The Bloggomist: Three Times a Trend
Fashion Opinion

When I was younger I wanted to be an actress. A full-blown Hollywood star. I’d have nice cars, a couple of houses, maybe a boat and most important of all: a closet that would be the envy of every girl from New York to New Zealand. In other words, I wanted to be an actress because of the clothes. Don’t get me wrong I had a love for acting too, but if there’s one thing that’s pretty much synonymous with being a Hollywood starlet it’s wearing pretty clothes. And who doesn’t want to wear pretty clothes?

Regardless of where my acting career did (or obviously didn’t) go, I’ve still held strong to my fascination with the marriage of Hollywood and fashion. There are few other industries outside of fashion itself that are full of so much glamour and beauty. But good lord is it boring! I mean these women (and men) have access to everything in the world, any whim is right at their fingertips, and yet their fashion choices are about as exciting as a competitive chess match. From one too many plunged necklines to prom-on-steroids ball gowns the Hollywood red carpets have become nothing more than a runway of expected name dropping and play-it-safe aesthetics.

Fergie headed to the Jr. High Prom.

I don’t tune in to the awards shows with as much fervor as I did in my youth. To be honest these days I skim through the recap pictures in about the same amount of time it takes me to pour my cup of coffee. Usually that’s all I need to digest the horribly predictable gown choices paraded down the red carpet. Fluffy Oscar de la Renta? Check. Gaudy Versace? Check. Shimmery Armani? Check. Token weird girl wearing Galliano/McQueen/Elbaz etc? Check. It’s become so horribly unsurprising you don’t even need to watch the show to know how it will all unfold.

And to tell you the truth I’m a bit baffled by the whole thing. Out of all the people in the world who have the ability to really pull out all the stops, it’s Hollywood. What designer could say no to instant household name recognition and what actress could turn down the opportunity to wear some of the most gorgeous designs in the world? Um, apparently all of them.

This isn’t to say there aren’t some girls out there who really shine, and I’m genuinely excited to see what they turn up wearing. Most of the time these are the names that end up on the “worst dressed” list, but who exactly are these so-called list making experts anyway? And who are they to say that Jennifer Aniston looks better in a boring jersey gown than Chloe Sevigny does in tiered ruffles? I would like to see a “pushing the envelope” list, a nod to the girls who try a little harder. Anyone can throw on a black gown, but it takes something more to get yourself into an avant garde creation, to turn yourself into an art piece and really become the center of attention.

Maggie Gyllenhaal in Lanvin. Strikes a good balance between the runway and the red carpet.

I’m no Hollywood expert, neither am I a fashion insider or a big-budget stylist, but is it too much to ask to see more effort? Can we get out of the bubble of overblown names and boring design? I guarantee that there are loads of talented up and coming designers out there who would kill to get their creations on some of the most famous bodies in the world, so why not give them a chance? Even if not, there are amazing well known names making beautiful and ground breaking designs that deserve to be showcased just as much (if not more so) than most of what is considered red carpet worthy now. Simply put: pick more interesting gowns.

I understand that there’s all kinds of politics that go into these sorts of decisions, and perhaps tattered silk draped on an emaciated 20 year old sauntering down a runway doesn’t exactly translate on a 30 year old actress in real life (even if this isn’t “real life”) but is it too much for you all to try? Not everyone can be Tilda Swinton rocking Haider Ackermann and I don’t expect every bright eyed, high cheek-boned flavor of the week to suddenly be “progressive” but I think the girls who are trying should be given a little more credit than they are. If I’m not mistaken I believe the saying goes: “to whom much is given, much is expected”, same applies with fashion ladies. You have the resources, now step it up!

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Published on 29 January 2010 | |