2015 End of the Year Style Awards: Best Dressed of 2015

First off I would like to wish all of my readers a very Merry Christmas. I hope everyone is spending the day with family and enjoying the day. On this day of celebration and gift giving I am gifting to all of you a host of beautiful women in my Best Dressed of the Year list. Taking the top spot is Lea Seydoux in custom bright sunshine yellow Prada at the 2015 BAFTA Awards. This was a major moment that made my jaw drop the moment I saw it. For the most part I was very disappointed in the BAFTA red carpet as there was nothing all that interesting until Lea showed up. This dramatic yet extremely elegant gown is one of the best things that Prada has ever put on the red carpet. It was however hard to choose between Lea's looks as they have all been amazing this year. I am excited to continue to see Lea be embraced by mainstream films because I want to see her on more big promo tour red carpets.

Following closely to Lea is Emmy Rossum who exuded lady like elegance at the The New York Botanical Garden's annual Conservatory Ball wearing a beautiful water inspired Carolina Herrera Fall 2015 RTW. If Lea and Prada weren't such a match made in heaven this would have been my number one look of the year. Everything about this look exudes chicness, from the diamond drop earrings to the sweeping updo, and the red lip. This will be a look that will rank in Emmy's record books for many years to come. 

Sonam Kapoor is a stunning spokesmodel for L'Oreal Paris in India. Before she got her hands on this contract I had no idea who she was but slowly over the years she has been taking the Cannes Film Festival by storm and I have been loving more and more of her looks. This year I fell in love with this stunning Ashi Studio couture gown that Sonam wore for the L’Oreal Paris ‘Matte or Gloss’ Cannes Collection Launch prior to this years festival. The sculptural-ness of this gown made me absolutely fall in love with it. This gown is so unique in it's shape that most would end up being overwhelmed, and Sonam worked it like it owed her back rent. 

Kerry Washington stepped out for the 2015 Emmy Awards and she worked the hell out of this Marc Jacobs Spring 2016 RTW completely embellished cocktail dress. Kerry broke standard awards show dress code rules by showing up in a short dress. While I would have been even more in love with this as a gown I applaud Kerry for stepping out of the standard box and going with a look from my favorite Spring 2016 RTW collection. This collection was made for adventurous spirits like Kerry. Oh and on a side note, Kerry is the only woman to make an appearance on both this years Best and Worst Dressed lists.

Kate Hudson and Atelier Versace has always been a match made in heaven. This white gown embellished with swarovski crystals and its plunging neckline has been on my mind all year. As I think back on all of my favorite moments that Kate Hudson has had on the red carpet almost all of them that come to mind immediately have been in white. What I love about this look is that while everything about this look on paper should read cheap, tacky, pageant dress but on Kate it is chic, demure with the right amount of sexy. 

How to do you go out with a bang? Just look at Elizabeth Banks who kicked off the final promo tour for the Hunger Games series with Mockingjay Part 2 in grand style wearing an Elie Saab Fall 2015 Couture floral ball gown at the films world premiere in Berlin. This is a beautiful princess moment that I can picture her character, Effie Trinkett, being quite proud of. It may not have been the Atelier Versace moment that I was expecting but it is even more spectacular than what I was expecting. 

I always have one street style look on the list. I am always one of the people who loves a great moment of personal style. Lupita Nyong'o was spotted leaving The View wearing a dress from the BOSS Fall 2015 RTW dress that she paired with a matching blazer, a grey BOSS "Bespoke" handbag, red suede pointed toe pumps, and a pair of black sunglasses. This is an edgy feminine version of a power suit that I immediately fell for. If you are looking for inspiration for hot work wear this is exactly what you should be using as inspiration.

Julianne Moore had an amazing year and it really was hard picking a favorite look of her's to feature on the Best Dressed of the Year list. With all kinds of custom gowns from Chanel and Givenchy it was surprising to me that my favorite look from the stunning redhead was her all black Armani Prive gown worn to the Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony. I love a redhead in black and Julianne pulled off this stunning gown embellished with crystals and feathers. I think it was the feathers, and the emerald Chopard earrings, that made me really love this gown. I am a sucker for feathers. Sleek hair and a perfectly executed smokey eye finished this look to perfection.

Lily James's rise to fashion stardom was paved with princess dresses from the likes of Dior and Elie Saab but it was her sleek modern icy grey/blue custom Balenciaga gown with brass buttons at the "Cinderella" premiere in London. For almost all the premieres it was ball gowns so I was very happy to see Lily change it up with this look. I love how she kept the styling simple adding sleek slicked back hair, a lined eye, and pink pout. This is how you do modern Cinderella. Lily at the end of the year cut her hair and dyed it dark and it's almost like she lost her mojo. I am hoping that she returns to top form in 2016, because this type of moment is one that is forever needed.

Finally I picked Blake Lively in her stunning red Monique Lhuillier Fall 2012 RTW gown at the New York premiere of her film "The Age of Adeline." The promo tour for this film was so much better than the movie and honestly she might have been a little overdressed for the occasion. Blake gave us sexy Marilyn bombshell in this dress which fused ruffles, lace, leather, and volume. The old Hollywood waves, Lorraine Schwartz diamond ear clips added to the high glamour of the look and a Judith Leiber "Koi Fish" swarovski crystal clutch added a quirky fun touch to ensure that Blake sizzled down the carpet. 

It was a hard job taking over 1,300 red carpet looks and narrowing it down to 10 looks. It is a daunting task but someone has to do it. I want to take this moment to thank all of you for helping me have a wonderful year with If I Was A Stylist. 2016 starts a new chapter on my personal journey as for the first time I don't have any school to attend. I am going to work on balancing work life, with blogging and still having time for friends and family. I am formulating some new features for the blog based on things I want to add and things that I have been getting back in my feedback. If you haven't taken my survey please do. It is only 6 questions that help me give you guys what you most want to see. All the feedback I get helps me make your experience on this site more enjoyable. Awards season posts will start on Monday so I am excited to show all of you my wishes.

Photo Credit: Zimbio/Getty

2015 End of the Year Style Awards: Best Dressed International Star

Many international beauties have taken to the red carpet this year but none impressed me as much and India's Sonam Kapoor. Sonam is a face of L'Oreal Paris India and gets a lot of her red carpet time during the Cannes Film Festival and I have to say that each year she keeps getting better and better. The stunning Bollywood actress knows how to mix high fashion, haute couture, and traditional dress while championing designers from all around the world. Sonam likes bold statements when it comes to her red carpet dressing so designers like Ralph & Russo, Ashi Studio, and Elie Saab are all favorites of her favorite brands to wear on the red carpet. I have been loving Sonam this year and I cannot wait to see what she brings to the red carpets in 2016!

I am currently looking for feedback from my readers if you wouldn't mind taking a quick six question survey I would be greatly appreciative of that, you can take it by clicking here. 

 

Photo Credit: Getty, Zimbio, Chopard, & Instagram

Best Dressed of August 2015

August was a real slow month for red carpets. Most months I have 50+ contenders for the 10 spots on the monthly Best Dressed list. This month I only had 30 women but they were still all worthy contenders. Sarah Jessica Parker worked the red carpet at the opening night of the Broadway show "Hamilton" in a stunning emerald green Elie Saab Fall 2015 Couture spaghetti strap ball gown. I have been waiting to see a drop dead beautiful red carpet gown from SJP on the red carpet and this defiantly did me disappoint. SJP styled this gown very simply with flowing waves and emerald green eye shadow. I definitely applaud this look and it will be one that I remember when it comes to the Best Dressed of the Year list. More after the jump....

Best Dressed of June 2015

#Cannes2015: L'Oreal Ladies Julianne Moore, Naomi Watts & Sonam Kapoor Wish List

Julianne Moore worked the 2014 Cannes red carpets last year promoting L'Oreal, "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1," and "Maps to the Stars." This year, as far as I know, Julianne will only be in Cannes as a L'Oreal Paris ambassador. I am excited to see what the Academy Award winning actress will rock to add a little more glamour to the Cannes red carpet. The first look that I would love to see Julianne wear for Cannes 2015 is this amazing Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2015 Couture asymmetrical tuxedo inspired one sleeved gown. Julianne is one of the lovely ladies that I think would take this gown and make it werk for a red carpet. It is simplistically complicated which is the type of look Julianne wears with such ease. The other look that I would love to see Julianne rock for Cannes is this amazing tiered Oscar de la Renta Fall 2015 RTW strapless sweetheart neckline organza and taffeta embroidered ball gown. I love a red head in red and I think that this particular hue would look amazing on Julianne. Other possibilities could come from Tom Ford, Balenciaga, and Chanel.

It really made sense for L'Oreal Paris to snatch up Naomi Watts to be a brand ambassador. She always looks stunning and is no stranger to the Cannes Film Festival red carpet. I am excited to see what the Aussie film star will rock for her first Cannes as a L'Oreal spokesmodel. The first look that I would love to see Naomi wear is this amazing pink to red fully beaded Elie Saab Fall 2014 Couture ball gown. I was really shocked that no one snatched this gown up during awards season which just means that it needs to make a Cannes Film Festival appearance. Naomi tends to stick to lighter less bold colors but I think that for such a major stage that this gown is perfection. Naomi is a huge fan of Marchesa, she stunned last year in a dusty blue goddess gown from the brand at the "How to Train Your Dragon 2" premiere, and I think that this re-embroidered Marchesa Fall 2015 RTW halter mermaid gown that features beaded fringe on the mock sash waist. This is a very Naomi type of dress and I am kind of expecting her to wear this amazing creation at some point during the Cannes Film Festival. Some Chopard and Bulgari jewels will undoubtedly finish off these stunning looks.

One L'Oreal girl that I am most excited to see take to the Cannes Film Festival red carpet is Indian beauty Sonam Kapoor. It took a few years for Sonam to get her red carpet footing at the legendary film festival but honestly the past two years Sonam has blown me away so I have high expectations for her to blow me away yet again this year. What I love about Sonam is that while she wears the biggest couture gowns for the festival she also always steps out wearing one couture sari to pay homage to her Indian roots. Last year I came really close to putting the Anamika Khanna Couture sari that Sonam wore for the "Foxcatcher" premiere on my best dressed of the year list, the look was in my top 20 looks of last year and was cut at the last minute. I would love to see Sonam wear this Anamika Khanna Resort 2015 cream sari with gold embroidery for one of her Cannes red carpet appearances. I love how chic and modern this sari is while still being very traditional at the same time. The other look that I would die to see Sonam wear is this Elie Saab Spring 2015 Couture hand painted silk floral gown with a high neckline. This gown screams to be worn at Cannes and I think that Sonam has the elegance, grace, and poise to make this gown sing a beautiful song on the Cannes red carpet. Like I said I am praying that Sonam really does blow me away again at Cannes.

Only 14 more days until the Cannes Film Festival kicks off. I wonder who will join Sienna Miller, Catherine Deneuve, and Sara Forestier on the Opening Ceremony red carpet and beyond. Premiere wish lists start tomorrow! Are you guys as excited as I am?

Elie Saab Fall 2014 Couture Presentation Wish List

Anna Kendrick has had a long time friendship with Elie Saab since about the time that she arrived on the red carpet scene in 2010 when she was nominated for every single award including an Academy Award for "Up in the Air." Anna did wear Elie Saab Couture for that awards ceremony and that has not been the only time. I am hoping to see Anna wear more Elie Saab couture coming up with the promo tours of "The Last 5 Years" and "Into the Woods" coming up this fall. "Into the Woods" is speculated to premiere at at least one of the major film festivals (Venice, Toronto, London, or Rome) and those would call for a stunning couture creation. To preview possible red carpet moments at the Elie Saab Fall 2014 Couture presentation in Paris next Wednesday July 9th I would love to see Anna wear this deep berry Elie Saab Fall 2014 RTW jumpsuit. I feel like Anna is young and fun enough to make this look work for the front row. I would pair this with a pair of dyed to match pointed toe pumps and flowing curls to finish off this perfect front row ensemble.

Jessica Chastain has been another loyal Elie Saab devotee wearing him to all of the major film festivals. Jessica has 3 films that are film festival and awards season contenders that will premiere before the end of this year so it would not surprise me if Jessica sits front row at the Elie Saab Fall 2014 Couture presentation next week to snatch up his stunning couture creations. To do so I would love to see Mrs Chastain wear this jade Elie Saab Fall 2014 RTW cocktail dress with an attached sheer cape. This is a dramatic look perfect for sitting front row. I would pair this with the runway clutch and a pair of gold sandals to ensure that Jessica has the perfect front row look.

Kate Beckinsale has two films coming out this year and always wow's me when she takes to the red carpet (especially when she is wearing Elie Saab). At the Vanity Fair Oscar Party earlier this year Kate dug into the Elie Saab Couture archives and rocked a sexy gold number for that appearance. If she could sit front row and judge all the new Elie Saab Fall 2014 Couture creations I would love for her to rock the hell out of this Elie Saab Resort 2015 black jumpsuit that features lace yoke and sleeves as well as beaded embellishments on the bodice. This is sophisticated and sexy. Paired with her signature voluminous waves, a red lip, and a pair of black Christian Louboutin platform pumps would ensure that Kate wont fade into the background even in black.

And last but not least for this front row wish list I have a wish for Bollywood star Sonam Kapoor. When Sonam was not wearing a traditional couture sari at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival she was stunning on the red carpets in Elie Saab Couture wearing everything to haute couture realness to just plain pretty. I would love to see her previewing gowns for next years festival as she will most likely be back in attendance since she is a spokesmodel for festival sponsor L'Oreal Paris. This pastel yellow Elie Saab Resort 2015 sheath dress with a knotted keyhole (pictured left) would a perfectly appropriate dress to wear front row at the Elie Saab Fall 2014 Couture presentation next week. I would go with a head to toe runway look wearing the nude and gold Elie Saab sandals and actually taking the nude and yellow Elie Saab chain strap purse from the look next to it to complete the perfect look with a bold red lip.

2014 Cannes Film Festival: L'Oreal Spokesmodels Milla Jovovich, Rachel Weisz, Sonam Kapoor, & Zoe Saldana Wish List

2013 Cannes Film Festival: L'Oreal Spokesmodel's Wish List Part 7

Michelle Yeoh used to be a regular at the Cannes Film Festival wearing Elie Saab, Atelier Versace, and Roberto Cavalli Couture; but has been absent from the festival since 2010. As she is still an active L'Oreal spokesmodel I am hoping that she makes her return to the red carpet at the Palais de Festivals next month. Here I have three looks for Michelle to wear for this years festival. First up is this simple black Armani Prive Spring 2013 Couture dress with a beaded lace at the neckline. Following that is a stunning pastel pink Elie Saab Spring 2012 Couture gown. This gown was almost made for Michelle to wear for the festival. Finally we have a champagne gold Elie Saab Spring 2013 Couture gown with long sleeves. Whatever Michelle wears I am sure that I will be wowed.

In 2010 Milla Jovovich was spotted on one Cannes Film Festival premiere red carpet wearing a beautiful custom lilac Prada gown, a L'Oreal cocktail party wearing another Prada gown, and the amFAR Cinema Against AIDS Gala wearing Atelier Versace. I am hoping to see the model/actress back on the Cannes red carpet next month bringing her beautiful style to the red carpet covered stairs at the Palais de Festivals. One gown I would love to see Milla wear is this red and white bustier Armani Prive Spring 2013 Couture gown with a plain black silk skirt. This gown on Milla with her amazing red carpet posing and a sweeping train would look absolutely stunning. The next is this Christian Dior Spring 2013 Couture gown. I will be honest I wasn't sure how this gown would look off the runway until I saw it featured in a magazine and saw the beautiful structure of the gown. This would look fantastic on Milla and I love to see her in white. And the final Prada Fall 2013 RTW wish that I have made for Milla. Well I think the black sparkly dress under the bulky fur coat would be a beautiful gown and Milla wears a lot of Prada for Cannes wearing a stunning champagne and red gown by the brand in 2011 on top of the two from last year. Whatever Milla ends up wearing on the red carpet during Cannes I am sure I will fall in love.

The Stephane Rolland couture gown that Paz Vega wore for the 2012 Cannes Film Festival premiere of 'Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted' topped my Best Dressed of the Year list for all the drama that it created. Coming off her win the first few looks from Paz this year have been really boring or ugly so I am hoping to see her back on top form during the Cannes Film Festival. This bright seafoam green Georges Hobeika Spring 2013 Couture gown with a crystallized neckline and a deep V low back would be perfect for a sunny or rainy day on the Cannes Red Carpet. The look that follows that is a stunning white Giambattista Valli Spring 2013 Couture sparkling ballgown with gold embroidery and embellishments around the waist. This gown would be perfect for one of the major gala screenings as it is a grand statement. Finally we have this white and black Stephane Rolland Spring 2013 Couture gown with smoke colored embellishments. After her stunning Stephane Rolland gown last year this would be a perfect follow up act for the pair to put out on the red carpet.

The final member of the L'Oreal Paris Spokesmodel wish lists is Indian L'Oreal girl Sonam Kapoor. Since she started attending the festival for L'Oreal in 2011 wearing a Jean Paul Gauliter couture gown (pictured far left) she has not had a best dressed moment on this red carpet which is sad because she is a stunning woman. Up first we have this Alexander McQueen Fall 2013 RTW strapless ballgown. Last year Sonam wore an avant garde Alexander McQueen look for the Closing Ceremony of the festival and she was not able to pull it off. I think that the cream and gold Fall 2013 gown would look stunning on Sonam and is an impact making dress that she likes to go for. The McQueen is followed by a stunning floral printed Elie Saab Spring 2013 Couture gown with a flowing cape. This is the type of gown that I would love to see Sonam wear as it is glamorous without being over the top. And finally we have a champagne Naeem Khan Fall 2013 RTW gown. Naeem is an Indian born designer so it does not surprise me that him and Sonam have partnered before like last year's black and white dot printed gown for Cannes after parties. This gown would be perfect for a typical day on the Cannes red carpet. 

If you haven't been able to tell I am extremely excited for the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and the rumors are swirling about who will be on the Jury (Nicole Kidman is the talk of the town right now) and what films will be screened and who the stars of those films are. Believe me I am keeping on top of all the latest news so that I can bring you the most complete wish list pre-event coverage that I possibly can. Stay tuned!