Jezebel: reem acra

Good Witches' Brew: Best Red Carpet Outfits Of 2009

Sadie — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST

Cover your eyes if you're questioning your commitment to Sparkle Nation, because this year's best gowns were a blinding bevy of sparkles, sequins and stars. And yes, they were good.

I'll admit it: I was never sold on Anne Hathaway as a woman of style, but her pure glam Armani Prive, at this year's Oscars, made me a believer. And how.

There was a lot of Glinda this year. Rose Byrne's Valentino Emmy iteration was among the best - "fairy princess" as a compliment, for a change.

More pure pretty? Olivia Wilde's Reem Acra confection at January 10th's Golden Globes.

People were sharply divided over Rihanna's November 23rd AMA frock - I thought it was a triumph for both the singer and Marchesa, both sweet and spiky.

I couldn't choose a favorite betwixt Natalie Portman's triumphant Rodarte, at the Oscars...

...or her more casual November 24th Vena Cava at the New York City Ballet. So I added both!

There was no arguing with Penelope Cruz's vintage Balmain, worthy of her Oscar win.

More stunning vintage? Thandie Newton, at the Baftas on February 7th.

In the sea of bugle beads that was 2009, Liv Tyler's May 4th Met Costume Institute Ball Stella McCartney stood out as classic, sexy, and fun.

Gabourey Sidibe had a number of amazing looks this year, but I particularly loved this vivid empire-waisted gown, at September's Toronto Film Festival.

Another example of a trend done perfectly: Leslie Mann's absurdly slinky screwball bombshell (by Pamella Roland) at the Oscars.

I loved Ashley Olsen's minimalist chic at the 5/4 Costume Institute Ball. A grown-up take on quirk! (By The Row.)

In the same school, Amber Valletta earns a place on this list for the second year in a row for her simple column at November 12th's NARS 15x15 launch.

And speaking of quirky elegance, how could I not mention Tilda Swinton, looking typically chic and idiosyncratic at Cannes, May 17th.

If I had to name a favorite? Probably Chloe Sevigny's Isaac Mizrahi Resort at the 2009 Emmys. As pretty as anything we saw but, on her, also totally fresh and pitch-perfect.

[Images via

Reem Acra Bridal And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Jennifer — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EDT

There is something inherently creepy about the fact that this season's Reem Acra bridal collection was inspired by various children's characters like Alice in Wonderland, Raggedy Ann and Strawberry Shortcake. (Paging Dr. Freud!) And yet — thank goodness for Reem Acra, because, if not for her, we would all have been faced with one of the most boring (if not just plain bad) bridal seasons of recent memory. Acra's gowns explode with color, whimsy, and (what a relief!) point of view. At last, a designer who applies the concepts of high design to the world of bridal design, which is so frequently dismissed as the height of banality. Whether her almost-Lolita-esque designs are your cup of tea is another story altogether, but I can't help but applaud design that tells stories and isn't afraid of a little reckless, feckless imagination. The collection, of course, after the jump.

L to R: If I got married, I would want to do so in shoes like those; Can we discuss the big hat trend for bridal this season?; Fuck getting married: I want that teal duster and turban stat.
L to R: That dress weighs more than I do; I'll pass on the gown but take the pink tights; Doesn't this look like the dress that Kit and Ricky made for the couture challenge on this season's Project Runway? You know - the one Kit got sent home for?
L to R: Puppy!; Where's the wedding, the Moulin Rouge?; I wish the handprint were on the dress itself.
L to R: Pom-poms were my crafting means de rigeur when I was 5, which was also the age I was into Raggedy Ann; More wedding pants?!; I don't know that I think of this.
You can't see, but my heart is going pitter patter at the site of rainbow-colored, whimsy-drenched bridal.
I hope the woman who gets married in this dress also has "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" as her first dance. Seriously.

Final Verdict: If your marriage falls apart, at least you can reuse the dress and run away and join the circus!

All images via Getty.

Golden Globes Cancelled? Fashion Mockery Can Still Continue

Jennifer — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:00:00 EST

As everyone knows by now, the Golden Globes, scheduled for Sunday evening, have been called off because of the writer's strike. Besides the entertainers who won't get to drunkenly hog the spotlight, and the designers, whose wares won't be worn, there is us — the common folk — who won't get a chance to referee the fashions from the comfort of our armchairs. Or will we? Over the weekend, we'll be mentally dressing the female nominees in the fashions we think they should have worn. But we could use your help. Check out the list of GG nominees after the jump and let us know: Are you thinking classic red carpet, like Marchesa or Rodarte? Traditional glamour, like Armani or Nina Ricci? Or something a little more unusual like Vena Cava, Proenza Schouler or Marc Jacobs? Give us a guess. And, oh yeah, feel free to go ahead and guess the winners, too.

And the nominees are:
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth: The Golden Age; Julie Christie - Away From Her; Jodie Foster - The Brave One; Angelina Jolie - A Mighty Heart; Keira Knightley - Atonement
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Amy Adams - Enchanted; Nikki Blonsky - Hairspray; Helena Bonham Carter - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street; Marion Cotillard - La Vie En Rose; Ellen Page - Juno

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Cate Blanchett - I'm Not There; Julia Roberts - Charlie Wilson's War; Saoirse Ronan - Atonement; Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone; Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama
Patricia Arquette - Medium (NBC); Glenn Close - Damages (FX NETWORK); Minnie Driver - The Riches (FX NETWORK); Edie Falco - The Sopranos (HBO); Sally Field - Brothers & Sisters (ABC); Holly Hunter - Saving Grace (TNT); Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer (TNT)

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Christina Applegate - Samantha Who? (ABC); America Ferrera - Ugly Betty (ABC); Tina Fey - 30 Rock (NBC); Anna Friel - Pushing Daisies (ABC); Mary-Louise Parker - Weeds (SHOWTIME)

Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Bryce Dallas Howard - As You Like It (HBO); Queen Latifah - Life Support (HBO); Debra Messing - The Starter Wife (USA); Sissy Spacek - Pictures Of Hollis Woods (CBS); Ruth Wilson - Jane Eyre (PBS)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Rose Byrne - Damages (FX NETWORK); Rachel Griffiths - Brothers & Sisters (ABC); Katherine Heigl - Grey's Anatomy (ABC); Samantha Morton - Longford (HBO); Anna Paquin - Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee (HBO); Jaime Pressly - My Name Is Earl (NBC)

Just How, Exactly, Does One "Dress For Bono"?

Jennifer — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 10:30:00 EDT

The dress code at the Black Ball in New York tonight is "dress for Bono." [WWD, final item]
Designer Patricia Field on why she's keeping far away from the set of the Sex And The City movie: "If I was [there] I'd be telling the director what to do — I'd be finding something wrong with everything!" [Fashion Week Daily]
Tim Gunn on how to politely exit a conversation: "It's been lovely talking to you. But I'm needed across the room." We are pretty sure the whole "need" part would not work for us. [WSJ]
More news about Roberto Cavalli for H&M: The designs are primarily pared down replications of dresses from the Cavalli archives. Which means you, too, will soon be able to look like a knockoff Posh Spice. [WWD, sub req'd]

Speaking of Cavalli, he's having a Halloween party. Replete with "designer vodka," which is the new "premium vodka"! Wake us when people stop referring to vodka as anything but "relatively tasteless and benign." [Fashion Week Daily]
Memo to hedge fund guys and nerdy philosophy-major types who buy all their clothes at Goodwill: the three-piece suit is back! [WSJ]
Auditions start next week for Australia's Next Top Model. PS - Anna will be in Australia then. Just a suggestion... [Sassybella]
Ugh, do not buy a $400 Tory Burch dress to use as a Halloween costume. [FabSugar]