Oscars 2009 Red Carpet…end of the carpet run

Peter Gabriel – Grandprops – Loved that he refused to perform for a blip of a second and that he wore a three-quarter length black Nehru collar jacket. Supporter of causes before it was the hip thing to do. (I would have loved to see him on stage with A. R. Rahman especially in their matchy suits! – unlike John Legend who rudely walked away immediately after the song was done. A. R. Rahman is the legendary one, dears.)

Brandie – Otherwise known as Brangelina – Over branded, over hyped, overt. That’s a lot of overs. And the big B on Brandie is for boring. Oh, and Brad, you are NOT Robert Redford. Not even close.

Marion Cotillard – French flair – The most perfect French twist and lovely makeup. Finally, a woman who isn’t afraid of lipstick – I’m always a sucker for burgundy lipstick. Merci madame. There are lot of belts on the carpet this evening. I have been obsessed with belts for the past few seasons. Can`t get enough of them. Dior rules tonight, non?

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Beyonce – Blingless – B, some women know how to dress. You are not one of them. You tried a simple pony with no jewels and blew it all on the mermaid number. If you had picked a Calvin Klein column with that minimalism effort, I would give you props. No guts, no glory. Oh oh oh….

Kate Winslet – Divinity – Breathtaking YSL payne’s grey and black one shoulder number. Need a closer look, but great fit and it’s achingly graceful on our dear Kate. And that hair – oh that hair – modern to the nth degree and she rocks it. Perfect diamond drops, too – they move and the hair doesn’t. Delish.81st_winsletk_0181st_winsletk_02

Tilda Swinton – Brilliance personified – I know so many people will pan it, but to me, it is precisely these risk takers who make the evening worthwhile.

Her hair is blonder and a perfect match to the top half of the dress. Bottom is black. All of it is frilly in the right places and drapy in all the others. Red lips. She gets it right so often.

Just found out this is a two-piece Lanvin creation. Love how she and Monsieur Elbaz have taken the one shoulder trend and twisted it literally in a knot over one shoulder with no skin. Now I just need Cate.

I think this is my favourite, after all. No offence to Freida.

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Photos courtesy of Oscar.com

Oscars 2009 Red Carpet…

SJP – It’s Oh-ver – SJP, please don’t buy anymore pouffy dresses or Manolos. Your red carpet moment has long passed. Is it bad when a former fashion icon copies a teen star? Barely mint Dior Haute Couture is not bearable pour moi. 81st_parkers_02

 

Evan Rachel Wood – Stark contrast – Not a fan of the peach blush dress, but I will say she has cleaned up since MM. 81st_woode_02

And I loved the contrast of the handwriting tattoo at the nape of her neck with the girly dress and updo. Modern grace, that detail.

Ann Hathaway – When contrasts don’t work – You are a beautiful girl, but the makeup is always harsh. Stop it. You need blush. More of it. Wear some jewels and please don’t wear strapless unless you can fill the gaps.

Robin Wright Penn – LBD – Stands out tonight, because there isn’t that much black. The dress is Vivienne Westwood-esque, cap sleeved and bias cut. She wears it well. Lovely locks and gams, too…

81st_rourkem_03Mickey Rourke – Sweet but scary – I love the JPG white suit – just on someone else, please. No other standouts as yet in the men’s department.

Is Johnny coming ? Ooh, he would look good in JPG…

 

 

Photos courtesy of Oscar.com

Oscars 2009 Red Carpet Early Arrivals

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Miley Cyrus – Ball Gowner – frilly, off white and navy (?) frosted cabbage leaf looking dress by Zuhair Murad. Does she remember that she’s a teenager, sometimes? Sweetie, you are only in your teens once. Us girls in our slightly later years can never dress like we are in our teens again, so work it NOW.

Put on something fun – Thakoon, Phillip Lim, maybe something a little mod and Bri’ish? Be a girl!

While the dress is not great for her, my favourite style element on this is the embellished belt – not something you’d expect to work on such a frou frou number, but it does.

Slumdog Sweeties – Heart stoppers – The kids from Slumdog on the red carpet. All adorable in their tuxedoes.

 

 

 

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Oscars 2009 Red Carpet…on your mark, get set…

Just got home from a lovely girly day with B. What was supposed to be a jaunt to a vintage sale turned out to be a tour of the dumping ground of someone’s old, dirty clothes from Club Monaco and shoes from 9 West. So we traded downtown for uptown-ish and went for high tea.

Picked up the *fresh* March Vogue. That’s a special moment in friendship, dears – an annual fashion milestone – shared together. More on that and fashion night with the girls, as it approaches.

Rushed home to make it in time for the big O. Right, there are lot of big Os these days. I, of course, mean the Oscars – and the red carpet in particular. Flicking back and forth between channels and mediums, both TV and online.

Keep watching this space….live posts as we see the blitz, the baubles, the Bollywood, along with yes, the Hollywood beauties.

Pre-Falling for McQueen’s Victorian Dream

If there is perfection in this world, then it surely must look like this.

It’s London, 19th Century. Mossy cobblestones glisten with rain.

A heeled boot steps out of the carriage, a long leathered hand reaches for the rail, luxurious Italian wool kimono sleeves skim the steps.

Scent brushes by and the brim of the hat tilts just so. Drama emerges. 

am kimono suit pre-fall 09

Suits me just fine.

This is Alexander McQueen Pre-Fall 2009.

Just when I think he can’t possibly outdo Tundra, or Hitchcock or floating Kate, he takes my breath away. Again.

Abigail Aldred (or some impossibly Victorian name that our heroine answers to) must change before she goes riding this afternoon. Which ensemble shall it be?

The tiered riding coat, the colour of wet country earth with rain-soaked plum flowers… 

Tiers of Joy
Tiers of Joy
Just Dandy, foxy mama.

That's just dandy, foxy lady.

…or the haute highland jacket and fox stole…with (gush) jodhpurs…

The impossibility of choosing one for an afternoon could make a girl gothically pale.

Guests arriving for tea shortly? Quick change does the trick for Abigail or any modern fabulous creature…

Knee Tea Sweetie

Knee Tea Sweetie

Busy day of empire building?

I'm impressed, Empress.

I'm impressed, Empress.

…or did I get the days mixed up? Right, BlackBerry says Friday am – curate surreal exhibit at the Tate Modern.

Blackberry Beauty

Blackberry Beauty

Followed by Cocktails with the literati on the Left Bank across the River…  

Uncovering all angles.

Uncovering all angles.

…but life is not all angles and structure, my dears.
 
Sentiments swirl around us and romance reigns supreme. 

Dancing and romancing...

Dancing and romancing...

The hat tips. The lights dim. The gloves are off.

I yearn for the life this wardrobe demands. Full stop.

Photos courtesy of Style.com. Captions by Jyotika.

Exshoesme?

Fashion surrounds us these days, in so many forms. It is abolutely everywhere. So why another fashion blog to add to the mix?

Exshoes me, but this isn’t your average hub for all fashion news. Our goal is to provide a curated view of fashion and many of its accessories to satiate your senses. At a time where so much has become homogenized, we aim to bring you a glimpse of visual genius, sharing stories and observations that are at times historical, at times whimsical, at times critical or analytical – but we hope, always entertaining.

Care to walk with us? exshoesme.com. Adventures in fashion…one stiletto at a time.

Jyotika Malhotra | Chief Wordsmith | exshoesme

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