Strong Suit

Maybe it's just a mini-trend, or perhaps it's in retaliation against a dictate from the latest President of the United States that women dress "like women", but we are currently seeing more women in suits on the red carpets at this year's awards season.

Evan Rachel Wood kicked things off at the Golden Globes earlier this year, and it has been carried on with sparkly aplomb by Emma Stone in Chanel and Meryl Streep at the BAFTAs, all the way through to the kiddies, with Blue Ivy nailing the trend at the Grammys.

Can't see the pants?

There they are!

 

Following Streep's highly political address at the Globes, I'd have to suggest her choice of outfit was a definite statement.  

So there you have it Trump: here in the 21st Century, dressing like a woman means dressing however the hell we want to dress.

Absolutely Beautiful Things - The Golden Globes

The Golden Globes kicked off awards season in an unsurprisingly political fashion. Following on from last year's Oscars "white wash" along with Trump's shock US election win, there was plenty of fodder to graze on - sexism, racism, elitism. It was all there. But there were other really fabulous moments apart from Ryan Gosling's love letter to wife Eva (#couplegoals #obviously) and Meryl Streep's wonderful anti-Trump speech. And that, of course, was the dresses... AND Evan Rachel Woods' suit (which I loved).

Big winners in the well-dressed category are below. But I think yellow and Versace were big winners on the night.

Blake Lively rocking her post-2nd baby body in Versace

Emma Stone radiant in Valentino - describing her dress to Ryan Seacrest when asked as pink with stars on it

Naomi Campbell in Versace

Naomie Harris in Armani

Pregnant with her 2nd Natalie Portman taking a cue from Jackie O in retro-inspired Prada

I love her in yellow! Reese Witherspoon in (you guessed it) Versace

Viola Davis in Michael Kors - responding to Ryan Seacrest's boneheaded
question of "what do you call this colour" she responded with refreshing simplicity: "yellow"

Bombshell goals: Emily Ratajkowski in Reem Acra

Moving on Swift-ly

Taylor Swift has overnight shown us how best to deal with the fallout of a break-out (and Calvin Harris has perhaps shown the opposite side - but not as dramatic as, say, OJ Simpson).

Photos were released overnight of Tay Tay canoodling with Tom Hiddleston, the man widely tipped to be the next James Bond, and whom she met and famously boogied with at the MET Gala about a month ago.

Kudos for the very clever headline

Apparently post-MET Gala Hiddleston chased her down, charmed her with flowers and now they're an item madly smooching by the sea shore.

Much to the disgust of Calvin Harris who not only recently broke up with Taylor (or DID SHE DUMP HIM?? big questions today) and also after being injured in a car accident just a month ago also. Suffice to say, it's probably not Harris' best couple of weeks.

Swift moved well, swiftly, when the photos broke doing all the things we should do when we break up with someone:

• Unfollow and unfriend ex on all the social media;
• Remove all evidence you were ever an item from social media - even though youlooked freakin' amazing in all those pics (NOT an excuse after all);
• Move on with someone else - preferably James Bond - first;
• Kept it cool and not respond to comments from the ex.

Comments, you ask? OH YES - Harris, upon seeing the photos, took to Twitter in what we can only imagine was a jealous rage and posted this message to Taylor:

What do the skulls even mean??

... and then of course very quickly deleted it, but not before a whole bunch of screen shots were taken and sent to media outlets (bless). Sorry Calvin, you lost that round of social media break-up sparring.

My only concern here is - and of course I'm really pleased Taylor Swift isn't crying over a break-up - that this is all a little too soon for Taylor to move on. After all, we need her to write another guilty-pleasure album (followed up with a world tour) about break-ups and going crazy over boys. Sure, the happy songs are great but so are the stab-a-cake songs! On the plus side, it might be a vengeful, indignant album which we haven't really seen from Swift (other than We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together). 

Really, we just want to ensure Taylor Swift does not do us out of an album that lyrically dishes on what went wrong with Harris, and how she was wooed by this new man I have never heard of (#outoftheloop). And meanwhile - does this mean T-Swizzle is lining up to be a Bond girl?

Pick me!

Happy Friday: It's Not All Bad

Of course there are some plus sides to this pregnancy caper... Such as a new mode of dressing for a few months. Maybe it's because I'm pregnant myself, but I have noticed a tonne of celebrities getting themselves up the duff or having babies of late. Blake Lively and Chrissy Teigen are the most visible of late, and they have had some great maternity looks...

Not giving up on heels just because she's pregnant

Pregnancy #2 - at Cannes last week

Then of course there is the Duchess of Cambridge, whose Dalmatian print jacket sent me into raptures long before I fell pregnant.

Admittedly, her outfits are generally covered by wintry coats

There's also obviously a plethora of independent bloggers who are nailing maternity looks, with best of the bunch here in Australia being Nadia Bartel of shopping heaven website The Con-nection and WAG and weather girl Rebecca Judd.


As you can see from the looks above, the main thing about maternity dressing is to not try to hide the fact that you have a bump by dressing exclusively in muu-muus. I am sure there will come a time when there is a place for such an item (at home, alone, cramming peanut butter into your hungry mouth) but generally speaking simple, clingy dresses in a block colour are going to get you through. Not wanting to spend a huge amount on a wardrobe that has a short life span, I have been loving the slim-fit dresses (can I call them sausage dresses? that's what I call them in my head) from Cotton On.

While previously I would have thought twice about a skin-tight dress (back when I hallucinated that my flat stomach was sticking out...), nowadays I am loving wearing skin tight dresses. I can eat as much as I like and you can't tell what's baby and what's taco and quesadilla! It is so liberating!


Atmos&Here (stocked by The Iconic) and Witchery also have a bunch of dresses, stretch tees and tight leggings that do the trick, and of course Asos and TopShop have what looks like a pretty great range of maternity gear also (although I'm resisting wearing maternity clothes at this stage, and frankly hoping to put it off for as long as possible!). I have also found that Country Road jeggings - which have always had a larger waist and never fit me previously - are working their magic in the pants department (so far).


Bartel also recommends long line coats and vests, which serve to elongate the body and balance the proportions somewhat of a protruding bump.




Job done.

Finally, as we see from all the ladies (and provided there aren't any health reasons to prevent it) keep wearing your high heels. A little extra height never hurt any baby... ;o)

Ditch the slippers!

Bow Down

One of the best things about Beyoncé is her mystery. Rarely giving interviews (I think she has done one in about 3 years), Beyoncé communicates to the world via her music, film clips and Instagram account. And as we have seen on countless occasions, while a picture (or film clip) might be worth a thousand words, they are still not the subject's own words, so we really can never know what is going on in that secret gated community of the mind.


After dropping her latest visual album, Lemonade this week, we are scratching our collective heads wondering what it all actually means? This album that bluntly alludes to infidelity, daddy issues and forgiveness. Who is is Becky? Did her dad really hit her? Is Jay Z a cheating swine? Does Good Hair mean good hair, or does it refer to black slavery talk for the whiter slaves with less curly hair who were able to work inside the house and thus able to attend to their hair more often? Was there a very good reason for Solange to attack Jay Z in that lift?


Keeping in mind, of course, Beyoncé has a team of songwriters who assist her on each album - so this is not all necessarily her own stream of consciousness. But who cares really, when we have so many questions to mull over, all as we listen (and watch!) yet more genius from Beyoncé.

Ivy Park Has Arrived

As a tragic Beyoncé fan, I have been waiting, waiting, waiting for the launch of Ivy Park, Beyoncé's ath-leisure range (catch up!). And now. It. Is. Here.


Although the range was developed in collaboration with Topshop boss Phillip Green, it is being sold at a range of outlets in Oz including Myer (which not at all accidentally is home to capsule collections from Topshop) and via the terribly addictive The Iconic. In the USA it is also available at big names like Selfridges and Net-A-Porter. Girl has reach.


Of course Ivy Park is no fluorescent pink range spouting girl power quotes. And why would Beyoncé need "I run like a girl" when simply her brand is powerfully feminist enough?

Icon made

The tone of her promotional pictures are so wildly divergent from most fitness campaigns as to continue to cement Beyoncé as one of the most unique style icons of this decade (OK, I'm really starting to gush now).

Not only is the collection instantly desirable, happily enough for this little shopper, the pricing is infinitely reasonable (in fact considerably cheaper than Lorna Jane).


Of the Ivy Park range, Beyoncé has noted that: “True beauty is in the health of our minds, hearts and bodies. I know that when I feel physically strong, I am mentally strong, and I wanted to create a brand that made other women feel the same way.”


I love this theme of strength that seems to follow Beyoncé - the body is not waif thin, and the mind is strong. It's a nice change from the #fitspo world which lauds thin bodies and seems to gloss over any mention of a woman's mind, ambition or strength of will.

Mario Testino Loves Oz

Mario Testino has guest-edited his first ever Vogue Australia cover, and in signature Testino style he has celebrated the beauty of the location as much as the beauty of the people.

Lara Stone covers Vogue Australia April 2016, as shot by Mario Testino

Particularly well known for his loving shots of Rio de Janeiro (he spent many years though growing up), Testino has appeared Down Under with a bunch of similarly iconic shots, sure to be a keepsake for Vogue tragics everywhere.

Happy Friday: I Like to Boogie!

The Fashion Weeks are doing the rounds (RIP to Brisbane's Mercedes Benz Fashion week which has called it quits after 7 years due to lack of sponsorship and State Government support), and there was simply no ignoring the 70s disco-themed collection from UK designer Ashish at this year's London Fashion Week.


Born to Indian parents, Ashish Gupta's A/W2016 show was a dazzling mix of exuberance, candy colours and high octane glamour - a David Bowie takes on Bollywood type collection.

 

 

Classic black still got a look in

Not surprisingly, Gupta has designed outfits for a number of high profile personalities, including M.I.A, Madonna, Jerry Hall, Victoria Beckham, Kelly Osborne, Lily Allen and Patrick Wolf. Frankly, I'm surprised that Kate Moss hasn't worn some of these creations. Perhaps for her next birthday party?

Since his first show at London Fashion Week in 2004, Gupta has won the New Generation Award three times. Gupta's street cred has grown with a collaboration with Topshop - the 'Ashish for Topshop' capsule range. His mainline collection is stocked in Selfridges and Browns Focus and can also be found in Italy, USA, Russia, Dubai and Kuwait.

Making History

In not-so-scandalous fashion news today, Anna Wintour has been sighted on the fashion front row wearing *gasp* a t-shirt!

Appearing at the Marc Jacobs show in a Jacobs-designed Hillary Clinton campaign tee, Wintour has scotched any confusion over who she would like to see as President of the USA later this year. Not that there was likely to be much confusion: Wintour has on several occasions previously very publicly outlined her interest in the advancement of Clinton, and assisted on a few occasions when Hillary's popularity was on the wane (think the Monica Llewinsky years in 1998, when Hillary graced the cover of a Christmas-themed edition that December).

Marc Jacobs has also publicly proclaimed his support for Clinton, stating that:

“My support for Hillary is grounded on our long-standing shared belief in equality. I am proud to share this T-shirt as a champion for equal rights, for the progress we have made, and for the hope of continued progress with Hillary as President.” 

For those of you familiar with Jacobs' politically-motivated activities, you may recall he designed t-shirts for Hillary in 2004 for her Senate re-election campaign, as well as for her ultimately unsuccessful presidential bid against Barack Obama in 2008.

Also coming out in support for the Jacobs-designed shirt is Kendall Jenner, appearing on Instagram in the shirt on Thursday.

Model of the moment Kendall Jenner shared the picture with the hashtags "#MadeForHistory" and "ImWithHer".

For those of you familiar with Jacobs' politically-motivated activities, you may recall he designed t-shirts for Hillary in 2004 for her Senate re-election campaign, as well as for her ultimately unsuccessful presidential bid against Barack Obama in 2008.

Jacobs is not the only fashion designer to show support, with Tory Burch, Maxwell Osborne and Public School also designing shirts for the range (available for US$45 from the campaign website).

Clinton will also appear in a 10 page spread in US Vogue's March edition (sure to be a keeper for Clinton-dynasty lovers).  While the results of the Democratic nomination - and indeed the ultimate Presidential race - are still a while off, I am hoping this extra momentum from the fashion community gives Clinton a much-needed bump in the polls. If I were a US voter, I'd be leaping at the chance to vote not only for the first female US President, but also for about the only candidate who doesn't seem to be a tad ... well ... scary as leader of the USA and as many say, the Western world.

Last Minute Gift Ideas

Are you organised? Have you bought everyone on your list what you expect will be their favourite present over all other gifts this Christmas Day? No pressure. This year I am leaning toward utility  - tickets to tennis grand finals, shoes that demand to be worn on the daily, chocolate, gourmet pasta and pasta sauce sets etc. I have been finding "stuff" so abhorrent of late, that I find it difficult to purchase gifts when I know all the people in my life have basically everything they really need, and that anything I give them will just sit with all that other dusty, semi-useful, irregularly used stuff, that it makes me feel a little sick to my stomach. Better that it be food, experiences and creators of memories in my opinion... Sarah Wilson's, too.

It reminds of a Charles Bukowski line, which I think I've mentioned previously:

The less I needed, 

The better I felt.

Of course, this rule against stuff doesn't apply to tiny nieces, for they are just at the beginning of their stuff-collecting, and tiaras, tutus and adorable swimsuits are just the ticket from a doting Aunt.

However, if there is a man in your life who is attached to his phone, doesn't carry a man-bag, and likes a pocket square, then I think J.Crew and Jimmy Fallon have come up with the perfect, utilitarian gift: the Pocket Dial.

Hilarious. Purchase it here.

Breaking News

In somewhat dubious fashion news, it can be reported that the Ugly Christmas Rashie - Australia's answer to the ugly Christmas jumper (infamous thanks to Colin Firth's reindeer jumper in Bridget Jones' Diary is:

1. A thing; and
2. Sold out.

For those who love themselves a tragic rashie for their wardrobe, it will be available again next Christmas. Better get on that waiting list.

Tis the season

Suffice to say, Colin wore it better.

Wedding Dress Envy

Sofia Vergara wed ridiculously good looking werewolf / male stripper Joe Manganiello over the weekend in possibly one of the most-Instagrammed-by-a-bride celebrity weddings of all time. Colombian glamour-puss Sofia encased her curves in a white lace gown designed by Zuhair Murad (the brief was "sexy", which I think we can all safely agree was achieved).

 Vergara quickly changed from Princess Bride to Slinky Bride as she removed her detachable tulle skirt (FABULOUS!), to reveal the slim line, all-lace affair below.

I have mentioned in a previous post drooling over a Zuhair Murad gown that I had originally hoped to do something similar with my own wedding dress, but decided against it when the rather significant cost was quoted (I was a frugal bride!). While I still totally adore my wedding dress, when I look at the spectacular Sofia I am so glad to see what I had envisaged materialise so majestically. Who could achieve that but the daughter of a French lace distributor or a woman who cares not what she spends on her wedding dress? I think she looked utterly radiant, totally beautiful and madly in love. Just the way every bride should look.

To ease the sting of any wedding dress envy I may have had, it was my 2nd wedding anniversary yesterday and a chance to reflect on the real reason for a wedding. Don't get me wrong, the dress is important, but the person you marry is where it's at. Every day I feel grateful for the man I married. He is so kind, so considerate, so loving, so supportive, so dashing-in-a-suit and he makes me laugh. And that's really what it's all about.

I had the slim dress below the tulle - just not all that lace, and the tulle didn't detach. 

French lace... So divine

Happy days, big love

Weddings really are the best - especially your own. It remains the best day of my life. There is something very beautiful about being married. I highly recommend it.

Sofia's wedding pics courtesy of her Instagram account. My wedding pics courtesy of the extraordinarily talented and excellent Todd Hunter-McGaw. See more here.