Who Wore It Best? The 2014 Oscars

Here is the lowdown (according to Real Life Style) on the best of the best dressed at the 2014 Oscars. In case you hadn't noticed, we never talk about who didn't look good! What stood out to me this year was that the actresses seemed so comfortable in their looks, not like they were just borrowing them for the night. Way to go hollywood stylists! For more on that story, see the March issue of Vanity Fair.

So I'm not normally into the punk, messy thing at the Oscars, but...Ireland Baldwin looks saucy and sexy in this number from Burberry. Jennifer Lawrence could not have been more opposite in her stark Dior, but somehow manages to look just as saucy and sexy...This is why she is the hottest actress in Hollywood right now. 

Red Hot

Jennifer Lawrence in Dior Haute Couture

Ireland Baldwin in Burberry

My prediction that the Best Actress winner would be wearing white did not come true but Kate Hudson looks AWESOME in her all-white ensemble from Atelier Versace.

White

Kate Hudson in Atelier Versace

Naomi Watts in Calvin Klein Collection

Lupita Nyong'o has been on everyone's best dressed list for awhile. It was great to see her win for Best Supporting Actress in such an incredible dress. Kerry Washington ties her though because who has ever looked that chic that pregnant at the Oscars? Not even Catherine Zeta-Jones!

Icy Shades

Lupita Nyong'o in Prada

Kerry Washington in Jason Wu

Holy nude! Cate Blanchett won Best Actress and Best Dressed in my book! 

Maximal Embellishment

Cate Blanchett in Armani Prive

Maria Menounos in Johanna Johnson

Sandra Bullock was the only one to nail the pleat trend perfectly. I don't always understand her choices so I was glad that she hit the mark so well this year. Simple yet stunning. 

Pretty in Pleats

 Sandra Bullock in Alexander McQueen

The men really went all out this year! I personally LOVED Jared Leto's Saint Laurent Paris look with the red bow tie. It was just so HIM. I'm not usually one for gimmicks, but Pharell's shorts worked for me! I'm on the fence regarding Matthew McConaughey's white jacket. However, I think Will Smith's ascot was awesome. Way to show your personal style, gentlemen!

The Men

     

     

Pharrell in Lanvin and Helen Lasichanh

Jared Leto in Saint Laurent

Matthew McConaughey in Dolce & Gabbana and Camila Alves in Gabriela Cadena

Will Smith in Berluti and Jada Pinkett Smith in Versace

Who do you think wore it best?

RLS Update!

This week I thought I would let you know what exciting things we have been working on here at Real Life Style. I'm almost done catching up after taking 2 weeks off for a Thailand adventure. Didn't you wonder why I was strangely silent during the Oscars? For the record, my favorite outfit was Jessica Chastain in Giorgio Armani.

This spring I will start giving a new Personal Style Workshop, beginning with my fave Cleveland Park Moms & Babies group. The babies will be staying home for this one. I designed the workshop after I met a pediatrician/mother of two-year old twins on an airplane who told me that she didn't have time to have personal style. That broke my little fashion/mommy heart! So if you or your friends need help finding your personal style, contact me! 

Last week I gave a presentation on Aging Gracefully with Style for a fabulous group of women in support of the Brandeis National Committee. Women over 50 have specific fashion needs and questions which I was thrilled to address. Thanks again for having me ladies! 

Exciting news for those of you who are having trouble getting onto my schedule in DC or New York. Real Life Style is expanding by taking on two new fabulous stylists, one in each city! But don't worry if you don't live in NYC or DC, we all travel! I will be officially introducing these wonderful women to you in the next few weeks. I will also be freshening up my website, which has been pretty neglected since I had my son 14 months ago. He has just started walking which means I have neglected it long enough! 

Looking forward to sharing more spring fashion with you soon!

 

The Oscars 2013: Turning the Red Carpet Green

The culmination of the awards show season, The Oscars, is coming up on February 24th. Continuing  my obsession with sustainable fashion, I want to tell you about the increasingly popular trend of wearing "green" on the red carpet. At the Oscars in 2012, Meryl Streep shined in a beautiful gold gown by Lanvin made from eco-certified fabric. This year at the Golden Globes, Bradley Cooper stood out in an eco-tux designed by Tom Ford. (Scroll down to see their looks!)

These two creations, plus many more, are all thanks to Livia Firth. Although you may know her as Oscar winner Colin Firth's wife, Livia has been making a name for herself since she launched the first Green Carpet Challenge with Lucy Siegle at the Golden Globes back in 2009. The Green Carpet Challenge is Livia's way of combining eco-friendly fashion with the high glamour of the red carpet, enlisting designers and celebrities alike to join her in promoting sustainable style.

The gorgeous Livia Firth in Armani for the 2012 Golden Globe Awards. This gown was made from the fibers of recycled bottles from Italy!

In September 2012, Lucy and Livia started The Green Cut project for London Fashion week. The Green Cut merged British film and fashion as eight designers used classic movies as inspiration for their designs, featuring sustainable materials. The dresses from the collection were later seen on celebrities such as Nicole Kidman, who wore the interpretation of My Fair Lady by L'Wren Scott and Stephen Jones to Derby Day in Melbourne.

Nicole Kidman in a L'Wren Scott dress and Stephen Jones hat inspired by My Fair Lady.

Since GCC's beginning in 2009, Livia and Lucy have partnered with huge names such as Stella McCartney, Tom Ford, Armani, Gucci, Valentino, and Tory Burch, just to name a few. For many designers, the GCC inspired them to make their very first eco gown!

Who knew recycled and organic materials could be so glamorous? See if you can spot the celebrities who've joined the Green Carpet Challenge at the upcoming Oscars!

Meryl Streep in Lanvin's first ever custom made eco-gown, made from eco-certified fabric, at the 2012 Oscars.

Cameron Diaz at the recent Met Ball in a gold gown made with organic silk and thousands of glass beads by Stella McCartney.

HRH Crown Princess of Norway Mette Marit in Pucci by Peter Dundas, made with organic silk and recycled glass beads. I love this color!

Julianne Moore in a dress made from upcycled vintage materials by Tom Ford for the Game Change premiere. The body of the dress is made from an old vintage gown while the sleeves are taken from vintage velvet panels. Breathtaking!

Emily Blunt at the International Toronto Film Festival in a Tory Burch dress made with leftover, end-of-the-line silk from Burch's previous collections. The clutch Emily carried is by FEED 1000, which uses the money from each clutch sold to feed 1,000 school children in third world countries.

Bradley Cooper in an OEKO-TEX certified Tom Ford suit at the 2013 Golden Globes.

He's sooo hot...

Livia Firth in organic silk dyed using natural wood pigmentation, created by Gucci for the premiere of the restoration of the film Once Upon a Time in America. So elegant!

Why You Should Care What Gwyneth Wore

Why should you care what Gwyneth Paltrow (and all the other hollywood stars and starlets) wore to the Oscars? Because the Oscars are a sneak peek at Spring's big trends on and off the red carpet. Let's review!

White was the big story of the Oscars. If you are getting married this year, you have a lot of inspiration to choose from! White has been seen the last few years on the red carpet and as a trend for everyday, but never in such a modern, in-your-face way. Who didn't gasp when they caught a glimpse of Gwyneth Paltrow in her severely modern Tom Ford look? Most of us have a hard time buying white dresses for formal occasions because you can't wear them to a wedding. I say, buy a cute day dress for dressy but not formal occasions.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford

Rooney Mara in Givenchy

The kaleidoscope of sequins in the audience at the Oscars was quite a sight to see. What does this mean for you? Sequins are everywhere this season, including for day. Want something affordable? H&M has some great sequin tees for $34.99. I particularly love the navy!

Rose Byrne in Vivienne Westwood

Ellie Kemper in Armani Prive 

Between the white and sequin trends lies the light, bright, shimmery look. A great way to connect with your inner goddess and find a dress you CAN wear to a wedding! You know what is always in style? The dress that is most flattering for YOUR body type. This is why Octavia Spencer's dress was such a hit. She may not have Gwyneth Paltrow's stick thin body type, but she couldn't have looked better. No wonder Tadashi Shoji is the go to guy for curvaceous stars.

Milla Jovovich in Elie Saab 

Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji

Gold was another big story at the Oscars and will continue for Spring. How about a gold sequin tank and white jeans for a summer party look? Jessica Chastain would look good in a paper bag so I don't feel the need to address her stunning look from Alexander McQueen, but kudos to Meryl Streep in Lanvin. She managed to find an age appropriate look that is completely relevant to the season. Then again, when is Lanvin not relevant?

Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen

Meryl Streep in Lanvin

Color has been a big story for a few years now and shows no signs of abating. That means you should stop being afraid and buy some! Hot tropical colors like Emma Stone's Giambattista Valli dress are particularly on trend this season. And didn't you love how Viola Davis was the only one in green that night? Interesting because the color made such a show at the Golden Globes this year. Check out my blog on Emerald.

Emma Stone in Giambattista Valli

Viola Davis in Vera Wang