Taking A BreaK

Hello to all my loyal readers and fans. I have decided to take a break from creating red carpet wish lists, covering runway shows, and dishing on red carpet looks for a little while. I am hoping that this will only be a 2 week break but I am currently in the process of moving to a new host. I have started moving all of my 1,444 posts to the new website and setting it up so that you all have an amazing new website to interact with. I appreaciate all of you and I hope you continue to check back here for the redirect to the new site, and continue to follow me on Twitter for updates! 

Much love,

Thomas Monks, aka Future Stylist

Who Was The Best Dressed of Feburary 2016

I couldn't congfigure a list as I loved so many looks this month, so I narrowed it down to 10 and am going to leave it in your hands. Have fun with my first ever Best Dressed poll.

Top 10 Looks From The 2016 Academy Awards

 The Academy Awards took place in Hollywood last night and the stars showed up in droves to celebrate the best films and performances of the past year. My favorite look of the night came from the red carpet queen Cate Blanchett. Cate was nominated for Best Actress for her work in Carol and continued her tradition of wearing Armani Prive at every Oscars that she has been nominated for. Cate looked fantastic wearing a custom seafoam green Armani Prive gown which seemed so fantastical with its organza petals and feathers. With such a statement gown Cate kept her styling very chic with an elegant updo, nude lip, and Tiffany & Co. diamonds. This will be a look that I remember come time to create my Best Dressed of the Year list.

 Lady Gaga was probably the one I was most intrigued to see what she would bring to the red carpet at the Academy Awards and she surely didn't disappoint. Gaga showed up in a white strapless jumpsuit with a detachable skirt custom made for her by friend, designer and stylist Brandon Maxwell inspired by his Fall 2016 RTW collection. Gaga has been a champion of Maxwell's since he launched his collection last September and always look absolutely stunning in his creations. I think only Gaga could get away with wearing red carpet lady pants on the Oscars red carpet. I would have loved to see Gaga wearing a statement diamond necklace but her old Hollywood styling was all on point. Gaga owned the Academy Awards red carpet.

Not many agreed with me but I LOVED Charlize Theron in Christian Dior Couture on the Academy Awards red carpet last night. Many people likened it to the black Dior gown she wore in 2014 and I had flashbacks to her Gucci gown back in 2004 but you know what they say, if it ain't broke don't fix it. This gown is a chic modern look with a lot of glamorous drama and Charlize rocked the simple style with ease down the red carpet. Finished with a statement Harry Winston necklace and a smokey eye and this will be a look one remembers for years.

Brie Larson was nominated for Best Actress for her work in Room at the Academy Awards last night, and won. She did so in fine style rocking a custom blue Gucci gown which took the boho spirit of the brand and amped up the glamour. I love the large vertical ruffles on the skirt, the crystal embellished belt, the slicked back hair, the simple jewels, and the red lip. All of the elements of this look just came together perfectly to ensure that Brie had a major moment on the Oscars red carpet.

 Naomi Watts attended the 2016 Academy Awards as the plus on of Liev Schreiber, who was among the presenters last night, and made one of my dreams come true. Last July when this Armani Prive Fall 2015 Couture gown walked the runway in Paris I wanted to see Naomi in this gown and it featured on my wish list for her Toronto Film Fest appearance. So I let out a bit of a squeal when I saw that Naomi had chosen this gown for the Oscars red carpet. The statement necklace, black clutch, wavy bob, and red lip all just made this look perfect for the red carpet. 

I think my jaw dropped when I saw Saoirse Ronan step out on the Academy Awards red carpet last night. I never would have pictured Saoirse wearing this gown until I saw it. I figured Saoirse was going to wear a British brand on the red carpet so when I saw this emerald Calvin Klein sequined gown with velvet straps I was shocked. Saoirse wanted to bring modern glam to the red carpet bu still hold her native Ireland close to her heart so she wanted to wear green. It was perfection.

Daisy Ridley showed us why she is a fashion force on the Oscars red carpet. Its pretty well know that a gown is the Academy Awards requisite and usually one that has a dramatic train or a full skirt. Daisy shunned the rules and wore a tea length Chanel Spring 2016 Couture embellished top and skirt. I was really shocked that Daisy wore this look and then I was surprised by just how much I loved it. It was a big risk for Daisy and it really paid off.

Julianne Moore was amazing on the Oscars red carpet. While I really wanted to see Rooney Mara wearing this Chanel Spring 2016 Couture gown, I can not deny how gorgeous Julianne is. This is a different look for Julianne, we usually see her wearing very fitted or mermaid silhouettes so it was nice to see a more princessy look from her. This black lace gown with crystal embellishments made for such a classic look and Julianne styled it perfectly.

Olivia Munn walked the Academy Awards red carpet wearing an orange Stella McCartney gown with a sleek asymmetrical caped neckline. Olivia was the only one on the Oscars  red carpet that wore orange and it was a risk that totally paid off. What I think dropped Olivia down this list is when she was on the stage her matching orange lip ended up looking like a construction workers vest. She gave us a modern glam look and I still love it.

I knew I was going to enjoy seeing Chrissy Teigan on the Oscars red carpet but she blew away my expectations wearing a hot off the runaway Marchesa Fall 2016 RTW gown. There were a lot of Marchesa gowns on the red carpet last night but this above all else was my favorite. The illusion tulle gown with red floral embroidery was a daring choice for the pregnant model to make on the red carpet but she make it work and in such a glamorous way.

You Better Werk: Cate Blanchett in Gucci at the 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards

 Cate Blanchett jumped on the boho bandwagon yesterday on the blue carpet at the 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards wearing a Gucci Spring 2016 RTW embroidered gown with a nude underlay. I love how this gown is all about the standout colors of the all over embroidery. Cate usually gives us high glamour so it was nice to see a more relaxed side of the red carpet queen. It was actually a different Gucci look from Cate that turned my dislike of the new direction of Gucci and she continues to do the brand well on the red carpet.

What really made the look for me were the few photographs where Cate put on her colorful Gucci sunglasses. I am usually not a fan of Sunglasses on the red carpet but somehow Cate makes me adore this look even more. Since she went so natural with blow dried waves, fresh faced makeup, and jewelry-less I think that the sunglasses just added a punctuation to the relaxed nature of this look. Almost everything that Cate touches turns into red carpet gold. While I love boho Cate I am expecting her to be back on the high glam train at the Academy Awards tonight.

#Oscars 2016: Surpise Red Carpet Wish List Round-Up

 Andra Day is becoming quite the star. After performing at the Grammy Awards and sitting front row at the Marc Jacobs Fall 2016 Presentation during New York Fashion Week. It was Friday when Andra was announced as one of the powerhouse performers for the post Oscars Governors Ball. After sitting front row at Marc I would not be surprised to see Andra wearing a custom gown by the designer for the Oscars red carpet (or maybe one of the unworn looks from Spring 2016) but I would really love to see her wearing this burgundy Georges Hobeika Fall 2014 Couture gown which features a portrait neckline, all over embroidery, and a mermaid silhouette. I think that this is a dramatic look (some might think it's a little too much for someone only attending the Oscars to perform at the after-party) and Andra would be able to rock it. Andra has this rockabilly glamour thing going on and I think that this would be an amazing look. Since Andra usually covers up there is a look from the same Georges Hobeika collection that featured a dramatic cape that could make for an even more dramatic red carpet look draped over her shoulders. I am sure that Andra will style her hair into her signature rockabilly style (though I would trade her signature red hairband for a gold one); add a burgundy lip, winged eyeliner, a gold clutch, a pair of gold pumps, and diamond cluster earrings to ensure that Andra has the most amazing red carpet look for her first Oscars.

 I do not know is Bella Hadid will take the journey from Milan, where she has been for Milan Fashion Week, to LA for the Oscars tonight. Bella is dating Best Original Song nominee The Weekend, and was by his side at the Grammy Awards so I would imagine she will be with him tonight at the Oscars. Bella has been giving some dark brooding looks on the red carpet lately and I gotta say she is making black look anything but basic. I do believe that a black gown would be the best choice for Bella for tonight as she is a model who would be attending a movie event where her only connection is her boyfriend. It isn't her night but I can still see her looking fantastic. I would love to see Bella wearing this black Atelier Versace Spring 2015 Couture asymmetric gown which features crystal netting detailing. I think that this Versace look is a perfect look for a model plus one to wear on the Oscars red carpet as it is sexy but still elegant and beautiful enough to hold court with all of the nominated and presenting actresses.

My final wish is for Naomi Watts who will undoubtedly be on the arm of her beau, and member of the Spotlight, ensemble Liev Schreiber who is presenting tonight. I decided to go the Gucci route for Naomi for tonight's red carpet. I was absolutely enamored by the Gucci Fall 2016 RTW collection and I am praying to see the collection on the red carpet tonight. I think that Naomi would look amazing on the red carpet wearing this red strapless Gucci Fall 2016 RTW gown which has an amazing baroque pattern. While I just went on and on about Bella wearing a simple gown as to not steal the spotlight from the nominees and presenters but if anyone can do it and still play the perfect plus one it would be Naomi. A chic updo, a red clutch, black sandals, and diamond drop earrings would ensure that this is an amazing look for Naomi on the Oscars red carpet.

#SpiritAwards 2016: Freida Pinto in Bibhu Mohapatra

Freida Pinto attended the 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards yesterday in Santa Monica, California as one of the nights many presenters. Freida looked absolutely amazing in a Bibhu Mohapatra dress which featured an asymmetric bodice and a fitted pencil skirt. I love that there was a lot of visual interest in this look, which kept it from being boring without being too busy, the floral panel on the blouse, the clutch, and the black, yellow, and silver pointed toe pumps. On paper all of these elements sound like they would never make a great look, but Freida makes it all work.

#BestDressed: Brie Larson in Chanel at the 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards

Brie Larson made her return to the red carpet last night, after being MIA at all the major events between the SAG Awards and now, and she did so in fine style. Brie wore an amazing Chanel Spring 2016 RTW top and skirt for her red carpet appearance at the 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards yesterday. I love that Brie's stylist, Cristina Ehrlich, took the matching top and skirt from two looks from the runway and paired them together for Brie. I don't think I would have loved this look as much I do. We see a lot of the more casual side of glamour on the red carpet at the Spirit Awards and this just added a ladylike touch to a red carpet full of bohemian looks. What really drew me to this look was how the pattern was created of red, white, & blue strips and silver beading, you can see all the detail in an Instagram posted by Brie's stylist. Keeping the look very ladylike Brie added a very chic updo, a red lip, dainty diamond cluster earrings and bracelets by Piaget, and a pair of silver Casadei sandals. Brie continued to sweep awards season taking home the Spirit Award for Best Leading Actress, will she do the same tonight? And more importantly what will she wear?