DivaDebbi's 2017 Oscar Red Carpet Report Card

Well. Oh my and wholly -rap! How, exactly, the wrong envelope for Best Picture was given to poor Faye and Warren, who I thought were having a dual senior moment, we don't yet know. Price Waterhouse....You're FIRED.
Kudos to the producers of La La Land, who could not have been more gracious and congrats to the Moonlighting cast and crew on your win. Jimmy Kimmel was a mostly winning host, who navigated the evening well (true confessions I skipped out for a good 2 hours and heard there were some flops)  and ended it humbly.  I think he will get a second shot. For those of you just waking up, here's a nice recap of the final moments, courtesy of Vulture.

But, I can say unequivocally, this was the least exciting Red Carpet, in 89 years.  Seriously. Where was the fashion??? Where were the stars???  And why has it become a faux pas for an interviewer to ask the age old, Joan Rivers standard, "Who are you wearing"??? Since I don't know, nor is the information readily press available, many of my loves and loathes will not have designer attribution...in most cases, this will be a blessing...

The R.C. was trend light as well, beautifully cut simple black dresses, white, red and two beauties in gold and nude, worn by fashion A Listers Emma Stone and Nicole Kidman and a smattering of fringe.

Let's get started...shall we???  Because this blog, that sometimes takes two days to write and edit, should be up and complete by 10pm, just in time for Billions.

The A+ Team

Brie Larsen. Magnificent in Oscar de la Renta

Emma Stone in Givenchy Couture. Magnificent.
Love the hair, love the jewels. Fingers crossed...

Nicole Kidman.
Perfection in Armani Prive

 The A Team

Kirsten Dunst in Dior

Taraji P. Hensen in a stunningly simple, but 
fabulous, navy velvet Alberta Ferretti

Olivia Culpo, exquisite in Marchesa

Alicia Vikander

Moving on...

Disappointing? Viola Davis.  I'm fairly certain she is going home with another Oscar tonight and was a bit let down, particularly after her A List turn at the Golden Globes, in lemon, sequin, one shouldered Michael Kors. Comparatively,
this is too tame for the Oscars.

I haven't yet seen Fences, but every time I see the commercial, where she is giving Denzel what for, dripping in tears and mucous, I burst into tears.  If that isn't Oscar worthy, I don't know what is.  Viola, I'm rooting for you. (And YAY! they just announced her win!).

Viola Davis in a too tame Armani Prive 

Underwhelmed as usual by the always overrated Michelle Williams.

Michelle Williams in Louis Vuiton

\

The Love/Hates:

Gobsmacked by Haley Berry. Love it from the clavicle down.  Completely disconcerted by the Foxy Brown wig, but admittedly, love the Versace gown. I'm wide open for theories and explanations...

Hailee Steinfeld in a handpainted Ralph and Russo

Love: The hair and makeup, neckline and gown.

Hate:  The train and the sheerness. She's nearly naked.

The (very long) F List

Imagining Emma in Tony Ward!

Created by Divadebbi on Polyvore gown by Tony Ward

Are you excited for Hollywood's big night???  I am, of course.  The most fun part being the Red Carpet naturally...

As always, I have zero interest in what the men are wearing.  If I ever had the opportunity to interview on the RC, I would skip them entirely...either they get it right, ala George Clooney and keep it sleek and classic, or muck it up clownishly. Nothing. Worth. Noting....It's all about the Girls.

DivaDebbi's 2017 Golden Globe's Report Card

Ok Lovelies, let's get started, shall we???

Well, I'm one for two...Jimmy Fallon was not as I predicted, a natural. He is so likable and I don't think I was the only one really rooting for his success, but his performance as host, save for the opening La La Land tribute, fell short.

Ms. Streep,  who was both nominated for her performance in Florence Foster Jenkins and the recipient of the Cecile B. DeMille  Lifetime Achievement Award, was however, horribly attired and coiffed.  Bam.  No matter what your politics, I found her acceptance speech, deriding President Elect Trump, to be completely out of place and found it uncomfortable to watch.

Moving on to fashion.  I loved that the stars really pulled out the stops for the GG's, traditionally a bit lower key than the  Oscar's.  I'm drooling in anticipation of what's in store for us on February 26th.

Trends included:
Canary yellow, which in my estimation is the  single hardest shade for a woman to pull off successfully, but was managed well by Viola Davis and Natalie Portman,

Pink- divine on Lily Collins, and Zoe Saldana, cloying and overly sweet on Felicity Jones and Carrie Underwood.

Metallics- lovely on Emma Stone, Naomi Harris, Priyanka Chopra and Ruth Negga, (though I have no clue who she is.)

Deep plunging necklines, impeccably worn on Kristen Bell, Emma Stone (always trend savvy and nailing two of the big ones),  and Mandy Moore, who stunned in a navy Naeem Khaan.

Black and White- horrible on Naomi Campbell, Sophie Turner, Jessica Biel and Heidi Klum. 

White- Drew Barrymore, Tracee Ellis Ross, Thandie Newton and Sarah Jessica Parker in Vera Wang. (Just. Say. No.)

Interestingly, some of my A List designers, also ended up on the F List;
Zuhair Murad, Gucci and Louis Vuitton.   Go figure!!!

The A+ Team

Kristen Bell in Jenny Packham
Spectacular!!!

Emma Stone in Valentino
Perfect on every level, hair makeup accessories dress.
Oh! And congrats!  Isn't she adorable???

Naomi Harris in Armani Prive
Stunning.

Mandy Moore in Naeem Khan
(well done, again. She made my last A List too)

Viola Davis in Michael Kors
(I thought she was introducing Mother Theresa
when she was presenting the Cecille B. DeMille award)

Elsa Pataky Zuhair Murad
Dee-Vine!!!

Lily Collins in Zuhair Murad
Regal.

Zoe Saldana in Gucci
Fresh and pretty!

Ruth Negga in Louis Vuitton

Priyanka Chopra in Ralph Lauren
(This chick understands the Red Carpet)

Brie Larsen in Rodarte

Natalie Portman pregnant and resplendent in Prada

Who fell flat for me?

The Cut: Using a Flatiron to Create Waves

Emma Stone with Beachy Waves
Photo Courtesy of NY Magazine

Waves with a flatiron...sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it?   Emma Stone has been sporting this modern looking, beachy bob, with straight ends for the past few months, (thought I've seen better shots).  I love how effortless it looks and wondered how on earth one achieves its.

Kathleen Hou of N.Y. Magazine's The Cut, took the  guess work out of it by getting Mara Moszak, celebrity hairdresser to demonstrate her technique.  I wanted to post it in case those far more gifted than I, might take a shot at achieving the look at home.

Use a Flatiron to Get Perfect Beachy Waves:

Like the old cliché about Eskimos and snow, celebrity hairdressers have tons of words for waves — beachy,surfy, slept-in, just got laid — and about as many ways to create them. Mara Roszak's personal specialty is the smooth, non–Miss America wave. Hairstylist to Emma Stone and Cara Delevingne, Roszak is persistently interviewed by beauty editors about her signature waves. Last month, she took the time to teach us how to create a sophisticated non-crunchy look on Nicola Acocella, an account coordinator at Alison Brod PR. GIFs ahead

DD:(I had to Google GIF, its a tech term for a movable image...kind of.)

Here is a link to the complete article and GIF.

My friend Linda Levy is a whiz with hair.  I'm going to see if I can enlist her to try it at home, or even better, on me!  Good, bad or meh, I'll post the results.

Like the look? Would you venture at home?  Do chime in....

xox,
DD

Emma Stone- A Fashion A Lister, Risk Taker and Modern Style Icon

Emma Stone in Dolce and Gabanna
(BTW, WTF was the design duo thinking, recently denigrating surrogacy and in vitro fertilization???)

There are a few young Hollywood stars who consistently get it right on the Red Carpet; to wit, Emma Stone, Emmy Rossum, Taylor Swift and Shaliene Woodley.  One of the great things about not being aligned contractually with one fashion house, (like Jennifer Lawrence and Dior), is the opportunity to explore a variety of looks.

What I adore about all of these women's style, is that they appear effortlessly, confident in their own skin. Largely, I think because  they have an innate sense of their own best looks, they will not be dissuaded to wear clothes that don't resonate with them for the sake of trend.

Emma lights up the night...

Emma lights up the night... by divadebbi 
 (Emma Stone photo's courtesy of 
Red Carpet Fashion Awards)

I am absolutely crazy about Emma Stone's style. She has been on a recent European promo tour of "The Amazing Spider-Man". While some actresses show Red Carpet fatigue midway through most tours,
Emma showed no signs of abating her usual razzle dazzle.

I created the Polyvore above after being blown away by this particularly beautiful Bottega Veneta dress. I love the cut of the shoulders, the train, Emma's choice of a classic pump and her stunning up do a la Catherine Deneuve.  


Divine!


Here are a few other looks from The Amazing Spider-Man tour.  I also quite love that she always looks at ease and is not afraid to mix up her hair and makeup styles:

In Gucci with smoldering lips

In Elie Saab adding the pop of orange at the waist and smooth locks

In Andrew Gn with a low side swept bun and coral lips

Classic LBD by Martin Grant

Enchanting in Jason Wu and I adore the shoe choice

It's official: She's my new Girl crush.

xox,

DD

Emma, Dinner with friends

Emma, dinner with friends by divadebbi featuring peep toe pumps

Peplum skirt
$80 - warehouse.co.uk

Christian Louboutin peep toe pumps
$2,795 - bergdorfgoodman.com

Dolce Gabbana python handbag
€1.190 - veryeickhoff.com

MICHAEL Michael Kors turquoise jewelry
$85 - bloomingdales.com

I'm working my way up to incorporating more images to my pretend closet picks.  When I saw this gorgeous shot of Emma Stone, a Red Carpet fave of mine, I couldn't help but imagining what I would like to see paired with that glorious turquoise lace top.

I waivered about choosing this fab Dolce and Gabbana woven top handle bag over a clutch, my more likely choice, but the texture won me over. 

Hope you don't mind playing in my playground with me...Sooner or later I may develop another obsession, but I wouldn't count on it :).

xox,
DD

Portrait of a Lady

I have a new addiction...I have spoken of it before.  My adoration for the daily fashion blog Red Carpet Fashion Awards.  Edited by its creator Catherine Kallon aka "Fashion Critic", aka FC, this Time Magazine top 25 website of 2011, brings us a prodigious amount of photos and commentary on what's being worn on the Red Carpet worldwide.  I'm awed by FC's output, and ability to seemingly be everywhere at once.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of this website is that it fosters a community of fashion obsessed commenter's. FC engages us to express our own opinions and it's always interesting to see the diversity in our takes. Visiting this site each day had definitely sharpened my own eye and appreciation for great styling and all the details, tailoring, hair, makeup and accessories, that go into making a particular outfit a, "BDOTW" (Best Dressed of the Week) contender.

It also makes me really appreciate women who consistently make an effort to wow us with grace and beauty.  Here are some of my favorite "Ladies". Their style knows no age, race or ethnicity...only elegance: