Art of Style Magazine

Karl Lagerfeld’s Oscar Red Carpet Gowns tell a fashion story that is part of the Oscar red carpet history and of a cultural lexicon of Chanel fashion that has permeated our culture. It is with great sadness that the world mourns the death of a man who seemed literally, so ageless. From afar his irascible personality always amused, his marketing genius and creativity inspired and lately his love for a white fluffy cat, “Choupette” endeared him to a new generation of fashion followers all over the world. As the Oscar red carpet is just a few hours away, I join the audience of fashion-watchers who are anxiously awaiting  to see who will wear a Karl Lagerfeld creation this year.

Karl’s masterful Oscar gowns were based on a his constant search for a new story or his own casting of a role for his leading ladies; princesses, fairies, winter sprites, grand dames, showgirls and every sort of female fantasy projected onto these unique ladies who willingly played along just to be included in this ultimate exclusive club. Artful spangles, sheerness or feathers or jewel encrusted glories became jewels in themselves. His ability to cast his ladies in the perfect dress was almost uncanny; he could see Kirsten Dunst in a sexed up Peter Pan collar or ‘JayLo’ wearing a sheer bodice that revealed her (almost) nude upper torso or Penelope Cruz looking like a heroine from a 19th century Manet painting; using art deco tailoring on Juliette Moore she always resembled an upscale 1920s film star. Nicole Kidman’s unique height and coloring placed her into the world of forest sprite, with lightness and air that never weighed down her personality.  Some of these dresses were ‘Good Luck’ charms for the wearers, as well.  All in all, Karl seemed to capture the star’s inner personality and the zeitgeist of the moment but then, he always did it so beautifully in all his CHANEL collections where his settings spared no expense and took us from airports, to fairy forests, to nightclubs to even the streets of protest for women’s rights.  Karl was always about the women, the stars, the glamour and everything a girl could want in a fashion brand, never forgetting the leading lady of his fantasies, Coco herself.

Take a moment to look at the gallery and see for yourself  just how unique, glamorous and extraordinary these fashion moments are.  I am not sure they will ever be repeated. The HOUSE OF CHANEL appropriately will go through a period of mourning before they announce his replacement (an unimaginable idea) just 24 hours before the Oscars.  Fashion and Oscar have sometime had a dubious history (remember the moment BJORK showed up dressed like a swan?) but this is almost forgiven when Karl’s dresses grace the red carpet.  We must all raise our glasses (exquisite cut crystal of course) and drink a champagne to Karl’s unique life and art in the history of fashion and for Hollywood, the passing of a mastermind who made his leading ladies of the red carpet rise above the earth and into the stars, above.

(Editor’s Note: See photo credits are at end of the post).

Photos Distributed by AP: Mario Anzuoni, Eric Gailland, Lucas Jackson, Richard Shotwell, Jordan Strauss, Mark J. Terrell

Awards season has brought with it the well dressed and well turned out gentlemen of the A-List on Hollywood’s red carpets. This year the guys have stepped it up on the redcarpet and made use of their swoon worthy looks in a variety of tuxedo looks that ranged from the classical to the updated in both color, lapel shape, and combinations of fabrics.  Too vest, or not to vest, that is the question! What a dash of color does for one tuxedo and the use of neutrals or textured fabrics does for another.  A dash of bowtie, pocket square or cufflink finishes the look and the shoe ranges from a slip on to the classic lace-up to versions in-between.   An option to wear a trainer or sport shoe once reigned on the carpet but this year gentlemen seem to have fallen for the classics.  I have put many a tuxedo on screen and tv talent and when a man puts on the finishing touches he always feels good and ready to take on the world. Up next in awards season is the OSCAR carpet so we are already gearing up for the ultimate in Tuxedos at this Red Carpet show.

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Second only to the popularity of the HALLMARK Channel’s Holiday Line up, the fashion is a throwback to a simpler time and created uniquely to mimic a holiday card or family photos. Production values have improved and certainly there is more attention paid to the fashions of the stars and leading actors in the shows. Trendy, is not quite the vibe here; its more like HOLIDAY COMFIE with a dash of all American chic, but not quite of the RALPH LAUREN variety. Both the ladies and gentlemen of the HALLMARK holiday line up can somehow manage to wear those sweaters we all consider laughable with their graphic patterns or colors, even better than the celebs who try to get in on the act. (see photos pulled from the internet of some celebs who are trying) that the rest of us can’t quite pull off.

Let’s face it, in these times of daily stress and hideous stories of fire, famine and floods, somehow a Hallmark Movie just reminds us of a gentler time. Small town America is always on display and at odds with Big URBAN cities (and the people who populate them). Where a country cabin stuffed with decorations and holiday cards, tree and “comfy” food is just the thing to cheer you up, HALLMARK CHANNEL films are “Holiday Cotton Candy” that literally give you a break from the news. This year finally, the narrow view of this world is opening up to a more diversified cast with both stars and story lines; I hope to report next year that the hunks will also be more representative and diverse.

The entire experience of a HALLMARK CHANNEL movie is also the product placement of both holiday decor, cards, gifts and tree that is all part of the HALLMARK CHANNEL experience that is wrapped up in subtle marketing (or not so subtle) that makes you wish you had every piece of greenery and tinsel.

The audience growth of the Channel is staggering in comparison to other outlets. What’s the secret? Fashion, is not important, though the characters seem to live in and enjoy their holiday outfits on a regular basis in each story. With a host of problems and family issues tied up in one hour and 25 minutes you are given a happy pill during these challenging times. So, go ahead an indulge; put on your happy sweater, sip that eggnog and get cozy under the fur throw and enjoy!

One of the fashion’s most unique and outspoken women, Kathryn Hammett was at one point running a huge business worldwide in the 1980s.  Her realization that her vendors, supply chain and suppliers were contributing to the pollution and labor issues of the industry, closed her business.  She realized that her contribution to this pollution was major and her one lone voice was the “canary in the coal mine”.

Her most famous “fashion statement” has been the political or socially topical t-shirt. if you are wearing a t-shirt that states your political or social views today, you have Kathryn Hammett to thank.  One of her most famous t-shirts she wore in a photograph with Margaret Thatcher (Pictured in the photo) that was a first version of a ‘viral photo’ that went worldwide. Kathryn Hammett was a pioneer in bringing socially responsible messages to her fashion platform.  She will no doubt be joined by the Duchess of Sussex, who wore recyclable trainers on her recent trip to New Zealand and promises to be a new voice that reaches a generation of people.

Many of people in the industry did not listen to her, didn’t care and as she has said, simply didn’t want to change the way they were doing business.  Now, she says that consumers demand it, and this is the only way that the industry will change its ways and move away from the practices.  One of her latest issues is the BREXIT movement which is now considered to be one of the most damaging issues for the fashion industry in Britain.  Kathryn is coming out with the latest t-shirt campaign about BREXIT and put her voice and influence into the political chorus of voices who are opposing the BREXIT. Kathryn is arming her t-shirt with new messages and continues to be a crusader for sustainability and environmental protection.  We say BRAVO to a new world that must be demanded of by the consumer so when you buy clothes now, will you be a contributor or a disrupter?

(*our thanks to the BOF fashion interview with Kathryn Hammett which you can access at the BOF website for free to hear her interview).

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