at. the. met.

The Annual Costume Gala at the Met was held tonight. Usually this is the one time of year - including the Oscars - when celebrities wear stunningly beautiful couture dresses that are interesting and hopefully a bit avant garde.

This year most of the dresses have seemed a bit on the boring side - a bit too much like a really fancy prom. There have been a couple of exceptions though (and hopefully more as pics become available).

The two standouts? Kate Bosworth in Chanel Haute Couture, and Hillary Duff (really) in Ellie Saab:

style. inspiration.

Last night one of my favorite movies (that was made from one of my favorite books, written by one of my favorite authors) was on HBO: Fight Club. While two hours of staring at Brad Pitt's abs is reason for sitting through pretty much anything, what I really adore about FC is that it's a quite clever critique of an overly capitalistic, consumer-driven society - and it's damn entertaing too!

(And yes, I'm well aware of the irony in cheering on a film about the downfall of capitalism in a blog about fashion.)

So why this entry then, you might wonder? Marla. Singer. Possibly the literary character whom I adore most. While she has a fashion sense that some might call tragic, I'm to disagree, and share two "Marla inspired" looks for today's post:

(1)Dress, WearItsAtVintage,eBay


(2)
Vintage black micro-mini, DressMe-Vintage, eBay; oversized black sunglasses, Urban Outfitters; oversized vintage black hat, CSTLouis eBay

two. things. I. love...

...Zooey Deschanel and pretty dresses.

Happily, both can currently be found on designer Erin Fetherston's website. While I wasn't a fan of Ms. Fetherston's Go International Collection for Target, I'm a huge follower of her eponymous line. She doesn't make much that would be considered everyday wear - many of her designs are evening only. But when you head out for a special night, see if you can't snap up one of her dresses. The shapes are flattering and feminine, and her prints and fabric are ethereal.



My favorite dress comes from her Fall 2008 collection. It's such a magical piece!

runway. review.

Ever since I fell in love with a brightly colored sheer tunic with bird appliqués several seasons ago, I've been a fan of Matthew Williamson. His bold colors and prints are always identifiable, and seem like a breath of fresh air when many other designers play it safe with neutral palettes.

His Pre-Fall 08 collection is a mix of vibrant and whimsical maxi and mini dresses, along with layered looks that you could walk right off of the runway and into "real life" in. While I'm not in love with the black tights and metallic silver booties that were paired with nearly every look, the collection seems fresh, young, and is proof that Williamson can hold onto a signature look without becoming staid and predictable.

ash.

When I first saw this photo, I nearly didn't recognize Ashley Olsen. Maybe it's the low-key makeup, maybe it's that she just looks so radiant, but I adore Ms. Olsen in this pic. She looks a bit more grown up, and a bit more grown into her own individual style. (With some gorgeous Balenciaga platforms!)

nude. for. spring.

I've always loved the idea of a mostly nude face, especially for spring. If done wrong, it can be a bit severe, but if done correctly it's a look that makes an impact while remaining pretty and chic.

MK Olsen gets the look right recently at Tribeca with a nude face and smokey eyes. To keep her eyes from looking too harsh, she lines with a chocolate brown/bronze shadow rather than black. (to do this look for day, try an irridescent shadow with just a touch of color and finish with black mascara)


Get the look from Sephora:

(1)Dior DiorSkin AirFlash Spray Foundation, $60.00


(2)Sephora Brand Colorful Pearl Mono Eyeshadow in Pearl No. 2 (Bronze Pearl), $10


(3)Dior DiorShow Mascara in black, $24.00