Category Archives: RED Carpet Watch

Mona Abou Hamze and Amanda Seyfried: Who Wore It Best

amanda seyfried mona abu hamzeLeft: Amanda Seyfried on the red carpet at the ’Lovelace’ Premiere during Berlin’s International Film Festival in this stunning cobalt lace long royal blue gown from Elie Saab’s Spring 2013 Collection and TIFFANY & CO. jewelry.

Right: Mona Abou Hamze attends the ‘Cleopatra’ premiere at Cannes Film Festival this week also in this tiered lace Elie Saab gown and Chopard Jewelry.

Mona most definitely wore this better thanks to the way her feminine figure playfully hugs this dress in all the right places and because she wasn’t afraid to wear this dress the way it was designed.

Amanda did not do the intricate design on the dress any justice by wearing it a size too large, layering it with a cream sheath underneath and the red lips were total overkill.

What do you say?

Also check out Mona’s Separated at Birth

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The 2012 Emmys Red Carpet-Best and Worst Dressed

Who cares about the Emmy’s! It’s the Red Carpet Fashion that I’m after as the awards season kicks off. This year, I have to say, stars got brave and took many fashion risks. Some shined but others failed. Miserably. Although Burgundy is this fall’s hot color I’m glad it wasn’t everywhere, instead we saw lots and lots of metallics. Check out the hits and misses

With one of the most celebrated hour-glass figures Sofia Vergara can put on just about any mermaid silhouette (as she ALWAYS does) and look fabulous. But I’ve had enough, and although this emerald sequined sexy Zuhair Murad creation is a head-turner, she manages to come off as a pageant contender. Too cleavage-full, too shiny, too much!

I’m not a big fan of matching your frock to your outfit, but E! Fashion Police co-host Kelly Osbourne pulls it off in this lovely lavender one-shoulder Zac Posen gown. Who would have thought the red lipstick would work as well as it did with this color but it gets my two thumbs up!

Julianne Moore proves that you can be a winner and a loser in the same night. Here’s the thing, I tried to look at her long-sleeved sticking chartreuse Dior dress with an open mind but I just couldn’t. Where do I begin? The color doesn’t work on her skin tone or her red locks, the cut does not flatter her upper body, it’s way too high on the neckline and too tight on the arms and the dress gets too wide from the waist down making her look BIG! I love Julianne Moore but this look on her puts her on my worst dressed. Who’s craving custard?

Lucy Lui makes a fashion statement and shields herself from all critics in this armor-like silver metallic number by Atelier Versace. The dress looked like it was sewn right on to her body, and the detail on the bustier is simply stunning. I just wish she took it all the way. Her hairdo was too sweet and delicate, instead it should have been more confrontational and edgy and high-fashion like the creation she has on.

Alright we get it, Zoey Deschanel, you’re quirky, cute and fun but enough already. She looks like an 80’s bride in this custom light blue Reem Acra tulle gown. To be fair I’m a big fan of the sweetheart neckline but this dress screams “WEDDING!”

Angelina Jolie’s leg called and she’s not happy with Heidi Klum’s trying to steal the show. Heidi’s sheer sky blue Alexandre Vauthier is lovely but the slits are way too high and she could have  kept it classy with just one. Her old-Hollywood glamor retro hair is stunning nevertheless. But she got way to matchy-matchy, first the dress with the earrings and then the stilettos, how 90′s prom of her.

January Jones is a fashion risk taker and I love her for that. She’s not afraid of making big statements on the red carpet despite the serious slack she gets every time. The fact of the matter is I love this Zac Posen swirly sheer couture gown on her. The only problem is she looks like she literally jumped out of the shower and brushed back her hair into a bun. To make matters worse she seemed to have mistaken the smokey-eyes look with raccoon eyes. What a waste of good couture. *sigh*

Now that’s what I’m talking about. Edie Falco looks picture-perfect in this crew neck Stella McCartney navy and white dress. Simple but sharp, age appropriate yet modern and undoubtedly red-carpet worthy.

Leave it to this Hollywood red carpet professional to show you how it’s done. Nicole Kidman is a couture queen and really knows how to toy with high-fashion while remaining age-appropriate in this white statuesque Antonio Berardi gown with electric blue paillettes. By far the best dressed!

Channeling her inner Bollywood diva Hayden Panettiere donned this one-shoulder blue tulle over gold embroidery sari Marchesa gown. Loved the simple updo and minimal makeup. This gown would look even better on someone with more height.

Julianne Hough looks like she’s about to try out for The Little Mermaid musical in this disastrous number by Georges Hobeika  and as much as I’d love to support my fellow Lebanese designers this dress comes off as too tacky and flashy. Way too much going on there. One of the worst dressed of the evening.

Angelina Jolie’s Wedding Dress- Who Will She Wear?

With the wedding of the year rumored to take place as we speak – at some magnificent French chalet (sigh) the fashion world holds its breath in anticipation.Everyone wants to know who will be designing Angelina Jolie’s wedding dress. Though she’s been favoring more leggy creations as of lately, her style is usually traditional and classic following in the famous poised footsteps of romantic beauty icons such as Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepurn, but recently it’s been revealed that the soon-to-be Madame Pitt  may opt for a “slinky” wedding dress.

The online world is buzzing and Brides.com has even gone ahead and asked some designers to send in sketches of wedding dresses they’d envision for Jolie. Take a look…

“When I envision Angelina in a wedding dress, I am inspired by her classic elegance and effortless sex appeal. She is deliberate about her fashion choices and that sophisticated confidence makes for the perfect modern bride.”- Reem Acra

“I envisioned Angelina as a wholesome sophisticated vision of the bride that her children imagine her to be, not her sexy red carpet signature style. This one is for her family.” – Creative Director Don O’Neil

I’ve taken the liberty of compiling a list of some couture bridal gowns from some fabulous designers I’d like to see Jolie wear on her big day. Of course she probably won’t settle with anything less than a one-of-a-kind creation but here are a few of my faves from Spring 2013

Some more Bridal related posts

Vintage McQueen and The Duchess of Cambridge- A Match Made In Heaven

Royal Wedding Fever

Royal Wedding “Too Simple” In Lebanese Standards

The Lebanese Politicians’ Wedding Album

The Lebanese Celebrities Wedding Album

 

The MET Gala 2012: IVY’s Best And Worst Dressed

These two make Brangelina look old and frumpy, check out the world’s hottest supermodel Gisele Bundchen with her stud of a man Tom Brady. They both matched with Givenchy *sigh*

Seriously why is he still with her? Justin Timberlake should drop Jessica Biel and his acting career before he totally becomes irrelevant.  And she should drop those bangs. Alright so her Prada gown is stunning except for the way it looks hastily folded up at the bottom. Oh and did I mention the $130,000 engagement ring..?

Not only did Emma Stone get an haute couture gown made especially for her by Lanvin, the fashion house’s designer was her date to the gala. One would think that with all those factors in her favor she would at least manage to make it on a best dressed list. Instead she wore a red mini dress with 3000 plastic flowers. Oh and it’s waterproof.

Lana Del Ray brings the drama to the red carpet in a beautiful black and silver hand embroidered gown  and a cape by  Joseph Altuzarra. Her deep plum lips and side parted retro waves added more mystery to her look. One of my favorites of the night!

Sure, the Met is the place to take risks, but Beyonce looks like an ostrich on acid. Givenchy my arse! This looks like something that tailor down the street would dress her 17 year-old to the prom (yup, classy area I live in.) Hands down she is THE Worst dressed of the night!

Rihanna looked like a sight for sore eyes with her super stretchy black Tom Ford dress. It was a big risk to take at such an event but never has an alligator looked so appealing. I love that she let the dress make a statement on its own by ditching the jewelry.

She usually gets it right but this time Gwyneth Paltrow got it so darn wrong in this boring lilac Prada dress that may as well have been released back in the 90’s, the paillettes don’t do the trick, that hairstyle is so overdone and she literally looks like she just finished a workout and I don’t mean that in a fresh and sexy way. She makes it on my worst dressed list.

Christina puts the HAUT in Haute Couture this year in this jaw-dropping intricate black-and-pink Thakoon gown stunner! Although she is teeny tiny she wore by far one of the biggest floor-skimming bow ties I’ve seen on a dress. My favorite of the night by far!

Scarlett Johansson is in a one-of-a-kind stunning Dolce & Gabbana, she is starring in every fashionista’s dream and guess how she decides to ruin it? With that nasty lifeless hair! If you’re gonna be the face of one of the world’s sexiest labels at least get your ROOTS done woman!

2012 Oscars Best And Worst Dressed

I was psyched that I stayed up way past my bedtime to watch some of the stars walk the Red Carpet at the 2012 Oscar’s last night. My caffeine intake didn’t help; all in all it turned out to be a major snooze fest. Tradition reigned as stars opted for conservative pieces rather than risky creations. I definitely missed three of my favourite A-List red carpet divas Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron and Cate Blanchett so I didn’t have much of a choice but to settle with mediocre. White was a big hit but so were sequins, beadings, embellishments and embroidery.  My favourite trend of the night was that accessories were kept to a bare minimum, with actresses opting for one statement pieces and some for no jewelry at all.  Check out some of my favorites and not-so-favorites below:

Cameron Diaz

Few can pull of this figure-hugging cream strapless Gucci with feminine ruffles and soft sequins so Cameron Diaz makes it on my best dressed for giving us some of that red carpet glamour while keeping things age-appropriate but still on the safer side of things.

Emma Stone

I loved Emma Stone in that purple reddish Lanvin number she wore to the Golden Globes this year, but there is something about the oversized bow tie and overwhelming and excessive fabric contrasting with her small frame and snow white skin that just doesn’t work for me. Plus, she stole Nicole Kidman’s memorable 2008 Oscar look.  Her dress is Giambattista Valli and is accessorized with a Louis Vuitton bracelet and earrings.

Milla Jovovich

This previous model looked every inch the red carpet glamour girl in a beaded one-shoulder Elie Saab gown and matched it with a dazzling Edie Parker clutch. Her side-swept hair and hot red lips matched perfectly! One of the best dressed ladies of the night.

Meryl Streep

Even one of the best actresses of our generation can get it wrong sometimes, and although Meryl goes home with her third Oscar, she still gets it wrong in this ill-fitted metallic gold wraparound Lanvin that not only matched her metallic shoes ,earrings and hair but also the little golden statue she took home. It was all too much gold for my taste, resembling a Lebanese mother at her son or daughter’s wedding.

Gwyneth Paltrow

It’s fashion statements like this that make us Fashion nerds tune into the Oscars in the first place and Gwyneth Paltrow brings it in this stunning Tom Ford gown with a dramatic cape accessorized with a a gorgeous diamond cuff. Her sleek unfussy hair matched perfectly. I bet Angelina Jolie saw that look and kicked herself for not doing it first.

Angelina Jolie

Just because you’re Angelina Jolie it doesn’t mean you get to put on a old black frock to the Oscars , show us some leg and then call it a day. Even Angelina can get it wrong and she gets it very wrong in the oversized boring black velvet Atelier Versace gown. She didn’t even bother with her hair. She makes it on my worst dressed for the night.

Sandra Bullock

She puts the G in glamour in this black and white Marchesa gown with metallic embroidery accessorized with Lorraine Schwartz jewels. I love this look on her because it’s so elegant yet fashion-forward although I would have loved to see her hair in a different updo and slightly more makeup. She still makes it on my best dressed list!

Anna Faris

The zoo called, a seal escaped and seems to have made its way to the Oscars. Anna Faris looks like a pile of  blubber in this Diane von Furstenburg black long-sleeved sequins dress and her new bleached bob is really not helping. One of the worst dressed of the night.

Glen Close

Style knows no age and Glen Close pulls a Tilda Swinton on us in this gorgeous forest green silhouette-hugging corset-fitted Zac Posen gown. To keep things age appropriate she topped it off with a tuxedo blazer. Ladies take notes! One of the my favorite red carpet looks.

Rooney Mara

This high-fashion meets classic couture gown is one of the night’s stunners by fashion house Givenchy. It’s one of those dresses that would look good in every color and I would have loved to see it on an A-lister since Rooney Mara’s bland facial expressions really don’t do it any justice.

Michelle Williams

Best Dressed of the night! Michelle channels her skinny inner Marilyn Monroe and looks VA VA VOOM in this classic old-Hollywood strapless perfectly-fitted Louis Vuitton gown with a flirty skirt at her waist and a bow brooch. She kept things fun adding that candy colored pink clutch. Only a few can pull-off this look and Michelle does so with flying colors!

This post by Ivy Says has been quoted and linked by CNN’s HLNtv site! Check It Out: 

The Lebanese Politicians’ Wedding Album

Their policies may not be your idea of a cup ‘of tea but these politicians  sure know how to throw a party.  Never mind if your tax dollars paid for it and you may have never gotten that invitation in the mail, nevertheless here’s a look at some of Lebanon’s most politically lavish weddings.

Exhibit A: The Berri’s

If you’re the daughter of one of  Lebanon’s richest men, then expect nothing short of a fairly tale wedding and that’s exactly what Nabih Berri’s daughter got. She even got Elie Saab to custom make a dress for her. Lavish is an understatement.

Exhibit B: The Lahouds

When daddy’s the president, the sky’s the limit, so when Ralph Lahoud exchanged vows with his bride Sabine Mazloum he did it in style at the Presidential Palace in Baabda in 2007. I’m not a big fan of the ballerina look or flower arrangement on her head , but hey, its her big day not mine.

Exhibit C:  The Geageas

She was getting wed to the  head of the Lebanese Forces,  but who would have thought that the shy girl Sethrida that appears in those wedding photos would one day become a Member of Parliament. Although I’m not crazy about the peacock look, I really like the long sleeve concept and lace on her dress. Feels like something Lady Gaga would wear on her wedding day. See Lady Geagea inspired Lady GaGa. (Always wanted to say that)

Exhibit D: The Aouns

Planning a wedding to an MP could not have been an easy task for Sarah Souhaid who said “I Do” to General Michel Aoun’s Nephew Alain Aoun in an outdoorsy ceremony.  Her look was refreshing and simple and I’m a sucker for  frills on an off-the-shoulder neckline.

Exhibit E: The Tuenis

As the youngest female MP in parliament, Nayla Tueni did the unconventional, she wed popular TV host Malek Maktabi in a civil ceremony in Cyprus. I think her Grecian goddess inspired dress and Roman setting go perfectly with the occasion, however his suit didn’t really go with the  theme.

Exhibit F: The Hariris

When your the world’s youngest billionaire, you get married in Paris the city of love, and that’s exactly what Hind Hariri, daughter of the late Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri did on her big day. In March 0f 2009, she wed her prince charming in a super blingy dress and diamond encrusted tiara-like crown, that looks it’s a secret weapon in disguise.

The Good,The Bad and The Ugly At The Oscars Red Carpet

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