On missing pink. And pretty dresses.

Posted by: Kim

Once upon a time in the fall of 2005, I decided I wanted to dye my hair brunette. Jen was fully on board with this idea and offered to help. To no fault of her (although it is arguable that both of us could have been a little more hasty when considering the possible outcomes of applying very dark brown Duane Reade hair dye to blonde hair), 30 minutes or so later, the water in our shower was running purple.


Thus began my Goth Period, if only in hair. Once in a Starbucks the barista asked if my eyes were fake, so drastic was black hair to my overall appearance. I was pretty much a vampire, before they all had gold eyes instead of just really light eyes.


Anyway, 12 months and numerous visits to a stylist later and I finally had normal colored hair again without massive damage, and now am an adamant salon-goer. And I have achieved several different shades of brunette hair over the past few years, and liked it. However, it doesn't hold well and upkeep is expensive and I am saving all my money to quit life and travel the world, and so finally a few weeks ago I decided to go back.


I have sort of been regretting it ever since, because, despite the fact that blonde is in no way a first-time thing for me, I suddenly find myself convinced that I can wear no colors other than shades of blue, and can confirm in no uncertain terms that my hot pink headband with the palm trees on it seriously loses impact against blonde hair.


So every pretty dress I have encountered over the past week, of course, has been pink.


Up first, Marion Cotillard:




This is just So. Cute. Come on. It is. And it's a spinner, and I want it, and I would probably wear it three times a week including to work and Trader Joes. And I would spin. Alas, convinced it would wash me out right now.

And then we have Blake Lively:



Before someone inevitably and immediately jumps up to inform me that Blake is blonde and I am dumb/shallow/a huge bitch/recession unsympathetic/etc., I know that (she is blonde, not the other stuff). But pretty much if you googled the opposite of what I look like, all thousand feet tall of Blake Lively would probably pop up (except we both have kind of ... abundant ... hair), and so she can do magical mystical pink things I cannot. Also I don't have a spray tan. Anyway. Look how great this is! It is the pinkest thing I have ever seen! And I really like her shoes, and I would also wear this everywhere and glow in the dark and love every second of it. If it would not look absolutely ridiculous on me. Which it would. Sigh.

Btw, pink is not my favorite color. It probably really comes across that way, but I swear I type in pink and Jen in blue because in college when my mother would send us Easter baskets she always themed mine pink and Jen's blue and we found that sort of hilarious.

Edward Cullen Goes To The Oscars

Posted by: Jen

So this weekend I was indisposed and confined to my bed, sipping chocolate and delicately coughing into a handkerchief while eschewing visits from various suitors, so I had to watch the Oscars because I don't have cable. I, like Kim, usually hate awards shows but found Hugh Jackman and his crazy dance numbers to be thoroughly entertaining. I also drooled over the dresses. And for once, I had SEEN most of the movies that were being mentioned, so I actually felt more involved in the show. This is what people who like sports must feel like when they watch their team play!

Now, while I loved Slumdog and Dev and Freida and I am so happy they won, like, everything, I do think Benjamin Button got shafted because seriously, seriously, that movie made me cry straight through. For three hours. So I think it should have gotten something, because even though Brad is a little annoying now because he's all perfect with Angelena and like, saving the world and not working on his abs, he did do a REALLY good job and I must say I am a fan. Actually, if they had just given Best Supporting Actress to Taraji Henson I think I would have been satisfied, because she also did a REALLY good job and it would have recognized the movie without taking away any of the awesomeness of Slumdog.

Ok, now on to the important things. Apparently, Robert Pattinson thought that he had to dress IN CHARACTER to go to the Oscars:

I kid, I kid. However, boy could use a trip to St. Tropez after spending all winter in London. You know what guys? I think R. Patz (thanks anon poster), is suffering from the Chuck Bass Syndrome -- you know, the one that Ed Westwick is afflicted by -- in which an actor portraying a certain character begins to believe they are actually the character. Seriously guys, R. Patz is about three seconds away from smearing glitter all over himself, I swear.

Next, although Kim somehow managed to miss this in her all encompasing Oscar Dress roundup, this, ladies and gentlemen, is my favorite dress of the night and exactly what I would wear to the Oscars if I were invited (Edward Cullen, call me):

YES! Leslie Mann! Well played my dear, well played! Of course you would wear a flowing, perfectly cut disco ball gown to the Oscars, it only makes sense! I love it so much. WIN!

I made a 2009 Oscar Dress Yearbook. Enjoy.

Posted by: Kim

So, the Oscars were last night. I did not watch (cue the shock and awe, I'm sure). I did hear some crap about how some of the celebrities were asked/chose not to walk the red carpet to boost ratings of the telecast, to which I give a big WTF on behalf of photographers, and, especially, designers.

I mean, hi. If Prada dresses Jessica Biel, famous of late for, you know, dating Justin Timberlake, in an obscenely expensive set of table linens, then I'm sure Prada would like the world to be able to see her stand around and give little fluff interviews in it for a while. Seriously.

While arguing about this with a woman at work, I was informed that the Oscars should in fact be more revered by television viewers because "you watch the World Series, right? Same thing!" I obviously proceeded to laugh for about 20 minutes at this analogy, because wtf ever. Watching the top two teams of the season play off against each other is infinitely different than watching actors, as themselves, sit and look at a stage. Though I did hear apparently Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron brought musicals back or some such business. Still not intrigued.

Anyway, I looked up the dresses today. It would appear the predominant theme was 'Wedding Dresses,' 'Princess' or simply, 'White' or lastly, 'Blue.' This resulted in both wins and fails a plenty. Onward for my superlatives, including a parenthetical Win or Fail as I'm sure my ramblings are sometimes unclear. *Also as I edit this epic post, I realize it is also confusing that I put the superlatives above the photos instead of below. And now I am too sick of doing this to fix it. Apologies. I think you'll figure it out though.

Most Likely To Be The Favorite (or at least Most Talked About Dress Amongst ... Everyone?: SJP in Dior Haute Couture (WIN. Duh, ball gown, princess,
you know I love it, XOXO)

Most Likely To Cause Internal Debate and Strife For Hours Do To Being ENTIRELY Angle-and-Lighting Dependent: Anne Hathaway, in very sparkly Armani Prive, amazing from this angle, other times too mermaid-y (overall, WIN)

Most Likely To Garner Praise For Not Being Black, Which Until Now We Are Pretty Sure Was The Only Color She Was Aware Even Existed: Jennifer Aniston in ... I do not know. Someone tell me? (Overall ... um ... pass. No, win. For being so cute with John Mayer. No, wait ... I don't think I really like it. Uh. NEUTRAL.)

Most Likely To Have Made Me Scream WANT WANT WANT Had I Actually Watched The Show: Marion Cotillard, also in Designer Unknown But I Would Be Really Happy To Find Out (WIN. Come on, it's like a never-appropriate-for-any-event-except-princessing dream dress created in HEAVEN, hi. I mean, unless you hate tulle ... which is entirely possible.
But it's my post, suck it.)

Most Likely To Star In My Most Recent Wedding Day Fantasies: Penelope Cruz in Balmain. Also, um, who? I must learn. (WIN)

Most Likely To Star In My Wedding Reception Dreams Momentarily IF I were One Of Those Women Who Would Ever Dare To Change Out Of Her Wedding Dress Early To Party While Dressed Half Like A Flapper and Half Like A Bedazzled Country Singer: Carrie Underwood, in I Didn't Even Bother To Check Who Made This, It's Just For Fun (WIN. Carry on, Carrie. I love you and your country sparkles.)

Most Likely To Be The Dress I Would Actually Wear If I Were Ever Invited To The Oscars, Because If I Wore Marion Cotillard's Jen Would Tease Me and Even Though It Would Be In Jest And Love, I Would Still Become Self-Conscious And Change: Angelina in Elie Saab and freaking awesome fun jewelry. (WIN, because even though it's kind of boring comparatively it's also pretty perfect, and, FUN JEWELRY OMG JAZZING IT UP. This is kind of how I roll.)

Most Likely To Be The Dress Everyone Swoons Over But Kim: Taraji Henson in Roberto Cavalli (NEUTRAL. I mean, it's fine. It fits her perfectly. It's simple and pretty. You'd think I would adore this. But I feel ... not much, really.)

Most Likely To Be The Tween Star in a Dress Better Than Miley's: Vanessa Hudgens, in Marchesa (WIN. She looks so pretty! I would look a fool in this, but it's awesome on her.)

Most Likely To Draw Comparisons To A Mermaid Despite Being One Of the Few NOT Wearing A Mermaid Silhouette, Instead Opting For Three Of The Other Big Looks Of The Night, Which As We Discussed Were Princess, White And Blue: Miley Cyrus, in Somebody I Didn't Look Up. (WIN -bet you thought I was gonna fail her, eh? But actually, while at the gym I was staring at silent followup coverage of the show's fashion and this picture doesn't do it justice. I mean, it is kind of as ridiculous as it looks in this picture, but she also looked pretty great in it, if I'm being honest.)

Most Likely To Confound Me By Maybe Being Awesome But Also Being So Pepto But Maybe That Pink is Awesome Too?: Natalie Portman, in I Don't Know Who. (UNDECIDED. Leaning toward WIN.)

Most Likely To ... Snore. Oh, sorry. Right, Boring. And Somehow Making Me Not Dig Black Lace, Something I Usually LOVE: Kate Winslet in Yves Saint Laurent. (FAIL. So there, Kate. Except you yourself look stunning. Btw, congrats on the Oscar.)

Most Likely To Remind Me Of That Time Blair Waldorf Wore Valentino's Headband Version Of This Dress and It Was SO MUCH BETTER: Amanda Seyfriend, in Valentino Haute Couture. (FAIL. Um, ugh. Also, did she even get to try it on beforehand? Because I'm trusting it was not designed to look 45 sizes too big for her.)

Most Likely To Be Adored, Despite Being Kind of Terrible: Freida Pinto in John Galliano. (FAIL. That's right, I FAILED Freida! And Galliano! And yes, I love them both. And yes, I love Slumdog Millionnaire along with the rest of the world! And yes, that's a pretty color blue! And yes, I am still FAILING Freida despite having WINNED MILEY CYRUS A FEW DRESSES UP. But it's true. I don't like it. Pfft.)

Most Likely To Double As Spider-Man's Prom Dress: Amy Adams in Carolina Herrera. (FAIL. Yes, despite the awesome color, and, you know, Carolina H. But I think the necklace has possibilities.)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Posted by: Kim

I love Valentine's Day! I know, you're shocked. Anyway, since I can't give you Godiva, I'll give you a win and a fail from the Heart Truth Red Dress Show, because what is better than the beginning of Fashion Week and bright red? Right? Right.

WIN:

Hilary Duff, in Donna Karan. She looks so elegant! And adult! And this dress is basically Kate Winslet's royal blue one from Whatever Awards Show A Few Days Or Weeks Ago, except minus the weird draping or whatever it was that was happening at the bottom, which is to say it improves upon something that was already pretty good! Excellent.

And, FAIL:

Oh, my. I sincerely hope Amanda Bynes is more graceful than I am (highly likely), because if I tried to strut the catwalk in this negligee-pretending-to-be-a-dress, the front row would most certainly be getting up close and personal with my ... undergarments. Anyway, apparently Swarovski designed this for the show. I didn't know Swarovski designed anything except crystal, actually, and I'm thinking maybe the world would be a better place if I were correct. Oh well. At least Amanda's got the legs to pull this off (and I have a vague apprehension she probably didn't get to choose this dress for herself anyway, so I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt), though I would like to point out that if she were wearing tights, "TIGHTS ARE NOT PANTS!" would be rampant among critiques of this look, but, um, she's not even doing that. Eep.

I Want Mischa Barton To Be Our Friend

Posted by: Jen

You know what, despite not knowing Mischa Barton to be anyone other than Marissa Cooper, and since knowing her only as that has led me to "meh" feelings about her because Summer and Seth were CLEARLY the stars on The OC not matter how hard they tried to make it all about Marissa and Ryan (oh, GG, do I see a pattern with Josh Schwartz backed shows in which the leads are boring and the "secondary" characters are awesome? Perhaps).

Anyway, as Fashion Week in Paris is upon us, I have had the opportunity to see more of M (I am going to call her that because it works for BOTH Mischa AND Marissa!), and I will say, I have taken a liking to her. First her awesome yellow dress and now this:

Yes! It is M celebrating her 23rd birthday as all 23 year olds should: in a fabulous fluffy/feathery dress, complete with ironic tiara, all wastey faced. I love her. I am here by adding her to our Dream Team of friends, because if anything, she will bring some fun to our parties!

Also, I don't care if you can act M, it's fine. I wasn't floored by your performance as Marissa. Maybe you should change the game and just be a fun socialite who dresses well and parties most excellently and gets paid for it. We all know that's what I would be if I had the rich parents/hair for it.

I'm back!

Posted by: Kim

And there was another awards show I could not care less about the other night, which meant I got to stare at dresses when I felt like avoiding work!


Apparently the theme of the Sag Awards this year was One-Shoulder, and in most cases it appears it worked. My favorite was Evan Rachel Wood, though I hate hate hate her accent clutch and shoes.


So, when my (and Jen's) friend Sam got married the summer before last, I wore this color in her wedding and it was tough. I tanned for it. Not in a booth or anything, but sort of obsessively (and through sunblock, because I'm pretty obsessive about that too) on the beach for a week. Her wedding was beautiful and so were the pictures, and I like my share of light colored polos and headbands as much as the next girl, but I've always been iffy on formal pastels as a rule (I wore a strapless black ball gown to my high school prom in the year 2000, better know as the Year of Lavender, Spaghetti Straps and Butterfly Clips, if that's any indication). However, I loved Slumdog Millionaire (and am so psyched that apparently the rest of the world did too, and Freida Pinto was so good in it and she is so pretty and this dress is so pretty and she fortunately does have the coloring to pull it off, so, it's on my list. Also her diamond bracelet is killer.



I would probably wear this everywhere if there was any chance in hell I could fit even one of my boobs in it. Lucky Claire Danes. I think it's so pretty. And I guessed Carolina Herrera but it's Nina Ricci.

That's all. Have at it, haters! I know, I know. I'm from the East Coast and all, so...

If you're looking for a fun, reasonably priced holiday dress ...

Posted by: Kim

... allow me to point you in the direction of the Gap.

No, really. I'm sure you're having one of two thoughts ("the ... Gap? For realz?" or "Yeah. Obviously Kim would like the Gap.") and neither of them are exactly positive, but, I swear. Cute. Affordable. If I didn't have a closet so full it's starting to wake me up at night covered in a cold sweat of shame and guilt, I'd be all over half a dozen or so on the site.

As it is, I leave it to others. I'll shop vicariously.

www.gap.com

Buy (Red) Save Lives while you're at it.

Another contender for My Birthday Party Dress of 2008

Posted by: Kim


1) Hey, America Ferrera looks fantastic. Yay, America!

2) Um, I can has?

3) It's Oscar de la Renta. I suppose I can't has.

4) Jen, don't you have those shoes?

5) Really, though. Can somebody point me in the direction of a knockoff/ripoff/something you made yourself that looks exactly like that and you want to give to me/some free money?

People are being jerks today, so I'm looking at dresses instead of working.

Posted by: Kim

Dear Whoever Purchased My Birthday Party Dress of 2008,

Give it back. I need it. Unless you've been stuck with a Christmas-week birthday for going on 27 years too, you don't deserve it as much as I do.

XOXO,
Kim

The amazing site I found this on is here, and I would wear roughly 75% of these dresses. Unfortunately, roughly 85% of them call for a 23-inch waist. I know waistlines were higher back in the day, but ... I'm still thinking no.

I've been looking for an awesome gold dress ...

Posted by: Kim

Nicole Ritchie looks awesome and I want this dress:



In other news, I wanted to go look for pictures from tonight's Gossip Girl solely because I almost fell out of my seat when B sent C the "You win. Tonight." text (you know, pre-Dan Humphrey sucks, pre-America's collective heart breaks) and he received it while descending a staircase wearing a purple sweater and was totally the Hottest. Thing. Ever. I swear I'm a Nate girl, but, what? Maybe I'm not anymore? (Right, like that's even possible). But wardrobe is doing something way right this season with the Bass-tard, cause boy looks good walking away ... and approaching. And ... always. So yeah, either they've stepped up or they were doing something wrong by Ed Westwick last season, because I did not used to drool this much. I don't even know what I'm saying at this point, but, damn. Purple sweater. I know Jen approves of purple.

Anyway, right, I wanted to go look for pictures, but, I think I will wait until they come to me and go watch baseball until I fall asleep instead. Computers are hurting my eyes lately.

Also, I don't want the Phillies to win the World Series. That is all.

Too tired too function. Will mindlessly daydream up places to wear couture instead of attempting social interaction and/or general human activity.

Posted by: Kim

Weird week, too much work, too fast, too much vodka, too much talking to people I didn't think I'd be talking to, too much apologizing for things that don't matter, too much cold, too much Claritin, not enough glasses of water per day, and where the hell is my amazing Sephora lip gloss?!

I like next week better already, but, until then, here's a really pretty dress:


Reese Witherspoon in November Vogue.

Jen, remember when I said you could wear whatever dress you wanted in my wedding party? I changed my mind. It might be black tie, and this might be the MOH and BM requirement. I'm sure you won't feel like paying your rent that year anyway.

Spring = Flowers and Headbands. Well. Who Am I To Disagree, Actually?

Posted by: Kim
(... ... where are the colors? I am supposed to be pink.)



So, while I was watching Boston get all massacred last night, apparently Lauren Conrad was showing her Fall '09 line at something called 'LA Fashion Week' (oxymoron, y/n/maybe?). I cannot find any photos from the show, but according to the comments on the Fug Girls' article about the affair, it included flowers and headbands. You'd think I'd be intrigued, but, I'm still put off by her 'designs' up until now including jerseys, and ... jerseys. And jerseys.

Apparently she and Heidi may or may not have made up, though! And it sounds like this mystifying 'LA Fashion Week' is just as glamorous and prestigious as you'd expect, complete with dumpsters, reality tv guest lists, and, you know, less-than-designers. Read about it here!

But Lauren did wear the above, and looked very pretty. The flower-child May Day pagan-ista headband is at least slightly less obnoxious than the similar ones the All-Bright hipsters have been sporting with their American Apparel dresses, so, there is that.

Dresses!

Posted by: Kim

The Emmy Awards were last night. I didn't watch, for a multitude of reasons, including: 1.) I was watching the Yankees game (wtf?); 2.) Um, well, I only watch Gossip Girl and no one was nominated, not even Chuck Bass!; 3.) I'd probably rather spork my eye out than sit through a parade of celebrities thanking god and their mom and using the moment as a platform to spew their political views all over me (I mean, I know I spew my political views all over this blog sometimes, but, not when a simple thank-you post would suffice). But I do love the Day After Awards Shows Fashion Roundup, and so, my thoughts:

The Winners!

Debra Messing in Monique Lhuillier. Classic black but the opposite of boring.

I didn't know who Evangeline Lilly was, but Google told me I should as she is on the (Allegedly) Greatest Show I Never Wound Up Being Into, Lost. Anyway, this dress is awesome and so I love her.

So I'm predictable. I'll never be able to lay off the ball gowns, but I'm pretty sure I can think of worse things to have a weakness for. Nicollette Sheridan's royal purple is gorgeous.

Olivia Wilde looks. Like. Juliet! This is so pretty and feminine and I WANT it.

Vanessa Williams has a LOT of trends going on at once with this dress, and she's rocking them all. It'd be tough to pull off, but it's awesome.

The consensus of the style snobs seems to be very positive for Sandra Oh in Oscar de la Renta, and I'm not dissenting. She takes a lot of risks with fashion, and this time it definitely worked.

Christina Applegate, working a tough color, tough pattern, tough sillouhette, AND a train. She'd get points for just pulling it off in my book, but it's also really pretty.

The B-for-Efforts!

So, after all the buzz about Lauren Conrad designing her own gown as well as the one for the Miss Emmy or whatever, this is what she comes up with? It's ... pretty. It's very pretty, actually, and I would totally wear it and love it. The color is fantastic. She looks beautiful, but, she kind of is beautiful, so. I don't know. I can't knock anything about it, but. Meh. I guess I expected more.

Heidi Klum is stunning and very sparkly, but, well. Draping is a trend I approve of, but, this goes a little far. I mean, does the top part detach for a less cumbersome look or what?

America went for vintage and I want to love it. I should love it. Everything about it screams, "Kim, you love this!" But there's something I don't love. I think it might be the length. I feel like, as a short girl, America probably altered this to that length so that it didn't eat her, but, it still kind of does. Maybe another three to five inches up and I'd love it? I do think her shoes are pretty great, though. And her red lipstick.

The Losers!


Uh. I mean, Kate Walsh has got a rockin' bod and all , but, wtf is this? The gargantuan rosette on the boobs? The alternately shimmery tiers? I feel like Express made tank tops that looked like this a few seasons ago, and I didn't like them then either.

Oh, man, Marcia Cross. I like girly things, like pink and lace and flowers and ballet. But. Wow. No. Just no. Not at all. I'm hot and cold for Elie Saab in the first place, and this is just a miss for me altogether.


Sigh, I would really like to like this. The stark, heavy patterned white-with-black look is difficult. When it's done well there's something awesome, almost retro about it, and very clean. When it's (more often than not) done poorly, it looks cheap/garish. This comes so close, with the flirty, a-line sillouhette and the chic litle belt, but, ruining Lisa Edelstein's (I used to <3 style="font-style: italic;"> House, btw, Lisa!) decent attempt is the crappy black tulle peeking out, turning this from maybe-nice to maybe-from-Rave/Wet Seal/Delia's. The orthopedic-y looking platform shoes aren't helping either. Oops.

Sure, Kathy. Dressing up like a wedding gift the drunk MOH barfed all over will be lovely.

More from Fashion Week!

Posted by: Kim

Jen brought you Carolina Herrera, who, as noted, executed flawlessly for Spring '09 (my personal fave is the following red party dress, which I'd pretty much wear everywhere, for everything, and starve myself to continue fitting into for the rest of my life).


Today I bring you my girl Diane (von Furstenberg, if you're new), who brought dresses, and brought them big time. Colors! Girly! Girly! Love!

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/S2009RTW-DVFURSTE?viewall=true


(Jen, will you wear this to my DVF-themed birthday party? I would, but I'd look dumb in it.)

(I'll wear this one, providing I don't look too short. We can skip the Indian princess headbands.)