- Fashion Rules!
- Archives
It really sounds so weird to even write “Neil Lane for Kay Jewelers.” After all, Neil Lane is one of Hollywood’s most exclusive jewelers to the stars – with a chic boutique on LaCienega and Melrose Place, and having made jewelry for Madonna, Gwyneth, Jennifer Lopez, and putting jewelry on so many Golden Globe and Oscar nominees for many years. But we all know that the money is in low end products these days, so a bridal collection with Kay is a good idea for the bottom line. The line was debuted at Drai’s restaurant the other night, and it’s clear Neil is tight with a ton of celebs he’s bejeweled: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia DeRossi wore their Neil Lane wedding rings together – and Portia also wore his colored diamond ball drop earrings and a gold and diamond swirl cocktail ring. Kate Walsh wore her white diamond NL earrings and a cocktail ring. “Sex and the City’s” Kristin Davis wore a wide black diamond and platinum cuff, black and white diamond heart earrings, and a diamond and onyx cocktail ring. Ashlee Simpson, in a fabulous low back long black dress, wore big diamond and ruby chandelier earrrings and diamond bangles. And the ubiquitous Eva Longoria Parker – “is there a red carpet event somewhere in the city tonight??” – wore a long cascading diamond and platinum necklace and a cocktail ring. That’s a lotta bling, and the press release does NOT differentiate if these pieces were regular Neil Lane or the Kay new bridal pieces – but we can’t really imagine celebs wearing the latter.
The New York Times this week devoted a lot of time to “Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston,” the new doc about one of America’s most famous designers. Let’s face it, Halston put the fashion world on the map in the seventies, drawing attention to New York and style by dressing Liza Minelli, Liz Taylor, Bianca Jagger, Barbra Streisand and all the fabulous models of the moment like Pat Cleveland. He also helped but the decadent world of Studio 54 on the map, changing the face of nightlife forever. The doc will premier in LA on May 12 at LACMA, and we’re not sure when it will get to a theater near you, as it probably doesn’t have a distributor yet. But for the Tribeca Film Fest opening of it, Sarah Jessica Parker – a creative consultant to the current Halston brand – came out to support in a chic Halston dress. So did Georgina Chapman of Marchesa, who’s husband Harvey Weinstein in an owner of Halston currently. And Kate Walsh showed up in about the shortest dress we’ve EVER seen, utterly inappropriate for her height and body – attempting, we think, to out-short Gwyneth Paltrow, who’s also starting to look like a grown up in her daughter’s dress. You’d NEVER see SJP wearing anything like that. It just looks tacky.
Kate Walsh looked pretty at the People’s Choice Awards – she always looks pretty – but we’re not sure a full sleeved heavily encrusted metallic mini is the way to go for a tall woman over the age of 30. Somehow, this is a look that Gwyneth Paltrow can pull off, and very few other stars. The Washington Post said about it “Kate Walsh’s dress there looks like it’s made of smoke-stained old-motel popcorn ceiling.” We don’t think that’s a compliment. The metallic mini is a trend best left for the MTV Awards, and we’re really VERY over it. It smacks of middle aged women trying too hard to look young – and it makes them look older. Kate – you’re above it.
IF THIS TREND COULD TALK, IT WOULD SAY: “I’m tired and I’m over, and even Givenchy is moving in another direction now. Retire me, please, before I die of boredom! Put me out of my over-exposed misery!”
Here’s a question: does bright color have an age limit? Should women over 40 wear darker shades?
There are no hard and fast “fashion rules” for these issues – it’s really about body type, coloring, etc.
But we found this interesting, looking at pics from the premiere of the new movie, “The Hangover” – Heather Graham, who’s in the movie, wore a D & G satin red dress, very colorful – but below the knee, so it’s very chic – and not too revealing. The combo of the brightness, but the over-the-knee length, works for her (age 39). However, Kate Walsh attended the same premiere, wearing a violet satin blouse with a bright red mini skirt (age 42). Somehow, Kate looks like she’s trying very hard to look YOUNG – and she winds up looking actually like she’s wearing her daughter’s clothes. Maybe it’s all about wearing ONE bright color at a time, and now an entire roll of fruit Lifesavers. – Merle Ginsberg
The queen of crystals, Nadia Swarovski, lives in London, but visited L.A. this week for the first time in five years. Not only did Swarovski sponsor the Costume Designers Guild Awards this week, but they hosted a party on Wednesday night on the rooftop and bar levels of the Thompson Hotel in Beverly Hills. There were gallery-like displays of great dresses the company has bejeweled, including Cate Blanchett’s fabulous McQueen mini she wore for the London premier of “Benjamin Button.” Kate Walsh, Meliisa George and great costumer Ellen Mirojnik, who has more movies to her name than Swarovski has crystals, were also on hand. When things get shiney, you know the Oscars are right around the corner. – Merle Ginsberg
Are you ready for next week? Recession be damned, Europeans, New Yorkers, wanna be’s and be’s will be pouring into L.A. for Oscar Week, fresh from NY Fashion Week – as Oscar Week in LA is really as close as LA comes to LA Fashion Week. (We don’t take those cute little ‘shows’ at Smashbox too seriously. They are all about kids with rich daddy’s buying them shows – half the lines are out of business now.)
The true fun begins on Wednesday Feb 18 at 60 Thompson when Swarovski crystal’s Nadja Swarovski, fresh from London, arrives into town – the company is the title sponsor of the Costume Designers Guild Awards, which take place the night before. Not only will every major stylist, costume designer, fashion designer and editor turn up at the top of the hotel – the very chic pool area, which has a great view of the city – but celebs like Freida Pinto, Kate Walsh, Perrey Reeves, Michele Hicks, Marion Cotillard, Kelly Carlson, Margherita Missoni – and even designer Reem Acra herself – will be on hand. This IS the Fashion Oscar party, it sounds like. Marilyn Heston’s MHA Media is throwing it, and they are the pr film who’ve made the aforementioned Ms. Acra and Elie Saab SO hot this awards season. Perhaps Reem will be wearing one of her fall designs from her highly anticipated show this weekend in NYC. – Merle Ginsberg
The Melrose Place family has a gem of a new neighbor: Neil Lane. The Diamond Man finally opened his La Cienega boutique, right above Monigue L’hulier’s store, just slightly north of Melrose Place, on Wednesday night. And it shows just what rocks can buy, with his turnout: Kate Walsh, Rachel Griffiths (in an American flag shirt for the election, even though she’s Australian), Debi Mazar, Tori Spelling, Carmen Elektra, Dana Delaney, Nicky Hilton – it had a high density of celebs for a store opening, but then, Lane has surpassed Martin Katz as the king of Hollywood award shows and diamonds. Lane was in a tiny antiquary mall on Beverly Boulevard for many years, where he created birthday gifts for Annette Bening and Goldie Hawn, but when a fire ravaged the building, he decided to get serious about a real boutique that befits his celebrity clientele. No recession visible here. There were diamonds and gowns galore, just in time for November sweeps and the tv ratings blitz – and time to start planning those Golden Globe and Oscar jewels.
Since Sarah Jessica Parker stopped going to the Emmys, the high fashion quotient of this particular red carpet has fallen off considerably. Watching the 60th annual Emmys on Sunday night, we wondered: where are the labels? Sure, true fashionista Heidi Klum was trend-spot-on in her metallic one shoulder tiered Armani Prive’ – but where was the Dior? (Rita Wilson WAS wearing Dior, but it was white, and didn’t fit her properly at all.) Where was the Chanel? Where was the Lanvin, the Nina Ricci, the Givenchy, the Balenciaga? The Valentino? There are so many fabulous dresses out there right now – Anna Hathaway’s Versace at the Venice Film Festival took our breath away – but the Emmy dresses were wildly typical.
True, Kyra Sedgwick DID wear L’Wren Scott, a very progressive designer – but a tight white cocktail sheath is not a huge fashion statement. The problem with the Emmys is that they hit between NY and London fashion weeks, and then Milan, which started today. Somehow, it ups the ante for Emmy visuals when fashionistas everywhere are checking out Style.com to look at the fresh looks for Europe every minute.
Since everyone is doing TOP TEN LISTS, here is Fashionrules.com’s TOP TEN LIST OF EMMY FASHION, in no particular order:
JANUARY JONES: We know a lot of critics were hoping to see Ms. Jones, a spittin’ image of Grace Kelly, channel her character Betty Draper from “Mad Men” – and we can undertand why: Betty is beyond chic in her Hermes riding looks and lovely skirts and sweaters. However, we love that January wore a white Dolce & Gabbana fishtail gown – she is one of the few women in the world who could look good in something like this. It was made for her. It’s daring, it’s tight, it’s sexy – and she rocked it. We also loved the Grecian headbands she wrapped around her, totally staying away from Betty Draper’s little wavy flip.
MARCIA CROSS: We’ve heard a lot of flack about Marcia’s pale lace and tulle couture cocktail dress by Elie Saab – but we LOVED it. So what if it’s the same color as her skin? There is no rule that says that’s a crime – as long as it looks good, and it did. (The red hair helped.) We loved the lace insets, which is a huge trend for fall –and the full tulle skirt, which is exactly what we saw on the spring runways of NY Fashion week. Nothing desperate or housewifey here at all.
HEIDI KLUM: Heidi knows how to work a look, and years of practice have taught this ex-super-model how to work it head to toe. Because her metallic one shoulder tiered Armani Prive gown was a stunner – and had a lot of fabric – she pulled back the hair, and worked a lowkey makeup look. With the wrong makeup and hair, this dress could have been a disaster – but Heidi knows the golden rule of flamboyant dresses: take everything else down a peg. It came off like a charm – and she made a major dress look almost simple – and chic. She actually looked comfortable in that dress – a hard thing to pull off. The dress NEVER wears Heidi – Heidi ALWAYS wears the dress.
MARISKA HARGITAY: There’s yellow – and then there’s marigold. Mariska’s Carolina Herrera asymmetrical gown was a bold choice, and went well with her skintone and her haircolor. We also loved her cute French twist, which was chic and made the dress look more high fashion – but not TOO high fashion. A perfect head to toe look – very now. Chic, high fashion – and a little bit casual, as her hair was loose and her makeup downplayed.
CHRISTINA APPLEGATE: The light blue sari-like Reem Acra dress is pretty, and particularly pretty on a blonde. But there’s a lot of fabric here, and it kind of took over Applegate’s look – we really couldn’t see her fabulous figure. Also, the tight high up-do and deep red lips made this dress seem much more formal than it was. Applegate did not look like she was having fun. The dress was soft and flowy – and hair and makeup, very grown up and matronly. They simply didn’t well work together. We wanted to pull her hair looser, wipe off the lipstick, and take a scissor to half the dress. Then it would have been a winner.
PERREY REEVES: Reeves donned an Alice Temperley cream strapless dress with red and black detail – and Temperley’s dresses are floaty, beautifully designed, and unique – congrats for picking a great designer who’s underused on the red carpet. Her hair was soft and pretty, and we saw a whole other side of her from Entourage’s uptight anorexic Mrs. Ari.
OLIVIA WILDE: It doesn’t hurt that “House’s” Wilde is a true exotic beauty. But instead of going for a sexy Pussycat Dolls look, she chose a demure pearl grey Reem Acra Grecian chiffon gown with small cap sleeves – and it really highlighted her beauty. She looked better than anyone – and it wasn’t all about her dress. It was all about her.
SANDRA OH: We simply LOVE this black and neutral lace Oscar de la Renta gown with a bow belt – it hits all the right trends, and even with a skirt that bells into tiers of lace, it is still shaped to Sandra’s lithe body. A winner!!! This gown manages to grab attention while remaining a bit quiet – a hard combo to come by.
CHRISTINA HENDRICKS: “Mad Men’s” busty redhead busted out of the series in her first red carpet appearance in an emerald dress Grecian gown by Tadashi that accentuates her overflowing cleavage and her creamy skintone. Again, she chose to play away from Joan Holloway, her “Mad Men” sexy secretary – and show her modernity. We love a redhead in bright green. And in this age of the 90 pound actress, we love a voluptuous goddess.
DEBRA MESSING: Messing is a fashion pro – she simply gets it, and always has. Since “Will & Grace” has gone off the air, she’s had a tendency to play it down and play it safe – but her safe is everybody else’s risk. Her wavy hair and heavy lashes did her justice, and the black strapless Monique L’hullier gown with a big lacy skirt was both dramatic and subtle at the same time. Also, she was accompanying her husband, who was nominated for writing – and didn’t want to steal his thunder. But Ms. Messing always has a little fashion thunder clapping wherever she goes.
HONORABLE MENTION:
BROOKE SHIELDS: LOVE the color of this Badgley Mischka fuscia floral lace gown, and only a woman as tall and chic as Brooke could pull this off. It took some nerve – and she’s got it.
VANESSA WILLIAMS: She looked slinky and chic in this Kevan Hall white mermaid gown with black and pink floral detail. Williams was one of the very few women to brave wearing a print – and she carried it solidly. Wisely, she toned down the hair and makeup, and looked gorgeous. A tigress in the lipstick jungle.
TINA FEY: Her deep purple strapless David Meister was very sexy for this normally underdone comedienne. But she wore it well – keeping her hair messy so that she didn’t have to look like she was trying too hard. Tina – you’re nearly at bombshell status: don’t hold back!!! She needs to get that embarrassed, “Is this really ME?” look off her face, and own it.
AMERICA FERRERA: One of the few actresses who can pull off red lipstick, she waved her hair forties style to go with it, and donned a strapless vintage ruched dress that looked really old Hollywood, but modern at the same time. How is it ugly Betty is emerging as a real fashions star? Well, if you work at a fashion magazine . . .
And, as long as we’re doing the TOP TEN LIST, we might as well do a NOT QUITE GOOD ENOUGH list, too:
KATE WALSH: Oh, Kate! You look so hot and sexy in your scrubs – why didn’t you just wear those? We’re all in favor of actresses breaking out of their tv images – in her case, “Grey’s Anatomy’s” and “Private Practice’s” Addison Montgomery – but with a blunt bob and dark red lips and in a super tight Zuhair Murad HORIZONTAL STRIPED DRESS (the ultimate no no!!! Kate Walsh looking hippie?) was SO not Addison, she was barely recognizable. Kate – fire your stylist. It ain’t workin. You can do so much better.
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS: We live salmon color, and we liked it on Julia. We love Narciso Rodriguez. But this dress is WAY TOO TIGHT for JLD’s body. It belongs on a runway model, not a star this fleshy. How great it might have looked if Narciso had done it in a softer, more forgiving fabric – but then, that isn’t what he does. He does skintight. That’s why his clothes don’t usually make it to awards shows, unless they’re on Rachel Weisz, who somehow pulls it off. Perhaps she should lend her set of spanx to Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
EVA LONGORIA PARKER: The silver bow and fringe flapper dress by Marchesa is super cute for a movie premier or a cocktail party – but not the Emmys. It looks wildly undignified – although to Eva’s credit, it IS fashion forward. Cute, yes – chic, no. There’s too much bust showing AND too much leg – Eva never learned you have to chose just one. Also, the flat flat bob and the heavily contoured brown blush with no lip color and what looks like an entire cake of black liner is just SO eighties, we’re having a Joan Collins moment. Eva clearly thinks she has become Victoria Beckham – but she isn’t tall enough – nor bold enough – to pull off what Posh can pull off. Who is?’’
LAUREN CONRAD: Lauren Conrad designed Lauren Conrad’s navy strapless dress with the brooch – and quite honestly, she needs a better designer. LC does fine with simple prom styles for her 16 year old fans – but for the Emmys, she could have done a lot better. We know a marketing tool when we see one. Navy is nice – but what about a full short skirt with a tight bodice, and a tulle underskirt, a la Oscar de la Renta? Lauren didn’t get that lesson in sewing class ye t- she’s still on strapless prom dress 101. Next time, Lauren, wear Nina Ricci. Honey, leave it to the experts. You can sell your dresses at Target, but not with millions watching.
TERI HATCHER: Teri’s Monique L’hullier ruffled yellow gown was pretty – but better for a summer awards show than a fall one. Maybe L.A. WAS in the eighties on Emmy day – but nowhere else was. Yellow is the hardest color of all to wear, as we know – and while it works well on brunettes, the dress just took over – and Teri’s slightly fell-out-of-bed hair and makeup made it look like she threw on her nightgown, hailed a cab, and ran over.
HAYDEN PANETTIERE: The young star looks fresh with her hair simple and pulled back, but the dress looks like it’s her mothers – it’s too long and it’s too mature. With all those fresh ballerina looks out there, it’s a shame she had to look so dour.
HOLLY HUNTER: First of all, Hunter didn’t know that the “young L.A. designer Jenny Packham” is actually a British designer. Know your designers, people!! You got the dress for free, now memorize a few lines! We liked Hunter in the lavender color, but the dress has little shape, and was built for a twenty year old. Hunter’s got a great figure, but could have used more tailoring and shape – not a halter that just hangs there. Also, her frizzy over-dyed blonde hair didn’t help matters. This is the way teenagers go to awards shows: NOT Oscar winners. Holly, fire your stylist.
