Red Carpet Fashion: 2011 CFDA Awards (Part 1)

I have to start off by congratulating my favorite men in fashion, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler, for winning Womenswear Designer of the Year. Plus, I am so extremely happy for Prabal Gurung for winning the Swarovski Award for Womenswear. He’s really made a name for himself in the last few years and I’m so excited to see what he does next. Click here to see the full list of nominees and winners.

With any awards event comes a red carpet (I actually think it was purple at this specific one but let’s not be too picky here) and with any major red carpet event comes my fashion commentary. See who was wearing who last night at the 2011 CFDA Awards.

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Whitney Port in Pamella Roland

It’s not a WOW dress but Whitney does look pretty here. Minimal accessories with a pretty standard one shoulder white gown. My main concern is her hair color. Is it yellow? At least it’s adding some color to this outfit.

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Shenae Grimes in Rebecca Taylor

Wayyyy too many dark elements hair. Between the hair, pants and the shoes, this outfit is CRAVING some color…or at least a metallic accessory. And besides that, it just looks like she tucked lingerie into harem pants. Which brings me to my next point…why is she at the CFDA Awards?

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Naomi Watts in Calvin Klein

Short gold dress with nude shoes…standard. However, for being so standard I really do love the liquid effect of the dress. Why is no one embracing color for this major fashion event?

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Miranda Kerr in Michael Kors

Finally, something a little interesting. I actually love the dress…only a model could pull off cut-out sides. I appreciate the use of accessories but with the severe cuffs and matching belt, it’s just a little much.

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Lucy Liu in Monique Lhuillier

You always know what you’re going to get with Monique Lhuillier, and it’s this dress in some way shape or form. Already bored.

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Liv Tyler in Proenza Schouler (pictured with the designers)

FINALLY…some color! Not just saying this because I live for anything Proenza Schouler but Liv really does looks great here. I appreciate someone going for a different look at this event and I’m loving those shoes paired with the dress.

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Leigh Lezark in Helmut Lang

I want to like this because I love Leigh Lezark (and I usually love her style) but the harsh bangs with the black shoes and matching black purse is just not right for this dress. A contrast color shoe or even a nude shoe would have been a better option. The dress is mustard. Everything else is black. Not my favorite color combo.

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Lady Gaga in Mugler

It’s Gaga. Need I say more?

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Kirsten Dunst Patrick Ervell

It takes A LOT for me to give props to a pantsuit. I almost always despise pantsuits. This is one of the many examples of me hating a pantsuit.

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Kerry Washington in Calvin Klein

I know it’s the shape of the dress but overall this just seems ill fitting. She’s a skinny girl and this dress is just not very flattering. It was a good attempt though.

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Who were your favorites at the CFDA Awards? Let me know in the comments section below. And be looking out for part 2 coming soon!

Photos: Tom & Lorenzo, The Cut

Red Carpet Fashion: 2011 Oscars (Part 1)

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards (or the Oscars if you will) were held last night at the Kodak Theatre. I thought Anne Hathaway and James Franco made a great team hosting the event (they definitely made it “hip” as intended). People won, people lost, but most importantly…there was a lot of red carpet coverage.

Let’s see who got it right, who almost got it, and who I just didn’t get…

Cate Blanchett in Givenchy Spring 2011 Couture

At first, the circular detail in the front confused me, but it’s one of those dresses that the more I look at it, the more I love it. She has that simple look to her where she could pull something off like this. And I think it’s perfection. A Givenchy Couture dress can be a risk in itself but she definitely pulled it off. One of my favorites from the night!

Amy Adams in L'Wren Scott Fall 2011

This is the best she has looked on the red carpet in a long time. I guess when you’re nominated for best supporting actress at the Oscars, you gotta step up your game. I love the color, the silhouette is perfection, the slit adds a little sexiness, and I think the hair and makeup is great. My only problem is the necklace…it’s just not necessary, but otherwise it’s amazing!

Anne Hathaway in Valentino Fall 2002 Couture

I love Anne Hathaway. She rarely makes a red carpet mistake (maybe because her stylist is the super fabulous celeb stylist, Rachel Zoe). I was very surprised to see an archived gown (that wasn’t technically vintage) from her, but she definitely pulled it off. Anne looks even better than the original model who wore this dress, and I think it works. I’m never a fan of red on the red carpet but it’s Anne and she can do no wrong.

Florence Welch in Valentino Spring 2011 Couture

This is her look and I wouldn’t want her to dress is anything that wasn’t “her,” but she could have chosen something that wasn’t this matronly. This look would be perfect for a woman age 60+ but not for a young celeb like Florence. Even in her Givenchy Couture dress she wore to the Grammys, the sheerness of the bottom and in the sleeves gave it some sex appeal but this Valentino dress is just way too covered up.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein

When I first saw her on the red carpet, I wasn’t 100% sold…but about one minute later I was completely hooked. It’s an interesting neckline, the liquid effect of this dress looks amazing on her, and I think the stick-straight hair is perfect for this dress. I saw a close up of the earrings and they were huge, looked like some kind of animal, but I kind of loved them. My only comment is that the brooch at the hips is not doing anything for me.

Hailee Steinfeld in Marchesa

First of all, I thought it was so cute she helped design this dress. I heard she was wearing Marchesa before I saw her on the red carpet and I wasn’t sure if the choice would be age appropriate for her, but this is so perfect for Hailee. She looks like a little princess and I just love it. I think she’s adorable but I cannot get past the headband! If she had a cute little jeweled Jennifer Behr piece, she would be one of my best dressed picks. But that headband looks like she picked it up at Walgreens in a 3-pack on the way to the awards!

Halle Berry in Marchesa

Can you look at Halle Berry and say she looks bad? Just try to look at her and say “ew.” You can’t. She look stunning. This dress is beautiful. It looks a little disheveled at the bottom but I’m not totally hating that aspect. It’s Halle Berry. That is all you need to know.

Hillary Swank in Gucci

This one is difficult for me to judge, because I think Hillary looks beautiful, I am in love with this dress (I live for feathers) but I don’t like them together. I just don’t think a metallic beaded dress with feathers is very Hillary Swank. I would have loved this dress on someone like Anne Hathaway but it just doesn’t feel Swanky to me.

Jennifer Hudson in Atelier Versace Spring 2008 Couture

Remember when I said I don’t like red on the red carpet? Well this is orange/red. And I still don’t like it. She looks gorgeous and confident, which is always important, but I know she can do better than this. And pairing this with purple shoes? That is something I just don’t understand.

Jennifer Lawrence in Calvin Klein

As I’ve mentioned before, I normally do not like red on the red carpet (or ever…red dresses can easily look tacky). I am also not one for minimalism. When it comes to accessorizing, I live by “the more, the merrier.” But you know what? Surprisingly, I love this look. Maybe because this dress fits her PERFECTLY. Maybe because the hair and makeup is stunning. Maybe both? Just gorgeous.

Keep checking back for PART 2 coming soon!

Photos from Popsugar

Calvin Klein Pop-Up Shop in Chicago

Pop-up shops are all the craze now in the fashion world. It is such a great way to promote a new company and/or collection, especially because the store is only around for a limited time. I am very pleased to announce that Carson Pirie Scott and Calvin Klein have partnered to open the first ever Calvin Klein pop-up shop in Chicago.

Here are the details…

  • The pop-up shop will be open to the public for 7 days only—October 1 through October 8
  • The store will include both menswear and womenswear and offer an array of items like sportswear, dresses, jeans, underwear and accessories
  • Hours: Friday, October 1 11am-8pm / Saturday, October 2 11am-5pm / Monday, October 4 through Friday, October 8 11am-6pm
  • Location: 116 W. Hubbard (Chicago)

AND a portion of the sales will be donated to the Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation and support National Breast Cancer Awareness month.

So, don’t forget to mark your calendars because the Calvin Klein pop-up shop is only open for a limited time!