Just a Formality

As awards season is upon us, I thought it would be fun to talk about regal, elegant, jaw dropping and awe inspiring evening gowns.  The formal nature of evening gowns might imply a certain conservatism however, there are so many choices when it comes to design and fabric, that an evening gown can be as conservative or avant-garde as you want it to be.  The wearer must feel confident and comfortable in the dress to "pull it off" and appear poised and graceful.  This is true regarding any outfit, however insecurity seems more pronounced when in formal dress.  If you don't feel comfortable in a certain style of dress, don't wear it, as you discomfort in it will show with every step you take and every facial expression.  It just shows.  OR better yet, discover what makes you feel most uncomfortable in the particular cut and try to remedy the problem.  If it's a matter of throwing on some Spanx, buying double-sided tape or a new bra, that's a quick fix!  Play up the part of your body that you love the most!  If you've been working on calf-raises and squats and want to show off your gams, sizzle in a dress with a nice high slit.  Strapless dresses obviously highlight beautiful bronzed shoulders.  As I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm liking backless tops and dresses as of late, so if I had a gala or wedding to go to, I'd probably opt for a backless evening gown.

This low-cut black backless dress with waist tie sash just screams Angelina Jolie!  In days gone by, to be considered an elegant evening gown, dresses had to look opulent and be adorned heavily.  This dress is an example of simple, fluid elegance.  (With such a low cut, double-sided tape would be a definite must!)

 

Here is another example of how a simple tie sash can add shape and a nice silhouette to a dress.  This pleated silk dress is incredibly sweet.  I could see one of the more darling Hollywood actresses wearing this one (say Reese Witherspoon or Jennifer Garner). 

Fluttery, light yet strong is what comes to mind when looking at this ruffled one shoulder dress. How do you not feel like a goddess in this number? 

After coming across this dress, I realized that I don't own nearly enough white.  This colour just pops against dark skin and has a clean, fresh, luminous quality to it.  The lightly pleated silk fabric must feel like floating on a cloud!  

(Congrats to 3 of my faves Trent Reznor, Jim Parsons and Natalie Portman on their Golden Globe wins!)