Best Dressed

Being a designer, people ask my opinion about fashion a lot.  I'm happy to give it, though it's only an opinion and you know how the saying goes!  So, what did my taffetadarlings think of the Golden Globes last night?  There were a few disasters which I won't even touch on (why destroy the possibility of a potential future client, right?), but for the most part I thought that Hollywood did okay!

I'll start by awarding "best dressed" to my hostess for the evening, Wendy Brandes.  Wendy greeted me in a black tee shirt, black gym shorts and cozy slippers!  She's never looked better.  LOL... kidding.  It was that kind of evening -- the kind where it's best to stay indoors sipping Champagne, watching the hilarity that is Ricky Gervais in the comfort of your own home on the comfort of your own couch, safe from the wintry chill!!

Ricky should have busted out some of his dance moves last night

Okay, back to the show!  If I were to select a winner from last night's event, it would be Francisco Costa.  Who, some of you might ask?  Shame on you!  His name should be as familiar to you as Giorgio Armani or Marc Jacobs or... Calvin Klein... because he IS Calvin Klein.  Well, not literally, of course, but Mr. Costa has headed up the Calvin Klein Collection since 2003 when Mr. Klein retired.  Costa dressed my number one pick last night, Claire Danes as well as Emma Stone (who never looked better).

Claire Danes

Photo: Style.com

Emma Stone

Photo: Style.com

Olivia Wilde looked stunning, but that was sure a whole lotta dress!  Co-presenter, Robert Pattinson didn't know where to stand when the two were on stage together.  There was just no room for him and the poor chap had to strain his neck to reach the mic.  Under her Marchesa dress (could have been just about anything), Ms. Wilde wore the most fabulous Louboutin stilettos!

Olivia Wilde

Photo: Style.com

My pick for the boys is, well, a BOY.  Jesse Eisenberg looked simply adorable and perfectly put together in Dolce & Gabbana.  Generally, I think the men did well last night... Ryan Gosling in Ferragammo, James Franco (a.k.a. my boyfriend) in Gucci and Robert Downey Jr. broke the mold, as per usual, and wore a grey Prada suit.  Fantastic.  And Michael Douglas was wearing Canali, but who really cares.  He just looked GREAT and healthy.  His opening line about a "standing o" was brilliant!

Jesse Eisenberg

Photo: Style.com

Susan and Robert Downey

Photo: Style.com

One final comment... I do love Tilda Swinton and appreciate that she has her own sense of style.  I would be happy to dress her!  Tilda wore Haider Ackermann before anyone knew who the hell he was.  Last night (in Jil Sander), I thought she looked quite striking, but also bore quite a striking resemblance to David Bowie.  I mean, she was definitely channelling 70's Bowie!

Tilda Swinton and David Bowie... or is it David Bowie and Tilda Swinton?

Do you "Nomi"

Klaus Nomi

I’m feeling in a very German mood since the end of Berlin Fashion Week on Saturday. Music influences and fashion and vice versa.  This is a topic I will discuss frequently on this blog. In 1982, my sister and I snuck downstairs to watch MTV late at night. Remember when MTV actually played music videos? Ah, the good old days. Anyway, they were showing a film called “Urgh! A Music War” which featured some very cutting edge musicians including up and coming bands like The Police, Devo and The Go Go’s. When singer Klaus Nomi took the stage, our jaws hit the ground. We couldn’t help but laugh at his strange appearance, yet we couldn’t stop watching. There was something fabulous about him! And wait until you hear him hit notes that would shatter glass...

Klaus Nomi - 1981

Klaus Nomi was born Klaus Sperber in Bavaria, Germany in 1944.  In the late 60's, he started singing in a gay discothèque in Berlin before moving to New York in 1972.  Nomi became very involved in the New York art scene.  He sang in a four night event called "New Wave Vaudeville" where he dressed in a spacesuit with a clear plastic cape.  His performance was so well received that he was invited to play at clubs all over the city.  David Bowie heard about the phenomenal performer and hired Nomi and friend Joey Arias in 1979 to sing backup in an appearance on Saturday Night Live.

Nomi's spacy outfits

Although Nomi never enjoyed mainstream success, he was an important part of the punk-rock, avant-garde, visual art scene in the East Village in the early 80's.  Nomi wore his signature black and white plastic tuxedo with spandex pants most of the time, but sometimes he donned a Shakespearean ensemble complete with Elizabethan collar.  It's not hard to see how he has influenced fashion.  Designers such as Gareth Pugh have adopted some of his ideas.

              Nomi in 1981      Gareth Pugh - Spring 2007

                        Klaus Nomi                      Gareth Pugh - Spring 2009

In August 1983, Nomi died at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York as a result of an illness complicated by AIDS.  Apparently, his ashes were spread all over the city.  If you're interested in learning more about this talented and outrageous human being, check out Andrew Horn's 2004 documentary titled "The Nomi Song."

UPDATE: Madeline was kind enough to share a post from her blog.  What a great story!  Thanks Madeline.