Fashion Hookup

Keeping You Up On The Latest Fashions

First Lady Michelle Obama’s Inauguration Dress

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It’s been a momentous day for U.S politics and the world, and all eyes today were on the Obamas, especially on the First Lady‘s inaugural dress. There’s been a lot of speculation on what the now F.L Michelle Obama would wear on her husband’s big day, and even Isabel Toledo, the designer who created the lovely yellow ensemble, was in the dark until Tuesday morning.  The American designer of Cuban heritage has dressed the F.L. before, at an event in October, and today has no doubt become a household name.

“The jewel-collared, pale yellow lace coat, sweater and sheath dress ensemble featured a clever hidden layer of tulle, Pashmina and Swiss wool lace to help the first lady stave off the cold. Obama accessorized with green Jimmy Choo shoes and green gloves from J.Crew.”

The fashion world have applauded her choice, and I have to say I agree with them. It takes fashion savvy and confidence to wear a golden sunny color on such a bleak winter morning.

And once again, the F.L. showed her love for being a budget-sensible online shopper by using her J.Crew gloves and dressing her stylish girls Malia and Sasha in colourful periwinkle and guava coats by the same shop.

2008: The Year Of Stars and Stripes, Saint Laurent and Sales

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In 2008, the words that spoke out in the world of fashion were Stars and Stripes, Saint Laurent and Sales. Stars because the fashion trends of the year almost always kick off on the 16th of January, also known as Kate Moss‘ birthday, where the erstwhile 30something waif partied like there was no tomorrow (and indeed there wasn’t as the party lasted 3 days) in her star-studded Chanel jumpsuit, with matching makeup no less. Needless to say stars, Chanel and jumpsuits were deemed stellar sellers for the year.

June saw the low point in fashion, with the passing away of Yves Saint Laurent, age 71, style icon extraordinaire, who pioneered much of what we see in fashion today.

The Stars made their appearance again, with Stripes this time, in the form American politics, what with a new fashion star on the rise, the then democratic candidate’s wife, now First lady-elect, Michelle Obama, whose statuesque figure and flair for style were a breath of fresh air in Washington after the boring Bush wives. Through the primaries (that seemed to last forever) and the interview where she charmingly said she fancied online shopping at J Crew to election night when she wore THAT red Narciso Rodriguez dress, the words Jackie O were on everyone’s lips, which in my book is the ultimate compliment.

And finally, one can’t deny the new depression-era feeling that is hitting the world, given the current financial crisis everywhere. If the past decade saw the words “excess”, “IT” and “luxe”, it looks like 2009 will be quite the opposite. Recyle, be thrifty and make the most out of the sales!

Is Anna Wintour The Worst Dressed For 2008?

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The fashion police were out for the end-of-year judgements and you’ll never guess who made it to the Worst Dressed list of Time Magazine…..Anna Wintour, Vogue editor and Meryl Streep’s inspiration in The Devil Wears Prada. Yes, the silver monstrosity by Lagerfeld she wore at the Costume Institute Gala was certainly a faux pas, but to give her credit, the theme was “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy”.

More unlikely A-listers who made it to the bad list included:

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow came in fourth with the transparent lace basque Antonio Berardi dress she donned at the Paris premiere of Two Lovers in November.

The ensemble – which showed part of her breasts, thighs and even her white underwear – was slammed by fashionistas.

Position number seven was awarded to Katie Holmes for the white silk jumpsuit and black lacy top combination she wore to the opening of her play All My Sons last month.

Surprisingly the badly-received outfit wasn’t the fault of an expensive designer; it was designed by Mrs Cruise herself.

Others in the top ten include Paula Abdul, Kate Bosworth and Beyonce.

The Tulip Skirt Trend: How To Buy and Wear One

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Given the choice between skinny jeans and a skirt, I’ll always take the skirt. No matter how many times I tried, wearing skinny, nearly painted-on jeans always made me feel incredibly uncomfortable and not very feminine.  More Jim Morrison than Audrey Hepburn.

So anyway, when the latest skirt trend this autumn came in the form of the tulip, I was excited. What a lovely name, if not for anything else. But what is a tulip skirt? Its a skirt which is obviously shaped like the famous flower from Holland.  Cinched at the waist, ballooning slightly outwards in the middle, tapering down.

Now many fashion bloggers have attested that this style is NOT for the average woman (read: over size 4), as it has a tendency to make the hips larger.  But I beg to differ.  In fact, there are a multitude of styles of tulip skirts out there, and provided you find the right one that suits your body type, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without one in your wardrobe.

To get an idea of this, check out Styleshop.  Here you’ll see what I’m talking about.  If you’re happy with your legs, you could try the fun mid-thigh soft, wooly version by Urban Outfitters, a steal at $48.  For a more glam look, Banana Republic has a longer, purple one in taffeta perfect for the holidays, or if you feel like a splurge, Marc Jacob’s silky heart-print with black belt could be ideal.

But before you buy, its always a good idea to try on first.  So browse through your neighborhood shops and see what style suits you best.  And don’t forget these great tips I found at eHow:

1. Choose a tulip skirt with top pleats. If you are looking to create the illusion of having more curvaceous hips, buy a tulip skirt with pleats at the top, near the hips.

2. Buy a tulip skirt that flares at the bottom if you are top-heavy. A tulip skirt with a flirty flare on the bottom will help balance out the overall shape of women who have larger upper bodies.

3. Search for a tulip skirt with a slightly flared hem at the bottom for work. A tulip skirt that is fitted throughout, but flares ever-so-slightly at the bottom will add a dash of fun to your work wardrobe while still looking professional

4. Decide on a long tulip skirt with soft pleats. A long tulip skirt with soft pleats running vertically will add romantic charm to your wardrobe.

Election Night Fashion

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With the election come and gone and Barack Obama the new President-elect, it’s obvious that the trendsetters in 2009 is the Obama family, with no less than 3 women to watch out for.

On their night of victory, all eyes were on the First Lady-elect in her Narciso Rodriguez red and black scoop neck dress which had fashionistas screaming for the fashion police. Its funny how one can be lauded as the new Jackie O one day then criticized for her “lapse in taste” the next.

Taken from the designer’s Spring 2009 collection, the dress had a black corset-like middle, which I agree, reminded me of a lava lamp. As said in the Telegraph:

Jeff Weinstein, a fine arts and culture critic was also not a fan.

“It was definitely a lava lamp look,’’ he told the paper, “with a volcanic nod to her hubby’s Hawaii.”

Though it isn’t a dress I would wear ( and I have to say, the cardigan made it look better on stage), I have to give the F.L.E credit for wearing something she obviously believes is her personal style. It showed confidence (no boring suits here!) and I love that she doesn’t use a stylist.

And the rest of the family? Here’s the report from the Associated Press:

Meanwhile, President-elect Barack Obama wore the same style dark-navy suit custom-made by Hart Schaffner Marx that he wore at the Democratic Convention, the company says. Hart Schaffner Marx makes its suits in the Obamas’ home state of Illinois.

The couple’s daughter Malia wore a red bubble-hem dress, and younger daughter Sasha wore a black dress with a bow.

A stylish family to watch in the White House….at last!!