Like any dressmakers, or anybody else keen on fashion, we always have one eye on the red carpets throughout the year, looking to be inspired by the latest celebrity trends and 2013 has seen a whole host of stunning looks, many of which will go down in fashion history. This year, the red carpet has been awash with sumptuous fabrics, elegant lines and breathtaking designs. In 2013 it was Valentino who was responsible for dressing the most red carpet starlets, however we also saw some incredible designs by Alexander McQueen, Dior and Oscar de la Renta. Possibly one of the most famous red carpet looks of 2013 was the incredible Christian Dior Haute Couture gown worn by Jennifer Lawrence when receiving the Academy Award for Silver Linings Playbook. The skirt was so voluminous it caused the star to trip up when approaching the stage to receive her Oscar, providing one of the most talked about moments of the year. At the premiere of Oz, The Great and Powerful, the stunning Rachel Weisz was the epitome of hollywood glamour in a beautiful Michael Kors gown crafted from a stunning champagne coloured lace fabric. Other style highlights were provided by many of the usual suspects including Jennifer Aniston, Miranda Kerr and Michelle Williams.
As always, where there is a fashion triumph there is a a fashion fail not far behind. Helena Bonham Carter topped many of the worst dressed lists with her Vivienne Westwood layered creation and whilst not a completely hideous choice of outfit, it was considered to be rather underwhelming for the occasion. Whilst a very original choice of outfit, Katy Perry did seem to forget that less is more when she appeared at the MTV Video Music Awards wearing a creation which sported everything including animal print fabric, sequinned butterfly embellishments, a turtle neck and a thigh high split. With so much going on we didn't quite know where to look!
This year we have found ourselves often awed and inspired by many of the incredible designs and luxurious fabrics gliding their way down the red carpets from Hollywood to Paris and Milan. So much so that we have spent much of the year attempting to recreate some of the most coveted looks using our gorgeous range of fabrics. As 2013 draws to a close, we have complied a list of five of our favourite red carpet looks of the year for you to try, if you dare!
1. Taylor Swift at the Brit Awards - February
[caption id="attachment_6145" align="alignleft" width="118"]
Taylor Swift at The Brits[/caption]
Nominated for Best International Female, Taylor opted for a simple and elegant style at February's Brit Awards. The black Ellie Saab gown showcased Taylor's stunning figure with it's flowing floor length skirt and sheer panels and paired with a gold waist cinching belt the result was a simple but sophisticated style which was enough to steal the show. To create this look our Black Microfibre Fabric is ideal. With its luxurious drape, this lightweight dressmaking fabric is a particularly popular choice for evening wear designs. For the sheer panels you can use a chiffon fabric; the lightweight, sheer fabric is one of the most popular of all our dressmaking fabrics. Glamorous and elegant, this fabric is easy to work with and is perfect for special occasions.
2. Jennifer Lopez at the Golden Globes - January
[caption id="attachment_6148" align="alignright" width="182"]
Jennifer Lopez at the Golden Globes[/caption]
A regular on the red carpet, J-Lo is well known for her gorgeous outfits but since wearing the iconic green Versace dress made from chiffon fabric at the 42nd Grammy Awards in 2000, Jennifer has failed to make the same fashion impact. But in January this year, all that changed. Arriving on the red carpet, Jennifer wowed in the long sleeved Zuhair Morad gown made from a gorgeous cream lace fabric. This daring gown showcased Jennifer's famous figure and ensured she was on the front of all every newspaper and fashion publication. Lace is a fabric which has been particularly popular with dressmakers this year and is used for everything from evening gowns to wedding dresses. We stock a wide range of lace fabric and to emulate this look we recommend the heavy corded lace layered over a body stocking fabric. Team with gorgeous hollywood waves and a pair of killer heels for a breathtaking Hollywood look.
3. Jennifer Lawrence at the Hunger Games : Catching Fire Premiere - November
2013 has been quite a year for J-Law, with a number of smash hit films a Golden Globe and an Oscar under her belt, Jennifer will go down as one of the most successful and admired actresses in recent years. Not only is she idolised for her acting skills but Jennifer has proved herself to be something of a fashion icon in the making. One of our favourite looks of hers has to be the head turning sheer Dior number she wore for the LA premiere of the much anticipated Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire. Consisting of a black leotard underneath a dusky blue sheer fabric, this is one of the easiest looks on our list to recreate. For the underneath fabric, choose a lycra fabric or lycra jersey and pair with a chiffon fabric for a sheer overlay. Team with a black waist cinching belt for a red carpet look of your own.
4. Lea Michele at the Screen Actors Guild Awards - January
[caption id="attachment_6149" align="alignright" width="207"]
Lea Michele at SAG Awards[/caption]
Normally one of the more classic and conservatively dressed ladies in Hollywood, Glee star Lea wowed in a stunning bright pink Valentino gown for an appearance on the red carpet in January. Lea let her dress do the talking by wearing her stunning raven locks loose around her shoulders and minimal accessories for a classic Old Hollywood look. Our Duchess Satin is the perfect fabric for emulating Lea's show stopping look, this sumptuously elegant fabric is a higher thread count than other satin fabrics and is probably the most popular dressmaking fabric on the market. For Lea's elegant, eye popping colour our cerise duchess satin is a stunning choice of fabric.
5. Kate Hudson at the Golden Globes - January
Goldie Hawn's daughter has not only inherited her mother's photogenic features but her impeccable sense of style. At the 2013 Golden Globe's Kate wore a stunning black, embellished gown by Sarah Burton for McQueen (the designer most famous for creating Katherine Middleton's lace wedding gown). The edgy design featured a breathtaking embellished collar and belt to accentuate her tiny waist, resulting in a jaw dropping design. The only bone we had to pick with this otherwise flawless look was that Kate's golden locks left flowing around her shoulders somewhat distracted from the intricate beadwork around her collar. If you are wanting to emulate this look we would recommend a sleek ponytail or elegant up do. The simple black gown can be recreated using a Lycra Jersey Fabric, this is an extremely comfortable fabric to wear and is extremely versatile and easy to work with. Due to its stretch element lycra jersey is the perfect fabric for when the wearer requires a wide range of movement and will retain its original shape ensuring longevity of your designs.
This year was a great year for fashion and we cannot wait to see what 2014 will bring. As always, we love to see your creations as much as we enjoy the designer pieces so please remember to share your pictures with us on our Facebook page.
Until next time!
Calico Laine
Taylor Swift at The Brits[/caption]
Nominated for Best International Female, Taylor opted for a simple and elegant style at February's Brit Awards. The black Ellie Saab gown showcased Taylor's stunning figure with it's flowing floor length skirt and sheer panels and paired with a gold waist cinching belt the result was a simple but sophisticated style which was enough to steal the show. To create this look our Black Microfibre Fabric is ideal. With its luxurious drape, this lightweight dressmaking fabric is a particularly popular choice for evening wear designs. For the sheer panels you can use a chiffon fabric; the lightweight, sheer fabric is one of the most popular of all our dressmaking fabrics. Glamorous and elegant, this fabric is easy to work with and is perfect for special occasions.
2. Jennifer Lopez at the Golden Globes - January
[caption id="attachment_6148" align="alignright" width="182"] Jennifer Lopez at the Golden Globes[/caption]
A regular on the red carpet, J-Lo is well known for her gorgeous outfits but since wearing the iconic green Versace dress made from chiffon fabric at the 42nd Grammy Awards in 2000, Jennifer has failed to make the same fashion impact. But in January this year, all that changed. Arriving on the red carpet, Jennifer wowed in the long sleeved Zuhair Morad gown made from a gorgeous cream lace fabric. This daring gown showcased Jennifer's famous figure and ensured she was on the front of all every newspaper and fashion publication. Lace is a fabric which has been particularly popular with dressmakers this year and is used for everything from evening gowns to wedding dresses. We stock a wide range of lace fabric and to emulate this look we recommend the heavy corded lace layered over a body stocking fabric. Team with gorgeous hollywood waves and a pair of killer heels for a breathtaking Hollywood look.
3. Jennifer Lawrence at the Hunger Games : Catching Fire Premiere - November
2013 has been quite a year for J-Law, with a number of smash hit films a Golden Globe and an Oscar under her belt, Jennifer will go down as one of the most successful and admired actresses in recent years. Not only is she idolised for her acting skills but Jennifer has proved herself to be something of a fashion icon in the making. One of our favourite looks of hers has to be the head turning sheer Dior number she wore for the LA premiere of the much anticipated Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire. Consisting of a black leotard underneath a dusky blue sheer fabric, this is one of the easiest looks on our list to recreate. For the underneath fabric, choose a lycra fabric or lycra jersey and pair with a chiffon fabric for a sheer overlay. Team with a black waist cinching belt for a red carpet look of your own.
4. Lea Michele at the Screen Actors Guild Awards - January
[caption id="attachment_6149" align="alignright" width="207"] Lea Michele at SAG Awards[/caption]
Normally one of the more classic and conservatively dressed ladies in Hollywood, Glee star Lea wowed in a stunning bright pink Valentino gown for an appearance on the red carpet in January. Lea let her dress do the talking by wearing her stunning raven locks loose around her shoulders and minimal accessories for a classic Old Hollywood look. Our Duchess Satin is the perfect fabric for emulating Lea's show stopping look, this sumptuously elegant fabric is a higher thread count than other satin fabrics and is probably the most popular dressmaking fabric on the market. For Lea's elegant, eye popping colour our cerise duchess satin is a stunning choice of fabric.
5. Kate Hudson at the Golden Globes - January
Goldie Hawn's daughter has not only inherited her mother's photogenic features but her impeccable sense of style. At the 2013 Golden Globe's Kate wore a stunning black, embellished gown by Sarah Burton for McQueen (the designer most famous for creating Katherine Middleton's lace wedding gown). The edgy design featured a breathtaking embellished collar and belt to accentuate her tiny waist, resulting in a jaw dropping design. The only bone we had to pick with this otherwise flawless look was that Kate's golden locks left flowing around her shoulders somewhat distracted from the intricate beadwork around her collar. If you are wanting to emulate this look we would recommend a sleek ponytail or elegant up do. The simple black gown can be recreated using a Lycra Jersey Fabric, this is an extremely comfortable fabric to wear and is extremely versatile and easy to work with. Due to its stretch element lycra jersey is the perfect fabric for when the wearer requires a wide range of movement and will retain its original shape ensuring longevity of your designs.
This year was a great year for fashion and we cannot wait to see what 2014 will bring. As always, we love to see your creations as much as we enjoy the designer pieces so please remember to share your pictures with us on our Facebook page.
Until next time!
Calico Laine