Festival de Cannes 2013

When I think of the Festival de Cannes I think Fashion Week because celebrities have 12 days to show off so many styles on the red carpet and satellite events it feels like an endless runway. From May 15th to May 26th, it was a fashion decadence in France! Oo la la!

Nicole Kidman stood out and was the most fashionable Jury Member at the festival.

From Armani, Chanel, Valentino to Dior (clockwise) I was delightfully dizzy. In her versatility, Nicole Kidman looked statuesque, modern and Old-Hollywood glamorous. I also fell in love with not so simple Alexander McQueen  LBD despite a questionable choice of shoes.                                                                          

Don't get me wrong, I still managed to be impressed by so many other gowns...

Marion Cotillard in Alexander McQueen (left) and Christian Dior (right)

Carey Mulligan was on trend in a modern black and white Vionnet gown (left). She gracefully stood out in a Dior Haute Couture gown among a crowd fretting with umbrellas as shown in this great photo by Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images.

White was dominating the Festival and I must say the French did it again! Yes, I believe Audrey Tautou had the best white gown by up-and-coming designer Yiqing Yin. Her gown named “Absinthe”, was an intricate cascade of organza and chiffon of pleated silk. 

Audrey Tautou in "Absinthe" gown by Yiqing Yin

Pretty please Spring!

Fi-nal-ly! spring is here!... I think. It has been teasing us since the official date until I begged like my son would "Please pretty please" come out, come out Spring!

PRINTS

I love this trend which can be floral print, water color print or geometric print. It's the perfect way to wear many colors at once without the restrictions of  the color blocking rules. Also animal print always gives an edge that will surely be noticed.

Floral

When I think of floral for this Spring I see flowing dresses and pants. I want to feel as light as a flower (without the 6 day/week gym regimen and low carb diet I am inflicting myself to fit in my summer clothes this year). I dream of spring collections 2013 from Ralph Lauren and Zac Posen annd Diane von Furstenberg...

Zac Posen Sping 2013
Photo: Alessandro Lucioni

Ralph Lauren Spring 2013
Photo: Alessandro Lucioni

DVF Spring 2013

The entire collection from designer Sophie Albou for Paul & Joe makes me want to travel.

Paul & Joe

Water Color

Erdem Spring 2013
Photo by Giovanni Giannoni

Erdem's use of print can be ecclectic but this sheath dress inspires me for Spring.



Animal Print

There is nothing better than a wild armor in the form of an animal print to feel confident.

 I am still attracted to flowing styles to soften the edgy side.

Carlos Miele Spring 2013

Giambattista Valli Spring Haute Couture 2013

I must say I can't help but want to wear snake prints as well.

Gianfranco Ferré RTW Spring 2013

Imaxtree

...and why not mix snake with another Spring trend: stripes!

Preen/ Spring 2013

85th Academy Awards

Finally the Oscars! I would not have missed the red Capet on TV for anything. OK, I did miss the first hour of live coverage... but not many around me can relate when I say I must stay home for the Oscars. It is our "Superbowl" of celebrities' fashion, isn't it? Thanks to my DVR I did not miss a thing and discreet checks on my phone kept me updated.

As usual, I like to wait a day or two after a fashion event and would only share with you what remained of my first and lasting impression that has not been altered by the multitude of fashion critics. I apply the same principle to style. When in doubt or if you don' t like it, put it aside and forget about it. It's as if this probable mistake never happened...

So, what did I like?

Old Hollywood Glamour

Jessica Chastain was the embodiment of old Hollywood. She also kept it modern by not wearing much jewelry to distract from this Armani Privé column.The color and style of her hair combined with her rich red lipstick provided the perfect balance to this  gown. The color of this gown is so close to her complexion and so fitted that she could almost disappear if it was not for that amazing glitter defining her body.

Jessica Chastain in Armani Privé
 Fashionista.com. Photo:Getti

Jennifer Lawrence looked so graceful ( even when she fell taking the stage to accept her Oscar). 

Jennifer Lawrence Dior Haute Couture. Celebuzz.com

She wore a light pink Christian Dior Haute Couture gown. The volume of this gown starts perfectly below her hips so the massive fabric does not swallow her nor hide her great figure.The Chopard jewelry was a beautiful delicate touch. The necklace hanging back added an interesting edge.

Modern Glamour

Zoe Saldana wore an Alexis Mabille Gown. I am in love with this dress! The embroidery is gorgeous and the contrast with this modern belt works. I might have chosen a lighter color for her shoes and opted for less rings on her hands.  Her simple hair style adds softness to the entire look.

Zoe Saldana in Alexis Mabille
 Fashionista.com

Let's save the best for last! Charlize Theron was a vision in Christian Dior Haute Couture. The buzz hair cut is an extension of the structured bodice of her gown which ends in a simple train. The make up is perfectly soft to balance the statuesque and empowering look. This was in my opinion the best gown of the Oscars.

Charlize Theron in Christian Dior Haute Couture
Fashionista.com

Good Girl!

Was I the only one holding my breath watching the 55th Annual Grammy Awards only to finally exhale and say to each female artist:" Good girl!" ? Good girl for respecting the dress code memo from the network broadcasting the  show. Except for Kelly Rolland who was really "bad" in the best way thanks to Georges Chakra Couture. She looked ravishing and stole the red carpet with all the other female artists wishing they had not been so ...compliant. A sleek hairstyle without the messy hair on the side would have been a better option but she was pretty close to PERFECTION!

: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Need I say more?

Grammy dress code: what?

The Grammy's has always been the home of the free spirited. We always expected the unexpected...The objective is often to surprise or to shock.

Who does not remember the 2000 Grammy Awards and J.Lo "Oh she did not!.. but she did!" Versace dress.?This dress was not a first on a red carpet that year but she rocked it BECAUSE it was the Grammy's. And having the perfect bod did not hurt either.

fashionindie.com

Rihanna in Armani 2102 Grammy Awards

popsugar.com

 Fergie in a  Jean-Paul Gaultier dress at the 2012 Grammy Awards.

Huffingtonpost.com

Yes sometimes artists seem to push it a little to the limit but they are in the music industry and that is explanation enough because it'is an extension of their musical persona, their creativity and their brand.

Lady Gaga arrived in an Egg at he 2011 Grammy Awards

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Lady Gaga Grammy Awards 2010

mimifroufrou.com

Nicki Minaj in full blown animal print from Givenchy  at the 2011 Grammy Awards

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Nicki Minaj in a red Versace cloak Grammy Awards 2012

justjared.com

So why change this exciting tradition by making public a memo that creates fashion boundaries? The Memo reads"Please be sure that buttocks and female breasts are adequately covered,"[...] "Thong-type costumes are problematic. Please avoid exposing bare, fleshy under-curves of the buttocks and buttock crack. Bare sides or under-curvature of the breasts is also problematic." Whether artists show their flesh or wear eccentric dresses or costumes, should it not be seen as a medium to the artistic process and sometimes a phase in promoting their brand or projecting their musical persona?

The network issued dress code memos in the past and I guess producers grew tired of the natural disregard for "proper decorum". Making this memo public might not create any particular pressure to comply. I am anxiously waiting for the response of music artists at the Grammy's red carpet this Sunday! I anticipate the response to be an abnormally eccentric fashion revolution.

 Stay tuned...

SAG Awards 2013

Celebrities seem to have held off exciting Fashion on the red carpet for the Screen Actors Guild Awards 2013. It makes us quite impatient to see what is in store for us on the Oscars' red carpet next month!

Despite the safe style choices a few gowns caught my attention.

Marion Cotillard in Dior Haute Couture was a vision of casual yet classic luxury. In my opinion, she was the best dressed that night. I love it! Her sophistication is ..French... I mean effortless. Did I say that because I am French too? Oh! well we do have a "Je ne sais Quoi".

Julianna Margulies in Pucci also unexpectedly chose an unconventional two tone style. The tank cut upgraded the gown to a modern look.It would have been perfect if she had chosen less busy shoes.

Amanda Seyfried in Zac Posen was very elegant in this gorgeous blue gown complete with a dégradé tail. Her pendant was stunning and a youthful modern touch to make the gown stand out.

Nicole Kidman in Vivienne Westwood showed that she got her sexy glamour back. The delicate lace and the slit were daring and sophisticated. The modern hairstyle and make up were the perfect final touch.

Golden Globes Trends

Okay! Many have already spoken about the Golden Globes 2013 and forgot about the event already getting ready for the next one (SAG Awards).

by Splash News

Let me just start by saying that my favorite dress was without a doubt  the Alexander McQueen's Sarah Burton dress worn by Kate Hudson. You almost wish her hair was out of the way to appreciate the details of the gilded dress but then it would have looked a little too severe for someone like Kate Hudson who seems carefree.

by Katie Jones

The sexiest dress was definitely the Theysken's Theory dress worn by Katherine McPhee. Her shoes added the the perfect sizzle and the near absence of jewelry allowed no distraction from her skin.

by Katie Jones

One of the trends for 2013 is Black, more specifically Black and White and I was pleased to see Julianne Moore in a Tom Ford dress. The structured shoulders and the perfect placement of white made her look statuesque.

by Katie Jones

The most fashion forward celebrity was in my opinion Lucy Liu. I did not expect to like bold print of flowers as much but I loved the structured gown by Carolina Herrera.  Some might have issue with her hairstyle but a more sophisticated one would have taken the dress to a past era. It was just beautiful and the pockets gave the ultimate feeling of comfortable sophistication.

by Katie Jones

Julia  Louis-Dreyfus wore a more subtle 

gown with big flower prints by Vera Wang 

and it flowed gracefully like many of Wang's designs.

by Katie Jones

The most daring yet sophisticated looks were right on trends with transparent lace. Trust Jennifer Lopez to find the  perfect dress to showcase her fantastic figure. This Zuhair Murad dress embraces her body to leave just tiny bit to the imagination. The lace and small train transform her in a delicate figurine we all want to touch.

by Katie Jones

Another va-va-voom Lady is Eva Longoria. She took the lace trend to another level by displaying an endless leg thanks to the daring and controversial split on this Emilio Pucci dress. This is how a designer makes a petite figure look taller.

             

by Katie Jones

             

In the same trend a more demure Kerry Washington looked beautiful in a Miu Miu dress. Although the dress could have been longer and the shoes more delicate, this is a very good example on how a dress can seemingly look simple yet luxurious at the same time.

I am having a hard time to move on to the next trend because I love lace dresses; or is it because I love Downton Abbey and I must talk about Michelle Dockery. She looked gorgeous in AlexandreVauthier dress which combined gold lace with white. I particularly like the lace gracing her neck.


Get fit ladies because if you want to sport the following trend, you should be ready to show your ribs. Rib drift dresses were sported by a few celebrities at the Golden Globes. Both Kristen Wiig and Emilly Blunt wore Michael Kors but I must say Emily Blunt took note of the Spring 2013 runway by pulling her hair up and that made a refreshing difference.

by Katie Jones

Any award event has its fair share of red dresses but we were in for a treat this year at the Golden Globes.

by Katie Jones

Claire Danes was glowing in this Versace dress. The rushing is strategically placed to be forgiving on many women although Claire Danes needed no help considering she looked great after having giving birth a month earlier. Her hair and smokey eyes were the exact amount of sexiness for this dress.

by Katie Jones                                                                 by the Superficial

Jennifer Lawrence was classic beauty with a modern twist thanks to a Dior Haute Couture gown with accentuated waist by a metallic belt.  The structured chest was avant-garde when seen from the side ( some might say unflattering) but I always appreciate designers who play with structure.

After admiring all the Golden Globes dresses, there is one dress I dream of wearing: the Zac Posen dress on Naomi Watts!

by Katie Jones                                                   By Popsugar

This is perfection from the accessories to the hair and her body was made for this dress. In my eyes, she was the best dressed celebrity of the Golden Globes 2013.