Gorgeous dresses with sleeves by Allium B

Gorgeous dresses with sleeves by Allium B

Every time I see Mary from Allium B she's wearing another gorgeous grown-up dress. One of the perks of running your own fashion label is that you get to wear the product - and model it for That's Not My Age. Here's Mary wearing her current favourite, the Helena dress (above), which comes in viscose georgette and features embroidery inspired by a fragment of French fabric found at Portobello market. And here are some highlights from the autumn collection, which is lovely. I know, because I've seen Mary wearing most of it. 

Allium B was set up by Mary and her sister Clare just over two years ago, when they couldn't find suitable dresses on the high street. With plenty of fashion industry experience and a penchant for vintage-inspired frocks, the Brighton-based duo have come up with a winning formula. 'We provide a tightly edited collection of beautifully detailed dresses, designed to be worn and loved for more than one season,' Mary tells me, 'We call it slow(er) fashion. We love sleeves and side pockets and hunting through vintage fairs to find an old piece of beading or embroidery to bring back to life in a new design.'

Already reasonably priced, these gorgeous grown-up dresses are even more of a deal with That's Not My Age discount. Just type in the code TNMA for 20% off the autumn/winter range. And if you live in Brighton there's a sample sale this Saturday. I'm spoiling you now...

Beauty Pageant Minute--Miss Universe 2012--The "Pageant Bettys" and the "Too Short Gowns" Girls!

Beauty Pageant Minute--Miss Universe 2012--The "Pageant Bettys" and the "Too Short Gowns" Girls!

The Pageant Bettys and the Too-Shorts:

Emerald Queen: Miss Universe South Africa Melinda Bam--Why is she in my "Pageant Betty" group? Read on kiddies... 

Photos Courtesy of MissUniverse.com

Continuing with my Recap of the "Miss Universe 2012 Evening Gown Portraits", in my last post HERE, I talked about my "Good" list--or favorites--and now, it's time to discuss the "Pageant Bettys" of the bunch plus what I call the "Too Shorts". For some explanation, "Pageant Bettys" are the ladies who well, look like a Pageant Betty--meaning the typical Pageant Girl, "done" from head to toe. They are usually wearing mermaid or full-style gowns, in pastel. Sometimes, there is some applique--usually a little "cheap" looking. And a lot of times, they may remind people of grown-up versions of the little girls from TLC's "Toddlers & Tiaras" . The "Too Shorts" are gowns that are, well, TOO SHORT, on the girls. This is a big NO NO in my book. It looks so "off-the-rack" and for a big moment such as the Miss Universe, it's time to get something Custom Made, or at least, get a seamstress to try and fix the situation.  

Now, as I stated in my last post, I realize that:

A) a lot of these girls might have just been handed these dresses and they may--or may not--have had a choice, and...

B) these may not be their actual Evening Gowns that they will wear to the all-important Preliminaries (I hope not, for some!). With all that said...here we go:

Miss Canada Adwoa Yamoah: Here are two fun facts about Adwoa: she's originally from Ghana but moved to Canada at a very young age. And second of all, she was not the actual winner of "Miss Universe Canada" but she was the First Runner Up. The actual winner hurt her foot only days before having to leave for the "Miss Universe 2012" pageant so, as they always say "if for some reason the winner cannot complete her duties..." And so it's Adwoa's time. Now, the gown. It's SO Pageant Betty! She's the QUEEN of Pageant Bettys in this peach-colored Mermaid gown with silver lace applique. There's really nothing wrong with this, except in my eyes, it's way too sweet and typical for such a gorgeous girl. She needs sexy, red carpet FASHIOOON! Please give this gown back to Miss America Alabama. ASAP!

Miss Honduras Jennifer Denise Andrade: Jennifer looks like she is starring in an episode of MTV's "My Super Sweet Sixteen"! She seriously looks like the daughter of a multimillionaire Honduran business man and she's having her Quinceañera. It's not a bad gown by any means. I think the "Barbie Pink" color may be too "cutesy" for her (if it was black or blush it might have helped). And the Prom-like hairstyle makes things worse. Also, it's waaay too long on the petite 5'2" Jennifer. For a girl that little, she does not need such an overwhelming dress.

Miss Angola Marcelina Vehekeni: Huneeeyyyyy!!!! Now here's another perfect example of a "Pageant betty" gown--and entire look--for that matter. Let's begin with the oversized bun hairstyle. Then, the oversized earrings, the strapless gown in a powder blue TAFFETA...with unexplainable creme applique, a cascade down the side front slit and then...is that an illusion panel trying to cover up the too-plunging décolletage area? I want to see this beautiful woman in a more modern style gown.

 

Miss Sweden Hanni Beronius: Another perfect example of a "Pageant Betty" look--but more updated to now. I would deem this "Pageant Betty" Lite. This strapless mermaid shaped gown is actually very nice. The shirred top section looks well made and I like the asymmetrically-cascading bottom-half ruffles. I think it's the pastel-y pink color with the choker of pearls (why??!!) and the dreaded side-swept ponytail hairstyle, that took her into Pageant Betty zone. This gown, in red, with no pearls and a more updated 2012 red carpet hairstyle: Done and done!

Miss Guatemala Laura Godoy: Here's another example of an actually great gown but not-so great styling--in terms of the hair.This silk duchesse (or is it ziberline?) gown looks well made and expensive. The fit is great (except for the too high pleated neckline). It could also double as a beautiful wedding gown--a "Two-for-One-Dress"! What takes to a "Pageant Betty" moment is the hair style (too "Sweet Sixteen") and the vanilla color of the gown. This gown in black with a modern hairstyle:  Más Bueno!

Miss Philippines Janine Marie Tugonon: This gown is very pretty--delicately pretty in fact. It reminds me of a modified Sari. I think the bright canary yellow color plus the scroll-y applique with lace overlay is what puts her in the Pageant Betty category. This is a gown that would work for the "Miss World" pageant where they like their girls sweeter. But for "Miss Universe", I'd rather see Janine Marie is something more red carpet fab with a little bit of sex appeal!

Miss Great Britain Holly Hale: What most puts Holly in this "Pageant Betty" category is her side swept hairstyle--plus the cascading iridescent POLY organza ruffles on the bottom half of this dress. First, make her hair straight, polished and modern. Next, I'd like to remove those poly organza ruffles and just take the top golden sequin portion to the floor. No need for the mermaid shape, no need for poly iridescent organza cascading ruffles. A simple column shaped gown in the silver/golden sequin equals a gown winner!

Miss Singapore Lynn Tan: The positive is that I like the color--it's like muted coral. The sequin detail is nice as well. But it's the organza (or is it tulle?) overlay in the back plus the darkened gunmetal sequin waist detail, and finally her "Pageant Betty" hairstyle that landed the very pretty Lynn here in this category.

Miss China Diana Xu Jidan: Diana is one of my favorites of all the 89 contestants this year. She has the height (almost 6 feet tall!), the perfect figure, the model-like look Miss Universe Organization likes; all of this combined can take her to the end. I was disappointed, however, when I saw her in this gown. It's not a bad gown, it's just a little "Pageant Betty" predictable. It's a little"Mother-of-the-Bride" to be honest. After all, this is what she is supposed to be wearing as her National Costume:

Guo Pei Haute "1002th Arabian Night" Spring/Summer 2010 Haute Couture collection---In other words, I'm expecting COUTURE darling! I hope she wears something else for the Preliminaries. Here's a suggestion of a gown from the same designer:

 Actress Li Bingbing in Guo Pei at the 2010 Venice Film Festival

Miss El Salvador Ana Yancy Clavel: Why are there poly organza faux flowers on this dress? I just want to know. And how, in the Pageant God's name is this supposed to be "Miss Universe" crown material? The very pretty Ana ends up here in the "Pageant Betty" category, first for the color of this gown--this bright canary yellow is very impacting but can veer into "Pageant Betty" in a split second. But it's more the flower detail and side chiffon layers which really put the nail in the coffin.

Miss Poland Marcelina Zawadzka: Marcelina is so beautiful--she looks like a tall (she's almost six feet!) version of one the Olsen twins! I'm sure she--and her pageant directors--wanted to highlight her super long legs in one form or another--but not with the usual HOOCHIE slit gown (that's on a later posting!). So she wore this sea-foam blue-green gown with an iridescent over-skirt. It's the IRIDESCENT OVER-SKIRT that gets me. She looks sweet and great from the waist up. Then it goes into Pageant Betty.

Miss South Africa Melinda Bam: Even though Melinda is short (by recent "Miss Universe" winners standards where the average height in the last nine years has been around 5'10"). Melinda is 5'7" according to this), she's still being considered as THE FAVORITE to win the crown on December 19th. She is stunning, impacting and has that "I'm both Sweet...and SEXY" Miss Universe quality. Now, let's discuss the gown. And it is A GOWN! I was a bit torn by this one. I almost put it in my "best" but then, the iridescent emerald organza over the satin and diagonal sequin detail plus the "Cathedral"-like train...all those things took it to a "Pageant Betty" Diva level. The pose, is A+. I give her that. She's stealing someone's boyfriend...and girlfriend, with that look!

Miss Norway Sara Nicole Andersen: First of all, Sara Nicole is gorgeous. Love her olive skin color as well as her hair. She's so Latina. And yet, she's from NORWAY! The gown is Pageant Betty on Testosterone; it's a strapless sequin bodice gown with a high-low shredded organza attached skirt that ends in a train. In peach. And are those sequins strewn throughout the gown skirt? Seriously. How could this gown NOT end up under "Pageant Betty" !? It's the store-bought version of...

The gown designed by Venezuelan pageant go-to fashion designer Gionni Straccia, worn by Ivian Sarcos when she won the "Miss World 2011" title (above).

The Too-Short Gown Girls:

Miss Lebanon Rina Chibany: Rina, Rina, Rina...why darling? Not only is this black jersey dress too short on you, then you go ahead and wear some 7" platform heels with it...to emphasize the fact that the dress is too short. Gowns should NEVER show the shoes, they should always hit 1/2" above the floor if not TO THE FLOOR. It's a cute dress--to go to a club in Miami, but not to use as your "Miss Universe 2012 Evening Gown Portrait".

Miss Denmark Josephine Hewitt: Josephine is one of the most beautiful girls in the pageant. She's got very classic, very "Hollywood" face structure and looks. Once again--like Miss Universe Lebanon--this is a gown that works for a pool party at the Delano in Miami--but not the Miss Universe 2012 Pageant. It is about FIVE inches too short on one side and about a FOOT too short on the other. And then she wears these stacked platform silver heels on top of it; accentuating the very obvious fact that the dress is too short. If she would have worn strappy heels with NO platform, she would have been fine!

Miss St. Lucia Tara Carla Edward: Tara Carla is simply beautiful--and tall (5'11"). This is why this store-bought gown ended up being too short on her. And this is why, she should have gotten a custom-made gown that was made for her height! Here's a lesson in store-bought floor-length gowns: manufacturers make gowns long enough for a 5' 7" woman. It's a "rule" in the fashion industry. So...if you are shorter than that, the gown will be too long, if you are around that, perfect. If you are above that...you get a "High Water/Flood" gown. And this is what happened. Ladies: PAY for a CUSTOM GOWN. The Cheap comes out EXPENSIVE, as Judge Marlyn Milian says: "Lo Barato sale CARO!".



***Next Up: The "Slit Queens" and "Cha-Cha Love" Evening Gown Recap of the Miss Universe 2012 Evening Gown Portraits

Nick TV Minute: NBC-LA TV Emmy Awards 2012, FIDM Scholarship Store Red Carpet Finds, and Much More!

Nick TV Minute: NBC-LA TV Emmy Awards 2012, FIDM Scholarship Store Red Carpet Finds, and Much More!

Emmy TV Minute:

Today in Fashion Fab: (Left to right) Carl Bell (Weathercaster for the weekend editions for "Today In LA NBC"), "Today In LA Weekend" Anchors Ted Chen, Michelle Valles, and Nick Verreos

Last weekend was Emmy Awards time and as it has become a tradition, I was asked to go to visit my NBC-LA friends as the Fashion and Museum Spokesperson for the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM--to give my "Nick Two Cents" on what I thought the "Red Carpet Trends for the Emmys 2012" would be before the actual Emmy Awards and then I returned the day after to give my Emmys Fashion Round Up.

Speaking of the Emmy Awards and Costumes and FIDM--just so you know--the winning designs for this year's Emmy Awards "Outstanding Costumes for a Series" was HBO's "Game of Thrones" (above photo) and yes...

They are featured at this year's "6th Annual Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design" Exhibition at FIDM Museum & Galleries. And don't forget, they are open (Tuesday through Saturday) until October 20th and best of all, it's FREE. Go check it out (if you haven't!).

Now, let's discuss my predictions: last Saturday prior to the Emmy Awards 2012 Live Telecast, I went on NBC-LA Channel 4 "Today in LA" weekend news program with anchors Ted Chen and Michelle Valles to discuss what I thought would be the Red Carpet Trends using gowns from my very own NIKOLAKI Collection. I mentioned "The High Low Hem":

 NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul "high-low hem" gowns

And that came true in various forms, including the black Zac Posen gown "Mad Men" actress January Jones wore:

I also talked about COLOR--particularly corals, reds, etc. being a possible big trend--and lo and behold, they were:

Left to right: (my example) NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul coral colored gown and Ginnifer Goodwin in a Monique Lhullier coral and nude gown (also High-Low Hem BTW!)

Finally, I told Ted and Michelle on NBC-LA "Today in LA" weekend show that full-on sequins would be a presence on Emmy Awards 2012 red carpet...and it was:

Left to right: (my example) NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul, and Sofia Vergara in Zuhair Murad all-over sequin gown

NBC-LA News Anchors Chuck Henry, Colleen Williams and Fashion Designer FIDM Spokesperson Nick Verreos

On Monday after the Emmy Awards, I had the pleasure of being invited back to the NBC-LA Burbank Studios to discuss my "Top Picks" and those styles that well, were great but "Needed Improvement!". For the NBC-LA Channel 4 5 o'clock News, I joined my FAVORITE Anchors Colleen Williams and Chuck Henry. In case you were wondering, my Best Dressed was...

Heidi Klum in seafoam green Alexandre Vauthier silk chiffon double-slit gown. Perfect Miss Heidi.

To finish off my NBC-LA appearances over the weekend, I also shot a fun TV segment with Ted Chen showing "How to Dress for Red Carpet Events" on less than $100, featuring looks from the wonderful FIDM Scholarship Store, located in Downtown LA, street level at FIDM LA Campus.

Gown Sale: FIDM Scholarship Store, Downtown L.A.

Fashionista Jewelry Options: FIDM Scholarship Store, Downtown L.A.

I was so excited to film a special TV segment with NBC-LA's Ted Chen showing how women can dress for their own "Red Carpet" events but not spend thousands and thousands of dollars. The FIDM Scholarship Store is great for that. It has LOTS and LOTS of gowns, cocktail dresses, for under $100 from BRAND name designers--that would work perfectly at events such as the Emmys.

Strapless Girls: Nick Verreos, with models (left to right) Zdenka Sutton, Amanda Fields and Etirsa--FIDM Scholarship Store

Joining me on the NBC-LA "Red Carpet Under $100" segment were three of my favorite models in Southern California including Amanda Fields, Etirsa, and Zdenka Sutton.

Gown Prom Dates: FIDM Spokesperson and Fashion Designer Nick Verreos and NBC-LA's Ted Chen join models Zdenka Sutton, Amanda Fields and Etirsa--FIDM Scholarship Store

We all had so much fun shooting the segment and hopefully (if you watched it), we were helpful in getting the message out there that you don't have to spend $50,000 to look Red Carpet Fab! 

Project Runway Recaps: Episode 8 of Season 10 Project Runway--"The Boris and Natasha Show"--My RECAP!

Project Runway Recaps: Episode 8 of Season 10 Project Runway--"The Boris and Natasha Show"--My RECAP!

Boris, Natasha and Bullwinkle and...Oh No, Another Team Challenge!!



To Start, What Does Boris and Natasha:

Bullwinkle:

And 90's Ripped T-shirts:

Have to do with Project Runway? Keep reading kids...

 

Last Thursday's Project Runway episode dealt with a Team Challenge in which they had to design two looks--in teams of three--for Fall 2012. As expected, there was lots of DRAMA, I-have-no-time excuses, and direct-to-camera, nasty one-liners...and for the most part some rather unexciting fashion.

 Headmaster of Arts and Crafts: Tim Gunn and the Season 10 remaining designers

To begin with, in order to get their "Mood Money" for this week's challenge, the remaining designers--after the teams were announced--had to make and merchandise t-shirts created from of all the art and craft supplies that awaited them at the Parsons workroom.

There was so much puffy paint, hot glue and glitter that it looked like a 70% off sale at Michaels Arts and Crafts...or like a Kindergarden classroom. One team made cute t-shirts with fashion croquis, others went for the predictable and tacky ripped 90's t-shirt look.

Meatpacking $2 Hookers: Team Gunnar/Sonjia/Christopher hawking their merchandise

They also created some necklaces, bracelets and whatever other "Whickety-wack" they could come up with to then sell to unsuspecting NY fashionistas, hipsters and tourists that happen to be walking by. Team Christopher/Gunnar/Sonjia were GREAT "$2 Hookers" and also made up signs to advertise what they were doing...They get ATTAGURL points.



Now to the DRAMA:

Boris and Natasha of Season 10: Designers Dmitry Sholokhov and Elena Slivnyak who were on one of the teams, got on each other's nerves. Dmitry is a former professional ballroom dancer from Belarus and Elena, well, she's just a Ukrainian-born Diva. Throughout the episode they were both very "Boris and Natasha" from "Rocky and Bullwinkle" cartoons. Elena said nasty things and Dmitry verbally threw it back at her. Elena made fun of his accent and Dmitry called her designs "coffin-like". It just went on and on.

Alicia Bullwinkle: Designer Alicia Hardesty--their team partner--poor thing was caught in the middle (or on sidelines) of their "Boris and Natasha Show" during this challenge. She was their "Bullwinkle".  As a result of their negative un-team-like working relationship, their designs on the runway suffered.

The Runway: 

Guest Judge fashion designer Ana Sui (far left) with Nina Garcia, Michael Kors and Heidi Klum

Fall Dressing: Team Gunnar/Christopher/Sonjia got along swimmingly and created the best looks of the night--Gunnar's dresses (above) were very Fall/Winter, directional and sleek. I especially LOVED the leather and wool felt fabric blocking.

 

The looks also included two other standouts: Sonjia Williams' jacket and Christopher Palu's camel coat seen above. Both were Paris Fashion Week fabulous. The winner--and rightly so--was Sonjia with that perfectly tailored jacket. I was SWOONING over the roll of  Sonjia's jacket sleeve cap: AMAZING! The styling, fit and look of the jacket was very...

 Armani Prive Haute Couture

Team Monotony: Team Melissa/Fabio/Ven were one of the two teams with the lowest scores. Their looks were very bland and uninspiring to the judges. I kind of agreed but at the same time, they were like something one would see from a FAB Danish, Finnish or Swedish fashion designer...

Hello Stockholm: The looks were very "Scandinavian" in terms of their clean lines and pseudo modern styling. Melissa Fleis' cropped jacket was well received by the judges but the rest was not-so-mucheey, including Ven Budhu's dowdy dirndl skirt.

 

Team Boris and Natasha: Team Alicia/Dmitry/Elena were also one of the lowest scored teams. The judges said that because they argued and didn't work well as a team, it showed on the runway with their designs. I thought Dmitry's (Boris) asymmetrical neckline dress was so "Robert Palmer Girl--2012"and Elena's (Miss Natasha) coat was a wonky mess. The front lifted up and it wasn't up to par with the work that I remember seeing from her back at the LA Castings. (I D.I.E.D. over her AMAZING coats!).

But it was Alicia "Bullwinkle" who went home because the judges thought her top and pants were a "yawn". It's a perfect example of one of the Project Runway credos: Go BOLD or Go Home. In my Recap (starting below), I wrote that her denim "cool girl" jumpsuit was much "fresher" than those stovepipe pants and jersey top...

Speaking of my Recap...here it is:

The Boris and Natasha Show

Last week, there were NINE designers, and
this week ... there are STILL Nine Designers. If you have been keeping
score, NO ONE was out in last week's DRAMA-filled "Lord & Taylor
Challenge" episode. The designers were asked to create a dress for the
iconic department store and the winner was Christopher, who made a
blush/nude and black gown which won praise from all the judges. On the
bottom — vote wise — were Alicia and Gunnar, yet Miss Heidi K. said that
because there were no real "train-wrecks" and, according to her, they
all did a good job, EVERYONE stayed. We all realize it was because of
the two designers who quit early in the season, but let’s just all play
along, shall we?!

Auf This and Auf That

In the beginning of the episode, the winner, Christopher, was riding
high on his winning horse and declared that someone should have gone
home. Gunnar was his target, and we all know, it wasn’t because of his
design, but mainly because he is Christopher’s Gay Arch Nemesis! I also
agree that someone should have been eliminated but I felt that it should
have been Alicia. I feel that the sooner the show can rid itself of the
not-so-talented designers, the quicker the TRUE designers can really
make this a competition. I know it sounds mean and heartless but I'd
rather see a bunch of FAB competing against other FAB. But I digress...

Team Kumbaya: NOT

Now, with this good news that NO ONE was out, one would hope that
there would be a communal Kumbaya atmosphere prevailing through the
walls of Parsons and less melodramatic fits of negativity. Well, kids,
not so fast ... After getting their "Hellooo!" from Heidi, they're off
to meet Tim. He's in the Parsons Workroom, which has turned into
Michael's Arts & Crafts depot with a bunch of glitter, glue, and
paint. Gunn tells the designers that as of now, they have NO BUDGET to
shop at Mood so ... they must create merchandise to sell on the streets
of Manhattan to raise the money for their as-yet-to-be-mentioned
challenge. That's the first bad news, here comes the second: this will
be a Team Challenge and they will have to sell in teams of 3. The teams
are named: Team 1 is Christopher, Sonjia and Gunnar; Team 2 is Dmitry,
Elena and Alicia and Team 3 is Ven, Melissa and Fabio.

Arts & Crafts Parsons

The designers get to work on their Art Doodle projects, making
t-shirts, necklaces, etc. Team 1's stuff is looking cute — croquis,
fashion illustrations and well-sketched faces on T-shirts. On the other
end, however, Team 2's creations are looking like something a First
Grader made after drinking too much "Honey Boo Boo Go Go Juice." Soon,
time's up and they take their merchandise — and go try and sell their
"whickety wack" to the unsuspecting hipster Meatpacking/Chelsea/East
Village public. After much haggling and pleading to people that "You
Really Need A 90s, shredded, Puffy-Painted T-shirt,” the teams return to
Parsons to let Tim know how much money they made: Team 1 made $648;
Team 2 $500; and Team 3, a whopping $800.48. So now, the teams have
their Mood shopping money, but what about the actual challenge? Mr.
Gunn??

Next on Ukrainian and Belarus TV ... The Elena and Dmitry Show

Tim finally announces that each team must create 2 cohesive looks for Fall. They go to Mood...



Click HERE to read the rest of my MyLifetime.com RECAP for this past week's episode--and don't forget to let me know what YOU thought!!!! PLEASE! I LOVE reading YOUR "Two Cents"!