Oscars Fashion Review Part One: Black Out

The stars brought their fashion A-game to last night's Academy Awards, and luckily the actual show was as fun to watch as the red carpet.  One major trend that I saw was a bit of a surprise: black gowns. Usually stylists will recommend that celebrities stay away from black on the red carpet as it may not "pop" as much as more colorful looks, but these stars showed that black is back.

Julia Roberts wore a lace Givenchy dress which featured a peplum waist.  Choosing a lace dress in a darker hue like black keeps it from looking too sweet.

Olivia Wilde's perfect pregnancy style continues with this beautiful black Valentino gown.  She was smart to pick a dress with a unique back element- a cool white streak.  This is a great style note for maternity dressing.  Her art deco accessories worked wonderfully with the overall look.

Emma Watson pulled off a difficult feat- looking cutting edge yet timeless at the same time.  Her shimmering charcoal Vera Wang gown almost looked like separates with it's sheer back and sweeping skirt.  Paired with minimal jewelry and a tousled ponytail, the look was beautiful.

Anne Hathaway's black Gucci dress was bold and powerful, with it's back slit and high neckline, however the sparkling embellishments that continued around the waistline created a cool and confident vibe.

Charlize Theron's Dior gown was a show-stopper.  With an architectural train attached with sheer organza, and unique illusion sleeves holding up the deep v neck, it was an entrance you could not ignore.  Taking advantage of the lovely black backdrop, she wore a dazzling diamond drop necklace by Harry Winston.

Margot Robbie (now a brunette!) chose an overall fashion-forward look with a Saint Laurent gown.  The beaded bodice featured a back cut-out and large bow.  She was the only star who chose to pair dark lipstick with her black dress which creates a vampy look when coupled with her dark hair.

Okay, so this dress wasn't seen on the actual red carpet to the awards show, however I did choose it as one of my gown front-runners for the Oscars!  Kate Hudson wore this amazing Zuhair Murad dress to the after parties and she looked stunning.  Again, it shows that black dresses, when paired with design elements such as sheer panels, lace, beading or surprising silhouettes can be anything but boring.

Did you like the black dress trend on last night's red carpet? Does it make you think twice about choosing this color for special occasions?  Stay tuned... my Oscar's best dressed (which may include one of the ladies above!) will be coming soon.  

Oscar Gown Contenders from Fashion Week

The biggest night in Hollywood is coming up on Sunday and after reviewing the collections from Fashion Week, it's easy to see that many designers had this in mind when curating this season's looks.  Here are some styles that I think would be perfect for the Academy Awards.

Although I'd love to see Jennifer Lawrence branch out a bit, it's a pretty safe bet that she will be wearing Dior to the Oscars.  Contrasting her cream princess-style ballgown from last year, this dress would be a more modern and unique style for her.  By adding some sparkling jewels, this could make a real statement.

Nearly all of the dresses in Elie Saab's Spring/Summer couture collection were red-carpet ready.  This pale gold gown mixes structured peplum and floating tulle for a romantic look.  While nominees Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep usually go for more pragmatic styles, I would love to see one of them in something like this.

This Jenny Packham dress would look gorgeous on Sandra Bullock, who loves to play with asymmetrical lines and varying textures.  It is a classy take on the sheer trend, with immaculate draping from the shoulder.

Now this is an Oscar-worthy look!  The mixing of scarlet colored velvet and pink silk along with the perfect shoe-framing length, make this dress a fabulous choice for someone like Amy Adams, who is a front-runner in the Best Actress category.

As soon as I saw this unique three-quarter sleeve dress by Tony Ward I thought of the newest red-carpet darling, Lupita N'yongo.  Her Oscar gown choice is highly anticipated and interviews reveal that she does her fashion research.  Tony Ward would be an unexpected and chic direction for her biggest award show turn to date.

Regardless of who wears it, I am dying to see this dress hit the red carpet!  It would be such a major fashion moment, as long as the hair and jewelry are kept simple.  The elements of sheer and lace detailing create a fresh yet elegant look.  I think someone like Cate Blanchett, who loves high fashion and unique details, would look great in this.

Who do you think will be best dressed on Sunday at the Academy Awards?  Don't forget to follow along on Instagram (@AngelHowlett) and Twitter (@AngelHowlett) for the live fashion play-by-play!  And check out Pinterest for more Oscar-worthy gowns: http://www.pinterest.com/angelhowlett/oscar-worthy-gowns-2014/

Well-Red: New York Fashion Week Trend Report

This season, the designers at New York Fashion Week must have had Valentine's Day on their minds when they were creating.  Red was a consistent color popping up on the runways.  Here are just a few of the collections that featured this bold color.

Rag & Bone showed how just a flash of red on the lining of a coat can have a sporty impact, and how mixing medias, such as leather and suede, can toughen up this sexy shade.

At Marissa Webb, silks paired with soft cashmere created a romantic yet chic monochromatic look.

Helmut Lang, renowned for statement-making coats, presented red accessories in the form of shoes and handbags to show how well this color pairs with neutrals.

Zac Posen's runway was filled with gowns just waiting to be worn for awards season, and two of his red showstoppers demonstrated how a crimson dress can work perfectly for a sleek look or a ballgown style.

Will you take notes from the NYFW runways and incorporate red into your wardrobe beyond just Valentines Day?

Let's Hear It For The Boys - Grammy's Best Dressed Men

I would be remiss to discuss Grammys fashion and not mention a couple of guys whose style can oscillate from runway renegade to fashion forward.  Macklemore and Ryan Lewis were not only big winners at the Grammys, but they also came up big on the red carpet.

This is men's Grammy style done right. Ryan Lewis wore a houndstooth suit by Mr. Turk and Macklemore wore a teal velvet suit- probably not from the "Thrift Shop".  Guys, take note: both suits are artfully tailored and shows their personalities without being sloppy.  And while still respecting the awards red carpet.  Now can we talk about these shoes?

Ryan's embellished pair didn't detract from his printed suit but kept the edgy cool look down to his toes. Macklemore opted for Guissepe Zanotti's studded loafers with gold shark tooth tassels, completing his stylish ensemble.

What did you think of their Grammys style? Do you think there were any other men on the red carpet who looked cooler than these two?

Glam Rock- The Look of the 2014 Grammys

The red carpet at the Grammys is usually a place where we can expect fashion that is a bit more wild than the norm.  This year, with the absence of some of the usual head-turners (Miley Cyrus, Rihanna and Lady Gaga to name a few), the fashions were slightly more tame.  Below are a few of my favorite looks from the evening.

Chrissy Teigen brought liquid gold fabulousness to the red carpet with a sparkling gown by Johanna Johnson.  Her touseled bob balanced the glamorous look perfectly.  Stunning in a metallic chainmail Gucci dress, Taylor Swift's tall frame was well suited for the short-sleeved, glittering sheath.  Katy Perry chose the music note gown that Valentino showed on the runway of the couture shows in Paris last week.  While some think this was a misstep, I think it fits with Katy's persona while walking the line between runway and rock and roll.  After all, when else can you take a risk, if not at music's biggest night?

What did you think of the Grammy fashions?

La Creme de la Creme- Paris Couture

From sweet to sexy, collections at Paris Couture Fashion Week ran the gamut of looks for Spring and Summer! Here is a quick sampling of my favorite shows.

Giambattista Valli showed a modern take on Spring by playing with varying textures and origami shapes.

Ulyana Sergeenko took a retro turn with silky, smart silhouettes and bubble hems paired with bustiers.

Stephane Rolland's collection was as light as a feather with flouncy accents and sheer layers throughout.

Sexy as ever, Atelier Versace showed how the Versace woman goes from day to night, casual to formal.

One of my favorite collections, Zuhair Murad, featured slinky gowns with perfect detailing. I hope to see the middle look at the upcoming Oscar awards!

Which collection was your favorite?

Golden Globes 2014: The Best And the Brightest

Sunday night's Golden Globes red carpet did not disappoint- while there were definitely some fashion misses, risks were still taken and we had the chance to see some new stars shine.  Trends were seen in the form of red dresses, more color blocking, plunging necklines, pastels and embellished accents, however my best dressed represent the variety of  fabulous fashions seen at the Globes.

Newcomer Lupita Nyoung'o was breathtaking in a red Ralph Lauren cape dress that suited her perfectly and showed off her glowing skin.  It was a bold and elegant statement with her short haircut and minimal jewelry.  I've been a fan of Margot Robbie since the now-cancelled PanAm series, however this was one of her first big red carpet turns for her role in The Wolf of Wall Street.  Her white Gucci dress with simple yet impactful emerald piping and matching green heels looked modern and sexy.  There were several pregnant stars on the red carpet, however fashionista Olivia Wilde proved that she may be even more of a style siren while expecting!  Also in Gucci, the emerald green sequin sheath had simple lines with long sleeves, allowing both her baby bump and beautiful face to shine.  A blonder Kate Mara chose a metallic J. Mendel gown with an updated mermaid silhouette that fit her perfectly.  Featuring structured shoulders and a sheer pleated underlay, the look was slightly romantic yet strong.

It was tough to choose from all of the great fashion! I'd give honorable mention to Reese Witherspoon, Kate Beckinsale, Amy Adams and Amber Heard, not to mention cohosts Amy Poelher and Tina Fey.  Who were your Golden Globes best dressed?