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.

Guest Blogger: Elise V

My friend and local fashion maven Elise V kindly accepted the invitation to guest blog for me.  In this entry, Elise discusses her love of mixing feminine styles with more masculine/androgynous pieces to create a unique look. Enjoy... 

"Judson and I first met at business school orientation.  I spotted his amazing outfit (signature bow tie) across the room.  I called my mom afterward and told her, 'I’ve just spotted a fabulous new friend. We are destined to be great friends, and we haven’t even met yet!' Thankfully, the fashion gods saw fit to place us in a marketing class together, where we became instant buddies.  Being an avid reader of Judson Knows Best, imagine my delight when my local fashion icon asked to feature ME on his blog.

The first thought that came to mind was to share my practice of mixing feminine pieces with more masculine or androgynous styles to create a unique look.  Forget the 'matchy-matchy' days where you were obligated to match your belt, bag, and shoes.  Take a cue from your favorite bartender and mix it up! For example, pairing a girly lace top under a motorcycle style leather jacket with skinny jeans and booties.

Now, onto the good stuff: Here we have a Twelfth Street Cynthia Vincent blouse, which I tucked into my Haute Hippie sequined skirt.  The army green suede Vince jacket adds a slightly androgynous element to the outfit.  As far as footwear, I think you could choose either a pair of booties or platforms for this look.  

 

Outfit number two is an uber feminine Prada blouse (a gift from one of my favorite clients… you know who you are!) paired with a Madison Marcus skirt.  The buckle detail makes this skirt a bit more edgy, so the lady-like blouse is the perfect balance.  I am carrying a Fendi handbag.  If it were chilly, I would throw on a leather jacket or cardigan.  For the feet, a wedge sandal or platform heel would be fabulous.  

Lastly, seen here are the gender-neutral J Brand cargo pants (every woman needs at least one pair) with a very slinky and girly Madison Marcus blouse.  A pop of color is added with this Rebecca Minkoff  messenger bag and DVF booties.  I picked up the peacock feather earrings at a little boutique in Hillsboro Village called Pangea.  The bracelet is by Milly, the amethyst in the raw ring is from H. Audrey, and the other ring is by my favorite jewelry designer, Debra Jill. 

Bottom line: Don’t be afraid to mix it up! Take these ideas and create your own outfit, which may be as refreshing as your favorite cocktail." 

To learn more about Elise, click HERE to visit her website.

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