2014 End of the Year Awards: Best Dressed of 2014

Thanks to everyone for following for the past 365 days! I am going to take a few days off now and enjoy the holidays with my family. Sunday I will be back starting with my wishes for "New Years Rocking Eve with Ryan Seacrest" and then diving right into Awards Season 2015. I hope everyone is having a safe, happy, and joyous holiday season and can't wait to see what 2015 will bring for If I Was A Stylist. Any comments on who you love from this list and who you think is missing are always welcome! 

-XOXO- 

FutureStylist93 a.k.a Thomas James Monks

2014 End of the Year Awards: Best Dressed Man

Two years in a row now Eddie Redmayne has rocked the red carpets showing men that dressing formally doesn't always have to be black and white. Relationships with Alexander McQueen, Tom Ford, and Burberry all make for amazing red carpet moments. When he stepped out for the "The Theory of Everything" premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in a jade green Burberry Prorsum double breasted suit I bowed. He is officially the King of the Red Carpet. Anyone else think that with a stellar awards season run that Eddie could possibly vie for Red Carpet Diva of 2015 against the likes of Cate Blanchett, Diane Kruger, and Keira Knightley?

2014 End of the Year Awards: Worst Looks of the Year

With all the amazing looks this year there were still A LOT of dud looks. Be they on the sidewalk, at the airport, awards shows, film festivals, premieres, or front rows some of the biggest names in fashion have landed themselves on my Worst Looks of the Year list? Who do you agree with? Anyone you don't? Anyone you think should be on the list that isn't? Think anyone just had an off day and might be on the Best Dressed of the Year list too?

2014 End of the Year Awards: Red Carpet Brand of the Year

The Red Carpet Designer of 2012 and the Couturier of 2011 was overtaken by Christian Dior in 2013 but in 2014, Elie Saab made his way back to the top spot as the 2014 Red Carpet Designer of the Year. No brand was worn successfully more than Elie Saab this year. He has a successful pattern of creating looks that are designed with the red carpet in mind and not necessarily the runway. With so many amazing collections presented in recent years stars are venturing into the designers archive to pick their winning moments. We are bound to see a plethora of his designs during awards season and the Cannes Film Festival.....the real question is on who?

2014 End of the Year Awards: Couturier of the Year

Of all of the couture fashion houses there was not one that was outdone by Atelier Versace on the red carpets this year. Long time friend of Versace Angelina Jolie worked the houses looks throughout her "Maleficent" promo tour, her wedding, and for a few appearances promoting her film "Unbroken." Other crazy notable looks were the bright yellow gown Emma Stone wore for the "Spider-Man 2" London Premiere, Hilary Swank in a one shoulder white gown at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of "The Homesman," and Kate Hudson in her silver caped creation at the Academy Awards. I am sure that we will keep seeing a lot of Atelier Versace coming up next year.

2014 End of the Year Awards: Still Rocking it from the "Other Side of the Hill"

As the younger generation of stars start to grow older we are seeing youth stay with them but just in a more sophisticated manner. Julianne Moore may have just squeaked into this category, requirement being that the recipient must be over the age of 50, but she shows that despite being "over the hill" that she has no intentions of letting that affect her red carpet style. Promo tours for "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1," "Still Alice," and "Maps to the Stars" along with awards shows, front row at fashion week ensembles, and her requisite red carpet looks thanks to her L'Oreal Paris contract all help make this a perfect year for Julianne. With the possibility of taking home her first Academy Award early next year I am excited to see what 2015 will bring.

2014 End of the Year Awards: Best Promotional Tour of 2014

If you had told me at the beginning of 2014 that the Best Promotional Tour of the Year was not going to come from a "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1" cast member then I would have probably laughed in your face, but alas this was the case. Hilary Swank really showed up this year working the promotional road all the way from the Cannes Film Festival in May to the AFI Fest just last month. It was a road filled with couture and avant garde looks that just made my heart melt. It is honestly extremely hard to pick an absolute favorite, but ultimately I have to say that her white one shoulder custom Atelier Versace gown at the films premiere at the Cannes Film Festival probably helped tipped the scale ensuring that Hilary won this award.

2014 End of the Year Awards: Best Ensemble Cast

I do not think that anyone had any doubt in their minds that anyone was going to take home the Best Ensemble Cast Award but the cast of the "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1." Minus the addition of Julianne Moore the same cast won the same award for "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" promo tour last year. I have to say that Elizabeth Banks was the showstopper but the fact that Jennifer Lawrence wore a few other brands than just Dior also helped the cast achieve its status. These peeps will have to fight Lea Seydoux and Naomie Harris for a three-peat showcase next year as "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2" will be battling "Bond 24" and their fashion diva leading ladies. Do you think that the cast will be able to do it again?

Best Dressed Foreigner: Florence Welch

This is the second award for Florence Welch this year from me. First she got Queen of Couture and now she is Best Dressed Forigner. Even the looks that are not couture are made and worked like a couture gown. This is one thing that I absolutely love about Florence she brings that same effortless sense to each of her looks weather they be Elie Saab or Valentino Haute Couture or something she purchased off the rack at a boutique. She always looks put together and stylish. 

Don't forget to go to the Facebook Fan Page Reader's Choice Best Dressed Awards photo album and like all of the looks that you believe are Best Dressed of the Year worthy as the voting for the list closed on December 16th and the list will post on December 20th.

Best Stage Costume of 2011: Rihanna at the 2011 Grammy Awards

There was really no competition for Rihanna to win this award because no one was daring enough to try and top this, the only possible competition for this award was Jennifer Lopez in Giambattista Valli couture, but still Rihanna came out on top. This is a gown that I would never see outside the pages of Vogue but when the camera cut to Rihanna wearing this stunning design my jaw just dropped. This gown from the floral inspired (obviously look at the gown it looks like a giant flower) Christian Dior Fall 2010 Couture collection looked absolutely stunning and Rihanna is definitely wearing the dress and the dress is not wearing her. You can see the video of the performance below.

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Don't forget to go to the Facebook Fan Page Reader's Choice Best Dressed Awards photo album and like all of the looks that you believe are Best Dressed of the Year worthy as the voting for the list closed on December 16th and the list will post on December 20th.

Best Dressed Event Host of the Year: Anne Hathaway at the 2011 Academy Awards

Anne Hathaway was the co-host of the 2011 Academy Awards with James Franco. Anne had 8 costume changes wearing lots of custom made clothing and haute couture. To create all of her looks for that evening Anne enlisted long time friend, critically acclaimed, and reality television sensation Rachel Zoe to help her look her absolute best for the ceremony. To start the evening Anne walked the red carpet wearing a stunning signature red Valentino Fall 2002 Couture bustle gown accentuated with roses. Anne who walked the red carpet with long time pal Mr. Valentino himself finds herself lucky because the Valentino archives pre-dating when Mr. Valentino left as head designer have been sealed but because she and Rachel Zoe are both great friends with Mr. Valentino he sent this gown to Anne. She accessorized this look with Roger Vivier shoes and Tiffany & Co. diamonds which she wore throughout the evening with each look.

When the screen lifted and through the fog James and Anne, wearing this stunning medieval couture style Givenchy Spring 2009 Couture gown, I swooned. The drama of the gown paired with the perfect accessories and the fog that that came out of just made a magical moment. This was one of the highlight moments from the evening and is the first look I think of when I look back at the telecast, just for the shear drama that was brought when she arrived on the stage. She knew she looked stunning and it showed in the confidence that the stunning actress exuded.

To sing an original number Annie donned a custom made Lanvin tuxedo that she paired with custom made Brian Atwood crystal encrusted pumps. I love that this look was unexpected, I would have guessed that Anne was going to wear couture gowns all night long but when she graced the stage in this tux I was thoroughly impressed, and the pairing of the statement shoe with the classic menswear inspired design makes it even better. Another great moment of the show came here whilst Anne was wearing a menswear inspired tuxedo, James Franco came out in a reproduction of the famous pink strapless gown with the large bow that Marylin Monroe wore in the film Gentlemen Prefer Blonde in the number "Diamond are a Girls Best Friend."

Now of all the looks that Anne wore this custom made Vivienne Westwood gown was my least favorite and was the only gown that I did not put up for the Best Dressed Award. I didn't think like the shape, the color against Annie's skin tone, the hairstyle, or the Tiffany & Co. necklace paired with the dress. I feel that this dress is stuck in the 1980's and should have been left there.

Now this gilver (a mix of gold and silver) flapper beaded Oscar de la Renta Fall 2011 RTW gown gave the best spoken wardrobe related moment of the night. When Anne came on in the gown she said, "I love being able to host awards shows, because I can wear gowns that do this" and proceeded to shimmy and make the beaded fringe fly (as pictured). I love that Anne loves to have fun with fashion and glad she took the moment to give that line that I believe will go gown in fashion history.

Now for those of you who followed my old blog you may remember that this exact Atelier Versace Spring 2011 Couture gown was on my wish list for Anne to wear during the ceremony, so as you can imagine I did a little bit of a fan girl scream when I saw that my wish had come true at the venue that I had wished it to be at. While watching The Rachel Zoe Project I found out that me and Rachel were on the same page about this gown because the both of us when the entire Atelier Versace collection was shown both wanted Anne to wear it. It was a gift from god that Anne got this dress and who knows maybe he saw my wish because about a week before the ceremony the Versace VIP Concierge called up Rachel and asked her if it was too late to send her this gown. I am glad that she said that it wasn't as this made my night watching her wear this gown.

Of the night there were two gowns that I cant believe I fell in love with. This is the first. When I saw the Armani Prive Spring 2011 Couture collection, I found that most of it was un-wearable to anyone outside of an editorial standpoint (this gown included). But I think what sold me the gown was that instead of wearing the red runway version of this gown Rachel Zoe had it crafted in this stunning blue version. Had this been the gown that she had worn on the red carpet, I might be saying something different. But I think that the blue dress paired with the black setting and all the lights bouncing off the shimmering fabric made this futuristic style gown come to life and look amazing against Anne's skin color.

And this Tom Ford gown that is from the Fall 2011 RTW collection (didn't know that when I edited the picture) was the second gown that I suprisingly liked. I have not been a huge fan of Tom Fords and I can honestly say I did snicker a little bit when his promise to dress a best actress nomoniee did not happen, but he did dress Anne in this stunning gown with crystals placed that remind me of broken glass. Whilest wearing this gown Anne participated in the second goosbump moment which was when all the winners, the hosts, and a childrens choir sang the Oscar winning song "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" at the shows close. So here is a big congratulations to Anne Hathaway and I guess to Rachel Zoe as well for creating my favorite event host's look.

Don't forget to go to the Facebook Fan Page Reader's Choice Best Dressed Awards photo album and like all of the looks that you believe are Best Dressed of the Year worthy as the voting for the list closed on December 16th and the list will post on December 20th.

Best Stage Style: Celine Dion

This is not an award that I would ever have thought I would be awarding to ballad singing superstar Celine Dion, I thought it would have been Florence Welch, Rihanna, Beyonce, or Katy Perry. Well seeing that Celine costumed her concert at The Coliseum at Cesar's Palace in Las Vegas with haute couture from Elie Saab, custom made gowns from Atelier Versace & Armani Prive, and daring Balmain ensembles. Each of her looks was paired with Giuseppe Zanotti shoes. For her performance during the In Memoriam section at the 2011 Academy Awards (where she wore Armani Prive on the red carpet) donned a draped strapless gown from Elie Saab. As well as when she performed with Andrea Bocelli and the New York Philharmonic she wore a stunning Versace Fall 2011 RTW gown that is couture worthy (see the video bellow).

Queen of Couture: Florence Welch

Florence Welch really started to catch my attention at the end of 2010 wearing lots of Elie Saab Couture and other amazing designers. So I kept my eye on her through the 2011 year and well lets just say that she won this award in two months. Her First look of this year was when she performed at the Marquee Nightclub in The Cosmopolitan VIP Opening Party in Las Vegas. The singer opted to mix her signature folk style with the glitz and glamor of Studio 54 to create the perfect look fore Las Vegas wearing an Elie Saab Fall 2010 Couture jumpsuit that is 100% hand beaded.

The next time Florence stepped out she was spotted in Park City, Utah at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival where she performed at an after-party hosted by Bing. She choose another earthy colored look from the Elie Saab Fall 2010 Couture collection. This look consisted of a gown with bat-wing sleeves and embellished silk chiffon.

Just weeks after the Bing party Florence stepped out on the red carpet at the 2011 Grammy Awards. This time the performer did not choose an Elie Saab gown for the red carpet but an Avant-Garde gown with a bold bright orange pop of color on her back from the Givenchy Spring 2011 Couture. To me she is one of the few people (the only other I can think of that actually worked a look from this collection was Liv Tyler at the 2011 Met Ball) that had the confidence to wear a look from this collection and I think that she looked stunning.

But Florence did not stay out of Elie Saab for to long because in the opening number honoring the music legend Aretha Franklin, she donned a nude embellished gown from the Spring 2010 Couture collection. This gown is elegant and I love it on her but I could also see a head of state wearing it to a formal gala gathering. But the dress was perfect for Florence who didn't want the focus to be on the dress but on her voice and tribute. I also applaud her because Yolanda Adams, Martina McBride, Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Hudson all wore black ensembles, so while her gown wasn't statement making it was all in the same sentence.

And just two weeks after her appearance on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards Florence made her way down the red carpet at the 2011 Academy Awards, where she performed her Oscar nominated song "If I Rise" from the Oscar nominated film "127 Hours" with composer A.R. Rahman. So for the red carpet Florence chose an elegant yellow gown with long lace sleeves and a pleated tiered skirt. Now this gown is something that looks absolutely stunning on Florence and is 100% her personality and style. Some critics said this dress was too matronly and should have been worn by the like of Annette Bening or Melissa Leo but I think that Florence was the customer that Valentino had in mind when they designed this dress for the Spring 2011 Couture collection.

And just a few hours later Florence changed from her yellow gown to a nude gown with a black chiffon overlay embellishes with white and light pink flowers. I love this look as it is not anything that we had ever seen Florence wear up to this point an the fact that she rocked it made it that much better

Don't forget to go to the Facebook Fan Page and like the looks that you would most like to see on the 2011 Peoples Choice Best Dressed. Voting closes on December 16th, so vote now for your favorites.

Busiest Star of 2011: Emma Stone

Emma Stone really has worked a lot this year with four films and multiple appearances all over awards season to present awards. Emma has long time relationships with designers such as Lanvin and Chanel, wearing custom Lanvin gown and archive Chanel Couture. But Emma is one of those girls that can look absolutely stunning in a paper bag and there have been very few ensembles that she has donned in the past year that I have not fallen in love with, hence why she has received this award.