OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION

How could you not applaud this??

And just because I had to:

END OF.

ALTERNATIVE & JEWEL TONES

Ok, so these were originally going to be two separate posts, but they were only little so I've merged see. Chung threw a big old masculine spanner in to the works and manages to make her Chaplin-esque get up look pretty nifty, with not a whiff of the Dion back to front tuxedo in sight. Gainsbourg is the epitome of cool and raises hellfire with this Balenciaga jobby. January Jones is, I think, the shocker of the year - normally fit for the Maxim cover at the drop of a hat she's embraced Stefano Pilati's directional approach with gusto. You go girl. 

Naomi Watts can sometimes suffer from 'Kidman Syndrome' - maybe it's cos they're mates? But here she looks anything but washed out in a rich fuchsia, I think she should become bezzies with Rachel Weisz, then they could look resplendent together all the time.

(T-B) AC - 3.1 Philip Lim, CG - Balenciaga, JJ - Yves Saint Laurent, NW - Stella McCartney, RW - Oscar De La Renta

TACKY

These looks were for the most part, pretty flawless on paper, but somehow, on they looked like they could have appeared on an early season of Project Runway. We're talking a lot of Chanel Couture amongst other things so this is pretty controversial and I'm a little scared that Karl's going to come and stab me with a fine liner pen in my sleep tonight but I can't help it. Je n'aime pas. Oh and who else thinks Dylan Lauren looks like she's got lost on her way to the Sports Personalities of the year awards if you get my drift? A build that could make Paula Radcliffe look feeble, arms of steel innit.

Rosario Dawson, I don't know what to say. I honestly, just have no idea. Demi, in the oven for half an hour. Donatella, same goes for you. K-Stew, why didn't you go with something like Kane?? You look like that frightful overlay is in fact Jellyfish stingers and you are in excruciating pain. Take it off! 

That is some truly Bad Wang. Oh no she didn't! Oh yes I did. It should work but it just feels wrong, and if even Giselle can't pull it off it must be really shit. Lily Collins looks cheap as a ring from a cracker whilst Katy Perry should just Grow. The. Fuck. Up.

(T-B) DL - Ralph Lauren, RD - Giambattisa Valli, DM - Lanvin, DV - Versace, KS - Chanel Couture, GB - Alexander Wang, LC - Chanel Couture, KP - Cute Circuit 

VAMP

That doesn't mean slag. We're talking a "pour me into my dress whilst I finish this Margarita please" kinda look, ok? Christina Hendricks was totes working it, this picture makes me want to see how she walks in that - I do hope she didn't have anyone's eye out though. Eva Mendes did South of the Border diva via Dolce and it was refreshing to see such a bold commitment to print. Iman is, well, Iman - and Jessica Stam looked all sorts of bodacious in a little jersey number. Maggie Gyllenhaal appeared both regal and sexy in her full on Vuitton whilst Naomi was dressed to kill (or seriously injure, ha) in black Grecian swathe. 

(T-B) CH - L'Wren Scott, EM - Dolce & Gabbana, Iman - Prada, JS - Rachel Roy, MG - Louis Vuitton, NC - Dolce & Gabbana

LOW KEY

This does not mean lazy, unkempt or dull - it is understated, chic and less like a punch to the face with a fistful of sequins. I've been wary of Carey Mulligan's red carpet attire for quite some time now, it always seems to swamp her and subsequently look frump de la frump. This time, however, she's knocked it out of the park. The lavender hues against her newly peroxide hair work a treat, and it finally looks like she got the right size, big 'A' for improvement. Liv Tyler is like something the heavens created on a good day all the time so how on earth could she do anything but look blow me down gorge in Stella?

Button nosed and pint size pretty is wee little Rachel Bilson, making an awkward length work to perfection whilst still remaining youthful and fresh. Last but not least, Tina Fey - a new arrival on the style circuit and doing very well indeed I must say. Chic with a big old 'C' she eschews the gowns in favour of a spot of YSL tailoring. Caliente.

(T-B) CM - Miu Miu, LT - Stella McCartney, RB - Louis Vuitton, TF - Yves Saint Laurent

STANDARD

Here are all the peeps who, despite looking perfectly lovely, always do the same damn thing. Blake Lively had her sexy gams out as per usual in a failsafe Marchesa number, and don't get me wrong, I bloody love her, I'd kind of like to see her experiment a little; less "look at my bod" - more "look at my style", you know? Chloe Sevigny was obviously there looking a little batshit as usual, now I know it's sacrilege to say anything bad about her holiness, but I'm rarely surprised by what she's wearing. She ticks all the boxes for fash savvy but I'm always left flicking past pictures of her thinking, "Of course she's wearing that. Why wouldn't she be?"

Bar Rafaeli was looking slightly slutty as ever, and you can just picture her giving Leo a cheeky lap dance in somewhere like Whisky Mist later on, (if they were in London which they are blates not). Jessica Biel actually made me yawn, I swear she's been wearing the same variation of a dress and hair-do for at least a year. Rachel Zoe was weighted down by oodles of Van Cleefe so she didn't float away on the merest of breezes, same luxe boho, same safe look. Finally, why oh why hasn't anyone told Renee Zellweger that her fave of faves Carolina Herrera doesn't do her any justice? Always the same, out with the shoulders and back - and hello to her lumpy ligaments. Plus, the cuts of the dresses make her look excessively broad on top and then taper down as if she's deteriorating from the waist. PLEASE STOP IT. What on earth would Jerry Maguire say for goodness sake?

(T-B) BL - Marchesa, CS - Proenza Schouler, BR - Rag and Bone, JB - Ralph Lauren, RZ - Marc Jacobs, RZ - Carolina Herrera

TULLE...

...Can either be hit or miss. Luckily, these few hit the flouncy nail on the head and got it just about right. Allow a bit of froth and gather, this is a big event yeh? Jessica Szohr and Deutzen Kroes brought the drama in 'spot them a mile' off frocks, whilst Kirsten Dunst and Camille Belle kept it soft and feminine in whisper light beauties.

(T-B) JS - Versace, DK - Zac Posen, KD - Rodarte for Gap, CB - Jason Wu

METALLICS...

...Were undoubtedly one of the biggest favourites of the night, and a stalwart "posh do" staple. Ranging in approach from 'Fairytale' a la Anne Hathaway and J-Lo, to 'Slinky' as seen by Claire Danes, Brooke Shields, Gwen Stefani, Marion Cotillard and M.I.A - they all looked divine. SJP and Nicole Richie both took a successful interpretation in vintage cut gowns that worked beautifully. It's surprising that Cate Blanchette wasn't about as this is normally her time to shine... (sorry I couldn't help it.)

(T-B) AH - Valentino, JLO - Zuhair Murad, BS, GS - L.A.M.B, M.I.A - Wang for Gap, CD - Burberry, MC - Dior, SJP - Halston Heritage, NR - Marc Jacobs

COSTUME INSTITUTE GALA 2010

WTF. I think I accidentally fell asleep in my Hot Tub Time Machine last night and woke up in 2005. Hey look, it's Jude and Sienna, looking all kindsa cute at the Met Ball! All I'm waiting for now is Alfie 2.0 trailers all over the telly and the impending arrival of my (disastrous) AS results... As much as this photo could be a recycled hologram from back in the day, I'm secretly tres pleased. I like them together, they complement each other's looks perfectly, and, well, it just makes sense.

Romantic reconciliation's aside, there is serious news to attend to, and brace yourselves kids, this is going to be a big one. So big, in fact, I've had to sub-categorize into what I saw as micro-trends. Be prepared for bloody loads of stuff on the Oscars of the fashion world, coming... now.