CFDA 2010

Dress at this year's CFDAs was divided into three categories (for the women, at least; Tom Browne, in his Just William shorts, was on a trip all his own): Avatar-esque pattern, gentle monochrome and iridesence. Here are my favourite picks from each. Which trend gets your vote?

Monochrome

Carmen Kass in Michael Kors

Lara Stone in Calvin Klein Collection

Stella Tennant

Victoria Traina

Dree Hemingway

Irina Lazareanu escorted by and wearing Phillip Lim

Vanessa Traina escorted by and wearing Joseph Altuzarra

Pattern

Rachel Weisz escorted by and wearing Jason Wu

Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen

Jessica Biel in Diane von Furstenberg

Diane von Furstenberg

Bee Schaffer and Anna Wintour

Iridescence

Joan Smalls with and wearing Monique Pean

Michael Pitt and Jamie Bochert

Alexa Chung in Marc Jacobs

Liya Kebede wearing and flanked by Proenza Schouler

Now that the dust has settled

The most notable looks from last week's Costume Institute gala in New York. Note - the big story here is minimalism.

Chloe Sevigny in turquoise lace (by Proenza Schouler): I bet a lot of people didn't like this. It's weird - slightly Victorian-inspired, with the highneckline and the updo, but then also sexy , with the visible bra and abrupt hemline; the colour is jarring - all of which make for an oddly pleasing outfit.

Jamie Bochert in Rodarte for Gap (didn't you think this was Marc Jacobs? I did). The dress reminds me of a 30s partygirl - the hair is pure 21st Century.

Dree Hemingway in Calvin Klein Collection. Geometric, minimalist perfection.

Alexa Chung in 3.1 Phillip Lim. Kudos for wearing trousers (as Kate Moss did a few years back). She reminds me of a glamorous Puss in Boots - or Puss in platform buckle heels, rather.

Sasha Pivovarova, Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl.

I love the way these chaps think they look so cool. While you have to applaud their points of difference - mustard shorts! - I actually think Charlotte's outfit doesn't work on account of the unflattering length of said bottom half. Sasha looks pretty, though.

Kate Bosworth - looking nicely draped.

Amber Valletta in RM by Roland Mouret. Nice graphic lines, and the cobalt blue looks modern. She suits minimalism, this girl.

More minimalist perfection from Zoe Saldana in Calvin Klein Collection.

Naomi Watts in burgundy Lanvin. Some people didn't like this, but I think she looks as delectable as a glass of claret.

Blake Liveley. Again, some people didn't like this, but I smell a fashion snob rat. Just because Ms Lively isn't a leftfield fashion icon doesn't mean she can't rock a fashion moment, and this swirling, Neptunesque mini (by Marchesa) is divine.

You can see all the looks from the Met Ball on Handbag.com

Tina Fey and the "big steaming dump"

I love Tina Fey. Reacting to E! Entertainment's Giuliana Rancic's (nee DePandi) disapproval of the dress she wore to the Golden Globes (a black and white tiered prom-style dress by Zac Posen), she took the opportunity of another live interview, this time at the SAG awards, to thank Rancic for taking "a big steaming dump" on her. Rancic, who is ridiculed by the fashion elite for her naff style, but who is nonetheless skilled at her job, rallied to the accusation, sincerely (or as sincerely as it's possible for her to be) complimenting her on her SAG choice of a far less eye-catching purple v-neck dress by Ferragamo. What neither was possible aware of was a style judgement pronounced on both women from on high by none other than Andre Leon Talley. He singled out Fey's GG dress in his Vogue blog as an "original and intelligent" choice, while Rancic he dismissed as "some monstrous commentator in a slinky silver dress". Seems like Fey is on the right side of the style divide.

Tina Fey in the dress which caused the "big steaming dump" comment. Picture from Justjared.com

Back to black at The Golden Globes

Rubbishing the notion that black doesn't work for the red carpet - stylists say it doesn't come up well in photographs - many of the best dressed attendees at The Golden Globes chose a sombre hue. Perhaps it was a reaction to the Haiti earthquake (with many sporting a red and gold ribbon in support), but Penelope Cruz, Julia Roberts (in YSL) and Julianne Moore (Balenciaga) were among those who forewent the more popular pastel or saturated red carpet palette.
My favourite outfits were, in order, January Jones (in Lanvin), Carey Mulligan (Nina Ricci) - both of whom wore adorable hairbands - Rose Byrne (Lanvin again), and Drew Barrymore (Versace). Surprise hits were Sofia Vergara, in Carolina Herrera dusty blue satin, and Julianna Margulies, in burgundy and black Narciso Rodriguez. Special mention, too, to Diane Kruger, who sported a Christian Lacroix Couture raspberry ripple concoction, in memory of the designer's recently closed label. Pictures from Handbag.com