Red Carpet Review: This Year’s Cannes Film Festival, Featuring Nicole Kidman, Carey Mulligan, Rooney Mara, & More!


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The Cannes Film Festival is still underway; however, I’ve been ravenously collecting a slew of glamorous day & evening looks from the event’s red carpets, including premieres / screenings, press junkets, & parties. Some of the most buzzed about films are being celebrated overseas, including The Great Gatsby, As I Lay Dying, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Bling Ring, & Inside Llewyn Davis. Jennifer Lawrence has been in out & about in several head-to-toe Dior looks. It’s also no surprise that Gatsby actress Carey Mulligan has been making headlines with a series of black & white minimalist ensembles from Vionnet, Balenciaga, Dior Haute Couture, & Chloe.

Other favorites include Nicole Kidman who is promoting Grace of Monaco, where she portrays the always enchanting Grace Kelly. The Aussie Oscar-winner has been staying loyal to her classic elegance with a touch of flair in a leather belted Calvin Klein dress, Alexander McQueen LBD, dreamy Dior Haute Couture tea-length dress, & fun printed column gown by L’Wren Scott. A star who I’ve been keeping an eye out for, especially from earlier this month at the Met Costume Institute Gala, is Rooney Mara who continues to share her androgynous sense of femininity in Vera Wang, Calvin Klein, & Giambattista Valli.

Be sure also to check out the gallery since I’ll continue to add more images to it, including looks by Ziyi Zhang, Freida Pinto, Emma Watson, Isla Fisher, Jessica Biel (especially in Marchesa), & more! Which has been your favorite look so far? Which movies are you most excited to see from the festival? For more from Red Carpet Review, check out previous posts including this week’s Billboard Music Awards featuring Kelly Rowland & Miley Cyrus, mini dresses on Anne Hathaway & Alexa Chung, black & white looks from Gwyneth Paltrow & Kate Beckinsale, & Revenge actress Ashley Madekwe’s Topshop jumpsuit outfit.

Silver Screen Style: A Visionary, New Trailer For Baz Luhrmann’s ‘The Great Gatsby,’ Starring Leonardo DiCaprio & Carey Mulligan!


Some of you may already know that I lend my writing skills to a movie news & reviews website, Movie Buzzers, as a freelance film critic & news reporter. This has its benefits since I love to examine fashion in films & one of the most anticipated movies of 2013 is certainly Baz Luhrmann‘s The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher, & Elizabeth Debicki.

Leonard DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, & Joel Edgerton in The Great Gatsby. Carey Mulligan, Isla Fisher, & Elizabeth Debicki in The Great Gatsby.

Not only does the movie celebrate the Jazz Age classic tale, originally written by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald, but it’s Luhrmann’s imagination that brings new life to the 3-D film. Also, costume designer Catherine Martin (Moulin Rouge, Australia) collaborated with Miuccia Prada, whose accomplishments include Prada & Miu Miu, for an impeccable vision for men’s & women’s fashion for the era. You can be certain that luxurious lace details, flapper-inspired hemlines, & art deco accessories will make a comeback once the film premieres on May 10th.

Take a look at the latest trailer, which features an in-depth look at Gatsby’s romance with Daisy, & the love triangle that ensues when Daisy’s husband Tom sees his wife swept away by the millionaire. Are you excited about the premiere of this film? Do you like the casting decisions? What do you think about the fashions? For more posts from Watch This Style, check out a behind-the-scenes look at Zöe Salanda’s cover shoot for InStyle, the Lena Dunham-directed video for designer Rachel Antonoff, the story behind J.Crew’s shoe collection, & Katie Holmes’ beauty talk with Allure. Happy Styling!

Red Carpet Review / Runway Rundown: Style Darling’s Top 20 Best Oscar-Worthy Gown Predictions!


We’re less than a month away from the 2013 Academy Awards & the SAG Awards are this weekend! The speculation behind the results inside those envelopes & what the nominees are going to wear have been bouncing around all over the web & for the first time, I’m going to share my fashion predictions, based off the Pre-Fall 2013, Spring 2013 Ready-To-Wear, Spring 2013 Haute Couture, & Resort 2013 collection runways. Of course, Oscar-nominated celebrities like Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Lawrence, Anne Hathaway, Amy Adams & Naomi Watts are subject to one-of-a-kind custom-made haute couture gowns, but it’s been a lot of fun to click around & find the most gorgeous gowns that wowed on the runway. In addition to the nominees who are celebrating their achievements in film, possible presenters like Rachel Weisz, Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer Lopez, Emily Blunt, Kate Hudson, Jennifer Garner & more will be turning heads on the red carpet.

Surely there will be lots of glitz & glamour, but predictions of trends are hard to tell. There was so much going on at this year’s Golden Globes, including black, black & gold, white, pink, long sleeves, cut-outs, high slits, & nude illusions. Starting off is a gold lamé & embellished gown from Michael Kors Resort 2013 Collection, which was recently featured in a Runway Rundown post. From Carlos Miele‘s Resort 2013 Collection comes this beautiful embellished sweetheart gown with an animal print under-lining. Some might call the white & black-leather accented Emilio Pucci dress from the Pre-Fall 2013 Collection is too safe for the Oscars, but I think it’s a modern & refreshing take on a white gown.

Michael Kors, Carlos Miele, Emilio Pucci, Monique Lhuillier, & Jenny Packham.

For the risk-taking Style Darling, I can see the metallic long-sleeved gown from Monique Lhuillier‘s Pre-Fall 2013 Collection making an entrance on the red carpet. I picked this tangerine Jenny Packham Spring 2013 Ready-To-Wear Collection gown b/c of its unexpected color, but on the right skin-tone, it will certainly set some trends on the red carpet for the rest of the year.

Next, we have a floral-embroidered belted gown by Temperley London, which was featured in the Pre-Fall 2013 Collection. This has a very classic, Zooey Deschanel look to it, which is why I loved including it! Badgley Mischka is a name synonymous with red carpets & perhaps we’ll see this all-over embellished metallic gown from their Pre-Fall 2013 Collection on one of the front-running Oscar nominees. One of my favorite designers forever & always is Marchesa & I wasn’t surprised to see so many red carpet candidates in their Spring 2013 Ready-To-Wear Collection, including this sari-inspired sheer-overlay blue & gold confection.

Temperley London, Badgley Mischka, Marchesa, Collette Dinnigan, & Roberto Cavalli.

I love the feminine softness from the short-sleeved Collette Dinnigan gown from the Resort 2013 Collection. The coral / fuchsia hue is perfect for an ingénue like the ever-changing Dakota Fanning or the retro Krysten Ritter. Roberto Cavalli‘s black sequined & lace overlay corset-structured gown is a stunning choice for a more dramatic look on the red carpet & it’s from the Pre-Fall 2013 Collection.

Designs by Alexandre Vauthier made a style statement at the Golden Globes since both supermodel Heidi Klum & Downton Abbey actress Michelle Dockery both donned looks, but I picked this leg-baring halter gown from the Spring 2013 Haute Couture Collection. J. Mendel‘s Pre-Fall 2013 Collection was a dreamy mixture of texture, detail, flowy fabrics, & strong silhouettes, including this lace-accented spaghetti strap gown with off-the-shoulder tiers. Also, Giambattista Valli‘s white & gold ball gown took my breath away from its Spring 2013 Haute Couture Collection & would certainly wow fashion critics if worn on Isla Fisher, Julianne Hough, or Kerry Washington.

Alexandre Vauthier, J. Mendel, & Giambattista Valli.

Valentino, Christian Dior, & Elie Saab.

There ought to be room on any red carpet for a Valentino red gown, like this strapless & effortless gown from the Spring 2013 Haute Couture Collection. Also, Christian Dior‘s Spring 2013 Haute Couture Collection featured the pink puffy mermaid ball gown. In addition, someone like Diane Kruger or Zoe Saldana can wear an floral-embellished, dramatic gown like this from Elie Saab‘s Spring 2013 Haute Couture Collection.

After Lucy Liu‘s splash at the Globes in Carolina Herrera, I knew I had to look further into her Pre-Fall 2013 Collection, which included this gorgeous black & white graphic print gown, perfect for fans of the label including Renee Zellweger, Emmy Rossum, or Olivia Wilde.  Next, from Oscar de la Renta‘s Spring 2013 Ready-To-Wear, this aqua tiered dream of a gown is borderline bridesmaid, but the color is just so pretty & it reminds me of the Romona Keveza ball gown that Kaley Cuoco wore at last year’s SAG Awards.

Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, Zac Posen, & Jason Wu.

You can’t have a look at the best from the runway without talking about American designer, Zac Posen, & his Pre-Fall 2013 Collection, which is a dramatic statement that will change the way black gowns appear on the red carpet. Lastly, a daring look for the Oscars comes from Jason Wu‘s Spring 2013 Ready-To-Wear Collection & perhaps a young starlet like Emma Watson would wear this will some extra lining to fill the skirt since the ceremony is so formal.

Which designers are you hoping to see on the red carpet? Which gown is your favorite? Which nominees are you rooting for during this year’s Oscars? For more runway goodness, check out galleries including Rachel Roy, Calvin Klein Collection, Diane von Furstenberg, & Narciso Rodriguez! Also, to read more from Red Carpet Review, check out looks from the 2013 Presidential Inauguration, leather & black oufits featuring Elisabeth Moss & Scarlett Johansson, the 2013 Critics’ Choice Awards with looks from Eva Longoria & Jaime King, & this year’s red carpet from the People’s Choice Awards with Jennifer Aniston & Chloe Grace Moretz! Happy Styling!

Red Carpet Review: The 2013 Golden Globes, Featuring Jessica Alba, Tina Fey, Jennifer Lopez, Katharine McPhee & more!


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The 2013 Golden Globe Awards are still airing, but I just couldn’t wait any longer to post this very thorough gallery. Some of my favorite looks include Tina Fey (in L’Wren Scott), Jennifer Lopez (in Zuhair Murad), Katharine McPhee (in Theyskens’ Theory), Kerry Washington (in Miu Miu), Emily Blunt (in Michael Kors), Lucy Liu (in Carolina Herrera), Rachel Weisz (in Louis Vuitton), Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (in Saint Laurent Paris)… just to name a few!

Top trends included lots of black & gold, as seen on Kate Hudson (in Alexander McQueen), Helen Mirren (in Badgley Mischka), & Nicole Kidman (in Alexander McQueen), as well as reds & oranges like Jennifer Lawrence (in Christian Dior Haute Couture), Jessica Alba (in Oscar de la Renta), Marion Cotillard (in Dior), Claire Danes (in Versace), & Zooey Deschanel (in Oscar de la Renta).

Also, you can’t forget about the black looks, some of which I’ve named in my favorites, but I also loved Julianne Moore (in Tom Ford), Adele (in Burberry), Allison Williams (in J. Mendel), Debra Messing (in Donna Karan Atelier), Sofia Vergara (in a floor-length sequin gown), Eva Longoria (in Pucci), & Salma Hayek (in Gucci).

Lastly, softer nearly colorless colors had their place with Anne Hathaway (in Chanel), Lea Michele (in Elie Saab), Amy Adams (in Marchesa), Amanda Seyfried (in Givenchy), Megan Fox (in Dolce & Gabbana), & Hayden Panettiere (in Roberto Cavalli)!

Which looks are your favorite? For more posts from Red Carpet Review, check out galleries from the Critics’ Choice Awards & red carpet from the recent People’s Choice Awards! Happy Styling!

Cover Craze: 2012 Goes Out With A Bang, Featuring Dakota Fanning, Marion Cotillard, Britney Spears, & More!


We’re barely two weeks into November, but already the 2012 covers for the hottest magazines have hit the web & I have a jam-packed post here, featuring ten must-have & must-see issues from here in the United States, as well as abroad. This includes a much-talked-about Britney Spears on the cover of Lucky (airbrushed much?), Cameron Diaz repeating the Chanel cocktail dress that Emma Stone wore back in June for Elle UK, Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence in Balenciaga for Elle, Dakota Fanning for InStyle UK, Australian actress Isla Fisher sharing her fitness tips for Women’s Health, Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard for Harper’s Bazaar UK, singer Nicole Scherzinger for Marie Claire UK, Selena Gomez going glam for Glamour, Taylor Swift breaking away from her good girl look for Cosmopolitan, & a showering Scarlett Johansson for V magazine, promoting her latest role as Janet Leigh in Hitchcock.

Which cover is your favorite? Which magazines are your go-to sources for all things fashion & style? Do you check out international magazines too? For more from Cover Craze, be sure to check out W‘s 40th anniversary issue, Rihanna for this month’s Vogue, & the top picks from November 2012 issues. Happy Styling!

Top 10 Celeb Sightings: Elegant & Embellished Looks By Michael Kors, Stella McCartney, Elie Saab, & More!


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With all the much-deserved hub bub going around about New York Fashion Week & my birthday last week, I didn’t want my readers to think that I forgot about one of my most-viewed categories here on Style Darling, which is Top 10 Celeb Sightings.  There has been so much going on in the last week or so, which only means that you’re likely to see more than one of these posts in the next few days.  I’m loving the way some of my favorite actresses are dressing these days, not to mention all those fabulous wow-moments on the red carpet lately.  My best picks of this gallery include Hailee Steinfeld in Erin by Erin Fetherston, Isla Fisher in Stella McCartney, & Jessica Chastain in Jason Wu.  Their looks are classic & modern at the same time.

Also, be sure to check out Emily Blunt in Roland Mouret, Emma Watson in Peter Pilotto, Kristen Stewart‘s red carpet return in Zuhair Murad, Nikki Reed in Michael Kors, Selena Gomez in Atelier Versace, Taylor Swift‘s J.Mendel suit, & Zoe Salanda in Elie Saab for the premiere of The Words (read my review on Movie Buzzers here).

For more red carpet bests, check out previous posts which include Jennifer Lopez & Lea Michele, Emmy Rossum & Anna Kendrick, & Katy Perry & Rachel Bilson! Happy Styling!

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!