Tagged: Versace

February 23, 2018

That dress x

So this dress has been causing controversy again, although not quite the same way as it’s ancestor did.

When Liz Hurley stepped out in her Versace dress in 1994 for the premiere of Four Weddings and a Funeral she was an overnight sensation, though not for her acting skills – she wasn’t in the film, her then boyfriend Hugh Grant was – she made the headlines for being an object of desire.

But it wasn’t the picture of Jennifer in her dress that made my eyebrows raise. It was this one, standing with four men.

Jennifer Lawrence has defended herself on Facebook writing:

‘Wow. I don’t really know where to get started on this “Jennifer Lawrence wearing a revealing dress in the cold” controversy. This is not only utterly ridiculous, I am extremely offended. That Versace dress was fabulous, you think I’m going to cover that gorgeous dress up with a coat and a scarf? I was outside for 5 minutes. I would have stood in the snow for that dress because I love fashion and that was my choice.
This is sexist, this is ridiculous, this is not feminism. Over- reacting about everything someone says or does, creating controversy over silly innocuous things such as what I choose to wear or not wear, is not moving us forward. It’s creating silly distractions from real issues. Get a grip people. Everything you see me wear is my choice. And if I want to be cold THATS MY CHOICE TOO!’

To Jennifer I say, many of us don’t realise the level of sexism we have internalised. We are conditioned by it, educated in it and live out our lives in it. You wore this dress because of an insidious undercurrent of rules that dictates female Hollywood stars should wear such dresses, full stop, regardless of the expense, the quality, the label, the fashion statement, the weather, or even what the men are wearing. You were expected to dress like this, you knew this and unquestioningly fulfilled that obligation. Where the ongoing problem lies is that you don’t see your behaviour as influenced and that’s where the sadness lies, because every time our daughters see a women, particularly a women proud to hold herself up as a female icon, refuse to acknowledge such an event or puts her well being second, or does something that reinforces the idea that being object of desire/cleaning/childcare is a woman’s primary role, we let them down. In the words of Charles Boudelaire:

The loveliest trick of the devil is to persuade you he doesn’t exist.

Open your eyes. The truth is, there should have been five human beings standing there, not four men and a beautifully packaged piece of tempting meat.

Laters, Kate x

February 27, 2013

The Oscars…

‘Whoever said money couldn’t buy happiness simply didn’t know where to shop’ said the infamous Bo Derek.

And what ‘shopping’ those Oscar A-listers must have had – imagine it – the great and the untouchables of the fashion world tripping over themselves to strew offerings at their dainty feet: Ripe, fat cherries of fantastical exquisiteness, gorgeousness and desirability paraded before them like the most delicious selection ever tasted from Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. Objects of such absolute beauty that just seeing them would make us mere mortals weep with emotion and combust with desire.

So how come so many of them got it wrong? And why was it so damn boring? Was it all just a process they went through, to get it ‘right’ whilst pretending not to care? The ultimate in princess moments, other than your wedding day, utterly lost on them? I didn’t want to write about the Oscars…but it has me in it’s grasp, my heart is quietly bleeding and knives are being prepared…

Prime suspect no. 1 – Jennifer Lawrence in Dior and Calvin Klein, photo by Getty Images.

Sorry, got confused….

I thought the mutated with ‘Gone with the Wind’ look was condemned to history a long, long time ago. For very good reason. I think of the modern woman and wonder why anyone would want to wear anything so restricting? – how does she actually sit or move?…interesting point…with…difficulty…..

Her second dress was not much better (photo by Getty Images)

Too low on the boobs, terrible colour reminiscent of bad eighties…and what does it do to her shape? reflects it back…as a pear! She was the leading lady of the night…just close your eyes for a second and imagine the choice she had…then times that thought by a thousand…

Another one with choice – Salma Hayek in Alexander McQueen.

photo Getty Images.

Her husband owns the fashion houses for Gawds sake. And she owns one of the most stunning pair of bazoomers in the business…where are they? Instead of deciding which dress to wear I swear she spent the time trying on different heads…

Amanda Seigfried in Alexander Mcqueen, photos Getty images

Maybe swapping with Amanda?…Terrible cut, dishwater colour – why grey? silver glitters..grey is white socks after 10 washes…

Amy Adams in Oscar de la Renta, photo Getty Images.

I rest my case. In my dreams I see a beautiful, graceful swan…a SWAN not a CYGNET ON SPEED…. And strapless – i’m not great with strapless…shoulders come forward to stop wardrobe malfunctions and the balance is not good with all the volume down below..And I’ll whisper this very quietly…how does she go to the loo? Does someone help her?…Are they paid?

Reese Witherspoon in Louis Vuitton, photo Getty Images

Strong colour, interesting optical illusion on the waist with the black – which does make her waist look tiny – but conversely runs the risk of matronly hips. You decide. Beautiful, film-star hair…my gripe? I’m not a fan of material that sits rather than flows..and I don’t like the straight cut across the boobs..

Brandi Glanville, photo by Getty Images...couldn’t find the name of the designer. Apparently they’re in hiding, although rumour has it that Brandi had a hand it designing it herself.. hands don’t spring to mind..an extreme version of why strapless should be avoided. Forever.

Kirsten Stewart wearing Reem Acra, photos by Getty Images.

Sigh. It is a car-crash non? Who was it that said ‘Dress shabily and they remember the dress, dress impeccably and they remember the woman’…

Jennifer Aniston wearing Valentino, photos by Getty Images.

Strong colour – but BORING – too much bustle not enough hustle…

Anne Hathaway in Prada, photos by Getty Images.

It wasn’t just the nipples.. the high neck… and the way the dress hung – it was also the fact that the staggeringly expensive necklace she was wearing kept fighting with the neckline of the dress…did you see a photo of the back?

Fight, fight, fight. Besides…I still haven’t forgiven Hathaway for crucifying the part of Emma in the film One Day…

So were there any winners?…you may be surprised…

Sally Field in Valentino, photo Getty Images.

Aged 66 and rocking it on the red. It’s the rouching on the bodice, the sheer arms, the delicate ruffles on the skirt, its the lightness of material in a colour with impact and volume that moves: as she moves it responds. Just Beautiful.

Halle berry in Versace, photo Getty Images.

It’s the very precise, clever beading. The illusion of a deep cleavage without fear of exposure – it’s tantalising not overt. It’s the curving on the waist, the strong but balanced shoulders projecting the perfect hourglass figure. It is classy and fabulous.

Melissa McCarthy in David meister and Adele in Jenny Packham,

photos by Lucas Jackman/Reuters

In the la la land of skiinnies and minis these two ladies impressed. I think Melissa’s dress could have done with a bit of a tweak – possible slightly more rouching on the waist to avoid the creases – maybe better underwear? but I love the concept – even happy with the darker grey. If anything, it was her hair that let her down – just too bouffant. Adele I love because she is herself – I am reminded of Orson Welles..’style is knowing who you are, what you want to say and not giving a damn.’ I even preferred the Burberry shorter dress she wore to perform in – really like her Burberry choices, and not just on oscar night..lucky girl. And her hair down? GORGEOUS.