Country Music Fashionistas

       As a Texan, I feel like it’s our duty to listen to country music. I happen to LOVE it, but others may just be familiar with it from the millions of radio stations, stores, restaurants and dance halls that proudly play the catchy tunes throughout Texas. With the genre of country music comes the Academy of Country Music Awards. The Academy of Country Music was originally founded to promote country music in the western states, but now it has blossomed into a glamorous night to honor country’s best performers. Some of the most prestigious awards include “Artist of the Decade” and “Entertainer of the Year.”
         Surprise, surprise…guess who took the title of “Entertainer of the Year?” You guessed it (well hopefully you did), it’s non other than Taylor Swift! The country princess also takes the cake for one of my favorite looks gracing the ACM red carpet.

          The lovely country couple Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert both snagged awards with Blake taking “Male Vocalist of the Year” and Miranda winning “Female Vocalist of the Year.” Miranda also won “Album of the Year” with Four the Record. The two looked phenomenal walking the red carpet together.
           I was beyond excited to see that Lady Antebellum received “Vocal Group of the Year” and that Texas country group Eli Young Band won “Song of the Year” for Crazy Girl. Other awards went to Toby Keith, Jason Aldean, Kelly Clarkson, and newcomer Scotty McCreery.

            Enough of the music awards, it’s time to focus on the fashion awards. The ACM awards red carpet was definitely more conservative than the VMAs and the Grammys. There were a few more cowboy boots and hats floating around for the men’s attire, while the women mostly wore long gowns. The ACM red carpet reflected country music’s class while steering away from big hair and bad accents. 

The Award for Best New Look goes to...Taylor Swift 

Photo from: http://www.justjared.com/taylor-swift-acm-awards-2012-red-carpet/

It’s finally time for the 22 year old to step out of her comfort zone and show some edgier styles far away from her princess gowns. She sported new bangs and a sleek and sophisticated J. Mendel gown adorned with Christian Louboutin shoes and simple Lorrain Schwartz jewelry. She's definitely blossomed into a fashionista. 

The Award for Best Dressed Couple goes to...Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban 

Photo from: http://myfashionjuice.com/academy-of-country-music-awards/

Both rocking black on the red carpet, the couple looked stunning. The actress, who was there to support her husband, wore a sleek L’Wren Scott little black dress. The mesh top with the collar gave her a 1950’s vibe. She complimented the black with red strappy Manolo Blahnik heels and Cartier jewelry. 

The Award for Most Entertaining Presenter goes to...Ashton Kutcher 

Photo from: http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20267558

Kutcher donned a black cowboy hat, bright red blazer and western belt buckle for the evening as he presented the award for female vocalist of the year to Miranda Lambert. He was charming and funny as always (at least I thought), but his silly antics left other country music performers annoyed. He sang part of George Strait’s “I Cross My Heart” which didn’t go over well with the stars themselves. “Was Ashton Kutcher making fun of country or is it just me? Watching it back now and I’m kind wondering?” tweeted Miranda Lambert after the ceremony. Kutcher Tweeted back to the accusations writing: “I am one of the biggest country music fans you’ve ever met. Wasn’t making fun at all.” 

The Award for Most Elegant goes to...Carrie Underwood 

Photo from: http://shine.yahoo.com/fashion

Underwood looked stunning in a silky chiffon white strapless and embellished gown by Abed Mahfouz. The white dress looks heavenly adorned with silver Oscar de la Rents shoes, Johnathon Amdt jewelry and a Swarovski crystal clutch. Although she didn’t get too wild with the color, the classy and refreshing soft white was one of my favorite looks on the carpet. 

VMAs: Bringing you entertainment on the stage and the red carpet

As humiliating as it is, I have to admit that one of my favorite award shows is none other than the MTV Video Music Awards. Out of all the fabulous award shows that exist, of course I love the drama, shock and scandal of an award show basically intended so teens and tweens get their Justin Bieber fix. Originally designed as an alternative to the Grammy Awards, the VMAs have been called the “Oscars for youth.” MTV gives an astronaut statue on the moon that honor the best in music videos. The annual ceremony is usually held in mid-September, so that means we have to travel back to 2011 to view our best and worst dressed of the red carpet.

This red carpet is a drastic transformation from the Oscar’s red carpet, with Hollywood’s latest and greatest young stars flaunting plunging necklines, sky-high stilettos and, of course, the full cast of Jersey Shore rocking their tans. With Tyler, The Creator winning Best New Artist and Katy Perry winning Video of the Year, a crowd like that wouldn’t bring a boring or serious moment. The atmosphere of the VMAs is drastically different than the Oscars, with show after show from artists such as Lil’ Wayne, Nicki Manaj and Adele. Needless to say, the VMAs are known for their crazy performances. The VMAs are also known for their outlandish red carpet attire. You can bet there wasn’t a lame ensemble or any type of ball gown spotted. The VMAs give singers, rappers and musicians a chance to wear literally whatever they feel like flaunting, no matter how crazy or scandalous.

Here are a few of my most noteworthy outfits from the 2011 VMAs:

The Winner for Best Male Working Animal Print Goes to…Justin Bieber

 Photo from www.celebbuzz.com

The Biebs takes the cake for wearing a splash of leopard print on his feet, along with a classy Yves Saint Laurent pin on his vest. His ensemble was complete with his pet snake, Johnson, which he toted up and down the red carpet. Animal print seemed to be a major trend for males on the red carpet. Jay-Z sported snakeskin on his hat and Lil’ Wayne dressed his entire lower half in gray scale leopard print.

Photo from www.mtv.com/vmas

The Winner for Best Dressed goes to… Beyonce Knowles

Photo from www.mtv.com/vmas

Beyonce looked stunning in an asymmetric orange Lanvin dress. She kept her hair simple in a side swept pony-tail and completed her look with an oversized turquoise ring, matching diamond-encrusted cuff, and sparkling drop earrings. Not only is she gorgeous in that dress, but she was also glowing because of that baby bump. She announced her pregnancy to the world at the 2011 VMAs after her performance.

The Winner for Most Eccentric Outfit goes to…Nicki Manaj

Photo from www.huffingtonpost.com/nickiminaf-vma-red carpet

It’s hard to really describe Nicki Manaj’s outfit, but let’s just say it’s a futuristic Harajuku girl meets Toys ‘R Us, clad with cotton candy colored hair and jewelry inspired by tasty desserts. She also attached stuffed animals to her finger that looked like they came straight from a baby’s crib. She sported a ShojonoTomo mask, which covered most her face. Underneath all of the accessories, her actual dress, designed by Amato Couture, appeared to be hand stitched metal with a pink tutu sticking out of the dress. Her look was an explosion of color and creatures. It’s no doubt that the “Best Hip Hop video” winner created a screaming frenzy from fans when she arrived at the red carpet.

The Winner for Best Statement Outfit goes to…Lady Gaga

 Photos  from www.googleimages.com 

Lady Gaga said she’d be “making a statement” at the 2011 VMAs, and she (he?) definitely did! Gaga walked the red carpet and performed “You and I” as her smoking and swearing fictional male alter ego, “Jo Calderone.” With a jacket by Dior Homme, pants by Brooks Brothers, and a plain t-shirt from Uniquio, Gaga definitely brought menswear back.

It’s safe to say that the outfits at the VMAs are never played safe. This award show in particular gives artists a chance to express their individuality, creativity and even their alter egos through fashion. 

Is your dress Oscar worthy?

Ah, the Oscars. The word just sounds important and a little more formal than the “Grammys”. Also known as The Academy Awards, this award show produces longer dresses and serious actors who flaunt renowned designer gowns.  An Academy Award, or the little bald-headed gold statue man, is given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to directors, actors and writers in the film industry. Sounds important, and it is. It’s a very formal and prestigious ceremony, sans the controversial performances by Nicki Manaj and the daring costumes of want-to-be artists that were seen at the Grammys. 

With actors such as George Clooney being nominated for The Descendants and Brad Pitt for Moneyball, you know the Oscars are still going to be worthy of watching. Although Jean Dujardin took the title of “Actor in a Leading Role” over both of them, both men still looked debonair walking the red carpet.

“Actress in a Leading Role” went to no other than the ever-so-classy Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady, beating Viola Davis from The Help and Rooney Mara from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The Help didn’t walk away empty handed, though. Octavia Spencer won “Actress in a Supporting Role” for her role as Minny Jackson.

With all of these important actor names floating around the red carpet, you can bet there were some amazing designer names accompanying them. With the prestige of the Academy Awards came more serious long gowns on the women and nothing less than a tux for the men.

With Oscars being awarded to great films and talented actors, my main question is… were their looks Oscar worthy? Although I love a good film with great actors, the fashion on the red carpet caught my attention more than the actual award show. Here were some of my most Oscar-worthy looks from the 2012 Oscars Red Carpet…

The Award for Best Dressed Couple goes to…George Clooney and Stacy Keibler 

Photo from: www.eonline/redcarpet/2012oscars

Not only is George Clooney getting better looking every day, but his girlfriend Stacy Keibler looked brilliant in a Marchesa single-strap gold lamé column gown with a giant rosette at the hip. Her side swept golden waves and her bronzed skin created a goddess vibe. "It was my first Fashion week, and it was the first gown I saw that turned my head around. I didn't try anything else on after this," Keibler told  The Hollywood Reporter about how she snagged the gown at her first Marchesa show. 

The Award for Most Talked About Dress goes to… Gwyneth Paltrow 

Photo from: http://www.popsugar.com/Gwyneth-Paltrow-Oscars 

Gwyneth Paltrow's look was one of the most talked about of the night, and for a good reason. Many voted her the best dressed celebrity, while others were confused at her super hero-like cape. Her white Tom Ford cape dress was kept simple with her hair in a slicked back pony tail and only a sparkly cuff for jewelry. She successfully kept the crowd impressed, looked amazing and totally pulled off a floor length cape, now who else can say that?

The Award for Best Come Back by a Actress/Singer goes to…Jennifer Lopez 

Photo from: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/jenniferlopez

I can't remember the last movie that Jennifer Lopez has been in, but the on the night of the Oscars, it didn't even matter. She created a big come back with this sequined and figure-hugging gown by Zuhair Murad. With her hair up in a chic ballerina bun, she kept her ultra-glam look simple enough but still "J-Lo-esque." 

The Award for Most Predictable dress goes to…Angelina Jolie 

Photo from: http://www.thesuperficial.com/photos/brad-pitt-angelina-jolie-oscars

Angelina wearing black on the red carpet, who would have guessed?! Oh, right...we all would have since that's the only color she's worn in years. Although she did look beautiful in the velvet Atelier Versace gown, much of the press' focus was on her weight, sadly. E's Fashion Police stated "Needs to eat a sandwich" while many other tabloids raged about her slim leg, which she kept out of her dress allll night. 

Men’s fashion had a few interesting moments including Sasha Baron Cohen’s dictator outfit. He poured a famous dictator’s “ashes” on Ryan Seacrest’s Burberry tux, but it didn’t prevent Seacrest from being my pick for best dressed male. 

"Sacha Baron Cohen's Oscars Dictator Stunt" video reported from CBS news. The video explains how Cohen jokingly dumped ashes on Ryan Seacrest's tux and how his dictator outfit was just advertising for his new movie.  

Photo from: www.eonline.com/oscars/ryanseacreast

Although the Oscars are known for their prestige and seriousness, the award show wasn't completely without its laughs. Most importantly though, the gowns were incredible and reflected each celebrity's persona. 

"We're going to the Grammys!"

"What am I going to wear?!" was the first thought that crossed my mind when my friend, Claire, called with an invitation to THE Grammys. Claire, who's living in LA for the UTLA program this semester, was able to get four tickets to one of the best award shows and chose to invite myself and another one of my best friends! Could it get any more perfect? Yes, it definitely could.

Months after she invited us, my friend Callie and I frantically searched for the perfect dresses to wear on the red carpet. I had to find the perfect outfit, since I would be walking the same magical carpet with some of my favorite artists in the world. After a few too many shopping trips and too much money spent, we were ready for the best weekend ever. 

We landed in L.A. and immediately were whisked to some chic restaurant where the lights were a tad too dim and the music made it impossible to hear your own thoughts. But, it was sooo L.A. and I definitely wasn't complaining. The next few days were filled with fancy brunches at the Polo Lounge, shopping on Rodeo Drive and taking serious advantage of the sweet treats at Sprinkles and Pink Berry.

Then, the special day was upon us. It was Grammy time. After too many hours spent dealing with hair and makeup, we arrived at the Grammys. As soon as we started walking, I immediately saw Paris Hilton, Ryan Seacrest, Cee Lo Green and many others. I have to admit, I was star  struck. The night only got better with the actual performances and the after party. 

Obviously the concerts were amazing, but one of my favorite parts was the fashion on the red carpet. Many of the gowns were breathtaking, some were outrageous and eccentric (think Nicki Minaj), and others were definitely worthy of being on the "worst dressed" list. I noticed that each celebrity's attire represented the type of artist and character they portray, or want to portray, to the world. Each dress, whether short or long, was different. The colors, the cut, the length and the designer of the dress all played a part in creating the celebrity's look. Even the men looked dapper in their suits and their clothing reflected their personal style and who they are as an artist. The diversity of the fashions prompted me to wonder more about the detail that goes into each artist's red carpet look.

Here are a few of the noteworthy outfits that graced the red carpet at the 2012 Grammys:

The Award for Classiest Female outfit goes to...Adele

Photo from: www.eonline.com/grammys/adele

Adele was radiant in a black beaded Giorgio Armani gown, clad with a 12.4 carat Harry Winston diamond ring. The black showed the simplicity, while the beads added just the right amount of fun. Her Old Hollywood style hair and red lips added the perfect touch to her look. 

The Award for Most Daring Outfit goes to...Sash Gradiva 

Photos from: www.googleimages/sashagradiva/grammys

Although we might not know who Sasha is, we know that her dress made a statement. Her rose colored gown was adorned with a machine gun which showed the world that she wanted to made a statement. 

The Award for Most Refreshing Outfit goes to...Taylor Swift 

Photo from: www.eonline.com/grammys/taylorswift

Normally dressed in a fairy-tale like princess gown, Taylor Swift looked sophisticated and demure in a gold gown by Zuhair Murad. The back was complete with dramatic cut-outs. Swift opted to show the world that she has grown up from her previous looks. 

The Red Haute Award for Most Original Outfit goes to...Deadmau5

Photo from: www.www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/grammys

Deadmau5 strolled the red carpet wearing his traditional mouse head gear and with a t-shirt that displayed dubstep DJ Skrillex's phone number. The digits appeared above the text "u mad bro?" but fortunately Skrillex just laughed it off. Deadmau5 stuck to his relaxed DJ persona with his jeans and tennis shoes. It's safe to say no one else copied his look.

The Award for Best Dressed Male goes to... Bruno Mars

Photo from: www.eonline/grammys/brunomars

Bruno Mars looked as handsome as ever with his Ray Bans and 50's inspired hair. The Grammy winner portrayed his old school look to the world in a Burberry suit.

 

Photo taken on the red carpet with my phone

Attending the Grammys was an amazing experience that I'll never forget! Most of the clothes we saw were even more gorgeous (and sometimes ugly) in person. If only I could have attended the Oscars just in time for the next post...

http://www.grammy.com/