Monday Inspiration: Heads Up
02 Monday Mar 2015
Posted Monday Inspiration
in02 Monday Mar 2015
Posted Monday Inspiration
in28 Saturday Feb 2015
Posted Awards, Red Carpets
inTags
Alaia, Alberta Ferretti, Alexander McQueen, best and worst dressed, best dressed, Calvin Klein, Chloe Grace Moretz, Chris Pine, Christian Siriano, Common, Elie Saab, Emma Stone, fashion, Felicity Jones, Gabriela Cadena, Giorgio Armani, Givenchy, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Chastain, Keira Knightly, Lady Gaga, Laura Dern, Lorelei Linklater, Louis Vuitton, Lupita Nyong'o, Marion Cotillard, Miu Miu, Naomi Watts, Nicole Kidman, Oscars, Prada, Rosamund Pike, Solange Knowles, style, stylist, Valentino, Will.i.am, worst dressed, Zuhair Murad
Wait did I say I would have Oscar picks by Wednesday? I meant Saturday. Why the delay you ask? It would sort of be true to say my dog ate my homework because the day I planned to write, I spent at the two vets with my pooch, who is fine but caught an ear infection from all his cone time. After a couple days of meetings, I was all set to sit and write Thursday, and then #thedress happened and took up a considerable amount of my time and energy. Now that we can all rest easy know it IS blue and black (and ugly, according to some), back to the dresses that started it all, or at least this week.
Let me know what you think of my picks in comments or on Facebook, Foxes. Happy weekend. xo
Best Dressed
I was on Twitter as the red carpet was happening and more than one person praised this as the dress that “finally” fit the Gone Girl star. After having a baby in December, she’s (understandably) worn a series of roomy dresses during award season. Sadly, most were unflattering and ill-fitting. She sure saved the best for last. The pretty scalloped neckline and up-to-there slit were a great balance of pretty and sexy, with satin corsetry at the waist and a firey color driving the former home. It was my favorite of the night.
Lupita Nyong’o in Calvin Klein
If you’re not aware, pearls are having a moment and set to explode, Foxes. Pull ’em out of storage. This beauty boasts 6000 of the gems. I loved how the bodice appeared more like wearing 6000 strands of pearls than a dress. The cut-out received mixed reviews from some folks, but I think it’s what made that effect. The dress is still in the headlines post-Oscars…stylist’s worst nightmare. UPDATE: As I was writing…stylist relieved.
Jennifer Lopez in Elie Saab
Not unusual to see JLo in a down-to-there-V, but the fullness of this skirt did surprise me a little. I like how she flipped the switch on her usual body-con and chose a dress that made her look like a princess.
Keira Knightly in Valentino
Expecting a baby this Spring, Keira’s been channeling an ethereal vibe all awards season. Sometimes, not so successfully. I thought this Valentino gown was beautiful and romantic and soft, the perfect complement to her gorgeous pregnancy glow.
Jenna Dewan-Tatum in Zuhair Murad Couture
I feel like Jenna is someone who doesn’t get the credit she deserves for her red carpet style. People are probably too busy staring at her hubby. White always looks chic on the red carpet and with the deco details, robe-like closure and train this was classic glam to me.
Laura Dern in Alberta Ferretti
This dress reminds me a lot of a number Stacy Kiebler wore on George Clooney’s pre-Amal arm a few years back. It also landed on my best dressed list. Guess I have a thing for the deco/armor look. I just really like it.
Felicity Jones in Alexander McQueen
This one was divisive in the fashion universe. I love it. The dove gray is so pretty and the pleated skirt keeps it fresh and interesting. I think that Felicity does such a perfect job of bridging classicaly elegant and modern.
She’s worn high-necks all awards season. I think some negative responses to this dress are related to the combo of it and the bangs sort of overwhelming her. Check out the difference it makes in the Today Show’s segment on Oscar re-dos by Bobbie Thomas.
Emma Stone in Elie Saab
If this dress was in any other shade, I might not like it so much. This chartreuse green is quickly becoming one of the hottest hues around and I really loved how it moderned up a covered silhouette in a classic style.
Emma was also part of a little matchy-match trend of the red carpet. Like Rosamund Pike above the shoes are the same shade as the dress. It’s making me wonder if I should pull out the dyables from back in the day.
Chris Pine in Giorgio Armani
It’s not just the girls who brought it to the red carpet. There were some pretty well dressed men to admire as well. It’s been a while since we’ve seen the double breasted jacket on the red carpet. It’s not usually my favorite, but Chris Pine wears it so perfectly, it almost brings a (dreamy) tear to our eye. Perfect tailoring, wider lapels, I bet this is a silhouette we see make its way back to prominence in the coming seasons.
Common in Prada
Full disclosure, I really find Common dishy. Still I don’t think it’s his good looks blinding my judgment when I say he was the best dressed guy at the show. I love how navy blue and velvet threw a modern twist on the classic tux. And can we talk about the jeweled tuxedo studs and man brooch? Blingy and confident, just how I like my men. Winner.
Worst Dressed
I tried liking this. I was surprised and happy to hear it was the first time every Alaia has been worn on the Oscars red carpet (really? That seems impossible, but it’s what she said.)
Without the dishwashing gloves, it would be weird, but not terrible. If I can’t forgive gloves for usually flawless Amal Clooney, I certainly can’t for Gaga.
Chloe Grace Moretz in Miu Miu
TAKE YOUR HANDS OUT OF YOUR POCKETS. Yes, it’s cool your dress has pockets, but really, Chloe? You STILL had them there when you presented an award two hours later. I mean did you mess up your nails and want to hide them or something? Ugh.
Despite this annoying distraction, this dress made her top half look short and the print was a little too Little House on the Prairie for my tastes. It probably would have been great on someone else, maybe a little older. She’s a repeat offender of wearing too-old-for-you pieces in my book.
Lorelei Linklater in Gabriela Cadena
You get to choose one dress to wear to the Oscars, not three, even if you do hack them together.
Jessica Chastain in Givenchy
She’s usually close to perfect and the fundamentals of this dress are solid, but the top makes her look so wide. Her hourglass figure is totally thrown out of proportion. She wins cool points for her after-parties look…it was from H&M!
Nicole Kidman in Louis Vuitton
Why do I feel like this *could* be an OK dress in person? But photographed the sickly iridescent mermaid scale + orange belt combo is a flop.
Solange Knowles in Christian Siriano
Pretty sure Heidi would have said auf wiedersehen to Solange’s Project Runway-alum designer had he sent this down the catwalk. It definitely doesn’t work.
Will.i.am
I can’t find who designed Wil.i.am’s look so I’m gonna say:
It’s Complicated
The not entirely good and not entirely bad category returns.
It would be inaccurate not to compare this dress to something like a diaper at the rear. Still, I’m always for a new silhouette and there is just something about Marion that always looks elegant and chic. I wish there were more fit to the front to balance the back and prevent it from looking sack-like from certain angles.
Naomi Watts in Giorgio Armani
I was ready to have this on my best dressed list. I love the bandeau and cut-outs. But there is just something about it, especially from this angle, that isn’t working 100% for me. I think it’s the pattern of the sequins, which sort of makes her look, wavy?
09 Monday Feb 2015
Posted Monday Inspiration
in06 Friday Feb 2015
Posted How to Wear
inTags
fashion, Hudson, Hunter Boots, Kate Spade, Personal Stylist, rain boot, raincoat, Sorel, style, stylist, Superga, T By Alexander Wang, The North Face, waterproof fashion, wellies
It’s windy and rainy where I am Foxes! Power turning on-and-off kept me from getting a post up earlier today. It also served as last-minute rainy-day essentials inspiration…
I don’t know about you, but for me, the only thing worse than walking outside on a rainy day and getting soggy are the blah pieces I’m sometimes forced to wear in the name of being waterproof. So, today, problem solved. Whether your style is sporty, cozy, modern or classic, winning pairs to make sure you feel no rain. As always click to learn more and shop.
26 Monday Jan 2015
Posted Monday Inspiration
in23 Friday Jan 2015
Posted Fawkeshunted, Red Carpets
inTags
Alexis Bittar, Alterations, Behind the Scenes, best dressed, Champagne, fashion, Fashion Stylist, Golden Flobese 2015, Golden Globes, Neiman Marcus, Red Carpet, Red Carpet Fashion, red carpet style, style, stylist, Wardrobe Stylist, Zac Posen
Some of you have asked for behind-the-scenes details on styling my client Kristen for the Golden Globes. It wasn’t that different from any other special event styling, though the glam quotient was significantly higher. By (semi-)popular demand, here’s how it went down, Foxes. Happy Friday! xo
How the Stars Do It
Before we jump in, a couple of differences between this and how celebrity stylists work. Like you or me, Kristen shopped for a dress; we were limited by what was available and spending real money. Most of the time celebrities and their stylists have access to designers, showrooms or publicists who lend or gift pieces in exchange for publicity. Some celebrities are even friends of or ambassadors/paid spokespeople for fashion houses. This means you can count on them to wear the brand often on the red carpet– Jennifer Lawrence and Dior, Kiera Knightly and Chanel, Emma Stone and Lanvin. Even though getting the dress was different, a lot of the styling process is similar.
Scouting the Look
Kristen found out she was going to the Globes about a week out. In case it isn’t abundantly clear, that’s not a ton of time. Putting it in context, most celebs have a month or several months of lead time before awards season to plan looks with their stylists. Thankfully, Kristen’s someone I’ve worked with for a long time so luckily we had a great rapport and sense of one another’s style.
My first step, and a common step of many stylists: online research. I wanted to understand what retailers had what pieces, how long it would take to get them to us. I also dragged Anastajza to see what was in stores and took a lot of photos. I pulled all of this info into a detailed scouting report, which included styling notes like shoe and accessory considerations, and sent it to Kristen. I also reached out to my retail contacts to get a sense of what was possible in terms of getting dresses to the store and getting alterations rushed– alerting the troops if you will.
Before Kristen Arrived
“The pull” is the fancy term we stylists use to describe the items we pre-select for a client to choose from. With research done and feedback from Kristen, we turned our attention to refining it. We decided to shop at Neiman Marcus because of the breadth of designers and styles we could try and the fact we could rely on their amazing service both in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, if we needed it. We quickly realized it was going to be faster and more reliable for us to purchase and overnight gowns as customers, rather than have the stores request them through their sale systems, which can take a couple of days. We arranged for them to be delivered and at the same time edited the selection on-hold at the store for her to try on. We also worked with the store to have plenty of shoe and accessory choices on-hand. As Rachel Zoe famously said on her show, “options.”
Everything pulled and shopping day upon us, our attention turned to dressing up the dressing room for her– I mean how many times in your life do you get to dress up for something like this? We wanted to make it fun and, because of all of the great help from our girls Pamela and Lia at the store, we had plenty of extra time for some fun and ridiculousness of our own, like selfies.
Shopping
We used the personal shopping room at Neiman’s, which even for a jaded stylist is pretty impressive and giant (like the size of my living room and then some). All decked out with her gown selection, and plenty of extras in the back, it was really fun to see Kristen’s reaction when she arrived. Kristen’s Zac Posen gown was our pre-shop favorite and the first we tried on. From that moment, it became the one to beat. Despite other amazing choices (she looks good in everything!), we kept coming back to it.
Dress decided, we spent a lot of time swapping out jewelry and shoes and bags to find the perfect mix. I wasn’t going to LA with her so we wanted to be sure everything was set and talked about details like hairstyles and which direction her asymmetrical Alexis Bittar cuff should point. Luckily the dress fit beautifully through the bodice, but we needed some hemming and alterations at the hip, so we had her pinned up and crossed our fingers everything would be ready by Saturday at noon…when she had to head to the airport.
Finishing Touches
I was not joking when I said Neiman’s was amazing. We shopped late Wednesday and Kristen got a call Friday night her dress was ready. We had a standing date to take a look at it on Saturday and made a deal to wear yoga pants and be comfy after a stressful week. Of course, I comply and she shows up looking polished and perfect! I gave her a pass because she claimed she was dressed for traveling. Luckily, everything fit like a glove and the only challenge left was how the heck to get the dress on the plane. In the end, we stuffed and folded it up. I had already called ahead and alerted her hotel she would need a special garment steamed that evening, so we were sure it would be red-carpet-ready the next day.
Red Carpets & Beyond
Kristen got to walk the red carpet and was super sweet to send me photos of that and as she got ready. I mentioned it in my best dressed post and may be partial, but I think she and her look were just as stunning as anyone else on the red carpet. And speaking of sweet and stunning, these flowers arrived at my house a couple of days after the event. They were icing on the cake of a super fun week.
15 Thursday Jan 2015
Posted Awards, Red Carpets
inTags
Amal Clooney, Amy Poehler, Andrew Gn, Antonio Berardi, best dressed, Carolina Herrera, Claire Danes, Dior, Emma Stone, fashion, Givenchy, Golden Globes, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Chastain, Joanne Froggat, Julianne Moore, Kate Hudson, Lana Del Rey, Lanvin, Marchesa, Miu Miu, Prada, Rosamund Pike, Ruth Wilson, Saint Laurent, Sienna Miller, Stella McCartney, stylist, Tina Fey, Travilla, Valentino, Vera Wang, Versace, worst dressed, Zac Posen, Zosia Mamet, Zuhair Murad
It’s finally here! My best and worst dressed picks from Sunday’s Golden Globes. It was a pretty strong carpet without too many horrifying misses…though the ones that missed included some true dandies. I think my favorite term I read to describe one was “vintage 70s mermaid.” It was not intended as a compliment!
Make sure to read all the way to the bottom, Foxes because I am revolutionizing (satire) the Fawkeshunter best and worst dressed list with a new category: it’s complicated. These are looks I almost love, but also almost hate.
I’m interested to hear where you think they belong and if you if you agree with my picks over all…let me know in comments or on Facebook. Admittedly I am full of various cold and cough remedies so it’s possible the medicine clouded my judgment (how’s that for a disclaimer?!). Enjoy!
Best Dressed
Emma Stone in Lanvin
This pantsuit was custom designed for (and by) Emma. I love how it’s young and modern and effortless, just like her. Not to mention a pantsuit on this red carpet is totally unexpected, which makes it super fun. I really love the styling with simple jewels, tousled hair and red lip. Perfection. It was my favorite of the night.
Sienna Miller in Miu Miu
Sienna’s known for boho style, which is why I think this gown, with it’s old-school floral beading and contemporary embellishments, is perfect for her. I’ve read some comments that the tailoring and fit was slightly off– it should have been a bit shorter in front and more fitted in the bodice, but the overall look is such a success I’m overlooking these nitpicks. Like Emma above, I love the messy bob (a HUGE hair trend right now) and beauty choices, which really pull it all together.
Kate Hudson in Atelier Versace
Holy curves Kate Hudson. This is an example of impeccable tailoring. This is clean, modern and very movie star. She looks flawless.
Ruth Wilson in Prada
It was fun to see some newcomers on the red carpet and I love that Best Actress in a TV Drama Ruth Wilson chose something bold. The color and the details of this dress stood out as completely different from anything else on the red carpet and was at once classic and modern. Of course it was, it’s Prada.
Julianne Moore in Givenchy Haute CoutureDoes Julianne Moore ever make style mistakes? She can always be counted on to push the envelope and make a statement on the red carpet. This silver is radiant and I love ombre and feathers (!) bringing the drama at the bottom.
Joanne Froggatt in Marchesa
I’ve heard this look called too busy, but being a more-is-more girl I was into it. I especially enjoyed how the contrast earrings made the pink in the beading pop. I’m a sucker for braids and thought Joanne’s plaited crown was super pretty and played up a romantic vibe to the look. If you watched the ceremony, I also think that her surprise at winning and moving speech was super touching and the look stood up to that moment really well.
Jessica Chastain in Atelier Versace
Jessica’s coppery hair is not only one of her loveliest features, it’s also one of her best accessories. I love how it cascades over one shoulder, bringing drama and old Hollywood glam (it’s very Veronica Lake or Rita Hayworth to me) to this look. The overall effect, with a smokey eye and diamonds, is kinda siren-y. Also, is it just me, or are her boobs defying gravity?
Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad
Speaking of gravity-defying boobs, JLo is the queen of cut-down-to-there, slit-up-to-here, body con red carpet style. On any one else all of that exposed skin, plus a cape, plus beading would be too much, but she is a diva who carries it off. The beaded “seams” accentuate curves and really drive the message of this dress home…she’s hot.
Jenna Dewan-Tatum in Carolina Herrera
I was really surprised how pretty Jenna looked in this dress wasn’t talked about more on the red carpet shows. Pale yellow is so, so hard to pull off and she does it beautifully. I sometimes think Jenna’s super slim dancer’s frame can look overwhelmed or out of proportion on the red carpet, but this soft skirt and on-trend pseudo-crumb catcher neckline (that’s a real thing, Foxes) really flatters her.
Kristen in Zac Posen
Last week you saw sneak peeks on Facebook and Instagram of my work styling one of my very favorite clients, Kristen, to attend the Globes. Without a doubt, her Zac Posen stunner could stand up to any of the celebs looks on the red carpet. This was the first dress we tried on and every dress after was just not competition. It’s super glam and has a very structured split peplum, which brings edge to the classic mermaid silhouette. We played this up with some really cool Alexis Bittar pieces At the request of a few of you, I’ll share a behind-the-scenes post detailing the styling process for this sort of an event in the next week. For now, can we all agree, she’s gorgeous in this pre-event hotel room snap AND she’s completely mastered the movie star pose?
Worst Dressed
Amal Clooney in Gloves…and Dior
UGH, I want to love her and this look. I mean, she’s awesome and accomplished and arguably more deserving of a lifetime achievement award than her husband. But, I can’t look past those ridiculous gloves. Sure, there’s an element of old-school glamour to them, but really all they do is distract from an otherwise lovely Dior gown, like majorly.
Claire Danes in Valentino
Sometimes a person wears a dress and sometimes a dress wears a person– I think this is a case of the latter. On the runway this gown was amazing, but it overpowers Claire and makes her top-half look really wide. It could be that she needed the model’s extra height or dark hair to pull it off, but something about how it (doesn’t) fit and (doesn’t) complement her skintone makes it a flop.
Jennifer Aniston in Saint Laurent
I know everyone loves her, but I’m sorry this looks like a prom dress from the 90s. She can do better.
Lana Del Rey in Vintage Travilla
I mean, where do you start? Everything about this is b-a-d. The under-the-sea color. The vintage Priscilla Presley styling. The shiny, shiny pleats. It was probably the very worst of the evening.
Melissa McCarthy in a DIY Number
So Melissa said this look combined pieces of things she already had in her closet. While I would usually applaud this sort of ingenuity, this particular combo is a hot mess. There’s way too much fabric and between puffy sleeves, exaggerated contrast cuffs, an oversized bow, giant collar and ruffled skirt, it’s hard to decide where to look. I like the menswear inspired effort, I just wish it were a little more edited and sleek.
Tiny Fey in Antonio Berardi and Amy Poehler in Stella McCartney
More than Amy’s dress, which I think could use some bolder jewels (or no necklace?) and maybe some tailoring so it is less paper-baggy (maybe it’s the angle?), I object to Tina’s dress. On its own, it’s pretty, but I feel like the dress is more youthful than the styling and because of this it just looks wrong as she’s wearing it. I wish her hair were down and she played up structure with some edgier shoes or jewels. It kind of looks humpty-dumpty otherwise.
It’s Complicated
Rosamund Pike in Vera Wang
So first of all let’s acknowledge this woman just had a baby, looks AMAZING and is way brave to walk the red carpet in cutouts. Here’s my problem with what should be a pretty dress, what is happening at the bust? It looks like a terrible tailoring job, but maybe those cups are molded and it’s a photo illusion that they look like they are sticking out to the sides in an unflattering way (though I suspect not)? In any case, I feel like those straps should be shortened and the whole bodice should come up a couple of inches, so she doesn’t look so out of proportion and saggy. No one wants to be described as saggy on the red carpet.
Zosia Mamet in Andrew Gn
Again, like above, maybe some tailoring issues at the bust. Overall, I really think this dress is pretty and the 50s bob styling is on point for it. Where I think it falls flat is accessories. The colorblocking is a little hard for the eye to reconcile and giving it some pieces that pull the tones together would make a world of difference. My instinct is to start by experimenting with belts and maybe look to jewels with a smokey quartz quality, that have brown and blush tones. I think the saccharine sweet silhouette could stand some pieces that are chunkier and perhaps more angular to make as modern as intended.
12 Monday Jan 2015
Posted Monday Inspiration
inTags
Brian Atwood, Champagne, fashion, Golden Globes, Quote, Shoes, style, stylist
If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you know that champagne and shoes have played a (extra) big role in my life the past week. It was a fun-filled whirlwind helping a client get ready for a night at the Golden Globe awards. The importance of the perfect shoe for a special occasion is still fresh in my mind, so it’s no surprise today’s inspiration spoke to me.
Here’s hoping the week ahead gives you plenty of reasons to indulge in fab footwear and a glass of bubbles or two. Happy Monday, Foxes. xo
P.S. we are planning a best and worst dressed post…it’s coming on Wednesday.
09 Friday Jan 2015
Posted Fashion Idols, How to Wear
inTags
Alexander McQueen, Cowboy Hat, Duchess of Cambridge, fashion, Fashion Stylist, Goat, Hobbs, Hoodie, Jenny Packham, Jigsaw, Kate Middleton, Ralph Lauren, Reiss, style, stylist, Topshop
Today, our (at least my) favorite princess celebrates another year. Happy birthday, KMid! In her honor, I thought we could take a minute to appreciate Kate’s style smarts and take a look at some lessons we can apply in our own wardrobe. Happy styling (and weekend), Foxes. xo
She Calls the Tailor to Add, As Well As Take Away
We all know about altering pieces for fit. And, the style savvy know creative changes like swapping buttons or removing pockets can make an OK piece amazing. But almost no one thinks to ask their tailor to add fabric. At 5′ 9″ skirts appear short on Kate and she often lengthens pieces beyond any standard seam allowance to be sure not to show too much leg. Look closely and you can see the seam where she added six inches of fabric to this Goat coat before her visit to New York last month. The same trick also works for too-short tops. Don’t stress if you don’t have perfectly matching fabric, go for a contrast color or texture, like lace or leather instead.
She’s A Master of High-Low Mixing
Almost more than actual style, the cost of Kate’s wardrobe makes headlines. She loves a deal and the high street as much as the rest of us. Kate’s as likely to wear Topshop, Reiss or Jigsaw (where she worked) as she is luxe English designers like McQueen or Jenny Packham. Even better, she’ll mix the two and wear an inexpensive blouse with a very expensive skirt. You know, like how normal people put together outfits with pieces of different pricepoints. She knows the trick to making high street look expensive is to pick classic shapes and look for details that are well done, but not over the top, like the lacy print of this Topshop dress (paired with Ralph Lauren blazer).
She Dresses For The Occasion
One of my favorite things about watching Kate’s style is that she always dresses for the occasion, even if it means donning a cowboy hat (at a rodeo in Canada) or wearing a hoodie and a blindfold (to help lead a scout meeting in London). Some people wish she would always dress formally, but I love how she keeps it real. I mean people, including this stylist, love a good hoodie under the right (and sometimes lazy and wrong) circumstances. If it’s good enough for Kate, it’s good enough for me.
07 Friday Nov 2014
Posted How to Wear, Keaton Row, Weekend Rulebreaker
inTags
Belted Vest, DKNY, fashion, How to Layer in Winter, How to Wear a Vest, Kenneth Cole, Layered Jackets, Madewell, Michael Kors, Patterned Tights, Sam Edelman, style, stylist, Sweater Dress, Tory Burch, Vince, Wedge Boots, Winter Coats, Wolford
After college, I moved from LA to DC with a closet full of sundresses and flip-flops. I held out as long as I could, but when winter set in my first year, I was desperate for warm clothes and shoes. So, I hit the shops and made a major rookie mistake: I bought the (most fashionable) warmest sweaters, sturdiest boots and heaviest coats possible. Awesome outdoors. Not so awesome indoors. Five minutes and I turned into a gross, sweaty mess. Runny make-up and dehydration, that’s how this California girl learned the lesson of lean winter layers.
Earlier this week, I shared some of our favorite layering tips for looking cool while staying warm with you. Today, I’m showing you how to pull ’em all together and serving up some of my favorite vest and belt combos (I’m obsessed with this!), layered jacket picks and hats to finish your look. Of course, click for more styling tips or to shop the look on Keaton Row. Here’s to being chic and cozy this winter, Foxes. Happy weekend. xo