Red Carpet at the Emmys 2010 on Sunday night 8.29.10

Claire Danes

Claire Danes was a vision at the Emmy on Sunday night.  She took my breath away in the 90’s as one of my favorite teen idols and fast forward 15 years later, she took my breath away in this golden shimmer dress by Armani Prive!  The dress was covered head to toe in crystals and beads.  It definitely worked very well for her slender body shape.  The simple hair and golden makeup totally pulled the look together without competing with the dress.  This is something to keep in mind if you’re wearing a “Wow” dress like this.

However, this dress style is not for everyone.  It requires that you have a relatively proportionate body (hour glass shape) to really pull it off.  The reason is because there are no details like ruffles or pleats to diverge your attention away so every curves (the flattering type and ahem, the rolls) show too.  A body shaper is a must to master the look.  Every imperfection will show, ladies.  If you have the right assets, this is the style to go for at the red carpet or at the next black-tie event.  I do wonder how heavy was this dress?

Emily Blunt

Emily Blunt knows her figure and style.  She is one of the most fashion-forward actresses in Hollywood.  Although some people criticized her choice for the Emmy, I personally think this dress worked for her.  First, she was not nominated for the Emmy so this dress was rather understated, unlike Claire’s.  Second, the color and shape were very flattering on her and the one-should look is so hot right now.  The flowers and beadings added interest to the style and were not “screaming” out at you.  Most body types will be able to wear this dress beautifully.

Kelly Osbourne

Kelly Osbourne’s style has evolved so much over the years and she also impressed me at season 9 of Dancing with the Stars.  This black V-neck fitted sheath-style dress looked amazing on her.  It gave her a very feminine hourglass shape and highlighted her figure in an alluring way.  V-neck style is a good alternative to strapless.  You don’t need to always wear strapless dresses to formal events.

Also, it’s important that you find a dress that hits you at all the right spots – neckline, bust, waist, and hip.  If the dress is out of proportion, no matter how pretty the dress is, it will look strange on you.  Again, don’t forget your secret weapons – body shaper and push ups.  They will give you tight abs and perky busts.

January Jones

When Mad Men team went up the stage to accept the awards, I immediately noticed January Jones’ electric blue ruffled dress by Versace.  Although many people thought it was a terrible choice for her, I thought it served its purpose.  It demanded attention and brought her out to the spotlight.  Unlike the traditional classic red-carpet styles that we usually see, she broke outside the box.

Don’t get me wrong.  I don’t think this dress is for any body and for any occasion.  It requires a certain attitude and confidence along with the right body shape to make it work.  But in this case, she did it.  The neckline was sexy and the uneven hem was unexpected along with the bold color.  She kept her makeup simple and no jewelries so they don’t compete with the dress.  But her stylist could have done a better job with her hair.  It looked too causal for red carpet.  To translate the dress to the mass, the train should be cut off so the length is right around knee to below-the-knee.  Unless you are at least 5’6”, you should avoid tea length dresses.  They will make you look short.

Emily Deschanel

I wasn’t thrilled with Emily Deschanel’s choice at the Emmy.  The color was great and silhouette was flattering but the head-to-toe ruffle layers were just too much!  Even with a figure like hers, she looked like she gained 10 lbs.  So imagine for the rest of us with normal bodies.  Who wants to add chucks?  The dress would look great if the designer cut back on half of the ruffles and kept either the ruffled top or ruffled skirt.

Tina Fey

Tina Fay is one my favorite female comedy actresses.  I absolutely adore her yet many times, I question her dress choices (I wonder if she has a stylist?)  Let’s talk about the positives first.  The silhouette was flattering and the color combination popped.  I saw her curves and the train was appropriate for red carpet.

But it stopped right there.  The cap sleeves were way too tight on her so they made her arms appeared larger than they were.  I have the same problem so I always avoid tight cap sleeves like these.  The top would look more flattering if the dress was sleeveless instead.  Ladies, if you are self-conscious about your arms, don’t purchase tops or dress with wide shoulder bands either because they’ll make your arms look bigger.  Smaller bands (1-2” width) or spaghetti straps are the best choices.

Anna Paquin

Alexander McQueen is another favorite designer of mine but his style is more theatrical and dramatic.  Sometimes, it’s hard to translate to glamour and sophistication.  In this case, the dress was the wrong choice for Anna Paquin.  She looked like she was ready to slay some vampires in her black patent pumps on the red carpet (watch out, Bill!)  She drew attention alright but not necessary the positive type.  The statement embellishment on top was too much while it seemed like that there weren’t enough fabric to finish the length of the dress.

The embellishment on the top would have look fierce if it were made as a jacket paired with jeans for a night party.  The style would be so in line with the current rock & roll trend.  I think the intention and style was good but it was made for the wrong occasion.

What do you think of the dresses at the Emmys?

Photos courtesy of People.com and Emmys.com

Sandra Bullock impressed me this time as my absolute favorite last night.  Unlike the last dress she wore to the Golden Globe, she nailed the look this time by picking an elegant embroidered gold sheath gown.  Way to go, Sandra, on your Best Actress Award and the Best Dressed Award!

One noticeable trend at the Oscar was the front slit gowns.  It’s been a while that I’ve seen this style before and I like it!  It’s very sexy yet red carpet appropriate.   A little bit of legs goes a long way, ladies!

Anna Kendrick and Demi Moore both looked enchanting in a soft romantic style.

Left:  How about classic with a twist like Carrie Mulligan’s Prada dress with interesting gadget embellishments (tiny forks, knives, scissors?)  The dress was age appropriate for her – classy yet edgy.

Right:  Or Kate Winslet’s classic champagne dress by YSL?  As you can see, you don’t need an extravagant dress to look this good.  It was effortless chic!

Left:  Sleek with the wow factor.  Elizabeth Bank’s Versace gown was figure flattering but her poise made her look super sexy.

Right:  Hail to the “Queen!”  Queen Latifah knows how to dress for her body.  She doesn’t chase the trends but always sticks to what works.

If I have to pick one dress that I hate, it’d have to be Diane Kruger’s Chanel gown.  The colors were nice but the ruffles at the mid-section was way too much, not to mention the exaggerated, low-cut halter neckline.  There was too much going on from head to toe.  The overall look was simply not figure flattering.

LOVE

Left: Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy – Felicity Huffman dazzled in a gorgeous gown highlighting her perfectly toned arms.  The halter style neckline is perfect for those with broad or strong shoulders.

Right: Cameron Diaz picked the right color and silhouette.  The gown is elegant and figure-flattering.  If you have a boyish figure like Cameron, this style is perfect for you because the rushings create a waist for an athletic body.

Left: There is nothing simple about Penelope Cruz’s black lace gown.  I’m generally not a big fan of black dresses at formal events because they are hard to stand out.  But the dress worked wonderfully well here because it had lots of details and textures.

Right: Toni Collette looked perfect in this gold sequin dress by Elie Saab.  It is absolutely glamorous and eye-catching.

Emily Blunt & John Krasinski: If I have to pick the best dress at the Golden Globes, I would have to give the A+ to Emily Blunt.  The silhouette and fit are impeccable with the right amount of pleats and ruffles.  The look is very flirty but red carpet appropriate.  Even though she didn’t win Best Actress, she got my vote for the Best Dressed.

Not So Hot

Left: Overall, Drew Barrymore’s gown is not bad but the metallic ruffles that are growing out of her are.  The silhouette is actually very flattering and the champaign color is quite charming.  This would have been a stunning dress if someone had stepped back and edited.

Right: I love fitted gowns and black is always a safe color choice.  But not in this case for Mariah Carey.  The exaggerated plunging V-neck was over-the-top and the gown was simply too tight.  If you have an apple body shape like Mariah, this dress style will not help you balance out your top half.

Hate

Left: It’s the invasion of the ruffles!  I’m a fan of ruffles but this dress has crossed the line.  Sorry, Chloe Sevigny.  Nice color though.

Right: Although the style of the gown is not bad, the color choice is all wrong.  If you have fair skin like Elisabeth Moss, light, airy colors like blue mist will only fade you away.

Left: When I saw Sandra Bullock walked up the stage to accept her Best Actress award, I couldn’t help but stared at her gown.  Purple is one of my favorite colors but the sheer organza fabric used was horrendous.  The style and fit of the gown looked flattering but the fabric made the dress look cheap.

Right: Nicole Kidman is probably one of the most elegant Hollywood celebrities but her choice for the Golden Globes last night was very questionable.  The style of the dress was very classy but there were too many bows and the color was all wrong for her skin.

]]> http://www.loveleestyle.com/2010/01/18/golden-globes-2010-fashion-love-or-hate/feed/ 0 http://www.loveleestyle.com/2009/11/30/secrets-to-looking-hot-in-any-dress/ http://www.loveleestyle.com/2009/11/30/secrets-to-looking-hot-in-any-dress/#comments Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:53:20 +0000 judylee http://www.loveleestyle.com/?p=317 How do the celebrities do it?  No matter what sizes and body shapes they have, they seem to be able to look smoking hot at any red carpet events.  What are their secrets?  True, they might be hiring the best stylists in town to dress them, but there are some simple tricks that you can do to enhance your bodies for the next special event.  All you need are these secret weapons.

Featured – from Left:  Halle Berry, Amy Adams, and Cameron Diaz

The Perfect Bra

You don’t think about it but what you wear inside is sometimes more important than what you wear outside.  The right bra can really take you the distance.  Lift up the twins and create a sexy cleavage.  Push-up bras are my favorites because if you don’t have the cleavage, you can always fake it.  Depending on the dress itself, the bra that you use will need to work well with the neckline of the dress.  You don’t want the bra to peek out.  If you are not sure, take the dress with you so when you shop for the bra and try them on together.

Left:  Jennifer Aniston – Perfect cleavage with the right support

Right: Versatile and sexy; try the Plunge Multi-way Bra with Gel-Curve, Victoria’s Secret, $50 – 53

The Perfect Body Shaper

Every woman should own at least one good body shaper.  For most occasions, you can use body shapers like Spanx.  They will offer you enough support along with smooth lines when you wear your evening or cocktail dress.  But if you plan to use it for your wedding, you should purchase one that is strapless with bonings.  A shaper with bonings will ensure that it doesn’t roll down your body.  A nude color is better than white because some times white undergarments can show throw white or light color dresses.  Shapers come in many different styles.  Some only support your torso while others support your glute and thighs.  Everyone should at least have a full body shaper that combines the bra and torso support in one.  A good body shaper can be pricy but it is well worth the money.  You can wear it under any dresses and it is not something that you need to purchase often.

Beyonce Knowles has the perfect body support – smooth lines and a flat tummy.

Left:  SPANX “Hi-Rise” Body Smoother, Nordstrom, $68

Right:  If you want the best support, try a strapless body shaper with boning.  Jezebel Caress Bustier, Ella Park Bridal, $56.99

The Perfect Heels

Once you have the perfect dress, the perfect bra, and the perfect body shaper, you should also have the perfect heels.  Depending on your comfort level, you should always have a pair of heels that will work for all type of dresses.  From my experience, a 2.5” to 3” black or nude heels are the best but any neutral color heels are great investments too.  They will elongate your legs and force you to stand up tall.  Whenever I wear heels, I will get a boost of confidence to anything that I wear.  If you are not used to wearing heels, start with 2” and slowly work up to 3”.  Although 4” plus heels look very alluring, they are usually not comfortable and can cause problems for your feet.  I am guilty of owning a few 4” plus heels but I only take them out for a walk once in a while.  Well, it’s hard to resist their charm.

Left:  Taylor Swift and Lisa Rinna wearing the perfect sexy high heels.

Right:  Try the 3″ peep toe pumps –  Pippa Patent Peep Toes, J.Crew, $198

Jaime Ray Newman of Eastwick shows the true meaning of the smoking red dress

Jaime Ray Newman aka Kat of Eastwick proved that one should never underestimate the power of red even in a simple dress silhouette.  In episode 5 of Eastwick, “Mooning and Crooning,” Kat caught everyone’s attention with a sexy red sweetheart sheath dress.  It was old Hollywood and it was sultry.  Forget turning just a few heads, all eyes were on her!

A sheath dress is silhouette that is body-hugging and is similar to a straight skirt.  It is the perfect silhouette for those who has an hourglass figure like Kat.

If you want to catch everyone’s attention, a bright color like red is the way to go.  It will certainly give you a boost of confidence, say like hopping on a grand piano á la The Fabulous Baker Boys and belting out a few tunes.  Or you could wait for Eastwick’s legendary wild moon, “Luna Solvo” to help build up your courage.

Sheath dresses in various styles

A solid color is body slimming because there is no other color to break up you body line, so it’s one of those classic tricks to flatter your shape.  While most would go for the little black dress, don’t be afraid to try a color dress like red, purple, or blue.  Wearing a bright color dress in a simple modern silhouette like Kat’s, can surely make you feel beautiful and sexy.  Next time you go shopping for that special party or date, eye the color dress next to the LBD.

Featured: Anne Klein Sweetheart Neck Crepe Sheath Dress, $148 | Donna Ricco Cross Front Satin Sheath Dress, $148 | Nicole Miller Long Sleeve Matte Jersey Sheath Dress, $275