Red Carpet Review: The Best (310) Celebrity Looks of 2011!


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I’ve been compiling a long list of my favorite looks during the 2011 calendar year & while there are still a few days left, I wanted to share the highs of the red carpet, press events, famous Style Darlings on the street, as well as the looks that have made the headlines.  This is the ultimate gallery of the ensembles to wear for formal occasions, out & about on the street, to a cocktail party, or a date night, including the best descriptions that I could find of who wore what!  For more looks that I’ve featured this year, check out Darling of the Day, Red Carpet Review, Magazine Must-Haves, Silver Screen Style, Style ABC’s (x3), & Watch This Style– all categories that thrive on celebrity-inspiration for your style on a budget.  I hope all of you had a prosperous 2011 & continue to do good for those around you, as well as for your style!  Happy Styling!

Red Carpet Review / Color Me Style: A Brilliant Black & Blue Takeover at the Emmy’s Featuring Gwyneth Paltrow, Claire Danes, Dianna Agron, & More (Part Two)!


I previously stated that red was the color of the night for the 2011 Emmy Awards, but red was given some serious competition with the ladies wearing different shades of blue & varying styles of exquisite black gowns!  There’s just so much to talk about with these looks, proving that even the most classic or daring silhouettes can rival on the red carpet!

Although they say that black doesn’t photograph well… These Style Darlings prove otherwise! First, Michelle Forbes, star of The Killing definitely killed in a black Romona Keveza strapless gown with a fitted bodice.  Winner Julie Bowen took a plunge in a black metallic sequin-embellished column dress by Oscar de la Renta.  She’s never looked better, especially with those stunning Neil Lane earrings!  Kaley Cuoco’s retro polka Romona Keveza dress was by far my favorite black dress, especially with the polka dot netting & red satin peep toes & Judith Leiber clutch.  Fringe star Anna Torv went for a classic old Hollywood look in a black Vera Wang gown with Lorraine Schwartz earrings & navy Roger Vivier shoes.  Boardwalk Empire star Gretchen Mol kept its simple & elegant in a sweetheart L’Wren Scott silk gown with emerald Fred Leighton jewelry.  Glee bad girl, Naya Rivera showed off her figure in a sculpted black dress with corset bodice.

Gwyneth Paltrow caused quite a stir in her two-piece Emilio Pucci beaded gown with Roger Vivier sandals & Neil Lane jewelry.  Evan Rachel Wood looked simply gorgeous in a beaded Elie Saab gown.  She was nominated for her outstanding performance in Mildred Pierce, but turned heads with her Fred Leighton jewelry, Salvatore Ferragamo shoes, & Judith Leiber clutch.  Jenna Ushkowitz went for a black & white Ghadah Paris gown with Casadei shoes & obviously got the memo about carrying a Judith Leiber clutch.  Lena Headey covered up in a black brocade long-sleeved gown with a belt, Brian Atwood heels & a Judith Leiber clutch.  Kelly Macdonald tastefully showed off some skin in a sheer Stella McCartney gown with Jimmy Choo sandals.

As for the ladies in blue, navy was the most popular shade, but turquoise & royal were also embraced.  Kyle Richards wore a pleated royal blue mermaid gown with drop earrings, a cocktail ring, & caged diamond bracelet.  Cobie Smulders of How I Met Your Mother was bright in an aquamarine Alberta Ferretti gown with Neil Lane drop earrings, Brian Atwood shoes, & a clutch by Rene Caovilla.  Last year’s winner, Claire Danes, went for stuck to her favorite column silhouette in a sequin-embroidered Oscar de la Renta gown with Irit jewelry & pumps by Barbara Bui platforms.  Dianna Agron took a risk in this Roksanda Ilincic fishtail gown, but looked stunning with her Fred Leighton jewelry & clutch by Roger Vivier.  Funny lady Amy Poehler channeled this year’s Oscar look worn by Amy Adams in the short-sleeved all-over blue gown by Peter Som with drop earrings by Martin Katz.

Charlie’s Angels star Minka Kelly donned a vintage-inspired navy & black lace Christian Dior gown with Tiffany & Co. jewelry & Barbara Bui sandals.  The X-Factor judge Paula Adbul looked adorable in a navy embellished Simeen gown with Martin Katz jewelry.  Nominee Diane Lane looked fantastic in a navy Monique Lhuillier crystal-encrusted gown with Cathy Waterman jewelry.  Glee girl, Heather Morris wasn’t afraid of this tiered plunging gown with gold dangly earrings.  Emily Blunt showed the best in blue in a deep-v Elie Saab creation with a Kelly Locke clutch & Brian Atwood sandals.  One star that could’ve done better was Katie Holmes in this crepe Calvin Klein Collection belted dress.

Be sure to check back for my Emmy red carpet coverage & our post about the fabulous red gowns worn by celebrities like Sofia Vergara, Lea Michele, & Kate Winslet!  Who was your favorite of the night?  Who do you think his all the wrong notes?  Which dress do you covet? Happy Styling!

Red Carpet Review: My Favorite Past Oscar Styles!


It’s Oscar night & I’m dying over darlings like Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson, Halle Berry, & Reese Witherspoon‘s dresses on the red carpet.  Keeping it classic & timeless, effortlessly glamorous, & oh-so gorgeous is what a night like this is all about.  I decided to take a quick look back at my top ten favorite looks from previous years at the Academy Awards.  Among my favorites are designers Oscar de la Renta, Versace, Valentino, & Carolina Herrera.  I have a thing for some glitter, but also frills & clean lines are always amazing trends to show off at an elegant occasion such as this.  Take a look (at these, of course which are in no particular order) & lemme know which are your favorites?

Last year Cameron Diaz wowed in this gold princess gown by Oscar de la Renta.  She usually goes a little more eccentric, having worn a red Alexander McQueen gown for the Globes just weeks before, but thanks to her famous stylist, Rachel Zoe, this dazzling gold confection of elegance stole the red carpet.  Gold was a big theme at the show as winner Sandra Bullock showed off her embroidered Marchesa column gown.

Kate Hudson showed off some serious sparkle power at the 2003 ceremony in this Atelier Versace hand-sewn gown.  This look is listed among In Style’s 10 Best Oscar Dresses ever & is probably one of my favorite worn by the actress. She is also a client of Rachel Zoe’s, who has taken more risks in recent years on the red carpet, like for last years Globes in a white feathered Marchesa & her teal Gucci number at the 2009 People’s Choice Awards.

Keeping with the glamorous glitter theme so far, Diane Lane appeared at the 2003 ceremony in Oscar de la Renta.  Having seen the feathers for tonight’s show with Hilary Swank & Sharon Stone, I have to say that the gown is one that transcends time.  At the 2009 ceremony in ruched black Chanel & her white Azzaro gown at the 2004 show were just as gorgeous in the truest movie star fashion.

Renee Zellweger‘s Carolina Herrera gown for her 2004 win for her performance in Cold Mountain is one of those dresses that you just look at & know that a winner is wearing it.  Recalling the vintage elegance of Grace Kelly & the star power of Marilyn Monroe, this is one of Renee’s finest appearances in fashion.  Always a fan of Carolina Herrera’s designs, 7 years later, the actress even wowed in this sparkly gown for a German awards show.

Cate Blanchett‘s 2007 Armani Prive marcasite gown was a dramatic revelation against the usually ruffled & mainstream looks that we see on the red carpet.  Always a risk taker, we even saw her on tonight’s red carpet in a pastel beaded Givenchy gown that even wowed fashion icon & Oscar commentator Tim Gunn.

Keira Knightley was nominated in 2006 for her lead role in Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice & showed up in this merlot Vera Wang gown & Bulgari necklace.  She was certainly the best dressed of the night & took the trend of statement jewelry to a new level.

Kate Winslet is a consummate favorite at the Oscars, having won two years ago for The Reader, I have to say that nothing pleases me more than seeing a pistachio dress draped in such a sophisticated way over a truly beautiful talent.  This Valentino dress helped make the 2007 ceremony a memorable night, as I recalled the sari-inspired Valentino dress that Jennifer Lopez wore in a similar shade in 2003.

Penelope Cruz showed up this year’s Oscars just weeks after giving birth, but when she took home Oscar for her performance in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, she looked like a modern-day Audrey Hepburn.  This vintage Balmain bridal-inspired gown pulled at every fashionista’s heartstrings.  She looked like an absolute princess that night & this is probably one of my favorite Oscar looks ever.  In previous years, she was very elegant in Versace and forward thinking in Chanel, but for this pivotal moment in her career, she looked flawless.

2009 was also a dazzling year for Sarah Jessica Parker in this belted princess Christian Dior.  Embodying all things Carrie Bradshaw & the whimsical way that Sarah Jessica has stolen our fashionable hearts off-screen, this is one of the most quintessential princess gowns that I’ve ever seen.  Critics didn’t embrace her 2010 look for the ceremony, but she’ll always be turning heads no matter where she goes.

Demi Moore impressed fashion critics last year in her strapless silk organza ruffled gown by Versace.  Rachel Zoe was once again behind this look, which was a far cry from Demi’s 1989 shorts look that made In Style’s Most Unforgettable Oscar Looks.  Seeing this dramatic actress in such softness put her among the best dressed & was a lovely departure from her usually darker looks.

 To catch some of your favorite Oscar dresses from years of yesterday, check out In Style’s Oscar Index & the official Academy Awards website. Also, you can find some really incredible deals on celebrity-inspired gown from all of the awards shows at EDressMe, PromGirl, & SerendipityProm.  Don’t forget to check out our previous Red Carpet Review posts from this year’s awards season & our upcoming review from the 2011 Oscars red carpet.  Happy Styling!