Jenny Packham Spring 2013

I love feminine, but modern embellished dresses.  Jenny Packham's collection is what I would wear every day (if it was appropriate).  I know most of the sequined or embroidered frocks scream evening to most people, but I love shiny objects in the daytime.  I don't see why a short sequined dress and a cardigan can't be office wear?

The color palette for spring 2013's NY fashion week show was certainly adoptable by the masses.  Beige, grey, butter yellow, black... HRH Kate Middleton is a big fan.  This is a collection for modern princesses.  Is there anything wrong with that?

photos by David TW Leung

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NYFW: Jenny Packham Fall 2017

The British are coming! Jenny Packham's Fall 2017 collection was a celebration of English heritage and their cliches. The designer is a red carpet favorite during awards season. Her dresses offer a modern take on traditional evening wear silhouettes.

all photos by Mariana Leung

Packham's take on the "Idiosyncrasies that define the British identity" is a tongue-in-cheek take on iconic motifs of the U.K. There were the tartan patterns both in print and embroidered tulle. The color Wedgewood blue was important throughout the collection. Pearls, delicate sweaters were nods to "Sloane Rangers," the Preppy fashion girls of England. Various versions of moto jackets were a tribute to punk style. Of course, each theme was upgraded with luxury details, like rich crystal beading on sweaters, or embroidered cut-outs on the leather. A tribute to the Queen's Corgi dogs materialized on a silk t-shirt.

Scarves wrapped in Ascot style accessorized a few models. The white ones also symbolized the Business of Fashion's #TiedTogether movement. The BoF's initiative for fashion month to get designers, editors, influencers to wear a version of a white bandanna to stand for unity, inclusiveness, and solidarity against the negativity and discrimination of the world right now. Their site also asks supporters to donate the ACLU and the UN Refugee Agency. This showed how activism at NYFW can be as subtle as the simple styling of your models.

Jenny Packham put together classic heritage with humor and modern fashion. She managed to put out a positive message while delivering beautiful clothes. Fall 2017 is looking up for all of us.

Also on Ms. Fabulous:

London Fashion Week - Mary Katrantzou Spring 2017

Big British Invite - Punk & Liberty Prints

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Jenny Packham Spring 2014

The 1970's hit the NY Fashion Week runways for spring 2014.  Jenny Packham, a favorite of Kate Middleton and many red carpet celebrities brought the decade of nightlife to her evening wear.  There were many long silky skirts and off-the-shoulder styles that echoed the easy peasant look.  There were also the short, sleeveless jumpers I remembered from childhood.  However, they were interpreted in luxury fabrics and delicately embroidered.

The easy silhouettes almost reminded me of elegant nightgowns at times, and the over sized clutch handbags looked like teddy bears.  Instead they were appliqued with lots of silk flowers.  Hair was styled like relaxed wavy bohemian girls.  Jewelry included white iris hair pins and rings.

Some of these styles already made an appearance at the Emmy Awards from last Sunday.  Do you think they should hit the disco next?

photos by Mariana Leung

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Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style

Yes Bond, James Bond has always been a showcase for gadgetry and high end style.  A lot of design talent went into crafting the many iconic scenes over the years.  The Barbican Center in London is hosting the Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style exhibit until September 5, 2012. 
Many top fashion designers have contributed to the exquisitely tailored look of this spy and his cohorts.  Along with Hollywood costumers Lindy Hemming, Bumble Dawson, Donfeld and Julie Harris, the exhibit includes looks from  Giorgio Armani, Brioni, Roberto Cavalli, Tom Ford, Hubert de Givenchy, Gucci's Frida Giannini, Douglas Hayward, Rifat Ozbek, Jenny Packham, Miuccia Prada, Oscar de la Renta, Anthony Sinclair, Philip Treacy, Emanuel Ungaro and Donatella Versace.  
See the evolution of sexy swimwear from Ursula Andress' famous white bikini from Dr. No, to Halle Berry's modern update in Die Another Day to Daniel Craig being the male version of eye candy in skimpy blue shorts in Casino Royale.
As for the famous tech and weapons, special effects experts John Stears and Chris Corbould are on hand along with artwork for sets and storyboards by production designers Sir Ken Adam, Peter Lamont and Syd Cain.
I wonder if the opening night party served up martinis...


Images from Daily Mail UK/Getty/AP/Rex

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Ballgowns and British Glamour Exhibit

Are you in the heart of the holiday party season?  Have you donned your holiday sparkle, richest bling? If you want to truly be inspired by occasion dressing, catch the Ballgowns and British Glamour exhibit at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London before it leaves on January 6, 2013.

There will be standout examples from Britain's top designers as well as knockouts from recent runways like  Victor Stiebel, Zandra Rhodes, Jonathan Saunders,Hussein Chalayan, Alexander McQueen, Giles Deacon, Erdem and Jenny Packham.   

Not suprisingly, a collection of ballgowns worn by royals like Norman Hartnell gown designed for Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Princess Diana’s ‘Elvis Dress’ designed by Catherine Walker and gowns worn by today’s young royals are also part of the exhibit.  

Whether your party style is just a Union Jack over strategic parts or full on crinoline architecture, be sure to check out this museum over the holidays! 

Photos from The Culture Fur

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Top Golden Globes Trends From the Red Carpet

The Golden Globes are the first BIG red carpet awards show for fashionphiles to geek out over. I loved seeing many new faces doing their dress twirl for the first time in a year where they will be doing it again and again.

There were distinct red carpet trends that could play out throughout 2016:

Metallic Mirrored Trophies

If looking like a shiny statuette isn't a hint to the awards voters, I don't know what is. There were several gown on the red carpet that where embroidered with stunning metallic textures. They could be mirrored like Mr. Robot's Portia Doubleday's dress from Naeem Khan or Jane Wu's figure-hugging dress from THEIA. Room's Brie Larson was the golden girl in Calvin Klein. All new faces (to me) on the awards show circuit. 

Starry Night
If you read this blog, you already know of my background and passion for gorgeous embroidery. There were several gowns in dark blue hues that sparkled like the actress was enveloped in stars. Viola Davis took my breath away in her Marchesa gown. Mr. Robot's Carly Chaikin smoldered in designer Juan Carlos Obando's gown. Jenna Dewan-Tatum sashayed in Zuhair Murad. Ana de la Reguera was in Carolina Herrera while Julianne Moore was sexy as hell in sparkling Tom Ford.

Bananas:
At one point, I saw yellow gown after yellow gown. Was this a Tarzan promo? This is an incredibly tough color to wear, what commentators call "risky". Alas, for those who love a good red carpet disasters, they were disappointed. Each woman here looked gorgeous in the banana peel hue. Jennifer Lopez defying science in her Giambattista Valli dress, America Ferrara (not Gina Rodriguez as she corrected) wore Jenny Packham and Lola Kirke wore Monique Lhuillier.

White Nights:

Celebrities used to shy away from wearing white on the red carpet because they feared it would look bridal. In 2016, white hot chic was the way to go. The bright, clean shade is striking in whatever silhouette the dress is cut in. It works in a tailored silhouette like Taraji P. Henson's Stella McCartney gown and Laverne Cox's Elizabeth Kennedy dress. White is equally dramatic in soft, draped looks. Saoirse Ronan wore a Goddess-like Couture gown from Yves Saint-Laurent. Lily James wore a dreamy Marchesa dress that actually had hints of pastel hues in the layers. 

So there you have it. If you have an awards show to attend, you have the top red carpet trends of the Golden Globes. Which one did you like best?

Photos by Jason Meritt/Getty, Jason Strauss/Getty

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Wizard of Oz - Leading Ladies Re-Imagined

No, this isn't Kansas.  Warner Brothers and Tonner Dolls have combined forces with 20 fashion designers to create one-of-a-kind dolls to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Wizard of Oz movie.  Designers like Reem Acra, Betsey Johnson, Chris Benz, Byron Lars, Donna Karan, Jenny Packham  and Colleen Atwood to name a few, sketched and created couture ensembles for the collectible Tonner Dolls. 

Above are a few preview sketches from different designers.  They were tasked with re-imagining the characters of Glinda the Good Witch, The Wicked Witch and of course, Dorothy herself.  Byron Lars re-imagined a post-apocalyptic Dorothy who has been hardened by the loss of her dog and fighting it out against the world.   Yours truly contributed the graphic designs for the tattoo and t-shirt to this doll.

 Reem Acra re-designed Dorothy's classic gingham ensemble as an elegant ballgown.  Carmen Marc Valvo gave Glinda a modern red carpet makeover. Betsey Johnson interpreted Glenda as a punk godmother, eerily similar to herself.  Lyn Paolo (top) saw the Wicked Width as a vintage vamp.  Douglas Hannant saw the sorceress as sexy screen siren in fur.  Watching the process, I can tell you that Tonner Dolls handpainted the facial features onto each doll (they definitely don't mass manufacture the fierce attitude I saw on the Byron Lars doll!)  Each designer was responsible for making the unique outfit that the doll wore.

The actual dolls will be unveiled at the Fashion Institute of Technology to coincide with NY Fashion Week.  The dolls will be up for auction to benefit Habit for Humanity as part of their "There's No Place Like Home" campaign. Habitat for Humanity is an organization whose mission is to build decent, affordable homes for low income families around the world.

I know I personally fantasized about Dorothy's flared blue gingham dress and the big pink pile of organza that was Glinda's ballgown when I watched the movie as a child.  You can see it inspired plenty of other fashion creators like myself.  The fact that it brought so many of them together for a great cause is that much more beautiful.   I can only hope they present them on a giant yellow brick runway... 

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Emmy Embroidery Red Carpet Stars

 Ah yes, my round-up of the best embroidery design from the Emmys Red Carpet.  My first group are my picks for pure glamour.  Connie Britton wore Naeem Khan's regal silk velvet and gold embroidery from the Fall 2013 collection that I loved from the runway.  She went from Diva to Queen the minute she stepped on the carpet.  Heidi Klum was stunning in Versace's "pomegranate" beaded dress.  The seams, beaded style lines and patterns added even more oomph to her formidable shape than she could possibly need.  Julianne Hough's pastel Jenny Packham dress was very revealing, but the dainty all over embroidery still kept it elegant with a classic Hollywood feel.

This group had the best use of embroidered details.  Amy Poehler's had these great embroidered fringed pockets on her dress by Brian Rennie for Basler.  My girl-crush Mindy Kaling wore a gorgeous plus face framing beaded neckline by Georges Chakra.  Katrina Bowden had a lovely jeweled waist detail on her gown from Badgley Mischka.

I dubbed this group my bride-alternatives.  I'm not saying they look like wedding dresses, but would look great for any bride seeking an unusual, but glam gown for walking down the aisle.  Kerry Washington's Marchesa dress had big, appliqued flowers embroidered in an organic pattern.  Julia Louis-Dreyfuss's beaded column by Monique Lhuillier made her tiny frame look statuesque.  Claire Dane's beaded white dress from Armani Prive was like an icy princess fantasy that was feminine yet modern.

Who wore your favorite Emmys Red Carpet look?
photos from John Shearer/Invision for Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/AP Images

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Favorite Looks from the Oscars

Academy Awards red carpet! For many, the trophies are irrelevant as long as you win here... Here is my round-up of my favorite Oscars fashion.  As always, I start with the most beautifully embellished gowns.  Catherine Zeta-Jones wore Zuhair Murad, who keeps designing strategically laid out beading that really flaunts a woman's curves.  Louis Roe wore one my favorite Monique Lhuillier gowns from the runway.  Zoe Saldana's 3D embellished bodice, I already loved when she presented at the podium, but when the camera panned away and I saw the ombre layered train of her Alexis Mabile dress, I was truly smitten.

Designers dressing for Hollywood often seem to be stymied by curves.  Here are three women who rocked it with their designers anyway.  Oscar-winning Adele looked beautiful in her beaded Jenny Packham.  Jennifer Hudson, with a lot less of her since her previous Academy Awards appearance, wore a sequin embroidered gown by Roberto Cavalli.  Channing Tatum's wife Jenna Dewan brought a whole new level of mommy-chic in an embellished lace gown by Rachel Roy.

I love this severe gold beaded collar on Salma Hayek's Alexander McQueen gown.  Not a fan of Kristen Stewart's red carpet looks generally, but the almost bride-like beaded tulle embellishments of her Reem Acra gown were very pretty.  Nicole Kidman looked like a an evil villainess diva (in a good way) in a sequinned, embroidered L'Wren Scott down.  Sandra Bullock is rockin' it in beaded Elie Saab. 

OK, Amy Adams in Oscar de la Renta and Jennifer Lawrence in Dior were just FABULOUS in their over-the-top giant gowns.  Yes, they have no beading, I just have a regressive fantasy about enormous princess gowns.  I even fell more in with J-Law when she fell on her way to receiving her Academy Award, showing us the realities of what wearing a gown that size can do... Even more love for her post-Oscar interview...

Images:: Jason Merritt/Getty Images North America

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SAG Awards Beading

Night and day, the gowns were at last night's Screen Actor's Guild awards.  As always, I pick my favorite embellished gowns for embroidery and beading.

Jenny Packham scored a lot of red carpet time with beading like a night sky on Jenna Fischer and edgy studded embellishments on Kelly Osbourne.  Nicole Kidman was elegant in a floral applique navy gown from Vivienne Westwood.

There were some terrific bridal alternatives to be found in the white dresses that came down the carpet.  Mad Men's Kiernan Shipka wore an off-white Oscar de la Renta dress.  Jayma Mays from Glee wore a flowering dress from  Georges Hobeika.  Kerry Washington continues to stun by wearing a Rodarte dress with a fantastic bodice that was a mix of hard studs and delicate lace.

Photos from Fashionista.com

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