savage beauty

The most anticipated exhibition of the year for me is surely this one opening on May 2nd held at the Metropolitan Museum of New York - Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty. The annual fashion exhibit at the Met is something every fashion junkie looks forward to, as it is always so well-curated and full of stunning costumes thoughtfully displayed within breath-taking set designs for us mere mortals to appreciate first hand. Not to mention that the Met Gala at the opening night is like the fashion industry's Oscars red carpet - except that it's even more chic and glamorous and even has a iPad app dedicated solely to this occasion. But this year - the anticipation is higher than ever, as the exhibit is dedicated to the work of the great Alexander McQueen, who had left such a great legacy and influence in the fashion world for the past two decades. Coincidentally Kate Middleton wore a McQueen dress designed by Sarah Burton for the Royal Wedding and there's no better way to pre-celebrate this epic fashion event than this.
Sooooo wish I could be in New York to see all of this in person. If these images already show the level of creativity and craftsmanship that the designer embraced, I can't imagine how the actual clothes look like in real life - probably utterly surreal and out of this world.

Long live McQueen.

images courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of New York via luxuryculture.com

stars are blind

Picnik collage, originally uploaded by yanshi416.

This year's Met Gala seems to have got more talk than ever. First, there's the withdrawal of Alaia's dresses and the absence of 80's super models like Naomi and Linda (who practically defined models as muse in that era), then came some of the ghastly fashion choices on the red (actually, it's zebra print) carpet... but of course, it is still the most important fashion event of the year. So, glamorous, dazzling, daring, and even jaw-dropping (in both good and bad ways) outfits were modeled, and here're some of my favorites of the night:

From left to right:
Kirsten Dunst in Chanel Haute Couture - she's back in the circuit and bringing back that classic look she loves to wear on the red carpet;
Jessica Stam in Rodarte and Nicolas Kirkwood shoes - match made in heaven;
Philip Lim in his own design - yea, I'm talking about Mr. Lim and not Doutzen Kroes next to him. Check out his gold studded shoes - me want!
Stella McCartney & pals all in her design - lurrrrve her lace jumpsuit and Kate Bosworth's little black dress. Classy & edgy at the same time.


Images: WWD and style.com

and the Oscar (of all-time red-carpet-best-dressed) goes to...

in Rodarte at last night's Oscars

Natalie Portman! While she may not be the one of the most style-savvy Hollywood stars off the carpet (indeed the shoe company which she co-designed her line of vegan shoes with, Te Casan, folded in December 2008), Portman definitely knows how to steal the light on the red carpet with her stunning outfits. Always elegant and poised, she chooses dresses that reflect her personality and radiate her gorgeous face on the carpet. And she doesn't play safe when it comes to shapes and colors - like the ruffled red Lanvin dress she wore to the Cannes Film Festival last year. Not many people would dare to wear red on the red carpet, but she managed to dazzle everyone with the textural ruffles and her lovely bare shoulders.
Most importantly, she dresses like her own age. Too many young actresses (in their teens and twenties) choose an evening gown that makes them look 10 years older when it comes to these formal events and hence killing off their youthful, radiant look. So for this, I think (the tabloid-proof) Natalie Portman deserves some recognition.


both in Lanvin at the Cannes Film Festival in 2008


in Givenchy Haute Couture; in Lanvin at the 2005 Oscars


Images: oscar.com (the first one), people.com (the remaining)