Le Red Carpet Fab:We have come to the end of another year, and naturally that means it is time for the "Best of" lists. Here--on my
NICKVERREOS.COM blog, I discuss--amongst many things--Red Carpet Fashion, Royals and Royal Weddings, Figure Skating Costumes and yes, Pageant Gowns, so I will do a "Best Of" list for all those.
So...let's begin with my Favorite Red Carpet Gowns of 2012:The Best Ivory, Blush & Color Gowns: Gwyneth Paltrow, Academy Awards 2012--Statuesque column one shoulder silk crepe gown with attached--but detachable--cape, from Tom Ford. The Best Gown of the entire night--and probably 2012. Gorgeous, simple, elegant, regal...gown perfection.
Charlize Theron, Golden Globes 2012--Theron wore one of my favorite gowns of the year at the Golden Globes. It's a blush colored silk chiffon gown featuring a plunging neckline, side slit and folded-down silk gazar bows. The gown is a Custom Dior. Charlize's hair looks perfect, the Cartier headband is chic and so 1930's, and the waist diamond brooch just put's the right amount of sparkle to a fairly neutral-colored gown.
Kate Beckinsale, 2012 Golden Globe Awards--This strapless subtly sparkling fit-to-flare blush-colored gown is from Roberto Cavalli was one of my favorite of the year and of the 2012 Golden Globes red carpet. She was perfection.
Angelina Jolie, Golden Globes 2012--Angelina looked like a Madame Toussauds statue in this white silk satin gown from Atelier Versace. When she got on the red carpet, it was as if "Oh, yes, a Star has arrived!" I loved the pleated side draping, the perfect fit, slight dramatic train and pop of color highlighting THAT face of hers. This was the gown in which she "tested" that now-infamous "Angelina Slit Pose" using her other leg.
Tina Fey, 2012 Primetime Emmy Awards--One of the BEST Tina Fey has ever looked, in this burgundy colored strapless gown from British designer Vivienne Westwood. It's a simple column gown with a diagonally draped top "corset" section and a delicate peek-a-boo gold and black brocade embellished detail.
Nicole Kidman, 2012 Primetime Emmy Awards--I LOVED this gown and therefore had to put it here on my "Best of 2012" red carpet gown list. It's an Antonio Berardi Spring 2013 ivory column gown with turquoise sequins in the form of wings. It fit her beautifully. Nicole was "subdued" elegance...with a sparkle PUNCH!
Natalie Portman, Golden Globes 2012--This is probably my favorite gowns of color from this year's awards shows red carpet. This strapless side-pleated gown is a Custom Lanvin by Alber Elbaz. I absolutely LOVE the fuschia color, and the tone-on-tone effect. The silhouette and side draping is so Classic Couture and very 50's "Old Hollywood Glamour". One of the best!
Best of the Metallic Gowns:
Nina Dobrev, Met Gala 2012--The gown is Custom Donna Karan and "The Vampire Diaries" star looked stunning! The splashed metallic bias-cut gown is a Donna Karan staple and it works beautifully on Dobrev. She looks like an Erte drawing. I love the open back with side cowl drape and the UBER train is so Pageant Fab!
Nicole Kidman, Golden Globes 2012--Nicole Kidman makes a second appearance here on my list in one of my other favorite gowns of 2012. This time, Kidman is looking very "Rock-&-Roll Chic" in this Versace Spring 2012 silver-gray column gown with metallic gold studded details. This had S-E-X written all over it. And yet, still looked elegant and red carpet perfect.
Stacy Keibler, Academy Awards 2012--George Clooney's gorgeous girlfriend almost made everyone forget who she came with--in this golden side twisted/draped gown from Marchesa Fall 2012--at this year's Academy Awards. This is not a gown for everyone and not everyone will think it's one of the Best of 2012, but for me, it belongs here for sure.
Karolina Kurkova, Met Gala 2012--This gown is a golden metallic gown and it's a Custom Rachel Zoe. It's perfect from the front--and back. Love the matching turban...now, that's DRAMA. And yes, it helps that it all being worn by one of the top Supermodels in the World. But, even models can fail at the red carpet. But here, Karolina gets an A+.
Camila Alves, 2012 Cannes Film Festival--Brazilian-born Camila looks Frothy Fab in this Marchesa Fall 2012 lavender gown with a multi-layered tulle bottom and silver metallic embellished torso. This gown reminds me of an updated "Hello Dolly" Couture Goddess.
Best of the Grecian Goddesses:
Diane Kruger, 2012 Cannes Film Festival--This Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Grecian-inspired silk chiffon gown was one of my Top Picks of 2012. I love the one shoulder style, light-as-a-feather delicacy, back "fall"...it's the complete package of a gown.
Viola Davis, Golden Globes 2012--Classic, chic, elegant...all words to describe Viola Davis in this burgundy-colored gathered one shoulder silk chiffon gown featuring a side slit and dramatic back "fall" (just like Diane Kruger's Giambattista Valli creation) from Pucci and Norwegian designer Peter Dundas.
Dita Von Teese, Elton John AIDS Foundation 2012 Academy Awards Viewing Party--She looked exquisite in this Jenny Packham Grecian Goddess style gown with sequined neck, shoulder and sleeve details. A beautiful gown.
Heidi Klum, 2012 Primetime Emmy Awards--I LOVED Heidi in this seafoam Grecian Goddess-style silk chiffon gown with fitted, gathered waist, deep V neckline and side slit from French designer Alexandre Vauthier. It was one of my favorite gowns of the 2012 Emmy Awards red carpet.
The Best of the All Over Sequin Gowns:
Milla Jovovich, 2012 Academy Awards--One of the BEST gowns of the 2012 Academy Awards red carpet. This is a gown from the Elie Saab Couture Fall 2009 collection. That means it is over three years old, and frankly, it still surprises me that more stylists don't look through various Couture House's archives of past collections to borrow gowns (if the designer's allow them to, that is). This one shoulder gown features hand-beaded sequins over silk and if ordered, could set a millionaire's wife back about $100,000 (it's one-of-a-kind, made to order and done without one sewing machine--all by hand). It's stunning!
Sofia Vergara, Met Gala 2012--This blue-gray gown is from Marchesa Fall 2012 and features gold and silver sequin embellishments throughout. I loved the cascading peplum style and I think
it was one of my favorite looks on the gorgeous Sofia. We're so used to
seeing her in Va-Va-Voom styles and shapes, this was a nice very High
Fashion departure. Speaking of Va-Va-Voom...
Sofia Vergara, 2012 Primetime Emmy Awards--This was also one of my favorite gowns of 2012. It was from Lebanese Couturier Zuhair Murad and the very fitted fit-to-flare teal-colored gown featured all over sequins. She was very "Miss Universo" in this, and maybe that's why I LOVED it! I'd be remiss not to mention the fact that yes, this dress was SO fitted that the center back invisible zipper famously broke (darn those invisible zippers!).
Evan Rachel Wood, 2012 Golden Globe Awards--FLAWLESS is the only word that comes to mind. This halter gown is Custom Gucci and has ombre deep-hunter green-to-emerald colored pailletes hand-sewn covering the gown which then "spill" out into a glorious bottom of feathers. She looks like a Couture Bird of Paradise.
Blake Lively, "Savages" LA Premiere--Blake is simply stunning in this Zuhair Murad Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2012 gown with black hand-beaded sequins strategically placed throughout the silk tulle and organza gown. One of THE BEST gowns of 2012. She looks like a blond Rita Hayworth.
Finally...
Ali Landry, TV Guide Network 2012 Academy Awards Red Carpet Coverage--Now, being that this is MY blog, after all, I had to be self-indulgent and last but not least, include one of MY own gowns, in this "Best Of 2012" list--Actress Ali Landry wore this raspberry-colored silk ziberline gown from my NIKOLAKI/Nick Verreos & David Paul Collection. to co-host TV Guide Network's 2012 Academy Awards Red Carpet Coverage (seen above with co-host Marc Istook). And yes, I think she looked AMAZING! And therefore, she HAD to make my list.
***Next Up: Best Royal Wedding Gowns of 2012
Perfect Couple: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, 10th Annual ARK Gala Dinner at Kensington Palace
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge wearing Jenny Packham to the 10th Annual ARK Gala Dinner at Kensington Palace
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge wearing Jenny Packham to the 10th Annual ARK Gala Dinner at Kensington Palace
The gown--which retails for 3,147 Euro (about $6300) is currently SOLD OUT in the UK (of course). Her side-bow detailed pumps were by LK Bennett (see close-up above of the shoe--and the rolled-up hem of her beaded gown).
Also in attendance were Elizabeth Hurley, who wore a light gray one-shoulder side-gathered gown by Italian Designer Roberto Cavalli. She looked AMAZING! The gown with that side-slit, hair and those platforms did look a bit "Miss Universe Evening Gown Competition" but well, as you guys know: I LOVE THAT!!
Prince Pavlos of Greece with his wife Princess Marie-Chantal Miller: Wearing what clearly was the color of the night.
English model Laura Bailey wore Valentino Spring 2011. You may remember her from way back in the day when she first became famous as actor Richard Gere's girlfriend.
British model Saffron Aldridge wore a beautiful "Mermaid"-shaped lemon-yellow gown with drop-shoulder sleeves. Interesting Family Side Note: Her half-sister is Victoria's Secret Model Lily Aldridge (who is married to Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill), and her half-brother is Miles Aldridge who is a fashion photographer married to Kristen McMenamy.
British actress Katrine Boorman, wearing this bright yellow get-up and flower-detailed hat. One word: Mess. Is she going to spend a week in Positano in this bright yellow cotton sun-dress? Or is she going to a Garden Party in West Hollywood? I don't think she even knows. And I haven't even begun on those shoes! Oh Katrine....
Sophie Dahl: When you are going to an event that you know Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge will be attending, don't you think you need to step it up a teeny-weeny bit? Would you like to greet William and Kate in this ensemble? Here's the answer: NOPE! Poor Sophie, she looks like a shop girl at my local H&M who is just about DONE with her 10-hour work day!!!
Tom Ford: Seriously. Just look at him! That deep-purple velvet jacket of his (Tom Ford I assume?) is scissor-SHARP! The cummerbund (it's officially BACK!!!), the pants, the patent leather shoes and that perfect bow tie! Jesus, does this man EVER get it wrong?? I doubt it.
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