0 Pageant Minute: Miss Universe 2011--What the Contestants Are Wearing...

Too Many Events...Too Many Outfit Choices...

TV Impression: Miss Universe 2011 Contestants visiting Rede Bandeirantes/Rede Band, a Brazilian television station, based in São Paulo-The "winner" here--in the "daywear" category-- is Miss Paraguay for sure!

The Miss Universe 2011 Pageant has been in full force down in São Paulo, Brazil. As we know (or at least, us the "Pageant Fans" know) the final telecast is two Mondays from now, on September 12th. For the last couple of weeks, the 89 contestants have been attending a very packed itinerary of scheduled events the Miss Universe Organization set up for them. In my BLOG here, I always discuss their Evening Gown choices--for the Official Evening Gown Portraits, Preliminaries and Final Night--since that's what I LOVE to do.

Buddha Dresses: Miss Universe 2011 contestants at Buddha Bar São Paulo--Miss Lebanon and Miss Estonia are my two favorites here

But I thought, why not do a little "discussing" on what they are wearing when they are not in Evening Gown or Swimsuit Competition Mode, during Rehearsals, media junkets, museum visits, sightseeing, nightclubbing...It's always very interesting to see if the contestants who chose proper FAB evening gowns all of a sudden look a TACKY HOT MESS off the evening gown "runway". Or maybe girls who wore very tacky stripper gowns look, well, really directional and chic in their "daywear" choices. So, let's see what some of these Fashionista--and sometimes not-so Fashionista Girls have been wearing...



Let's Begin with "The Five Looks of Vanessa" (and a cute Alyssa for good measure):



Vanessa #1:



"Real Housewives of Miami" Vanessa: Miss Venezuela Vanessa Goncalves, kind of scared me a little bit, with that green Cheetah-print dress featuring tulle/mesh at the neck. I think she is gorgeous, but this outfit makes her look very "Real Housewives of Miami". I also think the "feathered" hair isn't helping things but I know her hairstyle is VERY "Miss Venezuela Organization". Miss USA, Alyssa Campanella (right), on the other hand, wore a simple black jacket, white stretch top and black-and-white skirt to the same event. Her hair and make-up were clean and "fresh". Just from looking at the photos of them above side-by-side, Alyssa looks 21 (she is) yet Vanessa, looks as if she's 38 (she's only 25!).



Vanessa #2:



Daisy Dukes Vanessa: Miss Venezuela Vanessa Goncalves, during one of the rehearsals, wore a knotted red shirt, matching red pumps (of course) and hot denim shorts. One word: DAAANG!!!! And of course, she HAD to accessorize it with big ol' hoop earrings and several necklaces. Let me remind you: This is just the REHEARSALS!!! But she's been taught well: You need to be ON All the Time! J.Lo. would approve (especially the hoop earrings!).



Vanessa #3:



Golden Girl Vanessa: Here is Vanessa during another day of rehearsals, and once again she is "GIVING YOU!". Gold skinny jeans (GOLD!), gold shirt, lots of gold bracelets...It's certainly A LOT OF LOOK! I feel so bad for whoever the poor girl is on the right (next to the choreographer assistant)--the contestant wearing a jacket and printed skirt/dress--NO ONE knows who she is--or cares--when Vanessa is 3 feet away looking like THAT!



Vanessa #4:



Vanessa, Budweiser Girl: In the above photo, Miss Venezuela Vanessa Goncalves (second from the right) is wearing, what's best described as a black bustier and acid-washed jeans with crystals. WITH CRYSTALS...and acid washed!!! Who. Is. Choosing. Her. Outfits??? Dear Lord! Is she a Budweiser Poster Girl from 1998 or the next Miss Universe??? But then...



Vanessa #5:



Vanessa, The Fashion Editor: Vanessa redeems herself and transforms into a chic Upper Class São Paulo Fashion Editor in the look she wore above. How do you go from tacky jeans-and-a-bustier Vegas outfit to...modern drop-crotch pants, great white shirt, FAB peep-toe heels and a Chanel bag?? This look--to me--looks TEN times sexier--and certainly more up-to-date fashion-wise.

Who is the REAL Vanessa Goncalves? I hope #5!! (with a dash of No. 3! He he!)



Let's discuss some of the Contestants in their "Rehearsal Wear":



Sassy Japan: Miss Japan Universe 2011 Maria Kamiyama, seen here during rehearsals. She knows what's up! No sweat pants, no "comfy flats", if she has to compete with the likes of "Daisy Dukes Vanessa" then, it's time to bring out the batwing geometric-printed tunic top, shorty-shorts and stacked heels!! This is how you say "Good Morning Ladies! I'm HERE!!".



Dress Perfect: Miss Paraguay Universe 2011 Alba Riquelme looks perfect in this beige draped dress accented by the black waist tie. Her hair is perfect, she's accessorized just right. This girl knows her style! This may not be a typical "Rehearsals at 6AM" look, but she knows that EVERY minute of the day, these contestants are ON SHOW!



The Pumps Girls: Miss Ghana Universe 2011 Erica Nego (right) looks young and sassy in her jersey romper and nude peep-toes. This is an ideal "rehearsal" look: Stylish but comfy (well maybe not the heels). She just needs some bracelets--maybe Miss Venezuela can lend her some! Also looking good is Miss Germany Valeria Bystritskaia (she sounds like a Figure Skater from Russia!!). Her outfit of red jeggings, black top, black "boyfriend" jacket and black pumps looks contemporary and sexy. I just wished she would have done something with that hair; it looks, well, limp.



Sporty Spice: (Clockwise from top) Netherlands, Belgium, France and Honduras--Some choose cocktail dresses for Rehearsals (Netherlands and Belgium); the shorty-shorts are very popular (Miss France needs to look more "Venezuela-esque", less "I'm-going-to-the-mall") and Honduras, who needs to just go back to her room and change from that brown ensemble!



Best Skirt Award:



Miss Panama Universe Sheldry Saez: I absolutely LOVE this skirt--and the entire way Sheldry put this look together. While visiting the Alianca de Misericordia, a charity that helps children from poor backgrounds and from the streets/favelas, she wore a Mola-inspired skirt showing the wonderful print-work of the Kuna Indian San Blas Islands of Panama,



The "Pretty in Daywear" Award:



Miss Finland Universe 2011 Pia Pakarinen: Here's Pia, looking quite pretty in a lace applique' "baby-doll" dress with poufy cap sleeves and simple hoop earrings at one of the events. She's so stunning that she pretty much could put a Garbage Bag on and still look PRETTY. But just in case: Don't put a garbage bag on Pia!!



Best in Cocktail Hour:



Dominican Republic, Poland, Sweden and USA--Some of their "scheduled events" takes them out to nightclubs around São Paulo and these four ladies look FAB!!



Best at Soccer Museum/Museo de Futebol:



Miss Honduras Universe 2011 Keylin Gomez: Keylin has been a bit of hit-or-miss (like Venezuela) in terms of her outfits but I thought this colorful ensemble she wore to the Visit to the Soccer/Football Museum was all good!!! Love the blue pants, the flora-and-fauna printed top, the brown pumps and the matching clutch. It's Brazil and she is giving you "Fashionista Amazonian Forest Fierce". She could kick a futebol and go out for drinks with one the players in this!



Finally...

Best at Museum Tour:



Bubblegum Caribbean Queen: Miss Bahamas Universe 2011 Anastagia Pierre caught my Fashion Eye when I saw this photo of her in a fuchsia tunic mini dress with white neckline applique' detail, high wedge heels, white clutch and earrings. Even her hair was perfect! Well done Miss Anastagia! Now go back to the hotel and rehearse!!! And make sure you wear a very cute rehearsal outfit! I may be watching...

0 Project Runway Season 9 Recaps: Avant Garde or Avant NOT???

A Tale of Glue Guns, A Christian Siriano Knock-Off, Hoochie Dresses...and a Hofbrau Hostess at a Mall....

This Thursday's "The Art of The Matter" episode on Project Runway Season 9...featured Avant Garde. Or so, that was the premise. The designers/contestants were paired with young art students from the Harlem School of The Arts and they were to create an Avant Garde look inspired by the young artists' work. "Think COUTURE NOT Costume!" Tim suggested, or as I would say "Think Nicki Minaj at the VMA's!" (so the young-ums can understand). Most of the creations missed the mark and ended up being Avant-NOT. Let's Take a Little Photo Look at some things I need to get off my No. 2 Clipper-trimmed chest--before you get to reading my RECAP of the Episode:

First of All Kids---This:

Glue Gun

Does NOT Equal This:

Brother Project Runway Sewing Machine

During this Challenge, several of the designers hot glued their way through the two days they had. Miss Laura Kathleen, Andrew Ryan Auld and Olivier Green, all got Glue Glue Happy. Olivier, in fact, almost hot glue gunned his model to his creation!! Tim got notified of this (probably by the producers who were watching and thinking "Umm, this AIN'T OK! Let's get Tim back in here!"). Tim questioned him on it and chastised him but after some lame "I'm only hot gluing the dress not HER!" excuse, it was all fine...I'm just saying, they had TWO WHOLE DAYS to make something and SHOULD NOT have had to be using glue guns!! They should be BANNED from Project Runway. Also...

This Is Avant Garde:

Guo Pei Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2010

Comme des Garçons Fall 2009

This...Is just HOOCHIE: Season 9 Contestant Viktor Luna created the dress above which somehow ended up in the middle. It was BAD. Not Middle Bad but Bottom Bad. She is SO NOT Avant Garde. She looks more like she thought she was going to get into the BET Awards and still didn't. Also...

How This:

Straight-jacket creation also ended up in the Middle is beyond me. This Avant-Nasty gown was created by Bryce Black, who for sure, should go home next week, just because I said so! I think even Nicki Minaj would have passed on this if it was on a rack for her perusal...

Bert Keeder--yes, the "old guy" who hates all the "inexperienced untalented kids" in the workroom--made this gray "Empire-waist" pleated "carrot" pants ensemble with geometric padded brightly colored pieces. It was a bit of a miss, in it's Why-Does-She-Have-a-Baby-Bump shape--but then again, its color scheme and idea could have easily been part of the Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall 2011 Collection inspired by Frank Gehry, Jean-Michel Frank, and the Memphis movement of the eighties. I "get it", and so did Miss Heidi, who liked it as well.

Laura Kathleen's half glue-gunned yellow organza ruffle-tiered gown:

Was romantic and kinda pretty I admit, but A) Not Avant Garde (maybe the hair and make-up); B) Not original; and C) On a similar note, very close to a low-rent knock off of...

Project Runway Season 4 Winner Christian Siriano would have done WITHOUT the GLUE Gun--One of Siriano's gowns from his Spring 2009 Collection above.

The Winner:
Was Anthony Ryan Auld's brushstroke-inspired gown, which was the best of the bunch according to the judges. After seeing all the others (it was "Slim Pickins" as they say!) , I guessed that this one would win.

However, I want to see A.R. do something more other than a basic base of a dress in which he "piles" stuff on it--his Avant Garde creation reminded me just a little bit...of what he did for the "Make a Garment from the Pet Store" challenge (above photo).

Now, the REALLY Worse:

HUUUUNEEEYYY!!!! Poor thang: Designer/contestant Olivier Green--and his model! Olivier has been so blah and uninspired lately, I can almost hear crickets as the model comes down the runway! So, for this Avant Garde Challenge--in which he was inspired by a very colorful painting--he decided to be "Sexy Blah". It was GRAY and Sad. Not just gray but the color of PUTTY! And then, if you look closely at his model...

The opening was so high, her UNDERWEAR-panty strap was showing!!! (photo above). This was ALL THINGS WRONG!!!! It reminded me of one of...

Those Stripper-like "gowns" some past Miss Universe Pageant contestants decide (against their better judgement) to wear.

A Wolf Serving Beer...

But the worst was Joshua Christensen's creation. Josh C. was lucky to have been "invited back" after being eliminated (and you KNOW he was happy to see his boyfriend, "Mean Girls Josh M.) so this was his chance to "step it up".

He was inspired by a painting of a wolf-like creature (above w/ Tim Gunn in the Parsons Workroom). When he began--after Mood Fabrics shopping---he had faux fur and from his sketch, it looked like it would be a gown of some sort. But then, it went into a territory best described as a cross between something one can find in a local mall (Hello Bebe!!) and...

A Hofbräu Waitress Costume

So...it was Josh C. who got eliminated...AGAIN!!!


Below is an excerpt of my mylifetime.com blog:

Happy Times ... Last night, on Season 9 “Project Runway,” the contestants were done with their bitchfest of last week, and as those introductory scenes from their Atlas Apartments proved, it was all “Kumbaya”/happy times/let’s just all get along with each other. As Queen Mean Girl said, “I’m done bitching, now I’m going to be nice.” Yes, GURL, you keep telling yourself that. Even Bert “I-Can’t-Stand-All-These-Kids Keeter wants to make amends ...We’ll see how long that will last.
Art Class Is in Session They all meet Monsieur Gunn at the Harlem School of the Arts to get their next challenge: to create an avant-garde look inspired by artwork from students of the school. Go Nicki Minaj at the MTV VMA’s or GO HOME. The “Project Runway” contestants meet their student artists and have a design “powwow” where the young kids (the Harlem School of the Arts students, in case you were confused) draw a painting that the designers will be inspired by. The one thing I got out of this was that somehow these young kids can DRAW better than the fashion designers on this season’s “Project Runway”! ...

Click HERE to read the rest of my myLifetime.com BLOG Recap!!!

0 Royal Fashion Minute: Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden's First Pregnant Fashion Appearance!

Swedish Pregnant Dress...

Baby Bump: Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and her husband, Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland, visiting the Gothenburg Botanical Gardens (Sweden) on Wednesday

Earlier in the week, the Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and her husband--Prince Daniel Duke of Västergötland visited the Gothenburg Botanical Gardens , where she sported a blue "tunic" style silk dress with ruffled-hem 3/4 sleeves and finally showed her Baby Bump to all her subjects. This was truly the First Time the Crown Princess was featuring a "Pregnant"-style dress.



The couple were married last year in one of those "Royal Wedding of the Year" nuptials that was attended by every Euro Royal. Victoria, who is the Heir to the Swedish Throne, just announced that she was pregnant.



Earlier in the week--on Tuesday--Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Prince Daniel, also made an appearance, at the Polar Music Prize Ceremony--considered the "Nobel Awards of Music"-- in the Konserthus in Stockholm. Here she wore a dark navy blue fan-pleated sleeveless gown that was slightly see-through and showed a shorter lining/slip underneath. The Princess had a bouquet and shawl with her which she kept holding very close to her tummy area so the photographers couldn't see her "baby bump".

Her husband, Prince Daniel--for the first time--actually DID NOT look like the Junior Executive at a Computer Firm in Seattle! He gets "Nick V. Points" for that! His tuxedo looked well-tailored and fit him perfectly. Very sharp Daniel!

0 Red Carpet Report: Madonna "W.E." Red Carpet Premiere at the 68th Venice International Film Festival

La Madonna...

Madonna in Vionnet, Palazzo del Cinema, 68th Venice International Film Festival "W.E" Premiere

Tonight, the first day of September 2011, in the fabulous Italian city of Venice in the Palazzo del Cinema, Madonna GAVE it to them!!! The occasion: The Venice International Film Festival Premiere of her directorial debut, "W.E" the melodrama that chronicles the loves and lives of twice-divorced Wallis Simpson and Britain's Kind Edward VIII.

Actors Andrea Riseborough and James D'Arcy, as Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII in "W.E."

Wallis Simpson and Edward Duke of Windsor

I wrote about the Arianne Phillips-costume designed wardrobe HERE, in case you want to take a look at the fashions--as well as what THE Wallis Simpson and her husband, the Duke of Windsor, wore.

Group Couture: "W.E" Director Madonna, with actors James D'Arcy, Andrea Riseborough, Abbie Cornish and Oscar Isaac , at the 68th Venice International Film Festival "W.E." Premiere.

At tonight's Premiere in Venezia, Madonna wore a lilac-colored, armhole-cowl gown from the House of Vionnet featuring red sequined applique butterflies. She accessorized it with matching red sunglasses.

Violet Goddess: "W.E" Actress Abbie Cornish was there and wore Atelier Versace Spring 2011, a violet-colored Mermaid-shaped strapless Sweetheart-neckline Bustier gown with degrade' shading.

Atelier Back: This Atelier Versace gown--if ordered and purchased could go for $100,000. Just so you know...



Venice Ball: Andrea Riseborough, the English actress who played the part of Wallis Simpson, wore Christian Dior Fall 2009 Haute Couture--another $100,000+ gown. Incidentally, during the actual Dior Haute Couture Runway Show almost three years ago (collection was designed by the fired John Galliano), this ensemble was shown as a Ball Gown Skirt and Bra Top. A strapless draped silk bustier was added...for red carpet purposes...

Horsehair and Tulle: Madonna, Actresses Andrea Riseborough and Abbie Cornish (and Harvey Weinstein in the far top right) Palazzo del Cinema, 68th Venice International Film Festival "W.E." Premiere

Other Notables Present Included:

Designer Valentino Garavani, tan--and fabulous--as always.

Joaquin Cortes--Spanish Flamenco wunderkid and former "flame" of Madonna