David’s knee bandages without any need for alterations.

Melissa McCarthy did extraordinary things with waxed paper lunch bags, unbleached of course for added eco-friendliness.

Anne Sophie Bion resorted to that old friend the bin liner (trashbag if you must) and didn’t even try to disguise it. She’d be terrible on Project Runway.

Princess Charlene must have suffered some sort of awful accident as she made yet another attempt to escape her loveless marriage, but she still made it to the ceremony while wearing a neck brace.

And poor, poor Gwen Stefani clearly had a terrible accident with the ketchup bottle at the Vanity Fair party itself but still soldiered womanfully on.

Separated at Birth: Jane Seymour, Natalie Portman, Mena Suvari Oscars 2012

February 27, 2012 By Paola Leave a Comment

Every year many starlets model themselves on other, more successful, movie stars, hoping that a little of the magic will rub off on them.

Mena Suvari covers as many bases as she can by copying both a cartoon character AND a bird.

Separated At Birth: Michelle Williams and Angelina Jolie

February 27, 2012 By Paola 3 Comments

Some of the ladies took their inspiration from further afield. Both Michelle Williams and Angelina Jolie decided to channel icons of 19th century British literature.

It sort of doesn’t matter what Michelle wears, while she keeps with that gamine cut she will always be Oliver to me.

Angelina, poor girl, tried at every opportunity to divert attention from the wooden stump under her black velvet gown. Seriously, what was she thinking with all that ridiculous posing? Please tell me she was having a laugh.

Separated At Birth: Heidi Klum and Anna Faris Oscars 2012

February 27, 2012 By Paola 1 Comment

Many ladies of course take their inspiration from birds for their Oscars attire.

Heidi Klum would be all kinds of useful if you were trapped in a coal mine.

While Anna Faris had struggled her way through an oil slick to be with us.

Unfortunately for Anna, Rose Byrne did oilslick black sequins much better than she did.

Separated at Birth: Jennifer Lopez and Rooney Mara Oscars 2012

February 27, 2012 By Paola 1 Comment

Yay it’s that time of year again, when we break off from the normal serious business of this blog and have fun at the Oscars.

First up, two ladies who this year took inspiration from the kitchen.

Jennifer Lopez decided to pay homage to the great British baking revival by coming as a cottage loaf, albeit one who needed who needed stronger tit tape.

Whereas Rooney Mara clearly had a team of Michelin-starred waiters fussing over her bosoms for days.

Mary Katrantzou for TOPSHOP

February 21, 2012 By Paola 1 Comment

Well I tried but all that was left on the website was a scarf and a pair of floral leggings and I think floral leggings are a bit too mutton-dressed-as-lamb even for me.

I’ve blogged about my love for Greek designer Mary Katrantzou before, so I was thrilled to learn that she was producing a limited edition capsule collection of nine pieces for TopShop. And my goodness they’re beautiful and so surprisingly WEARABLE, particularly the figure-skimming silk tunic and blouse.

I’ve started stalking eBay, but the prices are absolutely cray-cray. Please TopShop make some more!

Did anyone out there get any pieces? Are they as lovely as they look?

Downton Abbey Paper Dolls

February 20, 2012 By Paola 3 Comments

I know, I know.

Downton Abbey finished last night here in the US, ending on a spectacular high with a Christmas special which almost made up for the sheer ridiculousness of most of the preceding season, and you, as I know from my sobbing Twitter feed, are suffering from terrible withdrawal symptoms already.

Believe me I do understand, having mysteriously managed to watch the entire season last year *taps nose*.

But fear not, for I bring you solace in your hour of need, in the form of these utterly awesome paper dolls from Vulture.

Re-enact Matthew and Mary’s ‘will they, won’t they?’ romance, complete with the hovering spectre of dead Mr. Pamuk.

Marvel as Thomas and O’Brien engage in deeds of ever-increasing evilness for no fully explained reason, just because they can.

Help the Dowager Countess run the full gamut of emotions from irritation to disdain, all while sabotaging Cousin Isobel at the village flower show.

And don’t forget to send all the plot ideas you come up with to writer and producer Julian Fellowes, since on the basis of this season, he really could do with some help in that direction.

If you’re also missing the fabulous costumes and sets, here’s the post I wrote about Highclere Castle during season one.

Go Fug Your Room? – DvF’s Manhattan Penthouse

February 17, 2012 By Paola 9 Comments

I hugely admire Diane von Furstenberg’s fashion style and her inspired use of prints and colours, even though, as I don’t have much of a waist, her iconic wrap dress is just not flattering on me.

So I was fascinated to see online previews of a spread in March’s Architectural Digest featuring her incredible penthouse apartment in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District.

The penthouse, built over DvF’s design studio and flagship store, is absolutely stunning, with apparently incredible views through its transparent glass walls.

But inside? Well, it all strikes me as just a bit too MUCH.

Those chairs are gorgeous, the art is apparently priceless, but it all feels as if it just can’t breathe. The backdrop of the leopard skin rug really doesn’t help matters. And who sticks art, however exquisite, on the windowsill, thereby obscuring the billion-dollar views?

I love the Andy Warhol portrait, dislike the table and am meh on the clashing animal prints. Again, I think this would have looked a whole lot better with a more neutral rug.

I sort of admire her for attempting to recreate a pasha’s boudoir in her big glass eyrie - just because the structure is ultra-modern, you don’t necessarily have to go ultra-modern with the décor. But I just don’t think this works, the attempted grandeur is overwhelmed by the ceiling and it just looks incongruous.

Those screens round the bath are lovely, as is the bathtub itself, but I would be terrified of knocking over all those little tables and stools when I emerged dripping wet from my ablutions. But maybe DVF is not as clumsy as me.

Although I can see that one would want to create private areas in such an open space, overall all the clutter and clashing patterns and different styles and objets seems to fight with the open space rather than celebrating it. She’s tried to make it cosy, but I don’t think it’s the sort of space that works with cosy.

But what do I know? She’s is DvF after all.

What do you think? Please show your workings in the comments.

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