Color You’ll Be Seeing At Proms Everywhere

The award goes to… the color red! Continuing the trend from the Golden Globes, if there’s one definitive awards season color trend it’s playing match the carpet. We’re not won over by Anne Hathaway’s red Valentino, but Sandra Bullock was beautiful in Vera Wang, Rhea Durham (Mark Wahlberg’s wife) in Naeem Khan was one of our favorite uses of red, and Jennifer Lawrence’s Calvin Klein dress isn’t the most memorable, but is a choice that would be almost universally flattering. Penelope Cruz is beautiful, but we’re not crazy about her L’Wren Scott dress.

Best Dressed Minimalist

How do we decide this one? Gwyneth Paltrow was a bit flashier in Calvin Klein with Louis Vuitton accessories, but we loved Reese Witherspoon’s white-trimmed Armani Prive black dress as well. There will probably be a bit of disagreement over Witherspoon’s Barbarella-worthy hair, but with an understated shape and colors, we think it’s the perfect pick for a bit of experimentation as far as hair and accessories go.

Best Dressed In a Real Life Transformative Role

Jennifer Hudson’s had a number of transformative life experiences, and they seem to have all given her a level of fashion confidence that she didn’t have when she first walked away with Oscar gold (also made, by the way, in Hudson’s hometown of Chicago). We only have one descriptor for Hudson’s tangerine Versace dress and overall look – wow!

Best Style Newcomer

We’re still not totally sold on her Prada stripes for the red carpet, but overall Hailee Steinfeld has been killing it this awards season. She didn’t disappoint in embellished Marchesa last night, and we sincerely hope Steinfeld continues to get great roles because we’ve become quite attached to seeing (and loving) her style picks.

Best Demonstration of Ageless Style

Helen Mirren in Vivienne Westwood. That is all.

Best Representation of Classic Hollywood Glamour

Hilary Swank’s sequined and feathered Gucci dress and upswept hair were nothing but glamor. The “inspired by” dresses are going to look like a disaster, but the original is pitch perfect.

Best Negative Publicity Deflection

Remember that nasty potential custody battle Halle Berry was gearing up for with model ex Gabriel Aubry? No? Thank that lovely Marchesa dress.

Best Use of Accessories

Amy Adams’ shimmering, dark blue L’Wren Scott dress was a favorite that continued the all over sequin trend, but we couldn’t stop looking at the huge, vibrant green emeralds on her neck and wrist. The Cartier jewels were worth a reported $1.35 million and looked every bit of it.

Best Fashion Risk

Cate Blanchett is sure to end up on the worst dressed list for those who like their red carpet fashion safe, and this is definitely one that takes a strong dose of personal style to pull off. Blanchett has plenty of that though and the circular bodice, beaded accents and architectural sleeves on her Givenchy dress work for her.

Best Dressed, Quaker Edition

Florence Welch in Valentino is a lot more buttoned up than the red carpet looks we’re used to seeing, but in a very (very) classic Little House on the Prairie way it’s a unique look that stands out without the normal glitter and jewels that are the standby way to stand out, and Welch pulls it off.

Best Oscar Impersonator

Valentino Garavani. The only man with a patina that Oscar would be jealous of.

Best Dressed In a Supporting Role

You know who doesn’t always get credit for fashion choices? Oscar dates. Camila Alves (Matthew McConaughey’s wife), Sunrise Coigney (Mark Ruffalo’s wife) and Rhea Durham (see: top of the page) may not have been up for any awards themselves, but Alves and Coigney were every bit the leading style ladies in grand black dresses that deserve an award of their own. Alves wore Kaufman Franco.

To be fair, this isn’t totally new. Jason Preston, the one time boyfriend of designer Marc Jacobs has his paramour’s brand name tattooed on his forearm. While the ink lasted longer than the relationship, at the very least it’s an inking decision lots of other people have made and come to regret.

Unfortunately, it seems a different kind of brand tattoo (that has nothing to do with love – not the normal kind, anyway) is taking off, for people who’ve decided that temporary brand tattoos aren’t cool… REAL brand tattoos are cool. Racked introduces us to the Louis Vuitton tattoo, and the Gucci face tattoo.

Call us old fashioned, but what happened to tattoos with names of family members or loved ones? While there may be something to be said for brands creating the kind of loyalty that would make someone want to permanently associate themselves, we can’t help but hope this falls under trademark infringement since it definitely doesn’t fall under good taste.

“Her style is her big shoulders, long legs, tight jeans, sleeves up to the elbow, one hip out. I personally like her. Sheâ€s a handsome French woman. She has a style, but is it enough to make a whole magazine?” the designer queried. {Styleite} Lagerfeld said he would reserve judgement until after a few Alt-helmed issues of the magazine were released, but given the rarity of actual criticism in fashion it’s always kind of nice to have someone willing to say what others may be thinking.

It remains to be seen if Alt’s personal rock chic style means preferential treatment for brands (who are also clients) like Balmain, Isabel Marant and Gucci, or if she can broaden her focus to include a more diverse style range. Rumors around Roitfeld’s departure suggest that it was in part due to brand advertisers who felt they weren’t getting enough editorial love, and pay for play placement in the form of consulting and freelance gigs for those who did appear. {Fashionista}

So while some may have demanded change, will Alt simply be more of the same? For readers who liked the magazine under Roitfeld, that might not be a bad thing. For those who felt they weren’t getting a fair shake under Roitfeld, perhaps it’s not the change they were hoping for.

Nevermind the lack of content – right now, as PC World points out, you’d be lucky to get a choice of more than 2 or 3 television channels with 3D content, and movies? Well, they’re bundled up in exclusivity deals that means your choice of Avatar or Monsters vs. Aliens could be tied to which set you’ve decided to go with.

Cooler than disposables? You can now have designer 3D shades just to cover your face.

But forget that. Movie studios have jumped on board, probably happy that there’s one thing the internet can’t beat them at yet. The box office success of 3D films, combined with the difficulty of replicating the experience at home means that the whole multi-dimensional film craze isn’t likely to die down for a while.

Reports of fecal matter and bacteria found on the glasses given to moviegoers in theaters may have a few 3D enthusiasts considering an investment into their own pair of glasses. {Gothamist} And for designers, the consideration doesn’t come a moment too soon.

Oakley has a $150 pair coming just in time for Disney’s Tron Legacy, and Gucci and Armani Exchange have both announced plans to sell their own versions in time for the holiday season. Gucci’s ring in at $225, while Armani Exchange  is actually the bargain of the bunch at $58. {LA Times} While $58 doesn’t seem too high a price to pay for knowing exactly where your glasses have and haven’t been, are the others really worth the investment?

We’ve been keeping you up to date with the all the new technologies emerging left and right- along with the fashionable accessories designed to complement them!

The newest must-have gadget, the iPad, now has sleek, trendy and stylish accessories from major designers. If you don’t want to scratch your diamond studded iPad, Louis Vuitton has a case coming in 2011, Gucci’s taking pre-orders for their version now, and Hermes is putting together “special order” versions with matching headphone holders. {Fresh Mess} Oscar de la Renta, however, beat them all to the punch when he sold iPad covers on his website. Much to many of the viewers’ surprise, the cases, originally called iPad clutches, actually made an appearance on his recent resort runway fashion show. {Purse Blog}

Continuing to tap the fashion-technology market, a new collection of iPad cases in various colors and embossed patterns are now available at OscardelaRenta.com. For a sign of their popularity, the cases – pardon us, clutches, have their own link at the top of the site, right next to Ready to Wear, Accessories and Fragrances.

For us, the flap and nameplate cheapen the design and make it a bit too generic. The snakeskin is at a reasonable price though ($390 compared to $360 for Louis Vuitton’s single purpose canvas version), and we do like that the people over at Oscar de la Renta are thinking multi-purpose. How often is it that your laptop bag doubles as a large purse, or briefcase? While the iPad is designed to reduce some of the bulk of a laptop, space for a few extras is a welcome difference between the de la Renta clutch and other designer covers.

The PR CEO start of Bravo TVâ€s “Kell on Earth” spoke to a small group of editorial interns, fashion-obsessed youngsters and public relations entrepreneurs at the Bryant Park Reading Room Series Wednesday, and she had a quite frank earful on the future of fashion, replying to a girl asking about where to look for a career in the field by saying:

“Style is in; fashion luxury, forget it. It’s over. Gucci, Vuitton, Hermes … all those places are really great, go for it. That business exists in a city called Paris, France. That’s where that is. Those businesses will continue. Retail business, pretty much over. I think people who sell to retail companies are people who can’t afford their own stores … Old Navy, J.Crew, Gap … they already knew that and aren’t wholesaling. Editorial, magazine, we are going to say buh-bye to them as we know them. They will still exist but everything is on the internet.” {The Cut, Racked NY}

On the one hand, tell us how you really feel, Kell. On the other, Bravo Kelly! She may be over dramatizing a tad in regards to luxury and retail being “pretty much over,” but it is about time someone spoke up about the hard realities facing fashion, especially in the editorial department. Times are changing, and if the dominant players in the industry want to continue to grow their businesses, they need to learn to adapt.

Persistent efforts on the part of luxury retailers to understand the youth market is a great start, but New York Magazine says the fashion industryâ€s biggest mistake is its strange fear and avoidance of the Internet, specifically social networks and blogs, citing the long series on the “future of fashion” Style.com runs in which they ask important fashion businesspeople like Barneys’ Julie Gilhart about the Internet.

We agree. Even when the big brands try, they don’t always get it right. Considering that the Internet has been a major force to be reckoned with for years now in many industries, fashion magazines and businesses still have a lot of catching up to do. Until revenue from web advertising catches up to revenue from print advertising though (they’re still miles apart), we suspect the wait won’t end soon.

Former Gucci/YSL creative director Tom Ford is known for bringing sexy back during the ’90s, but he’s well on his way to being recognized as a film director in his own right as well.

For his debut film A Single Man, which showcases the chops of acting giants Colin Firth and Julianne Moore, Ford receives great accolades from critics who perhaps weren’t expecting something so sensitive and beautifully poignant from the man who introduced cut-to-there velvet hip-huggers in the mid ’90s.  Publisher and Ford acquaintance Lisa Eisner states plainly that “when people think of Tom they think he has sex a million times a day” — an image which seems to contrast with that of serious filmmaker.

We’re pleased that Ford’s foray into cinema hasn’t turned into something gauche and lusty, and after learning more about A Single Man we certainly look forward to adding it to our [ever-growing] movie list.

Read the full story {NY Times}

After the “elimination” of the Vice President of Communications position formerly held by Karen Duffy whose responsibilities are now being divided by Zac Posenâ€s mother Susan and long-time Director of Public Relations and Celebrity, Alexandra Smith, major layoffs are expected to continue to shake the showrooms of Posen and now… Gucci! While it may have been a foreseeable regret for a new label like Posen in these tough times, it’s an even more devastating defeat for fashion powerhouse Gucci. Chanel had a round of layoffs that affected mostly contract workers, and luxury makers in general have had a difficult 2008. There have been glimmers of hope that economic difficulties wouldn’t continue to 2010, but these recent developments make us wonder. If fashion heavyweights are still shedding staff, just how long will it take for a full recovery? With investors in other sectors returning to the table, we hope that retail and fashion aren’t far behind.

Read the full story {Daily News}

Dolce & Gabbana do not disappoint with this bright and bold luxury sneakers. With metallic highlights and a color blocking design, these high tops are for the most outgoing wearer.
Stivaletto Multicolor sneaker
size: 40 41 42 44
$537
Buy here

Mason Martin Magriela is known for his bold experimental designs. Conveyed through a shoe, it’s surprisingly not outrageous. This high top leather sneaker dons a cougar mid growl. If you are going sport anything by Margiella expect to grab some attention.
High top leather sneaker
size 12
$240
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Ralph Lauren’s slip-on sneaker gives a shout out to something you might see on Hugh Hefner while scurrying around the mansion. Made of navy velvet with gold embroidery logo and tan leather lining you are apt to spend more time at home like Mr. Hefner.
Dracin slip on sneaker
size 13
$185
Buy here

Gucci has the largest selection and some of the best designs when it comes to lux sneakers. Every design is definitively Gucci: relaxed refinement.
Beige GG canvas web stripe sneaker
size 9
$296
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The idea is to introduce a new limited edition sneaker at each international pop up store , held for only two weeks, starting with NYC then Miami, before moving to Europe and Asia. Like any world tour these items are going to sell out faster than Jonas Brothers tickets to a line of 12-year-old school girls. But what is the big deal afterall?

For starters they are made for exclusivity, so one literally has to travel to each pop-up store around the world for access to each style of shoe. If you are that lucky gent to grasp a pair, there is the option to have your initials embossed onto a customized leather tag on the shoe laces. These shoes are limited by time, distance and style. The tour starts October 24th. Good luck Gucci groupies!

Read the full story {hypebeast}