Frock of the Week: Vegetable Prints

I loved Kirsten Dunst in Dolce & Gabbana so much this week that I've had to resurrect Frock of the Week. From Dolce & Gabbana's latest ready-to-wear collection, the theme is Italian in the extreme, with vegetable prints (in Kirsten's case it is tomatoes) appearing on fit and flare and wiggle dresses as well as skirts and crop tops. I had to go back to the collection ... see below. Love the eggplant print!
Kirsten has really been back on form lately. A new stylist maybe, or perhaps she's just got her fashion mojo back.

Photos courtesy of Style.Com.

The promotion begins ...

Michelle Williams has just hit the promotional trail for My Week With Marilyn and the buzz is already building around her performance. She wore a gorgeous Nina Ricci black gown to the Hollywood Film Awards the other night (she won Best Actress) and at the New York premiere of the film she looked ravishing in baby blue Dior.
I believe the film opens in Australia over the Christmas period and I'll definitely be checking it out. I've always had a soft spot for Michelle because Jen Lindley was my favourite character on Dawson's Creek plus she has always reminded me of my dear friend Megan. They both have the same reserved beauty.
Oh, and as demonstrated here, Michelle has great style too.

Frock of the Week: Floral 50s

I thought Dita's lovely turn this week in this 1950s floral cocktail frock deserved a revisit of my Frock of the Week posts. Love the green and gold sash. I say more sashes on dresses. More, more.
This also gave me an excuse to post this more modern dress - Alexis Mabille 2010 Haute Couture - that Dita wore during the Couture Fashion Week in Paris recently. The details on this dress had me in raptures. It is a little bit Belle Epoque, a little bit 1940s, and a whole lot of gorgeous.

Celebrity Vintage: Kirsten Dunst

Kirsten Dunst has really been getting her fashion mojo back again lately. She looked ravishing at the Cannes Film Festival; it was a pity, then, about the movie she was promoting (sorry, not a Lars Von Trier fan).
Anyway, Kirsten stepped out for Wimbledon the other day in this pretty vintage frock paired with gold Louis Vuitton heels. So fresh and summery. Love it.

Frock of the Week: Teen Dream

13-year-old Elle Fanning looked so pretty in vintage at the premiere for her new film Super 8 the other day. The look is very sparkly Virgin Suicides and I love the Chloe wedges she (or her stylist) paired with the dress. The outfit is quite fitting as Super 8 is set in the 70s. I saw the preview the other day and thought it looked reminiscent of ET. Has anyone seen it yet?

Elle is doing a great job of dressing her age and being uniquely stylish too. I loved the cute Dolce & Gabbana play suit that she wore to the MTV Movie Awards too. Pretty in pink with an on-trend skinny belt to match? Just lovely.

Pics like this kind of make me wish I had a daughter so that I could shop for her (not a good reason to have said daughter, I know).

Oh well, maybe one day.

Frock of the Week: Back to Her Best?

It has been a while since I've done a Frock of the Week post (maybe I should rename it The Occasional Frock?), but there were so many lovely at the Grammy's and BAFTA's this week (hooray for awards season), that I couldn't resist posting my favourite: Nicole Kidman in Jean Paul Gaultier.

Spectacular!

Remember when Nicole, in the late 90s and early noughties, was setting trends on the red-carpet and rarely put a foot wrong? This look harks back to those halcyon Nicole days for me. The woman has a figure made for drama, but lately she's been playing it quite samey and safe. I've got my fingers and toes crossed this is a sign she'll pull something amazing out Oscar night. Couture please?

And now for a little trip down memory lane ...

Nicole married Keith Urban in 2006 and her Balenciaga wedding gown totally brought the drama. I love, love, love this dress (although don't you agree Nicole looks better as a redhead than as a blonde?).

Nicole apparently pocketed $2 million to wear John Galliano for Dior couture throughout the awards season in 1997. The lucky lady was not only rolling in cash, but the alliance seriously upped her profile in the style stakes too. This chartreuse is still remembered as an Oscars fashion highlight 14 years later.

And for some Cinderella out there who has access to more credit than me, I just spied this John Galliano for Dior gown over at 1stDibs. From the same collection methinks? Regardless, it is lovely.

Ten more sleeps til Oscar night!

Frock of the Week: The FLOTUS in Vintage

The US First Lady Michelle Obama has set vintage lover's hearts a flutter by stepping out in - shock, horror - a vintage Norman Norell for a Christmas concert in Washington. I love the flattering square neckline and the full tulle skirt and I love also that Michelle continues to support American designers, past or present.

Norman Norell worked with another great American designer Hattie Carnegie until 1940 when he stared his own label Traina Norell, which eventually became Norman Norell in 1960.

I've posted about a couple of other celebs in vintage Norell before: Marisa Tomei in Traina Norell and Kristin Davis in a Norman Norell at one of the SATC 2 functions. Kristin's golden sheath dress is one of Norell's most celebrated styles, but according to the Vintage Fashion Guild he was also known for the waist less chemise, pussy-bows, precision tailoring and the use of the finest fabrics.

I love keeping up with Michelle's style over at Mrs O and I hope that this isn't a one and only occurrence. For the fun of it, lets pick which great American designer Obama should wear next. Oleg Cassini, James Galanos, vintage Oscar de la Renta?

PS Apparently Michelle bought her dress from New York Vintage. Lots of pretty pictures over there!

When in Melbourne

I'm sad that it has been a week since my last post, but I've been busy travelling and working, working and travelling. At the moment I'm in Melbourne, hunkered down in my hotel room, hiding from the unseasonably chilly weather. Apart from its changeable weather (and fabulous lane ways) Melbourne is famous for its Spring Racing Carnival and the gorgeous fashions are definitely worth a look see (I think I've posted before that it's a little sad, really, that I'm not a fan of horse racing as apart from anything it is a great excuse to wear real life outfits. And hats). This year the winner of the Myer Fashions on the Field comp at Oaks Day was young Queenslander Jaydee Paino in a reconstructed vintage frock that she bought online from the US for only $18 (!) And yes, that is a horsey print.

The tide has definitely turned towards vintage loving ladies. Just check out models Jess Hart, Georgia Jagger and Jerry Hall in their very retro inspired outfits at the same event. Georgia and Jerry both look ravishing in Vivienne Westwood and Jess' red suit looks like something right out of Jane Sterling from Mad Men's closet.

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.

Dress of the Week: Chanel Couture

I haven't loved everything Lagerfeld has done for Chanel over the last couple of seasons, but when the man gets it right, by God does he get it right.
The ever gorgeous Keira Knightley - and the face of one of Chanel's perfumes - wore Chanel couture to the London premiere of Never Let Me Go. The details on this dress are utterly exquisite, and the well placed cut-outs and impeccable fit make the dress both beautiful and sexy.
I finally read Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go while I was in Fiji. Like most of Ishiguro's novels it has a quiet sadness that creeps up on you stealthily. He is a master of teasing out suppressed suffering and unrequited love.
I'm really looking forward to the movie now and I can't wait to see Carey Mulligan in the leading role.
And I always love seeing both Carey and Keira on the red-carpet.

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.

Dress of the Week: Beautiful in Black

Sofia Coppola's style isn't always my style, but it is definitely great style. She's classic laid-back American style with a twist of European elegance and it probably doesn't hurt that her partner is French (love Phoenix) and she's besties with Marc Jacobs (he has recently named a handbag after her).
Sofia's been plugging her new movie Somewhere in Venice and she looked a treat in this Louis Vuitton dress. I love the illusion neckline and the peep-toe wedges. I'm so over seeing towering and clunky platforms on celebs - they wear them with absolutely everything - so it is nice to see at least one celeb embracing the new less is more shoe edict.

I know Sofia had a massive head-start to her directing career (hello Francis Ford Coppola), but regardless I've loved all her films: The Virgin Suicides was an inspired adaptation of on an amazing book (I loved Jeffrey Eugenides Middlesex even more and wonder when is he going to bring out a new novel); Lost in Translation came out the year I lived in Tokyo, battling a broken heart and crippling loneliness; and Marie Antoinette is quite simply one of the most aesthetically 'wow' films I've seen.

Methinks I'll definitely be checking out Somewhere.

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.

Frock of the Week: Glamour

Christina Hendrick was pure glamour at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards this weekend. The gown is Christian Siriano and I love the feature on the bust line, the belt, and the double skirt.
Her hair is pretty too.
Mad Men picked up the award for Best Casting on the night, but Janie Bryant missed out on the costuming award; that one went to The Tudors, which I haven't got around to watching yet (so I can't really offer my two cents worth!).

Frock of the Week: Thrift Store Find

Drew Barrymore wore this backless geometric print dress to a magazine party this week and lo and behold she picked it up for $25 from a thrift store. Snaps for Drew and P.S. I love her bombshell hair. Drew is always so adventurous with her look, so I can't help but admire her.
I only wish she'd start starring in some better films. I watched Whip It recently and was pretty underwhelmed; I thought it lacked the originality that Drew brings to her red-carpet style.

Frock of the Week: Green with Envy

I haven't actually posted a frock of the week for a while because, since those joyous couple of weeks of SATC 2 promo outfits, I've been thoroughly uninspired by what I've seen celebrities wearing. I'm considering changing the feature to a once a month one instead of once a week until the stars give up on their elaborately folded napkin like mini dresses in favour of the ladylike trend exhibited with such aplomb here.
Nicole Kidman looks gorgeous now that she has returned to her natural hue and red heads always look lovely in green. This frock is one of Prada's 50's inspired summer dresses.
While I was working in my hotel room yesterday I had the television on low volume in the background for the news updates and suddenly the film Cold Mountain came on. It reminded me of what an amazing book that was; definitely one to revisit. It was a pity the film didn't quite live up to it's inspiration, but both Nicole and Jude Law looked very pretty indeed.

Frock of the Week: I Heart Summer Florals

I've just spent a couple of days in outer Melbourne where it was absolutely freezing. Okay, okay, freezing might be exaggerating, but it was really cold and winter and I are not very good friends. When I saw these pics of Drew Barrymore looking every inch the summery star, it had me longing for those warm days to return even more.

Love the 80s style sunnies too.

Coat of the Week: Lady in Yellow

I'm currently fighting off a flu and while I spent the morning on the couch completely engrossed in the 24 hour media coverage of the labour leadership spill, our Governor Generals sartorial brilliance did not go unnoticed.

I've long admired Quentin Bryce's style (hooray she loves colour!) and she looked particularly gorgeous today in this long wool suit with a violet flower brooch.

Our first female Governor General swearing in our first female PM; all politics aside, today was a symbolically important one.

At RAFW my colleague Eliza and I spyed a woman wearing this Lisa Ho mustard coat and we've been in lust ever since. Alas Lisa Ho is a little out of my price range right now, so I just had a quick trawl of Etsy to check out some yellow-tastic vintage numbers which are a little more budget friendly.

From LizsVintageSoffita there is this delicious 40s coat; from TractorDog you can buy a very mod 60s number; and FabGabs camel mohair 60s suit is all kinds of woolly goodness.

I'm loving sunny yellow as the perfect antidote to winter blues.