Tag Archives: Rihanna

MET Gala 2012

Posted in Beauty, Celebrity, Diane and Josh, Fashion, Hair, Models, Red Carpet, Style Crush by

This year’s Costume Institute Gala held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York was held in honour of Miuccia Prada and Elsa Schiaparelli - I’m not going to pretend I’m totes fashion and had heard of the latter until this exhibition – andwith rumours abound that Miuccia was running a tight ship, it was with a hush of excitement that news of who was dressing who began to filter through.

The biggest news before the Gala went ahead was that the head honcho had put a stop to Coco Rocha being dressed by her designer bessie Zac Posen, she instead had teased on Twitter she was wearing vintage Givenchy. Now in my mind vintage Givenchy would be elegant, dramatic and gorgeous, what Coco Rocha wore was far from any of this… A vintage suit previously owned by Elizabeth Taylor may be majah but she looked like a hot mess and to top it all off she added some poor 13 year-old girls bubblegum pink clip ins. If there was ever a Worst Ever Dressed Award it would go to you Mrs Rocha, please stick to what you know.

Coco Rocha in Vintage Givenchy at the MET Gala 2012

To follow on from my Worst Ever Dressed, I’ll direct you to my next worst dressed. If you read my previous post on this young woman you would probably see who I was going to say a mile off.

Kristen Stewart in Balenciaga at the MET Gala 2012

Honestly the dress isn’t really that bad, I think the red next to the blue is sending me shivers but I like the bodice of the dress.  It’s just those SHOES. They could honestly be the most horrific shoes ever made on earth. And of course you know I’m going to have a problem with that hair, yes I know if she’d had it all posh and preened it would not be her style but surely something like her hairstyle from the BD premiere could be done here.

Everyone else seemed to think that Karolina Kurkova looked uh-mazing, but I really think Rachel Zoe was given too much creative control with a roll of tin foil. The turban Kurkova sported was an almost spit of Kate Moss’ Marc Jacob’s ’09 MET Gala outfit, and if Zoe had just left it off I would have let her get away with the standard gold sparkly dress that every designer has to make.

Karolina Kurkova in Rachel Zoe at the MET Gala 2012

It’s easy to pick apart the looks you don’t like, it always is but when it comes to those jaw-dropping dresses there can only really ever be one that just made you wish you could wear that dress. That’s the only way I can pick which celeb knocked it out of the park…. Or maybe there will have to be a three-way tie…

For me Beyonce’s Givenchy Couture gown was a jaw-dropper, that train, the sheerness, and her post-baby body, but when you think about it as stunning as she looks she has worn just as risque outfits on stage. So to me this is a normal look for B, in fact I think I prefer her Emilio Pucci from last year’s MET Gala.

Beyonce Knowles in Givenchy Couture at the MET Gala 2012

Someone who never fails to look smokin’ hot is the ever sexy Rihanna, her Tom Ford dress fit like a second (snake)skin. It was on par with her black lace Stella McCartney look from last year, still with the crazy hair but a little more toned down, despite the one inch talons adorning her hands.

Rihanna in Tom Ford at the MET Gala 2012

Now my number one Style Crush let me down a little on the night, after her showstopper Jason Wu number last year, Diane Kruger rocked up in a purple Prada number. Not the usual high glamour she goes for on the red carpet, in fact it was a little dressed down. The skirt half was gorgeous but the top half was a little on the slouchy vest side, not something I would expect from such a first class dresser, still I can’t bring myself to say I hate it…

Diane Kruger in Prada at the MET Gala 2012

Two very different women, two very different dresses, one designer. Cate Blanchett and Florence Welch were both guests of Sarah Burton, they both wore Alexander McQueen gowns, one I adored the other was a little extreme but to be fair suited the wearer’s personality down to the ground… Can you guess which I liked?

Florence Welch and Cate Blanchett with Sarah Burton in Alexander McQueen at the MET Gala 2012

Yup you guessed it… Cate Blanchett!

Cate Blanchett in Alexander McQueen at the MET Gala 2012

One of my main contenders for Best Dressed was, surprisingly enough, Gwyneth Paltrow, going for a shorter length than her fellow attendees, she wore a Prada dress with embellished pockets. I really like the shape of the dress and if I had a body like that at 39 I would be proud of it too. The hair and make up along with those earrings really top off a fantastic look from Gywnnie, almost harks back to that Balmain dress at the Iron Man premiere in 2008.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Prada at the MET Gala 2012

I loved Kate Bosworth’s Prada look. Yes I said it I loved what Kate was wearing, the dark ombre feathered dress, the Miu Miu shoes the flawless make up and the slicked back hair. I want it all, I want it all NOW!

Kate Bosworth in Prada at the MET Gala 2012

It was nearly a draw with Kate, but I think Camilla Belle just pipped her to the post in her Ralph Lauren silver fluid gown. The fact she went full length adds even more glamour, both had similar make up looks – it seems that wine coloured lips were the majah look of the night – and Camilla’s hair just topped off that old Hollywood glamour that I adore so much.

Camilla Belle in Ralph Lauren at the MET Gala 2012

Here are the best of the rest from the MET Gala 2012:

Lana Del Ray in Altuzarra, Fashion Critic over at Red Carpet Fashion Awards made the genius comparison of Lana being the Bad Witch to Gwyneth Paltrow’ Good Witch at the Oscars this year.

Ginnifer Goodwin in Monique Lhullier. I really love this look, the colour suits Ginnifer down to the ground and her pixie cut is as perfect as ever.

Bianca Brandolini D’Adda looks verrrry gold in Dolce & Gabbana the epitome of their label really. I kinda like it on the Italian socialite, glitz and glam in the most obvious way.

Nina Dobrev in custom-made Donna Karan. Nina knows how to do the red carpet, ever since she wore that red Donna Karan at the Emmy’s this was a match made in heaven.

Victoria Justice in McQ by Alexander McQueen. The young star dresses her age in a beautiful McQ dress, the colour explosion and the puff ball skirt make a really great look.

Solange Knowles in Rachel Roy. Amazing colour.

Emma Stone in Lanvin. I enjoyed this look, but Emma can do sooo much better than this.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Burberry. We get it R H-W has the perfect body, but this look really bores the hell out of me even if I do love the make up.

The best from Coachella

Posted in Celebrity, Diane and Josh, Fashion, Music by

It seems like everybody went to Coachella at some point over the both weekends it was on, and once again I was not one of them.

This festival is one of the first in the summer (nearly) season, albeit in the US but still it’s as much of a fashion show as it is about the music. Plenty of trends were a-popping but the main style staple were denim cutoffs, in every kinda style.

Something so easy to copy and denim is a fantastic material to customise, I already have mine ready for Leeds Fest 2012 in August:

The studs are actually gold which for some reason doesn't show in this! (Originally from Topshop)

Back to the celebs at Coachella, my ultimate favorite look from the festival has to go to Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Those gams. That hair. And that body. She looked flawless in a pair of Christopher Kane embellished shorts and a simple white J Brand shirt open to reveal a bikini top, Givenchy boots finished off this great twist on casual dressing.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley at Coachella

Kate Bosworth has never been a firm favourite of mine, but her Isabel Marant cowboy shirt had to be hands down the best thing I saw. I will definitely be hunting out a western inspired lightweight shirt for this summmer. She is a great day dresser, minus a couple of accessories you can never go wrong with Isabel Marant Dicker boots though… I will own a pair one day!

Kate Bosworth at Coachella

Another sight that made me smile with glee was the sight of my favourite ever couple Diane Kruger and Josh Jackson. They love Coachella and were spotted there last year with another cool couple Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder. Thank god they were there again this year, after rumours buzzed about on the internet the other week that the couple had split I started to worry but lo and behold they are back and look as in love as ever!

The gang back together at Coachella this year, Josh Jackson, Nina Dobrev, Diane Kruger and Ian Somerhalder. Yey.

Diane and Josh back together. Diane is wearing a Stella McCartney Palm Print Dress, £170 and those Dicker boots.

Rihanna was there at the festival to perform with Calvin Harris, she jumped off stage to sing with her BFF Katy Perry who was in the crowd. The one time she can get away with a cropped bra top has to be at a festival, and this PEACE top and a Chanel bomber jacket paired with the best studded denim cutoffs I have seen, looked fit.

Rihanna at Coachella.

Oh and I can’t post about Coachella without mentioning Joe Maganiello. Shirtless. Dreamy.

Joe Maganiello. Shirtless at Coachella.

Other majah celebs in attendance were Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, not worth a picture because they looked like homeless people. Katy Perry of course was there with her rumoured new beau Robert Ackroyd of Florence + the Machine, wonder if she will ever get that tattoo the same as Russell’s covered up? Emma Watson with her new boyf, lacking in good hair (poor pixie crop). Gerard Butler, Alexander Skarsgaard, Emma Roberts with on again boyf Chord Overstreet, Dita Von Teese with Hurts frontman boyf, Zoe Kravitz and Penn Badgley looking like the 90′s barfed on them and various others.

The Costume Institute Gala 2011: Alexander McQueen “Savage Beauty”

Posted in Art, Beauty, Celebrity, Diane and Josh, Fashion, Hair, Lists, Models, Music, Musings, Style, Style Crush, Topshop by

The annual Costume Institute Gala’s MET Ball is fashion’s biggest extravaganza, this year it was in tribute to the late Alexander McQueen and there were plenty of guests in attendance who had some way over his illustrous career crossed paths, become great friends, walked in one of his shows or admired him from a distance.

The “Savage Beauty” exhibition is exquisite, I spent a fair amount of time going through the pieces on the MET Museum blog, the pictures, the video and the accompanying narrative from his close friends and colleagues play the part in it being pretty unique. I haven’t always paid close attention to Alexander McQueen and fashion for that matter only picking up my addiction in the past couple of years, so I feel I’ve missed out on some amazing shows such as “It’s Only a Game”, “VOSS” and “Widows of Culloden”. I advise you take a look they are things of beauty.

Those in attendance of 2011′s MET Ball had to pull out the stops to be the one most talked about, the dress that was most desired and the look of the night. And what a night it was for our very own British designer Stella McCartney, I’ve counted EIGHT women wearing her designs, that must be some kind of an achievement for any designer let alone a Brit. Stella is known for making dresses for women, perfectly sculpted, figure-hugging, or fiercely bright and statement-making. Every celebrity looked amazing in her gowns and for Iman a gold lame jumpsuit (she is Iman of course she can do what she wants).

Eva Mendes - although I like the colour and 70's style of the dress I'm still hoping Eva will return to her sexy roots rather than all the loose dresses she's been wearing recently. Rihanna - looks drop dead hot exactly as expected, the nude slash on the opposite side of the dress exposes just enough without been slutty. Her hair would have been amazing plaited without the long piece on the end.

Hailee Steinfield - I must say this is one of my favourites of the night, unexpectedly because it is understated glamour at its best. Capped sleeves and fitted bodice, works beautifully with the mini/maxi skirt. Iman - who cares, that crazy hair and the gold lame is what she's about.

Naomi Watts - simple column dress, with sheer sleeves is a sharp contrast to what Thandie Newton is wearing. Both stunning in equal ways, but Thandie pips Naomi to the post with the scallop lac detailing and sheer skirt. Sexy.

Amber Valletta - a classic Stella dress, the simple column skirt keeps the attention focused primarily on the detailed bodice, her pulled back hair and massive earrings add sultry glamour. Gwyneth Paltrow - we know that Gwynnie is bessie's with Stella so of course she would wear the designer, but even though the dress is gorgeous and I would kill for it, Gwyneth makes it dull and boring. This is her go to look, where are her pins from the Balmain dress a couple of years ago?

There were only a select few to actually wear McQueen, those I expected like Sarah Jessica Parker, Sarah Burton, Daphne Guinness, Naomi Campbell and Anna Dello Russo, as well as Gisele and Coco Rocha. Daphne Guinness actually got dressed in the window of Barneys department store, strange but true you can see the delightful video here. She wore an amazing feathered McQueen creation, probably out of her own very extensive private collection, it captured Guinness perfectly.

Sarah Jessica Parker truly stunned me in her McQueen gown, normally she is a quirky dresser, there’s always something added that makes it that little bit odd but her dress was beautiful. I’m not entirely familiar with Sarah Burton’s style, so her white floaty dress was probably well chosen and not too extreme.

I adore Anna Dello Russo’s outfit, perfectly fitted trousers, gold embroidery detail, crisp white shirt and cropped jacket, not a dress but so ADR. Apparently Naomi Campbell decided to chose the dress with the most fringing anybody ever saw and let it drown her, not to mention the awful hair, whoever did that should be fired.

Gisele looked lovely in her red gown, but it wasn’t outstanding for someone with a body as gorgeous as that. And the only saving grace on Coco Rocha’s black grecian-style dress are the feather’s adorned on the hip, a perfect touch to an otherwise simple dress.

Daphne Guinness

Sarah Jessica Parker

Anna Dello Russo

Naomi Campbell

Gisele Bundchen

Coco Rocha

Next up are my favourite people, Blake Lively, Beyonce and Diane Kruger. Each have their own unique style, Blake and Diane, if you read my blog enough you will know, are my style crushes so I was impressed that Diane returned to Jason Wu as she always looks gorgeous in his dresses. The thigh slit oozes sex but with the full length sleeves adds the classic glamour that Diane does so well and with the perfect Josh accessory on her arm she was never going to fail. Blake had Karl Lagerfeld as her accessory, and what else would she be dressed in other than Chanel? But the dress she turned up in wasn’t what I expected at all. Blake tends to stick to a pattern, mini and tight, boobs and tight, long and more than likely tight-ish, it works for her she has a killer body and it gets her noticed as always. You can see her style peeking through on one half of the dress and then a massive sash covers her other half, its different and I suppose sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone and that’s exactly what Blake has done and she pulls it off with aplomb.

Diane Kruger and Josh Jackson

Blake Lively

Hey B what’s that you can’t move? Beyonce rocked up in skintight Emilio Pucci, showing off her fantastic figure. She struggled to climb the stairs into the venue and even got booed when she didn’t stand and stop for waiting photographers. Who cares about them when you look that gorgeous, I think the keyhole over the breasts wasn’t needed as the dress really spoke for itself.

Beyonce

Kudos goes to Ginnifer Goodwin for shunning a designer dress and opting for custom made Topshop gown, what a coop for them. Her green dress is killer, love it, the cutout the full length brilliant choice. Jessica Szhor also chose Topshop from their Unique range which according to their Inside Out blog will be available in stores in September!

Ginnifer Goodwin and Jessica Szhor

Favourites of the night go to Christina Ricci in Zac Posen, Karlie Kloss looking majah 90′s in Dior, Brooklyn Decker in neon pink Calvin Klein, Liv Tyler in Givenchy Couture, (you’re going to hear lots about her soo)n Oh Land in 3.1 Philip Lim.

Christina Ricci and Karlie Kloss

Brooklyn Decker and Liv Tyler

Oh Land

Aged 22.

Posted in Celebrity, Models, Musings, Life, Music, Magazine, Boy Crush, Sexy, Fashion by

I am 22 in less than an hour. So I thought I’d make a list of celebrities that are also the same age as me, just to make me feel better.

Blake Lively in Vogue

Evan Rachel Wood

Jesus Luz

Lily Cole in Vogue

Rihanna in GQ

Zac Efron in GQ

Black hair sucks

Posted in Celebrity, Hair, Life, Style by

I was watching The Graham Norton Show the other week and Chris Rock and the lovely Josh Jackson were guests.

It was just really funny, and although I’m not a big fan of Chris Rock he did come out with a few funny one-liners and Josh Jackson was a dab hand at the comedy too.

Chris Rock was there promoting his new movies Death at a Funeral and Good Hair, the latter being the one that I wanted to mention.

It’s more of a documentary film about the massive business that is the black hair industry, he visits salons in the US and witnesses hair competitions and the like. The clip Graham Norton showed was just typical of how much weaves and hair pieces cost, as he asks one hair dresser when he picks up a particularly unappealing hair piece and she replies that it would cost around $1000 and that most women would pay the prices.

Even if they didn’t even earn that sort of money, most black women it seemed in the clip would put the needs of their hair above everything else.

There’s an article on the Guardian website by Hugh Muir where he gives us some facts and figures, pointing out that, “Black women, according to researchers Mintel, are willing to spend at least double the amount on hair and beauty products that white women do. In the eight years to 2002, the market for black female beauty products grew by 48%.”

The pressure for black women to look like their white counterparts is enormous, and I’m hegding my bets in saying black celebrities are to blame for this. Yes, Beyonce, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Gabrielle Union, Rihanna, you all wear weaves have the best hairdressers that money can buy so that you can have your hair perfectly straight with smooth waves to make it look ‘natural’. Tyra Banks may have given up her many years of wearing weaves but she still has straight hair!

I must say I have spent ALOT of money making my hair straight, and once you do that there is no possible way for it to go back to its afro roots, literally. The chemicals that I use force your follicles unnaturally straight and the only way I could probably go back is to shave my head, and I can tell you I’ve come close a couple of times but I cherish my hair too much.

There’s a comment on that article that makes me laugh from someone called “Nishville”:

“I don’t get it. Why do black people do anything with their hair at all? I’d kill dolphins for a hair like that. See, I like to have my hair long but it doesn’t look very good because my hair is of that particular thin, weak honky variant that just looks like seaweed when long.

If I had a black hair, I’d just let it grow, baby.”

Yeah people who say this are without a shadow of a doubt WHITE. The amount of people that used to say to me oh I would kill to have your hair have no idea how much it takes for it to look remotely normal, so for you Nishville please just be happy with the hair that you have and that goes for everyone out there. We all have bad hair days but take a moment and think about how much you prefer your hair straight to afro and then stop complaining.