83rd Academy Awards Red Carpet

Subdued, calm, respectful.  As the New York Times coined it – a “plain jane” red carpet.  And while yes, it was a very toned down Oscars Red Carpet, I found it quite respectful and appreciated the subtle touches of glamour.  There were a handful of favorites on my list, and it seemed as they each stepped out of their car, I was captivated, eager to see exactly who made the dress and what it looked like from head to toe.

While there weren’t a lot of risks taken tonight, another way one might critique it was that the women knew how to dress (or their stylists knew how to adorn them), so that they stood out instead of just the dress doing the talking. Gwyneth Paltrow has to be at the top of my list. To watch her Calvin Klein Collection dress move was enamoring and to wear it, from the audience’s vantage point, looked like it would be wearing silk-like gold, moving with your body with ease.  However, there were many stunning gowns.  Mandy Moore’s dress looked gorgeous on camera and the sheer fabric on her neckline was a beautiful facade (the image below doesn’t do it justice.) Below are ones that I’d like to share. I’d be curious to know what you thought.

Gwyneth Paltrow – Calvin Klein

 

Mandy Moore – Monique Lhuillier

(To see this dress on the runway, Monique Lhuillier Spring 2011 click here.)

 

Anne Hathaway – Valentino

 

Michelle Williams – Chanel

 

Jennifer Lawrence – Calvin Klein

 

Cate Blanchett – Givenchy

 

Mila Kunis – Elie Saab

(To see this look on the runway – Spring 2011 Haute Couture, click here.)

 

Jennifer Hudson - Versace

 

Halle Barry – Marchesa

 

Sandra Bullock – Vera Wang

 

Celine Dion - Giorgio Armani Prive

 

Reese Witherspoon – Giorgio Armani Prive

 

Hilary Swank – Gucci 

All images – People or InStyle

Halle Berry – Vogue US – September 2010

Are you ready? 726 pages of fall fashion.  A tremendous increase from last year’s September issue of 584. The September issue of Vogue has been revealed and will be officially on newsstands August 24th.

Photographed by Mario Testino, styled by Tonne Goodman and interviewed by Jonathan Van Meter, Halle Berry appears on the cover with a Anna Wintour-esque bob in a bevy of rich, lush designs. The above photo is without question my favorite, as she poses in an Escada dark-plum velvet dress with knotted open back.

Berry, 43, is the first black woman to appear on Vogue’s September cover since 1989 when Naomi Campbell became the first on the coveted September edition.  Prior to Campbell, Beverly Johnson, in 1974, graced the cover Vogue cover, followed by Oprah Winfrey (November 1998), athlete Marion Jones (January 2001), Halle Berry (December 2002), model Liya Kebede (May 2005), actress Jennifer Hudson (February 2007 and first lady Michelle Obama (March 2009).  

In explaining why the Academy Award winner finally agreed to do an interview she states, "What that means for a woman of color and what that means in the fashion world, what that means to pop culture, there was no way I could say, 'No, I'm not going to be on the biggest issue of the year.'"

To read the full interview and see the entire collection of images, click here. And on a tangent note, the documentary The September Issue which goes behind the scenes to show how Anna Wintour and her team at Vogue put together this most sought after fashion issue, will air on A&E this September 25th at 10pm eastern time, so be sure to set your TiVos/DVRs.

In a Marc Jacobs velvet dress with diamond ruching

Vera Wang amber draped velvet corset top and skirt

Giorgio Armani midnight-blue velvet gown with shoulder wing

Giorgio Armani black velvet cocktail dress

Images courtesy of Vogue