Award Ceremonies - Fashion Heaven or Fashion Hell?

Yes, it's that time of year again. A few weeks ago we had The Golden Globes and on Sunday evening it was a double whammy of The GRAMMYS and The BAFTAS, leaving room for only one more, The Godfather of Award Ceremonies…The Oscars. Naturally I was glued to the TV on Sunday night and not because I was desperate to see who won Best Supporting Actor or Best Country Music Album, but because I was desperate to see who was wearing what. The Awards Season is a fashion playground for celebs and is the perfect excuse to dress up and look fabulous. They have their pick of every glorious and glamorous gown out there, as well as every designer worth wearing wanting to dress them. And if that isn’t enough, they also have a dedicated team of people whose only aim in life is to make them look 100% perfect. I think it’s pretty safe to say that what I am describing is every girl’s dream. Unless you don’t like wearing beautiful dresses, or looking pretty, or walking down the red carpet next to Brad Pitt.

So surely after weeks, months and maybe even a year of prepping and polishing a look for every ceremony, wouldn’t you expect these gorgeous ladies to look nothing less than amazing? Well I’m sorry to say that if you did expect this, you would be very wrong. I was weeping on Sunday night and could barely look at the television without yelling ‘Sack the stylist!’ Take Kate Hudson for example who I think we can all agree is a looker. However from her choice of gowns she seems to have forgotten that she is in fact, pregnant. Compare and contrast with the beautiful Selma Blair who manages to look elegant and sophisticated whilst being heavily pregnant.  I know which stylist I’d sack. 

And pray tell, what dead feathered creature is that around pop star’s Kimberley Walsh’s neck? Sadly it seems to be hiding what could be a stunning dress. Jordin Sparks is a gorgeous woman with curves in all the right places, but who chose this colour? Her dress makes her look like an extension of the red carpet. And will someone please explain to me why on earth RnB sensation Ciara looks like she’s just stepped out of Disney’s Aladdin? 

My theory is that these beautiful ladies have stopped listening to their fashion gut. We all have instincts and those who listen to them are generally the ones who get it spot on. It’s that niggling feeling you get if you know an outfit doesn’t feel right or that wonderful confidence you feel when you know it’s perfect. It’s that last look in the mirror just before going out when you think to yourself, yes this works, or more importantly no this doesn’t. And when it doesn’t it work, believe me you make it work.  So after 25 outfit changes and your bedroom resembling a scene from World War 2, if it still isn’t right? You don’t go out. However the difference between celebs and us, is that they have an entourage of God knows how many people telling them what to wear, how to wear it and constantly telling them how ‘fabulous’ they look. It’s bound to get confusing and no wonder celebs have stopped listening to their own fashion gut. 

All I can say is thank goodness for the celebs who did get it right and managed to save the day for everyone. Nicole Kidman dazzled in Jean Paul Gaultier and Harry Potter star Bonnie Wright managed to look like she had been walking down the red carpet for years looking effortlessly stunning in a timeless Prada gown.

Good luck at the Oscars ladies, because we’ll be watching and we don’t miss a trick.

(Not So) Safari Chic

Well let me begin by wishing you all a very Happy 2011! Hope you had a fun & drama free New Year!

We've just got back from a rather interesting Safari adventure...I honestly don't know how anyone can possibly carry off 'Safari Chic' in 40 degree weather. The heat was absolutely unbearable - and it was that  attractive sticky heat where you are permanently sweating. And don't get me started on all the bugs. I think when God created the world he basically put all the bugs in Africa. More specifically in the area that we were staying. My mosquito repellent became my third arm - I even slept with it under my pillow. It really puts that 'Oh my god get that daddylonglegs out of my London home' scenario in perspective. Anyway, back to the heat. So all my beautiful clothes stayed firmly at the bottom of my suitcase and I basically lived in my bikini and sarong (still unbearably hot - but at least the sarong allowed me a bit of a breeze!)

We saw some wonderful things - think Lion King meets Dumbo. Driving through the bush with a breeding herd of elephants on my right and a graceful, willowy giraffe on my left, with the wind blowing through my hair and the sun on my face, I just kept thinking how amazingly beautiful our natural world is. The sunrises & sunsets, the colours, the animals, the atmosphere has been incredibly inspiring and you will see a lot of these influences in our new Spring / Summer 2011 Collection. It was a fab way to see in the new year and we're now ready to face whatever 2011 throws our way!

(Featured photos: Now this woman can do Safari Chic. Erin Wasson for the March 2005 edition of US Bazaar.)