Some new pretty for the weekend ...

I am loving these photos of actress Carey Mulligan in the latest issue of W Magazine, all in service of promoting her new movie Shame. Carey has such an expressive face and I love the clothing selection and the retro styling, which seems to suit Carey's off-duty style too. I'm still crushing hard on those hot rod print dresses from Prada.
Carey's been in Sydney for the last few months shooting The Great Gatsby. You can throw rocks at me if you like but I'm not a big Baz Luhrmann fan. It's safe to say that I'm nervous. Having said that his wife Catherine Martin gives great costume; check out the blog A Wild Tea Party for a sneak peek at some of the duds on the forthcoming flick.

Looks of the Week

Carey Mulligan gets it right more than most and now that she has reportedly broken up with boyfriend Shia Lebeouf, she is looking more spectacular than ever.

This week she stepped out in Preen and Peter Pilotto and looked smashing. Nice way to work the black and white trend and she's growing out that Pixie cut rather well. I remember when I grew out mine that bobby pins became my best friend.

The Road Less Travelled

Now that the Oscar's pics are beamed around the world within seconds and the celebs are styled by professionals within an inch, red carpet dressing has actually become more fraught than ever. People decry that the result is super safe dressing, but when actresses do pick something a little left of centre, they often have imaginary rocks thrown at them.
Last night, however, the panel at my wee Oscars party were most excited by the sartorial turn from non-star and three time Oscar winner Sandy Powell. Sandy - who won the Best Costume category for Young Victoria - demonstrated her fashion credentials by taking the road less travelled, and the results were gorgeous. Snaps to her for eschewing diamonds in favour of colourful bangles and a chignon in favour of a beret. And I've got no idea who created her divine dress, but the Art Deco style pattern and colours were enthralling.

But now to my faves among the stars ...

Carey Mulligan was an edgy glamour girl in a jewel encrusted Prada.

Maggie pulled off bold colour and prints with aplomb in Dries Van Noten.

Rachel McAdams was so, so pretty in Elie Saab. The print was large but the colour muted, and the crossover strapless bodice was really flattering on her petite frame.

And Avatar star Zoe Saldana has divided the universe in her 2010 Givenchy gown. Some say that it was a pouffy mess but whenever the camera was on her I couldn't avert my eyes. I think she looked beautiful.

Nicole Richie went for sophisticated 70s style glam in Reem Acra ... so refreshing to see someone not wearing a strapless gown.

And while, disappointingly, there were no showstopping vintage numbers on the carpet, I did notice that vintage lover Marisa Tomei opted for an early 80s Halston for the Vanity Fair after party. This look is sublime on her.

It was funny to hear how often my little panel disagreed on frocks last night. What were your favourites?

BAFTA Beauties: What Goes Around Comes Around

Not only did Carey Mulligan pick up the Best Actress gong at yesterday's BAFTA's, she also picked up best dressed in my eyes, wowing me with her old school Hollywood glam. The dress is Vionnet and the long over skirt and train in arresting black and white recalls Audrey's iconic Givenchy ballgown from Sabrina. There is something perennially chic about black and white (done right), something Audrey demonstrated again when clothed in Cecil Beaton for My Fair Lady. Fashion fans probably sound like broken records when they gush about Audrey's influence on style, but when you see Carey looking so drop dead gorgeous - sporting a chic blonde pixie cut no less - then you can see why commentators harp on so.

I gushed over this pink Lanvin frock at Christmas time, so imagine my excitement to see the ever elegant Audrey Tatou working it to perfection on the BAFTA's red-carpet. I love how she has accessorised with red shoes and bag.

Erbaz's IT girl excellence since he's been at the helm of Lanvin got me thinking about the overall fabulousness of Lanvin present and past. From the 1920s to the 1950s and into the new millennium, this beloved French brand always has me in thrall. The brown and yellow dress is currently up for sale at Kerry Taylor's auction house. Now if only I had a spare $1200 lying around ...

And from old-school glamour to British cutting edge, I just had to post Romola Garai's eye-popping Erdem bouffant because it is just so darn pretty. Perhaps not quite formal enough for an event like the BAFTA's, but snaps to her for plugging a new designer, and all with a beautiful smile on her face.

Thanks to Getty Images and Red Carpet Fashion Awards for the pics.

Style Stayers in 2009

Of course best dressed lists are completely subjective, and one person's Alexa Chung is anothers Carla Bruni, but that hasn't stopped me having a super fun time coming up with my own top ten. I've picked those ladies whose style has consistently impressed me this year. Some celebs have had amazing red-carpet moments coupled with some serious shockers, so I've tended to eschew them (e.g. Eva Mendes, Marisa Tomei and Anne Hathaway) for those ladies who rarely put a put wrong, both day and night. I've included only photos that I haven't posted before.

Michelle Obama's look is innovative and colourful. There is a whole site devoted to chronicling this oft photographed style-meister, and a quick stroll through will confirm this online devotion is warranted. Her evening-wear is always elegant but youthful and the lady has a phenomenal collection of beautifully tailored, vibrant coats. I'd be happy to spend a day hanging out in her White House closet.

Cate Blanchett appeared on a couple of worst dressed lists again this year. Who is responsible for this madness! Cate's bold crocheted dress - which I blogged about here - seems to have blinded them to the perfection of all her other fashion choices this year. Because Cate is living in Sydney now and concentrating on theatre rather than film, she hasn't made as many red-carpet appearances as usual, but when she is snapped at events, or candidly on the street, she always looks impeccably groomed, lady-like and stylish. For my Cate, dressing is an art-form.

French actress Marion Cotillard benefits from a contract with Dior, but I'm still convinced that Marion's effortless glamour is very much her own. I couldn't find one appearance in 2009 where Marion looked anything but perfect and crazy pretty. So French, so chic.

Sarah-Jessica Parker continues to elicit fashion envy whenever she steps out her front door. She's adventurous while still remaining beautiful and her ability to accessorise is second to none. I might not want to wear everything she does, but I love her wearing it. While I'm not particularly excited about the SATC sequel, I am very excited about SJP's hitting the promo trail in 2010. Bring on more gorgeous head-wear, statement shoes and cute little party frocks please!

While I remain a little bemused by the level of fame Dita has achieved for taking off her clothes and marrying a musician of questionable morality and talent, I can't deny that the lady wears the socks off couture and vintage. Harking back to the glamorous film stars of the Golden Years of Hollywood, the lovely Dita is always 'on' and seems to love fashion body and soul. Her wardrobe is one I'd seriously be happy to inherit.

Thandie Newton loves vintage and colour so she is definitely a woman after my own heart. Feminine and fine without being too frilly, I'm always interested to see what this stunning actress is wearing.

Natalia has the advantage of being a supermodel, and one of the most naturally beautiful at that, but she eschews the usual model off duty uniform of band tees and denim for a romantic and feminine wardrobe that includes a whole lot of vintage. Gorgeous.

Everyone knows I love Diane Kruger. Muse to Karl Lagerfield, Diane styles herself, and never fails to impress whether she is wearing a statement making ball-gown, sexy cocktail frock or she is off duty in jeans and blouse. A real fashion original who just happens to have access to the best of the best ... although I'd love to see her in some vintage.

Carey Mulligan's acting chops have been seriously hyped this year, but her sartorial choices have impressed as well. Unlike other young starlets, Carey has realised that baring flesh isn't always best and has picked elegant but edgy ensembles that seriously flatter. Love her cute pixie haircut too.

And finally Ms Nicole Richie. While Nicole's style might not be my own, the way she works her luxe hippie chic consistently impresses. She was pregnant for much of this year and never looked less than glamorous. I give her big snaps for not being afraid to wear loud patterns, for working so much vintage into her wardrobe, and for having lots of fun with cute accessories too. This girl has come a seriously long way this past decade.

Thanks to Red Carpet-Fashion Awards, Just Jared and Mrs-O for some of the pics, and now feel free to shout me down in flames or tell me who your favourites where this year.

Ballgown of the Week

I think I'm forming a girl crush on actress Carey Mulligan. She was simply brilliant in An Education and all her sartorial choices since she's hit the spotlight have had me swooning. Not to mention that I always love a girl that can rock a pixie hair-cut.
And while I realise that this gorgeous ballgown - worn on the set of the Wall Street sequel, which she is currently filming - was no doubt picked out and/or designed by the costume department, Carey is most definitely wearing it well.

The bejewelled bodice and layers and layers of dark tulle are heaven in a dress, and this image got me thinking about tulle dresses in general. Tulle makes me think of 1950's prom dresses a la Grease, with swathes of pastel fabric that ooze innocence and new beginnings. But I think tulle, which will never be anything but girly, can also be sophisticated too. See exhibit A, in this classic fashion editorial from the 1950's.

And remember Carrie Bradshaw's tulle wonder in Series 6 of Sex and the City? This gown was Versace I believe, and had me falling off my chair when I first watched this Episode. God knows how she was meant to fall asleep in it!

And SJP in real-life looked stunning at this year's Ocars in this Dior Haute Couture gown with fitted bodice and tulle skirt. Love this colour.

And proving that the tulle loving lady can be both a sophisticate and an ingenue, feast your eyes on the details from these genuine 1950's Christian Dior gowns which can you buy now over at The Frock.
Tulle and lace and that ever popular shade of baby pink, most definitely equals vintage perfection.

Mad Men style ... on the other side of the Atlantic

This afternoon my friend Liana and I treated ourselves to an afternoon at the Cinema with popcorn and chocolate and an interesting new flick. After drooling over Carey Mulligan on the red-carpet, I finally got to see her star-making turn in An Education. It is the story of an intelligent 16-year-old schoolgirl, full of life but stifled by her sheltered middle class upbringing, who in her final year at school, is seduced by a much older man. This man - played to smarmy perfection by Peter Sarsgaard - manages to seduce her parents as well, and takes her to concerts, jazz clubs, auction houses, swish restaurants, and even Paris. Of course, he isn't all that he seems, and the young protagonist is soon getting an education in more than just art and sex. Set in London in 1961, the fashions are to-die-for - I particularly loved her Paris dress, with a print like a Monet painting, and her red and white party frock - and Mulligan is truly mesmerising. She is apparently generating lots of awards buzz, and it isn't hard to see why.

I think this is a good film, rather than a great film, but it should be on the must-see list for fans of sixties fashion and interiors. This film looks, quite simply, gorgeous. And the performances are first class.