Oscars 2011.

Movie-making industry's biggest night came and went. I was so thrilled when I managed to catch the red carpet action to the Oscars live this morning. Usually I would be sleeping or away somewhere. However, the turnout at the Oscars this year didn't quite 'wow' me as it typically would, as many big names from Meryl Streep and Angelina Jolie to Cameron Diaz and Rachel McAdams were missing from the scene. There were also lesser elaborate gowns on the carpet. Here's a coverage of what there was at the Kodak Theatre:

Mila Kunis of Black Swan was one of the earliest to show up, making an entrance in a soft lavender Elie Saab gown from the Haute Couture collection. We usually see her in stronger colours, from red to green to black, so this pastel shade of purple was a refreshing look. But if I had to choose I'd go for bolder colours on Mila. Nonetheless, this flowy soft gown played up Mila Kunis' sultry features. Neil Lane jewels contribute to Mila's look, along with a Bottega Venetta nude clutch.

Catwoman Halle Berry wore a Marchesa piece that features a fitted embellished bodice with a ruffled silk tulle. It's probably one of Halle's better days on the red carpet since she has been missing the mark lately. While this doesn't make one of Halle's best-dressed moments, she looked sexy in that figure-hugging corset-cut dress. I miss her in a ballgown though. Neil Lane accessories and Christian Louboutin peep-toes completed her look.

Also in Marchesa was Hailee Steinfeld. The rising young star was nominated for her performance in True Grit (in theatres now), and although she lost out to Melissa Leo for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Hailee was a stunner on the red carpet, having contributed to the creation of the gown she wore last evening. She has certainly been drawing tons of attention to her age-appropriate and gorgeous looks on and off the red carpet, and is definitely the one to watch out for, alongside Dakota Fanning's younger sister Elle Fanning, who is also only 14-years old like Hailee. Hailee had her hair pulled back into a high bun and a cute headband ties the whole look together with Ferragamo shoes and clutch. She looked absolutely cute and genuine. Love her.

Mandy Moore, who performed "I See The Light" with Tangled co-star Zachery Levi last night, strolled into Kodak Theatre in a sequinned number by Monique Lhuillier. This gown was a perfect fit for Mandy because her light skin tone cleverly masked the chiffon layer which actually starts near her neckline, making the sparkles look as though they are embedded on her skin. She looked gorgeous, though I didn't really like the giant earrings.

Michelle Williams who was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her act in Blue Valentine looked like a classic beauty in her Chanel round-neck dress. The dress was simple yet beautiful, fully embellished with white beads and this look was an improvement from Michelle's Valentino look for the Globes earlier this year. Her pixie cut is kinda growing on me, since I figured her naturally wavy locks cut off even more of her already petite, round face. Small jewels from Harry Winston completes her outfit.

Florence Welch, lead singer of Florence and the Machine, who performed for the guests at the Oscars this year, wore a Haute Couture tiered gown from Valentino. I'd have to say the gown looked better on Florence than it did on the runway model, maybe because Florence's skin tone worked better with it. Either way, I'm still not a fan of her looks, and this looks like a carry-on from her look at the Grammys and strangely, I preferred that Givenchy swan dress over this. But let's just say quirky fashion on the red carpet on big nights are a no-no for me.

While there is a fine line between quirky fashion and works of art, Cate Blanchette chose this Givenchy beaded gown for the Oscars and demonstrated the right way to wear dramatic outfits with much ease and grace. She has bowled over many with her look in the Alexander McQueen gown previously, and Cate, looking fabulous at 41, continues to make a bold statement. The red carpet would be a much more interesting place if every actress dared to take risks like she does. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button actress kept the rest of her look simple with some Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery. 

Back in the limelight after giving birth to twins is powerhouse Celine Dion. In a figure-hugging Armani Privé floor-length sheath, the singer displayed her amazing post-pregnancy body. The gown is g.o.r.g.e.o.u.s. I love it so much! All the camera flashes are making her dress shine. It is elegant, nothing over-the-top, the entire look is so classic. Celine Dion looked amazing. And what better way to adorn the plunging neckline than with some Bulgari bling?

Like Celine Dion, Gwyneth Paltrow also glowed in her Calvin Klein metallic dress. Gwyneth was more of a singer than an actress at the ceremony, perfoming Country Strong's "Coming Home", which was nominated for Best Original Song (but lost out to Toy Story 3's "We Belong Together"). Gwyneth always appears in a classic, minimalist get-up and she almost always wears her hair in straight locks. While not many actresses can carry off this look like Gwyneth can, I'm still looking for some breakthrough looks from her. She has an amazing sense of style in her daily off-screen looks but her red carpet looks don't thrill me.

Gracing the event with hubby Keith Urban was Nicole Kidman, who wore a white Dior gown. Her look was probably one of the more elaborate ones last evening, considering most actresses have opted for simpler, cleaner looks. But despite her attempt to move away from sheath dresses and strapless gowns, this wasn't such a fantastic look for Nicole. I didn't like her hair falling over her face - it should definitely have been neatly pinned up. The drama of the dress didn't suit her, and with that drama, she didn't need that Fred Leighton diamond necklace. Her bold Pierre Hardy shoes was probably the best part of her outfit.

Melissa Leo didn't look as swanky as she did at the Spirit Awards although it was also a Marc Bouwer number she picked for the Oscars. Come to think of it, maybe she should've switched the green silk dress for this event instead. Just doll up the hair a bit and she's all set. Or maybe it was just the fit, 'cause I can totally picture Meryl Streep in this look and I don't see any potential problem.

Hilary Swank, a presenter at the Oscars 2011, was in a strapless Gucci Premiere gown. The dress is made up of an embellished bodice and a feathered skirt with a slight train. Hilary looked stunning. I loved it, and Hilary carries on her winning streak with her red carpet looks of late. A Roger Viver evening clutch finishes her look.

Moving on from the lighter slates to more bold colour, red gowns were spotted on a couple of celebrities at tinsel town's biggest night. Sandra Bullock looked like a strong, liberated woman in her fiery red Vera Wang gown. Red is definitely Sandra's colour, though I preferred her in the infamous purple Bottega Venetta gown and black Alexander McQueen dress from awhile back. Nonetheless, losing Jesse James as her red carpet date was probably the best improvement made to her look. Sandra matched her dress with a giant clutch of a different shade of red.

Also in red was the night's host, Anne Hathaway. The Love & Other Drugs actress flashed her smiles at the photogs in a vintage Valentino Haute Couture number and while doing her thing on stage with co-host and 127 Hours actor James Franco, made a couple of exciting costume changes throughout the ceremony. I like seeing Anne Hathaway in colour, so this was a red hot choice for me. Now I just want to get my hands on the rest of the looks she spotted on the show!

Then there was Jennifer Lawrence, who wore a bright Calvin Klein minimalist dress. The actress is certainly not afraid of wearing colour, as she did so in her fuchsia Oscar de la Renta gown for the Globes. But this look is more refined, more matured than the Globes look she wore, there's very little accessorizing done and she left her flowy locks in loose waves which look fabulous. A glittery Judith Leiber clutch completes her sleek outfit.

Jennifer Hudson is not new to the red carpet having taken home a Golden Globe and an Oscar before. The American Idol alum member wowed the crowd with her bright tangerine orange Atelier Versace halter gown and Neil Lane bling-bling. Probably the only thing I didn't like about Jennifer Hudson's look was that her boobs look too, I don't know, defined? Things need to loosen up in that area.

Penelope Cruz strolled in hand-in-hand with hubby Javier Bardem. Penelope, who recently gave birth (and her figure is still so good!), wore a L'Wren Scott dress with sequinned details, which was left to stand out as Penelope opted not to accessorize besides her ring and a pair of earrings by Chopard. Penelope would usually be making a statement at one of these award shows but perhaps she returned to the scene so quickly after child-birth that she decided to make this a simpler affair for herself. But nonetheless, less is more here, so, congrats to the couple anyway!

Best Actress in a Leading Role winner Natalie Portman has been in the spotlight for quite awhile now and finally she has gotten an Oscar for her breakthrough ballerina character in Black Swan. What else hasn't this Harvard graduate achieve, seriously! The preggers actress showed off her baby bump in her favourite designer Rodarte and she wore her hair in a side-swept manner, displaying her matching earrings. Natalie practically glows in coloured gowns and Rodarte really looks fabulous on her. She finished off her evening look with a pair of Jimmy Choo strappy heels and a Roger Vivier clutch.

Scarlett Johansson was under-dressed in my expectations. Instead of a ballgown, she was in a Dolce & Gabbana sheath with some raw edges at the neckline and arm-holes. The sheer-lace also had a peek-a-boo effect on her black undergarments. I expected something more dressy than this from Scarlett, so although I like this refreshing, never-before-seen look/colour on her, I thought it was kinda dull for the Academy Awards.

Very few celebrities wore outfits of colours found on the opposite end of the spectrum. Amy Adams was in a L'Wren Scott shimmery dress. Looks like L'Wren Scott was a hot favourite at the Oscars this year! I've always like Amy Adams in midnight blue, and good thing this wasn't just a typical silky gown but a sparkly one, so at least there's something different in her look from the rest of the times. The Enchanted actress also wore her hair in simple waves, contrasting her dress with emerald green Cartier jewellery. The effect was great.

Marisa Tomei walks in front of the flashing cameras in a vintage Charles James gown. The bodice and the thick straps weren't exactly flattering, but the vertical seams running down the bodice helped to streamline her body a little bit. While I appreciate that she was almost the only one (next to Jennifer Hudson) in a large, exaggerating gown, I couldn't bring myself to like the chiffon tulle stuck to the bottom of her dress. Perhaps if it was a simple mermaid cut it would've been easier to swallow. She brought on some coloured Van Cleef & Arpels jewels to brighten up her dark dress.

Helen Mirren never misses on the red carpet and at the Oscars this year, it was no exception. The British actress scored with her grey gown by Vivienne Westwood Couture and Cartier diamonds. The Oscar winner for her work in The Queen also matched her dress with a Ferragamo clutch, Sergio Rossi platform heels and gunmetal-coloured nails. She's aging so beautifully and totally no sweat working those hard-to-wear puffed sleeves!

Eccentric fashion sense is often associated with Helena Bonham Carter who was attending the night's evening with her longtime lover Tim Burton. Now that explains the quirky-ness, doesn't it? But they looked absolutely adorable on the red carpet. I just didn't think her Ray-Bans and oriental fan was necessary. The British lady toned down a notch for entertainment's most glamorous ceremony wearing this Colleen Atwood number. I wouldn't comment much on it since she is known for such crazy-looking outfits and this actually don't look too bad compared to other looks I've seen.

Finally, there was Reese Witherspoon in one of my favourite looks for the night wearing this dual-tone Armani Privé straight-cut gown . It wasn't just the dress, but also how she wore her blonde locks in this high ponytail that looked so fun yet elegant. The Neil Lane jewels , especially the green stones on her ring and earrings, added a nice sparkle to her monochrome look.

The Vanity Fair Oscar party and Elton John's AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party were among the few parties that took place as part of the Oscars' celebrations. Many celebrities who weren't at the show itself turned up but this would be another post for another time. Meanwhile, do visit the following link for a list of the night's winners if you haven't watched the show: http://gossipcenter.com/academy-awards-2011/2011-academy-awards-show-winners-481142

*credits: Just Jared, Gossipcenter, Style.com

Film Independent Spirit Awards 2011.

Spirit Awards was yet another event as part of Hollywood's award season, honoring the industry's best films and actors. Lots of prints as well as all-white looks were spotted on the red carpet.

Black Swan was a big winner, sweeping home four awards namely Best Feature, Best Director (Darren Aronofsky), Best Female Lead (Natalie Portman) and Best Cinematography (Matthew Libatique).
Winning actress Natalie Portman was in a short Givenchy frock with bright yellow patterns. The dress was cute and the soon-to-be mother was totally glowing in it. But I didn't like the fact that you could see this tank top of some sort Natalie was wearing underneath. I mean, the least her stylist could do was to pick an undergarment that matching her skin tone and the dress. Otherwise, the look was very summery and love the Stella McCartney nude heels.

Although Rabbit Hole didn't manage to clinch any award from the four categories it was nominated for, the movie's leading actress Nicole Kidman looked like a winner in her red L'Wren Scott laced sheath dress paired with Charlotte Olympia pumps that features a fun print. The Australian actress looked flawless, as she always does wearing her favourite designer's creation. Nicole's look was simple without much accessorizing but nonetheless made a bold statement with the fiery colour. Oh, how I love L'Wren Scott on elegant and feminine actresses like Nicole herself and Amy Adams.

Also up for Best Female Lead nomination for Winter's Bone was Jennifer Lawrence, who looked summer-ready in an all-white lace ensemble by Dolce & Gabbana. I'm not a fan of white lace, but the 20-year old managed to carry the look off without looking undergarment-nish. I absolutely love the turquoise beaded Lorraine Schwartz bracelet on her hand - turquoise bohemian accessories are so now.

Another actress wearing white lace for the Spirit Awards held in Santa Monica, California was Alice in Wonderland's Mia Wasikowska. The Rodarte piece looked a lot like a Chanel creation, but nonetheless it was a very pleasant and sweet dress. But I disagree with Mia's shoes, which are Nicholas Kirkwood. The frock was busy enough with the tiers and shoulder cut-outs and the shoes just made her entire outfit look too busy. Not to mention, they're not flattering her legs either.

The Fighter's Melissa Leo wore an emerald gown by Marc Bouwer, that features spaghetti straps and off-shoulders, as well as a bustline that reveals her cleavage and the tattoo of a bird on the left side of her chests. This colour is so hard to wear but Melissa managed to carry it off effortlessly with little accessories and a pair of nude heels. It was a simple yet classy look - very appropriate for the day's event.

Kate Walsh of Private Practice was in an ivory one-shoulder frock by Max Mara Elegante. The actress pulled her hair back into a bun, leaving some bangs sweeping across her face. The look was completed with nude Casadei pointed pumps and accessories by Piaget. It's a very safe look for Kate, if you ask me. When you keep playing it safe, you become boring, and I'm starting to feel that for Kate Walsh. I still have yet to see her take any risk on the red carpet and I'd loved to see her do that someday.

Eva Mendes worked her magic in a Chanel spring short dress and and a pair of sea-blue ankle-strap heels by Pierre Hardy. Eva always knows how to strut her stuff for the cameras and she never fails to look amazing. I love this look, especially how she matched those bright shoes with the mesh of duller colours on her frock. I also love that she didn't do much to her hair 'cept to blow them into relatively straight locks. Gorgeous.

More prints were spotted on Rosario Dawson and Zoe Saldana. Rosario was in a Burberry leopard print tiered frock. It's interesting how she traded the boring though versatile black or nude pumps for a pair of gunmetal grey ones by Brian Atwood. Very clever, though she probably should have done something about her hair instead of letting the locks down over the patterned dress.

Avatar's Zoe Saldana walked the carpet in a Dolce & Gabbana mini-dress, also featuring a leopard print, with striking orange pumps (also by Brian Atwood). The Calvin Klein spokesperson finished off the look with a Bottega Venetta clutch in camel brown. I'm not a fan of the dress but I love all the accessories that made the look outstanding, from the bright lips to the shoes to the clutch. Very interesting take on colour-clashing yet everything fell perfectly into place.

Kerry Washington was also wearing Dolce & Gabbana at the Spirit Awards, but she opted for a black long-sleeved sheath with a floral print. I'm all for clashing of prints but it doesn't seem to be working with her Roger Vivier leopard print clutch. Take away the clutch and the outfit is perfect with those Sergio Rossi suede heels. Probably a silver clutch could have completed the look better, complementing her jewels by Le Vian.

Vanessa Hudgens went full-length in her maxi Free People dress. I have mixed feelings about this one, probably because I saw a picture of her wearing a camel brown leather cropped jacket over it and she was toting her Alexander Wang Diego bucket bag. She arrived looking a little too casual and if this was all there was to her outfit, perhaps finished off with a glittered or brightly-coloured clutch, I would have liked it more.

Naomi Watts waltzed in with lover Liev Schreiber for the awards at which she was up for Best Supporting Female for the movie Mother and Child. The actress was probably my worst-dressed at this event despite wearing a classic black piece from Chanel's collection. The look was boring, even with her colourful Chanel chain bag. And I hated that jacket she pulled over because the bodice of the dress just looks much better alone. She should've just picked something else to wear if she had wanted to protect herself from the sea breeze.

To end off, I present my favourite look at the Spirit Awards 2011, by Michelle Tratchenberg. The young actress wore a Pamella Roland coat dress with black tights and booties. The ensemble was chic and elegant, I love the soft-over-heavy colour palette. And I appreciate her so much in nude make-up that accentuates her gorgeous eyes, over the bright red lips that she sometimes wear and doesn't suit her soft face.

The this is Me Meme

Some time ago, the evil Tara at Sticky Fingers tagged me with a load of others to do this AGAIN. 


This being ...


'Ask your child - their age doesn't matter - to draw a picture of you.
Post it on your blog.
Let's call it the This is Me Meme
Err, that's it.
Pass it on to your friends/enemies if you want to.'


I did this previously and these were the results


Well, my daughters are now 8 and 4 so I had everything crossed for being slightly less blobby. 


So here is the 8 year old's picture of me...apparently I am in my 'going out' clothes.

What I am loving the most is the straight up and down-ness of me (I am so, not this shape!) 


My 4 year old is all about drawing faces at the moment. The body is an after thought.

The only thing that worries me (there is actually lot's that worries me, but let's stick to the main point) is the similarity with this picture...

Of a bear. 


I am supposed to pass this on to people so who are my lucky few - Oh and when you do it, you need to McLinky it here


I think Mumra needs to have a go at this
And The Alexander Residence
And Spudballoo
And last, but not least Christine at Thinly Spread

Silent Sunday - The Empty Page

For more Silent Sunday's go here

Trend Alert: Bold Pants

As part of spring's trend of bold colours, these celebrities were firsts to be seen in brightly-coloured pants. 

I like them most in a cropped fit, as seen on Kate Bosworth and Nicky Hilton (above). 

I didn't quite fancy how Kylie Minogue, Rihanna and Rachel Bilson wore theirs. Pants of such loud colours should definitely fit snuggly.

Would you wear this trend?