Red Carpet Winners - MTV Movie Awards

 It was a sea of boring simple black dresses, the Red Carpet stars of last night's MTV Movie Awards were the ones that took risks and brought the out the color; lots of colors.  Lupita Nyong'o has been the hands-down winner of red carpet dressing this year and won the night again.  She wore a quirky arts project of a dress by Chanel that on anyone else, would have been silly, but had every fashion fan squealing instead.  The bright turquoise shoes, gun metal eye shadow and nerd glasses later on in the evening completed the best look of the awards.

Another art inspired look was worn by Jillian Rose Reed of MTV's Awkward.  While the strapless fit could have used a good tailor, the flared silhouette and painterly print was lots of fun.  I loved how the palette complemented her bright red hair.  The dress was from Angelys Balek. 

 Yes, I said there were a lot of boring black dresses.  The one exception was the Alexander McQueen gown worn by Nicki Minaj.  The rapper shocked fans and skeptics alike with a gorgeous, elegant makeover.  Her sleek hair, sexy cat's eye makeup was toned down from the looks we are used to, but the figure hugging black dress and teasing pattern along the side certainly did not reduce her impact and proved less can be more, even for Nicki.  The sculpted gold jewelry made her look like a queen.

Shailene Woodley always looked like the good girl with tasteful dresses and strong, tough characters.  It was great to see a more playful, sexy look last night.  The deceptively simple color of olive green was given a high fashion twist in Balenciaga's leather two-piece ensemble.  Those magnificent strappy heels? They are from Jimmy Choo.

Honorable mention goes to newlyweds Linda Perry and Sara Gilbert.  They had a great couples ensemble.  They wore similar, but not matching outfits.  Linda in charcoal suit with satin shawl collar with weathered t-shirt and rock n' roll pendants and belt buckle.  Sara also in rocker chic with leather blazer and hardware necklace in a different length.  The couple demonstrated the proper way to dress appropriately for the occasion and to complement each other.


Photos from Rich Polk/Getty Images for MTV,REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

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NY FASHION WEEK: Betsey Johnson Spring 2012

The Betsey Johnson show is one I most look forward to every season. Is it the fond memories of college? Or the fact that these are clothes I fantasized about wearing as an adult when I was eight years old?  I wasn't alone in this anticipation as other female photographers in the pit with me had the same giddyness prior to the show.  Whatever the reason, Betsey Johnson represents fun, flirty femmes.

For Spring 2012, our ageless Betsey sent some Punk/Goth Lolitas with a tongue-in-cheek take on skulls and bones. There were duo-sided skull prints, anatomically correct embroidered rib cage corsets and romantic floral skeleton prints.  Black and zippered tops and dresses.  Super bright pouf dresses were mixed with English garden rose prints in flowing long gowns.

The models were sassy, curvy and had a naughty attitude about them that told the men in the audience who was in charge.  Bright red lips with curls styled to the side had a hint of burlesque beauty.

Flamboyant fashion personalities Nicki Minaj and Johnny Weir sat front row to enjoy the festivities.  Of course, no show without Betsey's finale cartwheel, which she did (at age 70) and even ended with split.  She also gave credit to her daughter who more or less runs the 'bones' of the operation these days.

Always a party, models came out with big metallic balloons to celebrate the collection at the end.

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