What Dresses Will We See at the Oscars This Year?

The Oscars are coming up on Sunday, February 28th,. While I don't care one way or the other about who wins and who loses, I love to watch the stars' arrival on the red carpet. Who will be on the best and worst looks? Which designers will be represented?

I looked through a selection of recent fashion shows (Spring 2016 Couture and Fall 2016 Ready-to-Wear) and picked out some of my favorite looks from each designer. I stuck to designers who are red carpet regulars. There are, of course, plenty more, and I may do a second post later in the week. For now, though, what do you think of these?

Armani Privé Spring 2016 Couture 

Giorgio Armani's collection is rife with lavender looks. The gown at bottom center seems most red carpet-ready to me, but I hope to see something more surprising, like top center or top right. Actresses we might see in Armani Privé include Cate Blanchett, Hilary Swank, Naomi Watts, and Uma Thurman.

Chanel Spring 2016 Couture

I wasn't especially impressed by anything in this collection, but we may see Kiera Knightly wearing one of these looks, most likely one from the top row. Other actresses who may wear Chanel include Julianne Moore, Kristen Stewart, Blake Lively, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Zuhair Murad Spring 2016 Couture

I had to limit myself from six looks from this collection; there were several more that were definitely Oscar-worthy. Actresses who may wear Zuhair Murad include Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jennifer Lopez, and Chrissy Teigen.

Valentino Spring 2016 Couture

Valentino's collection was maybe slighty out there for the Oscars, but wouldn't it be great to see someone wear something different for a change? I'd love to see any of these on the red carpet.  Actresses who we may see in Valentino include Kirsten Dunst, Keira Knightly, and Anne Hathaway.

Alberta Ferretti Spring 2016 Couture

This whole collection is a knock out, with a very Downton Abbey 20's influence (as had many collections this season). Will anyone be bold enough to wear something like the first look? Probably not. Or maybe Kristen Wiig, Jada Pinkett Smith, Kate Beckinsale, Anna Kendrick, or Laura Dern will step it up this year.

Elie Saab Spring 2016 Couture

Elie Saab's collection is inspired by India. Will we see Jennifer Lopez and Emma Stone wearing this designer again this year? Kate Beckinsale, Mila Kunis may also choose Elie Saab.

Jenny Packham Fall 2016 ready-to-wear

Jenny Packham is another red carpet regula (and a big favorite of Kate Middleton). This collection harkens back to the 1970s and has a silhouette for just about every body. Julianne Hough, Vanessa Hudgins, Christina Hendricks, Sandra Bullock may wear this designer on Sunday.

Carolina Herrera Fall 2016 ready-to-wear

These two looks seemed most red carpet ready. Tina Fey, Renee Zellweger, Amy Adams, Christina Hendricks have all worn Herrera on the red carpet in the past.

Christian Siriano Fall 2016 ready-to-wear

Will we see any of these three Christian Siriano looks on the red carpet? I'm thinking #3, but it's pretty safe. Pretty please can someone wear #2? Christina Hendricks? Lady Gaga? Shailene Woodley?

Here's two more looks with potential.

Schiaparelli Spring 2016 Couture

Vivienne Westwood Red Label Fall 2016 ready-to-wear

Of course we'll see Dior, Givenchy, Prabal Gurung, Alexander McQueen, Gucci, and Versace on the red carpet as well. So what do you think my chances are? Will anyone wear any of the looks above?

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NY Fall 2011 Fashion Week - Carolina Herrera

I wish more women could afford to wear Carolina Herrera, then more women would look effortlessly elegant. I love the muted colors, the shapes, the textures of this collection.

Because of recent content theft, I am forced to add this new statement to the end of my posts: If you're reading this post anywhere besides the Opalescent blog, OpalescentMinx.com (also http://minxbeads.blogspot.com) then this content has been stolen. Please do not support this thief!

Carolina Herrera Pre-Fall 2010

"I wanted everything light as a feather," Carolina Herrera said about pre-fall. The primary colors palette of the collection was taken from a 1920's print of dancers, which she uses in the first look, below, as well as a floor-length gown. She also favored a lot of tweed.

Love the dress, hate the black tights which weigh the look down.

The floral motif on the sweater is too Eastern European embroidery-motif for me.

The red sash makes me want to wear this to a really luxurious holiday party. Not that I've been invited to any.

Any at all, actually....

Hate this look. From here, the pattern looks like quilting, as if the gown were made from a sleeping bag.

This one looks as if it would unravel at any minute, but it's quite striking nonetheless.

CH Carolina Herrera

It's fitting that the day my Carolina Herrera at Fashion Week post goes up, I receive a sample of her new fragrance, CH. What's not fitting is that Ms Herrera allows her name to be associated with this scent.

When I think of Carolina Herrera, I think of elegance, of class, and of polka dots. :) But when I smell CH, I think of teenage tramps. It starts off fairly innocuously with a blast of citrus, but then quickly sinks into a mire of ultra sweet praline mixed with rotten fruit cobbler. It's clearly aimed at a younger crowd, one that might not wear Ms Herrera's clothing but is into smelling cheap and loud, like someone who would shop at Abercrombie & Fitch. (The blast of loud music and cheap fragrance that emanates from the doorway of that store repels me. I can't decide if those who shop there are brave or stupid.)

Notes: Italian bergamont, grapefruit, Sicilian lemon, Bulgarian rose, jasmine sambac, praline notes, cinnamon from Sri Lanka, sandalwood, suede, cashmere, amber

Giving the notes pedigrees doesn't make them smell any better.

Backstage at Carolina Herrera - Hair

Sponsored by Moroccanoil®, famed stylist, Orlando Pita designed the hair for Carolina Herrera's Japanese basket-inspired Spring 2010 collection. Moroccanoil® is a line of argan-oil infused products which are rich in vitamins and natural elements that fortify and strengthen the hair. I have friends who swear by the stuff.

Pita created low twisted chignons with touches of delicate long strings of seed beads swept throughout strands of the hair. “The beads were designed to blend subtly through the hair; appearing almost as if they’re embedded in the strands themselves.”

Pita plays with texture and keeps the look relaxed and piece-y, without stiffness or tight structure (Tip: Rather than using a brush to blow-dry strands, Pita mussed hair with his fingers as he blow-dried to enhance the tresses’ natural separation and create further definition.)

Style Steps

• First prep the hair for blow-drying using argan-oil infused Moroccanoil® Hydrating Styling Cream to give silky shine and soft hold while eliminating unwanted frizz.
  
  
• While blow-drying each section, lightly mist new argan-oil infused Moroccanoil® Luminous Hair Spray (available in December, 2009) over hair to lend increased holding power. (Tip: Another coat of Moroccanoil® Luminous Hair Spray “lends even more texture and helps provide grip when pinning the chignon into place,” said Pita.) The argan-oil infused hair spray, previewed at Fashion Week, will be available in December, 2009. It holds a style while maintaining hair’s healthy condition.
  
  
• Sectioning off the very front of the hair from ear to ear, place the beaded headband on the part and pull the front section back over the band, interweaving its beaded strands with the natural hair.
  
  
• Gently twist the hair and beads back into a knot, and twist under. Finish with a light misting of Moroccanoil® Luminous Hair Spray for healthy-looking and lasting hold.

Moroccanoil® is sold exclusively in salons. To find your nearest salon, go to www.moroccanoil.com.

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Spring 2010: Carolina Herrera

Carolina Herrera delivered lots of interesting texture in her Spring 2010 show, inspired by the intricacy of Japanese woven baskets. The garments in this collection also seemed a bit more youthful than in the past. I love the texture, but I think I love her palette of secondary colors (oranges, purples) and neutrals even more. Here are some of my favorites.

That last gown is my absolute favorite. Which is yours?

Resort 2010 - Carolina Herrera

Carolina Herrera's Resort 2010 collection was full of elegance, 30s silhouettes, and lots of orange. I quite like everything, even if orange is probably my least-favorite color.

Here are my very favorites from the collection.