The Best & Worst of the Met Gala
The Met Gala, it’s the who’s who of everything really. Whether you’re an actress, pop star, social queen or just dating someone really rich — everyone who’s anyone is there and flaunting ridiculously dramatic dresses. It’s also one of the most blogged about events in the fashion, even more so than the Oscars where starlets play it rather safe. The Met Gala is the night to let it all go and experiment. The results are often awe-inspiring, or, sadly, just plain awful. Here, we take at look the former and the latter.
The Worst
Kirsten Dunst is a big fan and also close friend of the Rodarte ladies, and we applaud here for supporting friends. But it looks like she should be handing out lollipops to kids after they visit Santa.
Model Anja Rubik barely wears an Anthony Vaccarello dress. The holy-high slit and slippery bandages over her boobs are a desperate cry for attention. Is this night about artistry or is it a singles mixer?
NO, no, no B! We love you, but you look horrendous in this Givenchy mess and a bit too eager to show off our post-baby bod.
The Best
You can always count on Dree to bring it. She looks so casual cool in this Topshop Uniqueness Dress.
Katherine McPhee is a tangerine dream in this Ellie Saab dress that fits her so well.
Yeah sure, we’d probably pick her no matter what she wore, but this Deep green Wes Gordan gown and the bright pink Stella shoes is perfection!
Meet Supermodel and Make-Up Extraordinaire Cindy Joseph
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Ford Classic supermodel and entrepreneur Cindy Joseph about her career, her new make-up line BOOM! By Cindy Joseph, and her perspective on how every age can be beautiful. The 61 year old silver fox will also be speaking at the new raw food and juice café, Jar Bar.
PWStyle: Hi Cindy! You are so beautiful! Please tell us how you were discovered as a model.
Cindy Joseph: In 1999, I was approached on the street by a casting agent who wanted to know if I could model for Dolce and Gabbana. I was 49 and had silver hair. I did the shoot and 6 months later, the campaign was launched. I went to Ford models and they signed me. I have been modeling every since.
PW: What do you think is the most beautiful age a woman can be?
CJ: Every age has its own unique beauty. Think of a newborn’s tiny hands and feet, reaching out for sensation and the absolute awe in their eyes from experiencing all the new sensations. Then think of the sweet cuddly beauty of a toddler’s tender smooth skin romping around in their diapers. From that age through teenage years, through puberty, and young adulthood, all the way through a woman’s
30s 40s 50s, past 100, there is a nuance and shift that reveals another kind of beauty. It is our choice to seek and find that beauty in every girl and woman.
PW: What is your favorite beauty secret?
CJ: Taking joy in life
PW: Do you believe women should change their make-up routine as they age?
CJ: Depends on what they were doing when they were younger. Best thing to remember is that your face attains more character and develops more features as you age; so less of everything is better. If you wear eyeshadows and contours and powders and heavy foundations you will be just be adding more texture to the fine lines and wrinkles, and end up looking older. Think moist, dewy, color and radiance. Softer eyebrows. No dark shadows or hard eyeliners etc. Keep it simple and relax with the changes instead of fighting them. It will only make you look strained and possibly older.
PW: Do you prefer the natural make up look or the made up (to go out) look?
CJ: I think it’s all great as long as the girl or woman is motivated to wear makeup for fun rather than feeling desperate and motivated by fear.
PW: Do you believe women should embrace their age or hide it?
CJ: Not only EMBRACE their age but celebrate it. Be proud to have earned each SILVER hair and wrinkle they have!!
PW: Please tell me a little bit about BOOM! By Cindy Joseph.
CJ: BOOM! By Cindy Joseph is the first pro-age cosmetic line ever to exist. The message is that women are just right the way they are. The right size, shape, features, coloring and age, just as they are. And when a woman is taking joy in her life, experiencing pleasure she is extra attractive. It is her smile and her joy that makes her compelling and attractive. Boomsticks are easy to use, applicator free and great for multitasking. Simple, easy, and affordable. They are designed to make every women look as she naturally does when she is experiencing pleasure. If she is laughing dancing or romancing, her circulation revs up and her lips, neck, cheeks, forehead become colorful and her skin becomes dewy and radiant. Boomstick and Boomsilk are all safe, paraben phthalate free cosmetics.
PW: Explain your take on the “Pro-age” movement!
CJ: I named BOOM! By Cindy Joseph because that is the sound of a revolution. BOOM is the Pro-Age revolution! Women and men, children and adults are ready. It is simply time. Our society has hit a screeching crescendo of anti aging attitudes and products. If we believe that the largest percentage of our lives is downhill, which is after we turn thirty, it is a sad story. Life is not a mountain with one peak. Life is a V, expanding and becoming more as time goes on. As you age, you become more self-aware, develop taste and wisdom. Women are going under the knife and are injecting Botox; 9-year-old girls are worried about their weight and becoming anorexic. Women of all ages feel unseen, unnoticed, unless they look younger than they are. It is time for women and our society to realize looking like we are in our childbearing years just to be valued is archaic thinking!! Not only that, it simply does not work. It only makes a woman look desperate and they cannot fool anyone. The whole idea that women are only valuable for bearing children, ended 100 years ago with suffrage!!! Remember Women’s Lib? That happened over 40 years ago! Everyone is waking up to reality. That is the Pro-Age movement. We are not accepting this anti-age attitude anymore. Women are free, powerful and attractive at every age and are valued on many levels for many reasons. Its time to wake up and smell the coffee!
PW: Is BOOM! By Cindy Joseph only for a certain age group?
CJ: BOOM! is for every female from new born to over 100 years old. Girls and women of all ages enjoy Boom!
To learn more about this captivating woman head to the Jar Bar on May 10th from 7-9 p.m. Cindy will be offering interesting make-up tips for every age and will be discussing how you can discover yourself and live a passionate, happy life!
~Michelle Mass
DIY Nail Stickers
I’ve never really been into making a big deal out of your nails. It always seemed like way too much effort for something that would look just as good with a simple coat of red polish. But, it’s like you can’t avoid the tricked-out nail trend right now, so you might as well pick one and at least try it. You never know, you might like it.
I found this super simple DIY for nail stickers of Lauren Conrad’s Beauty Department and I thought it was such a cheap and easy way to make a super special nail, that I had to share it with you guys.
Beth Shak ‘Shoes r Forever’ Launch Party
Photo: justluxe.com
Hi, my name is Michelle and I am addicted to shoes. Flats, sneakers, boots, heels, peep-toe platforms–pretty much any stylish form of footwear will work me up into a frenzy.
My obsession was more than satisfied last night at the Beth Shak ‘Shoes r Forever’ Launch Party at PNK Elephant Boutique on South Street. Beth, known for her professional poker playing skills as well as her uncanny beauty, adores shoes so much that she decided to hang up her playing cards and make a new-found career out of it. Owning roughly 1200 pairs of designer shoes (700 of them being Christian Louboutin’s), the mother of three has recently piqued the interest of the media, scoring her very own reality show which is set to air on VH1. Beth’s new Web site serves as an outlet for fellow shoe enthusiasts, specifically those with a shared appreciation for designers like Walter Steiger, Manolo Blahnik, Mark Schwartz and of course, Louboutin.
ShoesRForever.com contains links to Celebrity Style, Sales, Beth’s Picks and my personal favorite, Streetwalker where people can submit pictures of some of the crazy shoes they see walking on the streets of Philly.
I recommend you check out some of pictures from the event below then immediately proceed to the site.
~Michelle Mass
Checking in with Commonwealth Proper
After meeting the owner of Commonwealth Proper, Craig Arthur von Schroeder, at the Mitchell & Ness Spring Launch Party the other week, I was dying to see what his 17th and Spruce Street showroom looked like. I was lucky enough to charm my way into an invite.
Everything about this place screams: MAN! I’m not talking the juiced up, grunting, throwing furniture over their head kind of man either. I mean the cigar-smoking, whiskey-sipping, briefcase and custom-made suit wearing kind of man. Don Draper and Nucky Thompson would be regular visitors, for sure. Not only is the showroom a certified man cave, but it simply drips with Philadelphia culture and history–from the Revolutionary and Civil War maps that adorned the high ceilings, to the African war buck in the main dressing room and the shearing scissors from the 1800’s.
In between his busy schedule of dressing A-list stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and getting ready for the MTV awards, the fashionable entrepreneur (who was as handsome and debonair as his clothing) was able to talk to me about what was new with Commonwealth Proper, especially his newfangled ‘Ready to Wear’ pieces: “We at Commonwealth Proper have studied custom tailoring and bespoke clothing practices for the past several years and are now applying the fit principles we learned from those experiences to make the perfect button-down shirt, as well as other ready-to-wear garments that simply fit better because they are designed with the contemporary man in mind. There is no substitute for fit. We are essentially making tailored fit ready-to-wear garments. The proof is in trying our clothes on…”
Craig explained that, while he has a showroom in Los Angeles, he wants to take more time to focus on his presence in Philadelphia, having everything from design, measure, pinning and chalking to the final fitting take place right here. He wants his clothing to soak up as much local culture and vintage feel as his show room does. All Commonwealth Proper designs are equipped with a tag stating when it was “born” and that it was made in the USA. Now, the creative genius, as I fondly call him, wants to produce tags saying “MADE IN PHILLY,” and there is absolutely nothing we hate about that.
‘Find Your Magic’ Tonight at Macy’s
Courtesy of omg.yahoo.com
After work, skip happy hour and head over to Macy’s Center City where jewelry designer and former “New York Housewives” star, Jill Zarin will be hosting a mini fashion show and challenge as well as dishing tips on how to rock the hottest spring trends.
A few lucky audience members will actually get to compete for a $100 Macy’s card during a “Fashion Face-Off” in which they’ll have to create the perfect outfit for a special occasion then pair up with a model to showcase their ensemble.
While there, be sure to take in the spectacular floral arrangements in the Grand Court as part of the 4th Annual Macy’s Flower Show.
The event starts at 5:30 p.m. So you should still have plenty of time to grab a cocktail afterwards.
Material Girl Launches Shoe Line
Photo courtesy of news.instyle.com
Earlier this week, Madonna, fondly nicknamed Madge among her devout followers, announced slyly that she plans to launch a shoe collection called “Truth or Dare.”
According to several sources, Madge’s line consists of 60 designs, featuring leather studded stilettos, leather knee-high lace up boots and other sexy staples in line with Madonna’s current look: sleek, sexy and ultra bad-ass.
Though her current clothing line, Material Girl, is geared toward a younger, teenage set, “Truth or Dare” is directed to an older scene, primarily women ages 25 to 50.
According to the University of South California’s Annenberg Center, Macy’s, Nordstrom and Asos are among the retailer slated to carry Madonna’s shoe stylings, which will range from $89 to $350.
The line is expected to hit stores for the Fall/Winter 2012 term, and she’s expected to release a line of intimates and hosiery by 2013. But here’s to hoping the cone bra look doesn’t come back in style. History repeats itself, I know, but I’m praying history does us all a favor on that front.
But as for the shoes, they’re nothing short of divine. But what else would you expect from the Queen Bee?
My favorite pair features, though not seen in this image, a knotted bow-type detail on the back of the heel. And I love the toe; it recalls this steel-toed boot feel, but is still feminine and sexy.
Eight of the 60 designs can be seen on Women’s Wear Daily.
Jennifer Lawrence Shines at “Hunger Games” Premiere
Everyone is talking about “The Hunger Games” craze that’s sweeping the nation! I’m sure you’ve watched those trailers on TV a thousand times a day, or even seen the hordes of teens filling up mall tours across America. Fans of Suzanne Collin’s popular young adult series are ready to see the characters in action when the games begin on the big screen March 23. Monday night’s LA premiere red carpet rolled out some dapper and decked out stars, but the spotlight was definitely on Jennifer Lawrence, who plays kickass protagonist Katniss Everdeen in the latest blockbuster sensation.
“The Girl on Fire” glowed in a metallic gold Prabal Gurung Fall 2012 floor-length gown and looked absolutely stunning with smokey eyes and nude lips. The hottest parts of the dress besides the glittery color? The cutouts on the sides and the back of the dress. Edgy!
Jennifer is not new to fabulous style choices, (remember the red Calvin Klein dress at last year’s Oscars?) so the odds of seeing her in another gorgeous red carpet look again will definitely be in her favor.
~ Jennifer Nguyen
*photo from Getty; Popsugar
Best Coast for Urban Outfitters
The other day, via her Twitter account, Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino announced her upcoming clothing line for Urban Outfitters. Set to hit stores this May, there were no other details given about the line, with the exception of the photo below, courtesy of Cosentino. The breezy romper, featuring a duo of fabrics, angular pocket flaps and paired with a cross necklace is a great look for hanging out in the city on a sunny day this Spring and Summer.
First Look At Cosentino's Line for UO
As far as the price range goes, we can only guess that it will be similar to UO’s 2009 collaboration with Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, which ranged from $54 to $98. There’s no word on whether or not the line will include shoes and other accessories.
Cosentino’s personal style mixes retro California, grunge, urban chic, and vintage, and as a result is effortlessly cool and fun, having it come as no surprise that Urban Outfitters wanted her designs. In February of 2011, I saw Best Coast perform here in Philly; Cosentino may have spent the entire day beforehand sick in the hospital, but that did not stop her from giving a great performance, as well as wearing heels throughout the entire thing (with sweatpants, but trust me, she worked it.)
Courtesy of Time Out New York
A maker of addictive hazy surf rock along with personal style that has character and variation, Cosentino is just as excited about releasing her line as we are about seeing what’s next to come.
-Emily O’Neill
2012 Oscars: PW Style Best/Worst Dressed Picks
To shake things up a bit, we here at PW Style decided to have all our contributors weigh in on the fashions at last night’s 84th Annual Academy Awards and, well, this proved to be rather interesting experiment in fashion democracy.
Not only did all seven bloggers choose a different starlet to top their “best dressed” list, but there’s even a few disagreements in the bunch. It’s a good thing we’re not a jury on a murder trial.
BEST DRESSED
Nicole: Michelle Williams & Giuliana Rancic (tie!)
“On one hand I have a huge girl crush on Michelle and think she looks absolutely darling in this coral gown (or any dress, for that matter). On the other hand, I couldn’t stop staring at Giuliana’s dress. Seriously, it’s just perfect.”
Jennifer: Berenice Bejo
“Berenice stunned in this beaded Elie Saab gown. The delicate mint green complimented her newly-dyed red hair, which was twisted into an elegant braid. Sometimes starlets try to avoid the long sleeve gowns, but the Argentine-French actress pulled it off with perfection. J’adore!”
Michelle: Gwenyth Paltrow
“There were a lot of gorgeous gowns on the runway this year, but Gwenyth looked so chic, regal and absolutely stunning in that dress. I was even happier when they showed her during the Oscars, so you could see that the cape jacket wasn’t attached, and came off.”
Emily: Jessica Chastain
“I’m normally biased towards her because she is a ginger goddess and was in my favorite nominated film (Tree of Life), but she looked perfectly stunning. Her choice was intricate yet elegant and the gold on black complimented her features wonderfully.”
Marissa: Mila Jovovich
“Mila didn’t have that old Hollywood-inspired air about her—she WAS old Hollywood. In a sweeping white sequined one-shoulder Elie Saab gown, romantic curled updo and perfectly red lips, she dazzled on the red carpet.”
Abigail: Meryl Streep
“I thought Meryl looked amazing, graceful.”
Lauren: Rooney Mara
“The short, blunt straight-across bangs contrasted against the femininity of an all-over lace Givenchy gown was surprising, but complimented each other well. She looked polished while still maintaining her edgy side.”
WORST DRESSED
Jennifer & Marissa: Sacha Baron Cohen
“Okay, seriously dude? Not the time for shameless self promotion right now. Such a shame really, because he can look quite dapper in a tux.”
Mark: Meryl Streep
“Who told her a gold dress was a good idea with her coloring?”
Michelle: Rooney Mara
“The girl gets crap for always wearing black, but I think white was a bad color choice for her. And that fabric that was over her boobs? It made her looks horrible! The color and the dress did not show off her best assets and the hairstyle did not help either. I just thought it was all wrong.”
Abigail: Angelina Jolie
“With those slits showing off these weird pre-pubescent legs…it was hard to look at.”
Lauren: Glenn Close
“The strapless Zac Posen gown she wore didn’t seem like it was age-appropriate, and throwing a blazer on over it just made her look all the more matronly.”
**All photos courtesy of People.com