Oscars 2014 Round Up

The Oscars year after year always draw a lot of worldwide viewers and become a topic of discussion on many levels. Sometimes the focus of the movies seems less important than the storylines of the event itself and when you watch some of the opening ceremonies of the event, the media seem way more focused on what the stars are wearing and who designed it. What seems even more mind blowing is the value of some of the dresses and jewelry worn by some of the finest ladies on the planet are just insane with social media still buzzing over Charlize Theron’s $15M diamond necklace. She was not the only one dressed in bling and everyone got scrutinized for what they wore with social media being lit up on how the stars looked rather than what movies got what accolades. Of course Ellen DeGeneres was the host of the show and did a great job and made the show entertaining to watch.

Let’s start with who looked not so flattering and that the person who stole the show in that category was unfortunately Liza Minnelli. First DeGeneres joked earlier that the Liza Minnelli lookalike was a little too masculine hinting at being a drag queen. That didn’t seem to sit well with her but her dress was just mind-blowing on how poor of a choice it was in many ways. It looked ok to begin with, it was all blue and was more of a pant leg than anything dressy so maybe that is why Ellen did the drag queen jab but if you look at some of the pics of Liza on the red carpet it is hard not to notice her, ummm, lack of bra? That’s right, her puppies were fully visible through her blue top. So Liza took the award for possibly worst dressed and although she is a sweet looking lady, it just wasn’t her night unless her dress was part of a campaign to be talked about.

Best Dressed Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong’o stole the show for looking the best on all levels. She seemed to have an elegant but minimalistic look that made her look like an absolute princess. She wore a pale blue Prada dress that painted a nice backdrop to her beautiful dark skin, bright white smile while sporting and an elegant gold and diamond headband designed by Fred Leighton. She of course won an Oscar which was only fitting.

Charlize Theron $15M look

Charlize made a statement to make sure people would talk about her during and after the Oscars and it worked. She had a stunning black Dior dress and the talking piece of her look was the $15 million worth of diamonds on her neck which was set by Harry Winston. That is a lot of money invested into a compact piece of jewelry and you wouldn’t want that sitting around in case it gets lost or disappears. I’m sure the ladies would love to keep all their jewelry at the end of the night but that is quite a bit to hang on to and is probably worth selling and I’m sure a company like wpdiamonds will be busy buying up some unused diamonds as money is better left in the bank getting interest and kept safe.

Angelina Jolie brings 42 karat diamond bling

Angelina Jolie always looks great and on the Oscars 2014 she made sure she would be talked about and upon hitting the stage received a standing ovation as she has won the respect of many around the world for her double mastectomy and raising awareness to women around the world to get checkups and tests for breast cancer. That aside she had some serious earrings, 42 karat diamonds designed by Robert Procop. Her dress was simplistic but also pure elegance and definitely one of the best looking ladies of the night.

Ellen Oscar Selfie

Ellen breaks Twitter

Of course the most popular selfie pic in the world broke Twitter and was taken by Bradley Cooper. Ironically enough, Liza Minnelli was trying to fit into the pic but as the people were crowding the space, she was just left at the bad and was not included in the most retweeted pic in internet and Twitter history. That pic is probably the best way to summarize the entire evening. The pic fortunately will be what people can and will remember the Oscars for, as much as we love what the ladies looked like and what they were wearing, this pic is what it is all about and what people should be talking about.

 

Michelle Obama Tops Best Dressed List

SUNDAY TIMES STYLE MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES: MICHELLE OBAMA TOPS THE BEST DRESSED LIST 2013

 Children cheer as U.S. first lady Michelle Obama arrives for a taping of the TV cooking show "Top Chef" in Dallas

Sunday Times Style Magazine, the UK’s premium fashion and beauty magazine, has this week announced its first-ever definitive guide to the best dressed. Over the next two Sundays, Style names the 50 individuals who have led fashion with their interpretation of sartorial good-taste in 2013.

 

The list is compiled by the Style team, including: AA Gill, Camilla Long, Colin McDowell, Shane Watson, Christina Lamb, Giles Hattersley, Kate Spicer, Tiffanie Darke, Claudia Croft, Richard Gray, Francesca Hornak, Fleur Britten, Michael Hennegan, and of course Mrs Mills. The team also provides insightful commentary on how the rankings have been chosen, and who leads in creating the perfect alchemy between taste, style and personality.

 

At the top of the list is America’s style queen: Michelle Obama. Described by Darke as being an important woman with a high-powered job who still has fun with fashion; the First Lady was praised for her blend of High Street with couture, and her use of clothes to inspire and entertain.

 

Mrs Obama’s lead ranking contradicts today’s reports of criticism by designer Dame Vivienne Westwood who termed Michelle’s choice of clothes “dreadful” and a “non-starter”.

 

Creative director of Céline, Phoebe Philo, is in second place. Her understated approach; relaxed mantra, and devotion to flats – particularly box fresh trainers, has earned her Kate Spicer’s vote. Miuccia Prada meanwhile receives the bronze. The 63-year-old matron of Milan’s great fashion house is described by Gray as embracing ‘the edge’ with poise and strength so that it is never frivolous and always handsome.

 

Ranked at number seven is Victoria Beckham who comes one above the Duchess of Cambridge. Mrs Beckham is praised by Colin McDowell for her commitment to providing customers with perfection, and taking the same approach with her own never-faltering appearance.

 

Style Magazine editor Tiffanie Darke says: “The diverse nature of this list demonstrates the importance of fashion in the overall conversation, confirming the role clothes play in creating a visual manifesto.”

 

“What’s so encouraging is that among the 25 people celebrated today, no two share a similar look; they all occupy a different part of the fashion spectrum, using their own taste and judgment to bring together an individual style that serves to inspire.”

 

At 20 in this week’s list, is Grayson ‘Claire’ Perry. Praised for being the world’s most individual dresser, the 52-year-old Turner Prize-winning artist is celebrated for his love of over-scale dresses and flouncy skirts that look large enough to accommodate a nappy. A living work of art, Mrs. Mills considers him a national treasure that should be listed as part of our heritage.

 

The top five undressed are also featured for their zest as well as their ability to wear naked well. Kelly Brook leads the pack with curves that make maintaining eye contact too challenging. In second place, model Kate Upton marks the return of the bombshell, while Kate Moss comes in at third for her ever-wiliness to embrace being starkers.

 

Suri Cruise shows the under 10s how it’s done thanks in no small part to her brave use of accessories. An early appreciation of Chanel handbags has put Alia Wang – niece of Alexander  – in second, while Shilou Jolie Pitt’s decision to eschew the glitter has gained her a third with a firm salute for self-assured taste.

 

The Top 50 Best Dressed List forms part of a re-launched Style magazine, which sees a renewed focus on fashion, and more attention given to beauty and a re-design that will include more stunning photography.

Style will continue to be supported by a year-long schedule of brand activities designed to strengthen its position in the industry as a key fashion and beauty brand. Readers will also be invited to attend exclusive Style-branded events, including an upcoming series of Style Conversations. Hosted at the Savoy, Erdem is due to headline in April. Previous conversations have seen major fashion designers such as Valentino, Donatella Versace, John Galliano and Giles Deacon taking questions from Sunday Times fashion writer Colin McDowell.

 

Speaking about the re-launch, Darke said: “The Sunday Times Style Magazine is already a pillar of global fashion media and this re-launch is only going to consolidate that position. We’re taking the title back to its roots in order to stake our claim as the number one title for women with an interest in high-end fashion and beauty.”

 

Next week: Nos 25 – 50; the best dressed men, and who leads offenders.

Who would you put on a best dressed list?

 

Kate Middleton Tops Vanity Fair Best Dressed List

Kate Middleton has Topped Vanity Fairs Best Dressed List again. Katie Nicholl has also written an in-depth story on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. According to Vanity Fair.

“There’s a happiness in the House of Windsor generally at the moment for the first time ever,” a royal pal tells Vanity Fair contributor Katie Nicholl in the September issue. “Charles and Camilla are genuinely happy. William is happy because Charles is troubled less, and he has Kate to share his future with,” the friend adds. And while the pair have dazzled Britain and Olympic watchers the globe over with their Games-related appearances—Kate’s fashionable turn in Christopher Kane at the opening ceremony only confirms her status atop the 2012 International Best-Dressed List—they innately prefer a life out of the spotlight, one categorized by homey activities like cooking and walking puppy Lupo three times per day. Nicholl gets their friends and those in their orbit talking for a those in their orbit talking for a blockbuster piece on Kate’s married life—revealing, among many other details, that:

Despite their lean physiques thanks to deerstalking, tennis, and Buckingham Palace swims, Will and Kate are foodies, and tuck in regularly to homemade roast chicken (Kate does the cooking and shopping, and employs no cook at their home on the Welsh island of Anglesey). They also own a sausage-maker (!) to make their own links, and for the holidays, Kate puts away jars of homemade strawberry jam and plum preserves to dole out as gifts. On the average day off, the pair just potter around, “making tea and toast,” per a family friend who recently swung by to find them living a simple home life on Anglesey.

They splash out for DVD box sets. Right now, the royal couple are obsessed with The Killing, which they recently devoured in a marathon session—and they often stay in to binge on various new series rather than hit up society events.

The duchess’s schedule requires up to five clothing changes per day. The rigorous outfit swapping attendant to royal protocol is said to stress out the duchess—not that the stress shows.

And even though the bill for her couture and jewels was printed in the tabloids with raised eyebrows earlier this year—$55,000 for six months of duties—Kate defrays the cost by bargain-shopping. The duchess also continues to decline the services of a royal dresser, preferring to personally shop for herself at chains like Topshop.