Fashion Watch

Costume Institute Gala - Part 1

The Met’s Costume Institute Gala is rapidly beginning to rival the main awards season as a fashionable event. This year the theme was Anglomania, and a variety of Brits and others were dressing the stars with greatly varying results. One expects variety, but the variations from the individual design houses were startlingly wide.

Take Burberry. Christopher Bailey dressed Sienna Miller in a 60s gold dress and 80s black tights – an outfit which was far more “cute” than “gala”:

and also dressed Stella Tennant, flapper style – lovely, but still not quite “gala”:

and Ivanka Trump in a boob thrusting and bowed brown gown:

and Jools Oliver in a dress than I actually love, if only it didn’t give her saggy-cleavage syndrome:

Alexander McQueen inflicted a tartan nightmare with bad shoes on Sarah Jessica Parker:

while putting Jacquetta Wheeler in a stunning ruffled lace gown:

and Joy Bryatt in something less successfully ruffled (it’s the extraneous sleeves that concern me most):

Moving away from the Brits, one has to wonder whether the lads at Badgley Mischka had control over the make-up artist of their new models Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, because the scary make-up rather took away from the gowns. Though for the record I prefer Ashley’s high neck to Mary-Kate’s over-cuffed number:

Amanda Peet was stunning in Rochas:

Rosario Dawson shone in J. Mendel:

Selma Blair wore one of the Chanel Couture confections that I so loved on the runway:

Chanel was having a good evening, Gretchen Mol’s black gown also a winner if not as much of a standout:

The ladies in Ralph Lauren were all winners, though Lauren Bush proved that being close to the family gets the best deal. Her beaded dress was lovely, though the whites of Emmy Rossum (big surprise there, right?), Kim Basinger and Karolina Kurkova all looked good:

Marc Jacobs diaphanous layers worked for Helena Christensen (in a nice comeback from her last appearance here), but not so much for Ginnifer Goodwin:

Mr Armani was not well represented by Bridget Moynahan with her pulled tight and upright hairdo:

Costume Institute Gala - Part 2

Calvin Klein did fine however, represented beautifully by Jessica Alba (women should be climbing mountains to get advice from her stylist) and Sarah Wynter, the latter sporting the new herringbone:

Thandie Newton recovered from some recent ventures into unnecessary tulle in stunning gold Gucci:

John Galliano delivered quite well via pink and maroon Diors, Charlize Theron in the wider, darker gown, Giselle in a lighter figure-hugging column (and can I just note what a relief it is to see Charlize in something other than black). Mr Galliano’s outfit I am choosing to ignore:

I am also going to ignore Linda Evangelista’s companion. Linda herself was proof of one of the rules of the evening: YSL gowns shouldn’t work, and yet they do. Her companion in this rule was Chloe Sevigny:

Melania Trump looked post-baby fabulous in white Rachel Roy:

My problems with Balenciaga may almost be overcome by the spotted gown that Liya Kebede wore:

Jennifer Lopez should pay attention to photos from this night the next time she has an event to attend. Laying off the overdone hair and laying on figure-flattering Versace works for her in a way beehives never could:

Liz Hurley learned the Versace lesson years ago, though I think the colour of her gown was a bit blah:

Close to the best dressed on the night was Drew Barrymore in a beautiful strapless black lace dress by Oscar de la Renta:

Close to the worst dressed on the night was Carey Lowell in a flesh-toned gown apparently made from fabric scraps:

Minnie Driver’s red Valentino gown was just a few centimetres too much cleavage to be a true winner:

Mandy Moore’s Peter Som gown was almost the classic black ballgown. Pity about the pockets.

And finally, Lindsay Lohan’s swirly strapless Marchesa gown was one of the more flattering ensembles I’ve seen her wear recently.

And with that I say a temporary farewell. I’ll return in June with no doubt many stories about shopping in Italy and London.

At the Cup

This year the Spring Racing Carnival has attracted an interesting array of local and international celebrities from the B, C, D and "aren't they dead?" lists, all apparently wanting to get their hats on. The odd combination of international guests included Eva Longoria, Reiko Aylesworth, Ron Livingston, Stevie Nicks, Chloe Sevigny, Leo Sayer and Ron Moss.

At Cup Day itself:

Chloe Sevigny - who I didn't even know was here until I saw the photos this morning - wore an actually attractive cream skirt and camisole with bronze lace detail, but her hat was, if anything, a bit too heavy for the outfit.

Tara Moss also seemed to fail to understand that matching your hat, shoes and bag is somewhat pointless if none remotely go with your dress. And if your dress doesn't go with itself - I just don't think black with both bold florals and lace up sides and back is a particularly cohesive look.

Insert obvious joke here about Catriona Roundtree needing to lean on the wall because her hat was tipping her over. Actually, the only real problem I have with this outfit is that it's way too old for her. I think it's mainly the severe hairstyle required to accommodate the hat - it just doesn't suit her long face.

Emily Browning's simple polka dot dress was cute, but again, not so sure about the hat. It's not that I don't like hats, I do, they just need to actually go with the outfit.

Some good examples of everything coming together were Reiko Aylesworth in green, and Kate Fischer in florals.

On the other hand, Johanna Griggs's blue fluff and satin combo annoyed the crap out of me every time I saw her on the TV yesterday.

Holly Brisley looked great in cream and florals and a big but simple hat.

Another so-called style icon

Hmmm. A short jersey dress that makes the boobs look saggy while dragging them as far apart as possible, and emphasises the hips by bunching - intentionally or unintentionally, it's hard to tell, but I'm leaning towards the former - on one hip and creating the potential to become a public gynaecological exam at any moment? Yes, Jade Jagger, that looks flattering. Sure it does. I guess the neck line does show off her jewellery, which is probably the aim of most of what she wears, but still. Add to it the slicked back hairstyle and shiny face and the currently fashionable half-platform shoes and overall it does not leave a particularly fashionable impression.

Why did you let him out of the house like that?

At the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Jane Kaczmarek looked lovely, but what the hell was going on with Brad's choice of outfit? The suit on its own perhaps not the end of the world, but the "tie" and the shoes? Oh dear.

Black and White and Unnecessary Trains

At the Legends Ball, Naomi Campbell looked positively angelic in a slim white fish-tailed column with cascading curls. Looked. Not necessarily was.

Debbie Allen, on the other hand, was a cross between Scarlett O'Hara in mourning and a large pile of ashes. Very strange texture that dress.

Good lord, Maria Shriver appears to actually have some meat on her bones in her uninspiring simple white and black dress.

Slouch Katie, slouch! Katie Holmes' white dress was odd, to say the least. Flat and unflattering on top, bubbly and unflattering on the bottom, with an unnecessary and half-hearted train.

Tracee Ellis Ross, in white, managed to choose a dress that in addition to being too long, seemed both too big and too, well, flattening, on top, while mother Diana had the opposite problem in black.

Well, someone of Barbara Walters' age is certainly brave going with a strapless gown, but the bow on the front combined with the floral design on the white skirt makes it all seem rather too busy.

Alicia Keyes wore black satin with lace cut-outs and details and then a fringed head-dress which must have been annoying hanging in her eyes.

Tyra Banks wore a feather-heavy white gown, the bottom of which appeared significantly too heavy for the thin top.

Mariah Carey attacked a ballerina in a white tutu and imprisoned her under a black satin strapless dress.

While the host, Oprah, was the only one released from the black and white dress code, and she cut loose in an attractive red gown in the off-the-shoulder style she clearly knows suits her so well.

Metallics at the Met

Ah, the Met Costume Institute Gala aka "Party of the Year". Could this year's event live down to last year's generally misconceived fashion outing?

On first glance it would appear not. Removing Versailles from the theme seemed to help quite a bit, but that doesn't mean it was all boring good taste. Far from it.

There was, of course, a lot of Chanel, though people didn't feel wedded to that house and Calvin Klein in particular was also popular. And, as is often the case, not all seemed to embrace the word "gala", preferring instead to go with "cocktail".

One would have thought that with Carmen Electra's assets, she could have found a dress with a bodice that wasn't too big, although her permanently shrugged shoulders certainly didn't help make the dull dale blue column any more attractive.

If Vanessa Williams' silver and white cocktail dress had just been the silver part, without the white netting and ruffle, it would have been a great improvement.

Elisha Cuthbert's black feathered princess dress by Monique Lhuillier was appropriately "gala", though the tulle shoulder bows were slightly too long. On the other hand, Erika Christensen's simple black cocktail dress was more "dinner with the parents".

Elle Macpherson's citrus green strapless ball gown by Calvin Klein, worn with a tan and flowing locks, was a real winner.

Metallics were popular on the night, worn with reasonable success by several including Christine Baumgartner in Ralph Lauren, Catalina Sandino Moreno in Michael Kors, and Emmy 'don't turn sideways' Rossum (also Lauren, natch).

And with not so much success by Bridget Moynahan, who chose a dress with unattractive gathers and pointless shoulder ruffles on some of the thinnest straps ever utilised to prevent a wardrobe malfunction, and Sheryl Crow, who was one step away from being a mermaid tail, also in Lauren.

Several of the model contingent preferred to wear parachutes, however. Shalom Harlow in a red gathered chute, vintage Norma Kamali, Natalia Vodianova in an unfurled pale blue chute by Calvin Klein.

Rachel Weisz thought perhaps that she was going to a school dance in 1958, even if she was wearing Chanel Couture.

Vanessa Paradis wore, of course, black and white Chanel, and wore it like no one else can.

Karolina Kurkova wore Viktor & Rolf's fabulous "I Love You" gown.

Marcia Cross's Louis Vuitton dress was suffering from wanting to be too many things to too many people, and none of those things was "gala" or "well fitting".

Dita Von Teese, in Marc Jacobs, knows how to do black glamour very well.

Is Jessica Seinfeld pregnant? If not, her hot pink Narciso Rodriguez dress makes her look like she is. And that necklace is way too heavy for such a simple dress. Lil Kim was also in luminescent pink by Marc Jacobs. The dress is a bit much, but with Kim a bit much is preferable to the usual not nearly enough.

I love that Getty Images identifies this group as "John Taylor and guests". But given what Mrs Taylor and her partner in Juicy Couture crime are wearing - think lace. And fur. And too many pearls. And identical outfits - they perhaps deserved to be snubbed.

Linda Evangelista's blue Bottega Veneta gown was a wonderful colour but the shape was starting towards tent-like.

Amanda Peet looked washed out, not to mention covered in ruffles, and ruffles, and ruffles. I actually don't hate the dress, by Marc Jacobs, but I don't think the top half really works. Though her ruffles were nothing compared to the white waves of Naomi Watts' one-shoulder Calvin Klein dress. Again, don't actually hate the ruffles, but the crushed look of the fabric is unfortunate.

Mariska Hargitay held her breath in a black and sheer dress in a flattering cut, provided the wearing holds their breath. But my main question is, why was her hair 14 feet high?

The black with red floral detail strapless Michael Kors dress worn by Jessica Simpson was appropriately vavavoom. The only problem was Jessica's inability to back away from the tanning machine and her apparent desire, based on her hairstyle, to be a Robert Palmer girl. However, she looked like a pale English rose in comparison to the queen of bronze, Donnatella Versace who looks like she'd spent the day on a rotisserie. Her daughter, Allegra Beck, could use some time eating rotisserie - especially if she's going to keep wearing chandelier earrings that seem to be defying the laws of physics in not making her tip over.

Selma Blair wore a pretty coffee coloured strapless Chanel couture dress with a strange detail across the bottom.

A feathered Balenciaga flower exploded on Jennifer Connelly's chest. And aside from that, her hairstyle and pose was channelling Carine Roitfeld, and the mini-dress seemed
inappropriate for a gala. Speaking of explosions, in Margartia Missoni's case is was a floral leopard causing eye damage to all those around.

Mary-Kate Olsen remains an almost non-existent hippy chick in white while Ashley brought a bit more glamour and substance in strapless gold lace by Oscar de la Renta.

Marcia Gay Harden had her trademark Hollywood glamour hair and make-up, it's just a pity that her black and white dress just hangs there rather than bringing the hourglass the rest of her deserves. Melania Trump, in Alexander McQueen, already got that memo.

I loved Claire Danes' black lace with pink capelet by Calvin Klein. I didn't really love the top of Joely Richardson's halter neck gown, but the poppy field skirt was beautiful.

Diane Von Furstenberg was going on a technicolour safari.

Finally, Nicole Kidman's dark blue strapless Chanel column was attractive enough, but how many times do I need to ask her to go back to red hair and let it out of control a little?

Princess 40

I really rather like the golden beige princess dress Sarah Jessica Parker wore to her 40th birthday party, however the bodice could have been just a bit higher, because I suspect it's meant to be an empire line, not a just-above-the-waist waist line.

Table Cloth Couture

At the Monte Carlo Rose Ball I believe Princess Caroline got dressed by pulling off one of the white table cloths and attaching it to herself with giant blue bows.

Nights in Tight White Satin

In order to attend the Mary Poppins Gala, Elizabeth Hurley apparently borrowed the pants from Toni Collette's ABBA costume in Muriel's Wedding, and paired them with her nightie.