Red-carpet Vintage Spot

I always love seeing vintage on the red-carpet. Glee actress Dianna Agron wore vintage Chanel couture to yesterdays Screen Actors Guild Awards. It's a navy lace strapless dress courtesy of Rare Vintage, although I'm not sure what era (although the nineties can be considered vintage now, right?). I love the length of this dress, and it is classic, beautiful, flawless Chanel. I'm not totally loving her hair and her shoes - a bit clunky perhaps - but I'm loving everything about January Jones in brand new Carolina Herrera on the same carpet.

All this Chanel talk has got me lusting after vintage Chanel suits. Suits or gowns, what a pity I can't afford either. Knock off anyone?

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.

Happiness is a new old frock

This outfit, worn by Betty Draper (aka January Jones) in the most recent episode of Mad Men had my eyes in paroxysms of delight. You can't see it in the picture, but the beautiful floral wiggle dress has a gorgeous cross-over back. The all matching white accessories - especially the gloves, oh the gorgeous gloves - had me lamenting that the days of people going out "dressed" from head to toe are well and truly over.
Thank goodness, though, that so many other aspects of women's lives have changed.
You can see more Mad Men piccies over at the AMC website.

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.

Mad Men Media Blitz

It is rather fitting that I posted about Sex and the City this week as I believe Mad Men has replaced SATC as the TV show for fashion obsessives. Gossip Girl might be a runner-up, but I must confess I haven't watched it.

Now that Season 3 has kicked off in the US Mad Men is everywhere, including the September issue of Vanity Fair magazine. Not only are the costumes and set direction in Mad Men magnificent, the writing and performances are truly amazing too. While I love True Blood for its non-stop action plot developments, hysterically lovable characters and it's hotness quotient (see Eric the brooding and bad vampire), Mad Men has captured my imagination with it's subtle, mood evoking vignettes on the fractured lives of status anxiety gripped 1960's New Yorkers.

Bruce Handy writes in Vanity Fair that "if you like high modernism, narrow lapels, bullet bras, smoking, heavy drinking at lunch, good hotel sex, and bad office sex, this is the series for you ... at its core Mad Men is a moving and sometimes profound meditation on the deceptive allure of surface, and on the deeper mysteries of identity."

The photo-shoot with Jon Hamm and January Jones has the two of them posing, cigarette invariably in hand, in a variety of languid poses. January is dressed as Betty Draper, but for Vanity Fair her clothes are 50's inspired designer rather than beloved items sent to Mad Men costume designer Janie Bryant by super enthusiastic fans (and yes, apparently this does happen).

Jones blue and white number is Carolina Herrara. Love the gloves.

And the gold brocade cocktail frock is Dior.

The September issue of Nylon has an interview with Janie Bryant, the first costume designer to become a star in her own right, I think, since Patricia Field. There has been talk for at least a year now of Janie releasing her own original collection, but considering the attention the shows executive producer requires of her, I don't know how she'd find the time.

In Nylon Janie says she that while she designs some of the clothes - including many of the sexy secretary clothes worn by voluptuous office manager Joan Holloway - she also sources outfits for the men and women of ad land from vintage shops, rental houses and even her mother and grandmothers things.

Now that the latest series has moved into 1963 the crinolines are gradually being subsumed by a more streamlined look and mod elements are beginning to appear. Betty Draper is also rocking some seriously gorgeous maternity-wear.

What I wouldn't give for a day playing dress-ups in the Mad Men wardrobe department.

The September "Style" issue of Vanity Fair also has a story on the history of haute couture with lots of pretty pictures. I'm off to bed to read it right now.

Thanks to AMC for the pic of the Mad Men ladies.

January Jones turns Rock Chick

January Jones from Mad Men throws Betty Draper to the curb and works a more current rock chick look to stunning effect on the cover of the August issue of Interview.
The third season kicks off in the US next month and no doubt it will be an age before it is broadcast in Australia. I must know what will happen to Betty and Don next and, most importantly, what will they be wearing?