Cate's New Collaboration

Cate has been photographed in Aussie label Romance Was Born for the May issue of Harper's Bazaar. I love what Luke Sales and Anna Plunkett do with their label; it might not always be practical, but their creations are never anything but mindblowingly original and gorgeously colourful. Cate has announced that Romance Was Born will be creating costumes for a new Sydney Theatre Company production, Edward Gant's Amazing Feats of Loneliness. You can read more about it here. I'm hoping that this frock is a sign of things to come, for both the play and the label, because, is it just me, or do the floral appliques on the bodice resemble the ones found on raffia bags and purses from the 1960s? And the skirt appears to be made of rosettes. My Cate looks lovely indeed.

Something Old, Something New

The Oscars just ain't what they used to be. Sure, the ceremony has got shorter, the awards are more diverse and my TIVO means I can fast forward through the dull songs, but it seems that actresses these days are too wary of the more mainstream fashion pundits to make a real statement in their dress. Personality is definitely missing and after this year I'm more convinced than ever that the Costume Institute Ball and Cannes are where it is really at for red-carpet fashion.

Having said all that, Anne Hathaway was totally gorgeous in each of her eight costume changes. I think these were my faves: Armani Prive, Givenchy and Vivienne Westwood.

The only person who really blew me away was, unsurprisingly, my aspirational friend Cate B. I remember marvelling at this Givenchy gown when this couture collection was first showcased. Comprised of only ten gowns, each of them is a work-of-art from a truly gifted designer. Riccardo Tisci really is working at the height of his powers and funnily enough this dress was one of my favourites (who doesn't love lavender?). The hours that would have gone into all the intricate beading on this dress boggles the mind and Tisci could not have hoped for a better fashion plate than Cate. She has such a regal air and her hair and make-up were perfection too.

Another star who isn't afraid to take risks is Marisa Tomei. She regularly wears vintage to big events and as I was blown away to see her wearing Charles James, the father of American high fashion. I don't think I've ever seen a real-life human being in this century wearing a James couture gown; usually they are found on mannequins in museums. Marisa sourced her James from Lily et Cie in Los Angeles, which is the same store where Renee Zellweger found her Oscar Jean Desses a decade ago. I've got to admit though that while this dress is AMAZING, I don't think it fits Marisa that well, particularly around the bust. The catch-22 is that it would be sacrilegious to alter a piece of design history like this, so I've got to give Marisa credit for wearing it and thus raising the profile of this oft forgotten great designer in the process. You can read more about him at an old post of mine here.

Frock of the Week: Cate the Great

Even though Cate hasn't quite realised yet that we are destined to be bosom friends, I do know that she is a woman who loves what is beautiful as opposed to what is in 'fashion'. The proof was in the pudding yesterday when she wore this archival Christian Lacroix haute couture gown as sourced by those purveyors of fine vintage at Decades. According to the Decades blog, Cate is wearing the dress back to front. I hope we will see some 360 degree images soon so I can marvel further at Cate's ingenuity.
If you are going to tell me that she is horrible in real life, I'm afraid I won't be able to listen. In the two times I've shared a room with her, she seemed to radiate perfection (but oh, how love can be blind sometimes).
Cate was in Beijing for an SK-II gig. After seeing her luminous skin in real life, I could almost invest in some of their products, but I suspect she was likely born beautiful.

Frock of the Week: All Hail Maid Marian

This week was a no brainer. Amongst a sea of beautiful gowns in Cannes, the queen Cate B blew all the other ladies out of the water. I had been happily anticipating the Robin Hood premiere and was predicting that Cate would wear either Armani or McQueen. McQueen it was and Cate wore this unique high fashion frock with confidence and grace. Love the eagle print and the white tulle hem. I read somewhere that McQueen selected this gown for Cate to wear before he passed away. I don't know how true that rumour is, but regardless of myth-making, this is a fine tribute to his talents. Cate + McQueen = always unforgettable.

By all accounts Robin Hood is a pretty good flick. If I feel well enough, hubby and I are hoping to see it this weekend.

Photos courtesy of CateBlanchettFan.

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.

Purple-tastic Frocks of the Week

Each time Cate B steps onto the red-carpet, I'm convinced the world becomes a bit nicer. Okay, maybe not the world, but certainly the blogosphere, as followers of fashion across the globe gush over her beauty and sartorial perfection. Cate's outing this week in this Armani Prive gown is certainly no exception. The Sydney Theatre Company's production of A Streetcar Named Desire, in which Cate plays Blanche, is about to premiere in New York after a sell-out season here in Sydney. One day it looked like I was about to get my hands on tickets and then just as quickly they slipped through my fingers. That was a sad day.
Cate has the figure and the innate grace that is just made for couture, and this deceptively simple dress couldn't be more flattering. The colour looks fab against her porcelain skin.

Runner up for this week is the always delightfully dressed English actress Thandie Newton, who is looking super chic in a lilac strapless Vivienne Westwood Red Label dress. This look makes me think of 1950's Balenciaga; I love the tapered and ruched skirt and the sexy deep decollatage. Great necklace too.

I don't think I've posted much Thandie Newton before, but she is one of a handful of actresses that I consistently admire in the style stakes. She is always feminine but bold and isn't afraid of colour (or vintage). Thanks to Red Carpet Fashion Awards for the pic.

My Cate B: Love It or Loathe It?

I love granny rugs. There is something about brightly coloured warming wool which I just can't resist; if I see one at a market or jumble sale somewhere, I am naturally drawn to it. My betrothed even rescued a gorgeous green and purple granny rug from his mate's attic once. His mate - whose own grandmother had hand-knitted it with love - was planning to throw it out, and thanks to my man's thoughtfulness, it now graces our couch and often my body as I snuggle up and watch a late-night film.

But would I want to wear a granny rug on a red-carpet?

My Cate B did just that at an opening for the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne this week. My initial thought was 'Oh my God, what is she wearing', but it is amazing how quickly a look can become acceptable once you've gazed at it long enough. Perhaps that explains why everyone thought pairing cargo pants with high heels was the epitome of chic back in 2003?

I thought that the dress looked familiar and my sharp friend Hannah pointed out that the dress is from Australian label Romance Was Born, whose most recent collection 'Doilies and Pearls, Oysters and Shells' had the Aussie fash pack gushing. Australian Vogue editor Kristie Clements was so enthralled, she devoted a cover and entire editorial to the collection in the July 2009 issue of the magazine.

And I must admit I loved this cover with Myf Shepherd actually smiling - gorgeous! - and the editorial was pretty cool too. The clothes are so imaginative and so uniquely Australian - truly unlike anything else being sent down Aussie runways - that I can understand why world-weary fashion editors went into paroxysms of delight.

So while I don't necessarily think this dress is flattering on Cate (I think the one shouldered look with such a heavy fabric makes her look a little lop-sided, and the dress would have worked better if it was a closer fit), I've decided that I can't hate her for wearing it. She's supporting cutting edge Aussie design on an Australian red-carpet and her choice puts her well and truly outside the realm of tired and boring. In fact I think it says "I don't care what people say about me, I love clothes and I will wear whatever I want."

For that, I think I like her even more.

And at least she didn't wear the Iced Vovo dress.

My Best Friend Forever Does Vintage

My imaginary BFF, the divine Ms Blanchett, rocked up to Australian Vogue's 50th anniversary this week in vintage Ossie Clark, sending vintage fashionistas all across the world into a flutter. As per usual she looks utterly gorgeous. I love that you never know what to expect from her style and yet she makes each and every look work in her own way. It must be a confidence thing, though her natural beauty probably doesn't hurt either (if only other 40 something beauties would eschew plastic surgery too ... Ms Blanchett is a walking advertisement for not spending money on manipulation).

Classic 70's Ossie Clark dresses are already highly collectible and in short supply. No doubt this latest red-carpet outing will push prices up even higher. Check out this gorgeous cerise two-piece Ossie dress I discovered on Enoki World.

And speaking of Enoki World, if you haven't checked out this online vintage site already, it really is worth a click. Not only do they have an enviable selection of vintage designer frocks and accessories, their product descriptions are so creative and witty, they really are miniature stories unto themselves. Here are a couple of my favourite items and a taste of their accompanying descriptions ...

Even the quickest of glances at an issue of Vogue from the 1960s reveals a tolerance for things less than perfect compared to now. You'll see girls with dirty feet in editorial spreads; blemishes, crooked teeth or a chipped manicure. And does any of it look icky? No. It is infinitely more believable than the airbrushed flawlessness we are forced to buy into now. We all know that if you pad around the house in tights with no shoes, your feet get a little dusty. So did Penelope Tree's. In a big fat Ann Demeulemeester world, less-than-pristine socks are a sort of hip accessory but we're not living in a big fat Ann Demeulemeester world, are we? We live in a world where our toenails are pedicured in the dead of winter, buried in socks. A world where a tan is not for the Seychelles-bound but for anyone who has the time to get sprayed. So what's your excuse for not being cute all the time? You don't have one unless your clothes suck.

(BTW I am completely obsessed with Hawaiian prints at the moment like this Malia dress and Alfred Shaheen too, but more on that later).

"The sun is bad for you" is a myth created by city-dwellers to make you feel guilty about living in the country, that's all. Buy a fabulous swimsuit, salve down with a tube of Bain de Soleil, bring a copy of Vogue and enjoy the summer. A splashy halter maillot for Bill Blass with a decorative front wrap panel that ties in a bow at one hip.

Summer's handbag contender - the Margaret Smith printed canvas structured tote. In the far corner, weighing in at less than a pound, dressed in the sky blue and lime trunks is the Margaret Smith handbag. In the other corner, weighing in like a wall of bricks is summer and sweltering temperatures topping 100 degrees. Ladies, when the bell rings, come out fighting.

They also have a fabulous page recommending fashion books, some of them out of print.

Clearly Cate B is Dress of the Week but I also have to mention this wonderful ensemble by Scarlett. I adore the print on her D&G blouse and her hair is Hollywood retro perfect. I could totally see myself wearing it, so am more than happy to accept Scarlett's cast-offs.

Hot shoes too.

Dress of the Week and an Ode to Yellow

Another lacklustre week in the celebrity style stakes, so I'm choosing to highlight SJP who, unfortunately, isn't seen out and about on the red-carpet so much these days (she does have newborn twin daughters).

Her dress is pretty but not overly memorable, so I'm selecting this image because I'm always so impressed with how well Sarah-Jessica pulls an outfit together. I find a lot of the celebs tend to completely replicate the runway styling of a piece, but SJP always makes a dress her own with fabulous accessories that are most definitely "her." This outing is no exception; her Miu Miu sandals are simply gorgeous. her jewellery adds something to the dress without overwhelming it, and her clutch is achingly cute. I love that she isn't afraid of colour.

I think her hubbie might need to rethink his hairstyle though ...

Thanks to Red Carpet Fashion Awards for the pic!

An honourable mention must go to American First Lady Michelle Obama who, while not strictly wearing a dress, looked ravishing this week in a canary yellow Michael Kors suit. Pink makes me feel peachy and pretty but yellow, when done right, seriously rocks my fashion world. One day I will find my own perfect yellow frock. Meanwhile, here are some reminders on how awesome yellow can be.

Michelle Williams was widely considered Best Dressed at the 2006 Oscars in this bright yellow Vera Wang gown.

The effortless beauty of Kate's lemon dress, of a few years back, has been burned into my fashion memory, never to be erased.

And my Cate B looked drop dead glamorous in Valentino when she collected her much deserved, long overdue Oscar in 2005. She still needs Best Actress though ... just saying ...