Oscar Fashion 2014

Red Carpet fashion at the Oscars is always a visual treat.  The anticipation of "what will they wear" never gets old!  So let's take a look at some of the most buzzworthy looks of the evening.  Be sure and tune-in to Nashville's News Channel 2 WKRN in the morning to hear some of my comments on the looks of the evening.  

Jared Leto: Several men rocked the white jacket this year, and my favorite was definitely the always-stylish Jared Leto. He took it a step further by adding the red silk bowtie and shimmering buttons, subtle but a very nice touch. 

Lupita Nyong'o: All eyes were on Lupita Nyong'o after her recent fashion hits, particularly the caped red Ralph Lauren dress.  For the Oscars, a gorgeous blue Prada gown was made for her and it was effortlessly glamorous with a nod to old Hollywood with the pleats and simple lines.

Charlize Theron: This black Christian Dior dress is a great look. The interesting lines at the bust and the element of sheer on the lower half are both gorgeous details.

Sandra Bullock: The gathering on this Alexander McQueen gown is perfection, complementing Sandra's body perfectly and the deep color works very well with her hair and makeup, making those eyes really pop. It was a stunning gown without being overpowering.

Kristin Chenoweth: The deco-inspired gold Cavalli dress was a perfect choice, sparkly and patterned all over with a very structured top. You could tell she enjoyed wearing it and it matched her dazzling personality very well.

My least favorite was Amy Adams' tuxedo-inspired Gucci. In truth, it is a wonderful dress, but I expected more for this red carpet from her. The Oscars is a great place to go big and to take risks. It felt very safe and too simple, especially for someone with a body and personality as great as Amy. Making a bigger statement with hair or jewelry would have helped elevate this look.

Oscar Fashion 2013

One of my favorite events of the year has arrived: The Academy Awards Red Carpet!  Oscar fashions are always a topic of conversation and inspiration.  The most current looks, good and bad, are paraded in a gorgeous display as the stars make their way into the theatre.  All of the top designers are represented, new trends emerge and fashionistas worldwide take note for their own adaptations and applications.  Below is a clip from Nashville News 2 where I had the pleasure of speaking on my thoughts of the evening. 

My favorite look of the night went to Stacy Keibler, pictured here below.  Her choice of this Naeem Kahn dress is stunning, which comes as no surprise as I later learned that the amazing Brad Goreski hand selected this for her.  The juxtaposition of '20s inspired draping and glamour with coarse industrial elements really caught my eye.  It is unique and edgy, but also classic and beautiful.  Flawless in my opinion.  She may not leave with an Oscar, but don't feel too bad for her- she takes home George Clooney and this amazing gown.

For The Guys: Madrid Trend: The Bold Pant

After spending a week in Madrid earlier this month, the most noticeable trend for guys I observed was the bold pant.  Everywhere I looked there were red, blue, orange, purple, green and yellow pants.  Men in Madrid are not fearful of color, that's for sure.  

Now I will say that when it comes to being classically handsome or dapper, nothing usually beats a black/grey/white combination, but the bold pant is a trend not to be overlooked.  Nashville guys sometimes break out the color, but usually in either a very preppy country club style or grungy band look. Refined casual everyday wear scarcely sees such color. My favorite, the purple pants above, I noticed from across the street on my new pal Diego.  I asked where he purchased them and to my luck & surprise, we were standing in front of the store Cremieux.  

I quickly entered the shop, was greeted with a generously delicious gin & tonic and acquired my own purple pants. I was happy to see there were many other fun finds inside as well.  This was my first time in an upscale Cremieux store; before I had only known them from smaller department stores in the states where I'd never had much luck. I was impressed with their selection of unique offerings in this Salamanca district store. 

Madrid Shopping: MAN 1924

While in Madrid this week, I've spent each afternoon discovering different areas of the city in hopes of finding unique shops and restaurants. Today, I made my way to MAN 1924 in the Salamanca shopping district; it has quickly become my new favorite store.  

 

I had the pleasure of meeting Spanish-based owner Carlos Castillo, whose passion for style is magnificently infectious. He was incredibly kind to chat with me, even showed me around his new website that launched today MAN1924.com. His use of color, texture and pattern presents an infinite number of possibilities for the stylish modern man. 

I found a green silk bowtie with blue centered double stripe that will complement so many looks I can pull together from my closet. Impeccably constructed and thoughtfully designed, each piece in MAN 1924 whether urban, city or formal is quite wonderful.

A pair of slim fitting navy trousers called my name as well. They're the perfect length above the ankle in current European fashion. MAN 1924 is more wearable than Brooks Brothers, more affordable than Zegna and more modernly styled than J Crew. 

A vintage vibe finds its way into many pieces, and the fun thing is you can then easily mix these with a bright blue vest or orange pant to achieve an eclectic, ruggedly refined look. Be sure and check it out if you're in Madrid or 'til then visit MAN1924.com, quick preview below.

Styling: Sweet Home Alabama

CMT premiered a new season of the hit dating show Sweet Home Alabama tonight.  I love this show!  It's country vs. city in the dating experience of a lifetime.  Recently, I styled the star bachelor Tribble Reese for a photoshoot to promote this second season.  I wanted to make sure he looked masculine, cool, rooted and current.  I chose Alabama-based and GQ's 2010 Best New Menswear Designer Billy Reid for his shirt.  With front pockets, pearl buttons and a great print, it's a nice piece that's both casual and refined in true Billy Reid fashion.  For the jeans, I mixed it up with a more modern Taverniti, the Meg cut, with distressed front pocket, dark wash and slim, structured fit.  

Tune in Fridays at 9/8c for new episodes!

 

Event: Floral Meets Fashion

One of my precious friends celebrated her birthday last weekend.  In addition to being a total sweetheart, she has a great eye for fashion and for locating anything cute and fabulous.  The thoughtful hostess, knowing the birthday girl well, took this into account with every detail.  For example, the cake was a custom purse-shaped treat so realistic it could be on a shelf for sale at Louis Vuitton.  Beautiful and delicious!

I was elated to be there among friends for the celebration and to help create the centerpieces.  Keeping with the purse theme, I aimed to mix floral with fashion.  An online search led me to these moss covered planters.  Then I went to my favorite local flower shop and selected a variety I thought might work nicely together for this outdoor event. 

A wide clear vase with flat top is used to raise the small purse higher, giving maximum visibility to both.  

Tall vases add an element of height.  Pink feathers add texture and also match the balloons at the event.

 

Import Flowers on Murphy Road is the best local source for flowers. I love that you can walk through the coolers and select your favorites.  

All packed up and ready to go!

For The Guys: Baron Wells Neckwear

Attention men (and women who shop for them): Be sure and check out Baron Wells this Spring.  Classic with a twist, each piece differentiates itself with personality through the use of either a unique color or shape.  Moderately priced and easy to find online or at select retailers around the world, your perfect tie is waiting to be discovered.  Fun fact: Baron Wells is known for creating wonderful masculine cuff links as well, so keep an eye out for those.

Click HERE to further explore Baron Wells

Give Her A Break: Celine Dion

It's no secret that Celine Dion is my favorite entertainer (or maybe even person) of all time.  Seeing her on the 2011 Academy Awards was such a thrill, as she delivered yet another flawless performance.  No one can deny her talent, but many often bash her style.  I'll admit, I was not the biggest fan of the infamous backward white suit.  However, I thought I'd take this opportunity to share just a few Celine styles that are almost as flawless as her voice.  Have a look: 

J Mendel

Balmain

Embellished scalloped vest

 

Fab gray shopping outfit 

Roberto Cavalli 

Event: Three Blind Vines

Friday, February 25th.  Friends, pull out your calendars and mark that date because you now have plans! On this night, Franklin’s finest will attend the annual wine tasting event Three Blind Vines. This party for a purpose gives wine lovers the opportunity to taste different brands of Sauvignon Blanc and Malbec while benefiting a great cause, the revitalization of the Franklin Theatre. 

A 1920s speakeasy theme sets the stage for a glamorous evening.  Although this attire is not required, it is recommended and I strongly encourage it.  

I’ll be there to judge Best Dressed Man and Best Dressed Woman. Compliments of my friends at Creed, the Best Dressed Man will go home with a bottle of the internationally revered Green Irish Tweed cologne. My favorite jewelry designer, Christine Wallace, has created a custom pair of art deco earrings with elements from that romantic era for the Best Dressed Woman. 

Friday, February 25, 2011  |  6p – 9p  |  Jamison Hall in The Factory  |  Franklin

$25 per person, $30 at the door + 3 bottles of wine per team 

 1 Sauvignon Blanc, 1 Malbec and 1 repeat of either
Teams consist of 1-3 people

Click HERE for tickets 

Click HERE for more information 

Unsure of what to wear? I’ve collected some speakeasy style reference images to spark some ideas. Pull inspiration from these below, make it your own and have fun with it!  

 

Additional Information

Admission includes entertainment, food from your favorite local restaurants and chefs, and the wine of course. 

Back by popular demand, the silent auction is sure to afford many opportunities to bid on desirable items throughout the evening.  

The fabulous Mandy Johnson will be at the event, capturing images of all the night's best moments and styles.   

In addition to competing for the best style, you also compete as a team against others for the best wine.  The teams that bring the most favored wine of the evening (determined by vote) go home with all unopened bottles. So bring your favorite wine and pull out the pearls, feathers, vests, suspenders, hats, etc and step back in time for a truly special event.

 

Inside Scoop: Yoox Vintage

As I've mentioned before, one of my favorite online shopping sites is yoox.com.  Yoox always has exciting and fresh one-of-a-kind designer items at discounted prices.  I've recently been paying attention to a part of the site I rarely noticed before, Yoox Vintage.  This hidden gem is a great source for treasures from the past in great condition, ready-to-wear.  Sourced from private collections, it's kind of like digging into an ever-evolving vault or secret stash.   You may find a cardigan from the 1940's, jewelry from the 70's or a dress you saw last year at Barney's and regret not purchasing.  Below are a few of my favorites currently available.  Visit yoox.com and explore!

Valentino silk skirt

Balenciaga wool coat

Prada silk skirt

Street Style: Christine Wallace Vintage Jewelry

As promised, I am happy to share with you the first piece of custom man jewelry by the amazing Christine Wallace.  Handcrafted from antique elements, this is a very special addition to my personal collection.  She used bird and hand charms, a little sparkle, various chains and a tassel to complement the already fabulous antique lion crest which serves as the anchor for this piece. 

It's amazing how adding just one unique item such as this to an outfit can completely transform the look from average to exceptional.  If you look back in fashion, I feel that it's more common to see brooches and the use of classically beautiful gentlemanly accessories.  My sartorial challenge to you, my forward-thinking reader, is to take pride in exploring ways to spice up a normal look by adding something unique to you, bringing back an old-world feel in a modern and memorable way. 

A very special thanks to Brett Warren for the photographs in this feature.  His talents as a photographer can easily be recognized with a look through his work, a beautiful collection from both his New York days and recent shoots in the Nashville area.  I'm amazed by his innate recognition of and ability to capture not only an image but a memory.  

To learn about Brett and view more, visit: 

flickr.com/photos/brettastic
 

Be sure to check out more of Christine's work and current items for purchase through any of the following avenues:

Website: christinewallacevintagejewelry.com
Etsy Store: etsy.com/shop/ChristineWallace
Blog: christinewallacevintagejewelry.blogspot.com

Behind The Scenes: Style Profile Video

Behind the scenes video from Cameron Powell photoshoot for the recent Style Profile featuring Jaclyn Bush.

 

Style Profile: Jaclyn Bush

The time has come for an original Style Profile feature, the first of this series in which an individual with remarkable style is profiled. For the inaugural Judson Knows Best Style Profile, one person immediately came to mind when I started to think of those who have influenced me and who possess the undeniable 'it' factor: Jaclyn Bush.

I've now known Jaclyn for five years, but it took only five seconds when we first met to realize her truly unique perspective on life and style, a knowledge of what's current, forthcoming and appropriate. Her understanding of proportion, fit and quality is unparalleled. She's known for gently pushing the envelope, showcasing new trends and pairings in ways that inspire others to fine tune or rediscover their own personal style. I would trust her forecasting of fashion above all others. Beautiful from the inside out, she never has to "try," rather she exudes a confidence and natural grace that is truly captivating. Her sense of style is ever-evolving and deepens with each life experience; a former single girl in the city on the cutting edge of fashion, she is now a married mother of two in Franklin.  I caught up with Jaclyn recently and was thrilled to interview her, passing along some of her thoughts to you all.

JKB: What makes you feel beautiful?
JB: A good dress. Two, maybe three hours at Fruition and a romantic dinner with Adam.

JKB: Who inspires you?

JB: Confident women like my mother, the most genuinly kind person I know.  She is secure within herself which allows her to celebrate the best in others, as we are all made in the image of our divine maker.

 

 

{Adam blouse with heavy embellishments, Paige Premium denim rolled above ankle, suede Cole Haan heels, large peacock pin created by family friend Sheri Mullican worn in hair, Granny's beads on wrist}

 
JKB: Favorite magazines?
JB: Bazaar, and don't laugh... Garden & Gun.

JKB: No laughter there. G&G is amazing- I never miss an issue. Favorite blogs or websites?
JB: apartmenttherapy.com, enjoyingthesmallthings.blogspot.com and your blog, of course.

{ J Crew blouse with gold horizontal lines, Karl Lagerfeld pants with drop waist band detailing from Saks Fifth Avenue worn rolled above ankle, suede Cole Haan heels, Granny's locket, watch and bracelets, vintage headband and earrings from personal collection}

JKB: Favorite item in your wardrobe?
JB: Orange plaid coat with fur collar. My aunt made it for my mom when she was my age; it gets cooler every year. I hope my girls fight over it someday.

JKB: What are you most passionate about?
JB: My family.

{No label oversized sweater from recent shopping outing, BCBG structured silk skirt worn above waist, BCBG patent red heels, vintage snake skin leather belt perfectly complementing blush ensemble}

 

JKB: Do you feel that Nashville is quick or slow to evolve, staying current with trends and styles?
JB: Quick. Many women in Nashville are daring and not afraid to be first, and the shops in town are in line with New York. Maybe not a full size run and not all colors shown, but that's the point. I've lost count how many fabulous stores this city supports. Just look around this coffee shop and you will be inspired.

JKB: What is on your wish list at the moment?
JB: A Theory parka, brrrrr... it's cold.

JKB: Love it- Theory rules the wearable outerwear market in my opinion. Switching gears, what do you wish would disappear from existence?
JB: Cap sleeves.

JKB: Experimentation: like, love or loathe?

JB: Love. Experiementing can go really well or horribly wrong but live and learn, right?

 {Billy Reid button down with satin sleeves and asymmetrical button detailing layered over J Crew tee, distressed Seven For All Mankind A's denim, gold necklace from The Cotton Mill Collection}

JKB: What will you teach your daughters about fashion?
JB: Well, I don't know if they will care about fashion, but I want to teach them to have a positive self image and to appreciate their bodies. And if they do love clothes... Never pay full price, keep their favorites in the vault and learn to sew a little.

JKB: What a vault that will be! What would you like to tell the readers of this blog?
JB: Well, I would say freely compliment others. You never know what a person is struggling with internally, we are all battling something. A simple "you look hot" could relight a fire in a burned out person. And i would say "read on," as Judson brings all types of beauty to the surface.

JKB: Blushing. What's next for fashion?
JB: It's looking bright, my friend. I see a watermelon hue hoodie in your future.

 

JKB: What's next for you?
JB: Doing my best to raise lovely and kind girls. Trying to be a good wife, daughter, sister and friend.

 ###

Photography: Cameron Powell

Wardrobe Styling: Jaclyn Bush and Judson Aikens

Photography and Styling Collaboration: Becky Tennille

 

Visit (cameronpowell.net) to explore more of his beautiful photography. 

Follow him through blog (cameronpowellphoto.tumblr.com) and on twitter at (twitter.com/cameronpowell) for updates on his exciting work.