Milly by Michelle Smith

The Fashion Statement: Baby Bumps and the Red Carpet

There is serious baby fever in Hollywood. Starting this Sunday at the Golden Globes, more baby bumps will be taking a turn on the red-carpet than you can shake a stick at. Victoria Beckham. Natalie Portman. Penelope Cruz. Gretchen Mol. Mariah Carey. Jewel. Pink. Jennifer Connelly. Rachel Zoe. And, just yesterday, Kate Hudson announced she had a bun in the oven. With so many expectant celebs, TV show Extra compiled a list to keep everybody's due date straight. We're, of course, more concerned with what they'll be wearing.

You might think this many women with child during awards season could foil a designer's grand ambition to see his/her couture gowns on the red carpet. Think again. Designers have pregnancy down. Remember Catherine Zeta Jones in 2003? The word "luscious" came to mind when the nine-months-pregnant star walked the Oscars in a low-cut chocolate-colored gown with beaded straps. And it was a coup for Versace.

My friend and colleague Amy Tara Koch published a book last year called Bump It Up and, in it, are great style tips courtesy of designers and fashion insiders.

"Half of pregnancy has to do with attitude," Filipa Fino, accessories editor at Vogue, told Koch. "I just refused to give in to feeling dowdy. And therefore, I did not look dowdy!"

Gallery: baby bumps

Tags: Adam Lippes, amy tara koch, Donna Karan, Isaac Mizrahi, j. mendel, Milly by Michelle Smith, Rachel Roy, thomas wylde, Versace

Continue reading “The Fashion Statement: Baby Bumps and the Red Carpet”

The Fashion Statement: Slam it in Neutral

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

Move aside, paint splats, watercolor prints and all manner of brights. Spring collections like Catherine Malandrino's (pictured above) are also putting it into neutral. Neutrals have traditionally been the stalwart of spring, but these neutrals have, for lack of a better word, umph. There's something urban about them.

Rich khakis are everywhere (Alexander Wang, Vena Cava). Gray matters, particularly darker shades ranging from slate gray to dark charcoal (Narciso Rodriguez, Milly by Michelle Smith). Pale, oh-so-pale-it's-barely-there ice blue looks just perfect right now (Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs). And flesh tones like beige, milky ivory and taupe are so delicate I did a double take because I wasn't sure those models were clothed (Max Azria, Donna Karan).

Of course, there's a method to the madness. Designers are hyper aware that the shopper is going to go for basic pieces that complement what's already in their closet. Neutrals do the trick. And you can always change it up with a colorful bag, scarf or shoe.

Switzerland has nothing on Spring 2010.

Gallery: The Fashion Statement: Neutral Territory