Downton Hits Downtown

2012 Met Gala Favorites Series

"Elegance is refusal."

-Coco Chanel

This look has a special kind of brilliance.

Editing, for any artist, in any field,

is the one thing that stands between a good artist...

and a great artist.

The gloves.

The length.

The gold.

Her skin.

Her brows.

Her hair.

"Elegance is refusal."

If this look can only be summed up with a quote

from Coco Chanel,

then perhaps I saved the best look for last.

To my dearest Met Gala, Au Revoire!  

I'll see you next year...

xoxo,

Katherine

Actress: Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey)

Designer: Ralph Lauren (I know, right?)

Ricci Royalty in Thakoon

2012 Met Gala's Favorites Series

I'm so glad Christina Ricci snapped up

the opportunity to pose with her designer, Thakoon.

Because it's one heck of a look.

Dang.

And doesn't she know it!

Just look at that smile.

But the dress gets better.

Now, yesterday I said I wished Kirsten Dunst's dress

was shorter. Or at least tailored or structured a bit more.

Here, I wish the dress dropped to her heels.

Then it would be perfection like we haven't seen since...

Marilyn.

That's right. I said Marilyn.

But it was short and so, for me, it looked awkward

everywhere between here knees to her ankles.

But she's still on here because...

Enough said.

xoxo,
Katherine

Hollywood Glamour Hits NYC

2012 Met Gala Favorites Series

Surely I'm not the only one that thought of

Lauren Bacall when I saw this photo, right?

Kudos to Kirsten Dunst.

Perhaps the all-knowing smirk comes

from her recent transition into her 30's,

which, as any woman will tell you,

is the decade we usually come into our true power,

but this Rodarte moment makes me want to stammer.

I rarely see true "old Hollywood" glamour, 

even when it's styled on purpose.

But somehow I don't think Kirsten was going for that.

She just went there.

Internally.

And the Rodarte was there waiting to make it all fit.

I love it.
She is truly smart, witty and somehow daring in this.

I wish the skirt was shorter, but that's just me.
And it's not "Met Gala" dramatic,
but then again,
every photo of her that night convinces you that
she is smack in the middle of Hollywood,
and that Cary Grant is getting out of his limo behind her.

How can you be more dramatic than that?

And may I just say,
congrats to her courage to not fall into the dramatic plastic surgery traps
that are enveloping anyone over the age of 18.

Because of it, she looks better than them all.

xoxo,
Katherine

Pitch Perfect McPhee

2012 Met Gala Favorites Series

Elie Saab told us to keep an eye out for her,

and boy, did they know what they were doing.

Katherine McPhee takes her "Smash" location

to heart and honored the city's top red carpet

by gracing it in a pitch-perfect statement.

It fits her perfectly in every way,

from her demure spirit to her upstanding poise.

That's who she is.

Yes, I love drama, especially at the Met,

but I put more value on a dress fitting a person's being,

rather than being dramatic for drama's sake.

For NYC, for its lights and for this particular night,

Katherine McPhee chose right.

xoxo,

Katherine

Zoe Kurkova's the Met

2012 Met Gala Favorites Series
My #1 Look

As you know, the Met Gala is my favorite fashion night of the year. 

It was a bit toned down this year, but I think I'm okay with that.

Because, perhaps as a result, there were quite a few more notches

in the "win" column than usual for me.

At the top of my list is Karolina Kurkova in, 

can you believe it, Rachel Zoe.

I don't normally applaud models,

and I'm not a fan of Zoe as a person,

but this stunning achievement shines a beautiful starlit 

golden shimmer upon both ladies,

not to mention the actual event itself.

It is the PERFECT gown for the Met Gala.

Had it been worn anywhere else at all,

it just wouldn't have been such a success. 

The entire ensemble just radiates "Met Gala"

and the tomb and the high ceilings where the event took place.

What an amazing win. Hollywood glamour

that only New York could understand.

Congrats Karolina & Zoe. It was a huge night for you both.

(And, I suspect, a red carpet highlight for years to come!)

xoxo,

Katherine