Do the fashion police read Vogue?
26th Feb. '08 · Category: Fashion & Beauty · Tags: fashion, Julie-Christie, Oscars-2008, Vogue
Authored by Julie Hoylen
After writing about the color and styles I spotted at the Oscars on Sunday night, I of course spent most of Monday reading and watching what everyone else was saying about the “big night’s” fashion extravaganza.
Not to be too catty, but like most, I have to admit I’m just as interested in the looks that get “knocked” as I am with the ones that get “raves”.
One particular star whose style seemed to be in question was that of British actress Julie Christie. Ms. Christie, whose amazing good looks ( please beauty gods let me look like her when I’m 66! ) and stylish feminine tuxedo were fan favorites as she picked up the SAG award for Best Actress this past January.
Her Oscar fashion choice on the other hand, a cabernet colored ruched dress, pale pink chiffon long gloves and matching shoes was received with let’s just say- less warmth. In fact the actress may not have taken home the Oscar, but her ensemble- designed by herself and stylist Tanya Gill, took away “worst dressed” on many a critics list here and across the pond.
How surprised was I this morning while flipping trough the pages of Vogue’s February issue to spot this layout featuring a model dressed shocking similar….
The neckline is different, the Tom Binns brooch from the Vogue spread has been replaced by an orange ribbon ( to represent the jumpsuits worn by the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay ) and her shoes were open toe. Otherwise I think her outfit looks an awful lot like this Burberry Prorsum dress. I believe she’s even wearing the same Louis Vuitton gloves.
Christopher Bailey, head designer for Burberry, is quoted by the magazine as saying “I love the delicate ruched details, and the rich color. The woman who wears this dress is a luxury warrior and reflects the collection perfectly.”
Was Ms. Christie’s look-a-like “look” just a coincidence? Did she and her stylist find inspiration from this photo spread and yet were not able to borrow the $3,495 Burberry dress so they commissioned their own tweaked version?
If so-how can a look that is considered high taste in Vogue be called out as bad taste on the red carpet?
Is this a case of runway not translating to the real world, or were both Vogue’s and the actress’s stylists way off the mark?
Who do you think is right in this style disagreement?
March 1st, 2008 at 9:49 pm
OK I tried this dress on today in Burberry and it was AMAZING…like I think the most feminine, flattering, beautiful dress I have ever put on. I couldn’t spend $3,000+ on the dress, but if it had been $1000 I would have bought it. I wish someone would call me and say “ITS YOURS” as I would wear it to Derby, Christmas Parties, and any night I just needed to feel really good an feminine…LOVE IT.
March 1st, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Good eye!! I think the Vogue look is better. The neckline makes it. The black on the shoes is also pulls the “strange” look together. Of all the choices, why pink, red and ruched???
March 2nd, 2008 at 11:36 am
Julie, you continue to amaze me with your recall and ability to make these connections. The look is very much the same and even the hairstyle looks similar.
I love the Vogue version and Carolyn’s comment confirms that it looks spectacular on. Maybe the longer sleeve and neckline threw Ms. Christie’s look off although I agree with you that regardless of what she wheres she looks incredible for her age!
March 9th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
The black ‘touch’ on the shoes indeed helps to ‘ground’ the color combination! The dress Christie is wearing also appears to be more heavily ruched (along a center line, yet!), resulting in a somewhat dishelveld look.
I believe it is the more ‘together’ appearance of the Vogue dress that gives it the panache seemingly lacking from the one worn by Julie Christie.
(Another thought: perhaps it is also that this look photographs well in still/set shots, but loses something in ‘real life’. After all, the dress and gloves supply much visual movement on their own…..)