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 SAG Awards and maybe even Art of Elysium.
Nancy’s comments are bolded, mine are not- just so you are clear on who’s talking.
Celebrity Style Slam: Maggie Gyllenhaal vs Jaime Pressly
Jaime Pressly
Color
NL:
I’m not sure what the color of this dress actually is–I want to call it cream but I’ve never seen cream sequins before? At any rate, it’s a striking color and texture in itself but on Jaime Pressly, it’s a bit close to her own coloring to stand out. I’m a big fan of contrast, so I’d like this better on a woman with darker skin or hair, but in comparison to others I’ve seen tonight it’s a winner.
SW: I have to agree that Jaime is wearing a true monochromatic look from her eyeshadow to her dress to her hair. That’s a bit odd. How about a little contrast? This is a really beautiful dress but the color while working with her coloring is so close to hair color that it does nothing for her. (sigh0. Where was her stylist? On a coffee break?
Shape
NL:
The shape of the dress is fine, except for the asymmetry at the neckline. This is a huge trend right now, but the texture of the dress is complicated enough–it looks like a parquet floor made out of sequins, which is kind of cool (is there such a thing in home design? I want one!), but with this kind of fabric, the simpler the shape the better. I prefer the sleeve on the left shoulder and would have replicated it on both sides. On the other hand, I love the slit–way to be sexy and classy at the same time.
SW: What a great dress. Love the sequins and she’s amazing in it. It fits her body like a glove without allowing any flaws to show. I can’t imagine the reasoning for the assymetrical sleeves except that it’s supposed to create interest which makes no sense at all. Create interest with necklaces and other jewelry.
Style
NL:
On a night where style was in short supply, I have no complaints about this. Glamorous while still being fun.
SW: Other than the weird sleeves, she’s good on this — but the color makes it a bit boring instead of making it hot.
Hair/Makeup/Accessories
NL:
Her hair and makeup is kind of nondescript; again I’m reminded of Stevie’s caution to take it to the next level. On the whole this dress was pretty good, but she could have looked outstanding with the proper styling.
SW: Her make-up is so boring. It’s too monochromatic. Create a beautiful deeper toned eye color, add lashes and put color on those lips. A soft rose, a coral, a deeper gloss– but this is boring!
NL:
As for accessories, what is it with the matchy-matchy bags tonight? I know you need somewhere to put your lipstick and cell phone but if you’re going to bother to carry a clutch, why not make it interesting? I don’t like the pearl button earrings either, they are far too 80’s for me and add nothing to the outfit.
SW: Matchy matchy bags or no bags– it’s driving me nuts! I think that Pressly needs to step out on the edge and get creative. There are other bags available that would have been in the same tonal family (gold perhaps) that would have worked and a necklace with layers and longer bigger earrings. You have style, you are a beautiful woman– don’t go low-key , vamp it up!
NL:
The shoes, however, are a hit. I love the snaky detailing and would have loved to see it replicated in a bracelet that crawled partway up her arm.
SW: The shoes are the best thing about this other than the dress (as a separate entity).
Overall Rating: Three stars.
SW I would have done 2.5.
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Color
NL:
I would never have thought “salmon pink” for the red carpet, but I like it because it’s daring without being ridiculous, and noticeable without being overbearing. There’s not an awful lot of contrast with Maggie’s beautiful porcelain skin, but the shape of the dress is dramatic enough that she may not have wanted to add to the drama with a color that popped more.
SW: This warm coral is perfect for her skin tone. it’s complementary and it actually straddles the line between warm and cool. it’s not outlandish and it’s not boring. It’s extremely pretty with her eyes, skintone and hair.
Shape
NL:
Okay, you’ve been hearing me complain about “complicated” for days now, but this dress is complex–which means it’s complicated in a complimentary way. It looks like skilled origami, and the outlines are perfectly proportioned for her figure. My only quibble, and it’s a minor one, is that the fabric looks very stiff. In this photo there is a slightly uncomfortable resemblance to a lifesize awards ceremony statuette–I don’t see any movement in the fabric except for the skirt.
SW: This is one complex dress. I am not sure that it’s the best choice for her. She’s got an up-do which makes things even more complicated and it’s got a lot going on. The assymetrical neckline. the waist definiing insets and a slim sheath that suddenly blossoms out. Umm.. Less is more here. While thankfully she didn’t go crazy, I think that the hairstyle makes it look “uptight” and too stiff and forma.
Style
NL:
A list, leading lady, perfect.
SW: She’s worked it to the max. I just can’t say that I like the hem of the dress but she’s wearing it.. it’s not wearing her. She owns the look.
Hair/Makeup/Accessories
NL:
The hair, makeup and accessories are all simple but classic. Since the dress itself is a dramatic showpiece, I think they’re appropriate under the circumstances.
SW: I think the hair is overdone. Give me a soft wavy Bardot or Veronica Lake look and this dress woulld have blown the electrical fuses of the red carpet. The make-up worked perfectly, the accessories were simple (thank goodness)– but a change of hair style would have been IDEAL!! Can’t see a bag or shoes so there’s no comment to be made.
Overall Rating Four and a half stars. This is the best gown I saw at the Golden Globes.
SW: Four stars for the hair and the overly complex dress. C
Winner: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Thank you to Nancy Lichtenstein for her spot-on, incisive commentary. It’s really interesting because she’s on the East Coast and I am on the West Coast and yet we come up with similar conclusiions. (PS. I don’t see her writing until she’s finished the review).
Stevie Wilson, LA-Story.com
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