The Politics of Fashion: White House Correspondent's Dinner

Last night, Hollywood and D.C. collided at the annual White House Correspondent's Dinner.  Recently nicknamed the "nerd prom", this event allows for an evening of levity and laughs for celebrities and political heavy-hitters.  The red carpet at the WHCD usually skews less D.C.-serious and more towards awards-show fabulous due to the entertainment-industry quotient.  And with arguably one of the most fashionable FLOTUS' ever as hostess, the guests were well aware that the style bar is set pretty high at this soiree.  A sampling of the top looks of the night prove that point.

Robin Wright, who currently stars in the excellent D.C. drama 'House of Cards' rocked a navy Rolando Santana gown with a slight mermaid flare.  The curled neckline detail was just ruffled enough without being frilly and it framed her cropped hairstyle perfectly.  Robin's 'House of Cards' co-star Kate Mara's white Prada sheath provided one of the only non-strapless looks of the night.  Again showing that she and her sister Rooney are fashion forces to be reckoned with, Kate's unique styling brought this look to a new level with a lime green clutch, jeweled cuff and dark nails.  Jessica Paré, who has been making waves with her on-point fashion choices recently, looked elegant in Antonio Berardi's cobalt gown.  The velvet draping added just the right amount of texture to the structured dress.

Kerry Washington, who has been shooting 100% in the style playoffs, did not disappoint in Wes Gordon's printed gown.  From the halter neck, to the multi-level cascading hemline and on-trend black and white color story, this dress was a perfect choice for this glamorous yet political event.  She styled it perfectly with minimal jewelry and loose curls.

Did you watch the White House Correspondent's Dinner?  What did you think about the styles at this unconventional red carpet event?

Fashion Week Fave: Louis Vuitton RTW F/W 2013

I've covered some of the trends of the recent fashion weeks, but I wanted to stop and take a breather to really appreciate one of the most inspiring of the ready-to-wear Fall/Winter shows.  In Paris, Marc Jacobs once again brought the drama to his collection for Louis Vuitton.  It's hard to pinpoint exactly why he excels as the head of this fashion house, but his ability to fully realize who "the girl" is (read: the target consumer) for this particular season, is aspirational yet identifiable at the same time.  Marc's pieces were not only aesthetically beautiful, but the motivation behind them was thought-provoking.  He mentioned that the most fabulous place that a you can get all dressed up to be is your own hotel room or home.  Why not lounge around in berry lips and silk pajamas that could just as easily be worn out with an embellished coat and a bit of attitude?

In fact, it was these very embellishments that brought a cohesive theme to many of the collection's most stunning pieces.  Feathers fused to the edge of menswear-chic jumpsuits and trenches added movement and femininity.  On mid-calf coats and dresses, fur placed on the hems and throughout the lining added a lush touch of glam that skewed cool vintage versus gaudy.

Marc Jacobs' vision of relaxed elegance continued with the luxe coats over lingerie-inspired underpinnings.  The mid-length jackets came in shades of checked taupe and cobalt with ombre sequin details at the hem which really juxtaposed the seemingly contradictory theory of at-home special occasion dressing.  The cowl neckline on his 40's-style shimmering coatdress with fadeway plaid at the top was impeccable.

And it wouldn't be a Marc for Louis Vuitton show without his muse, Kate Moss.  She stunned in her rare runway turn by confidently flaunting a sheer embellished sky blue gown suitable for a woman who knows she can take the town's most posh events by storm, but would most prefer the most exclusive of them all: her own boudoir.  

I was very inspired by this collection for Fall/Winter 2013 and will be trying to incorporate elements of retro relaxed-glam into my wardrobe.  Did you love the collection as much as I did?  

European Fashion Week Trend Report: Part Two, Velvet Underground

One textile that filled the runways in London, Milan and Paris over the past few weeks was velvet.  The use of velvet in collection after collection proved that this trend will be everywhere come Fall/Winter 2013.  Velvet all on it's own can seem an overwhelming fabric for many people to pull off, but so many styles can be achieved with adjusting the amount and placement of velvet in an ensemble, along with the textures used in the rest of the look.  

Alberta Ferretti showed a bright blue scalloped skirt with a sheer top for a flattering and feminine look. This isn't your traditional BVD (Black Velvet Dress) at Haider Ackermann: the column gown had a modern softness that was so chic.  Maison Martin Margiela displayed a very downtown hip vibe with gold and gray velvet panels on a knit sweater and black mini.  Jil Sander showed how you can add a touch of the plush textile with accessories like a slate colored velvet belt.  For Marios Schwab, who showed many velvet looks in his Fall/Winter collection, even boots and capes in bordeaux velvet look stylish paired with an embellished top to balance out the texture.  Rochas had perhaps one of my favorite velvet looks of the season.  This look featured a 50's silhouette with an A-line chocolate velvet circle skirt and a belted tweed vest for the epitome of updated ladylike cool.

I saw so many beautiful and fun examples of velvet in the European Fashion Week collections {there were even too many to post here!} so please check out my Pinterest board at: http://pinterest.com/angelhowlett/velvet-apricot-at-european-fashion-weeks-2013/ for more velvet inspiration!

European Fashion Week: Trend Report Part One, Orange Sorbet

The past 3 weeks of the respective European weeks have shown us a variety of textures, themes and visions for where the Fall/Winter 2013 season is heading for fashion.  We've seen everything from renewed grunge at Saint Laurent to royal Versailles-ready costume gowns at McQueen.  In the next few posts, I will discuss a couple of the prevalent trends as well as my favorite show from Fashion Week at London, Milan & Paris. 

First, let's take a look at color: an apricot sorbet hue caught my eye as it popped up on the runways in various monochromatic styles.  While orange seems like an obvious choice for Fall/Winter campaigns, this new hue for 2013 is less saturated and more pale, making it much more flattering on a variety of skin tones. 

At Max Mara, a sporty mixed-media take on the color was shown with a matching bag.  Gucci gave the apricot look a modern silhouette and complimentary leather boots.  Belted and with the perennial high-slit, Gianfranco Ferre's take on pale orange was feminine yet strong.  In London, Richard Nicoll showed a versatile peachy leather sheath that can easily go from day to night.  Mugler displayed a crop-top style shown with a high waist for a fresh take on the tangerine dream.

This wearable tone is sure to be big in the coming seasons.  Will you add some apricot sorbet to your fashion palette?

Oscars 2013 Part Two: Heavy Metal

It was impossible not to notice the most persistent trend of Oscars 2013 fashion: dark metallic gowns! It seems many of the actresses and plus-ones were on the same page when it came to which trend to rock on Sunday. And rock it they did!  The embellishments and patterns came in a range of styles and the variety of hair and makeup choices were all pretty on-point for their respective dresses, making for just enough variety on the red carpet.

Naomi Watts was arguably the best dressed of the night with her look topping many best-dressed lists.  Her silver Armani gown featured a futuristic shoulder cutout and one cap sleeve.  Her soft updo really allowed the dresses best angles to be shown.  Halle Berry looked every bit the Bond Girl in her glittering Versace number.  What made this look stand out was the long sleeves with sheer paneling, which is a nice departure from the countless strapless awards-show gowns.  Nicole Kidman glistened in a L'Wren Scott black & gold sequins.  The small train and her touseled hair balanced the look.  Salma Hayek chose a velvet Alexander McQueen column in a departure from her usual bombshell look.  It boasted a high-neck with intricate baroque gold detailing which really brought the attention to her flawless face and regal updo.

The true best-dressed winner of the night for me was Stacy Keibler who showed up all of the actresses in an exquisite Naeem Khan gown.  George Clooney's date has consistently nailed it when it comes to the red carpet, but for this year's Oscars, she really hit it out of the park!  I may be biased with my art-deco obsession, but the pattern of the belted gown along with the racerback neck, mesh back panel and gunmetal studs highlighted her statuesque form perfectly.  She styled it with a Lorraine Schwartz tassel bracelet and a Gatsby-inspired hairstyle of cropped curls as an A+ finishing touch. 

Did you love the metallic trend at this year's Oscars?

Oscars 2013 Part One: On the Lighter Side

What a fabulous turnout! This year's Academy Awards did not disappoint, fashion-wise! We saw lots of glamour and some great new trends.  While the scene was dominated by darker metallic ensembles (and I'll get to those stunners!), let's take a look at the lighter side with the spring tones that brought levity to the red carpet.

Kerry Washington stayed true to MiuMiu in her fresh coral column gown.  The jeweled embellishments at the top added the perfect amount of sparkle.  Jessica Chastain looked every bit the bombshell in an impeccably tailored Armani dress.  Her choice of red lipstick was key to pulling together the rose gold hue with her skin tone. Charlize Theron made a dramatic entrance in winter-white Dior.  The peplum waist and her new pixie cut enhanced the modern silhouette.

Finally, Jennifer Lawrence, arguably the woman of the night, commanded the red carpet expertly in a Dior gown from the Spring/Summer collection. It was the perfect choice for a once-in-a-lifetime moment (and who else could make falling up stairs look so glam?).  When it comes to the Oscars, it's go big or go home, and Jennifer Lawrence's risk paid off with the simple texture of the dress and exaggerated full drop-waist skirt.  Her backwards Chopard necklace highlighted the dramatic train and is a trend worth trying if you have a special occasion coming up!  The competition was fierce, but I chose Jennifer as my best-dressed Oscar nominee.  Stay tuned to see who I chose for my best-dressed Oscar guest.

Speaking of Oscar guests, I was pleased to see that one of my Oscar gown predictions showed up at the awards!  Samantha Barks, a gorgeous and talented actress who I fell in love with when I saw the film Les Miserables, wore the teal Jenny Packham during one of the most highly-anticipated performances of the night: the Les Miserables musical medley.  She added a sparkling brooch to the high slit and she looked simply stunning!

What were your favorite looks from Oscars night?

Oscar Gown Contenders from NYFW

It would be an understatement to say that I'm extremely excited about the upcoming Oscars.  Ever since I can remember, my mom and I have watched the red carpet styles intently, comparing our favorite looks. If you love fashion and entertainment, this is a day to look forward to all year: a time when the most gorgeous custom couture gowns and sparkling jewels adorn the brightest stars of the silver screen.  It may sound like all fantasy, but the truth is that these actors work hard on their craft, and I also make it a point to see most of the nominated films in the weeks leading up to the event so that I can make informed decisions on that oh-so-important play at home Oscar ballot!  Also, to know the drama and politics that go on with stylist angling for the best designers and some dress choices being made at the very last minute, it's as fun to predict the acting winners as it is the style winners!

Traditionally, you can predict which designer certain actresses will wear on the red carpet based on past choices or associations with specific houses.  For example, Natalie Portman in Rodarte or more currently, nominee Jennifer Lawrence in Dior.  Also, it's likely that many of the gowns we'll see will be from the Spring/Summer collections.  However since the Fall/Winter shows are happening now, I chose some Oscar-worthy designs from New York Fashion Week that I think would look great on the red carpet!

First up, my favorite designer, Christian Siriano: his tulle and sequin frock is youthful and on trend with the shorter hemline and mesh paneling, yet dramatic enough for the Oscars.  Zac Posen's off-the shoulder satin gown boasts a dramatic neckline and a scarlet hue that is always an awards-season hit.  Badgley Mischka's all over sequin dress is a universally flattering shape in the color of the year: emerald.  Jenny Packham's navy gown has a high slit, and if this year's previous awards shows are any indication, showing a lot of leg is the way to go!  Naeem Khan's intricate beading paired with the long flowing cream skirt is a romantic look looks very Oscar-worthy. Finally, Oscar de la Renta, a red carpet go-to designer, has created a stately and modern silhouette with his purple peplum gown.  As soon as I saw this, I immediately imagined it on nominee Jessica Chastain - it isn't a color we've seen her in before and this would really pop with her gorgeous red locks!  With the right hair, makeup and jewelry, I could see many of the dresses in recent collections glittering on Oscar night!

What do you think your favorite stars will wear to the Academy Awards?  Follow me on Twitter and Instagram at AngelHowlett where I will be live documenting my favorite looks and moments as they happen on Sunday!