Frock Stars

My faves of the night: Gwyneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein and Camila Alves in Kaufman Franco

 

 Mila Kunis looking gorge in Elie Saab Haute Couture, Spring 2011 - photo courtesy style.com 

Jennifer Hudson, the ever-shrinking Points Plus diva in Versace Spring 2008 - photo courtesy style.com

Cate Blanchett divides the fashion world in Givenchy Couture Spring 2011 - photo courtesy style.com 

The sweet Amy Adams in L'Wren Scott Fall 2011 - photo courtesy style.com  

The Oscars were Sunday night and as you all know, it is THE big night for fashion.  The red carpet on Oscar night is a lot like the Superbowl:  all of the big players are there, and, having trained for months prior to the event (did you hear one star even had collagen injections in her feet?! WTF?), they should be at the absolute top of their game.  As with every other year, some stars got some terrible advice (Nicole Kidman, anyone?), and some were just so-so (Michelle Williams), but others totally rocked it.  I loved loved loved Camila Alves in her black plunging ballerina gown by Kaufman Franco (nope, never heard of him either) and thought Gwynnie smouldered in her metallic Calvin Klein sheath.  Mila Kunis stole a bit of royal thunder from The King's Speech in her lavender lace Elie Saab and Jennifer Hudson took tangerine to the next level in her Versace frock.  The flawless Cate Blanchett looked amazing as always but the circle cut-out in her dress caused many to tilt their heads in confusion (a new friend of mine likened Cate's dress to the back of an upholstered dining chair - hee!). 

The biggest scandal of the night came when Dior's newest face, Natalie Portman, chose a Rodarte gown over Dior, after a video surfaced of John Galliano making anti-semitic remarks at a café in Paris last week (click here for the full story).  The house of Christian Dior officially fired the moron today.  Hooray!  Intolerance is never, ever in style.

What did you think of the dresses this year?  Was Blanchett's chair-dress a hit or a total fashion miss? 

Oh, and let me say, "March, I love you!  I'm so happy you're finally here!" 

Must. Buy. Now.

Rachel McAdams, Eva Mendes and Jennifer Aniston wearing Stuart Weitzman's Alex wedges

Stuart Weitzman's Alex Wedge ($395) vs. the equally cute Steve Madden Fantasik ($110)

You probably saw Jennifer Aniston running all over Hollywood last summer (in search of the perfect man, no doubt), in Stuart Weitzman's Alex wedges.  She and other starlets like Rachel McAdams, Eva Mendes and Gossip Girl's Michelle Trachtenberg were all spotted in the pretty open-toe espadrilles but at $395, RLR simply could not justify the buy (and I'm very, very good).  This spring is ALL about the wedge and my super-sleuth sista (THANK YOU, SORELLA!) has discovered a worthy knock-off in the Fantasik wedge by Steve Madden.   They look fantastic (fantasik?) with little summer dresses and cropped pants but I'm especially excited to wear them with this season's maxi-dresses.  They're at Town Shoes now for $110 and if you use the promo code 'survey10off' at their online shop, www.theshoecompany.com, you'll get $10 off.  Whee!  Off with you!  Go on - Run! Scat! Go away but do come back ♥  (I figured out how to do the heart icon yesterday and now I can't stop♥♥♥)

N.B - Jennifer Aniston's legs not included. 

Photo Finnish

JFK and Jackie Kennedy, wearing a Marimekko dress in Hyannis Port, 1960 

The brand new Converse ♥ Marimekko collection combines Converse's most popular silhouettes with Marimekko's signature prints.  You can buy them online here and see the video about the collab here

With dreary weather lingering on and spring still weeks away, this clip from Marimekko's spring/summer runway presentation is just the thing to cure a winter hangover.  Made famous by Jacqueline Kennedy (she wore 8 different dresses from the Finnish brand during JFK's Presidential bid in the '60s), and more recently by SJP in Sex and the City, Marimekko is one of Finland's brightest exports.  Marimekko just turned 60 and like Helen Mirren, she just keeps getting better and better with age.  

I've always loved their clean, modern silhouettes and contagiously happy prints and after seeing this, am totally inspired to rock graphic black with brights this spring.  Enjoy! (or should I say, nauttia!)

xo

 (that's me under a Marimekko umbrella at the beach...you can get your own 'brellie and other pretty printed things at www.marimekkovancouver.com) 

Both kids super sick with ear/throat infections today (woohoo!) so I'm hoping you will accept this happy spring look in lieu of words.  There are a million ways to wear brights this season but I thought this one was extra pretty.

Off to wipe another nose and dry another tear.

Hope you all have a fab weekend! 

xo RLR

Hot and Dangerous

With March just weeks away, I'm starting to take stock of what I'll be 'needing' for spring.  Bright pants have never been at the top of my list but with candy-coloured hues dominating the runways, this is the year to let your bottom half do the talking.  Okay, that came out the wrong way.  Whoops, so did that.

Pants usually let the rest of your outfit take all the credit.  They step quietly aside, like Marc Anthony on the Grammy's red carpet; hands clasped and head down while J.Lo gets attacked by the paparazzi.  Though absolutely essential to an outfit (Lady Gaga might disagree), pants are usually quite happy to be out of the spotlight's glare.  

This spring, designers showed saturated colour on pants, skirts and shorts, proving that bright bottoms aren't just reserved for the under-16 set.  These slim roll-ups from Zara ($59.90, www.zara.com) are the perfect thing to bring your closet up-to-date and with four juicy shades to choose from, you can mix and match colour to your heart's content. Pants, get ready - your 15 minutes have finally arrived!  Oh, and be sure to come back this week for loads of ways to fearlessly wear brights.   Your legs are going to be so happy!