Style Crush: Elizabeth Banks

When The Hunger Games premiered in March, everyone was eagerly anticipating Jennifer Lawrence's rise to fashion fame- and rise she did. The star has stunned in Prabal Gurung, Marchesa, and Nina Ricci. But while the Lawrence certainly has lived up to her character's "girl on fire" reputation, the true star of the Hunger Games promotional tour turned out to be none other than Elizabeth Banks. Though not the star of the film by any means, Banks stole the spotlight from many of her younger counterparts both on and off screen. In the movie Banks portrays Effie Trinket, the District Twelve tribute escort and my personal favorite. It only seems fitting that Banks would mirror Trinket's whimsical, daring fashions on the red carpet while promoting the film.

But The Hunger Games has come and gone and still I'm noticing Banks everywhere. Always, she is dressed impeccably, a rare feat for actresses these days. Somehow Banks knows how to make a statement without going over the top. She knows what styles work for her and she always plays up her assets. Banks also knows how to pose with poise, always looking like she's having a blast, which is refreshing to see when so many starlets - *cough* Kristen Stewart *cough* - act like the red carpet is such a burden. 

So here's to Banks, who never fails to impress, whether it be in a bright mini, metallic frock, or feathered gown. A lesson to us all in impeccable styling and taste.

(images from zimbio.com)

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Please Stop, Fashionable Ladies

Milla Jovovich; Kristen Stewart; Anja Rubik; Jada Pinkett-Smith; Jessie J

See a trend in the images above? The hottest posing trend since Tyra added "Smize" (Smize? Smeyes?) to the dictionary, The Angelina has inspired a string of immitations. It was vaguely amusing when Angelina first did it because everything she does is so overly-dramatic, but ever since Anja Rubik tried her hand at the pose and exposed the most terrifying hip bone ever seen, I've been begging the fashion gods for this terrible trend to STOP! 

At Cannes, everyone from stylish Milla Jovovich to America's Scowler Kristen Stewart to even British Niki Minaj Jessie J (Of the bunch, Jessie J certainly looks the best and much more glamorous than usual). Look, ladies, I don't mind if you want to wear a slit and show off how well you shaved your legs this morning, but when I have hard proof that you aren't wearing any underwear beneath your gown (I'm looking at you, Rubik!) it's time to stop poppin' the leg and retire the now-infamous Angelina. It had a good run, but please, for the love of all that is fashionable, STOP POSING.

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Au Cinema

Christmastime always brings loads of perfume and fashion videos. I wish fashion videos would get more recognition, because they are way more creative than most other commercial videos. Here are some of my recent favorites:

"Shade Parade" by Chanel

"Prada Candy" by Prada

"J'adore Dior" by Dior

"Portrait of Hailee" by Miu Miu

Lanvin

Versace for H&M

Alice + Olivia

"Valentina" by Valentino

(all videos not mine, I'm just sharing them)

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Take me away to paradise!

One could very easily analyze fashion the way one analyzes language. Connotation, diction, and syntax develop themes the same way visual motifs and connotations exude the inspirations of designers. But the question to be asked is why? In the same way that word choice makes a poem what it is, themes and inspiration make a runway presentation. One only has to read the clothes with a magnifying glass to identify what message the designer is trying to get across.

In the case of spring, very literal motifs of paradise reigned supreme. Palm trees, sunset hues, and marine life all contributed to this tropical vacation feel, but why? I know it sometimes seems excessive to analyze every piece of alliteration or personification that comes our way, but this idea really struck me. And a number of things -the rain, mostly, and the summer nostalgia that accompanies it- brought me back to a question I've been asking myself for the past few weeks: why are designers showcasing so many vacation-inspired looks?

And then Pier Paolo of Valentino said it perfectly: "Fashion is a dream, and in this moment we need dreams."

The world is a mess. I mean, ever since Eve bit that stupid apple it has been, but especially now. And more locally, the world of fashion is more unpredictable than ever. McQueen is gone, couture is plumetting, Galliano is done, and designers are shuffled around houses more than cards in a casino. We really aren't sure who the key fashion players are going to be five years from now. Bloggers and street style stars have become ten times more influential than celebrities in the past few years. Fashion has become more accessible and yet more extravagant all at once.

But here's the thing: we don't have all that much control over the future. We can't get rid of the demons inside someone's soul or stop someone from drinking and saying rude things or even tell celebrities that they seriously need to get stylists if they want to be considered fashion icons. We can only control the clothes we wear and the lives we lead. The uncertainty of these times cannot be changed. But at least we can live our lives like we really are in paradise.

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