Can you rock the red carpet and get your name into this envelope? You still have time.
For the first seven callers, we offer at no additional cost, fame, fortune and 15 minutes in the limelight!!!
This year’s entries for the OFPC can be described by an adjective a writer of my acquaintance used to refer to international mail in the 1970s and 1980s: “lentitudinous.” I can’t find a formal definition, even in Oxford, but I’ve always taken it to be a £50 way to say “sluggish.” This point in the competition always drives me up the wall, and makes me start worrying that I’ll have a small pack to judge. I’d rather have scads of entries than a mere handful. That sends me off into the convoluted coils of Flickr, looking for evening gown shots that aren’t necessarily on theme, but might be contenders.
Please keep me from buying a bottle of St. John’s wort this year. You still have time to enter! Of course, you should do so only if you want a shot at L$25,000 and an opportunity to bask in Hollywood-like glory for a time. You know how to find the rules (grin). And, if you’re on Flickr and get an invitation from me to enter, don’t turn it down. It’s no guarantee of placement; I give the invitation to anyone who has a likely looking photo. But it is an encouragement to take your shot — or do another shot, and submit that one officially!
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Last year’s RL red carpet at the Dolby wasn’t that rich, in my personal opinion. You can usually dig out some interesting gowns, though. Here’s a selection I thought worthy of note.
Charlize Theron invoked a past appearance on the walkway in this crimson confection from Dior. The plunging effect of the neckline is slightly reminiscent of the orange gown she wore in 2000, though much more…profound…on last year’s dress. She also has here no jeweled strap clips. With that one massive teardrop on a diamond or silver chain, though, she doesn’t need gobs more jewelry, and this gown isn’t channeling the Thirties!
Charlotte Rampling, actress and former model, popped up in 2015 with 45 Years, and appeared at the 2016 Oscars in this Armani Privé gown. At least some critics approved; for my own taste, I’m not certain how well this pattern works, especially with the wraparound piece at the breast.
Television host Debbie Matenopoulos walked in wearing a fully-beaded gown from Nikolaki. This designer is no stranger to the Oscar red carpet; Marlee Matlin wore a strapless black-and-white to the 2009 Awards. You’ll need to decide if this is a two-shouldered dress, or one-shouldered with attached sash; the sash looks almost integral to the design. It’s certainly impressive, though.
The “architectural” school was represented last year by Keltie Knight, in a scarlet strapless Lucian Matis. Some deplore “constructed” gowns as being too busy; but, when well done, they work to my eye, and this one is well done.
Kerry Washington turned heads with this leather Atelier Versace dress. Opinions are as split as the skirt, but the Scandals star isn’t averse to taking fashion chances as I recall, and this dress proves it.
Lily Cole in Vivienne Westwood. This gown’s texture looks like raw silk or something similar; it isn’t. It’s made from recycled water bottles! Paired with minimal jewelry.
The next two represent old-line bugle-beaded Hollywood glamour: Naomi Watts in Armani…
…and Saoirse Ronan in an emerald-green Calvin Klein that almost got my personal award until I saw Lily Cole’s dress. Big jewelry is not necessarily de rigueur, but I wonder if a nice emerald necklace to go with the gown would be a good touch here.
And Sofia Vergara in a classic strapless Marchesa. Sofia’s exuberant runway personality and Latin tastes often push her into the “bombshell” category. This gown, on the other hand, impresses.
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That’s all for this update; next one in two weeks, when I’ll show what I’d wear out of recent Second Life creations. If I do some sweet-talking, I may even get Jemmy to pop up for a photo shoot.
Around the Grid 