2016 Oscars Red Carpet Review....

This year, despite my best intentions, I did NOT watch a single movie nominated for best picture.  Our recent movie watching has been limited to Sunday nights with the kids: Hoosiers, Miracle, Glory Road, Seabiscuit, you get the idea.  We are sports-movie-fanatics around our house as of late.  So, unfortunately, I did not watch the full Academy Awards with the suspense over who would win best picture, as in prior years.  

Nevertheless, I always enjoy a good red carpet review!  I have to say, I did not LOVE a ton of the dresses this year.  Some of the actresses with consistently solid fashion choices were disappointing for me, including Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Garner, Kate Winslet, and Julianne Moore.  Also, no matter how fabulous the color or fabric may be, call me old-fashioned, but I simply cannot get on board with the asymmetrical hem (Alicia Vikander), excessive cleavage (Olivia Wilde, Charlize Theron), OR peek-a-boo transparency (Gwen Stefani, we know you are gorgeous w a rockin' bod, but you could leave a little more to the imagination!) 

In fact, to collect a Top 10 list, I had to go beyond the actual Oscars Red Carpet and dip into the Vanity Fair after-party pics.  

So, here goes my Top 10:

Cate Blanchett in Armani Prive - As usual, Cate knocks it out of the park in this
gorgeous pale aqua (please don't call it seafoam) feather-and-beaded-embellished-confection...
By far, my favorite gown of the evening.

Cate Blanchett in Armani Prive - How amazing is the back of this gown!

Margot Robbie in Tom Ford - Loved the gold statuesque silhouette of Margot's snakeskin gown...So flattering and stunning on her!  I also loved her natural relaxed hairstyle.  The deep v-neck is far more tasteful than some of the other u-shaped necklines, and is balanced by the long sleeves and overall coverage in the remainder of the dress.

Olivia Munn in Stella McCartney - I absolutely LOVE the chic simplicity of this bold orange one-shoulder gown.  Though not as embellished as your typical Oscars dress, it is a breath of fresh air in its clean lines and fun color.

Kate Bosworth in Ralph & Russo - I believe this was at the Vanity Fair after party, but I HAD TO INCLUDE this knockout of a dress. The beautiful full texture along the neckline and soft lilac color are both gorgeous on her!

Kate Bosworth in Ralph & Russo

Louise Roe in Christian Siriano - I am not so familiar with this actress, but I loved the unique, light, airy, and graceful flow of this gown.  I always appreciate when a designer includes an interesting detail such as this, with an otherwise boring strapless gown. The color is also a pretty compliment to her fair skin and brown hair.

Mindy Kaling in Elizabeth Kennedy - Have you read any of her books? Although I have not seen her as much on TV, I absolutely LOVE her writing. Hilarious. Real. Thoughtful....did I say HILARIOUS!?  I thought this black and cobalt gown was just beautiful on her.  So elegant and classic but with a modern, color-blocking twist.  Everything from her hair, to her makeup, to her accessories were perfect on her!

Naomi-Watts in Armani Prive - Although I did not LOVE the rainbow effect of the blue-indigo-violet gradation of color, the overall jewel tones, silhouette, and graphic beaded texture were stunning on her.  

Rachel McAdams in August Getty Atelier - As mentioned above, you know I am not a big fan of excessive showing of the skin. However, somehow Rachel McAdams pulls this one off WELL.  I think it comes down to balance. If you are going to have a plunging front or back, keep it simple and balance with rest with coverage.  Her gown accomplishes this with the high neck in front, and the deep emerald color is beautiful on her!

Selena Gomez in Louis Vuitton at the Vanity Fair after party - I am not too familiar with this young pop artist, but she looks adorable in this killer silver sequin disco ball of a dress. 

Selena Gomez in Louis Vuitton

Elizabeth Banks in Ralph & Russo at the Vanity Fair after party...Perhaps more bridal than Oscars!  I still love the beautiful lace top, elegant cape, and ivory color.  So pretty on her!

What were your favorites?  It is always fun to dish over the 'best' and 'worst' dressed on the Oscars red carpet! xoxo

2016 Golden Globes Red Carpet Review

Good morning ladies and gents! The ever anticipated Award Season is upon us.  The Golden Globes is always the more light-hearted, fun, and festive awards show...and I always enjoy a good red carpet review.  Yet for this 2016 edition, I have to say I am not as familiar with many of the movies and shows.  The only winner to which I can attest his stellar performance is Jon Hamm of Mad Men, whom I adore (woo-hoo!!!!!) Sadly, we just have not been to the theatre much this year, but I am hoping to squeeze in a few before the Academy Awards.  I especially would like to see Carol, Room, Spotlight, Joy, The Big Short, Trainwreck (I know, I have really been living under a rock), Steve Jobs, Concussion, The Martian, and The Revenant.  (See full list of winners below)....

In terms of fashion, it was a typical mix of hits and misses.  There were certainly some favorites, a few solid choices, and the inevitable less-than-desirable gowns...OK, here we go...

My Top 10 Favorite Gowns of the Evening....

I adore this Louis Vuitton ruffled (and subtly beaded/sequined) gown on Alicia Vikander.  It has a beautiful silhouette and graceful movement.

Amy Adams wows in this gorgeous orangey-red Atelier Versace tank gown.  Red is not always easy for red-heads to pull off, but this was smashing on her! I also loved the simple gown design with the interesting asymmetrical sequin detail...

Olivia Wilde looks amazing in this gorgeous burgundy Michael Kors sequin gown.  I don't always love the deep v-neck, but this dress fits her like a glove and is simply beautiful on her.  I also love her messy, effortless low pony-tail and elegant choker necklace.

Brie Larson kills it in this custom Calvin Klein number.  The midriff cutouts can be tricky to pull off but this gown was certainly made for her!

Helen Mirren is "sometimes-less-is-more" personified in this elegant Badgley Mischka black gown with a sheer neckline.  She always stuns in fashion that is both flattering and age appropriate.

I very well may be the ONLY person to like this, but here Jane Fonda proves that "sometimes-more-is-more"...Despite the reference to Spanish terracotta roof tiles, I LOVE the graphic, architectural design of this dress.  Definitely one of my favorites of the night!

Malin Ackerman in Reem Acra. Love the feminine silhouette of this silver peplum gown.  

This fun and flirty Delpozo gown seems to be very hit or miss for people, but I loved it.  I am typically not a fan of the asymmetrical hemline, but somehow it worked with this dress.  I also loved the cool, graphic, color-block design. Very modern and fun.

Amber Heard is stunning in this airy chiffon pink and red Gucci gown.  The floral detail is incredible and I love how it meanders down the back.  She also seems to pull off the retro hair style better than most... 

I am not sure Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is a real human being, nevertheless, she looked gorgeous in this gold Atelier Versace gown.  The color complemented her hair and skin tones without washing her out.

The next few were solid choice, runner-ups....

This sapphire blue Ralph Lauren gown is gorgeous on Kate Winslet,
but her too-fussy-retro hair was stiff and severe.  Plus, it seems she has worn this similar if not same look several times before?

LOVED this aqua blue Badgley Mischka gown on Queen Latifah.
The color and style were both so pretty and flattering on her!

Kate Bosworth is pretty in this feminine pink sequin Dolce & Gabbana column gown, but again, she appears stiff and uncomfortable....I hope she was able to loosen up and enjoy the evening!

Emmy Rossum's red Armani Prive gown fits her like a glove and the color is stunning on her...Yet, I did NOT love the seemingly outdated-yet-contemporary necklace design.

I am not going to jump on the Giuliana Rancic figure-critiquing bandwagon....This is Hollywood after all.  Yet, I think this orangey-red (I think she called it coral) color was beautiful on her and the style of the dress is unique, fun, and suits her well.  I particularly LOVED the color combo of this shade with the turquoise earrings.  

Taraji P. Henson looks fabulous in this white Stella McCartney gown.  The silhouette is clean and simple, and the bright white color pops against her beautiful skin.  Great choice for her and loved her cute black clutch as well!

How cute is this couple by the way?! Ken and Tran Jeong....LOVED her graphic black and white (not sure the designer) gown with intricate floral detail. So pretty and feminine!

Not familiar with her, but Jane Wu looks chic and stunning in this silver beaded column gown. Love the deco vibe!

Another actress I am not familiar with, but Portia Doubleday rocks this killer Naeem Khan disco-ball-esque gown that was fun and festive for the GG!

The next group of gowns had a LOT of potential, but something went awry...

I could cry in my coffee over Eva Longoria's Georges Hobeika gown.  The top of her dress is stunning. The beautiful, feminine beaded neckline is so unique and pretty.  I really wish this was the only detail in the dress with a simple column skirt.  Yet, the embroidered floral detail at the hips was unflattering and distracting....

Regina King's Krikor Jabotian's gown also has a LOT of potential.  The circular sequin gold and silver design throughout the gown is amazing....but the superfluous cape threw the entire dress off.  Also, the neckline could be cut a little lower for a more flattering design.

This emerald green color is gorgeous on Jaimie Alexander, and the graphic pattern in her Genny gown is unique and interesting.  Yet, I did not love the deep V-neck.  Call me old fashioned, but I almost always find these deep necklines distracting as I fear they will turn into an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction!!

JLo looks stunning in this golden yellow color by Giambattista Valli....Yet, the style could use some tweaking. (more shoulder, less leg, perhaps?) 

Again, the gorgeous sapphire blue color by Tom Ford is gorgeous on Julianne Moore, but the velvet lasso-esque neckline could be tweaked a bit...It looked like it was strangling her a bit.  But the long sleeved column silhouette is striking on her!

Major misses....

Again, I am likely the only person NOT to love this, but Jennifer Lawrence's Dior gown just did not work for me.  The midriff cutout was architecturally interesting, but unflattering.  Also, her stiff hair and choker necklace is reminiscent of Ludmilla Drago (wife of Ivan Drago in Rocky IV) 

Cate Blanchett usually hits it out of the park, but unfortunately last night, not so much.  The color of this Givenchy gown is certainly pretty on her, but the drapery-esque fringe detail does not work for me.

Similarly, I usually love Kate Hudson's fashion choices, but not so much with this Michael Kors Collection nude number.  This is more suited to a wrestling match ring girl attendant than Golden Globes gown, but who am I to say? The color and fabric are both beautiful, (and I do like the choker part) but perhaps if it were strapless OR with midriff showing, but not both at the same time?

Katy Petty is FANTASTIC in concert, and she puts on amazing performance.  However, last night was not her best fashion showing.  This busty bubble gum pink Prada number is highly unflattering and the Morticia Addams hairstyle looks dowdy and downright scary!

Congratulations to the following 2016 Golden Globes winners in each category:

Best motion picture, drama: "The Revenant"

Best motion picture, musical or comedy: "The Martian"

Best performance by an actress in a motion picutre, drama: Brie Larson, "Room"

Best performance by an actress in a motion picture, musical or comedy: Jennifer Lawrence, "Joy"

Best performance by an actor in a motion picture, drama: Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Revenant"

Best performance by an actor in a supporting role: Sylvester Stallone, "Creed"

Best performance by an actress in a supporting role: Kate Winslet, "Steve Jobs"

Best director, motion picture: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, "The Revenant"

Best performance by an actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy: Matt Damon, "The Martian"

Best screenplay, motion picture: Aaron Sorkin, "Steve Jobs"

Best original score, motion picture: Ennio Morricone, "The Hateful Eight"

Best motion picture, animated: "Inside Out"

Best original song, motion picture: "Writing's on the Wall." "Spectre"

Best motion picture, foreign language: "Son of Saul"

Best television series, drama: "Mr. Robot," USA

Best television series, musical or comedy: "Mozart in the Jungle," Amazon Video

Best television limited series or motion picture made for television: "Wolf Hall" PBS

Best performance by actor in TV series, drama: Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"

Best performance by actor in TV series, musical or comedy: Gael Garcia Bernal, "Mozart in the Jungle"

Best performance by actor in leading role in series or motion picture made for TV: Oscar Isaac, "Shoe Me a Hero"

Best performance by actor in supporting role in series or motion picture made for TV: Christian Slater, "Mr. Robot"

Best performance by actress in a TV series, drama: Taraji P. Henson, "Empire"

Best performance by actress in a supporting role in series or motion picture made for TV: Maura Tierney, "The Affair"

Best performance by actress in a leading role in a series or motion picture made for TV: Lady Gaga, "American Horror Story: Hotel"

Best performance by an actress in a TV series, musical, or comedy: Rachel Bloom, "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"

Paddington Movie - A Must See!

The newly released Paddington movie, written and directed by Paul King, produced by (Harry Potter's) David Heyman is a must see! This movie adaptation of Michael Bond's 1958 literary creation was fantastic.  Everything from the heartwarming Peruvian bear-looking-for-a-home-in-England story to the charming and glorious London neighborhoods and landmarks including Paddington Station, Buckingham Palace, The Natural History Museum, Primrose Hill, Portobello Road in Notting Hill to the colorful and quirky (Wes Andersen inspired?) interior design was a delight to watch from start to finish.

It all begins with a clever black and white primitive movie reel of the back story of Paddington Bear's tragic loss of habitat in his native "Darkest Peru."  His beloved Aunt Lucy tucks him into a ship's lifeboat as a stowaway on a journey to London to find a new home.  He is met with wide-eyed curiosity by the lovable and quirky Brown family at Paddington Station, and they cautiously settle on a plan to take him in for the night.

When the Brown family first welcome the bear into their home, I can't help but swoon over the marvelously authentic eclectic-English home interiors and the hilarious antics of polite-yet-accident-prone Paddington. The entry clad in well-worn hardwoods and cozy red stripes (I could swear we had the exact wallpaper in our foyer growing up) to the enchanting multi-story hand painted tree mural traveling up the grand circular staircase...was loaded with design eye candy!

The set included one masterfully-designed scene after the next. Mr. Brown's office was adorned in warm tones of primary colors, complete with indigo walls, tall London-townhouse ceilings, leather furniture, and a Carousel horse, of course!

The children's rooms were convincingly age-appropriate with the boy's old fashioned toy creations and the girl's never-ending wall size photo collage...

The entire house was dotted with authentic artwork in all shapes and sizes (albeit some presumably by their children), which of course I loved... But, it was the master bedroom that really stole my heart (and sadly I could not find a single photo of it - all the more reason for you to see this movie!!) It was adorned with a whimsical, red floral wallpaper reminiscent of the exquisite hand painted Gracie designs, with an artful mix of styles, bohemian accents, fabrics, pillows, etc.  And, don't get me started on that nostalgic kitchen in all its vintage-y retro glory....

...and the heartbreakingly beautiful exterior views of their flat and colorful street make you want to pick up your suitcase and visit (if not move to) London 'straightaway'!!

I just loved the heartwarming story and adorable way Paddington comes to life on screen in this family friendly film. One of the best children's movies I've seen in a LONG time that will delight an audience of all ages....a must see!