Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Who Wore What?- The Oscars 2015

Hello World!

Very sorry for the delay in posts, I've been so busy with school I had to push this post back a few days.  The Oscars were this past Sunday and I very happy with the results.  I still stand by 2014 was my favorite show as for performance-wise but this year is probably my favorite if we are going by the awards.  Anyways, let's get to Who Wore What.


WORST: Gwyneth Paltrow in Ralph & Russo

Let's start with Gwyneth Paltrow.  I didn't really care for this dress by Ralph & Russo.  It looks way to young, and I'm not saying she's old. but the color looks like it belongs on a six year old, and the dress itself looks like a prom dress cut at most.  The flower shoulder is unplaced and it just has no design from the bust-line down.  Not a personal favorite.


BEST: Lupita Nyong'o in Custom Calvin Klein Collection


I have become a big fan of the Lupita Nyong'o style.  Last year I said she was the Cinderella of the Oscars and she has the perfect personality to back it up.  This year she graced the red carpet with Calvin Klein gown stringed with 6,000 pearls!  She look incredible and the color compliments her skin color amazingly.  Also, I have to give her so much credit because can you imagine how heavy that dress is!?

BEST: Jennifer Lopez in Elie Saab Couture


This dress, I'm sure, was made with Jennifer Lopez in mind.  She looks amazing.  The color blends so well into her skin tone I was honestly trying to figure out where the dress started when she was on the show.  I love the cut and length of the train.  I wish she did a little more with her hair than just pull it into a ponytail, but with this dress I doubt anyone will be looking at her hair.

BEST: Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji

I am a huge Octavia Spencer fan.  She looks great in this Tadashi Shoji.  Octavia, respectfully, does has a plus-size figure, and I'm so happy Tadashi Shoji doesn't just make dress for the typical model figure, but thinks of all body types.  Octavia looks great and is representing Tadashi Shoji at its best.

BEST: Emma Stone in Elie Saab

I feel like their aren't a lot of negatives this year.  So again, I love Emma Stone's dress.  Emma Stone is just one of the coolest people in Hollywood.  I loved her in Easy A, Spiderman, and most recently Birdman.  I honestly can't decide if I like her better as a blond or brunette.  I also love the open back.  It has the right balance of vintage and modern.  Amazing.

WORST: Solange Knowles in Christian Siriano

I am not happy with Solange's dress.  And the worst part is I know this comes from a designer I know can design beautiful things.  Christian Siriano designed this and he is probably the most successful Project Runway Alumni.  It is way too much fabric and I honestly can't tell if it's a dress or pants suit.  Maybe it would help if there was some color blocking or maybe Solange isn't the right person for this look.  Sorry Christian but I know you can do better.

WORST: Keira Knightley in Valentino Haute Couture

Now, a lot of people are putting Keira Knightly's dress on the Worst Dress List, but honestly I love this dress.  Maybe it's my artistic spirit, or my inner bohemian but I love the design and the overall details.  I'm currently a big fan of printed words on fabric and I love how it spirals down around her.  The critics may not of loved it, but it has a vote.

BEST: Margot Robbie in Saint Laurent

Let me just start by saying I am a big fan of Margot Robbie ever since The Wolf of Wall Street and I am SO excited to see her as Harley Quinn in The Suicide Squad movie!  As for her dress, I feel kind of underwhelmed.  The sheer sleeves are a nice touch but I think she should of branched out a little more.  She still looks amazing, and I love her new haircut and makeup.  I have a feeling she's going to be a trend setter soon enough.

BEST: Anna Kendrick in custom Thakoon

Anna Kendrick hasn't really been a style role model for me.  Last year she wore a dress to the Oscar that looked like four dresses in one.  This year was a improvement but again I either feel overwhelmed by her choices or underwhelmed, and this is definitely underwhelming.  This looks like a dress you wear to prom, not saying it's not pretty, just not very original.  Not a huge fan of the color either, just looks a little young for her.  She's a grown woman, and she should be proud of it.  If she asked me, I say just wear your Into The Woods dress when you were Cinderella, that was amazing on you and I'm so happy you wore it onstage during the opening ceremony.  


So that's really all have for you.  Overall I loved the outfits this year and I didn't think anyone looked down-right terrible.   As long as you feel beautiful in what you wear, it doesn't matter what anyone else says. Including me.

Love,
Rachel

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Saturday, February 21, 2015

My New York Fashion Week Experience


Hello World!
     As you all know, New York Fashion Week was this past week and I had the honor of working for four shows backstage.   About a month ago I was sending out a bunch of my resumes to designers and fashion lines in hopes to have one-on-one experience behind the scenes of such a important event.  On my resume, I stated that I have a theater background, specifically a costume designer/ wardrobe supervisor background.  From someone who has worked on many productions in the past I thought that NYFW was the perfect way to merge my past experience into the fashion industry, since NYFW is in fact a production.
    If you plan on applying to help for Fashion Week, or any show really, just know it takes a lot of tough skin and responsibility.  A lot of craziness happens backstage.  I was fortunate enough that every single designer and supervisor I worked for was very down to Earth and patient.
    One last thing, just know that no job is too small when running a show.  On my first day at one of the fashion show prep, I was assigned to retrieve coffee and donuts.  I know this sounds like slave work, but it is actually very helpful.  Thankfully the designer I was working for was far from Merle Streep's character in The Devil Wears Prada.  After the coffee runs, I was assigned cleaning tables, to guest list caller, to sewer, to dresser.  If you ever work for a designer, unless the assignment is extremely unacceptable or unlawful, never assume you are better or deserve more than you are given.  If the designer or supervisor is fair, they will recognize your hard work and dedication and will give you more task designed for your skills.
   Lastly, the NYFW experience is such a eyeopening experience.  I am forever grateful for the designers and supervisors I worked under to give me this chance.  Looking forward to Fall 2015 for the next one.


What I wore to the show I attended as a guest, I made this dress a few months ago and waited for the perfect occasion to wear it.


Lincoln center!

Posing with the male models at one of the shows, on Valentine's Day!


There's a whole world up there I know nothing about..... #shortgirlproblems

Hope you guys have a fantastic day, come back on Monday when I review the Academy Awards WhoWoreWhat

Love, 
Rachel 

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Monday, February 9, 2015

Who Wore What? -Grammy Awards 2015


Hello world.
With the passing of the 2015 Grammy Awards, I decided to do my own commentary of who wore what.  Honestly, I'm more of a Oscar girl, but I didn't want to pass up this opportunity.  To me the Grammys are all about 'casual glam'.  It's not all about ballgowns and petticoats (except Rihanna, but I'll get to that in a minute).  The way I was introduced to the Grammys clothing culture was though the first season of Project Runway.  It was the last episode before the season finale, where Austin Scarlett was wrongfully kicked off the competition.  And no, I did not watch the Grammys (I watched The Walking Dead instead).  But I reviewed the outfits and saw the winner sheet and that's all that matters.  So here we go:

                                          

Beyonce still reigns as queen of the grammys in my opinion.  I've become a fan of her in the last few months (mostly through Todrick Hall videos) To me this outfit seems a little too safe.  It's what I would except, which it's all that bad.  It is a nice dress, but it seems that Beyonce has a very laid back attitude, but that's just my opinion.  I like the texture of the skirt and it is flattering.  Just like the Oscars, it seems like all female celebrities are in a contest on who can have the lowest neckline.  I also with her did something more with her hair.  Either way, she's beautiful, and as long as she thinks that, it's all good.


Gotta say I was never really a big fan of Miley 2.0.  I grew up with her during her Hannah Montana era, but after she resurfaced I kinda avoided her because she wasn't really my style, music or fashion, anymore.  But I digress, I like this dress.  I wouldn't say I love it because I think it lacks more design than it processes but I do have to say, I would of never thought off putting cut outs in the area, and I'm a huge fan of cut outs.  I am very surprised that Miley is going for a laid back classiness.  Overall, I think she looks fine.  

Lady Gaga was one of my earliest inspiration when I was first designing.  I loved how she expressed herself without a care in the world.  But for a few years now, she's pretty much come down from that.  No more meat dresses, or Kermit dresses.  She's keeping it pretty low-key, which is fine, it's her decision.  Although this looks like a dress from the Oscars last year, or a stereotypical red carpet dress.  Nothing really special, I feel like I've seen this dress dozens of times.  Plus I'm cringing because it looks like it's going to snap any minute.  



Props to Antonique Smith for going back to the traditional Grammy outfit: a two piece.  This is a fun one.  I like the print, almost looks like something oriental.  I think it fits her nicely, although the top of the skirt just looks like a elastic around her waist.  I like the full length.  It's basically combining the traditional idea of the Grammys and the modern take of it plus the glam,


Ciara arrived in this not so little black dress.  I like how the organza swirls around her body in a artistic was but I doesn't really seem fitting for the Grammys. I also wish celebrity women would get away from wearing black all the time, try experimenting with color.  Also, black is not always flattering.  Ciara's hips appear larger here because of the optical illusion of the pleating.  Nothing against her, and I also think it's a good dress, but please try to be more experimental.

Iggy Azalea looks... like she can't take a step forward.  Nice color, nice shape, nice cut, but can she walk?  Anyways, my favorite thing about this dress is the sheer panel.  Over Christmas break I made a sheer panel skirt, but it was only knee length.  I like the cut outs of course but the top looks to busy.  She has cut outs on her ribs, she has cut outs on her shoulders, she has short sleeves, and a halter top.  This is dress and both too much and too little design, plus you add a mini train in the back.  Good attempt, but just too busy for me.



If I saw Toni Braxton's dress without knowing the context, I would guess she was going to the Oscars.  This is was too glamorous for the Grammys, in my opinion.  This dress is beautiful but I just don't think its the right occasion.  She looks like a beach goddess .  If I were to give it one criticism, I might say I would kind of like it to be strapless with just the rhinestone neck piece to emphasize it.  Also, just like a I said that celebrities need to pull away from black, same goes for white and cream.  We need more color, but for Toni, she looks gorgeous in diamond white.

  

I think Nicki Minaj and Beyonce have the same stylist.  This dress looks like two combined into one.  The top is the same top we see in all the dresses and as for the bottom, I'm not the biggest fan of fringe.  When I think fringe I think of preteens wanting to dress up as Native Americans or hippies.  Plus fringe is not fun to sit down in.  I saw something like this while shopping last year and I kinda thought it was gawdy.  But when I see this dress, I just see Ursula the Sea Witch. No offense Nicki.

Taylor Swift, one of my favorite singers since I was 15.  She has come so far and has really broken out of her shell.  I like this dress.  I think the cut is very Grammy appropriate.  The only thing is I wish the color was a tad bit lighter and also I wish the second shoulder straps were taken off.  Other than that, she looks really great.  


Last year was really Ariana Grande's time to shine and she did not disappoint.  I have always been a fan of her style and I'm starting to get into her music.  As for this dress, I love it.  I think it's so interesting and the longer I look at, I'm trying to figure out how they draped it.  She obviously put a lot of thought into it, and I like the very mature style.  She still has her signature ponytail, which I'm always trying to master.  Love the cut, color blocking and slit. Overall, beautiful.

.... Let me tell you about my day today.  Today I went to one of my fashion classes and we discussed the Grammy outfits.  My professor is not afraid to speak her mind and he had a lot to say about Rihanna's dress.  It went something like, "What was she thinking!?"  I have to agree.  This wouldn't even be Oscar appropriate,  this wouldn't be appropriate to any event.  She looks like the combination of a cupcake and a little girl's petticoat.  Just.. no. I am a slight fan of Rihanna's work, but only her early stuff so I don't really know her personality.  The color is tacky, the layering is outrageous, and cut is so unflattering. I'm sorry Rihanna, but you deserve better....



So that's my commentary on the Grammy outfits.  I know there were plenty of other celebrities wearing outfits but these are the only one's I really have comments for.  I feel like I would just be repeating myself if I went on so I'll end it here.  I look forward to the Oscars as you can tell and commenting on that show.

I will be back in a couple of days to blog again so be sure to follow me @  angelindenim.blogspot.com

I'll see you all soon

Love,
Rachel

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Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Welcome To My World




I think I should start from the beginning...

My name is Rachel and I am from a very small town in the Southern state of Tennessee.  A month ago I moved to New York City to chase my dream of being a fashion designer.  I'm sure this is a story that's been hold thousands of times but this my story, and I'll try to make it as unique as possible.  I am currently a fashion student at a NYC college after transferring from a previous Tennessee college.  This city has so much opportunity and I want to document my journey for the public.  Like a stated, my dream is to be a fashion designer, but more than that, I want to be a inspiration to a least one other person in this world.  I'll be blogging regularly throughout the week about my take on upcoming trends, outfit ideas, and my adventure though the city and more.  Follow me on this journey of fashion, art, beauty, makeup, and maybe even a little self discovery.

Love, 
Rachel


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