Frocks of the Week: The Best of Television

I know my Emmy picks are a little belated - I've been working away from home this week and have had nary a moment to actually sit at my computer, let alone blog - but I didn't think I could let the occasion go past without putting my or in.
And how lovely did the three ladies of Mad Men look on Sunday night? January wore royal blue Versace with a graduating hem (pity about the shoes); Elisabeth was the picture of elegance in Donna Karan; and Christina Hendricks was both naughty and nice in lilac Zac Posen.
Meanwhile I caught up on episodes 3, 4 and 5 of Mad Men last weekend and was somewhat lamenting the loss of the early 60s elegance as the show moves into the polyester madness of the mid to late 60s (particularly noticeable in the outfits of the SCDP secretaries). Lucky I had Peggy's hipster friends and a segue into laid-back Californian style to appease me.

There were a few ladies who wore vintage on the Emmy's red-carpet; most notably Susan Sarandon's daughter Eva Amurri in Thierry Mugler and Keri Russell in Jean Louis Scherrer. I love Keri's pleats and she's complemented her outfit impeccably with gold shoes and a cute box clutch.

Frills and Sequins: My Best of the Globes

I seriously love awards season. I was truly excited last night at the thought of poring over the Golden Globes red-carpet, even though most actresses - armed with their stylists and ever fearful of bitchy bloggers - tend to play it safe these days. This was certainly true of this year's Golden Globes, where muted frills or tried and trued Hollywood styles were in favour. But there were a few ladies that managed to make me say wow.

Anna Paquin backed up her shining Victor & Rolf moment with a glittery gold Stella McCartney dress. In the past I haven't been a big Stella fan, so I'm surprised at how much I've been loving her most recent collection on the red-carpet. This dress is seriously sexy on Anna ... as well as the plunging neckline it also had a leg split which isn't apparent in this photo. This is a little bit of razzle dazzle 80s styling that I'd be happy to see more of.

I think Chloe's Valentino dress came very close to not working. It contains a mountain of frills which could have over powered, but I reckon her style confidence has helped her to pull it off. I also love the back of this dress. The loose bow and soft fall of the dress makes me sigh.

Versace on the catwalk doesn't fill me with the glee that Dior or Chanel or McQueen does, but then January Jones went and blew me away in the label at the Emmy's last September, and now Christina Aguilera did the same in this gown. This looks like it was made for her; her figure is WOW and the contrast of the futuristic bodice with the peachy pink fabric - which almost looks like jersey - makes this gown very unique. Loving her bob too.

Christian Lacroix's haute couture outings will be sorely missed, and Diane Kruger demonstrated why in this ensemble which shouted perfection.

And yes, I've deliberately chosen a pic with her BF Joshua Jackson because I think he is looking mighty fine himself. Who needs a clutch when your man bag is this gorgeous?

I don't know yet what will happen to Betty Draper in Mad Men series 4, but it looks like January Jones is pretty assured of a gold star red-carpet career. Black often bores me but this Lanvin dress is very chic. I love her glamorous make-up and headband too.

Maggie Gyllenhaal took tried and trued and twisted it just a little bit. This pretty in pink dress is RM by Roland Mouret.

And I couldn't forget to include at least one Aussie, and who better than Golden Globe winner Toni Colette. She chose to run with the sequins trend in this Elie Saab frock which did wonderful things for her figure and skin tone.

I read on-line that Chloe's Valentino frock was torn on the night, so a quick change for the after party was needed. So I know this isn't strictly a Golden Globe gown, but I did rather love it. Tulle and sequins in a tea-length party dress is a recipe for happiness in Louise's world.

Funnily enough the betrothed and I recently watched the first season of Big Love and really enjoyed it. I know ... I'm terribly far behind. I might get onto Series 2 now, for another squizz at Chloe's character with her long braid and prairie styling.

Is the 1990s now vintage?

Well as Sydney Morning Herald Fashion Editor Kellie Hush points out, London department store Selfridges certainly seems to think so. Now that 1990 is twenty-years ago, some would say that technically it can be called "vintage". A quick stroll around a Sydney shopping mall and one can't help notice the frayed denim, opaque stockings, small print floral dresses and even Doc Martens. Stylist Liz Goldwyn and burlesque star Dita Von Teese recently stepped out, respectively, in a vintage Versace reminiscent of Liz Hurley's famous 1994 safety-pin dress and a 2010 Jean Paul Gaultier lingerie as outerwear frock that is very 1990s. So it looks like the decade is in, right?

Kellie Hush in "Grunge reborn as 90s hit vintage status" says:
It was only a matter of time before the phrase "that's so 1990s" entered the fashion lexicon. But while '80s style seems easy to pin down - bubble skirts, big hair, power dressing, lycra and neon - the following decade is more elusive.
Unless you're the London department store Selfridges, that is. It has declared 2010 as the year we can officially declare '90s fashion "vintage". So confident is Selfridge's about the decades retro appeal, it has opened a '90s vintage concept store filled with iconic pop-culture items, clothes and cosmetics.
So, what will we wear when an invitation to a '90s party drops into the inbox?

Now, I have no particular desire to return to 1990s fashion, and as it is, I've resisted much of the recent 1980's redux because I lived through that decade too and much of it is not worth repeating. What draws me to vintage more than anything else is the quality and beauty of the fabrics and the small details in construction which are missing from the mass sweat-shop produced clothing that has lived in most modern shops for the last thirty years. This applies even to some "designer" labels.

But I certainly have a sense of nostalgia about the '90s because it was the time of my teenage years, where I transitioned into the adult I am now. And it was this sense of nostalgia which prompted me to throw a '90s themed party for my 30th in 2008. Some people felt like it was too close, and yet others were like "but what was the 1990s all about?" (I responded with grunge, Britpop, rave culture ... need I go on), but most of my friends got it and really embraced the theme.

I was Sporty Spice, and there was Jerry and Elaine from Seinfeld, Ab Fab, Uma in Pulp Fiction, Cher from Clueless, ravers, grunge rockers and even poor Monica Seles with a knife in her back. My betrothed was Hando aka Russell Crowe from Romper Stomper (he doesn't share the sentiments of the character in any way shape or form, but he does look good in a pair of tight stonewashed jeans) and the two of us compiled almost twenty hours of 90s music to keep us dancing all night long.

So I reckon the teens and 20-somethings can go for it with their Docs and ripped jeans, but I'm going to stick by the old adage that if you've lived through it once, you really shouldn't dress head to toe in that decade again. Not unless you want someone to think that you are still wearing exactly the same wardrobe.

A Flurry of Fashion Books

There are a raft of fabulous fashion books which have made it onto the bookshelves just in time for Christmas.

My Favourite Dress, for one, is such a wonderful concept; 120 designers and fashion types select their favourite dress and talk about why they love it. Everyone knows that a truly beautiful dress is beautiful forever, and many dresses in my own closet have the power to evoke feelings and memories. I would imagine that the selections here might be entirely different were the designers to be asked for their picks again in another twelve months, but as of now they have a special emotional attachment to the frock they selected. I look forward to finding out what that is.

I've also got to say that Jessica Stam in Dior Haute Couture on the cover is to die for. You can read more about the book here.

I have a collection of Vogue photographic books, published from the British archives, and they make for endlessly entertaining browing. Now American Vogue have released a lavish book - People Parties Places - featuring 300 photographs of celebrities including actors, artists, models, politicians and more. I'm not entirely sure about the use of Gisele Bundchen and her husband on the cover, but by the looks of the internals that are available online, there will be plenty of images, both retro and recent, to inspire

I also stumbled upon this book recently, which is part of a That Changed the World series, that includes the fifty top shoes too. This title looks at fifty dresses that have made a lasting impact on the fashion landscape, and includes the Vionnet goddess gown, Liz Hurley's fame making Versace safety-pin dress (which I've seen up close and personal in a Versace exhibition some years ago), Marilyn's sexy white halter-neck from The Seven Year Itch, YSL's 1965 Mondrian shift dress, Cher in see through Bob Mackie when she accepted her Academy Award and 45 more legendary frocks. You can read more about the book, and the London Design Museum who published it, here.

My Christmas wish-list is almost entirely made up of books already. Now I think it just got a wee bit longer.

The Emmy's

Speaking of Valentino, Rose Byrne (who is one of the only celebrities my betrothed is vaguely interested in, seeing as they went to high school together) was simply stunning in this Valentino gown at the Emmy's yesterday.

Chloe Sevigny oozes girl-next-door sexiness in her polka dot Issac Mizrahi. Love the simple make-up and relaxed hairstyle as well.

And the stunning January Jones blew me away in her strapless Versace. The robotic stiffness of the bodice, contrasted with an uber feminine mermaid skirt is all kinds of awesome.

All the other frocks were a bit meh. That is usually tasteful, but entirely forgettable. If only I and my other fashion loving friends were world-famous actresses with bottomless pits of money and designers names on speed dial. Come to think of it, I'd definitely be working vintage couture on the red-carpet. The gorgeous possibilities are so endless, I think it is time for some much needed dress daydreaming.

Dior, Balenciaga, Jean Desses, Cassini ... I could go on and on ... and I will.

Dress of the Week

I'm really missing Awards season. I'd start wishing for 2010 to roll on, but that would mean missing the beginning of summer and hurrying my wedding even closer, a thought which fills me with unmitigated dread. Wedding planning is by turns both fun and painful.

Having said that Diane Kruger was memorably turned out for the LA premiere of her new flick, Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds (it actually hurts me to write that, as deliberate misspellings are akin to fingernails on a chalkboard to me).

Apparently this unique Versace Atelier bejewelled backless dress was designed especially for her. I imagine the plunging back would have offended some but I think, in this case, Diane just manages to pull it off. There is something classically sexy about an exposed or sheer back. Love the cute capped sleeves and black platforms too.

Regular readers of my blog would know that I'm not a big fan of Angelina Jolie's style, but she was looking pretty sexy at the same event (supporting partner Brad Pitt) in a Michael Kors strapless leather dress. With her svelte figure, it is hard to believe she gave birth to twins last year.

The ever stylish Diane is on the cover of the current issue of UK In-Style magazine and in the interview she reveals that she does her own hair and make-up for the red-carpet. Very impressive ... if I was a celebrity I'd definitely be outsourcing ... though I guess she was a top model. Back in the early days of modelling in the 40's, 50's and 60's (before the lovely Diane was born) models generally did their own hair and make-up and were thus largely responsible for how their "look" evolved.

In-Style have a behind the scenes video from Diane's photo-shoot on their site.

The Antonio Beradi dress looks amazing and would look totally rubbish on me. I guess that is why I'm a mere mortal and not Karl Lagerfield's muse.
Oh well; such is life.

The best of Cannes so far

After Natalie Portman and Cate B wowed me with their red-carpet outfits at Cannes last year, I had been enthusiastic to see the ensembles that 2009 would produce. Thankfully I haven't been disappointed.

The great thing about Cannes is that it isn't just Hollywood actresses in attendance but stylish (and stylishly rich) ladies from all over Asia, Europe and beyond (including Australia ... but more on that later). These actresses - like Isabelle Huppert and Asia Argento, above - are more willing to take risks with their dress and the result is a stimulating parade of the best of current haute couture.

I loved this Armani Prive dress when I saw it on the runway and I was so hoping I'd see someone wearing it this year. The print is wild and I love a bell shape and - how useful - it has pockets too! The only thing is I think this dress is a little too long for Asia and it might have suited a more dramatic hairstyle. Thoughts?

Isabelle Huppert is wearing Armani too and looks ravishing. Featuring two of my current fancies - lace and scalloping - what is there not to love about this frock?

You know how there are some celebrities who, even though you've never met them and barely know anything about them, just grate on you? Well Eva Longoria is one of those for me. Could it be because she is friends with Posh and Katie Holmes and her style is usually yawnworthy? Quite possibly. But despite my completely unfounded dislike, I'm including Eva this time around because her Atelier Versace gown is that amazing. I'd love to see this one up close and touch it. And that silvery blue is such a flattering colour.

Elizabeth Banks has been wowing the crowds and funnily I don't really remember her red-carpet appearances ever making an impression on me previously. The girl must have hired a new stylist or something or perhaps she's just about to hit the big-time. The black Andrew Gn is va va voom sexy and and the red Armani Prive (Armani has been super popular thus far) is outstanding.

Robin Wright Penn is stunning in Elie Saab. This dress is from 2007 and some sites are referring to it as "vintage" which grates on me no-end. Since when is a two-year old dress vintage? I abide by the old adage that anything older than 25 years (which is up to the early 80's) is "vintage" and anything post that is "second-hand". However, as far as I'm concerned, a dress from 2007 is just something I've still got in my closet that I bought a litle while ago. I'm still wearing some pieces I bought eight or nine years ago and I certainly wouldn't consider them vintage.

Grumble grumble and groan.

Anyway enough of my ranting and lets get back to the beautiful frocks. Model/actress Devon Aoki hasn't put a foot wrong so far. The blue dress is Alberta Ferretti and the yellow is Cavalli and they are both superbly elegant. Love the draping on the Ferretti.

And lastly I couldn't not mention Aussie actress Abbie Cornish who is - snaps to her - wearing Aussie designer Toni Maticevski. I love the colour on this dress and although there is a bit too much going on for my liking - hard to believe, coming from me - she does look beautiful. It is a bit of a pity she got slightly upstaged at her own premiere by Eva's arresting Versace vision.

I had to include her with her co-star Ben Whishaw as I thought he was fab as Sebastian in the latest adaptation of Brideshead Revisited. I was a big fan of the book and the original series with Anthony Andrews and went to watch the new flick with some hesitation, but I absolutely loved it, and was particularly blown away by Ben and Emma Thompson.

Ben and Abbie's new film is called Bright Star and is about John Keats' romance with a woman called Fanny (Cornish) prior to his early death and is directed by Jane Campion. The planets are all aligning there for me, so I can't wait to see it.