I wouldn't if I could... I think

Jessica Biel

Kiera Knightley

Leighton Meester

Some might say that these dresses look like something you’d find in your dead great-grandmothers attic. Something smelling of cat pee and covered in mothballs. If I found one of these Couture gowns (especially the Valentino) in my grandmother’s attic I think I’d die  - No, not of grossness, but of fabulousness. Maybe that is how my great-grandmother died?

I am not sure if these gowns are on my favorite dresses of all time list, but they are all stunning. Kiera Knightley received mostly rave reviews for her Valentino gown she wore to the Venice Film festival last year. People were astonished by her ability to look gorgeous all the while not showing an inch of skin. And truth be told she looked majestic.

Jessica Biel was not greeted with the same enthusiasm for her look a like Elie Saab gown. Is it because it was after Knightley had already rocked the look? Or was it not matronly enough; or not sexy enough? The sheer lace and champagne color made the dress seem light and airy, and her tousled hair was a nice laid back touch and quite the opposite of Knightley’s stern bun. I though Biel looked great, she didn’t look tutty-fruity, but like a serious actress attending an award show.

What completely went by my fashion radar was Leighton Meester’s 2011 Burberry Golden Globe gown. Painfully similar to Biel’s gown and just a tad more wearable than Knightley’s Valentino gown.

Is this going to be a new trend, nude fully covered gowns? I don’t think so. I am not even sure I’d wear one. But this is why fashion is such harmless fun: seeing rich, famous, beautiful people look better than you ever will in clothes you could never afford. But what is even more fun is watching rich, famous, beautiful people looking horrible in ugly clothes you could never afford, but even if you could – you wouldn’t.

G is for bark...

Inspiration?

Usher

Rhiana

Kanye West

Liv Tyler

... no it isn't. G is for Givenchy. Designed by Riccardo Tisci this rottweiler t - shirt has doned the back of everyone from Kanye to Liv. Causing several high end retailers to re-order shipments of this edgy tee. Retailing at $265 this is no impulse buy for the regular consumer, yet it is sold out.

Debuting in the fall 2011 collection I have seen this t- shirt in many magazines and on many celebrities. Now, what makes this 100% cotton t-shirt so special? Who cares - it is cool, and I can think of 15 different ways to wear it. I know I want one. Am I jumping on the over-priced fashion label bandwagon? So sue me - I'll be searching e- bay for an old sweat - stained one I might be able to afford. Hell, I might even get lucky and Old Navy will make a knock off. A girl can dream can't she?

Happiness is Award Season

Miley Cyrus in David Koma

Emma Stone in Gucci

Leah Michelle in Marchesa

Evan Rachel Wood in Valentino

Shailene Woods in Calvin Klein

Diane Kruger in Prada

Jessica Chastain in Balenciaga

Award season begins in January and ends in March with the Academy Awards. I love this time of year. Not because I am a film or actor enthusiast, but because I like looking at all the pretty dresses (and ugly ones). I get embarrassingly excited for the red carpet of all the award shows.

The first of the bigger award shows of the season was the People's Choice Awards - where I was disappointed with many of the fashion choices, but my judgmental side got a little treat. I did, however, love Miley Cyrus' look in David Koma. I was even okay with her neon Jimmy Choo stilettos. For  a young former Disney Channel star who may or may not be addicted to salvia I thought they were surprisingly appropriate. Leah Michelle was one of my favorites in Marchesa. I loved the flapper style of her gown and paired with her  glittery Choo heels and long hair it was perfection. And Emma Stone looked cool as always in a Gucci pant suit carrying a Tiffany clutch. Sigh.

A bigger treat for my eyes was the Critics Choice Award. I loved many of the dresses that were flaunted on the red carpet... or should I say grey? I am a big fan of sleek, clean and simple. I will choose class over sparkle any day. And that is exactly what I loved about Jessica Chastain's pink gown by Balenciaga. The dress looked amazing against her pale skin and red hair and the cut was flattering on her slim frame. Diane Kruger was a shoe in to be on my best dressed list just by the colors of her Prada gown. Yellow and grey has to be one of my favorite color combinations and the actual style of the dress wasn't bad either.

This is just the beginning. Tomorrow is the Golden Globes - where the stars of the small and big screen come together; and if the past shows are any evidence we will get to see a variation of gowns, cocktail dresses and some sexy pantsuits - ooo I can't wait!




Photos via Usmagazine.com 

The Illusion of Nude

Katy Perry

Betty Page (notice the stripe)

Pinup

Zooey Deschanel

Deschanel in nude fishnets

Sarah Jessica Parker 

Pippa Middelton

The Middelton sisters

Carla Bruni

Bruni in (gasp) tights and opened toed shoes

Grease

A difference I noticed almost immediately upon moving to Norway was the women’s ability and willingness to wear a pantyhose. Now, I credit this mainly to cold weather. Before I moved to Oslo, I never owned a pair of tights. I don’t think I even thought of them. Now I have a drawer full of them. I didn’t think much of it. It is cold in Oslo, especially during the winter, and it doesn’t really get cold in San Diego. It was as simple as that.

Then Kate and Pippa came onto the scene. And there was all this talk about tights and if they were a "back". I don't think in Oslo they ever left.  All of a sudden tights were the talk of the town and Zooey Deschanel was saying how tights are her "safety blanket". 

You know how you start thinking about tacos and all of a sudden tacos are everywhere? And you wonder whether you're just seeing tacos because you're thinking about them, or if the reason you're thinking about them is because there really are tacos everywhere? That's how I feel about pantyhose right now.

My grandmother told me a story about how she used to draw the straight line on the back of her legs so it looked like she was wearing tights. It was too embarrassing to go without. In Pictures of pinups and the ever so sexy Betty Page they are often wearing tights. So, when did this become a deal? A thing to be covered in countless blogs and magazines?

When I was around 13 I would watch Grease with my best friend Sarah. That was what we did - we would watch musicals and sing and swing dance. On one of these musical nights we had to pause and re-watch , pause and re-watch the clip I posted above. Sarah and I were so damn envious of the actresses' legs. When on about the 5th rewind we realized "Ohhhhh, they're wearing tights!" Why at that moment we didn't go to Target and buy a pair of nude tights beats me. Maybe it's because we were living in San Diego.

I have come to love panty hose, but yet, I am weary. White tights are a no go for me. Anything with horizontal lines: absolutely not; and nude pantyhose I am iffy on. They need to be the absolute right shade for my skin tone and the shine needs to be spot on. Not too much, yet not too little. I am no expert, and several kroners have gone wasted because I bought the wrong size, shade or shine. But when you have found the right pair of nude tights I believe they will make you look as fabulous as Kate Middleton. Just don't ever wear them with opened toed shoes. Yes, I know Carla Bruni is doing just that in a picture above. But she is French, and a model, and married to the president. She's allowed.

Jeffrey who?

To my shock and awe I found out that Jeffrey Campbell is a Californian. I could have sworn with his shoe design overtaking the streets of Oslo he had to at least, be European. This year (or I should say this last year. Happy, happy new year!) I have seen Oslo fashionistas of all shapes and sizes and various capability to walk in these high, high, heeled shoes all over town. 

With a price tag of 1300 nok or above (around a couple hundred dollars) and icy sidewalks I was surprised at the frequency of which I saw these designs. And these shoes do stick out. They are extremely unique in shape and design. I have not yet decided if I like these shoes. I know I will not be buying any. I am not brave enough to walk out and about on Oslo's cobblestone icy streets in one of Campbell's designs. I can see myself now: There I am running to catch the bus. There I am falling on the ground. There I am laying on the ground as the bus drives away. And there I am with a lot more than just a bruised ego.

I do admire his brave design, and color combination. The thick and different heel shapes are interesting and the different patterns and colors are exciting. I see glam rock sophistication. They have yet to win me over. But, I am sure they will, if not already, win over every fan of New York Dolls from Oslo to California.

Queen McCartney

Kate Hudson, Stella McCartney, Liv Tyler, and Kate Bosworth

Angelina Jolie

Gwyneth Paltrow

Stella McCartney for Target

Julia Roberts

Kate Winselt, Paltrow, and Hudson in Summer 2012 McCartney

Time after time I am impressed with pantsuits on the red carpet. And time after time they seem to be designed by Stella McCartney. Oh, does that name sound familiar? That is because she is the daughter of Sir Paul McCartney (of that band, The Beatles) and the late Linda McCartney. You try to hate these types of women, or these types of people: born privileged and then turn out to be immensely talented and kind.

Stella McCartney, like her mother, is an animal activist (which puts her on my list of favorite famous people by default). She does not use any animal products - like leather or products made from animals - like silk in her clothing line; she is a member of PETA, and has recently established Meat free Monday, where she encourages and supports meat eaters to go meatless one day a week. Something I fully support (which just makes me that more green with envy).

Not everyone is as enthralled with McCartney as I. The infamous Karl Lagerfeld voiced his opposition to her being named the head of Chloe. He has apparently said he wishes a more famous and distinguished design name be chosen, and not rock royalty. But the success of both Chloe and her own line have proven these words dismissible (if they were actually spoken - so much drama and rumor spreading in the fashion world).

The truth is, which is undeniable, is that McCartney makes wearable clothes. She seems to know the women's body extremely well. And so she should, since she has one! Her pantsuits are designed and tailored to perfection and her dresses accentuate all the right areas. The red and black dress Kate Winslet is wearing is part of McCartney's summer 2012 line - the black sides of the stunning red dress are brilliant. They seem to be literally creating Winslet's enviable shape. I have yet to wear an original Stella McCartney because of its hefty, high end design price tag, but I bet if I ever do get my hands on one it will make me look and feel sexy, confident and stunning. So, you better watch your back Ms.Winslet (or at least the clothes on it).