Seeing Red on the Red Carpet

I admit, one of my guilty pleasures is watching the red carpet fashions at awards shows. Sunday night's 63rd Emmy Awards was no exception. This year, the red carpet was ablaze with red gowns galore. The ladies who did it right, in my opinion were:

Kate Winslet in Elie Saab

With a color as bold as blood red, a simple design can often be the best choice. Since the color calls so much attention already, if the design is intricate or over-the-top, it will very easily start to look costume-y. This Elie Saab creation is the epitome of bold and classic. 

Sarah Hyland in Christian Siriano

Soft pleats and a sheer fabric help tone down the color of Sarah Hyland's gown. In a more opaque fabric, this dress would have worn her, not the other way around. The contrasting belt at the waist helps break up the color, too. 

Lea Michele in Marchesa

Again, a simple silhouette and well-placed details are all the design needed when the color is the show-stopper. This backless Marchesa is simply stunning. Lea Michele can't seem to hit a wrong note on the red carpet these days. 

Nina Dobrev in Donna Karan

Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang

While understated is typically the way to go with such a bold color, there are exceptions to every rule. Nina Dobrev and Sofia Vergara are two women who can not only pull off such a bold color, but they can do it in a gown that would be dramatic in black or navy. Of course, their rockin' bodies don't hurt the cause, either. 

Who was your favorite on the red carpet last night? Did you love seeing so much of one bold color? What about the other colors? Leave a comment and tell me what you think!

NYFW Spring 2012- Christian Siriano Strikes Again!

I loved Christian Siriano when he was a contestant on Project Runway, but I have since grown to respect and admire him even more than I ever thought I would. He continues to create show-stopping, fashion forward designs that are nothing short of fierce- in the true Siriano sense of the word.

Last season, his runway collection still had a great deal of volume in the silhouettes. Whether it was layers of ruffles or just full, dramatic skirts, he was clearly operating on the mantra, "Go big or go home." This weeks runway show was far more restrained. The silhouettes are sleeker, and the citrus color palette is perfectly on-trend. There are still some "signature Siriano" looks interspersed, but the overall collection shows a maturity and growth.

Let's take a look at some of his looks:

This dress is absolutely flawless. For draping to look completely natural, there is often an incredible amount of laboring over a dress form. Everything about this dress says, "Easy, breezy, effortless style," but I think we all know that it's far from effortless to make something so stunning. 

I love the way Christian combined long, elegant skirts with simple, almost too-casual t-shirts. It worked so well in every case. Some skirts had volume and movement, others were sleek and slim- and all of them were beautiful. 

It wouldn't be a Christian Siriano show without some type of dramatically voluminous cocktail dress and this one definitely delivers. I love the combination of colors (you know how I love grey and yellow together) and the combination of the full, voluminous skirt and the sleek, fitted top. Bravo, Christian!

If I am ever in need of a red carpet look, you can guarantee I will do everything in my power to wear a gown designed by Christian Siriano. His evening wear is so unbelievably show-stopping, I would not be able to sleep until I knew I could wear one. 

Click here to view the entire collection. Be prepared to drool. 

It's Christmas in April!

As you all know I've recently joined the ranks of Stella and Dot stylists and as a result I've got a TON of amazing jewelry whizzing my way. I was hoping to have a package waiting for me when I got home from work tonight, but alas, my jewelry has not yet arrived. However, there was a box from Spiegel waiting at my door and I ripped it open the second I walked in the door. What was in it? Well, you may remember I pre-ordered one of Christian Siriano's designs from his exclusive line for Spiegel. I ordered it nearly two months ago, but I didn't tell you exactly which piece I got.

There were a few pieces that I really liked, but one stuck out more than any other and even though Christian has said this is an "evening wear" line, I thought it would be a great dress for work as well as a night out. As soon as I opened the box and saw the fabulous fabric, I simply HAD to put it on. And even though it was faintly sprinkling outside, I simply HAD to run outside and snap a photo to show all of you:

How fabulous is this dress? This silhouette is incredibly flattering- the slim skirt, defined waist, and cowl neck would work on literally any body type. The flutter sleeves and ruffle down the front of the skirt add a touch of gentle femininity, keeping the overall effect soft. With that much animal print, it could be easy to look a little too va-va-voom, but with the ruffle and flutter sleeves, the whole look is softened. The dress is made with a super light-weight fabric with a lot of stretch to it, making it super comfortable. It looks great with flats for work (like my brown suede boots pictured above), but it will look even more amazing with a pair of killer heels for a night out with friends or even a date! And as you can see (also from the picture above), it looks great with my new Audrey Cluster Bracelet from Stella and Dot! I'm looking forward to styling it with some of  the new jewelry coming from S&D, too! 

I wish I'd saved a photo from the website so you could see the details in the dress a little better, because the entire line is sold out and no longer available. I'm glad I snatched this dress up when I could! 

And I still have more packages from Stella and Dot to look forward to this week- it's like Christmas in April! 

Check back soon to see the other deliveries I'll be getting this week!

Christian Siriano for Speigel

You all know about my obsession with former Project Runway contestant Christian Siriano. And if you haven't been living in a bubble, you have probably heard about the line of evening wear he did for Spiegel. If you haven't heard about it yet, consider this your own personal press release. Anyway, the line isn't available until April, but all the pieces can be pre-ordered.

Can you guess which one is going to be whisking its way to my door as soon as the collection is released next month? Take a look at what's available here and then pop back to the blog to leave a comment and tell me which one you think I had to have.

And if there's one that YOU simply had to have, you can bet I want to hear about it!

Finally, take a look at how adorable Christian is in his appearance on The View:



Love him! (Also, weren't those shoes on the model to DIE for? I need.

Christian Siriano- No Hot Tranny Mess There

Last night, while having a fabulous dinner out with BFF Beth, we got to talking about Christian Siriano- our all-time-favorite Project Runway contestant. Of course, it hardly occurred to me that fashion week is in full swing and I could hop online any day now to view his most recent collection.

The thing about Christian Siriano is that he seems to have ideas and creativity literally gushing out of him. I get the impression he could create over-the-top looks till the cows come home and never tire of the process or the product. This most recent collection, however, while still featuring a handful of "trademark Siriano," with ruffles and grand glamour galore, also had a dark, understated side. Critics including the New York Times, the Huffington Post and Style.com have all given him positive reviews, but everyone is a bit surprised by this twist. I think it's incredibly shrewd of him to switch things up the way he did Even though some of us out there may appreciate his early avant garde work, it would be silly of Siriano not to at least try for variety, even if only a little. In the fashion industry, being one-note can be the greatest crime. Fortunately for us, Siriano appears well on his way toward fashion icon-status as he continually surprises and amazes everyone. And most importantly, as he makes clothes we all want to wear.

For your viewing pleasure, here is Christian Siriano's Fall 2011 collection:



And if you're interested in seeing any other designers work, check out the official site for a complete list of shows and runway photos. Leave a comment if you want to tell me what you think of Christian Siriano's collection, or anyone else's for that matter. I admit, I'm a few days behind in checking them out, but I'll catch up soon and you can bet you'll see some of my favorite looks here in a day or two. Happy Fashion Week!

Project Runway: Season 8, Episode 12

IN: Michael C, Mondo, Andy, Gretchen (ugh)
AUF'd: April

Let's start with the runway looks:

Andy's look

April's Look

Gretchen's look

Michael's look

Mondo's look

I feel like I have SO much to say and yet, the judges really said most of it for me. I completely agree that Mondo nailed it and that Michael's dress was great. I also agree that April has no range and Gretchen really blew it on this one. As for Andy, I've never been a fan of his aesthetic, so I'm happy for him that the judges loved his look, but it's really not something I would ever wear. Even without his "warrior woman" styling, it's not a dress I'd ever wear. Mondo's dress, on the other hand is absolutely something I would wear (if it was longer, anyway). Mondo and Andy made very similar looks in terms of construction and yet they were SO different. I prefer the playful mix of prints that Mondo does so successfully. I am not a fan of the dominatrix "wet look" that Andy does so.... well,  I suppose successfully is the word since he made it to the semi-finals.  

April is young and hopefully she's also resilient. I hope she'll grow from this experience because she has a lot of time ahead of her to be successful in the fashion industry. While I agree that she's made some nice things, I also agree that they're all basically the same thing with minor variations and NONE of those variations include color. I said the same thing a week or two ago- she's never done anything other than black and she did the same thing again this week. I agree with whichever judge referred to her model as a "pregnant witch." I think that for the most part, April designs high-end Hot Topic and as Michael Kors says, "It has no joy." He's so right about that. I think it was the right decision to send her home, but I wish the judges had also sent Gretchen home. I find her to be so unbelievably arrogant that it's not surprising she's struggled so much in the industry. If you're going to make it in as tough an industry as fashion, you need a touch of humility and loads of support from friends, family, business partners- wherever you can get it. I'm only guessing here, but I wonder if her arrogance has alienated her a bit. Why would anyone want to help someone who doesn't listen, and who is so unfailingly judgmental? Right up until the bitter end, she was being snarky and rude about Michael. "He's either an idiot savant or just an idiot." Really? You really want to be on camera saying that about another person and not in a humorous setting? Really?!?!? Ivy was worse, no doubt, but Gretchen is a close second for the villain character of the season. If I never hear her speak again, it will be too soon. 

Speaking of Michael, I think he nailed it. His inspiration was clear, but he didn't make a replica in any way. I absolutely could see that dress on the red carpet, even if I couldn't see it in my personal wardrobe. I agree with the other contestants that it's hard to understand Michael's aesthetic, but for them to be so against him right up to the end just makes me sad. Even when he asked them, "What do you think?" Not a single one said  something clearly positive and supportive. Instead, they all said, very judgmentally I might add, "It's very sexual. Sexual." Just ONCE I wish someone (besides the judges) said, "You did a beautiful job on that dress." I was thrilled for him when Mondo said such nice things about him. Michael is genuinely touched when the other designers are supportive of him and he has had SO little support from them, I'm amazed he's not more worn out like Gretchen. Then again, maybe Gretchen wouldn't be so tired if she just focused on her work and stopped telling everyone else how to design their garments. She's insufferable and I can't stand her. 

As for the semi-finals, I hope that the guys all make it through to fashion week and Gretchen goes home, however, the judges have loved some of her looks that I found positively revolting and unfortunately personality doesn't really factor in their decision, so I think it will end up being Mondo, Andy and Gretchen in the end. I hope they prove me wrong, I really hope they do. 

On another note, I absolutely ADORED having Christian Siriano as a guest judge. I thought he was very insightful and articulate and he demonstrated a maturity that was often lacking during his season of the show. I hope he continues to have success as a fashion designer because it is clearly what he is meant to do. 

All right, friends- only 2 more weeks until the season is over! It's been a good one and overall I've really enjoyed it. What are your thoughts on this season? The cast? The challenges? The new 90-minute format? Leave a comment!

Project Runway: Season 8, Episode 9

WIN: Mondo
AUF'd: Ivy

When this season first started, I was thrilled for the additional 30 minutes added to each episode. I felt for a long time that the extra length made the show feel less rushed and we were able to see more of the design process as a result. Now I just find it annoying because I feel like some of these contestants intolerable and an extra 30 minutes of them is practically torture. Examples? Gretchen and Ivy. I can't say how happy I am to finally see at least one of them go. The contestants who get along with her keep saying what a great person she is, but I've found her to be nothing more than an arrogant shrew with decent sewing skills, but not much creativity or point-of-view as a designer. Her best work was last week's challenge- the sportswear inspired by Jackie O. This week? Not so much:

This gown is not salvageable, in my opinion. Tim Gunn said it was unfortunate that she was judged on two unfinished garments, but I don't think finishing would have made a difference. The colors didn't work, the concept was too literal and the fit was horrific. Look at the way the fabric is pulling across the models hips- it's hideous. I agree with the judges decision to send Ivy home. I did not, however, agree with them that Gretchen's design was amazing. They loved this awful mostrosity:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this seems like something you'd see at the Rennaissance Faire, especially that headpiece! Gretchen started off strong in this competition, but she hasn't been in the top for a while and in fact has been in the bottom more than once. She certainly has a point of view, but it's not one that I like.

On the other hand, I was proud of Mondo for his second win in a row! Both of his looks were perfectly in line with the challenge and with his point of view:

The length on the front of his "high fashion" look is unfortunate- I wonder why he didn't re-do the front of that skirt. But I suppose it wasn't enough to ruin his chances at winning, so why bother re-hashing it? Especially when the ready-to-wear dress is so fabulous and so clear a translation of the first look! I think that the best designers are the ones who can be given a challenge outside of their esthetic and still come out on top. Last week, Mondo proved his worth in that regard with the Jackie O. sportswear challenge and this week he solidified my opinion of him as a strong designer. Also, I love his cute little outfits that he wears on the runway:

He's adorable! Not quite as adorable as Christian Siriano, but close. His personality is a LOT more subdued and his point of view couldn't be further from Christian's, either. I still like him and I'm happy for him for this win.

Next week, I hope Gretchen goes. I'm done with her. I admit that I'm curious to see her final collection, and it's already online along with the collections of nine other designers. Since fashion week occurred early in the season, all of the designers still on the show had to create runway shows, but 7 of them were decoys. To view them, click here. I couldn't help myself and looked at nearly all of them- basically I looked at the shows of the designers remaining at this point. I won't say much more about it in case you are waiting for the PR finale to see them all.

Happy Monday, everyone! Enjoy the rest of your week!

NYFW Favorites- Half-way done

Last night marked the half-way point of Fashion Week, so I thought I'd do a round-up of my favorite looks up to this point. Much as I expected, there aren't any collections that compare to Christian Siriano's, at least for me. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there with a different style sensibility who think there are lots of shows that are more exciting than Christian's, but if you know me at all, you know my style and you know that Christian's show was chock-full of looks I die for.

That being said, there were still plenty of amazing looks on the runways at Lincoln Center. The show that came the closest for me was Carolina Herrera. Her looks all seemed to be inspired by antique flower and plant prints like these. Some of the designs integrated the prints in really clever and interesting ways. Other seemed to simply be tacked ono the dress. In most cases, it was a stunning effect. Herrera also featured a slim, 60's style silhouette, much along the lines of what Joan Holloway would wear. I drooled over so many of her looks:

The gowns were also really stunning. I loved Herrera's use of prints:

Jason Wu's show was also quite beautiful. I loved some of his more formal looks as well as his separates. He also featured the slim 60's silhouette, but in a slightly shorter hemline. I also fell in love with the oversize bows done in soft sheers. The two ruffle-y cocktail dresses below are both reminiscent dresses shown in Christian Siriano's Project Runway show, so that's probably why I like them so much.

Few designers had me falling in love with more than a couple of looks, but I still took the time to scroll through nearly every picture of every show that's happened thus far. Here are a few of my favorite looks so far:

Cynthia Rowley's collection featured lots of round cut-outs in nearly every look. Sometimes I loved it, other times not so much. I did like these two looks:

Erin Featherston featured gorgeous fedoras with super-feminine dresses in prints and solids. Her fabric choices and prints were simply luxurious:

Z Spoke by Zac Posen and Vivienne Tam each had one look that I loved, too:

I loved the criss-cross blue fabric draping on this dress by Zac Posen:

It's not often you see lace like on this Vivienne Tam dress:

So far, the most notable aspects of the shows I've seen are the abundance of neutrals. So many of these shows are nearly or completely devoid of color. Whether resort, couture or ready-to-wear, I've seen a lot of beige, cream and grey. Not that I mind, a lot of it is really beautiful.

Do you have any thoughts on the designs that have shown already? Leave a comment! And enjoy the rest of fashion week!

NYFW Favorites- Christian Siriano

My bestie sent me a link to Christian Siriano's runway show and I found myself gasping and sighing over nearly every look. He truly is a fashion genius and one of the only Project Runway winners to see major success. His collection began with luxurious leather and sultry white and remained neutral in color for a dozen looks. But despite the limited color palette, each look was still amazing. Asymmetrical necklines, ruffle details done in innovative and interesting ways, ridiculously beautiful shoes, cocktail dresses, impeccably tailored pants and jackets, every detail was simply stunning.

My favorite look was one of the most simple, a perfect white belted dress:

What I wouldn't give to wear this look. It's stunning in its simplicity. Of course the fierce shoe helps add a touch of edge- so Siriano, don't you think? Another one of my favorite neutral looks was this suit:

The asymmetrical ruffle detail on the jacket is one that popped up more than once in this runway show. I like that the ruffle is soft and fluid and cut in such a way that it's part of the front of the jacket, not just attached to it. Genius.

After a dozen luxe looks in white, brown and grey, Christian finally introduced a colorful print, but not just any print- an absolutely stunning turquoise and brown:

That Christian sure does know drama. This gown wasn't the first look utilizing this print, but it was my favorite. I'm a sucker for a gorgeous gown. The bright pop of color was followed by another group of neutrals, but in darker shades, beautiful metallics and rich prints. My favorite was this look:

The gown itself is absolutely stunning, but the leather jacket addition is so chic. I can just hear Rachel Zoe gushing over the brilliant combination of the two. I'm in love. Next up came a group in fiery reds, but still following the same esthetic of asymmetrical ruffles and impeccably draped dresses, gowns and separates. I loved these cocktail dresses:

I also loved this suit (there's that shoulder ruffle detail again!)

The finale of the show included two major show-stopping gowns in true Siriano-over-the-top fashion:

I am afraid that having seen Christian's collection first, it will be hard to find another collection that can live up to it. You can bet that if and when I do, I'll be blogging about it. In the meantime, if you want to check out the rest of Christian's collection, go here. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, everyone!