Fashion Faux Pas

Hello my two faithful followers and any other wonderful person reading this,

Today's topic is all about the 2011 Annual MET Gala in NY. For anyone who hasn't heard of this amazing event it is a Ball put on by the Costume Institute Benefit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
It is a time for all those famous celebs, fashionistas and designers to show off their idea of hot, or out there fashion, before attending an accompanying exhibition of a chosen designer or designers collection. This year it was the fabulous Alexander McQueen (Whose fashion house made the Royal Wedding Gowns) with a collection called Savage Beauty.

However, more often than not the fashion faux pas, and fashion hits, are seen on the red carpet rather than inside the exhibition - and today we will look at a sample of what went wrong and what went right. Just a warning though - these celebs are dressed for a 'costume gala' so the pieces are meant to be statement pieces, sometimes they may not be flattering.

HIT: Jenifer Lopez

I thought I'd start with a definite 'statement' piece that worked. Yes the colour is bright and the bolero is made of flowers but it is amazing. J Lo is over 40 and she looks younger and more amazing than a lot of the young girls there. The bright fucshia glows on her skin and the asymmetrical pattern and floral poof adds to the costume impact of the outfit. She keeps the hair and makeup simple to allow the outfit to have maximum effect. A stunning look.



SAVAGE MISS:


Oh Moonface my dear what was the look here - Spidey Girl cross Skeletoid. Yes, this is an outfit you would call 'out there' and it has a huge costume edge  but wearing expensive and amazing fashion is designed to make women look wonderful - not scarily thin and cobwebby. Christina Ricci usually looks so gorgeous but that night was definitely not one of her best.



FUZZY vs. KENTUCKY DURBY MISS

Known for her unusual and impactful clothing Serena Williams likes to make a statement. But this is not flattering. The colour highlights her tan but the fuzzy and ballooning waist and skirt doesn't show off her good figure - and the hat - oh dear - unfortunately looks out of place and too big ( the colour doesn't match either).
I think she needed to go with one or other. Hat or dress. If she chose the dress then an elegant up-do would help the proportion of fabric to skin and make sure she wasn't swamped in layers of tule.

RELAXED TOGA HIT -

Blake Lively is flaunting a new copper do that looks almost the same colour as her skin - but still works.  At first I looked at this dress and went oh dear... However, after careful examination I have revised my decision. The embroidery on the bodice is beautiful in its feathery metallic clusters, and I thought the toga covered all the glory up ( a shame) but - the Toga gives its costume edge - its out there elegant feel. It adds length and therefore doesn't come off as a run of the mill normal Blake glam flashy dress. The hair and makeup is great and she looks 'fresh' and 'Lively' to ring true to her name.


Overall, there were a lot more outfits I would like to talk about but there are too many. Despite more misses than hits this year it is comforting to know the misses could have been easily rectified with a few simple touches. So here's to another year of fashion and may 2012 see some edgy and dramatic gowns that try and avoid tiny fashion faux pas!

Love,
Rodarte

Fashion 'Popping' Colour

This post is all about COLOUR - a key component of any look, and how it can make or break the style you are going for.

Adding a 'pop' of colour can often be the way to enhance an otherwise toned down look and give it that extra edge that makes it fashionable. For example, if you decide to wear a gorgeous LBD (little black dress) which is relatively classic in shape and style, you probably would think of wearing matching black pumps (high heels) and a cute black handbag with diamond or pearl detail. However, this is not the way to go. This all black look or all white (or whatever colour look you choose) can look edgy and even chic but adding just a splash of colour definitely enhance the outfit. It will not shadow it but will instead bring out the details in the simple dress. The pop of colour can come from any where  you like as long as its small (in size, and is limited to one to two matching colour pieces) and works with the colour of your outfit. If the statement is to big this specific look won't work and instead it will just look like part of the outfit and not like a creative and chic detail (that hints at your fashion know-how).

This photo showcases (nearly) exactly what I mean. Here are two dresses (one Louis Vuitton worn by a model, and one extremely similar one worn by Leighton Meester). Leighton knows of the pop colour rule well and has dressed up her black and white dress with gorgeous red shoes that draw the watchers attention. It looks great, although I would say maybe adding a matching shade of red lipstick would have really pulled it off, or some red drop jewel earrings. However, despite this the effect is obvious, and the pop brings new life to the outfit that the same pumps in black would not have done.

Here is another wonderful example of popping colour worn by Angelina Jolie in an all black strapless Elie Saab gown at the 2009 Oscars. Here she wears the dress and matching black handbag with emerald green earrings and matching ring. It adds that extra colour and is so stylish - a perfect example.

So give it a go, don't go all safe in tonal colours (black with whites and greys) wear black with any popping colour and really add dimension to your outfit.

LoveRodarte xxoo

Boys and.... their clothes

So today is a post about men in fashion. Typically guys are not thought of first when it comes to being fashion forward but there are a few that definitely catch the fashion watchers attention in all the right ways.

Firstly, there is my newest favourite...... Xavier Samuel
Not only does he have a quirky/hip sense of style but he is Australian! The way he pulls it off all has to do with his combinations. And for all of you men out there the combination for great dressing falls into four simple rules.

No. 1 - To wear an outfit you must remember one thing... If you wish to wear a statement piece only wear one at a time.
For example if you wish to wear you loud blue AC/DC tshirt tone in down with an unbuttoned  cotton shirt and jeans. Don't go for the jason Mraz hat and scarf as well, but wearing layers can work wonders just as Xavier shows...

You have to admit, the boy's got style... (the jacket in this case is the statement piece btw)



Rule 2 - Pick your colours - But not just one!

If you look good in black, that's awesome but you don't need to wear it all the time. Look at greys and whites and little blues and greens as well (whatever suits your complexion)

Rule 3 - Guys always look good in suits - its like a man in uniform - but to dress it down a tshirt with a suit jacket or button down with a loose skinny tie and jacket looks just as good sometimes. An all colour suit can look really edgy as well - black tie, shirt, pants jacket and shoes - but that does not mean it works for all colours - reds, blues, greens (oh no) because then it can get ugly!

Xav is always willing to help out.... see it does look very suave - but Ashley although beautiful, is swamped by this oversized all black combo - see it doesn't work for everyone.

And finally Rule 4 - if the weather permits - LAYER - it adds depth to the look, but don't layer if it will overcomplicate the look...

For day wear:

Start with a tshirt and an open, or half buttoned cotton long sleeve. (sunglasses)

For cold weather:

A tshirt, a cardiagn (or zip up) and your jacket - faded denim or leather look good - even suit jacket..

But jazz it up and pick tshirts that express your style, or jackets that you simply love.

It is a lot easier for guys as long as you know what your doing when it comes to colours as you can remain totally fashionable without looking over the top if you pick the right ones!

(P.S Thanks Xavier for all your help!)

xx LoveRodarte



We need a reform - a fashion mind makeover

I usually dress in a more understated pastel/ pretty girl way with lots of whites and lite blues - but sometimes I like to jazz it up and add some colour and here in Australia it just isn't going to happen without me standing out in a big way. People in the fashion capitals around the world have a special license I like to call 'fashion freedom' which allows them to express their taste for fashion daily through any chiche/eclectic/bold way through their designer mixes; whether they be through pattern combinations or colour infusions.
This is sadly however a luxury I don't have as having a fashion forward look (colourful colour mixes/complete girl chic/Audrey Hepburn style) would seem out of place in Australia. You walk around NY and you will see ladies wearing big hats and gorgeous retro vintage, but here, no! We are not able to wear high fashion with out looking out of place.

London is another example - bright colours there are the way to go!

That's a bright mustard yellow trench with a denim underdress and a purple faux  scarf with a green avocado bag and black retro boots with stockings. I mean wow! Obviously its very out there but it achieves its purpose and can be admired, not stared at in shock!
An example of my non-existant fashion freedom was when I was desperately wanted to wear my brand new Kate Shade purple silk skirt with a turquoise green silk blouse - but then had to stop to remind myself that I would be made a spectacle of - simply because wearing statement cloths is 'OUT' of the norm.  No doubt if I would have done this, and worn the outfit, my friends would have probably wondered what was wrong with me as they stood there in their jeans and t-shirts. In London however, this would not happen, here if you wear loud colours people stare, people maybe think you're even a little eccentric, espically if you topped the out fit off with red patent leather heels and a blueberry Oroton bag. But in NY, you would not have a problem. Yes, not everyone wants to dress up all the time, or has the time/money to but I bet we would all like the license to be able to wear exactly whatever we like, and not be stared at weirdly or thought 'loud' through our clothing.

So here is a beautiful example of what I mean - Yes not everyday wear but Gabrielle Kelly pulls it off.

NY it would work - Australia it would not.

Fashion begins.....

Many people adore the up-market high street fashion that adorns the NY, London and Paris Fashion Week Catwalks; but recently I have found that some of the larger designers are cropping up in smaller less advertised fashion shows.  This in turn allows more people to view their fashion, adore their fashion, tell others about it and then hope to or buy their fashion. This trend is one I fully support, because places in the front row or even the back of fashion week are extremely hard to get and being able to view the new sparkling D&G, Gucci and Chanel fashions in small unknown locations is a gift to those who can only dream of fashion week. So please keep this growing trend up fashion leaders and you will make many people like me very happy! Next time I hear of upcoming fashion shows in Aus and will be sure to post the details.

Finding a voice through fashion

This being the official first blog @fashionforwardfantasy I would like to welcome you all. Today i open this blog as a personal outlet where I can talk about fashion and explain my struggles to express myself, and my hidden love for high look fashion. You wouldn't call me fashion forward, and I am not the one strutting the catwalks in designer Rodarte, Marchessca and Valentino but how I dream.

So welcome one and all. Here's a little pic that I found today to start our daily fashion fix. Oh how I love the swirling of colours and waved bodice structure!