Met Gala, Part 3

The "In-Betweens"

I put all the people that I felt were in between "safe" and "risky" here. I'm sorry if you don't agree with where I put people...but to be honest I've spent most of the past few days just blankly staring at Gala pictures...so I'm a bit out of it.

Anna Wintour


I really like this look on her. It's simple and classy, and yet still a bit modern. Plus, who can go wrong with Chanel? Though I am surprised she's not wearing Marc Jacobs...then again, his collection is a bit daring for Miss Wintour.

Diane Kruger


Another Chanel-clad attendee...and I'd say I get just about the same vibe. It's a cute, youthful dress but it's so classic that she manages to not look too much like a teen star. I'm surprised she's not wearing something more daring, but I guess Chanel decided to play it safe this year...and I wouldn't blame them, it's turning out quite well so far.

Elizabeth Hurley


I know that some may think that this belongs in the "risk" section, but I think this dress' similarity to a really elaborate bridal gown makes it a bit safer. Personally, with my weakness for pretty, flowery details, I happen to be a fan of this look. It's crazy how far Liz has come from her Versace safety pin dress once upon a time.

Victoria Beckham


I have all the love in the world for Victoria Beckham, but I can't completely get behind this look. I really don't think the whole short-front long-back thing works, nor does the short-dress long-train look. Though I agree that she has the most attitude to pull this dress off, I really wish she had worn something from her own collection instead, which I think she looks amazing in. The shoes, I will agree, are amazing.

Kate Beckinsale


If anyone were to wear a massive ballgown, it would be Kate Beckinsale. I think she wears her poufy princess dress much better than Liz Hurley, though it could be because the dress itself has a bit more edge. Yeah, it's kind of over-the-top, but it's a Marchesa ballgown and it's the Costume Institute Gala. There's really no better place to go wild. The Marchesa ladies, by the way, are looking stunning. I usually feel bad because Georgina Chapman tends to overshadow Keren Craig, but I think here she does rightly so; her dress and shoes look absolutely splendid. They're a great compliment to Kate's gown.

Jessica Biel


I have to admit, I'm not a huge fan. This dress was absolutely indescribably gorgeous in the Atelier Versace promotional photos, and I don't think that Jessica Biel is the right person to pull it off. I mean, she looks pretty, but this gown could have loooked outstandingly gorgeous on someone else. I think that Jessica pulls off more of the Calvin Klein look really well. Also, you can't really tell in this picture, but in a lot of the pictures of the night it was obvious that Jessica had somewhat overdosed on the self-tanner...definitely not a look I'd approve.

Lou Doillon


This look pains me so much. This is by far one of the most gorgeous dresses of the night. It bears a lot of similarity to Jessica Biel's dress, but I actually like this version better. I think Lou Doillon is the perfect person to pull off this dress, and that her lack of accessories really let the dress shine. The one thing I'd change? Her hair...I know she's going for an effortless chic look but I really think she should have just slicked it back and given the dress a full-on mod vibe. But I have to let myself get past that, because this is really a beautiful look.

Claudia Schiffer


I love this. To begin with, this was one of my favourite dresses of the Atelier Versace gorgeous-a-thon that was their latest collection, and I've been waiting with anticipation for the first time it appears on the red carpet. Claudia Schiffer was a great choice for this dress, and she pulls it off beautifully...but one thing I would ask is that the hair be more sleek or something...it's just doing a disservice to the dress.

Cindy Crawford


I just really am not a huge fan. Yeah, the dress is pretty, but...I don't know, maybe I'm just not one for the super-sexy Versace dresses. Doesn't this seem kind of prom-ish? Not that the matching eye makeup helps her case at all. I don't absolutely hate this look, but I am definitely not a huge fan.

Jessica Alba


This was sort of on the fence for me...I think she looks cute and pretty and that her hair/makeup/accessories work well with the dress, but the tights are really not that great with the whole look. The dress itself is cute, but not particularly groundbreaking...and I would think that someone with the First Lady's endorsement would think to pull out all the stops at a grand occasion like this one.

Blake Lively


Like Cindy Crawford's dress, this really isn't for me. I will say that I think this dress is better than Cindy's and looks a little bit more fashionable, but this was kind of in-between. I think that Donnatella Versace picked a great spokesmodel, as Blake Lively is a great person to carry off the Versace-style dresses, but...this isn't one of my favourite looks. Plus, it seems like every single picture I've seen Blake in, she's posed like this...and I mean, she's already really hot and the dress is a Versace one, so I don't think there's any need for over-the-top posing.

Kate Bosworth


I was really expecting Kate to go with a daring, drastic look for this event...but she seems to have fallen through, wearing a relatively basic Stella McCartney gown. I remember once she showed up in this beautiful multicoloured sequin minidress on the arm of Karl Lagerfeld...hopefully she will return to those days. I've seen her pull off so many off-kilter looks that I'm kind of sad she didn't try for one here.

Tyra Banks


So close...so very, very close...I was just about to give her the seal of approval until I saw her hair. I can't imagine how painful it was to style her hair like that.

Doutzen Kroes


First of all, I think that Doutzen Kroes is one of the most beautiful women ever. Though I've never seen her in this type of retro style before, I think she pulls it off really well. The dress is cute, but the long sleeves make it less teen-star-style, and the shoes are the perfect topper. The one thing I'd change is those sheer black tights...I would have just nixed them if I were the stylist.

Ivanka Trump


This, though it may be on the slightly boring side, was a really great look in my eyes. It's got the glamour for a gala, but is still sleek enough to not be over-the-top. I was surprised, actually, that one of the prettiest dresses of the night was given to Ivanka Trump and not to one of the numerous models that attended. I suppose that designers probably wanted their more daring designs to be carried off by models.

Jessica Stam


This is one of the best minidresses of the night. Her shoes and makeup really pull this together, and I think the dress itself is a beautiful exhibition of Rodarte's clothing. I wish that they had displayed one of their more wispy, flowing gowns on Jessica, but she pulls this off beautifully.

Ashley Olsen


While some may think this is too oversized and boring, I think this look is actually quite nice. Oversize is the Olsen's signature, and she wears it well in evening dress form. Plus, her accessories and polished hair and makeup really pull this together. I think that if she wore this dress with the Olsen's usual undone look, it might not have worked as well.

Lakshmi Menon/Rachel Roy/Joy Bryant


Yay for women of colour! I think all three women look lovely. Not the most standout looks of the night, but definitely great looks on all three parts. And it makes me so happy to see an Indian high fashion model! I think that out of all three of these looks, I like Joy's the best...but again, they all look beautiful.

Sessilee Lopez


Helena Christensen totally got ripped off. This is a beautiful Zac Posen dress. I actually am glad that Sessilee's wearing this, because I think it looks unbelievable with her skintone. I'm also glad Zac Posen had a chance to redeem himself...though if I were him I'd be walking with Sessilee, not Helena.

Emma Roberts


I think she looks cute, and it's nice to see fashion brands reaching out to youth. This was a great choice for Emma, and I think she looks very nice in the dress. This is another piece from the wondrous Atelier Versace collection, and Emma is so close to doing it justice...I just really wish she had styled her hair in a less casual way. I would say pulled back, but even if it was sleeker it would have made the whole look a lot more polished.

Agyness Deyn


Okay, so she kind of looks like a plastic mannequin...but I think it works here. At such a high-fashion event, it's okay to go a little crazy with your look. In this case, I don't think it looks too tacky. It's also one of the best looks on Agyness I've seen yet. I wouldn't suggest that she stay solely with this style (not that she would anyway), but I think it's a nice change.

All pictures are courtesy of Style.com.

Met Gala, Part 2

The Risk Takers (please note, some of these dresses may not look particularly risky to you guys but I tend to consider shorter dresses a risk at a formal event like this one)

Kate Moss


LOVE. I think it's the perfect amount of risk mixed with safety. Though I do have a weakness for anything Grecian and draped. But I don't know how many people could wear an entire outfit (complete with turban!) made out of metallic gold material and still look amazing. I think even her makeup is gold-based. Also, I want her heels so badly. Sigh...I was so worried that Marc Jacobs would put Kate in some ridiculous getup, but this is amazing.

Gisele Bundchen


You know, she looks hot and everything but for some reason this just isn't doing it for me. I know that she basically embodies the sensuality of Versace clothing, but this dress just feels a little bit...simple? Too cami-like? Something Miley Cyrus could wear? I'm not sure what it is, but I'm not that huge a fan of this look, and I think Gisele is amazing and should have been put in something more standout. But maybe it's all about points of view, cause from a guy's perspective, she's probably the best dressed one here.

Madonna


Er...no. She rocks this kind of thing in surreal photoshoots, but in real life this looks like a weird concert getup. The boots make it look sort of stripper-esque, while the dress looks like a Project Runway castoff. I'm not even going to address the strange butterfly that just landed on her head.

Anne Hathaway


I totally expected Anne to come to this event in some gorgeous long gown, because she looks amazing in them. I definitely did not expect this. And I'm kind of on the fence. I think her makeup looks amazing and that she's rocking the hairdo. I also love the colour of the dress on her. The dress itself...meh. It looks a little prom to me. And though that may be a zipper in the front, it can kind of be mistaken for prom-ish rhinestone trim. I don't know...I think she definitely has the confidence to rock this look, but I don't know if the look itself is that good to begin with.

Kerry Washington


I love Kerry Washington and think she is gorgeous and has been looking lovely on the red carpet, but I'm really not a fan of this look. To me it kind of looks...on the cheap side. It's also a bit too gothic-lolita-popstar for me...like something Avril Lavigne might have worn in concert. It's sad, because I've seen Kerry look so lovely so many times before.

Milla Jovovich


You know, it's a little informal for the Costume Institute Gala...but I kind of love this! I think her hair, makeup, and shoes work well with the dress, and I think that if anyone could pull this off, it's her. Plus, on its own, the dress is kind of cute itself, isn't it?

Rachel Weisz


It pains me so much to say this, because I love Rachel Weisz and think she's one of the most gorgeous women ever, but...I just really do not like this look. Her makeup, for starters, looks really unflattering. The dress itself might not have been so bad if it weren't paired with that makeup, but even the dress alone isn't quite doing it for me...which is funny because Vera Wang, who designed the dress, is looking quite lovely in her own creation.

January Jones


I know some people have criticized this look, but I actually really like it! I think it would look a little more gala-worthy if it was a long-sleeved gown, rather than a dress, but I still think she pulls off this era (and others!) amazingly. In fact, January Jones had a lot of lovely awards show dresses, and this goes along with them very well.

Alek Wek


Wow. Amazing. Wonderful. This is how to do a minidress at a gala. She looks so great. The dress just pops against her skin, and the whole minimalist vibe just makes this sleek enough for this event. Emanuel Ungaro should be really thankful for Alek, who adds so much punch to this dress. My one (incredibly tiny) complaint is that her makeup looks kind of harsh close up...I mean, I know the makeup has to be stronger to show up, but she doesn't really need it!

Hilary Rhoda


You know, this isn't one of my favourite looks of the night, but it's definitely a great look. Again, the whole finished look makes up for the fact that the dress itself is on the more informal side. I think the necklace adds a lot to the look...but the shoes are really what do it for me. Nice job, Thakoon.

Leighton Meester


Okay, so this might be one of the more controversial looks of the night. And it may be my everlasting love for Leighton Meester, but I really don't think it's that bad at all. First of all, without the leggings, I would actually really like this. I kind of wish her hair was still dark, or more finished looking, but besides that I think she actually pulls this off pretty well. For such a high fashion look, I think she actually looks pretty good. And without the leggings, I think it would be a pretty good look.

Molly Sims


Enh. Unlike Leighton, I don't think Molly has the right attitude to pull off this look. I personally think she looks better in more boho looks, and less structured-mod looks. I don't hate it, but I don't really like it all that much either.

Mary-Kate Olsen


This isn't so bad. Some people have criticized it for being too over-the-top, but I think that it fits Mary-Kate's style well. Plus, I think her smaller stature and skinny frame adds something to this rather large and floofy dress.

Dr. Lisa Airan


So I had no idea who Dr. Lisa Airan was, and I was quite surprised to see the title "Dr." in front of her name. Turns out Lisa Airan, M. D. is a popular dermatologist on the Upper East Side, and is seen front-row at many fashion shows. I think she pulls this off wonderfully. And the shoes are just a perfect finishing touch. Props to Balmain for picking someone out of the ordinary.

Helena Christensen


Dear God no. This looks like a really awful figure skating costume. I don't think it would have even worked on some bright young thing like Emma Roberts. This is just way too cheesy and tacky (and short!), and I'm kind of disappointed in Zac Posen, who usually brings out classy and feminine dresses. Wow...and I just realized that the silver detailing spells Vogue. Just unnecessary.

Eva Herzigova


Okay, so this may be completely over-the-top, but I think the edgier shoes balance out the potentially-too-twee fairytale princess dress. Not the most amazing look in the world, but definitely a standout look that worked.

Rachel Bilson


It might just be because Rachel Bilson's character on the O.C. was the equivalent of Leighton Meester's in Gossip Girl, but I have just the same kind of love as I do for Rachel as I do for Leighton. Her ensemble may seem less difficult to defend, but I actually think this is less suited to the Met Gala than Leighton's was. That being said, I still think she looked quite nice -- she pulled off a potentially too informal outfit very well.

All pictures are courtesy of Style.com.

Met Gala, Part 1

Okay, so if I tried to squeeze everything I have to say about this ah-ma-zing event into one post, it would 1. take me ten thousand years to write and 2. be so long that no one would want to read the whole thing! So I think I'll break my commentary down into smaller categories.

First, some general notes. I thought it was interesting that more people took the risk of wearing shorter pieces. It may be representative of the economic situation today, that people don't tend towards huge ballgowns, even for events like these, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I love the idea of a glamourous gown, especially at an event like this, but I will say that there are a few people that wore shorter dresses that really wow-ed me. I think that in general, as long as those who wore short dresses looked polished and finished, then it didn't bother me that their dress length was a little more on the casual side.

Anyway, on to the looks!

The "Safer" Looks

Marion Cotillard


I'm not going to lie, this is a pretty safe dress. It seems a little more premiere-like than Costume Institute Gala-like, but she does look stunning. I am a tad disappointed, because I know that she can pull off some of Dior's more eccentric (yet fabulous) pieces, like she did here at the Oscars.


But the colour looks great on her, the clutch is nice, the makeup is pretty, and she generally looks radiant, so this look gets a slightly hesitant thumbs up from me.

Iman


While the pleated, structured look may be a bit too prevalent for some, the inner Leanne Marshall idolizer in me is a huge fan of this dress. I will agree, it's on the safe side, and Iman is someone who could have pulled off a more extravagant look, but I think the dress fits her well, compliments her skintone beautifully, and shows off her ageless beauty. Thumbs up!

Claire Danes


I love this. A lot. It may just be my personal love for all things taupe, but I think this dress is simple, classic, and pretty, but the skirt is daring enough that it doesn't look out of place at this gala. Thumbs up again!

Eva Mendes


I think she looks pretty, but like in the case of Marion Cotillard, I think that it's a little more movie premiere than Costume Institute Gala. However, like the lovely writer for Red Carpet Fashion Awards said, she's walking the carpet for Calvin Klein, who's known mainly for minimalist clothing. I will say that the makeup and accessories are beautiful. I would give this the same rating as Marion's...hesitant thumbs up.

Amber Rose (aka Kanye West's significant other)


My, how this girl has shot to popularity. I think she's definitely got the look to pull off a lot of the more extravagant pieces she wears, which is why I'm surprised that she's in a Carolina Herrera red mermaid gown. I think she looks pretty, but not outstandingly so, so I would say..."meh." But, knowing that she's a red carpet rookie, not a bad effort at all.

Natalia Vodianova


I love Natalia Vodianova, but this look really just doesn't jive well with me. The fit of the dress is sort of odd, as is the hemline. Plus, that bracelet she's wearing looks vaguely like a baby toy. On the plus side, her makeup is lovely and ethereal. It pains me so much to give her a thumbs down, but this look didn't really work well for me. And I swear it's not just because I like safe looks! It's more the fit/hemline that bother me than the style of the dress.

Nadja Auermann


This is amazing. Gorgeous. Flawless. Though Katie Holmes may have worn this dress before (as seen below)


I am not one to get really snarky about carpet re-runs. The only time it slightly bugs me is when people style it in exactly the same way. And even then, it doesn't really bother me. But personally, I think Nadja hit it out of the park. Her styling was so much more vibrant and punchy than Katie's, and I think her own look, with the strong makeup and icy blonde hair, add a great edge to the dress while keeping it classy. Two thumbs up!

Daphne Guinness


Though I run a blog about budgets, I have to admire someone who spends her own money on couture while most people can simply borrow. It does fit that she would attend such an event as this. Daphne actually looks slightly similar to Nadja, but I don't think her dress is as fitting. It looks slightly prom-esque, though the details on the shoulder with the draping are very pretty. The dress itself, I think, is gorgeous, but definitely not what I expected from Ms. Guinness the heiress. I would give this a "meh."

Renee Zellweger


It was a 99% chance that Renee would wear something by Carolina Herrera, as she is essentially that brand's biggest ambassador/client. I think she looks quite lovely in the dress, and that the colour is amazing. When I first saw the dress, I was sort of like "Oh, Renee Zellweger, another Carolina Herrera..." but then I looked at it more objectively and realized that this was actually quite a lovely selection. I think the necklace and the multi-toned nature of the fabric add an extra punch that makes this dress more Costume Institute Gala-worthy. Two hesitant thumbs up.

Brooke Shields


First of all, her lipstick is kind of dark for me. Her makeup in general is really strong, which distracts me from the already kind of boring dress. Though, like I said for Eva Mendes, Calvin Klein isn't exactly known for crazy creations. I will say that the colour looks fantastic with her hair/skintone, but for me it looks kind of like a prom dress. Which isn't a bad thing, but makes it seem slightly less special. I'd say "meh."

Liv Tyler and Kate Hudson


Usually I'd rate these ladies separately, but they walked together for most of the night and were both dressed by Stella McCartney. What I loved about Stella's ingenuity with these ladies is that the dresses themselves aren't particularly groundbreaking. However, they both have enough glitz to make them gala-worthy, and when seen together, Kate and Liv represent two ends of a spectrum that fully showcase Stella's work. Liv fits perfectly with the more vintage look, and her hair perfectly compliments her dress. Kate, on the other hand, is looking more beachy-bohemian, and this gold dress looks as though it was essentially made for her. Thumbs up!

Eva Longoria Parker


I was once a huge fan of Eva Longoria, because she was 5'2" and stunning and it gave me hope that people that were 5'2" could be more than just "cute." Now, I still find her gorgeous, but her dress sense doesn't always agree with me...and this time is just about the same. I think the whole outfit, giant necklace included, looks a little Vanna White to me. Which is ironic, because Diane looks fabulous here. Unfortunately, I would say thumbs down.

Coco Rocha


Isaac Mizrahi had better be bowing at Coco Rocha's feet, because the dress isn't that remakrable and models that didn't have her attitude might not have been able to rock this dress quite as well. Not one of my most favourite looks of the night, but definitely a good look. Also, for all those that don't like her red hair...I love it! I think she should keep it. Two (kind of hesitant) thumbs up.

Katy Perry


I'm kind of on the fence with this one...on one hand, it seems a bit tacky and cartoon-like, but on the other hand, it's a very toned down look for Katy Perry but still retains a little bit of her kitschy quality. I'll say two hesitant thumbs up...but I'd note that this would probably have been more fit to last year's gala, whose theme was superheroes.

Emmy Rossum


Though many would label this look as "too old," I think that Emmy Rossum looks great here. Her makeup goes wonderfully with the dress, which has a completely open back that isn't visible in this picture. It may not be the most youthful thing in the world, but I absolutely love the colour and think she looks great in the dress. Two thumbs up.

Rosario Dawson


Enh...it may be my aversion to tropical colours but this dress is kind of veering into "tacky prom dress" territory. And by kind of, I mean it is. It is a pretty dress, but at the very least it is a movie premiere dress to me, and not a Costume Institute Gala gown. Rosario looks pretty though, so it pains me to give her a thumbs down.

All pictures are courtesy of Style.com.

Promenade Attire, Part Six

Okay, I swear this is the last post about prom related matters, but I just wanted to give a dress update. I did receive the previous dress in the mail, but it was too large and the alterations would have been complex and expensive. Plus, even if I did get it altered, the skirt would be kind of poufy, and the chest area would be far too big (sigh!). And finally, in terms of practicality, while I love white dresses with all my heart, the only occasion that I could ever think of that calls for a prom-style dress is a fancy wedding. If I am lucky enough to attend one, I am fairly sure that a white dress would not be appropriate.

So, here's the new one!


I know the photo may not have the same "wow" factor as the other picture, but it just came in the mail today and I love it! I do have a slight tingling of discomfort as the colour is a tad bit brighter than this picture and I am usually seen in varying shades of beige, black, and perhaps white, but I do like the colour with my skintone. Also, the dress was just about the same price...unfortunately it's sold out at Bluefly, where I got it for about $230 or so.

The Biggest Prom Night Ever

So obviously, because I'm a high school senior, I think of things in terms of prom, but...

OMG the Costume Institute Gala is here!!!

It takes a lot for me to use the phrase "omg," but, I mean, this is only the biggest "prom night" of the fashion industry. Screw the Oscars.

I swear I won't pull an "Oscars" and only post my thoughts without pictures! They will come shortly.

Frugal Finds

I recently purchased this dress for a little over $6 from Target.


Needless to say, I 1. am in absolute love with Target's clearance section and 2. will have no trouble fulfilling the "free shipping over $50" criteria.

P.S. Please ignore the yellowish tint...I had to play with colour a bit so the picture would accurately represent the grey in the dress.

P.P.S. This dress is acceptable for office wear, right? I'm going to be interning in a business setting very soon and I am currently on the hunt for things I can wear that won't induce massive overheating.

Promenade Attire, Part Five

So here's my likely choice for a prom dress:


It may look a little wedding-y, but I love the vintage feel of the dress. The beading and the silhouette make it seem like it's a true evening gown and not simply a frou-frou prom dress. I also love the fact that it was under $200, and I secretly enjoy that it's not from BCBG. However, I could very well end up wearing a BCBG dress if this one doesn't work out, so I shouldn't get too cocky.

It's coming in the mail as I write this, but I'm hoping the size isn't too big for me...the biggest one was 2, and I'm usually a 0, so we shall see.

The Benefit of Benefits

With the economic times the way they are, retail stores have been trying to appeal to consumers with various sales. A common one that doesn't undermine a stores' ability to earn a profit is to offer free gifts...after a certain purchase, of course.

While these often sound very tempting, I always try and take a step back and make sure I both enjoy the products that are in the gift and am not buying anything I really don't need just for the sake of getting a gift.

So, for example, when I received an e-mail alert from Sephora saying "Get $113 worth of makeup -- free!" I was instantly enthralled. I clicked on the ad, and saw that with any $50 Benefit purchase at Sephora, I could get a gift worth $113, which, even for a free gift, is pretty crazy. So let's take a look inside, shall we?


The gift includes: a Luscious Lana beauty bag, a Bathina shower cap, a tube of California Kissin' lip gloss, Benefit's Bad Gal Mascara in blue, and a Rush Hour lip/cheek colour. The good thing about this bag is that things are full size. The bad thing...the only thing I'd really want in it is the Rush Hour lip/cheek colour, and even that is a little on the plummy side for me. Another unfortunate thing is that I can't really think of $50 worth of Benefit products I'm really craving right now.

While that was all kind of sad, because free gifts are usually quite fun (and I don't mean to put down Benefit at all, I'm just not really in need of blue mascara or blue lipgloss or a bathing cap or a beauty bag right now), here's an example of a gift I'd really enjoy.


This Clinique bag + goodies comes with any $21.50 Clinique purchase. This free gift appeals a little more to me because its "price" is quite a bit smaller. Though that means the gifts themselves are smaller, I usually appreciate the mini-sized goodies that come with these things because it gives me an opportunity to try new products without feeling compelled to use up a full size. Sometimes, the goodies inside a bag are not always that worth it, but these definitely look good; the offerings are: Youth Surge SPF 15 Age Decelerating Moisturizer, Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, Lash Doubling Mascara in Black, and then, depending on whether you pick the "Rose" bag or the "Natural" bag, you get the a Blushwear Cream Stick in Rosy Blush or Glow, and a Different Lipstick in Ice Bloom or Rose Taffy.

I might actually go and grab this in the next few days! As always, because this is the economics of fashion, I'll try and be as economically savvy as possible, and try not to over-buy simply to get the gift. My suggestion? The set of 3 skin items for $24.00, because Clinique is known for its amazing skincare. This picture is of the "Oily" set, because I've got some pretty oily skin. Plus, this set comes with the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, which is one of my absolute favourite Clinique products.