2012 84th Oscar Academy Awards

The following are some of my favorite red carpet moments.

BRAVO! to E personalities rocking the red carpet:

Host Maria Menounos, wearing a breathtaking Maria Lucia Hohan mint green dress and Jacob and Co. diamonds.



here is another view of that gorgeous draping - click on images for larger view.



Also, Giuliana Rancic in Tony Ward.






Gwyneth Paltrow classic and understated. She was not a nominee. In Tom Ford and Jimmy Choo shoes.



Rooney Mara in a white lace Givenchy gown and Fred Leighton ring.



Elie Kemper’s rust-colored Armani Prive, matching her hair perfectly and Gold Lorraine Schwartz jewels.



George Clooney in Giorgio Armani with his own golden goddess, Stacy Keibler wearing Marchesa.



Viola Davis in an emerald green strapless Vera Wang.



LOVED the color of Michelle Williams's Louis Vuitton strapless gown. She wore Christian Louboutins, Bottega Venetta bag. Forevermark and Fred Leighton jewels.



Sorry Joan Rivers, you fail on 2 points; will not repeat your comment about vintage fashions but Natalie Portman rocks in Vintage Dior Haute Couture. Too bad I didn't see more vintage on the red carpet.



Another mama who rocked the red carpet. I can see why she would pose with her leg extended. Black is very difficult to photograph and the slit would have been lost. Angelina Jolie is wearing a black velvet Atelier Versace strapless gown and Neil Lane jewels.

I heard the entire family took part in choosing the gown by placing the names of all the designers in a hat.



Milla Jovovich in Elie Saab Haute Couture one-shoulder gown. Jacob & Co. jewelry and Edie Parker clutch. Always the modern twist on vintage vamp hair, make-up. I'm a big fan.



A favorite Academy Awards moment, Anne Marie Calhoun playing violin with the band. She has performed with a few of my favorites.

Congratulations Anne Marie!

I have a new 'to watch' list thanks to the Academy Awards. War Horse was already on it but Im unable to see it on the big screen because when it comes to animals and children I'm usually a sniffling puddle. I'd rather spare the public. The Help was already on it as My Week With Marilyn.

New to the list; Hugo and all of the following documentaries; God Is The Bigger Elvis, The Barber of Birmingham, Saving Face - a movie about women who are victims of men who don’t value women and seem to hate them. The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom.

I leave you with Anne Marie playing with Widespread Panic.

Cheers To Spring!

I love winter but I believe I am beginning to get a little antsy for spring. Perhaps due to some of the serious snow and ice storms we have been receiving lately. As I type this we are on storm watch...the lone crocus poking its lavender head out of the ground is trying to tell me spring is almost here.

Imagine my delight when I found this sweet 40's Flower Garden Dress Hat from vintage friend Caryn. I think the 40s might be one of my favorite eras in Millinery Fashion History. I think the era was very creative and I believe many of the modern designers like Philip Treacy, dip into those decades for their award winning inspirations.

This beauty is not a Philip Treacy but creative in its own right. The label, as Caryn informed me, is a New York Creation. The New York Creation label was created by the New York Dress Institute who designed great dresses, hats, and even began their own best dressed list after WWII.

Made of black straw with velvetty roses, bow and netting. Turned up brim and ribbon tie. I imagine someone wearing it to church service or maybe an al fresco lunch date. What ever the occasion, Im sure it turned a few heads in its day.








Caryn has two vintage stores; one on ebay called specialneedzvintage, she told me "3 of my 5 children have Autism and through my children I learned that everyone has special needs."

She recently opened a shiny new one on etsy called Forever After Vintage.

Caryn is our 'resident fur expert' she says she learned how to id furs after buying one as one type and then learning it was a much less expensive type. She then became determined to learn about the various furs.

I have fun traveling in time in her stores. I hope you do as well.