Jewellery is a major passion of mine and I can’t not go to NYC without making a trip to Henri Bendel – a lengendary store with an incredible jewellery selection. Featuring lines from both long established jewellery designers and some of the most exciting new ones in the North America. And most of the prices are totally reasonable. Man, I love this store! I can easily spend a couple of hours looking in great detail at the huge selection of super cool pieces. And luckily for my mom and sister, I always pick them up something when I’m there because I’m a saint (actually they always give me $ to shop for them before I go). If you’re not heading to NYC anytime soon, you can also shop at Henri Bendel online. The site doesn’t have nearly as much as they do in the store, but they still have a lot of really cool pieces. Here are some of my faves.
Socialite hoop earrings (How awesome is the name?!?)
Cascade Layered Necklace ($598) – You could totally wear this
with a simple dress or it would look hip with a cool leather
jacket, a t-shirt, skinny jeans with t-strap stilettos.
Diane Bib Necklace ($258) – super different & super cool.
This was huge – like totally, majorly, exciting. I follow as many 90s supermodels as I can on Twitter and in the last couple of weeks two of my biggest heroes (since I was a young lad) tweeted me back! And Cindy even shared my tweet with all her followers. I almost died. First, I tweeted Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell and shared a photo of my awesome t-shirt featuring the names of Linda, Cindy, Christy and Naomi (below). The t-shirt is an homage to the unforgettable time when the four of them walked down the runway to George Micheal’s “Freedom” at end of the Fall/Winter 1991 Gianni Versace fashion show. It was a pretty cool moment and the t-shirt is such a good reminder of the memorable time in fashion when models were stars. Anyway, I tweeted a photo of the t-shirt to Christy, Cindy and Naomi (Linda isn’t on Twitter) and Christy tweeted me back and said my tweet was “very sweet”. I freaked.
Then the other day, I found a really cool photo of Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford walking in Paris holding hands (taken around 20 years ago). I tweeted Cindy and Naomi and shared the photo. Cindy tweeted me back, and shared my tweet! She said “love this! Thanks for sharing!” Once again, I totally freaked. Two of the greatest and most legendary models ever noticed my tweet and then tweeted me back. It was huge.
The photo above is from a Vanity Fair shoot from 2008, shot by Mario Testino. Damn, they sure do look just as good there as they did 20 years ago.
Talk about faces – unforgettable.
And here’s the legendary Gianni Versace show from 1991 I mention above – back in the day when supermodels ruled the runway:
This was one of my favourite shows from Paris Fashion Week Fall Winter 2013. Olivier Rousteing has been doing the 80s thing at Balmain for a while now but it stills works. And this was a cool show (especially when so many of the shows this season weren’t super exciting). There weren’t tons of shows in Paris or Milan that inspired or excited me but this one made me smile. The clothes are super cool (and are clearly exaggerated for the runway) and many of the outfits look like they came straight off an episode of Dynasty – which is awesome. But there’s still a modern vibe to these looks. I loved the accessories too – some of the best of the season. Can’t wait to see whoever is brave enough to wear something from this collection first.
Incredible. There were only 10 looks in this collection! (which was kind of strange and I hope it’s not something we are going to see more of in the future). But once again, the fashion crowd was blown away. Every single look Sarah Burton sent down the runway was amazing – like artwork. This is the perfect example of fashion as art. These are clothes that could be, should be and will be in a museum one day – the references to Monarchy and Queen Victoria will certainly help that. The craftsmanship, tailoring and detail – impeccable.
A really good collection. And very wearable. These are pretty clothes (love the crispt collars, cuffs, and lace detail) that are going to sell well. I like more and more what they’ve done with Valentino’s line since he stepped down. And you will see this school girl inspired collection on tons of stars over the next few months. It’s certainly more modern and simple than the traditional Valentino aesthetic but it’s still is representative of the line – they haven’t abandoned the established line’s important history. Unlike what Hedi Slimane did at Saint Laurent, which was unwearable, not fresh or clever. After re-branding YSL and moving the design headquarters to L.A, Slimane sent out a 90s grunge inspired collection this season and the reaction was overwhelmingly negative. This collection for Valentino on the other hand was unanimously positive – and for good reason.
Earlier this week I had the opportunity to chat about a few Oscars dresses with the lovely Pearl Tsang on CTV Morning Live. Always fun to talk about fashion with my friend Pearl (even though we disagreed on Naomi Watts in the incredible custom in Armani Privé – I loved it, Pearl not so much). Click here or the photo above to check out the segment. Looking forward to our next fashion recap!
This sequined gunmetal custom Armani Privé gown with the asymmetric neckline is legendary. It’s super modern, different and beautiful. It also fits her incredibly well. Apparently she started working with Armani on this dress right after the Golden Globes. So she came to play. She wanted to be one of the night’s stand outs and succeeded. Love her hair too – it’s tied up but not overly done. And she was wearing $1.5 million of Neil Lane diamonds. That always helps. Love this whole look. One of Naomi’s best ever.
Anne Hathaway in Prada
Photo from style.com
She was one of the one’s to watch last night so the pressure was on. And interestingly she was supposed to wear Valentino but changed her mind at the last minute. And it’s too bad she did. The pink is way too cute and the fit is odd around her boobs – you can totally see her nipples. It also doesn’t hang that well. And I don’t understand the necklace (which was Tiffany and beautiful). I think she had something really dramatic planned and backed out at the last minute. She stuck the Valentino or worn the Armani Privé dress she performed in – it was interesting and different.
Halle Berry in Custom Versace
Photo from style.com
This is not typical Versace. And she wore typical Versace to the Golden Globes and it was bad – very Donatella (who just showed her fall 2013 collection in Milan and it was vinyl and trampy). But this look is pretty stunning. The fit couldn’t be better – the way the dress is constructed is unbelievable. The detail is so fine. Look how it hangs. She’s such a beautiful woman that it was nice to see her in something that does her justice. But I would’ve picked different earrings, like big yellow diamond hoops. These are too predictable and matchy.
Jessica Chastain in Custom Armani Privé
Photo from style.com
Beautiful dress. Beautiful lady. The detail, the beading, the fit – old Hollywood glamour and very good choice. And I was surprised at how good this colour looked on her but it sure does. Her hair and make-up are lovely too – very Veronica Lake. And those were some fancy vintage Harry Winston diamond earrings (totalling 10 carats). One of Jessica’s best looks ever.
Jennifer Laurence in Dior Haute Couture
Photo from style.com
We knew Jennifer Laurence was also going to wear Dior Haute Couture and this is a lovely dress but we’ve seen it so many times before. It doesn’t feel young or fresh. It also has a bridal quality. I do like the simple long diamond Chopard necklace (74-carat) worn down her back. But I think she could’ve worn something younger and fresher.
Jane Fonda in Versace
Photo from style.com
Another major ‘wow’ moment of the night. She’s so amazing, timeless and cool. And how good does she look in this dress – incredible! And that bright yellow shade is not an easy one to wear but she pulls it off well. Jane Fonda continues to look better, healthier and more beautiful than many actresses a third of her age – she 76! (hard to believe I know).
Zoe Saldana in Alexis Mabille Couture
Photo from style.com
Zoe has an very talented stylist because she always brings it. This dress is super cool and very good looking. Love the detail on the bodice and the belt. Also, love the grey/steal/black colour variation on the train – it’s interesting and different. This is fashion forward and Zoe does that well.
Kerry Washington in Miu Miu
Photo from style.com
Like Zoe Saldana, Kerry Washington also brings it – always. She has great taste and I like h she chooses different looks. This was pretty dress and the detail on the bodice is really cool. Also love the colour – it’s fresh, young and suits her well.
Selma Hayek in Alexander McQueen
Photo from style.com
High on drama and glamour, not many can pull this off but Salma sure does. This looks expensive which is always a good thing. She’s pretty little but looks quite statuesque is this flattering black velvet column dress with embellished and jewelled neckline. Not a huge fan of the tiara though. It wasn’t necessary and I’m not sure they’re ever cool.
Nicole Kidman in L’Wren Scott
Photo from style.com
This wasn’t Nicole’s greatest but I thought she still looked good. It’s not super interesting or original but I like the variation in colour on the beading at the top but not a fan of the pattern at the bottom. It wasn’t necessary. And her hair looks pretty loose and she accessorized well – the 19th-century gold-and-black enamel pendant earrings earrings and 19th-century gold-and-diamond bracelet (both Fred Leighton) were some of the best accessories of the night. Nicole has good taste in expensive jewels.
Jennifer Aniston in Valentino
Photo from style.com
Boring. It’s a great colour but she’s often wears strapless and her hair always looks the same – for like 10 years! She looks like she just tried on the dress at a fitting on day. You’d think she could maybe change it up a bit for something as huge as the Oscars.
Reese Witherspoon in Louis Vuitton
Photo from style.com
I wasn’t feeling this two-toned Louis Vuitton. It’s a great colour but it didn’t fit well around her boobs. And it seemed pretty predictable. In 2002, Reese Witherspoon wore a beautiful black Valentino dress to the Oscars, her hair was shorter and she looked really cool. Was hoping we’d see something like that again. This is not Marc Jacobs best work for Louis Vuitton.
Amy Adams in Oscar de la Renta
Photo from style.com
There’s way too much going on with the dress. The beading on the top, the massive tule-embellished bodice and all the volume is over the top. I’m sure it would have been better in person but this style of dress has been done too much at the Oscars. And the colour is kind of blah – it’s like a non-colour. Not Amy’s best look.
Sandra Bullock in Elie Saab Haute Couture
Photo from style.com
I love Sandra Bullock but this was a miss for me. It’s not memorable and the cut of the arms isn’t very faltering. The flattened hair didn’t work either. Although I appreciate how Sandra was stepping back and letting the women who were nominated stand out. Sandra Bullock is definitely not one to pull a “Jennifer Lopez”.
Catherine Zeta Jones in Zuhair Murad
Photo from style.com
When I first saw Catherine on the red carpet, I thought she looked great. But then the more I saw the dress, the less I liked it. It’s kind of dated and, although I don’t mind the top, the bottom is borderline tacky. It looks like something a 75 year old (not in Jane Fonda years) woman would teaching a ballroom dance class. Interestingly Zuhair Murad is a favourite of Jennifer Lopez. But the earrings are beautiful. I’ll give her that.
My Favourite – Charlize Theron in Dior Haute Couture
Photo from style.com
We knew she was going to wear Dior and this was a wise choice – so chic and good looking. The fit is outstanding. It’s hard to tell in photos but the top is beaded. It’s super simple yet so glamorous – this is refined elegance. Charlize was definitively one of this year’s major wow moments and had the most dramatic entrance. It’s a little reminiscent of Anne Hathaway in Chanel at the Golden Globes but this is cooler and how it should’ve been done. And her haircut is part of what makes this look so great and fresh. She’s also wearing vintage Harry Winston diamond bracelets, totaling more than 110 carats. I get the diamond studs (Harry Winston 5-carat diamond studs worth $1.6 million) but wish she wore long diamond link earrings that hung down to her collar bone. It would’ve added some drama. Other than that, this is for sure one of evening’s best.
OSCAR DAY! Who will wear what? So, in pretty much every credible “best Oscar dresses of all time” list, Nicole Kidman’s chartreuse Galliano for Dior dress in 1997 makes it. It was John Galliano’s first couture collection for Dior and was totally legendary. It pretty much changed the game for dress expectations at the Oscars. The colour, embroidery detail and fur trim were exquisite (not a word I use very often). This dress is what true couture is all about. Will we see anything like it tonight? Let’s hope.
The other night, the lovely and talented Julianne Moore attended a pre-Oscar party, Bvlgari’s Celebration of Elizabeth Taylor’s Collection at Bvlgari Beverly Hills, and was the lucky one chosen to wear Taylor’s very famous and incomparable emerald and diamond necklace. Elizabeth was given the necklace along with a ring, earrings and bracelet (referred at the time as the Grand Duchess Vladimir Suite – how fancy is that?!) by Richard Burton in 1963. Purchased at Bvlgari in Rome, she wore the necklace to events around the world and to the Oscars in 1967, when she was named Best Actress for her role in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf (good movie). What’s super cool about the necklace is you can detach the pendant and it can be worn separately as a broach – which Taylor did often. Bvlgari jewellery experts purchased the necklace at a Christie’s auction in 2011 for more than $6.1 million (no big deal).
Now back to Julianne. Obviously, she is so cool and has incredibly good style – and I hate to say it – but this look was pretty disappointing. Wearing a simple strapless Alexander McQueen coral dress and nude pointy toe shoes with the legendary necklace just didn’t work – like super underwhelming. Sometimes when I don’t like a look on the red carpet or at a party I can at least see what the person was going for. But not this time. The outfit itself is lovely but it sure doesn’t do the famous necklace any justice. It looks like she wondered into Bvlgari on a Saturday after lunch with her friends and a salesperson let her try on the necklace for fun. I’m not saying she should have worn it with some crazy elaborate dress but at least in something with a bit of drama that had a luxurious vibe to it to go along with the necklace. And with emeralds, dark red lips are a must. Can you imagine if she wore it with this beautiful Tom Ford outfit (Fall 2012 – awesome collection)? It would’ve made way more sense.
For the last few years, I loved Christopher Bailey’s collections for Burberry Prorsum and he changed it up a bit for his fall show – but I liked his spring collection better. The heart blouses, skirts and coats in the fall collection are sure to be a big hit but he also used some unusual and suggestive sheer latex (that looked like condoms) which is unlikely to work for his usual Burberry fans. But the combination of animal fabrics and camel coloured wool worked nicely for the classic Burberry trench and will for sure sell well. Other highlights (and my favourite looks in the show) were the dark red patent pieces – very chic and good looking (above). And the men’s sheered mink trench coat at the end was a nice touch. Wonder how many men will actually buy it? I wouldn’t and have a feeling it will look a lot better on a well-dressed lady but it was fun that he sent it down the runway on a dude.
Check out the whole show here:
And to see every look in detail, check out the slideshow on Style.com
Casey Wagar 