Fashion to the Very End - Zelda Kaplan, dead at 95

Socialite, Zelda Kaplan died yesterday, at the age of 95, while sitting front row with her husband at a New York Fashion Week show (read full article here).

She was thought to have fainted just as the show was to begin when security rushed her out and was taken to the Roosevelt Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Kaplan was a remarkable woman, a 'Citzien of the World'. She often traveled to Africa and Southeast Asia, buying textiles directly from the source and then custom tailoring her matching outfits back home. She wasn't just a party girl (and yes, even at her ripe old age of 95, she could put a 20-something-year-old to shame). Her humanitarian efforts go without say, as she fought for women and children's rights especially in Africa, preventing the continuation of female genital mutilation, still a tragic tradition among tribes.

Tributes can be made on ZeldaKaplan.com and Zeldaworld.org.

Heaven just got it's party angel. Zelda, you will be missed.

Photo Source: Google Images

Golden GLOBED 2012: Best & Worst on the Red Carpet

This years Golden Globes had most celebrities flaunting in the nude/beige trend while others opted for bright yellows. Not so much of a range of color, but style was totally in question with some of the choices our A-list celebs had picked.. What were they thinking?

Here are a few of my top picks and least faves of the evening...

Fave! Lea Michele in Marches. This style will always remind me of Halle Berry's '06 Oscars dress.

Fave! Absolutely love Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang. She always impresses me!

Fave! Selma Hayek in Gucci. The Egyptian-esque design reminds me of the 1920's avaunt-garde.

Hated It! Freida Pinto in Prada. Looks like a curtain held together by a string of leather.

Fave! Evan Rachel Wood in Gucci. Love the transition from sequence to feathers.

Hated It! Michelle Williams in Jason Wu. Really? That's what you're wearing to the GG?

Hated It! Natalie Portman in Lanvin. What were you thinking?? You look like a rejected cupcake!

Hated it! Elizabeth McGovern in Giorgio Armani. So unflattering! Did Armani just cut two different dresses & sew 'em together?

Fave! Elle Macpherson in Zac Posen. I saw this dress and thought, "That would be a great wedding dress!"

Fave! Laura Dern in Andrew Gn. Looking like an emerald trophy! Keepin' it classy, Dr. Sattler.

Hated It! Morena Baccarin in Edition by Georges Chakra. WHAT is going on with your cleavage there??

Fave! Nicole Richie in Julian Macdonald & Neil Lane. Simple & Classy.

Hated It! Ariel Winter in Dolce & Gabbana - yet another rejected cupcake.

Fave! Nancy O'Dell in THEIA. A classic cut, seen in different colors and by different designers, she still made it looks so good!

Fave! Jane Fonda in Jack Guisso. Jane, you are absolutely GORGEOUS! 74 & still hot!

Photo Source: HuffPost, Google Images

Golden Globe Nominees & Red Carpet Divas

The nominees for the Golden Globes have been announced this morning as it starts off the award season, as well as red carpet showdowns with best and worst dressed.

Let's see what some of our Best Actress nominees wore on the red carpet...

Photo source: Trend Rabbit

Best Actress, Drama: Tilda Swinton wearing Haider Ackermann at the Cannes premiere of "We Need to Talk About Kevin". She looks like a model - so stunning with those fierce eyes!

Photo source: Styleite

Best Actress, Drama: Rooney Mara wore this jaw-dropping dress by designer Prabal Gurung at the NY premiere of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo". She looks absolutely stunning showing off some sexy skin (love the back). That's one HOT dress!

Photo source: Red Carpet Fashion Awards

Best Actress, Drama: Glenn Close arrived at the NY premiere of "Albert Nodds" wearing a Japonesque Armani Privé ensemble. The suit is slightly different from the runway version, with a different fabric, print, and longer pant legs. She knows how to rock a suit - very classy!

Photo source: Celebrity Fashion

Best Actress, Comedy: Michelle Williams appeared at the AFI Fest Hollywood premiere of "My Week With Marilyn" wearing this lovely strapless sweetheart dress by Oscar de la Renta.

Photo source: Hollywood Reporter

Best Actress, Comedy: Charlize Theron was looking bold, fun and sexy on the red carpet in a red-orange leather Dior dress at the NY premiere of "Young Adult".

Post your favorite red carpet looks in the comments below!

Chanel Fashion Show Paris-Bombay 2011/12 Métier d'Art

Last night aired Chanel's Paris-Bombay 2011/12 Métier d'Art, showcasing Karl Lagerfeld's vision in a setting of regal stature.

Ravishing: the ambiance was royal, what felt like 'Mary Antoinette meets the Maharaja'. Beautiful ebony smudged eyes of models glared at you as they passed by, with Indian-inspired jewels adorning their faces, walking along lavishly fruitful tables befitting a queen. Before each guest was a full plate setting, and a tablescape as if a royal feast is to be served (and in essence it was). Everything from the crystal chandeliers to the dessert fork was present, classic French down to the last detail. Even the bowls of fruit were screaming "Renaissance"!

It is the excessive lavishness of the French siècle des Lumières merged with the haute luxe revival of the Mughals Dynasty. The entire show was a sensual and exotic marriage of colors, including bold pinks and pearls, dread-locked hair and the classic Chanel tweed ensembles (and much more).

Here are some clips from the fashion show, available for viewing on Chanel.com.

Fashion Spotlight: Daphne Guinness

Before there ever was a Lady Gaga and the like, there was Ms. Daphne Guinness.

 
My idol, Daphne Guinness, is the epitome of idealistic individuality. She has the wonderful fortune of being named heiress to the Guinness family fortune. In her past, her marriage to Stavros Niarchos, son of the Greek shipping billionaire, ended with a £20 million settlement. Not to mention she owns the grandest collection of haute couture we have yet to see (in 2010 she purchased the entire wardrobe collection of the late Isabella Blow in order "to preserve it").

Why have I chosen her for my first fashion spotlight, you ask? Well, it's obvious, isn't it? She is decadent, dignified and fearless - a powerful woman, no doubt. An icon, nay, muse! for fashionistas and designers alike, she gives you a feeling of strength, of the ability to go beyond your wildest dreams, not thinking outside the box or inside, but getting rid of the box all together. I see her and I say to myself I want to be bold like her, I want to be fearless.

Guinness recently put part of her collection on exhibit at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. The exhibit begins with an introduction featuring a selection of Guinness' extravagant shoes, followed by the main gallery which has been divided into six sections representing aspects of her style - "Dandyism", "Armor", "Chic",  "Evening Chic", "Exoticism", and "Sparkle".

The show is currently running through January 7, 2012.

Click here for more information about the exhibit and the Museum at FIT.