Good morning, Tuesday. I thought today was Monday until, well, right now. Hoo boy...today was one of those days when I began walking to the gym this morning and promptly turned around, craving another half hour sleep with my man baby and fur baby than a date with a ballet barre and shaking thighs. I know. Crazy, right?
So apparently there was some kind of big shindig at the Met last night, huh ? For those of you not on the fashion inside lane, last night was the big fashion event of the year, the ball at the Metropolitan Museum of Art honoring the new exhibit of the work of Charles James, a famously wacky and brilliant American couturier known for his spectacular evening looks. Incidentally, and perhaps this was a Vogue mandate, nobody on the red carpet wore a dress by him. Why?
I'm going to go very much on the record and say as someone who loves and often lives for fashion, these events get worse every year in terms of their ability to inspire, awe, and empower women to be their very own fashion icons. I'm not sure why every fashion event is now a Hollywood one as well- it just does not work for me- and they are not, and should not be, hand in hand. I can't understand why fashion can't be celebrated for the brilliant and beautiful thing it is, without the constant twinkle of Hollywood lights. Ugh. Enough about that.
And though high end couture was the supposed theme of the night after last year's punk debacle, the theme really should have been "trying too hard". Way too hard. In a world full of dresses and juice cleanses and chaturanga'd perfection, how is it possible to get the dress so damn wrong?
I love the color of Reese's gown. But I'm bored with starvation. Really bored with it. Eat something. Damn. And why does Jay Z. look so emaciated at the top of this post with Lady Bey, who ruined a perfectly good dress from Givenchy with a veil. Some people shoudl not be left alone with fashion...
Anna Wintour's Chanel dress was not good at all. What's up with her? SHE COULD HAVE ANY DRESS ON THE PLANET.
Even Hollywood fashion untouchable, Lupita Nyong'o got it way, way wrong in Prada.
And though I may be in the minority, I did love SJP's dress- she's the rare Hollywood type who is a real fashion girl, and Oscar's signature did not bother me. I think it's like signing a work of art, and I have no problem with that when it comes to a beautiful dress.
Of course Kim K in Lanvin. It's nice. It's not horrible. But is it interesting or even elegant on her? No. Not particularly. Because SHE HAS NOT AN OUNCE OF STYLE INTUITION. NOT AN OUNCE. Yes, I'm shouting. I am so sick of her. And even worse, I'm bored by her interest to be a real fashion player. Just be your trashy self and go away. Run. #tryingtoodamhard
And Kate Upton. Oy. Menopausal Italian housewife anyone? Ugh. And double Ugh. I think Dolce and Gabbana may not be in their right mind at the moment with that prison term looming, but don't take it out on poor Kate. She's gorgeous, and this look is a bigger crime than tax evasion.
And Lena Dunham. Why? She is a brilliant woman with a brilliant show. She will never, and should never want to be Carrie Bradshaw. This is not a girl who is comfortable wearing designer clothes, and it shows. I wish she would stop trying so hard. I really do. Just be your weird little hipster self. It's fine by all of us, trust me. You are not a hero for anyone over a size whatever by wearing clothes this way. Honest, you're not. Put down the fashion, Lena. Put it down.
I did like Kristin Stewart's Chanel. It was a fashion risk that paid off, as did Marion Cotillard's gorgeous navy Dior. The shoes though? Non.
Since the dresses were not so great, thank goodness for two piece looks, many of which were really successful. Two piece is the new one piece- if you're young, fit, and up for it. Anne Hathaway in red Calvin looked amazing. Emma Stone in two tone pink Thakoon was everything. EVERY.THING. Anna Kendrick in black and white J. Mendel was sublime and captured the intended spirit of the night. Gabrielle Union's two piece Prada felt so sexy, modern, and cool. I LOVED it. And though the skirt was divisive, I can't help but like Zoe Saldana's bodysuit and skirt by Michael Kors. I just can't.
In the crazy beyond crazy category, Johnny Depp. I mean. Jesus. Talk about being a method actor. Why can't he just not dress like some weird period acid trip ventriloquist dummy all the time? Poor Amber Heard. She's got to be craving some Kate Moss era Johnny right about now. Just because one gets older, it does not mean one has to go off the rails.
And Neil Patrick Harris and his man look RIDICULOUS. I'm angry at that inch. That inch of leg that does not need to be shown. I get it's some kind of Thom Browne short pant thing, but really? Looks horrid. And stupid.
Successful dresses for me in the one piece category were also had by Jessica Pare in b/w Michael Kors and Lauren Bush and David looked lovely in Ralph, though his little chain vest thing is a little creepy, but they really did look like American fashion royalty to me- effortless, at ease, and natural. I also loved Leighton Meester in Pucci, below. Gorgeous. I love a gold dress, and I love the shape of this. She looks comfortable, in a sexy way.
And special shout outs to my two favorite bugs, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. Say what you will, but I live for them and they can't do wrong. They love fashion, and that's that. Vintage Chanel and Ferre? Yes. Overly conservative and dark? Yes. Completely fabulous? Yes again.
And though I don't like to end on a negative note, I have to say- Katie Holmes, fire your stylist right now. This yellow trash bag of a dress from Marchesa and that messy hair is terrible. And though many loved Karolina Kurkova's dress, I hated it. Because I hate Marchesa and I'm not afraid to admit it. I have said it before and I'll say it again- women should not look like layer cake. Way way too much, and sometimes, too much is just, TOO MUCH.
Here's the bottom line- fashion has become too much of a sport and not enough of an art form. Stargazing and red carpet viewing are beyond fun, but the joy behind true style and beautiful clothes is getting lost amidst all of the "look at me, look at me" bullshit that is dominating fashion today. It feels to me that everything is way too calculated, and the designers are now making dresses solely for events like these, and not because they are inspired by anything other than a full frontal in Us Weekly. For those of us who grew up with fashion and love it, it's disappointing. The mystery and nuance and understanding of what makes an icon is gone. Fashion may not be that important when there are so many more important things worth fighting for in this world, but as an art form it needs to be acknowledged and a as a vehicle for empowerment in terms of self expression, we need to encourage something beyond publicity alone. It's just too much of a bore otherwise. And that's what's up this ball of a Tuesday in the most fashionable city in the world. Yours, in great taste. XO