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.
Nancy’s comments are bolded, mine are not- just so you are clear on who’s talking. e? So used to texting you my immediate reactions I don’t know how to censor myself anymore!). It totally overwhelms her petite frame. The deep V could be sexy but it’s so in contrast to the ruffle explosion it just looks nuts.
The Grammys: Adrienne Lau and Colbie Caillat
Adrienne Lau
Color
NL:
Don’t tell anyone at New York Fashion Week this or it might lose me some invites, but I actually like gold lamé in small doses. It’s totally over the top in most settings, but if you can’t go wild at the Grammys, where can you? However, the style of this dress is so screaming for attention that I have to vote overkill.
SW: I have to agree with Nancy. Lame, sequins, glitter, embellishments and lots of metallics can be used judiciously when done carefully –based on style of apparel.
Is the Grammys the place? Yes– where else would you see a GUY walk the read carpet in jeans, athletic shoes, a hoodie, tee and a basebal cap (let’s save that critique for another time!). There have been outrageous outfits at the Grammys– much worse than this one– but this one has it’s own faults.
Shape
NL:
The skirt of the gown is great–she has some of the best legs I’ve ever seen and it nicely showcases them. The bodice is a WTF moment.
SW: While I giggled at what Nancy wrote, it’s so true. This woman has an over-the top wedding cake type dress with the ruffles, deep v-neckline and then her bust is showing to an almost “oops, something slipped” moment. Lau has nice legs but that doesn’t mean giving an “almost” naughty show with the bust visibility– though I am sure the guys loved it. (And dudes, you know who I am talking to)
Style
NL:
To borrow a phrase from Project Runway, this dress lacks taste level. While the Grammys are definitely the place to go wild, this is just high-priced hooker (and I’m being generous with the high-priced part).
SW: This dress doesn’t just lack taste level, it has no taste. It’s overkill. Who was her stylist? She should get her money back. if she borrowed this and didn’t see what we see in the photo, there is something wrong with her self awareness. This is fun for a private party, but not for a red carpet moment — despite others who have shown a lot more at the Grammys they often had someone accompanying them that justified the bold move. Or maybe this is just one of those “Little Kim” moments.
Hair/Makeup/Accessories
NL:
I can’t quite make up my mind about the hair. It’s flattering to her face but it’s a bit stiff and a bit matronly. Definitely at odds with the dress.
SW: It’s overwhelming her face and body, making her top heavy along with tthe bust exposure. it’s dwarfing her. Better to have gone with straight hair and stood up straighter and taller. Or how about a partial updo? She looks like one of those joke wedding cake toppers.
NL:
The makeup I like a bit more–love her eyes, just wish there were more saturated color on her lips to balance out her dark hair and dramatic eyes. We’ve all been told a million times that you do dramatic eyes, simple lip or dramatic lip, simple eyes, not both, but the truth is that while that works for lunch dates, on the red carpet you need enough color to balance the strobe lights.
SW: The make-up lacks depth. Where — or who- -are the pros who worked on her? Maybe she didn’t have one but everyone knows (or should know ) that walking a red carpet much like walking a runway, means you have to really layer on the make-up to be seen because the lighting washes you out.
NL:
Adrienne Lau gets some serious points for accessories though. The giant gold beads, not so much–good job wearing a necklace but the line isn’t right for this neckline. The shoes, however, are gorgeous, and I love, love, love her purse. I’d like to see the red repeated subtly at least one other place in the outfit to anchor it–maybe earrings?–but at least it’s not a boring black clutch or matching her dress fabric.
SW: Ditch the necklace. Too much gold! Better to have gone with pearls with gold or longer strands of studded golden chain– but with delicacy. Shoes are great but they are again overwhelmed by everything else and aren’t seen.
Why is everything gold? Contrast is a good way to create balance, style and edge. This just looks llke Pebbles Flintstone done in gold. The handbag is also gold– no no no!! Too much matchy matchy makes her look out of touch and lacking style. How about a blackened gold or a small minaudiere with gemstones?
Overall Rating Two stars, mostly for her shoes and purse.
SW: Nancy is overly generous: One star for the shoes. Everything else just doesn’t work.
Colbie Caillat
Color
NL:
I’ve been dying to see someone in a bronze gown this season and I finally got my wish. This is perfect for her tawny coloring.
SW: Totally agree with Nancy. This suits Caillet perfectly in color. It makes her skin glow.
Shape
NL:
Love it, love it, love it. It gives her an hourglass shape and shows off her great legs. Also, it has the asymmetrical hemline trend going on but the tulle bottom adds some elegance, as does the detailing at the neckline.
SW: I like the bodice a great deal (accessory talk later). The way the upper half of the dress shapes her figure is perfection! The netting however doesn’t do a lot except expose skin. (hmm self-tanner would have helped here- or tiny fishnets). She’s got a great figure, why not stick with what’s working and finish it out with a slight slit in the leg line but skip the net.
Style
NL:
Classic without being boring, and totally suitable to Colbie Caillat’s looks and style. I’m not a huge fan of sequins, but look they start out saturated on top and become intermittent by the hemline–it reminds me of a constellation of stars, which is a good thing to be reminded of on Grammy night. My first thought when I saw this gown was “where can I buy that?”
SW: My first thought was let’s cut the netting off and allow the fabric to continue wrapping itself around her body and decrease the embellishment accordingly. Caillet has the body that can wear that kind of style– a close body-conscious fit. I have seen her in person with her about 10 feet away. She’s got a great body. Don’t distract from it by adding fussy netting.
Hair/Makeup/Accessories
NL:
I love her loose waves and the highlights framing her face. An updo might have been too stiff for this gown on this occasion–it’s perfect.
SW: It’s a great way to make this look more glamourous without going over the top.
NL:
I’d like to see a little more pizzazz on her face, however. This is a very monochromatic look and it needs a tiny pop of color of shimmer somewhere to brighten it up.
SW: Monochromatic make-up doesn’t work when the colors are all the same as the dress– you might was well not be wearing any makeup. She needs dimension, contrast and contouring and that’s done with color. Plain and simple and any good make-up artist (and I know many) can do it.
NL:
I’m not seeing any accessories here, apart from her shoes, which appear to be appropriate. This is a glamorous gown, some glamorous jewels would have taken it to another level.
SW: The bare neckline begs for something to cover the broad landscape. Champagne, cognac, chocolate pearls or diamonds would have been stellar. I see a ring but no bracelets. With all that bare skin (particularly because of the netting) you need something to keep the eyes going up to the face. Colbie needs earrings and a couple of slim bangles or one major cuff. Plus she needs a great contrasting multi-dimensional/colored bag (think champagne, gold, bronze, black in a pattern of lace or stripes or something! that’s small and not overwhelming.
Can’t really see the shoes. When you wear netting you should have some interesting shoes.
Overall Rating: Four stars. Love the gown, she could have stepped it up a bit with the accessories.
SW: I am not that generous. 3.5 stars for her lack of accessories and make-up. She’s got a great figure, show it off — but that doesn’t mean bare it. One can be entirely covered and show off every dynamite curve. She’s still got a lot going for her though.
Winner: Colbie Caillat
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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