Royal Fashion Minute: Royal Ascot and...THE HATS!!

Royal Fashion Minute: Royal Ascot and...THE HATS!!

Hat KRAZEEEEEE...

Color Happy: Royal Ascot attendees in their finest--Imagine being THE ONE friend in the group who decided to wear black! Oooops!

Well kiddies, it's Royal Ascot!! What, pray tell, may that mean? The Royal Ascot is one of Europe's most famous race meetings, dating back to 1711!! It's a MAJAH event in the British social calendar (didn't realize there were still such things as "Social Calendars"). Press coverage of the attendees usually exceeds the actual races themselves and so of course, I have to give my "Nick V Two Cents". There are always some colorful outfits, dresses, and especially THE HATS!!! It's all about those hats!!! The theme for dressing to the Royal Ascot is "Dress To Be Noticed" darlings. The British Royals always attend and arrive each day in their horse-drawn carriages (of course they do!). So, speaking of the Royals...

HM Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh: Day One (Left) and Day Two (Right)--The Queen usually loves a bold bright color but for the Royal Ascot, she has chosen more elegant subdued pastels. I actually really like the pink hat it has a softness to it that you don't always see with the Queen. I also love that his boutonniere matches her hat!

Princesses Beatrice(L) and Eugenie (R): Speaking of subdued, these two royals decided to "tone down" their ever-so-fabulous "Prince William and Kate Wedding" Haute Couture ensembles (who can ever forget THAT Philip Treacy hat worn by Beatrice)...and went for a more "delicate" route for the Royal Ascots. I actually wished they would have stayed more FAB-U-LOUS as opposed to BORING.

Mrs. Urs Schwarzenbach, Francesca with Sophie, Countess of Wessex: Chic and Chic. Francesca (L) is the wife of Urs Schwarzenbach, multi-millionaire (worth 900 Million Euro back in 2005) Swiss financier living in the UK. He has his own Polo Team and is a big sponsor and supporter of horses and racing. He also own properties all over the UK--HUGE estates , my kiddies...Mrs. Schwarzenbach also happens to be a former Miss Australia (Love that!)

Best at the Royal Ascot:

Welsh Opera Star Katherine Jenkins and her TV-presenter boyfriend Gethin Jones: These two look so gorgeous! What a handsome couple, and so well-dressed! Love the deep-fire red dress and that over-the-top hat! I just feel (a little bit) bad for the woman behind her who cannot see a DARN thing because of THAT hat!!!

Danish-born Fashion Designer (and DIVA!) Isabell Kristensen: OK, this woman IS FIERCE! Three words: You GO Girl! She's a very stylish fashion designer who does mostly Custom Designs for the very wealthy from her Couture Boutiques in London and Monaco (of course!). I have no idea who is funding her and her design business, but really WHO CARES...when you look like that! She has now become a Royal Ascot fixture for her oh-so-amazing hats. And this is what she wore LAST YEAR:

I absolutely LOVE her!

The "Ascot Wacky" Awards Goes To:

Yellow Explosion

It's like this woman went to the UK version of Michael's Arts and Craft Store and this is what she came up with! Now, if she would have also found an OVERSIZED Bee and glued it in the middle of it, then...and maybe then...I would have given her a "You Go Girl" high-five!

Well, at least these two women kind of tried. But there's something about the hats--and their ensembles (it could be the badly sewn armhole princess seam on the purple dress!!)-that well, looks a little "pedestrian" and certainly, NOT Royal. But I give them a couple--just a couple-points for trying...

But THE WORST...

OK, both of these women are Royal Ascot MESSES!! What is that on the right? It's like her 19 year old gay nephew who's "studying fashion" made it for her!! Seriously. But it's the woman on the left who takes the cake. Someone should have stopped her after her fifth flute of Champagne! What is she trying to give here--in terms of her look? It is a cross between a cheap "Miss Great Britain" National Costume for the "Miss World" Pageant and... Captain Stubing of "Love Boat". Who. Does. That?
And now, May I Present you...The Gays:

My "GayDar" Just Busted: Three lovely men at the Royal Ascot

Never to be outdone are my precious Royal Ascot Gays (allegedly). I'm going to London in a few weeks and I hope, really hope... that I will run into these three boys as I step over people to get to Harrods and Topshop and Buckingham Palace. I think there are three 75 year old women in the UK right now looking for their "missing" hats.

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Virgin Australia Fashion Festival (VAMFF) 2017

Virgin Australia Fashion Festival (VAMFF) 2017

Wednesday 16th March

Front row on the runway, we're loving all the shoes! Everything nice feels like plastic to me. Btw how do you clean flurry shoes? Set on the Next Runway was the UK Show (hence the unusual diversity in skin colour), in the great outdoors! It's five degrees warmer than outside in the hall and so we were glad to be outside. A warm but gloomy day - my kinda day! There's been a heat wave lately.

My favorite item? A navy blazer with white lines. Something practical. I've never bought anything I've seen on runway, I've been inspired by a couple headpieces though. Wedding runway is what I really love.

We came upon the UK Show on tickettek and were delighted to discover it was free! We rarely buy tickets for runway, preferring the performing arts, also I don't get as much value out if it as others. There were also other runways that you could get tickets for if you know someone.

The cheapest runway tickets are $65 though with Optus $45, and there would be other clubs offering discounts too. Only the premium shows have showbags, even at $40 I didn't find it worth it as I wouldn't use most of the products. But if you love runway and the products $30-40 is my ideal price.

The UK show was interesting, while I've never been to the UK I was under the impression that they had asians and Muslims too and not just people who are either black or white? Though we all know runway/media represents the ideal and not the average. After all if you were happy with the way you are, we can't sell you things that will make you "runway ready".

Front row on the runway, first and second row received different showbags, the second smaller and I'm not sure what's inside. We loved that there was two different bags, one for her and one for him! He rarely ever gets anything in the bags :P As they're always for girls.

My perception of Next? Another H&M.

What an awesome idea to spice up a denim jacket! Pins, sequins, pompoms and cheap beads. It's amazing how something so easy can we so awesome.

Fairy floss! In a few shades of purple, I do love purple!

Those three girls spent the entire evening taking pictures of themselves and each other. Though the event was designed to indulge camwhores. I'm surrounded by girls kissed the air and a sea of cameras. I've yet to take many pic as I'm not a selfie person and was deeply offended yesterday when the camera guy at Ted's asked if I mainly took selfies, as my primary use for the camera. 

Trending - Monochrome 

Something strange, new and wonderful I discovered is that I don't experience outfit envy at mainstream events. Sure I love your dress, but on you and not me. I'm more of a ballgown kinda person.

While we had a glimpse of the next big thing, 360 camera for now they're settling on gifs/animations, though I still prefer polaroids. I feel so lost, I was born in the wrong century and have nothing in common with anyone around me...

Plenty of photo ops with swings, a mirror room, tinsel background. A beer bar, the professor's second favorite. We didn't get into the VIP one this year, but I'm working on it! I mightn't like fashion nor approve though we love being invited places!

The official coffee sponsor, powering the event.

Priceline's four shipping container pop up has transformed into a building! Inside you could get your hair or makeup done, and a new photo area with prints! The latest trends is a roving camera but before that gifs, I prefer Polaroids. Unlike last year there were no showbags, only premium runway ones. So if you're in it for the freebies it's probably not worth going. 

Outside there's $2/$5 cash only vending machines. Being 8pm when we got there a lot of things were sold out. There was mainly nude by nature products and two french ones. There was Neutrogeana sunscreen too! At $5 everything was of good value.

The main venue, though there were shows outside and in the car park too.

There were two food trucks, the majority of which are more expensive than in-stores, convenience fee. Burgers and Vietnamese tonight. Skipping dinner for now we went straight to dessert with a $22 platter from Burch and purchase.

Two tubes (smaller than normal) a cake pop and wheel. Loved the ginger and passionfruit tube! A classic and best seller. The cake pop was a pop of salted caramel encased in a ball of white chocolate. Though the highlight and event exclusive was the B&P x Lavazza Coffee Wheel: coffee marshmallow and hazelnut cream sandwiched between chocolate cookies, dipped in Lavazza Prontissimo crunchy milk chocolate.

In this picture there is a screen, live from the show inside.

The gardens of fake grass was a very nice touch and upgrade from last year (just concrete blocks), simple but cheap deco - milk crates with plastic the tops lit inside with battery operated twinkle lights! Damn overhead street style lighting meant stupid yellow glow. This is why you go early and make full use of natural lighting.

What's new? Seating. Live screening on facebook. Priceline's vending machine.
What's gone? Free showbags from Priceline. More interactive activities.
When's the next show? September MSFW at City Square.

Did you go to fashion week? What were your highlights?

Beauty Pageant Minute--Miss Universe 2012 Preliminary Competition Evening Gowns--The Most Improved!

Beauty Pageant Minute--Miss Universe 2012 Preliminary Competition Evening Gowns--The Most Improved!

Different...and Better...Gowns:



First, I talked about my "Nick Top Favoritas" of the Miss Universe 2012 Preliminary Evening Gowns, then I spoke of the "Oh Dear's!" of the bunch, and now...we have arrived at my last Miss Universe 2012 Prelimin Post. This time I decided to highlight the lovely ladies whom I call "Most Improved". Many of the contestants switched their gowns--from what they wore for the Miss Universe "Evening Gown Portraits" to wearing a totally different gown for the Preliminaries. But this particular group of girls here went from being in my "Oh Dear!" group in my Evening Gown Portrait Recap to "Much Better!" during last Thursday night's Preliminaries. So, let's begin:

Miss Ecuador Carolina Aguirre: the very beautiful Carolina went from "Pageant Betty in Purple" in the Evening Gown Portrait (top photo) to modern sexy Lady In Red. Her hair is better, and more importantly, her red shimmery lace over nude and red satin gown is MUCHO better. Definitely one of the Most improved!

Miss Canada Adwoa Yamoah: Another lovely contestant who went from "Pageant Betty circa 1988" (in her Evening Gown Portrait gown at top photo) to "Fearless and Fab" (in the above photo at the Preliminaries) is Canada's representative, Adwoa. The peach mermaid gown was so typical and looked straight out of a Pageant & prom Shop--in Alabama. Thank goodness she changed to this white sexy fitted gown with an asymmetrical neckline. The white against her skin looked AMAZING and this shape and style definitely put her in the 21st century of Pageant Gowns. Welcome my dear! As Heidi Klum would say "You're In!"

Miss Angola Marcelina Vahekeni: What a difference a DIFFERENT gown--and new styling--makes! In the top photo--from the Miss Universe Website's "Official Evening Gown Portraits", she looked like she was competing in MRS. America 1996. But in the new red sequined lace over nude gown with one long sleeve and side slit...she became one SEXY Hot Miss Angola 2012! This was modern, fresh and yes, sexy-licious!

Miss China Ji Dan Xu: In my "Pageant Betty" posting of the Evening Gown portraits, I suggested that the top photo gown she wore may have been too Pageant Betty typical. And it was. I thought she could do better. And yes, she did when it came to last Thursday's Preliminaries. This time, she changed into a coral-colored sequined lace over nude (a popular choice with these girls!) column-style gown featuring asymmetrical applique cut-out's around the neckline. I thought this choice was softer, prettier, dare I say, younger. If she makes it to the Semi-Finalis during next week's LIVE NBC Telecast, I would still love to see her change...into something more Couture Fab...like this:

Zuhair Murad Couture Fall 2012

Miss Curacao Monifa Jansen: Wow, look at what a change of gown does to one lovely contestant. Here we have Miss Universe Curacao. The top photo shows what she wore for her Evening Gown Portrait in the Miss Universe Website. I thought it was verging on being "Dancing With the Stars" meets Bad Figure Skating Costume. Well, she must have read my posting because now in the above photo (what she wore two nights ago for the Preliminaries), she was almost a completely different person! Her hair was down, her makeup was softer, and yes, she wore a non tacky-licious gown. This golden beige iridescent organza gown had nice fullness and featured a gather bustier top section. it wasn't Couture "earth-shaking" but at least, much improved from before.

Miss Paraguay Egni Eckert: Hello Egni and bienvenida to the ""Most improved" Category! Again: what a (good) change! Before, what she wore--and how her hair was styled--made her look like Adrianne Maloof's (from "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills") doppelganger. She looked like she was 45 years old and getting ready to attend her own wedding in Mullholland Estates Beverly Hills. But thank goodness (once again) someone whispered in her ear and suggested to not do that "Evening Gown Portrait" look and she listened! I love how she looked on Thursday night at the all-important Preliminary Competition in this sea-foam Habotai silk gown with silver sequin over nude illusion top section. Her hair looked A MILLION times better. One of the Most Improved for sure.



Finally...

Miss St. Lucia Tara Edward: For her "Evening Gown Portrait" (top photo), she made the mistake a lot of these girls make (for whatever reasons) in that they wear a gown that is too short on them. And unfortunately, there is no wardrobe stylist or fashion person like moi around them...to tell them that! In that coral-colored dress, she looked like the 10th Runner-Up in a local beauty pageant. We want her to look like THE WINNER! And I have to say, her choice of the purple-colored satin gown with gathered ruffle detail was MUCH IMPROVED (above photo, from the Preliminaries). The color looks much sleeker on her, the cut is more becoming and yes kids, it's the right length! Thank you Miss St. Lucia and Congrats for being one of the "Most Improved"!



***Next Up: The Best of the Miss Universe 2012 National Costume Presentation Show: The Parade of Nations....Here We Come!!