fashion for faith in four colors: comic con

Showing posts with label comic con. Show all posts

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Comic Con Outifts ~ What the A List Wore

fashion style 12:31 PM

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.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Comic Con Outfits ~ Night Three Blue & Black

fashion style 5:11 PM

After a day spent in steampunk garb I changed that night for my easy royal blue dress. This is the one I put to the vote for the documentary. It's not vintage but it fits well and with the full skirt it looks good with flats.

With the AB off and about on his own I sadly got very few pictures of this outfit. But i paired it with black and fake white diamond accessories.

Jason Wu

I like blue and black as a color combination, I think it's quite classic but with just enough edge. Wine or red with black is so popular in goth culture, that though I love it blue and black feels fresher to me.

To make it ultra modern I like to go for blue leather, or mix it with neutrals.

Kate Spade

Like green shoes I'm always on the hunt for some fun blue shoes.

But what I find I have are a number of royal blue tops and dresses.

And my retro cut JC Penny printed one is an old favorite. Apart form anything else, it packs great. Although, I am thinking of putting a crinoline under it to make it more poofy.

Some other retro takes on this dress.

Some vintage blue and black looks.

Marilyn-Monroe-in-Gentlemen-Prefer-Blondes; 1949 The Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Some edgy almost steampunk and sci-fi takes on blue and black.

Something for my characters to wear.

Something for Sophronia in the Finishing School books . . .

1850-1852 The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Something for Alexia in the Parasol Protectorate books . . .

1875 The Philadelphia Museum of Art

And something for Ivy after the Parasol Protectorate books . . .

1880 The Los Angeles County Museum of Art

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

Monday, July 23, 2012

Comic Con Outfits ~ Night Two Black & Green

fashion style 3:13 PM

After a day spent in the cream, brown and blue dress, I changed into my black and green i.magnin for the Eisner Awards ceremony.

I paired it with black, as usual, for I still have not found the perfect green shoes, clutch, and gloves.

Proenza Schouler Tiki stingray clutch at barneys.com

I'm looking, but that emerald green is scarce on the ground. I did, however pick up an adorable feather green and black headpiece at the Alameda Vintage Fair a few months back and with the addition of a broach to one side am rather pleased with the resulting look.

The necklace is hanging woonky, but its a lucite piece I found on my last trip to london at a little fleemarket near St. Charles. I'm not happy with my current earring options to go with so that might have to get added to the list.

Hair Ornament Mid-19th century The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Back to the hair feather thingy. Above is a vintage look that kind of had the same feel to me. Almost cabaret, or something.

This black and green dress is a tulip style, which can be flawed as it often adds bulk to the hips. Since I'm top heavy I rather like this feature as I think it balances me out. It's better with heels though.

Here's a few black a green outfits for inspiration.