A Burka For The Grammy Awards?

 

Jerry Seinfeld is offended as a comedian and a Jew!

I don't know if the new Grammy "dress code" offends me more as a designer or as a woman.  It also worries me that we are taking censorship too far in this country.  France is REALLY going to think we're uptight now!  For those of you who have not heard yet, skin is taboo.  After the insane memo enforcing the "very covered up" new dress code for the Grammys circulated, I was hoping the artists would all band together and wear burkas to the show.  I mean, Lady Gaga's done it multiple times...

See, a burka can be sexy and stylish! 

Here is exactly what the memo said (source, Daily Beast):

Please be sure that buttocks and female breasts are adequately covered.  Thong type costumes are problematic.  Please avoid exposing bare fleshy under curves of the buttocks and buttock crack.  Bare sides or under curvature of the breasts is also problematic.  Please avoid sheer see-through clothing that could possibly expose female breast nipples.

 STACY LOMMAN wool/mohair cape, Fall 2011
Boob violation!!!

I'm speechless and disgusted. The choice in wording is both hilarious and pathetic. At least they said please three times, I guess. I agree that nobody really wants to see "plumber's crack," but there shouldn't be a law prohibiting it.  Maybe Joan Rivers and her "fashion police" could be in charge of those offenders, but that's as far as it needs to go.

 

Let Duluth Trading Co. take care of your plumber's crack!

Seriously, there are much more important things to be concerned about in this country other than a bit of "side boob."  And there are lots of places to see side boob, full boob and full monty!  Has CBS ever heard of Playboy magazine, R-rated films or strip clubs?  If parents don't want their children to see a little cleavage, then don't let them watch the Grammys.  Or R-rated films.  Freedom of expression works both ways -- anybody can express their dislike by changing a channel and choosing not to watch.  It's not mandatory.  

 

STACY LOMMAN silver cocktail dress, special edition

Boob violation #2 

I could go on and on about this topic, but instead I will just leave you with this funny (and flattering!!) tweet from my friend Scott...

Scott Bliss ‏@wsblissjr

Famed designer @stacylomman says the grammy's dress code is "disgusting". "what the hell is happening to this country?" #wewantsideboob ;)

 

Here Scott, some side boob AND front boob!!

STACY LOMMAN polyurethane/elastic mesh dress with hot pink lining, Spring 2012

This dress would be BANNED from the Grammys!!

2013 "SAG" Awards

I'm a couple of days behind with this post, but I like to think of it as just being fashionably late!  A few weeks ago we saw a host of actresses taking "the plunge," so to speak, wearing cleavage revealing dresses.  On Sunday, at the 2013 Golden Globes, strapless was the neckline of choice, but many of Hollywood's elite stuck with a deep V.  The plunging V is like the chocolate soufflé of tops -- it can be magnificent (and sooo sexy) or it can be somewhat of a disaster.  It's a delicate balance.

Julianne Moore in Chanel couture

I'm a fan of the lovely Julianne Moore and she steps outside of the typical fashion box, which I like, but she just fell a little flat this time.  Yes, pun intended.  She may have won the award for best actress, but the "SAG" meant something else to me.  I just wish the bodice of the dress actually fit her.  Where was the highly skilled and highly sought after Ghost Tailor, Jean when you needed her?  She could have saved the day!  Perhaps she was busy altering dresses for other starlets or for my bestie/neighbor/blogger/award-winning jewelry designer, Wendy Brandes!

January Jones vs. random man with napkin?  Yah, I vote for him too.

In any case, Julianne is NOT on my best-dressed list and neither is poor January Jones.  I'm not going to say much about her since it's all been said already, so I'll just express my thoughts through pictures.

Sigourney Weaver in Lanvin

Sigourney Weaver earned herself a "fashion felony" and, in my opinion, looked like a black pillow sham and satin sheet.  I don't think I've ever seen Lanvin look so bad.  She is so statuesque, it was just the wrong dress for her. 

Kelly Osbourne

Mrs.Slocombe (Molly Sudgen)

I hate to pick on these ladies for not quite getting it right, so I blame their stylists for not having the taste level required or simply not having the cojones to tell their employers when they look like crap.  I do have to wonder about the background and the taste level of some of these, so called, stylists nowadays.  Seems to me, when Kelly Osbourne is in a position of commenting on and critiquing fashion, the world has gone crazy!

Golden Globes Post #2

STACY LOMMAN - Spring 2013

Photo: Shane LaVancher
copyright Stacy Lomman, 2012

I've already done a post on the Golden Globes which concentrated on the humor rather than the fashion because the humor was far better.  However, being a designer, I felt compelled and perhaps obligated to share my two cents.  Right off the bat, I'm going to give Anne Hathaway a shout out because she looked very pretty but, more importantly, she was wearing a corset and skirt combo and not a dress.  I could have loaned her this look from my spring '13 collection...

two piece ensemble from my spring '13 collection

 lace up (back) corset top and mermaid skirt in brocade

Photo: Shane LaVancher

Model: Stepanie Doggett

Anne Hathaway in Chanel two piece ensemble

Photo credit: Getty

Overall, I didn't see anything that took my breath away or that was risky or even ugly enough to cause a buzz.  For once, I just want to see somebody break the mold.  All of these actresses look interchangeable.  I'm bored.  And Claire Danes is gorgeous and talented, but she shows me no real sense of style.  I think she wore the same dress as last year at the Oscars, just in a different color!

Okay, maybe the dress is fairly different, but they're both pretty much a drapey blob of solid color.

(left): Danes in Versace at the 2013 Golden Globes / (right): Danes wearing Lanvin in February, 2012 at the Oscars.

I was happy to see celebs showing off some skin, after all, why not?  They invest enough time and money into personal trainers, personal chefs, life coaches, spa treatments, colonics, etc. -- don't you think they should flaunt their efforts? 

Eva Longoria pulls a "Jolie" with a high slit

Photo credit: Getty

One of the skintastic trends to grace the red carpet last night was the plunging neckline.  I heard so much chatter about this on Twitter during the show, I was surprised by the amount of people who found it to be distasteful.  Well, I wholeheartedly disagree, thank you very little!  I've been designing pieces like that since I was a teenager.

STACY LOMMAN, Spring 2012

black sheer cocktail dress with plunging neckline and hot pink lining

Photo: Randy Brooke 

Model: Katja

Katharine McPhee in Theyskens Theory

Photo credit: Getty

We also saw a lot of skin through sheer fabrics including lace, a la Jennifer Lopez.  I'll be the first to say that I'm not a fan of hers, but the dress looked great.  And, like the plunging necklines, JLo's dress was the recipient of a swarm of nasty tweets.  I'm beginning to think that people don't like to see other people looking good.  Ah, women can be so catty.  I, for one, feel just the opposite and it's a good thing too because I can't afford to be that way in my business -- I wouldn't sell any dresses!

JLo in Zuhair Murad looking smart with Casper Smart

Photo credit: Getty

To wrap it up, I'll list some of my best and worst dressed for your entertainment...

I loved Kate Hudson in McQueen, but was very disappointed with her hair.  Pull it up!  It would be more sophisticated that way and it wouldn't cover up the gorgeous detail on the front yoke.  Shame on her stylist!

Photo: Getty

Best dressed couple.  Daniel Craig in Tom Ford and Rachel Weisz in Louis Vuitton.

Chic, stylish and unique. 

Photo credit: Getty

Most fun!  Helena Bonham Carter in Dolce & Gabanna with a fun clutch (WendyB you MUST get this!) and Tim Burton.

Photo credit: Getty

Worst dressed: Giulianorexic, oops I meant, Giuliana Rancic in Celia Kritharioti

sorry, but she looks like a head on a stick

Photo credit: Getty

Tina Fey & Amy Poehler Save The Globes!

For all of the fashionistas who tuned in last night to see starlets turn heads in gorgeous gowns, I apologize on behalf of the Golden Globes.  If not for the dynamic comedy duo of Fey & Poehler, the Globes wouldn't have been worth watching. 

Photo: Paul Drinkwater

They stole the show, the fashion was a supporting role at best.  And former SNL castmates, Will Ferrell and Kristin Wiig should have been allowed to present every award.  Who cares if Tommy Lee Jones got upset!

found this gem on the hilarious site, Cheezburger

Back to the dresses -- I thought many of the actresses looked pretty, but I didn't see anybody really "going for it."  In a few weeks, nobody will be memorable, but we still remember (whether good or bad) the women who took risks, right?  Who could forget Cher's 1986 Oscar moment?  Nearly three decades later and we're still talking about it!

Cher in Bob Mackie, 1986

So, since I don't have a lot to say about last night's fashion, or lack thereof, I will just share my tweets which were a lot more entertaining!

Nostalgic For Versace

While doing some post-holiday organizing the other day, I came across a box of old photos.  Maybe it's just me, but I can't help but stop whatever I'm doing to sift through memories of days gone by.  This particular box was a hodgepodge containing anything from my senior picture in high school, a shot of me with a college boyfriend and an old swim team photo. 

cover of the book; VERSACE: SIGNATURES, c. 1993

Then I saw them -- a few fuzzy polaroids I had snapped with what was most likely a disposable camera (this was way before the age of digital).  The blurred figure of the late designer Gianni Versace stirred up a flurry of emotions. 

I know these pictures are terrible!  But, take my word, it's Gianni.

I remembered seeing the great man discuss the world of fashion in an auditorium of starstruck students while I was attending F.I.T.   And I remembered liking him -- a lot.  He spoke with sincerity and passion.  He made me feel like nothing was impossible or out of reach.  And he was NICE. 

Linda Evangelista in Versace

Christy Turlington in Versace

I don't know what I had expected; maybe a pretentious, pompous, rich narcissist?  Actually, I don't think I had any preconceived notions of the talented designer, I just wanted to see him.  He happened to be one of my idols at the time; his magazine campaigns pretty much served as my wallpaper along with Ferre, Montana and Mugler. 

awesome supermodels of the 80's (including Iman, Kelly LeBrock, Kim Alexis and Andie MacDowell) -- all wearing Versace

After Versace spoke to the students, he generously handed out his new book to each and every person who attended the event.  Being young and dumb, as college students often are, I didn't wait in line to have him sign it.  I KNOW!!!  What the hell was I thinking?  Well, at least I still have the book and the memories.

a shot of Versace's famously exquisite silk print shirts and exquisite male models!

Just five short years later, news that the brilliant designer was gunned down in front of his Miami Beach mansion crushed me like a ton of bricks.  I guess it was my JFK moment -- I remember exactly where I was when I found out.  Sitting at my desk in 499 Seventh Avenue, I closed the door to my office so that the tears could trickle down my cheeks in private.  He may be gone, but his words of encouragement stick with me to this day.

Top 10 Fashion Moments Of 2012

10. NY Times fashion critic, Cathy Horyn and designer, Oscar de la Renta bitch slap each other with words.

9.  Marc Jacobs brings Dr. Seuss and fantasy to the runway for Fall 2012. 

Photo: Style.com

 

8.  Comme des Garcons' Rei Kawakubo is praised for her Fall 2012 two-dimensional "paper dolls" collection.

Photo: Style.com

7.  Marc Jacobs wears a black lace Comme des Garcons dress with visible "tighty whities" to the Met gala in May.

Photo: Getty

6.  Lagerfeld shows Chanel's annual Metiers d'Arts collection in a Scottish castle where Mary Queen of Scots was born and uses all Scottish fabrics/fibers.

5.  The Olsen twins win the CFDA Award for womenswear.

4.  Raf Simons makes an exit from Jil Sander and an entrance as creative director at Dior.  Jil Sander returns to her eponymous label.

3.  Stefano Pilati says goodbye to YSL to head up men's label Ermenegildo Zegna.  Is he CRAZY?  Former Dior Homme designer, Hedi Slimane fills Pilati's shoes in a big way as his first collection (Spring '13) for the label, now called, Saint Laurent is critically acclaimed.

Photo: Style.com

2.  Nicolas Ghesquiere drops a bomb announcing that after fifteen years, he's leaving the label he helped to reinvigorate.  Youngster (and American), Alexander Wang replaces Ghesquiere as creative director at Balenciaga.

1. Brilliant jewelry designer and my bestie, Wendy Brandes wins Fashion Group International's 2012 Rising Star Award for Fine Jewelry (and wears a Stacy Lomman dress to accept her award)!!

'Tis The Season? What Season?

Regardless of your thoughts on global warming, fashion has responded (as it does so well) to new needs and requirements over the last several years by creating a large category dedicated to seasonless dressing.  It's all about layers.  I am a huge fan of Reed Krakoff, and his pre-fall collection demonstrates this concept beautifully. 

 

a look from Reed Krakoff's pre-fall 2013 collection

photo source: Style.com

 

It seems quite possible that the new(ish) addition of "pre-collections" to the fashion calendar could be a catalyst to the blurred lines between seasons. With four collections per year rather than two, distinguishing fall from pre-spring or spring from pre-fall can be difficult.

 

a look from Reed Krakoff's pre-fall 2013 collection

photo source: Style.com

  

I have expressed my opinion about the "white after Labor Day rule" more than once in this blog and I'm also a fan of the safer, Winter White option.  But what about white shoes in November or even February?  Before you gasp with disapproval, consider this: They are being shown on the runways right now, so you'll see them in the stores by August and on people's feet by October.  In fact, they're already offered in the high-end stores for THIS fall/winter season.  So, two years from now when they're trendy in the "fly over states" and people's eyes have been conditioned to perceive this as normal and acceptable, remember your initial reaction :-)

 

 

Fendi loafer available at Barney's

 

Still not for you?  Don't fret.  There are plenty of seasonless dressing options that are a little more palatable to the mainstream and more quickly accepted.  Chunky sleeveless sweaters?  Why not?  They're easy to layer under a heavy coat or puffer jacket and when you have the option of arm warmers (like the ones I've been selling from my fall 2012 collection), you're all set!

two looks from Krakoff's pre-fall 2013 collection

white shoes, skirts, bare legs and bare arms -- looks like spring except for the fur vests

Photo Source: Style.com

 

 

STACY LOMMAN, Fall 2012

dove grey shearling vest with rib knit arm warmers

Photo: Shane LaVancher

 

STACY LOMMAN, Fall 2012

sleeveless top and faux ostrich skirt with rib knit arm warmers

Photo: Randy Brooke