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

As a big fan of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars (DWTS), I couldn’t possibly miss episode 9 the semi final on Monday, May 17, 2010.  This was one of the most exciting episodes of the entire competition where they select the final three couples for the season finale next week.  We all know that Pussycat Dolls Nicole Scherzinger and 2010 Winter Olympic Figure Skating Champion Evan Lysacek would make it to the final (how could they not?!)  So the competition really came down to either Erin Andrews with Maks Chmerkovskiy or Chad Ochocinco with Cheryl Burke.

Week Nine – The Final 4 of DWTS

Erin Andrews and Maks Chmerkovskiy performing the Paso Doble.

Paso Doble has always been my favorite dance to watch so when it was Erin and Maks’ turn to show off their unique version of the Paso Doble, I couldn’t wait to see what they would bring to the dance floor.  Not only was their routine skillfully crafted with passion and strength, Erin’s costume totally caught my eyes and stole the show for me.

At first glance her outfit was quite ordinary – gold sleeveless drapery top with micro short shorts.  But as the dance went on, Maks fiercely pulled off her top and it became a cape-like skirt that resembled the matador’s cape.  It was truly refreshing to see the Costume Designer’s ingenious interpretation of Erin’s wardrobe for the dance.  It was unexpected and it worked to create the drama.

As a designer myself, I find it especially creative to design clothes that are multi-functional which is why for my upcoming bridesmaid collection ju.Lee, you will see how the dress styles are very versatile for the modern day women.

If you have not seen this episode, watch it at ABC.com and see the action.  I was very excited to find out that Erin and Maks will be in the final next week to compete for the trophy!

Both outfits were definitely interesting, but not in a positive way.  I like cocoon sweaters but the winning sweater was over-the-top exaggerated!  I was surprised to hear that these two looks received such positive feedbacks.  In my opinion, both Althea’s and Irina’s designs looked very unflattering on the models.  Most women would not be able to pull off either outfit.  For Althea’s design, the cocoon sleeves looked too big (they almost looked like wings) and the pleated pants were dreadful.  The outfit made her model looked homeless.  It almost appeared that Althea and Irina threw blankets over their models and called them outfits.  I couldn’t believe that the judges love their designs and announced one of them as the winner.

I have always been able to find ways to agree with the final decisions of the previous Project Runway season’s challenges.  But lately I have been raising my eyebrows and questioning their decisions.  Overall, I think Althea and Irina are very talented but the designs were certainly not one of their bests.  It will be hard to convince most American women to wear these outfits.

If you like the comfy, voluminous trend, here are some wearable looks for you to try.

Left: Diane Von Furstenberg, “Kato” kimono shrug, $345

Right: Velvet, “Tivonia” Cashmere Sweater, $297

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

Project Runway and  America’s Next Top Models

What strikes me after reading this article is the question that it raises – Is the magic of fashion gone because so much has been revealed?  Luxury is part quality, creativity, and exclusivity.  With so many designers posting their behind-the-scene footages of their day-to-day work online, some may wonder if they are diluting their appeal by taking out the mystery.  I think in a way it’s true but then it opens the door to a different level.  As a consumer myself, I would like to know the brand – I mean, really know the brand – the people who design them, the people who make them, the materials that they use, and the steps to make it happen.  I like to know the story behind what I’m buying.  This is what makes my purchases interesting.  Because I am a designer myself, I know how much work is involved in making even the simplest dress.  It can take many hours to think of an attractive design that my customers want; more hours to create the pattern that fits many different bodies; even more hours to test and re-test the style; and finally putting all the fine details together before the dress is considered complete.  It’s a lot of work but I love what I do and I feel like it’s all worth it.  However, not everyone knows what’s really involved in making a beautiful garment or accessory.  With social networks, it’s easy to show the customers what they are buying and what makes their purchases special.

I think reality shows and social media will continue to thrive especially in the fashion industry.  I don’t think it takes the magic away either.  Just because designers are showing the sweats and tears and the process to producing their work doesn’t mean anyone can do it.  My husband can watch all the Project Runway episodes that he wants but he still can’t hem his pants.  I’m still doing it for him.  He is fascinated with how I can put a dress together because it’s not something he can do by just watching or observing me while I work.  It is not as simple as it may seem.