Tori STUNNING ... and other Oscar Fashion

All eyes are on the Academy Awards for the celebration of the best in cinema but the red carpet fashion has become as important as the winners of the actual awards! (more important to me personally)

Honestly the Red carpet was to me this year was in a word; UNDERWHELMING. I saw nothing over the top glam, minimal jewels, half done hair and no real sparkle and shine that we all have come to associate with this gala red carpet event.


However; I must give a standing ovation and a round of applauds to Tori Spelling for expressing her signature style in a Vintage GLAM look. The dress coupled with he hair, red lip, cocktail ring, clutch & shoes were that of a PROfashional! It takes a lot of Maven Moxie to wear vintage to a red (or in her case cream) carpet event. Especially because the press is so generic in their reporting when it comes to fashion in my humble opinion. Tori dresses for FASHION not for trends or what a stylist says. I have re-dubbed her Tori STUNNING XO




Was the dress from my eBoutique Evolution Vintage? YES (http://www.evolution-vintage.com/)

Did Tori "knock it out of the park" regardless where the dress was from? YES YES

So all the bias aside her look was my FAV! Tori, you get the LisaG PROFashional Oscar Award this year!

Honorable Mentions Go To:

Jennifer Hudson in VERSACE
*I loved the color and it is an actual modern twist on a GOWN ~ appropriate for an Oscar red carpet*

Natalie Portman in Rodarte*I loved the colour and the draping of this dress ~ a prefect silhouette for a mom-to-be*

Hailee Steinfeld in custom made Marchesa

*Totally age appropriate and what fun to be able to helps design your Oscar dress with the ladies at Marchesa, it's every girls FASHION DREAM at 14 ... and 21 .... and 32. I also loved he Vintage inspired shape and length for her*

A BIG BRAVO to Rachel Zoe (who styled all of Anne Hathaways looks) - Here are my FAV's

Anne Hathaway in Givenchy Couture

Anne Hathaway in Lanvin tuxedo & Brian Atwood jeweled shoes

Anne Hathaway in Oscar de la Renta

After Party Fabulous:

Kate Beckensale in Julian McDonald

Charlize Theron in VERSACE

There is always next year girls. Talk to your stylists about trying something new or old. Give Vintage a try, an unknown designer or something from a high end designers past collections. Be unexpected and BOLD. Who will be sassy enough to snag the LisaG ProFashional award for 2012's red carpet?

HAUTE COUTURE: The Real Deal

The most over used and misused terms in my opinion in fashion is the term "Couture". I thought that I would post the REAL definition of the term Haute Couture along with some history.

The definition of the term Haute Couture is french for "high dressing" or "high sewing" and it refers to the creation of exclusive, custom-made, custom-fitting clothing. Haute Couture garments are made to order for specific clients and utilize the best and most expensive fabrics and embellishments. The garments are usually hand constructed and sewn by the hand of several skilled seamstresses that pay exceptional attention to details. The execution of these garments are very labour intensive and time consuming, hence the high cost. Couture is a commonly used abbreviation of Haute Couture but it is referring to the same thing.

Charles Frederick Worth was dubbed the "Father of Couture" and this talented Englishmen relocated to Paris in 1845 where he ultimately found his success. Worth frequently used lavish fabrics and luxurious trimmings. He incorporated elements of historic dress and paid particular attention to the fit of his designs. He created one-of-a-kind pieces for his most important clients, he also displayed a variety of his designs on live models at 'The House of Worth'. Clients made their selections and from there each garment was tailor-made in Worth's workshop.

CHARLES WORTH


A large number of surviving Worth garments are part of the permanent collection of The Costume Institute (MET), as well as in other institutions in the United States. He was popular among the American wealthy, as well as European royalty and aristocrats. his fashion house continued after his death at the hands of his sons but was closed in 1952 when his great grand-son retired from the family business.

((Source: Charles Frederick Worth (1826–1895) and The House of Worth Thematic Essay Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History The Metropolitan Museum of Art))

DID YOU KNOW? In France, the term haute couture is protected by law and is defined by the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris based in Paris, France. Their rules state that only "those companies mentioned on the list drawn up each year by a commission domiciled at the Ministry for Industry are entitled to avail themselves" of the label haute couture. The criteria for haute couture were established in 1945 and updated in 1992.

The couture house is customarily composed of two parts, one devoted to dressmaking (flou), the other devoted to tailoring (tailleur) of suits and coats.

CHRISTIAN DIOR ~ 1947

PAUL POIRET, 1919


To earn the right to call itself a couture house and to use the term haute couture in its advertising and any other way, members of the Chambre syndicale de la haute couture must follow these rules:

1) Design made-to-order for private clients, with one or more fittings.

2) Have a workshop (atelier) in Paris that employs at least fifteen people full-time.

3) Each season (i.e., twice a year), present a collection to the Paris press, comprising at least thirty-five runs/exits with outfits for both daytime wear and evening wear.


There are 4 categories of membership which include; Official Members, Correspondent members (Foregin), Guest members, Jewelery and accessories.

2011 Members include (Official & Correspondent - foreign): Adeline André, Anne Valérie Hash, Atelier Gustavo Lins, Chanel, Christian Dior, Christophe Josse, Franck Sorbier, Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier, Maurizio Galante, Stéphane Rolland, Elie Saab, Giorgio Armani,Maison Martin Margiela, Valentino.

HUBERT De GIVENCHY, 1968

VALENTINO

CHANEL, 1937

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER, 2010


Jewelery: Boucheron, Chanel Joaillerie Chaumet, Dior Joaillerie, Van Cleef & Arpels

DIOR JOAILLERIE
Accessories: Loulou de la Falaise, Maison Michel Massaro, On Aura Tout Vu


FORMER MEMBERS: Donatella Versace, Elsa Schiaparelli, Emilio Pucci, Chado Ralph Rucci, Christian Lacroix, Erica Spitulski, Erik Tenorio, Fred Sathal, Guy Laroche, Hanae Mori, Jean Patou, Jean-Louis Scherrer, Lanvin, Lecoanet Hemant, Loris Azzaro, Louis Feraud, Mainbocher, Marcel Rochas, Nina Ricci, Paco Rabanne, Pierre Balmain
Pierre Cardin, Ralph Rucci, Torrente, Yves Saint Laurent, Gai Mattiolo
Anna May

ATELIER VERSACE (Gianni Versace)

CHRISTIAN LACROIX 1987

I read somewhere that there are approximately 2,000 women who still purchase haute couture. The designers reserve their high-end creations for celebrities to wear down the red carpets around the world. It is an amazing advertisement for the houses and still makes the dying craft relevant.

The term has been mis-used within the industry since the 1980's ~ Imagine the looks on the faces of the REAL "Couturiers" when they see a Velour Track suit with the label "Couture" .. . not so Juicy.

Haute Couture?? I don't think so ....

Style Maven Series: Simone Reyes

Many of you may not know this Maven but let me introduce Simone Reyes. Hip-Hop mogul Russell Simmons RIGHT hand (assistant), an unequivocal supporter and protector of animal's rights, vegan, burlesque dancer and pole dancing/fitness aficionado.

She starred on the 2010 debut of the Oxygen reality show "Running Russell Simmons" that chronicles the day-to-day grind of Russell Simmons and his fierce femme support team, that organize and facilitate Russell's busy life. Simone and Christina being the top two girls who are the closest to Russell and handle all dealings from business to personal for the extremely busy entrepreneur, entertainment and fashion mogul, philanthropist, and yogi.



Running Russell Simmons (Trailer):




What truly inspires me about Simone is her COMPASSION and PASSION for animals and their rights. She is a Vegan and a hard core supporter of PETA, Mercy for Animals, Farm Sanctuary and Animal Acres. She speaks for those who do not have a voice in our society, the millions of defenceless animals slaughtered each day so society can keep the status quo on their plates. In the wise words of Sir Paul McCartney; “If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian.” Think about that concept for a moment. People would have to really consider where their food comes from.

Many people also do not realize that their choice to eat meat is not only cruel but they are contributing to an entity that is the LARGEST contributor the destruction our planet - Factory Farms! Did you know that a Factory Farm creates more pollution and greenhouse gas emissions than ALL the cars, trucks, vans, planes, trains and ships in the world COMBINED! This is according to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).



I was particularly impressed by her efforts in NY times Square making a statement along side PETA (WATCH THE VIDEO)







Her quest for equality for all; men, women and animals extended to her participation in the NOH8 Campaign.
Lend your face & voice: www.noh8campaign.com

She stays fit and sexy through her pole dancing and fitness.



Simone On Pole Dancing: "I always feel it's my job to introduce women to pole dancing because I have personally gotten so much out of it. Sure, it's a hot badge of honor, a cool notch on your belt to be able to hang upside down on a pole, but the benefits go much deeper. Pole dancing takes me back to a very primitive, organic part of myself physically and emotionally. It frees me. And yes, it's HOT."
My sister owns a business called "RockNPole" (www.rocknpole.ca) which encompasses personalized fitness programs, customized pole fitness with a fun "girls night in" component of pole parties at your home. Get the girls together and ROCK the POLE! I wish more women knew of the benefits of pole fitness and dance. Spread the word Simone!!

She also has spread her creative wings into the area of burlesque dance.







Simone has a hippy-chic sense of style mixing boho with rock-n-roll and sequins; the combination of flashy & earthy! I LOVE her accessories; headbands, hats and Vintage bags. Of course all her fashion choices are 'animal friendly' too -She wears no furs, animal skins, leather or otherwise. If it ain't Vegan she's not buying.

I had a chance to ask Simone my Style Maven Questions:

LISA: Can you describe your personal Style aesthetic AND attitude about fashion?

SIMONE: My personal style is Cherie Currie meets Sharon Tate..70's glam rocker/ 60's flowerchild

LISA: What are the key components / pieces in your closet?

SIMONE: I love bell bottom jeans, platform shoes and dresses with sequins. I love anything shiny, like a bird.

LISA: How do you feel about Vintage Clothing and Accessories?

SIMONE: I am a vintage girl at heart..its boring for me to shop at a mall and I never follow trends. However, put me in a vintage store and I feel my heart begin to swell. The hunt is the most thrilling part.

LISA: What are your favorite Vintage pieces (Clothing and/or Accessories)? Do you only wear designer vintage?

SIMONE: I don't limit my wardrobe to only vintage but it's my go-to favorite look. My favorite pieces are a few 70's jumpsuits that I embellished with some retro patches and studs to rocker them up a bit. I have some delicate lace shawls that remind me of my idol, Stevie Nicks and some amazing 60's minidresses that I adore.

LISA: What are you wearing this Spring? Tell our readers the key elements for your Spring 2011 wardrobe

SIMONE: I love capes so I am going to be wearing those as the NY weather goes from chilly to breezy.

LISA: If you could give women 1 piece of STYLE advice, what would it be?

SIMONE: My style advice is to choose their wardrobe from the heart..come from a place of non-violence which means DON'T wear fur, leather, feathers, silk, wool or suede. I remember meeting with a stylist on the first season of filming "Running Russell Simmons" and the look on her face when I told her I'm a vegan and we don't wear any animal products. She had the look of "WHAT am I going to pull for her?!?!". Then, as she got to see all my pieces from my closet she understood that you don't need to be cruel to look cool. Compassion is the Fashion.










Evolution Vintage's Picks for Simone:


Vintage Silver & Black Sequin Top


Designer Re-Sale: Jovovich-Hawk Dress


Late 40's Vintage Whiting & David Metal Mesh Clutch


White Evolution Vintage T-shirt ~ vintage Style Burn out shirt - VERY ROCK N ROLL!

SHOP: www.evolution-vintage.com

KORS: 30 & Fabulous

Happy Anniversary Michael Kors ~ 2011 marks the 30th year in the fashion business for this famous designer who has re-defined American Sportswear. His designs are timeless, classic and chic! He sold his first collection to Bergdorf Goodman at the age of 19 and has never looked back.









He designed for the French house Celine from 1997-2004 as well as continuing to design for his own label. He was the first ever women's ready-to-wear designer and creative director for Celine. I sincerely respect designers who can design under more than one 'umbrella' bringing their own design aesthetic but staying true to the labels history and catering to their customer. This creative multi-tasking is a very rare quality few designers can pull off well.


MK with Stylist Rachel Zoe: Harpers Bazaar.


His philosophy: "Make people feel confident and comfortable; help women look beautiful."

He is the recipient of the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) life time achievement award and at the age of 50 made him the youngest designer EVER to receive that honor.

MK has a large clientele of celebrities but he designs for real women. His clothes are fabulous and functional. My MK purchase for Fall/Winter; a black MK belted trench coat, which I LOVE:


First Lady Michelle Obama wearing Kors in her White House official portraits.


I loved his "Twisted Country Club Dressing" of the 1990's with all the 'supermodels' of the decade on hand at all of his shows.







MK signed on to Project Runway in 2004. Project Runway is "must see TV" at my house and I truly love MK for sharing his wisdom and honesty. Some of his no nonsense critiques are hilarious! and I always look forward to hearing his perspective on the designers.

His signature style: Black Blazer, Black T-shirt, and black trouser or jeans topped with black aviator's (MK of course). Chic & Sleek!


“I think fashion is traditionally about society, worshipping youth,” he says. “But I think the best combination is youth and experience. So right now is a wonderful moment for me. I still feel curious. I still feel excited about what’s next.”














I'm excited to see what is next for you too Michael, CHEERS to 30 more years!!! The sky's the limit.


SHOP: www.michaelkors.com