The return of Celebrity Style Slam comes back with a real twist to the attitude and presentation. NY-based writer Nancy Lichtenstein who covers NYFW for me joins me in evaluating the fashion content seen on the red carpet. While we talk about the fashion winners and losers, you can weigh in with comments about our perspective.
We started with the Golden Globes and will also run into the Art of Elysium Gala.
Nancy’s comments are bolded, mine are not- just so you are clear on who’s talking.
Today is day three of Golden Globes Celebrity Style Slam.
(Nancy did day one; Barbra Horowitz – day two and this is day three)
Celebrities: Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey (RDJr’s wife)
Robert Downey, Jr.
Color
NL:
Okay, it’s rare to see a guy in anything on the red carpet other than black, but Robert Downey, Jr. happens to be a Winter who looks great in it. This tux appears to have a slightly bluish tinge to it, which works well with his skin and hair and brings out his eyes.
SW: It’s interesting. I always thought of RDJr as being a *winter* or pale skin, dark hair kind of person– one who wears black well particularly when he was in Iron Man. It’s a well-cut suit and has lovely satin lapels which are sort a “dandy’-ish effect which harkens back to Sherlock Holmes role. An interesting and more daring choice!
Shape
NL:
The cut of the jacket is impeccable–it looks like Old World tailoring without looking old fashioned. Guys, use this as an example of how things are supposed to fit.
SW: Note there are no gaps in the jacket sleeves or buttons. Also look at where the pants break on the shoes. Perfect! he has attention to detail– or someone does and he looks very comfortable in this very formal clothing– almost but not quite second skin.
Style
NL:
I’ve had a huge crush on Robert Downey, Jr. since his “Less Than Zero” days, which is probably obvious at this point. Putting me and my unfortunate penchant for sexually ambiguous thespians in recovery aside and trying to judge this objectively, I love the fact that he’s wearing a tuxedo jacket without a vest, a nod to one of the best scenes in Sherlock Holmes, where Watson demands he return the “waistcoat” he borrowed and then tosses it out the window of a stagecoach. He’s taking a classic here and putting a personal spin on it.
SW: (giggling at Nancy’s comments about RDJr.. though I think he’s adorable and such a bad boy, I am giving up “bad boys” for Lent. But then again, maybe he doesn’t qualify as a bad boy? Nah.. he does because of the roles he plays so darn well. )
Back to style — which “bad boy” is a style effect and Downey plays it up quite well. Love the pocket square though I believe it should have had some sort of pattern to it to make it more in tune with the tuxedo. That would have given it a bit more polish and panache and personality.
Hair/Accessories
NL:
The only place this look falls down for me is when it comes to the hair, facial and otherwise. The beard looks too much like those guys on the cigar boxes–is his next role going to be Inigo Montoya in a remake of the Princess Bride? The hair on his head is too in-between; it’s neither messy enough to be messy or neat enough to be neat.
The details on the jacket, however, which stand in for accessories, are again impeccable. Love the crisp white handkerchief, love the jeweled buttons/shirt studs on his shirt love the satin lapels.
SW: I already said my piece on the pocket square aka handkerchief. Needs to be satin or silk with a pattern IMHO and also what’s up with the lack of jewelry? No watch? No lapel pin? What about a great singular ring? Why? I know about the shirt studs but that’s not enough. it’s like he dropped the ball at the last minute – as if afraid he would be over the top.
Re facial hair, would have liked him with just a mustache or even a better beard. Clean-shaven would have been nice too. A good hair cut and styling would have been warranted. I would have loved to have seen a bit of a spiky front to his hair.. just to give the outfit some edge. But that’s just me– I like to create edge.
NL:
Overall Rating Four and a half stars (I subtracted half a star, mostly for the beard)
SW: would agree with this. I might have subtracted that half point more because of lack of any visible jewelry other than the shirt studs.
Susan Downey
Color
NL:
First of all I have to say that anyone who can stay happily married to Robert Downey, Jr. is a winner in my book! Re the color of the gown, black is always a safe color on the red carpet, but I wish she’d chosen something that set off her golden brown hair and eyes and her peachy skin better.
SW: Black isn’t her best color but then again, thankfully she didn’t choose any of those greiges and greyed toned purples and mauves. With her warmer toned skin and hair, she would have been better suited to a brighter hued warm toned gown but then again, she matches her husband.
Shape
NL:
The shape of the dress is fine; it shows off her hourglass figure nicely. My only issue is the belt, which probably was chosen to add waist definition, but in my opinion it cuts her in half, making her look shorter rather than long and lean.
SW: I actually think the dress is great on her. I am glad she used a belt to create some definition. The dress is pretty form-fitting. . I wish the belt were just different- something with a serious flourish to it.
Style
NL:
I’m not loving the style here. The black sequins are aging–it’s a bit too cocktail lounge 1972, and a bit too harsh. There were definitely much worse looks than this on the red carpet Sunday night, but she’s a natural beauty and I would have loved to see her in something that had a fresher feel.
SW: I think the dress would have been ok in this style if it were a different color. Think rust, deep green, yellow (where’s Reese Witherspoon when you need her). Take a chance and step out of the comfort zone and make a statement. This has been a great year for this couple. Their career arcs are in tandem and soaring. Why not leverage that feeling and show it off on the red carpet. I would prefer that belt with a different color dress and with a different fabric texture. Think satin and chiffon with that bejeweled flower belt now that would have been something else– with a form-fitting slip underneath, it would have been smokin’ haute.
Hair/Makeup/Accessories
NL:
Her hair is perfect–long loose waves are definitely the biggest hair trend right now. The makeup, not as much–I thought the smoky eye was also aging, and the peachy cheeks and lips which should have flattered her skin tone clashed with the black gown to me. I can’t see the bracelet clearly but it looks like it neither added to nor detracted from her outfit.
SW: Here hair is perfectly in tune with trend and waves are very tousled and sexy. The makeup works with her hair color and skintone- which she is a warm person and she has nothing but that near her face to give it some life. In other words, she needed more color on her lips– deeper in warm tones (and a dress in a different color. I know, I know. you hate hearing that again. I would photoshop this dress into a different color if I had a photo of her alone but I don’t!) Where is the necklace? How about great earrings? She’s strapless with lots of bare landscape which needs to have something going on. Ladies who wear deep V-neck dresses (that’s Lisa Edelstein, Mariah Carey ) or strapless dresses (Susan Downey) please try a necklace of some sort. Doesn’t have to be hugely statement necklace. I know what was available to borrow– there’s plenty out there that would have worked. Imagine cognac diamonds in a lariat and the bracelet with matching or coordinating yellow, chocolate and coganac diamonds– now that would have popped the color in the entire outfit and also into her face — giving her a glow.
(This is a spot where JillKirshColor.com would *really* make a huge impact. If you know what colors work best for you, it makes dressing so much easier, then that’s where the stylist comes in)
Anyone see a handbag? How about her shoes? Nope didn’t think so. That’s where Downey misses the boat. It’s the little things that make a difference.
NL:
Overall Rating: Three stars. Nothing terrible, but tweaking a few details here would have really done her beauty justice.
SW: It’s not a terrible outfit. Maybe 3.5 stars but not much more. it’s not a blow me away fashion home-run. It’s a nice outfit– just not the best she could have done.
Winner: Robert Downey, Jr.
Thank you to Nancy Lichtenstein for her amazing input and fashion sensibility. Seems we are pretty much in sync. We both love RDJr. .. Not so bad huh.
Stevie Wilson, LA-Story.com
Subscribe to RSS headline updates from:
Powered by FeedBurner
If you want to feature content from LA-Story.com, please remember to linkback to the specific page & please email the link to stevie@la-story.com
LA-Story.com, LA-Story Recessionista, Celebrity Stylescope, Celebrity Style Slam Trademark/Copyright: KBP Inc. 2007-10
