When preparing for the Oscars red carpet as a stylist, it is always important to have a handle on the seasons trends and mold those subtly into each individual's style and figure flattering ideal gown. For 2014, some of the hottest trends include those risqué see-through panels you've been noticing on almost nude celebrities, lace, florals, and color blocking.
While lace and color blocking appear more self explanatory, peekaboo panels and florals must be done with care, especially when being considered for The Oscars. You are able to take more risks with The Golden Globes but for THE Academy, it's important to opt for standout, flattering looks to be pulled into the best dressed lists. Recently Paris Hilton stepped out in a dress that was more boo than peek. For The Oscars, we adapt those open illusion panels to side shaping cutouts, keeping a safe distance from those more risqué areas of the body. For florals, you would never want a client to walk the red carpet looking like Kim Kardashian in your granmother's drapes or upholstered sofa cushion. Instead, I look for watercolor looking florals, bright pops of color amongst a black backdrop, or florals done in panels as opposed to an all over print. These artful adaptations of 2014's hottest trends can make make the difference of being on the best or the offensive side of Joan Rivers' Fashion Police recap.
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| From the Reem Acra runway show, a riskier but acceptable dare to bare gown from the runway. |
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| Paris Hilton at a pre-Grammy party leaving much and nothing to be desired all at the same time in this tasteless version of the sheer panel trend. |
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| Nia Long in a black Jovani grown with an appropriate amount of risqué sheer panels on the 2014 Critics Choice Awards red carpet. |
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| Kim Kardashian's Givenchy floral gown at the 2013 Met Ball was compared to Mrs. Doubtfire and a grandmother's ugly sofa. |
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| Designer Kati Stern of Venexiana shows more tasteful watercolor florals from the Spring 2014 runway. |
Speaking of the Fashion Police, Bitch Stole My Look teaches us an important lesson in copycat styling. From designers to stylists, it is ever important not to duplicate looks to avoid the most unflattering comparisons; in this instance there is always a clear cut loser. For this very reason, many fashion designers will only lend one dress per event making the competition amongst dress stealing stylists even more fierce. When considering options and contenders for various red carpet goers, think: who wore what during last seasons' red carpet parties, think outside the box, and opt for something you or your stylist are 100% confident with so if the most unfortunate duplicate look does occur, win or lose, you know you rocked it. This year I had my own Bitch Stole My Look moment when Lena Dunham stepped out in a "copycat" marigold yellow dress from Zac Posen to my own Badgley Mishka 2013 selection. This look was both "been there, done that," and a lesson to young starlets to recruit the help of the professionals instead of working directly with a male designer. "Zac [Posen] told me to make an S with my body. That's what I was told to do and let's hope an even okay moment arises from it," said the Girls star. The result was a childish hunched look which seemed to shrink her stature and become engulfed in the mermaid gown. Could this gown have been styled better with the advise of a seasoned stylist? Ironically Kim Kardashian's train wreck floral was also the result of a skipped stylist, straight from the designer's selection. Keep in mind these designers are used to designing for pin straight models; us girls with figures need to adapt their trends to fit our own style.
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My very own Bitch Stole My Look - me on left wearing Badgley Mishka at the 2013 Ellie Fund Oscars and Lena Dunham in Zac Posen at the 2014 Golden Globes on right. |
Whatever you style is or what risks you want to take for the red carpet or your own black tie affair, it is important to wear something you feel confident in, taking trends lightly, mixing in what works for you own effortless "Best Dressed List."
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