Movie Villains in Couture by David Murray

As you may or may not remember, last year illustrator David Murray dropped a sartorial and fairly satirical series of images, each one of a different movie villain/horror movie character wearing some of the hottest recent runway looks. Hello my two favourite worlds colliding! 

Whilst smirking to myself at the sight of Boba Fett in Astrid Andersen, Stephen King's Pennywise in Moschino (which will have me never look at Ronald McDonald in the same way again) and Darth Maul in a suitably coordinated Givenchy ensemble, some of my favourite female villains were noticeably absent. Thankfully, Murray has returned this year with a series dedicated entirely to my favourite type of on-screen persona - the female super-villain - decked out in Spring/Summer 16's finest looks.

Womenswear as Menswear

Speaking of Vivienne Westwood, watching her Red Label show at London Fashion Weekend, I happened to notice three coats, meant for women, that I would definitely considering wearing. (The last one in particular - need!)

This has spawned a new obsession of mine, to broaden my purchasing horizons (not too sure if that's a good thing, perhaps my horizons are broad enough?) and find masculine womenswear that I could work into my wardrobe. The gender lines have been becoming so blurred over the past decade, and in a non-trannylicious way, I'm enjoying seeing what designers have come up with.

Along with the VW Red Label coats, the image of Lily Donaldson in these Alexander Wang trousers (above) has been engraved into my memory and they have subsequently become a must-have for me this year. Along with a Marios Schwab shirt with belted collar (below). There must be a menswear version of this somewhere!

Perhaps a phone call to Daddy is in order.

Oscars 2011

I'm short of time so here, quite simply, is a rundown of my favourite looks from last night's Oscar ceremony.

I love how Hilary Swank (above in Gucci) can completely alter her otherwise athletic build and sometimes masculine appearance to look so elegant and glamorous and above all wonderfully feminine.

Celine Dion, fresh from the birth of her twins looked radiant in Armani Prive.

Halle Berry looking feather-light and ethereal in this beautifully embellished Marchesa number.

Cate Blanchett in Givenchy Haute Couture. Enough said. She never steps out of line. She can do no wrong.

Another satisfying moment for me was seeing Mandy Moore (above) appear in the Monique Lhullier gown that you may remember me blogging about almost six months ago -

http://tinyurl.com/6gh3v74

Footnote: Whoever are in charge of Jennifer Hudson and Scarlett Johansson... you can go right ahead and fire yourselves... Hideous.

Take A Sip

For those of you who are always thirsty for more, don't forget to check out my Tumblr.

http://romanticallyjack.tumblr.com/

Life is somewhat hectic at the moment and I find myself updating that more often.

Enjoy my sweets.

Carey and the Olsens

I don't consider myself to be much of a celebrity reporter, but you can't argue with Carey Mulligan in Chanel couture at the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards.

The 25 year-old British actress (who seems to have come from nowhere) has designers tripping over their hemlines to get her to wear their clothes, and although I don't know if she has a huge team of stylists behind her, but her taste and style seem to be impeccable. There's something very Parisian chic about her attitude and yet she still evokes the true laid-back effortlessness that I (perhaps with slight bias) consider to be quintessentially British. It has also been reported that during that she broke down in tears during the awards ceremony after receiving a phone call from Baz Luhrmann awarding her the role of Daisy Buchanan in his upcoming adaptation of the literary classic 'The Great Gatsby'.

And of course, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards could never be blogged about without the mention of my favourite twins who were also in attendance -

- they never fail me.

Images of Carey Mulligan courtesy of JustJared.buzznet.com

Born This Way

I was going to do an entire recap of the best dressed at the 2010 Video Music Awards, but quite frankly there was no one else worth commenting on, and this outfit couldn't go unmentioned on my blog.

Gaga in McQueen. Lee would have been proud.

Galliano's Garden

Creative, inspiring, innovative and picturesque, there aren't many adjectives left in the English language that haven't already been drastically overused to describe John Galliano's work.

His latest Paris couture show for Dior took inspiration from the decadent gardens of Christian Dior's childhood home. Models glided down the runway in vivid tulip skirts, pansy dresses and petal-adorned ball gowns. Their head dresses and hair styling is a particular favourite touch of mine - wrapped in a rainbow of cellophane, models resembled sumptuous upside down bouquets, Galliano's gifts to the show's audience.

In a time of ecological uncertainty, the collection elegantly promoted nature's beauty and how in a material world, and an industry that sometimes relies too heavily on the "man-made", we need to be reminded of how stunning the planet's natural creations are. An ironic eco-message? Perhaps. To-die-for-couture? Most certainly.

The collection could have ended up being very "costume". Galliano is famed for his theatricality and his work often does dangerously border on the fine line of costume and couture, but yet again he has successfully managed to remain on the right side of the line... Phew.