Showing posts with label red carpet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label red carpet. Show all posts

Red Carpet To Real Life: Carey Mulligan's Balenciaga Gown

March 18, 2024

Carey Mulligan Balenciaga Dress

When Carey Mulligan stepped onto the Oscars red carpet, she instantly skyrocketed to the top of Best Dressed lists with her classic look. She wore an elegant black and white Balenciaga dress that was a recreation of a 1951 design. It was a fitting reference back to the era of her Maestro performance (for which she was nominated) and celebrated the simple glamour of 1950s Hollywood.


Many of you agreed with me on social media that Mulligan's was one of the best looks of the evening, so imagine my delight when, while scrolling through Revolve's new arrivals, I came across this dress that looked like its modern-day, cocktail party counterpart:


While I would not necessarily call this AKNVAS x REVOLVE dress a "look for less" (it is currently listed at $695) it is no doubt considerably cheaper than a custom Balenciaga creation, and certainly more wearable for a wider swath of events. If you are on the hunt for a fun black-and-white party dress, why not channel Ms. Mulligan and take this dress out for a spin?

The Best And Worst Dresses Of The Oscars

March 15, 2024

The 2024 awards season has finally come to a close, Oppenheimer took home the big trophies, and the Hollywood Blvd. In-N-Out has been overrun with Paul Giamatti and plenty of other well-dressed celebs hankering for a late-night burger after months of squeezing into tuxes and gowns. And speaking of gowns...


We must talk about the gowns. There were good gowns, bad gowns, boring gowns, and even a pair of pants that looked like a gown! So let's break down my favorite looks and the ones that disappointed on the Oscars red carpet.


Best Dressed

Worst Dressed

The 2017 Met Gala Red Carpet

May 3, 2017

Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between


When this year's Met Costume Institute exhibition theme was announced, I was ecstatic. Rei Kawakubo, the iconic Comme des Garçons designer, is one of the most innovative minds in fashion, and her avant-garde styles rarely get the red carpet moments they deserve. To put it plainly, Comme des Garçons is not for the faint of heart, with wild shapes and dramatic silhouettes that few have the confidence to pull off. But surely the red carpet set at the Met Gala would be game?

The 2017 Oscars Red Carpet

February 27, 2017

Mahershala Ali, Emma Stone, and Viola Davis pose with their Oscars (I'm not missing anyone from this photo, am I...?)

It's Hollywood's biggest night!


What was shaping up to be a pretty run-of-the-mill Oscars ceremony became so much more in the final moments, when one of the La La Land producers (on stage, accepting the award for Best Picture) paused and said, "JK, this award is supposed to go to Moonlight!" (I'm paraphrasing but you get it). At first I wondered if this was a consolation acknowledgement, in the vein of Adele's nod to Beyonce at the Grammys, but no, the La La Land guy held up the winning envelope to the camera and, lo and behold, it read Moonlight.

Wild. 

My 2017 Oscars Red Carpet Predictions

February 24, 2017

Alicia Vikander at last year's ceremony via Zimbio

What will the nominees wear?


The biggest night in Hollywood is almost here! I've already filled out my ballot with my guesses on who will take home the big awards (get ready to hear La La Land a lot) but now it's time to turn my attention to the red carpet!

74th Golden Globes Red Carpet Review

January 9, 2017

Golden Globe winners Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone

A golden night in La La Land


La La Land dazzled. The Night Manager surprised. Moonlight prevailed. The 74th Golden Globes were full of both expected wins and true surprises, making for an exciting night where anything could happen. As anticipated, La La Land won over the Hollywood Foreign Press Association the same way it did audiences, earning a record 7 wins at the Globes last night.

The 2016 Emmys Red Carpet

September 19, 2016

Queen of Comedy Julia Louis Dreyfus with her 2 Emmy wins Sunday night via LA Times

Is Emmys fashion better than the Oscars?


A bold question, perhaps, but hear me out: we are in Peak TV mode, where the quality (and quantity) of television has hit an all-time high. Game of Thrones is on par, technically and story-wise, with the most epic of film series. Transparent, Master of None, and Orange is the New Black are dealing with issues of racial and gender diversity in a way that the film industry has been slow to do (#OscarsSoWhite ring a bell?). The People v. O.J. Simpson: An American Crime Story gave viewers the chance to reconsider their stances on characters made popular by the media twenty years prior, and confronted the myth of "reality" television and media construction head-on.

Style Crush | Zendaya

June 20, 2016


She's just so cool!


Teens these days. Thanks to social media, they're way more connected than ever, learning how to contour and find the latest fashion trends before they learn trigonometry. I've been a fashion lover for a long time, but let's be honest, I had an awkward stage that really only ended once I got to college and learned the importance of eyebrow maintenance (tbh I've still never shaped them, but I do fill them in bc otherwise they're so translucent and blonde that it looks like I don't have eyebrows at all! It's the worst). Anyways, teens are so cool these days, and Zendaya is probably one of the coolest.

You know her from Disney and her burgeoning music career as well as that one time Giuliana Rancic controversially called out her dreadlocks at the Oscars (let Zendaya do what she wants, G!), and she's one style star you should be watching. At 19, Zendaya is having plenty of fun with fashion as she experiments with different styles and trends, and I love when younger celebrities enjoy fashion and try different things instead of dressing like they wish they were 30.

Aside from her killer fashion sense, Zendaya is a poised and elegant young woman who speaks up about important issues, and she just seems like a lovely girl! Anyways, I wanted to share some of my favorite outfits that Zendaya has worn recently!

Check out some of Zendaya's best looks:

WEARING Emanuel Ungaro | Louis Vuitton | Black jumpsuit | Michael Kors | Canadian tuxedo
WEARING Emanuel Ungaro | Grey dress and thigh-high boots | Rosie Assoulin | Leopard coat | Sweater dress

What do you think of Zendaya's style?

Blake Lively for Queen of Cannes

May 16, 2016


Blake Lively is putting everyone else's red carpet looks to shame.

Yeah, I'm a little bit biased because Blake Lively is one of my personal favorites, but seriously though, each one of Lively's outfits at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival has been incredible. From casual photocall outfits to the epitome of red carpet glamour, Serena van Der Woodsen is proving yet again that she is the Queen of Cannes.

I love how Blake is able to combine high fashion with her laid-back California girl style. She's also used the past week to prove that maternity style doesn't mean abandoning form fitting dresses or sex appeal. I mean, she's wearing Versace Atelier, for goodness' sake! That's not for the faint of heart! Anyways, Blake is killing the game and is teaching us all a lesson in how to dress to impress. Check out her best looks from Cannes so far:

See Blake's Cannes Style:

In Chanel Haute Couture coat and purse and Christian Louboutin shoes
In Salvatore Ferragamo coat and Christian Louboutin shoes
In Giambattista Valli Haute Couture dress, Christian Louboutin shoes, and Roger Vivier clutch
In Valentino dress and Jimmy Choo shoes
In Juan Carlos Obando
In Vivienne Westwood Couture
In Versace
In Versace

 What do you think of Blake Lively's Cannes style?

Let's Talk About Taylor Swift's New Look

May 6, 2016

The New Taylor Swift wearing Louis Vuitton at the Met Gala

You may have noticed something different about Taylor Swift.

It began early this year, at the Grammys, when she unveiled a new, shorter hairstyle. Many people joked about how similar it looked to Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour's iconic bob, not knowing just how much influence Wintour had on Swift's evolving look.

Anna, is that you? Taylor Swift at the Grammys (left) and the Vanity Fair Oscar Party (right)
The new 'do was a point of conversation, but it wasn't too drastic. Just a more mature take on Swift's typically preppy style.

Then, Coachella happened:
The new new 'do via Taylor Swift's Instagram
The blonde bob was now platinum, and suddenly the crowd went wild. So wild, that no one realized the jacket was a hint for beau Calvin Harris's new song with Rihanna. Swift, so long a champion of the dirty blonde girls of the world, was now making her look even edgier.

Was it just for Coachella? Was it for her Vogue photo shoot only? It kind of felt like a stunt hairdo, or maybe it could even be a wig, but the past few weeks have proven that the hair—and the edgier style that such a hairdo inevitably brings along with it—is staying.

Here are a few of her most recent street style looks:

Recent street style looks of Swift's (notice the many shades of black)
As you can see, T-Swizzle has gone from modern day Jackie Kennedy to a less annoying Jenny Humphrey, and it's taken a bit of getting used to. I still can't decide what I think about her edgy makeover.

On the one hand, I'm excited that Taylor is experimenting with her style and trying out new things. the 20s are the time to test out different looks and see what makes you feel comfortable and confident. I'm all for outfit experimentation, and Swift has taken this part of her 20s very seriously.

On the other, I really enjoyed her preppy style. It felt like a breath of fresh air set against the Jenners and Hadids of the world, all of whom are pushing the same overdone style, and now Taylor is adopting more and more of these trends. From choker necklaces to sultry dresses, it feels like she's becoming part of a crowd instead of standing out on her own. She's been wearing Vetements, for goodness sake!

Basically, if Taylor Swift is just testing out new styles and having fun, I'm all for it. I just don't want to see her lose her individual sense of style to the trends of Instagram.

What are your thoughts on Taylor Swift's style makeover?

88th Academy Awards Red Carpet Review

February 29, 2016

Brie Larson, Leonardo Dicaprio, and Alicia Vikander posing with their Oscar statues
Well, the curse has been lifted. After twenty-two years and six nominations, Leonardo Dicaprio has finally won an Oscar for his lead role in The Revenant. In other news, Spotlight took home the top honor, Brie Larson and Alicia Vikander won for lead and supporting actress, respectively, and Mad Max proved it was a technical feat with six wins.

The 88th Academy Awards were a fun but politically minded affair, with Chris Rock driving home the importance of diversity in film and Lady Gaga delivering an incredibly powerful performance of her song "Til It Happens to You" from The Hunting Ground, a documentary about on-campus sexual assault. Leo stressed the importance of environmental awareness during his misty-eyed acceptance speech. Even Vice President Joe Biden was there! All in all, an entertaining evening that also reminded viewers how something as trivial-seeming as Hollywood has the power to influence politics and opinions.

But let's get to the clothes, shall we?

As usual, Hollywood's biggest and brightest turned up for the red carpet, dressed in couture and drowning in diamonds. I was delighted with the dresses we saw because celebrities weren't afraid to experiment with color, texture, and shape; in other words, it wasn't boring! (Last year's red carpet, if you'll remember, left something to be desired) The fashion risks paid off for the most part, and even the looks that weren't my favorites were not horrible.

Here were the biggest trends and most exciting moments from the red carpet:

Trending: Red & White

BOLD REDS AND SOFT WHITES RULED THE CARPET: Priyanka Chopra in Zuhair Murad | Olivia Munn in Stella McCartney | Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell | Charlize Theron in Dior Haute Couture | Olivia Wilde in Valentino Haute Couture
While there were plenty of gorgeous colors on the red carpet, the two most popular colors of the evening were red and white. Olivia Munn and Charlize Theron stunned in bright red gowns, letting the bold color do the talking, while Priyanka Chopra, Lady Gaga, and Olivia Wilde rocked gorgeous white dresses (well, technically Lady Gaga was wearing a jumpsuit).

Trending: Rey-Inspired Updos

Rooney Mara | Daisy Ridley
It seemed Daisy Ridley was channelling her Star Wars character, Rey, with her fun twisted updo. Elsewhere, Rooney Mara was also rocking a sleeker version of Rey's triple-bun hairdo, cementing the look as the second most iconic Star Wars hairdo yet (first place is reserved for Leia's classic buns, obvi). 

Trending: Stunning Sparkles

LEFT TO RIGHT FROM A HINT OF GLITTER TO FULL-ON SEQUINS: Julianne Moore in Chanel Haute Couture | Emily Blunt in Prada | Daisy Ridley in Chanel Haute Couture | Naomi Watts in Armani Privé | Margot Robbie in Tom Ford
You can always expect to see some serious bling on the red carpet, and this year was no exception. From bits of embellishment (Julianne Moore—wearing a Chanel dress I was considering for Cate Blanchett—and Emily Blunt) to head-to-toe glitter (Daisy Ridley, Naomi Watts, and Margot Robbie) these ladies stole the show. Naomi Watts' Armani Privé look in particular caught my eye. Supposedly her husband picked it out for her; talk about a man with good taste!

Supporting Actress Nominees

Rachel McAdams in August Getty Atelier | Jennifer Jason Leigh in Marchesa | Alicia Vikander in Louis Vuitton | Rooney Mara in Givenchy | Kate Winslet in Ralph Lauren
Alicia Vikander may have taken home the golden statue (and looking like a real-life Princess Belle while doing so), but I thought all the nominees for Supporting Actress looked like winners. I love that Rachel McAdams went for a more minimal dress in a striking emerald, and I adored Jennifer Jason Leigh's pink Marchesa gown. Kate Winslet went with a black dress as expected, but I like that she mixed it up with a really cool texture. Rooney Mara looked good, if not also a bit predictable. I'd like to see her get out of the white Givenchy dresses for once, since it's a look we've seen several times before, but I guess it works for her!

Lead Actress Nominees

Cate Blanchett in Armani Privé | Saoirse Ronan in Calvin Klein Collection | Brie Larson in Gucci | Jennifer Lawrence in Dior Haute Couture | Charlotte Rampling in Armani Privé
Brie Larson won for Best Actress in a Lead Role, but her Gucci dress has me on the fence. The color is beautiful but made her skin look orange on television, and I agree that the ruffles and beaded belt are a bit too suburban prom for me. At least it's better than Jennifer Lawrence's Dior Haute Couture gown, which was too heavy on her and just generally not exciting (I would have prefered the tea-length runway version, actually). Saoirse Ronan and Cate Blanchett both dazzled in green gowns, and Charlotte Rampling looked absolutely elegant in Armani Privé. 

Best Dressed

Jacob Tremblay in Armani
Seriously, this kid has more swag than most people will ever attain in their lives, and he's only nine. And he's wearing Armani. To the Oscars. Also, did you see his face when C3PO, R2D2, and BB-8 came on stage? Too precious. Leo may have won the Oscar, but Jacob Tremblay was the true star of the night. 

Daisy Ridley in Chanel Haute Couture | Cate Blanchett in Armani Privé | Naomi Watts in Armani Privé
I absolutely adored all these looks and counted them among my favorites, but my top pick would have to be...

Academy Award winner (!!!) Alicia Vikander in Louis Vuitton
Alicia Vikander was simply the Belle of the Ball (pun intended) in her yellow Louis Vuitton dress (hey, I called it that she'd be wearing yellow!). Between the dress—note to self: the bubble hem is making a comeback—the earrings, and the fun yet laid-back hair, Vikander was one of the first looks I saw in the evening and made a lasting impression. 

What were your favorite red carpet looks? Tell me in the comments!

My 2016 Oscars Red Carpet Predictions

February 26, 2016

Who will win the big prize? And more importantly, who will be the best dressed?
I could write a whole article on why Brie Larson will be taking home a little golden man for her role in Room or lament the impending death of "Leo doesn't have an Oscar" jokes (as much as I hate to say it, dude's probably going to finally win an Oscar for The Revenant) but come on, do you really think the awards are the most important part of the Oscars? 

Here at the Fashion Barbie, it's all about the red carpet, so in preparation for an exciting weekend of couture and custom gowns worn by the leading ladies of Hollywood, I'm sharing my predictions (and hopeless wishes) for what the nominees will be wearing.

Keep reading to see my picks!

Alicia Vikander

Alexis Mabille | Reem Acra
Alicia Vikander is a stunning actress and total fashionista. Ever since Ex Machina's press tour she's been wowing the public with her Louis Vuitton looks and restrained glamour. I would love to see Vikander embrace the spotlight with a shimmering sequin Alexis Mabille gown in oceanic blue or a Grecian yellow silk dress. Each one has just the right amount of bling to make a statement, but not be overpowering. Plus, Vikander is one of the few people on the planet who could pull off that color yellow.

Brie Larson

Carolina Herrera | Naeem Khan
Brie Larson is almost guaranteed to win an Oscar on Sunday, so girl's gotta bring her A-game. Luckily, Larson is another up-and-coming style star, so securing a gorgeous gown won't be an issue. If I were her, I'd have my eye on the gorgeous royal purple Carolina Herrera dress for a modern look, but the white and gold Naeem Khan gown will look stunning as well. I just love the Carolina Herrera dress since it's simple and laid-back in shape, but absolutely breathtaking in details. No matter what, Larson is going to look radiant!

Cate Blanchett

Alexis Mabille | Alexander McQueen
Queen Kate can do no style wrong, so why not go for it with the crazy tattoo-embroidery dress from Sarah Burton's Alexander McQueen? Seriously, she would look like a badass Renaissance royal/witch, and I would be all about it. Sure, the masses may not ~understand~ it, but Cate is on a whole other level and the fashion crowd would totally fawn over it.

But, if Cate has to wear a more universally-appealing dress, Alexis Mabille has just the thing: a simple blue gown with a trailing train and lace back. It's the kind of sophistication that Blanchett exudes, and I'd be just as happy to see her in a lovely dress like this on the red carpet.

Charlotte Rampling

Carolina Herrera | Jenny Packham
As the oldest nominee among the women this year, Charlotte Rampling is bringing her years of style experience to Hollywood's biggest night. I think an elegant cream Carolina Herrera gown or deep red Jenny Packham dress would look lovely on her. Pair with statement earrings and you've got yourself a classic look.

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Andrew Gn | Derek Lam
To be honest, I don't know that much about Jennifer Jason Leigh's red carpet style, but if her most recent appearances are any indication, I think she could really pull off the one-shoulder Andrew Gn dress with sweet floral detailing or this fun black and white Derek Lam dress.

Jennifer Lawrence

Ralph Lauren | Christian Dior
Oh, J Law, what will we do with you? While I enjoyed what the design house had to offer for Dior Spring 2016 Couture, I was left wanting when it came to their eveningwear selection. As you all probably know, Lawrence is still in contract with Dior, which means there is a 95% of her wearing the designer on Sunday. Granted, she'll probably don a custom creation, but if I had to pick, I'd love to see an altered version (think, a more dramatic skirt) of the sky blue dress on the right.

If Lawrence were to go with another designer, however, I think she could do wonders with this rich velvet Ralph Lauren dress. It's simple columnar shape works with Lawrence's figure, but it's the deep purple hue that will really take people's breathes away.

Kate Winslet

Naeem Khan | Marchesa
Kate Winslet tends to play it safe on the red carpet, so I would love to see her don a dramatic red a la this caped Naeem Khan dress. She would look totally breathtaking in that gorgeous color, and Kate in a cape? Yes, please. But if she opts for a less flashy look, this Marchesa dress with emerald beaded sleeves is a good compromise.

Rachel McAdams

Marchesa | Reem Acra
I can always count on Rachel McAdams for some much-needed princess gown action. When this brilliant red ruffled gown made its debut on the Marchesa runway a few weeks back, everyone was begging for it to make a red carpet appearance. McAdams could be the one to pull it off. I also like this gold and navy dress that looks like a radiant night sky. Either dress would make me happy!

Rooney Mara

Marchesa | Roksanda
Does Rooney Mara ever smile? That was the question I asked when trying to find a picture of her to use for this, and according to my vast research (10 minutes of browsing Google Images) the answer is no. But that's besides the point. Regardless of her facial expression, Mara knows how to rock a fairy princess dress and give it a punk rock edge, so I'd love to see her in this ethereal lavender dress from Marchesa. For a more vampy approach, this cool Roksanda dress could fit nicely, too, and would flatter Mara's lithe frame.

Also, because Mara has such a distinct style, I could also see her wearing any of the Rodarte gowns from the Fall 2016 collection or any of Gucci's kooky dresses.

Saoirse Ronan

Nina Ricci | Delpozo
Saoirse Ronan is only nine days older than me (!!!) so she should wear something sweet and youthful. I adore this fifties-style baby blue Nina Ricci dress; with the right jewels it could be a spectacular Cinderella moment dress. But I also think Ronan is the perfect girl to wear a Delpozo gown (seriously, more celebrities should be wearing Delpozo on the red carpet). I want Ronan to look like a 21st-century princess, and I can't wait to see what she wears.

Lady Gaga

Moschino
Lady Gaga is nominated for her work on the song "Til it Happens to You" from the documentary The Hunting Ground and I wasn't going to include her on my predictions list, but then I saw this Moschino dress and come on. Gaga HAS to wear this dress! It's a sophisticated version of her former days of fashion antics, and she would be WALKING AROUND WITH A CHANDELIER ATTACHED TO HER HIPS. Make this happen, people. If not because it would be the most talked-about red carpet look since Bjork's swan dress, then to see how one can possibly sit down in this. But yeah, #ChandelierDressForGaga2016. Get it trending.

Which designer dresses do you want to see on the red carpet? Let me know your predictions!

My Dream Oscars Look

February 24, 2016

I'm obsessed with red carpet fashion. If you've been following me for even a little bit, this isn't exactly a secret. So when I was asked what I would wear if I ever found myself on the Oscars red carpet, naturally I was excited!

We're going to assume that I've been nominated for my amazing lead acting role in a period piece with equally amazing costumes. In reality I'd have a higher chance of being nominated for best original screenplay, but unfortunately writers don't usually get to wear the big couture designers (please change this, Hollywood!), so let's just pretend I'm a famous actress so I can wear the best gown!


What I'd Wear

Reem Acra Pre-Fall 2016 Gown
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley | Pink Lip | Jemma Wynne necklace
I'm absolutely in love with this Reem Acra gown from the 2016 pre-fall collection. While it's a simple shape, the bold pink floral embroidery and sequin detailing makes this dress a standout piece. It's pretty enough to please the Fashion Police-watching crowd, but daring enough to be memorable; if I'm going on the red carpet on the biggest night in Hollywood, I'm going to make a statement! And of course, a Fashion Barbie's gotta wear pink!

To keep focus on the eye-catching gown. I'd keep my hair simple and sleek with soft, glamorous curls à la Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and my makeup would be minimal too, but with a punchy pink lip to compliment the dress. I'd wear a simple necklace like this Jemma Wynne one to highlight my collarbone without overpowering the look.


What My Date Would Wear

Midnight Blue Tuxedo from The Black Tux
My date's gotta have style, so he'd skip the traditional black tux for a cool navy one. I love that the deep blue would compliment the pinks and oranges of my dress, and plus, all the cool kids were wearing navy tuxedos last year

Also, ideally my date would be Michael B. Jordan and we would be the hot Hollywood It couple. Look how much fun we would have:

Sorry for blocking your face, Meryl Streep
But seriously, Oscars red carpet or elsewhere, I'm a big fan of the rental suits and tuxedos from The Black Tux. They're cool and modern and will make your date look amazing, which is very important for Instagram-able photos.

What would you wear on the Oscars red carpet? Let me know in the comments!