Hello-Hello and welcome to a Thursday here at the Prepatorium!
We begin with what may be a surprising admission: we are actually looking forward to the big event this weekend for fashionistas, the Red Carpet at the Oscars. (Although we are terribly worried for our friends in New York and hope you are able to see the show. ABC and Cablevision really need to play nice with one another, honestly.)
Our friends at the Telegraph have a stellar piece on avoiding Red Carpet disasters.
The Telegraph cites Beyoncé Knowles, Sophia Loren and Miley Cyrus as the Worst Dressed at last year’s event. One advisory, the story does flirt with a verboten topic, a lady’s unmentionables. (Gasp.)
4. Underwear
It must match, first rule of play. And if you’re resorting to “magic knickers”, “Spanx” or any “lose-a-size” wonders, make sure your dress is sufficiently opaque or in a heavy fabric which will not disclose what lies beneath.”
What a marvelous term, “Magic Knickers”. Below we offer gowns/personalities making most lists of Oscar fashion disasters:
Oooh, we had forgotten how unfortunate that garment was on Ms. Paltrow. Next, a fire engine red fashion faux pas.
And then there was this, we can’t share the word that always comes to mind upon seeing the gown. (The word isn’t about Ms. Kidman mind you, it is the dress.)
Ouch.
Another term we hadn’t previously heard: “Bingo Wings”.
5. Arm yourself!
With a little tulle or chiffon “shrug”. It’s a Dame Helen Mirren style secret and your “bingo wings” will remain yours.
We’re thinking this is the sort of accessory discussed in Rule #5.
There are sure to be more hits and misses this weekend, we are eager to see who is wearing whom. (For a gallery of previous red carpet styles, click here.)
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The Academy Awards offers an audience many advertisers covet; Penney’s is taking advantage of this, launching a new image campaign.
The retailer is also using the broadcast to officially kickoff OlsenBoye, the line from the Olsen twins. Click here for a previous post with more on the collection.
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We close with an early look at the Liberty of London for Target line, due in stores and online March 14.
The retailer has a splendid interactive feature online showcasing Liberty prints, anyone can pick a pattern and download it for use as a screensaver or desktop wallpaper.
Here are a few more images from the always-on-top-of-all-things-fashion Catwalk Queen.
In this next image we see pieces from the home collection including a lamp, bedding and candles.
More from the line.
We could be mistaken, but we recall reading that some items, like the gardening tools, are only going to be available online. We think the Queen Mother might find the gloves appealing.
We’ll make the planter today’s Pretty in Pink.
At only $9.99 it’s also pretty nice on the pocketbook. Another item on its way to your local Targét, a Liberty print bicycle.
As an FYI, the colors are much richer (and in many cases brighter) than our images show. Having returned less than an hour ago from a little jaunt to our local Target, we can report that banners promoting the line are in place all over the store. The collection includes products in every category, from clothing to accessories to home goods, it is a very important launch for one of our favorite places.
G’bye until next time!