Now that the 11th Annual Shanghai International Film Festival has come to an end, a quick review of the beautiful fashions on the red carpet. A lot of celebrities were on hand at the event, showing their support for Sichuan, China, which had been devastated by the earthquake, with red hearts that they signed.
I thought a lot of the stars looked very pretty. They wore all the big names in European designs. Some of my fave looks include:
"The Edge of Love" premieres are this weekend, and both Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller are on a fast-running PR train, promoting the film in the UK and Scotland. When I first heard the synopsis of the film, the last thing I would associate with this movie was the word fashion. Maybe words like sordid affairs, tragedy, and confused souls come to mind, but def. not fashion.
Anyhow, I LOVE what Keira has worn to her premieres. She appeared in a purple frock at an Elle event in London, in a TopShop blouse at the daytime photocall in Edinburgh, and at night, head to toe in Chanel.
I like Sienna's risk in her fashion choices, but I'm slightly baffled by the strange concoctions she's put together, at least for Edinburgh. (See Elle UK video below to see her in a beautiful red dress.) I am definitely more wowed by Keira's wardrobe (so much so I am gaming to get that TopShop top!).
As you can see from the Elle UK clip, the movie focuses a lot on the fashion as well, which looks really lovely in its old-fashioned, prim and proper romantic way. I really can't wait to see this film. :)
I adore this new look from Victoria Beckham! She looks polished, healthy, happy, relaxed. I love how she's not overdone, but just very poised and comfortable.
And the dress! So adorable! It's aflutter with layers and layers of chiffony hearts! Marc Jacobs did well with this look. I wonder if it was a one-of-a-kind, or if he'll be selling this frock from his collection anytime soon...? Just gorgeous!
Madonna dazzled in this spangled dress from Chanel Couture, from their Spring 2007 collection. She made headlines when it was realized that this dress is actually semi-transparent (so yes, you can see her nipples :P), but I still think she looks fab. She was at the Cannes Film Festival to promote her documentary "I Am Because We Are," a film showing the plight of Malawi orphans who had lost parents and siblings to HIV and AIDS. One would think she would wear something a little more conservative, but that wouldn't be Madonna for you!
Congrats to Tang Wei 湯唯 for winning the 2008 Chopard Trophy at Cannes, awarded each year to actors on the rise. Considering that she has been virtually blacklisted in China for her work (nudity, portraying traitors, all big no-nos in the eyes of the Communist government), this is certainly a bright spot in her young career.
I actually very much enjoyed her performance in "Lust, Caution," so although I haven't seen any of her other work, I look forward to seeing more.
And despite the devastating earthquake in China, she still showed her support when she won her award.
"Thanks Chopard for this award. It's an honor for a new actress to be recognized. This means a lot to me. I'm grateful to be here. At the same time my heart is with the people affected by the Sichuan earthquake. I would like to thank everybody for the immediate and continuous support to the disaster in China and in other disasters around the world. Also, I wish to say a special thank you to Chopard and Roberto Cavalli for the personal donation to aid in the earthquake recovery. Thank you for this honor again."
In case you're wondering, not only did she thank Roberto Cavalli, but she was also wearing his design. And she was wearing Chopard jewels! Sneaky, sneaky!
Despite being über-preggers, Angelina Jolie just glows in this gorgeous green Max Azria Atelier gown. The pleating is perfect, providing texture to a very simple silhouette. The cut of the dress accentuates every curve in the most modest but flattering way.
This won't be the first time I've alluded to the "Atonement" dress, but doesn't this dress feel vaguely reminiscent of that, both in color and where the neckline is concerned? Absolutely exquisite.
I don't know what's going on here. I mean, it is definitely a bold move, but the whole vertical garden floating on Sarah Jessica Parker's head is something I'm more likely to see at a botanical garden/aviary than at a London movie premiere. By donning the Philip Treacy creation, is she bringing out the best in quintessential British charm or pissing off ornithologists everywhere?
Perhaps she was trying to foreshadow the bird headpiece worn in the "Sex and the City" wedding sequence film teaser?
I was impressed this year with the volume of big name designers sponsoring the red carpet at the Hong Kong Film Awards. Just a few years ago actresses were dressed by local designers, but now they are all decked out in the most current trends, which really says a lot about how far Asia has come in terms of being in the spotlight for both film and fashion in the international realm.
Charlene Choi 蔡卓妍 in Gucci
Shu Qi 舒淇 in Valentino
Zhang Jing Chu 張靜初 in Valentino
Kate Tsui 徐子珊 in Fendi
The trend here, although in a multitude of colors, seems to fall into the princess category, with a fitted busts and full, billowy bottoms.
My favorite of the bunch was worn by Charlie Yeung 楊采妮, in a beautiful green halter dress with a delicate cut-out in the front.
I know I've seen this design before, but I can't remember who the designer is, so if you do, please let me know! I think what struck me most about this dress is that it's actually very simple, but the lines look great on her body. It also reminds me a lot of the infamous green dress worn by Keira Knightley in "Atonement," which I obsessed over for months even before I ever saw the film. Just the lovely draping, and the showing of the back, makes this the ultimate modern dress in my book, and much more intriguing than all of those fairytale gowns.
Congrats to Kate Tsui for winning the Best Newcomer Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards yesterday. The HK Film Awards are their version of the Oscars, so to win this so early on in her career is quite exemplary. Kate is a former Miss Hong Kong, and one of my faves on TVB. She is beautiful, but has portrayed everything from being a punk to a tomboy, and normally doesn't play the sweet gorgeous girl that would be easy to cast her in. (My brother always maintained that she was hot, even when they made her dress like a boy with no make-up on, and he had no idea she was in pageants. Guess he has an "eye?")
I have not seen this movie, Eye in the Sky, but it's supposed to be a dark cop thriller (can there be any other genre coming out of HK?). I have skimmed enough reviews to want to check it out, if only to see what led to Kate winning such a prestigious award.
Kate posed in front of her own movie poster - how funny!
Does anyone know what's going on with her dress? The weird embroidered coils of white on top of the textured black are like a strange, crocheted version of couture. Luckily, she is definitely beautiful enough to carry it off!
UPDATE: Dress is by Fendi. See the runway version here. It seems like Fendi had a case of the circles in their entire spring line...
Zhang Ziyi 章子怡 in Chanel
Ruby Lin 林心如 in a dreamy cream frock
Charlie Yeung 楊采妮 in Gucci
Fan Bingbing 范冰冰 in Valentino
Gigi Leung 梁詠琪 in Valentino
Zhou Xun 周迅 in Gucci
Zhou Xun 周迅 in Maison Martin Margiela
