Red Carpet Superhero

Project Runway All-Stars 1.4

Anika — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:13:12 +0000

I don’t know if there was anything heroine chic about this episode But I do have THOUGHTS on the episode. And my thoughts on Michael’s dress are in keeping with this site’s POV so there we go.

Here’s Michael’s (winning!) look:

It was not my favourite on the runway but I see why it won. It’s a signature look, it’s comparatively well-made, properly proportioned. Miranda Kerr won’t be embarrassed to show up in it even if I can’t imagine her wearing it. Who can I imagine wearing it?

Maddie Hayes. Now, I have been watching a lot of Moonlighting, my brother got the DVDs for the holidays, so I might not have leaped to this conclusion if I hadn’t seen it since I was a kid. But O-M-G, that is SUCH a Maddie Hayes dress. And as a model-turned-detective Maddie is sorta kinda a red carpet superhero, you know? At least on the slant.

Also in the top, Mondo:

And Mila:

Mondo has been going out of his way to do things that are different from what he’s known for. Which is probably smart, but since I liked what he was known for…I am not in love with Cantaloupe here. As with Michael I get why it was tops, but it is just not my thing. She does have a secret agent goddessy flow going on and the way he’s got her styled I can imagine it on, say, Misty Knight. For a Heroes on the Red Carpet Event. (I am willing to put together that comic for you, Marvel. Anytime.)

I hated Mila’s dress on the runway. It does look better in these pictures so maybe TV just didn’t capture it well. I can actually imagine Miranda in this one, so …I don’t know. I won’t quibble. I will say that these three in the top got to choose their flavor first so clearly that was an advantage. Kara went last and got stuck with chocolate:

This shot reallllllllly shows off the maternity commentary to the dress. Yes, wearing this would bring on the bump watch reports. I think it’s a cute idea that got mucked up in OMGWEONLYHAVESIXHOURS execution. As was April’s.

I really wish she hadn’t decided to style this differently than she would normally. It might not have saved her, but the impact of the dress was robbed by the belt and earrings. When it came down to April or Kara I didn’t know who I wanted to stay because I like both their aesthetic more than I like Jerrel’s for instance. It’s entirely a matter of personal taste and April’s dress was poorly executed. But I have to say there is a pattern emerging in who is sent home: Unconventional women need not apply.

Heroine Chic by Yves Saint Laurent

Anika — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:30:14 +0000

The YSL Pre-Fall 2012 Collection is all about heroine chic y’all. Look:

The styling for the collection includes a lot of kickass tall shiny black leather boots and long gloves which is heroine chic all by itself. But look also at the cut and the material. She looks like she just stepped out of the first Matrix movie. Killer!

Again, look at the cut! This looks like a uniform.

More Matrix with the added bonus of gold shoes.

Half-Ancient Greece, Half-Cheerleader = Themyscirian vibe.

First of all, this is adorable and I want to wear it tomorrow. Second the print plus the boots are incredibly Power Puff Girl/Josie and the Pussycats Type heroine chic. Love it.

I don’t think I need to add any commentary to this!

Or this! (But seriously, this last one? IS A SUPERHEROINE. You cannot tell me otherwise.)

Tilda Swinton is a Rock Star

Anika — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:30:03 +0000

Tilda Swinton ALWAYS makes a statement. The kind where I can’t call her just Tilda. She’s Tilda Swinton. Thing is, the statements Tilda Swinton usually makes are not universally beloved. Her look is “polarizing”. But this look…

How can you not like this? How can you not LOVE this?

Basically, everyone wants to be Tilda Swinton. If you don’t, you don’t matter.

In Which Stacey Keibler is Playing Along

Anika — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:59:26 +0000

I like Stacey Keibler. She owns her schtick. She’s pulled off “Leggy Girl-Wrestler” and “Star Who Dances” and she’s been a trooper as “Clooney’s Arm Candy”. I believe her when she babbles about being a tomboy. I sorta kinda think she’s cool.

But what the what is this?:

I mean. Here’s from the front:

Pretty! I’m not even mad about the red on the red carpet. It’s nothing special, nothing to get excited about, but it shows off her (great) body and she looks like she’s feeling good.

But she has a giant bow on her back. Like. What? She’s a gift? To who? From whom? Why???

It looks like the mechanism on a wind-up-doll. Is it supposed to be irony?

Also, GIRL, those shoes are awful. Come on. You are dating GEORGE CLOONEY.

Let’s talk about Morena Baccarin. And by “talk about” I mean “fancast”.

Anika — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:31:06 +0000

Morena’s was the first heroine chic I found during E’s preshow. Look at this neckline:

Poster child for heroine chic. Also she’s GORGEOUS:

I’ve thought Morena should be Wanda Maximoff for years. She’d also make an awesome Janet Van Dyne. And everyone’s always throwing her name around for Wonder Woman. Or put more explicitly:

This woman needs to be a superheroine. Now.

Heroine Chic at the Golden Globes

Anika — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:59:48 +0000

Heroine chic can creep up on you. I don’t expect many of our starlets consciously think “superhero!” when they pick their Red Carpet Looks…but I expect a number do think “powerful” or at the least “fierce”. These have that edge to them:

Dianna Agron. Look at that bodice. She told Ryan Seacrest she is wearing “laser cut swans”. (In related news, my new band Laser Cut Swans is making its debut this Friday)

Claire Danes. She’s beautiful, the dress is beautiful, but that back to the dress is STUNNING. And looks like armor.

Mila Kunis. This silhouette has been done a lot this season. But it IS heroine chic. Particularly with her gonna-cut-a-bitch expression in this photo.

Zooey Deschenel. When I first saw her I thought the styling didn’t match the dress. But it’s sort of growing on me. I mean she is Zooey. The dress is something else but the styling is actually what makes it heroine chic:

She looks like a 50s sci-fi evil robot girl from Mars plotting to destroy the Earth. You know?

Superheroine of the Night: Emma Stone

Anika — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:29:48 +0000

Emma is on a roll with heroine chic. In her interview with E! she answered the (yawn) request “Tell us about your dress” with “It’s Lanvin. It’s fuscia and purple and has an eagle.” She was somehow adorable, sultry, and sassy at the same time.

But let’s break it down:

The cut and detailing of the dress plus the aforementioned eagle and two-tone colour scheme… Even her metallic make-up and ruby red earrings say SUPERHERO loud and clear.

Boom.

Project Runway All-Stars 1.2

Anika — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:44:04 +0000

“Night at the Opera” doesn’t scream “heroine chic”. It doesn’t even whisper it. These aren’t red carpet events, there’s not going to be a fashion recap, no alleged fashion blogger is going to scan through the pics to find the one who looks like she belongs in a comic book. As much as I now want to show up at the next scheduled performance to click pictures I can then scan through to find the one who looks like she belongs in a comic book, that’s not what opera is. So we don’t have too too much in the running for Superheroine Pick of the Week. But when has that ever stopped me??

ONE: Jerrel’s Name

I didn’t mention it last week so he gets worked in now. I’m not really a fan of his aesthetic and I hated Jerrel’s look this week but I do enjoy pretending he’s related to Superman.

TWO: I’ve decided April is Layla Miller

April

Layla

I wish I could get a better screen grab of April’s outfit but I think the comparison is clear. In related news, April is rapidly climbing the ranks of my favourites.

THREE: Mondo’s Collar and Cape

He said he was going for futuristic and he succeeded.

FOUR: Maybe Gordana secretly reads my blog.

At first glance this is flapper-meets-under-the-sea (which is nifty in its own right) but the bizarre color pattern on the skirt tips it heroine chic. Which means Gordana is my one to watch.

FIVE: Anthony’s Gown + Styling

The dress: is entirely as Kryptonian as Jerrel’s name.
The styling: come on. Those gloves are 100% heroine chic. The judges even said she looked like she was ready to punch someone.

Edit: Gordana’s dress was initially credited erroneously to Mila. Thank you Julia.

Superheroines of the Night: Diane Kruger, Busy Phillips, and Michelle Williams

Anika — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:09:16 +0000

First we have to talk about this:

My thoughts go like so:
1. Zomg!
2. But where’s Josh?
3. But but do you think Diane&Josh and Busy&Michelle have super fashionable dinner parties?
4. BECAUSE I WANT TO GO.
5. Charlie‘s Angels

Now let’s talk clothes.

This is interesting. And definitely on the side of heroine chic with that neckline and the colour scheme. And look here:

The chunky bracelet and the sparkly nail polish (and the adorable star ring) all push this toward superherodom and if the skirt were the length of that sash there it would be just right. For fighting bad guys. It’s an appropriate length for the red carpet at an awards show.

Anyway, it’s interesting, but it looks oddly stiff for a flowy grecian dress standing like so. Or maybe SHE looks oddly stiff.

There. Much better.

This…is boring. Pretty color but I don’t love this cut on anyone and with that hair she looks like a lamp. A pretty lamp. But a lamp.

This I love. She looks sophisticated and adorable at the same time.

The top is effortlessly heroine chic. And her styling looks effortlessly stunning.

I LOVE the flowers. Beautiful.

Take Our Poll

Superhero of the Night: Leonardo DiCaprio

Anika — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:29:49 +0000

I’m just gonna put this out there:

You know in Catch Me If You Can when Leo wants to be Bond, James Bond?

Yes.