Joy? Concern?

http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/25/double-amputee-new-zealander-has-mermaid-dream-fulfilled/

Driving while breastfeeding? AND talking on a cell phone?

http://www.whiotv.com/news/18813161/detail.html
I'm counting down the seconds until La Leche League issues a condemnation of the citing officer.

Luxury Bargains

New on The Daily Lalee, it's a feature custom made for hard times in a decadent society: Luxury Bargains.  In Luxury Bargains, I'll present you with amazing deals on things you absolutely do not need.  But if you must splurge, better to splurge at a discount, n'est-ce pas?

First up on Luxury Bargains: 

Gilt Groupe.  Gilt Groupe is an invitation only luxury discount site that runs 2-day sales of beautiful designer clothes, bags, shoes, and accessories at up to 70% off.  Recent designer sales include Cynthia Rowley, Oscar de la Renta, Alexander McQueen, Vera Wang, and Isabella Fiore.  Send me your email if you'd like an invitation, but be forewarned: this site is DEADLY.  I've found myself sorely tempted to buy a $700 sweater simply because it was 50% off.  The $700 price was post sale.  

When you see the discount, it looks like SUCH A GOOD DEAL, until you realize that it's still insanely expensive.  Serious deals at ridiculous prices make Gilt Groupe a Luxury Bargain.

Fashion Week Part 5

House of Holland

HoH's collection is paint chips.

See?


No, seriously, it's those color sample cards you pick up in the paint department at Home Depot.

Get it?

No really, you guys, get it?

We get it, HoH. Jesus.

Oscar Fashion Redux 2009

Ah, le siiiiiigh.  Is there anything I enjoy quite as much as watching the most important red carpet of the year?  I confess, there is not.  The only thing that could possibly make it better would be watching it with all of you ducklings.  

People dialed it down for the Oscars this year.  Almost no one brought the crazy, and there were very few adventures in color.  The ascendance of neutrals continued and the general tone was simple, elegant, tasteful, calm, and a little boring.  

Let's get to it.

Joys

Evan Rachel Wood in Elie Saab Couture.  Ka-BAM.  The color washes her out, but the fit and cut are flawless.  She brought it, killed it, fileted it, sauteed it.

Sweet, adorable, well-behaved little urchins in age appropriate clothing.  Lurrrrrrrve.

Marisa Tomei in Atelier Versace.  This is a lot of dress, but the look as a whole is harmonious and I think she carried it off well.

Tilda Swinton in Lanvin.  I realize this one is controversial.  I've put Tilda in the Joys list not just because of my mild girl crush on her, but because she's moved past attempting to look good in a pedestrian sense and just does whatever the fuck she wants in a very, very haute way.  And I always look forward to seeing what she'll wear.

Meryl Streep in Alberta Ferretti.  Beautiful color, age appropriate.  And she gave very good hair.

Anne Hathaway in Armani Prive.  This shit is flawless.

Viola Davis in Reem Acra.  If there's one event where you can get away with a gold dress, this is it.

Marion Cotillard in Dior Couture.  I am a big fan of La Cotillard.  She's one of those people who pushes the envelope toward the haute couture side successfully.  I love this blue and black thing happening, and the transparent skirt might be disastrous on some women, but on her I think it's fun and glamorous.

Concerns

Kate Winslet in YSL.  Really?  YSL?  I always think of them as couturier to the geriatric set.  I love this gunmetal grey on her (I love grey on most people), but there's just too much going on.  Why do we have a single inorganic shoulder strap AND a weird black lace overlay thingy?  Remove those two items and I think you've got a deadly gorgeous dress.  Also, hate, hate, hate the helmet hair.

Amanda Seyfried in Valentino Couture.  This one came darn close to the Joys list.  I like the color choice very much, and I'm not categorically opposed to bows.  But this particular bow isn't working for me.  It looks sort of glue gunned on there.  Also, hate the shoes.

Oh PSH.  You've broken my heart.  No... woolen... beanies... EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Frieda Pinto in Galliano.  Ms. Pinto is very dear, very sweet, and very gracious, but this dress is very bad.  The bedazzled lace sleeve is killing me.  The cut and the color put me in mind of something an octogenarian would wear to a charity benefit in Beverly Hills.  

Sarah Jessica Parker in Dior Couture.  Love SJP.  Love Dior.  Don't love what's happening here.  Ms. Parker referred to the color of this dress as "barely mint."  Did she fail to notice that it's also "barely covering her boobs"?  When she presented, I was terrified that they were going to come flying out.

It's always thrilling to see a career actress be at long last recognized, and I wish Ms. Leo all the best, but this look is not good.  Hines referred to the color of this Badgley Mischka dress as "poopstain."  The cut is also distressing, diminishing what little we have to work with in the bust department, while lengthening the torso.  It's a little "Disney Princess" for my taste.  Capped off with a tragic case of mom hair, this look is seriously troubling.

I don't think it's going too far to say that Ms. Latifah is among the best dressed women in Hollywood.  The cut, color and fit are usually pitch perfect, which is a true accomplishment for a full-figured woman.  In this case, however, I think we may have stumbled.  First of all, her hair color is awful.  The Georges Chakra dress is also a bit of a wreck with its tragic neckline and crazy sheer overlay.  Not a fan.

Heidi, we know you look amazing.  We know you like to skate the edge of every trend.  Could you just pare down the bangles?  Lower the leg slit?  Dial down the color?  Something?

Someone has stapled used Kleenex to the bodice of Ms. Hudgens' Marchesa dress.  Furthermore, I hate Mr. Efron's tie and I can't tell whether his greasy coiffure is the result of too much product or too little shower.

Ms. Henson looked lovely in Cavalli, but I would've liked to see her in a different color - she did white at the SAG awards too.  Also, this reminded me and Hines a little too much of a certain wedding dress we know and love.

Miley Cyrus in Zuhair Murad.  Most unfortunate.  I know she tries, and at least she never veers into the vulgar, but this is a just a little too literal.  The fish scales and the seashells on the belt imply that Sebastian the crab is scuttling along not far behind.  

Penelope Cruz in vintage Balmain Couture.  When you wear white to a formal event, you run a distinct risk of looking too bridal, and Ms. Cruz has not successfully mitigated this risk.  Nevertheless, I do hope she finds Mr. Right.  

Jessica Biel in Prada.  Why she draped a dish towel over her front, I'm sure I'll never know.  

Also, her hair looked ditchly.  VO5 Hot Oil for this poor woman pronto.

Beyonce in House of Dereon.  Beyonce, darling, please stop letting your mother dress you.  If she had any talent, she'd be dressing other people too by now.  Hines described this look as "so Houston."  

Amy Adams in Carolina Herrera.  Amy darlin', you know I love you.  I love your choice of a deep beautiful red.  I'll even get on board with that fruit salad necklace if you want me to.  But the peculiar draping in the front of your dress, and your big clunky black shoes are not working for me.

And last but not least, the 2009 Bjork award (Oscars Edition) goes to...

Sophia Loren!

Sophia seriously brought the crazy with this Armani Prive disaster.  From the sheer sleeves to the promular ruffles, this dress screams "I'm off my meds!" with joyful abandon.

Europe's Unflattering Opinion of Us

From Emily Post's Etiquette (1922):

For years we Americans have swarmed over the face of the world, taking it for granted that the earth's surface belongs to us because we can pay for it, and it is rather worse than ever since the war, when the advantages of exchange add bitterness to irritation. And yet there are many who are highly indignant when told that, as a type, we are not at all admired abroad. Instead of being indignant, how much simpler and better it would be to make ourselves admirable, especially since it is those who most lack cultivation who are most indignant. The very well-bred may be mortified and abashed, but they can't be indignant except with their fellow countrymen who by their shocking behavior make Europe's criticism just. Understanding of, and kind-hearted consideration for the feelings of others are the basic attributes of good manners. Without observation, understanding is impossible—even in our own country where the attitude of our neighbors is much the same as our own. It is not hard to appreciate, therefore, that to understand the point of view of people entirely foreign to ourselves, requires intuitive perception as well as cultivation in a very high degree.

What in the holy hell?

How did I miss this? These shoes emerged from Maison Martin Margiela last year. And people are actually wearing them.

Notice the weird little imprints they leave in the carpet? They'll have everyone at your party wondering: "Who brought the goat?"

Things I Lurve: RuPaul's Drag Race

Mondays on Logo, there's a new show that very nearly provides a worthy substitute for Project Runway. It's RuPaul's Drag Race, in which aspiring drag divas compete in challenges involving fashion, makeup, wigs, lip synching, product pitching, celebrity interviewing...

Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? It is. And the best part, of course, is the divine RuPaul hermself, who acts as both Tim Gunn:

AND Heidi Klum.

If you're still not sold, let me briefly summarize: bitchy drag queens connive over scarce makeup, hair and fashion resources to compete for a prize. The two queens with the lowest scores are forced to lip synch for their lives to such classics as "The Greatest Love of All." Miss Ru sends the loser off with the words "sashay away."

If you're still not sold, you're reading the wrong blog.

To view episodes online, click on this link.

Fashion Week Part 4

Isaac Mizrahi


I didn't like all of it, but I liked a lot of it. First of all, the styling. I loved the sweet, playful accessories, like the handbag hats and the "just unpacked it" handbags - these put me in mind of the over-the-top, gratuitous fashion show sequences in studio era movies like The Women and How to Marry a Millionaire. It's a fine line between whimsical and stupid, and a subjective one too, but I must admit I loved these ridiculous little goodies.






Also, luh-hurrrrrrrrve.










Narciso Rodriguez

Mostly bleargh.

Some WTF.

Some lurve.

Note to readers:

There are sooooooo many shows to bitch about and I may very well lose steam before it's over. Are there any shows in particular that you want to see posted here?