Comic Con Outifts ~ What the A List Wore

fashion style    12:31 PM    comic con , red carpet   

Comic Con must be a terribly difficult event for stylists to select appropriate outfits. Imagine the thought process in a sorority Rachel Zoe-type's head . . .

My star is going where?
A gathering of what kind of person?
What should she wear? How the heck should I know what she should wear?
What does one wear to a massive comic book convention? 
*Insert panicky blur of designer clothing flying everywhere.*

I suspect most stylists are tempted to opt for the standard press junket outfits, then they veer in some new and odd directions. I find them worthy of analysis. Because, Fashionable Reader, I am basically a nice person but when outfits come into play I do love getting down with my catty college self. (I've put my best guess as to the reason said A-lister was at Comic Con under the photo in brackets.)

Lady Like

 Stylists thought process: let's go with ladylike, after all it's a good way to stand out.
(This hypothetical stylist is of the Gail Carriger frame of mind.)

Ginnifer Goodwin,Valentino (Once Upon A Time?); Lyndsy Fonseca, Hellers (Nikita); Michelle Williams, Giulietta (Oz the Great and Powerful)

Gail's thoughts:

• I adore the red dress but wouldn't have gone with matched shoes, it's too bridesmaid. 
• I enjoy the summery colors and pattern change on Lyndsy (really!? "Lyndsy"? Are we back in the 1980's corrupting perfectly decent names with erroneous "i"s and "y"s?) but I don't think showing belly is ever appropriate outside of the pool. However, this is San Diego and there isn't much belly. 
• I like that Michelle's mod dress goes with her mod hair, but a large print on a white trapeze cut will make even a size 2 look bigger.

Middi Pencil Skirts

Stylists thought process: let's go with body conscious but not too sexy, doesn't do to torture geeks unduly.

 Ashley Greene, Michael-Kors (Twilight); Jessica Biel, Mugler (Total-Recall)

Naya Rivera, Alazzouni (Glee) ~ sigh, Glee at Comic Con?; Nikki Reed, Rodriguez (Twilight)

Gail's thoughts:

• I love Ashley's cream dress with brown, although I worry about whites on the red carpet. I think she looks great, hair and make-up spot on, but her shoes should have been a little more delicate. On the other hand, she could be wearing these because they are comfy and sensible for Comic Con, for which I can not fault her. 
• Jessica's choice is odd and architectural, perhaps better worn for a music award show, but I applaud a risk and this is a comic convention so . . . I even like the neon shoe. I hate the bangs in her eyes though.
• Naya's blue skirt is fab, but the boxy top is bad, and her neon shoe is an off-match choice. Green, perhaps, instead of yellow? I do like that she drew her hair back and went with a subtle summer make up.
• I tend to like black and white and leather, so Nikki's is OK. The shoes and hair scream 1990s to me, though, and that's never a good thing in my world.

As pencil skirts go, I would have liked to see something a little more hip and edgy from the stars, like this:

Boxy Tops

Stylists thought process: I secretly hate my client for being a skinny beeich so I'm going to stick her in something unflattering.
(You all know how I feel about boxy tops.)

 See above.

 Kristen Stewart, BCBG (Twilight); Rachael Taylor, Suno (666-Park-Avenue)

Gail's thoughts:

• Boxy and horizontal stripes? Have mercy.
• Boxy and cropped? Have classy?
• Poor Kristen, she just hates events. I guess this is trendy?
• And Rachel chose to pair pajama bottoms with a galaxy T-shirt and pointed shoes? Really? Cute hair and make up, one wonders where her sleep-over pillow is.

White Shorts

 Stylists thought process: Comic Con, is that a gathering kind of like a music festival?

 Nina Dobrev, Kidd (Vampire-Diaries); Elizabeth Reaser, Louboutin (Twilight)

Gail's thoughts:

• Call me prudish but I just think Nina's look is too casual. It's cute enough and she carries it off but I feel like she should be on a beach somewhere.
• Words fail to describe how much I dislike Elizabeth's outfit. I await the Fug with baited breath. Her shoes are cute though. 

Just Confusing

 Stylists thought process: Comic Con, so she should wear something comic book-ish or . . . what's that, a line of coke? Gimme!

 Jenna Ushkowitz, Blaque (Glee); Lea Michele, Stella (Glee)

 Kristin Kreuk, French-Connection (Smallville); Karen Gillan, 3 (Dr. Who)

Gail's thoughts:

• Jenna, girl, I wore that, in the 80s, when I was 8 years old! What are you doing? Speaking of, what is Glee doing AT COMIC CON at all?
• Lea, love the . . . shoes. But the suit? Shopping at Goodwill again, are we? And Glee at Comic Con, really, go away.
• Kristin looks OK, but I'm confused by the choice of dress and shoes. It's just boring.
• Karen is adorable, always, but here she also appears to have forgotten her trousers. And the sweater feels a little like its trying too hard, in a "look at me I'm down with the geeks" kind of way.

I'm So Edgy

Stylists thought process: All clients are rock stars, but we don't want her to look like she's trying too hard. Comic Con can't seem actually important to her.

 Kate Beckinsale, Rag Bone (Total-Recal); Mila Kunis, Rag Bone (Oz the Great and Powerful)

Gail's thoughts:

• I don't know why but this look just seems like a cop out, it's so safe. But ladies both look great, from head to toe, hair make up, everything, but it feel like the thought process was: I'm just out for the evening in San Diego . . . Oh, is it Comic Con? Well, I'll just top by then, shall I?

Gail's Winners!

Emily Blunt, Dior (Looper); Tricia Helfer presenting the Eisners

Gail's thoughts:

• I love Emily's look, ladylike without being too buttoned up, formal but still fresh enough for San Diego, and a trendy pop of neon (nod to comics?). She's tan but not too tan, her hair is off her face (although it could use a die job) and her make up is classic. Delicate little necklace. I think she looks awesomely approachable.
• I also loved Tricia's draped a-symmetrical jersey dress. It looked comfortable and pretty and her silver shoes were stellar. Also a nice clean pony tale and simple makeup kept it chic.

I do love me some draped jersey.

Other interesting trends:

• A general lack of jewelry, perhaps because of the perceived casualness of the event?
• Longer hem lines, to keep rabid fanboys under control?
• Loose hair, to hide behind?

Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.