Separated at birth?

The top photo is Miley Cyrus in her now-notorious "old chandelier" dress by Zuhair Murad; the bottom photo is Christian Dior's 1949 "Junon dress," which is in Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. I wish I could take credit for noticing the similarity, but I got the scoop from Nick Vereos, former Project Runway contestant and now a fashion commentator for the TV Guide channel. I like the darker Dior version better; it doesn't look as much like a Christmas tree skirt.

The top photo is of Alicia Keyes at the Oscars in a pretty pink dress and an unattractive brown wig. The bottom photo is of Sophia Loren in her prime. You gotta love the almond-eyed girls.

It's Fashion Week Month again!

Jason Wu, Fall 2009

Yessiree, the fashion shows are coming fast and furious, in spite of the sad state of the economy. There are lots of new names (or, new to me) in New York, like Altuzarra, Bibhu Mohapatra, and Koi Suwannagate although it appears from the photos that many designers are electing to show clothes at showrooms, rather than on the runway, which is more expensive, and the collections are smaller. Good luck, all y'all.

L'Wren Scott, Fall 2009

I can't keep up with all the shows, but I did check in to see what Jason Wu, now famous for designing Michelle Obama's inaugural gown, was up to. He produced lots of looks for a chic first lady. I also scanned enough collections to notice a trend toward longer skirts (check out L'Wren Scott's collection; yummy!). Thank heaven, it's time the world stopped being young Hollywood's gynecologist.

Kinder Aggugini, Fall 2009

I looked at one of the London collections because the name caught my eye: Kinder Aggugini. He did a multi-season collection, showing floral chiffon dresses with boots and coats. Very nice.

Do check out Style.com's full screen option for viewing the collections, the clothes are shown in great detail.

Unwritten Hollywood Red Carpet rule No. 5 . . .

Vanessa Hudgens in Marchesa

Miley Cyrus in Zuhair Murad

Amy Adams in Carolina Herrera gown
Fred Leighton necklace

Beyonce in Lay-Z-Boy

Freida Pinto in John Galliano

Put all very young Carpetiers in dresses meant for women at least 10 years older so they do not detract from the Carpetiers who actually are 10 to 20 years older.

Let's see, Vanessa Hudgens is 21, Miley Cyrus is 17 (why was she at the Oscars, and why was she wearing a dress bigger and shinier than most of the nominees'?), Amy Adams is 35, but could pass for 25, Beyonce is 28 and Frieda Pinto is 24. They shouldn't be stuffed in dresses better worn by 40+ society matrons when they could get away with wearing stuff that's young and fun.

I often think, when I see Miley on the red carpet with her mother, that they should trade dresses, like at the Golden Globes where Miley wore a white Marchesa floor-length empire gown and Mom wore a sequined mini-dress. C'mon girl, you're only that young once!

I wish Frieda Pinto wore something Indian (besides her jewelry) at least once during awards season.

Fred Leighton got credit for Amy Adam's necklace, but Fred Leighton only sells vintage pieces, it doesn't make jewelry. I believe her necklace is a vintage Cartier tutti-frutti piece, the kind of thing made and meant for society dowagers. It would look better on Meryl Streep. Or me. Yup, that necklace should be mine: I'm old enough, I'm good enough, and dammit, jewelry likes me.

I guess all the stylists got the memo . . .

Evan Rachel Wood in Elie Saab

Penelope Cruz in vintage Balmain

Ann Hathaway in Armani Prive

Taraji P. Henson in Cavalli


Marisa Tomei in Versace


Sarah Jessica Parker in Dior Haute Couture


Jessica Biel in Prada

Melissa George

. . . that strapless white (or the equivalent thereof) was required wearing for A-list actresses (and a few wannabes) . . .

So that makes three nominees for best supporting actress in strapless white, and two nominees for best actress in strapless white. Is this kind of overlap result from borrowing dresses, or is there some kind of conspiracy among Hollywood stylists to level the playing field?

Whatever. I liked the dresses worn by Evan Rachel Wood (my favorite), Penelope Cruz (goooooo VINTAGE!), Taraji P. Henson (very soft and graceful) and Marisa Tomei (I hope she avoids the worst dressed lists this time). The rest were meh.

And SJP demonstrated, yet again, the problem with strapless dresses -- they have to fit exactly right to look good. Hers didn't.

Speaking of vintage prints . . .

Trashy Diva has added a number of new styles for spring, including the one pictured here, the Americana Dress. This dress makes me want to stand up and salute, and more importantly (for Trashy Diva) it makes me want to buy it. It's been a long time since I've heard the song of the retail siren. Buuuyyyyy meeeee . . .

I love Trashy Diva's Mansfield Dress, too. Not as much fun, perhaps, as the print, but great business wear. WITH LONG SLEEVES! Yeaaaaa, SLEEVES! Go team dress!

Whatsamatta you?

The Fug Girls just called out Scarlett Johansson for wearing this dress to the premier of "He's Just Not That Into You." Frankly, I think she looks gorgeous. For one thing, the bodice of the dress fits, (Scarlett is a notorious self bosom-abuser). For another, the background color of the dress looks great with her darker hair, and the print does NOT look like it belongs on a sofa, TYVM. The dress reminds me of the Hawaiian dresses so popular among fans of 50s and 60s vintage dresses. Vintage is good, pink is pretty, and prints are happy. So. There.

Meanwhile, other bloggers hail the coming of Spring -- in pink prints.

Drive-by post

Oh, I am sadly, sadly behind in my clothes comments, what with inaugurations, the Award Season's red carpet parades, the Paris couture shows and all that. I haven't been behind in my bookmarking, though, and I want, at least, to share two fun links with you. One is from zimbio, comparing what women wore on the red carpet to the runway looks, here. The photo of Laura Linney, wearing my favorite Golden Globe look, is a sample thereof. Oh, I do love me some goddess look and some yellow, and nothing's better than yellow goddess gown in my book. I'm so happy to see red carpet dresses trend away from the strapless mermaid and toward the goddess; anything that gets rid of strapless gowns and the often ill-fitting bodice is great in my book, even if it's done one shoulder at a time.

Oh, and I followed zimbio's link to redcarpetfashionawards.com. Eye candy for days, including a runway to red carpet review for the SAG awards. And speaking of sag, (unfortunate pun, but too obvious to ignore) good grief, Katie Holmes!

Maggie Gyllenhall in Lavin, Golden Globes, 2009

Vogue just posted a Style Note titled "Ladies, We've Got Your Backs: critics hated these red carpet looks, but we beg to differ." I agree with them about Tilda Swinton (black modern Lavin goddess); Nicole Kidman (in gold Dior goddess); Kirsten Dunst (blue Rochas that should have been mine, MINE, I TELL YOU!, and worn with a big jet choker); and Maggie Gyllenhall (printed Lavin proto-goddess). Good for Vogue for pointing out that the infamous swan dress was a joke, but, sorry, Cameron Diaz looked like a mess in that Ungaro kimono dress. Poor dress.

I kept searching the stage for heaters while I was watching the Inauguration because I couldn't believe that Michele Obama and Laura Bush, both of whom were wearing buttonless coats (albeit over suits) could look so comfortable in that freezing weather without a little outside help. I didn't see any, but maybe the crowd kept them warm. January inaugurations must have been easier on first ladies when hats, hose, slips and girdles were required, and fur trim at least an option.

Michele's gown was on trend, one-shouldered and white. I appreciate that she wore the work of a relatively unknown designer, Jason Wu, whose clothes I like. I'm assuming that gazillion-dollar outfits by the big names won't be among her wardrobe for a while.

And speaking of white, I'm not thrilled about all those actresses showing up on the red carpet dressed like brides. But that's a topic that will have to wait for another post.