Let me preface that by no means I am a fashion expert. I love fashion, I love style and generally I know what looks good. Fashion is a personal choice so while someone might think something looks great on them, another person may feel the opposite.
The Golden Globes is the kick off for the Awards Season and this years red carpet did not disappoint. Celebrities went glam and brought out the big guns to this years ceremonies. The men looked awesome too, especially Bradley Cooper, who I think set the tone for men's fashion that evening.
But in all reality we are here to look and see what the women are wearing. Julianna Moore was my definite favorite in that Tom Ford number. Simple, elegant, flattering and the bare back with just the touch of spaghetti strap was fantastic!
Worst Dressed: Anne Hathaway in Chanel
Some of my favorite red carpet favs did not disappoint while others caught me by surprise and had me yelling, "WHY!" I am talking to you Anne Hathaway! I love you in white and I love Chanel but didn't anyone tell you that you looked like you were wearing a body cast! Now maybe in a different color it would have had a different effect but the number you strolled in did not wow me at all. The top half of the dress is the most distracting. The bottom half was actually pretty flattering...but seriously you looked liked you were wrapped in a bedazzled ace bandage by Karl Lagerfeld. Loved your hair hated the dress and BTW congrats on the win as Fantine. Well deserved.
So with that said here are my pics for the best and worst dresses of the evening. Like I said, I am no expert so my choices are purely my own aesthetics and thoughts and at the end of the day that's all it is.
My Picks for Best Dressed:
Kerry Washington in Miu Miu, Nicole Richie in Naeem Kham, Lea Michele in Elie Saab, Claire Danes in Versace
Kerry's illusion dress was fresh, young and vibrant. So 1920s flapper glam...I loved it. Nicole Richie looked demure and classic. Loved the long sleeps on this dress very vintage but very now as well. Lea's dress was fantastic. Loved the white sequence and the halter top (take note Anne Hathaway). Claire Danes looked magnificent in this simple and red number.
Nicole Kidman in Alexander McQueen, Kate Hudson in Alexander McQueen, Adele in Burberry, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Yves Saint Laurent
Sarah Burton hit the right buttons for the Alexander McQueen dresses that Nicole Kidman and Kate Hudson wore. Love the peek-a-boos on both dresses while giving a statuesque look to both. Adele has a style and this Burberry dress did not disappoint. It's very much the songbirds persona and it was a perfect compliment to her. Rosie (who is she?) but who cares because her dress was youthful, modern and sexy enough to get noticed.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Vera Wang, Jessica Alba in Oscar de la Renta, Marion Cotillard in Dior, Jennifer Gardner in Vivienne Westwood
Julia's illusion dress was fantastic and age appropriate. Love the lace detailing. Jessica's coral dress drove me crazy. Perfect for her skin tone but more importantly the dress was so simple with just the right amount of detailing that it was perfect. The Harry Winston jewels didn't hurt either. I loved Marion's asymmetric dress and the color was superb. The draping and the metal belt accent was stunning. Jennifer's dress was awesome. The fabric shimmered and the texture was the perfect punch for the simple dress.
Julianna Margulies in Emilio Pucci
Julianna in this navy blue number is exquisite and probably my second favorite of the evening next to Julianna Moore's Tom Ford ensemble.
My Picks for Worst Dressed:
Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad, Amanda Seyfried in Givenchy, Sienna Miller in Erdem, Kristen Bell in Jenny Packham
Jennifer, we get that you are are one sexy mutha (literally) but really...and let's face it...you will never recapture the moment you hit the red carpet in that Versace scarf dress again. Amanda...vintage lace never looked so wrong. Sienna...what in the heck are those appliques? It's very dated on you and you look much order and heavier than you really are! It's sorta reminding me of a Filipina bridesmaids dress from the 1990s I saw at a wedding once. Kristen, what in the heck happened to your neck! Take off the damn armor already the war is over!
Jessica Chastain in Calvin Klein, Lucy Liu in Carolina Herrera, Julianna Hough in Monique Lhuillier, Hallie Berry in Atelier Versace
Jessica, I was mixed on your dress, but after careful thought and the more I looked at it the more I hated it! It's very ill fitting and the top is not at all flattering. Your boobs look like they are sagging down to your waist! Lucy, I think I had a comforter made out of that back in the 80s and also Scarlett O'Hara stated, "The BITCH stole my look!" I think she is referring to the curtains. Oh Julianna, we are not on Dancing with the Stars anymore. Halle, it's time to retire that look...we get it.
Debra Messing in Donna Karan, Rachel Weisz in Louis Vuitton, Tina Fey in L'Wren Scott, Lena Dunham in Zac Posen
Debra, did you wear this just in case you needed to jump out of a plane? I think I had pants made out of that same material in the 80s. Rachel, I am just as confused as your dress. Tina...you need a new stylist because that dress just is not flattering in so many ways. The length is odd, the tuxedo fold is odd, the white just looks off with that lace. Kudos on the hair though. Lena, I know it's your first awards show and your are really close to Zac but that dress is not doing anything for you...I think you need to talk to Jennifer Hudson who made the same mistakes her first award season for pointers.
Guiliana Rancic in Celia Kritharioti
Guiliana's dress, I think, is the worst dress of the evening. The cut, the neck the lace there's so much wrong with this dress. If she is trying out for the part of Maleficent than she did a great job but this dress as a whole, dare I say it...gross.
And finally the dresses I am on the fence about.
Jody Foster in Giorgio Armani, Jennifer Lawrence in Dior, Emily Blunt in Michael Kors, Amy Adams in Marchesa
I love Jody's speech and the thought of her dress. I am wondering if it would have been better without the shoulder straps. Jennifer's dress from afar is gorgeous but the crumb catcher/pocket boob thing threw me off. Emily's dress I am so mixed about. I love the gold lace and the peek-a-boo but there's something that is just off and I can't pinpoint it. Amy's dress is gorgeous I think a darker fabric or tone may have been better. It blends in to her skin tone too much.
If Vera Wang announcing that she is doing a line called White for David's Bridal wasn't enough, ladies hold on to your hats or whatever is available! Anthropologie (a subsidiary of Urban Outfitters), one of the modern woman's favorite store is launching a bridal line called BHLDN on Valentine's Day, yes FEBRUARY 14. Women across the country are going to be swooning after seeing these ultra fabulous gowns that is priced between $1000 and $4000. The gowns are modern with a touch of glam and classic with a nostalgic twist! All of them GORGEOUS!
In addition to the fabulous wedding gowns that Anthropologie will be selling, BHLDN has also created accessories, shoes, and wait for it...bridesmaids/event dresses too! Completing the whole Anthropologie wedding story! I am pleased to share with you the fashions Anthropologie has for the bride and her maids and her guests!
I personally am not so fond of the event dresses - they come off a little dated for my taste, but it does fit in to the Anthropologie woman's lifestyle story of retro, hip, cool, and chic fashion. On the other hand, I am absolutely loving the bridal gowns!
Every bride dreams of walking down the aisle in a beautiful gown...but how about a gorgeous gown made by one of the world's best designers. To many, Vera Wang gowns are the epitome of the ultimate wedding gown and many would probably give up a something for the opportunity to wear one of her creations on their wedding day. Well ladies...here's your opportunity! Vera Wang...yes that Vera...has created a line of gowns and accessories exclusively for David's Bridal. The line White by Vera Wang will make its debut on February 11th at David's Bridal!
The debut line will feature 12 designs by Vera Wang and it has all of the couture styling and glamor that one expects from the master of bridal couture. The other beautiful thing about this collection is that it truly makes Vera Wang affordable to even the most budget basic brides! Gowns range from $600 for a one-shoulder crinkle chiffon gown with matching grosgrain sash and asymmetrical draped skirt to $1400 for a ball gown with V-neck bodice and fully draped skirt made with hand-cut bias organza flanges and tulle swirls. Size ranges from 0-14. The accessories range from $58 for a horse hair sash to $248 for a two-tier chapel length veil with a raw-cut edge and lace applique detailing.
Ladies, if you have not done your dress shopping yet for your upcoming nuptials, make sure to check out the wonderful gowns that is now available to you from Ms. Wang herself! David's Bridal is going to super busy trying to fill these orders! To see the back story, plus detailed pictures of the gorgeous gowns, please visit the White by Vera Wang site at David's Bridal.
Here's what you have to look forward to!
Left to Right: VW351010 $1200 (Ivory), VW351004 $700 (Ivory, Soft White), VW351011 $1200 (Blush, Ivory, Soft White)
Left to Right: VW351002 $600 (Blush, Ivory, Soft White), VW351003 $700 (Ivory, Soft White), VW351021 $800 (Ivory)
Left to Right: VW351000 $600 (Ivory, Soft White), VW351007 $1000 (Blush/Ivory, Ivory/Ivory, Soft White/Soft White, VW Champagne/Ivory), VW351020 $1200 (Ivory)
Left to Right: VW351029 $1400 (Ivory, Soft White), VW351023 $1300 (Ivory) Illusion sleeve piece as pictured in main picture can be worn under the bodice and is included with the gown, VW351026 $1300 (Ivory, Soft White)
Wishpot and Avellethe NewBag Borrow Steal have teamed up to bring you a very exciting giveaway! Enter to win a Kate Spade "Knightsbridge Quinn" Croco Tote with a retail value of $425? The clean lines and elegant croc-embossed patent calfskin leather of this Kate Spade tote transitions effortlessly from daytime to evening. This classic and iconic Kate Spade Quinn bag has been give a luxe makeover and is a must have for the fashionista.
Bag details:
short shoulder tote with open top
center zip divider pocket, double slide pockets and zip pocket
Tell or show Wishpot and Avelle what you want to carry in your Avelle Designer Bag! (Your fave accessories, your pets, your dreams, the kitchen sink and more...)
Be sure to leave a comment on the Wishpot Blog with what you did. Giveaway lasts one week. Wishpot and Avelle will draw a winner on Monday October 5th.
I met Megan through one of the "usual" social network sites...Facebook. I had read one of her other guests posts and thought wow, this could be a great guest blogger for the Let's Party With Percy Sales Events Blog. So, I asked Megan if she could do a blog for me on the topic of her choice and she graciously agreed. In her guest blog, Megan will be discussing her trend/forecast watch in wedding invitations for 2010/2011. I hope you enjoy it! Here's Megan's blog:
Trend Watch in Wedding Invitations 2010/2011
By: Megan Battistella owner of Adair Custom Designs: Specializing in Wedding Invitations and Stationary.
POP QUIZ: This one is for all engaged couples out there!
What is the most important thing that a wedding invitation set should do for
an engaged couple?
A. Set the tone for the wedding
B. Elicit a response
C. Save money!
D. Wedding invitations? Shoot! I forgot about those…
For engaged couples, the excitement of planning a wedding can overwhelm the most basic principal of what an invitation is intended to do, and that is: get a response! My experience in creating corporate identity has taught me that thoughtful design is essential to creating personality with an impact.
For the budget-conscious couples looking to balance affordability and personal style consider the following: will your invitation be considered a “keepsake”?People know the difference between art and ordinary. The highest compliment is for your guests to keep your wedding invitations. Through exciting the senses with something different, you will find that an immediate response from your guests is not uncommon. People crave a fresh approach as opposed to a tired format!
Next year springs forth a fresh decade of fantastic trends and new ideas! Familiar and entirely new, retro and modern combined; it is indeed the beginning of a new era of contemporary design. These trends are recession busters and have been recycled from decades and even centuries past as tried and true.
THEMES THAT WILL TREND in 2010/2011—Some of these themes draw from the past and will continue to show resiliency in the future, overlapping will be prevalent among all of these categories
“Art Deco” Wedding Packages
This will be one of the most prevalent trends seen in the wedding industry for next year. It is on the verge of exploding. This trend can go in numerous different avenues for wedding invitation sets, but the following will be the most common.
Art Deco: 1920’s and 30’s inspired. Wedding invitations will present strong, contrasting geometric patterning, borrowing from classic architectural elements of the roaring twenties. Vertical paper layouts will prove to be more consistent with the “style” of art deco. Perfect for those watching their budgets, because pieces that print with only one color designs, (black) on white or colored paper are more economical. For added elegance, consider metallic or pearl papers.
Art Deco: Floral Seventies and modernized Baroque: These will still have an overwhelming sense of “pattern.” Flat color, graphic, non-dimensional floral patterns will be prevalent in tomorrow’s wedding invitation designs.
Falling back on different cultures, the “folksy pilgrim” is borrowing from all types of traditions and cross-pollinating with today’s society. There is also a strong theme of hand-made, hand-painted and custom detailed wood work which can lead into decorative Baroque style.
Wedding invitation trends in this category will consider specialty shapes in papers, die-cuts, decorative embellishments that are unique to the bride and groom’s heritage and/or ethnic background. Bright impressions of the Latin culture, the simplicity and softness of the MidwesternStates and a vivid graphic African influence will be seen in this category.
Wedding invitations will be hand-drawn or possibly painted in watercolors and then over-laid with illustration work, generally in floral patterns. Hand-calligraphy (Examples provided by Jennifer Gillespie of “Calligraphy by Jennifer”) and highly decorative lettering will flourish in fonts. On the opposite spectrum, large, bold, sans-serif fonts will also do incredibly well.
“Eco-Chic” Wedding Invitations
“Going Green” has become a mainstream concept, but new technology and advances in protecting the environment are continuously being supplied to the masses for more economical rates. Consciously looking for alternative papers for invites will continue to be important. Recycled papers come in 30% post-consumer waste and 100% post-consumer waste and more printers are supplying soy-based inks.
"Futuristic" & Digital Wedding Package Sets
Going against the grain and all traditions, these wedding invitation sets will offer new thoughts and design directions for the future. Fluorescent accents in paper, metallic cut-outs, reflective materials and holographic papers will portray an almost surrealist nature. Three dimensionally textured bellybands and uniquely shaped invitation enclosures will grab the spotlight. Peacock feathers used in design motifs or as embellishments will gather interest this upcoming year. Adding layers to invitation sets through the use of frosted, translucent, and transparent papers will add visual interest while maintaining budgets.
In this socially connected world, some couples may consider opting out of paper invitations and go digital. Digital invitations are posted videos on the internet and the response is electronic. (See example, work not created by Megan Battistella of Adair Design-http://www.coreyrachelinvite.com/ ) This will eliminate the response cards all together and will help to save on postage cost, return address printing and envelopes. Other options are to spend an extra amount of money on a more decorative invitation and then combining a response and directions card which will direct guests to RSVP electronically.
There are plenty of budget conscious and completely out-of-the box ideas that can portray your wedding in a brand-new light.
Please contact me for a free, custom wedding invitation consultation or check out my pre-designed wedding packages and I can give you some pricing. If you check out my blog or Facebook page, leave a note or some feedback, I would love to hear your thoughts!
Rosa Clará is the designer to watch and I would not be surprised if she was the go to wedding gown designer in the next couple of years. I'm in total awe after seeing some of this designer's gowns.
Rosa Clará has been in business since 1995. Her designs are known in Latin countries and on the European circuit but have not quite made an impact here in the US. She currently has some gowns being sold exclusively at Kleinfeld Bridal in NYC and some select styles can be found at premiere bridal boutiques throughout the US. A list of local retailers can be found on the Rosa Clará Website. Rosa Clará is based in Barcelona, Spain.
Rosa Clará designs are absolutely modern, gorgeous, and it transcends time. She states that her '09 collection is, "Inspired by two trends: One, simple lines with close fitting gowns. And the other, spectacular volume." All I can say is that her gowns are like none I have seen in recent years. You also need to check out the Rosa Clará '08 line and you will notice that things she was putting out last year are now being presented by other designers this year. She is definitely "wedding" fashion forward.
It seems as if she has taken aspects from different cultures and made them her own. You will see gorgeous draping on Grecian Gowns, Kimono inspired wedding dresses, Modern Princess Gowns and of course...an ode to Barcelona, Spanish influenced gowns.
Additionally, many of her pieces can morph into a second look by adding or removing lace jackets that she has designed to go with certain gowns.
Here's a sampling of the gowns I love.
Style #213 Languido - Organza dress with beading and a Chantilly lace jacket with hemstitch decoration. A lovely dress with two looks. When you take off the full-length lace jacket, you are left with a stunning strapless gown, perfect for the reception.
Style #248 Lua - Beaded bodice with a silk brocade skirt and train. This dress reminds me of a modern Kimono. The train detail is so wonderful with its multiple tiers. The dress is so simple yet so stunning.
Style #159 Lyla - Halter dress with floral neck embellishment and embroidered flowers on a full skirt. The ultimate playful princess dress. I love the embroidery on the skirt; it gives the gown a little spunk, but keeps it elegant at the same time. Cinderella would have been proud to wear this gown.
Brides...you need to check out the Rosa Clará line, there are so many wonderful gowns to discover on her site. Additionally she also a second line that is more affordable called Two by Rosa Clará and a link to her Complements line of veils, tops, shoes, and headdresses (used by Karl Lagerfeld in Chanel's Pre-Fall 2009 Collection Fashion Show).
I hope you will love this designer as much as I do. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us in coming years.
Every bridal season we are wowed by the designs that are created by fabulous designers. There's always a handful of trends that is a must have for that year. In the past we have seen colored ribbon sashes, Swarovski crystal embellishments, the mermaid dress phenomenon, and even colored wedding gowns. So what's the must have look this year?
Here's my trend alert for the remainder of the 2009 bridal season, which will carry over to the early part of 2010.
from left to right: Le Spose di Gio, Manuel Mota for Pronovias, Monique Lhuillier, Reva Mivasagar I hope you all like my trend report. Regardless of the trends, always pick the gown that you feel the prettiest and happiest in. I have heard from many brides that you will know the right one for you. Happy dress shopping!
We are all tired of seeing the tiara's at weddings, especially the ginormous ones the looks like the bride just won a drag pageant. And I understand that everyone wants to be a princess and you still can only a little more fresh and not so ordinary. For the latest head pieces, look to blinged out headbands. More and more bridal designers are opting for these great hair wear because it brings a little understated and demure look to the whole ensemble.
There are so many styles to choose from too. Swarovski crystal encrusted, satin ribbon tied pieces, pearl encrusted, you name it, I am sure there's a headband out there with it.
If don't have the latest InStyle Wedding Magazine, I suggest you get it, they have some great headband options in it from an assortment of designers and providers. So if you are rethinking your bridal hair accessory, maybe this is just the little UMPH you may need!
Karl Lagerfeld has done it again...with these fabulous head pieces that are fit for a queen! Now that Aretha (Franklin) has opened the Pandora's Box of over-the-top Chapeaux, it's a free-for-all in the headdress department. These "art hats" are from Chanel's pre-fall 2009 collection and they are absolutely beautiful! Not that all brides or gamines will be able to pull it off or even consider it, but those more daring can definitely make a statement.
These headpieces should not to be paired with elaborate dresses, but more simple and understated ones, making the crowing effect the wow factor to your ensemble. Indie, fashionista, off-beat, and bold brides this is something to consider this season, ditch the veil and go for the sculpted head piece.
Forget the celebrity singer, celebrity planner, and even the celebrity designer! Couples are clamoring for the Celebrity Chef! With the popularity of shows like Top Chef, Iron Chef, and the myriad of other cooking shows, on such networks as Food Network, brides and grooms are looking to have these icons of taste cater their wedding.
One hit show, Top Chef, has been enticing brides and grooms to call on these rising stars. Most likely because to most people, these individuals are more accessible than say Cat Cora, Mario Bartali, Jamie Oliver, and Wolfgang Puck. However, if you have the dough...even you can get the best of the best to cook for your guests.
So if your budget is more shiitake mushroom then white truffle, you might want to consider such reality show chefs as Fabio Viviani from the current season of Top Chef or Lisa Garza from The Next Food Network Star, before they soar to super nova chef status. Individuals like this are known because of their TV appearance and loved because of their personality...plus their food looks so yummy on the boob-tube. Additionally, their pricing is probably more competitive than say Chef Tom Colicchio when it comes to catering your wedding feast.
The great thing about this trend is couples are FINALLY putting focus on the foods that they are serving to their guests. Like my guest blogger Paul Bott stated last week, this trend of foodies and treating a wedding dinner as a wedding feast is really rising in popularity. But the trend of hiring the celebrity chef is the newest "wow" factor that people are doing, because now everyone at the celebration can taste a piece of this superstar!
Have fun thinking of who should cook your feast. Remember, it never hurts to inquire about their services...you might just be surprised what they comeback with. Now I'm hungry!
-Percy
P.S. Talking about Top Chef...If you are a fan of the show please don't forget to vote for your favorite chef (Fabio for me), at http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/vote/index2.php. You can vote up to 20 times a week for the next two weeks. Maybe you will be the lucky winner of the trip to NYC plus $10,000!
This weekend I took it easy. With rain coming down in sunny California, it was a great time to cuddle up in a blanket, stare out of the windows, think, and listen to great music. As I sat here, the song Leather and Lace by Stevie Nicks came on and this is my inspiration for this Monday.
I am inspired by the delicacy of lace and suppleness of leather. I am inspired by Stevie Nick's voice, that raspy tone that so delights. I love the fact that leather and lace reminds me of that raw, hard, heavy metal vibe, think Aerosmith and Van Halen...you know just a little overdone. But mixing the right pieces can make outrageous look totally fabulous.
If I were planning a wedding on a theme of leather and lace...these are some aspects I would throw into the mix.
I hope this inspires you to think of how you can mix leather and lace for your own wedding. It's a great combination and with the right aspects you can mix two opposing elements together to make it a real knockout.
-Percy
Photos from above mentioned desiners, photo of Kevin Connolly in Prada from OMG
I have to give props to First Lady, Michelle Obama. Her inauguration couture were just fabulous. From the yellow (pale green) Isabel Toledo dress topped off with gloves by J. Crew and shoes by Jimmy Choo, to the off-white Jason Wu gown. I just wish that the Jason Wu piece could have been a little more tight fitting, showing off more of her figure, but overall it was still youthful, bold, and fresh. To me they were both hits!
The big plus for me is that she used up and coming designers and not established ones. It makes me think that she could contact me at any moment to plan one of her future parties, or one of Sasha or Malia's birthday parties. Thank you Michelle for revitalizing the fashion world and giving us a new icon for great couture or even off the rack stuff...we know you love that stuff too.
So for you ladies out there looking for the right gown, the high end designers that are household names, may not be your only option. Look into up and coming young designers that is willing to work with you on your scene stealing moment! Like the First Lady, you might just make the right fashion choices!
