Imagining The Oscars

Only one more sleep until the Academy Awards! And what better way to while away a lazy Sunday afternoon when I'm not feeling well than to fantasise about what I would wear if the world went all topsy turvy and I got my own invite to the red-carpet event of the year.
Cate Blanchett is presenting this year Anne Hathaway is hosting and Nicole Kidman, Michelle Williams and Natalie Portman are all nominated for Best Actress, so I've got my fingers crossed for plenty of glamour. I'm sure Dior, Elie Saab and Versace will put in plenty of appearances, but some 1960s shocking pink Oscar de la Renta like the dress above, would make me very happy too.

Over at 1st dibs Stephanie LaCava has selected vintage frocks, jewellery and accessories for the five Best Actress nominees. It is a fun little fantasy, so to continue the trend, here are a few other gowns on the site.

The latest offerings over at Kerry Taylor Auctions includes some mid-century Givenchy, Lanvin-Castillo and Balenciaga. Pretty hard to go wrong with any of these methinks.

And The Frock still has one of the best selections of vintage designer duds I've seen on the web. With my invite in hand I could be pretty in pink in 70s Balenciaga, confounding the fashion critics in Norman Norell, making a nod to one of the grand dames of couture in Madame Gres, rocking classic Hollywood chic in Jacques Fath or swathed in pastels courtesy of Hattie Carnegie. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Meanwhile I'm looking forward to hosting my regular Oscars party at my place tomorrow night where, thanks to TIVO, we can fast forward through the boring bits. Its fun to banter over outfits and winners and losers and favourite films of the year with some of my dearest friends. So far it looks like we are all tipping The King's Speech to be the big winner.

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.

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.

Favourite Shade

This masterful Lanvin Spring 2010 cocktail frock is featured in the January issue of Vanity Fair, and it is just about my favourite shade of pink in the whole wide world. It is a pure pink that is neither demure nor shocking and I rather want to swathe myself in it and gobble it up at the same time. I've been perusing the Pantone colour chart in order to name this gorgeous shade, and these two - Pinker Posey and Pink Pearl - are about the closest I can find thus far. I know Christmas time is all about red and green, but I never abandon pink for too long.

Frock of the Week

New British 'It' actress Carey Mulligan looked absolutely gorgeous at the premiere of her new film An Education. Her strapless floral cocktail dress is Lanvin and I love her pixie hair-cut, which is a brave move for an ordinary girl, let alone an actress. I had this hairstyle for about a year in 2002 and though I thoroughly enjoyed it while I had it, it was a terrible chore to grow out and I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to do it again. I found it both liberating and exposing. On ugly days there was no opportunity to hide behind your hair!

An Education has been getting rave critical wraps. The October issue of Vanity Fair describes Carey's performance as "revelatory" and the rest of the cast is truly all star and includes American indie actor Peter Sarsgaard and the always amazing Emma Thompson. Plus it is set in early 1960's London and Paris and judging by the trailer there are going to be some divine clothes. Can't wait to check it out.