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Culture

The Most Creative Camp Looks from the 2019 Met Gala

It’s the first Monday in May AKA fashion’s biggest night- The Met Gala, a yearly gathering where celebrities and cultural influencers meet at the Met in New York City dressed to the nines according to the theme of the Met Costume Institute’s exhibit that year. This year brought us “Camp: Notes On Fashion” along with a metric ton of feathers and an army of unforgettably-creative looks that made me gasp in reverie and laugh at just how refreshingly comical it all is.

What is camp? -you might be asking. The exhibit aims to help answer that question, but still falls short. It’s failed seriousness and attempted sarcasm. It’s overindulgence and performance. Think: the extravagant lifestyle of Marie Antoinette, a mile-high fruit hat worn by a samba dancer, or the over-the-top persona of a drag queen. According to Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay “Notes on ‘Camp,'” from which this year’s Met exhibit gleaned much of its inspiration: “The essence of Camp is its love of the unnatural: of artifice and exaggeration.”

So, as you can imagine, this would make for a ton of really wacky and equally whimsical red carpet looks from our favorite celebrities. I waited in eager anticipation for tonight, and I definitely wasn’t disappointed!

I’ve gone through all of the red carpet photos and chose a few of my favorites to report on. While everyone looked really amazing, I only chose the looks that felt really creative to me, and weren’t just over-the-top for the sake of being over-the-top, with feathers and ruffles and tulle and all that good, campy stuff. I was looking for something I hadn’t ever really seen before, and was pleasantly surprised by how many truly amazing looks there were to choose from! Check out my picks below:

Absolute Top Favorite Looks of the 2019 Met Gala:

Lily Collins as Lisa Marie Presley

EXCUSE ME. Who gave Lily Collins the right to slay us all with this perfect look? It is by far my favorite look of the night in part because I’ve always loved the over-the-top beauty aesthetic of Priscilla Presley (the poofed hair, the winged eyeliner, the eternal youth- UGH!) and in part because Lily Collins just pulls it off so dang well. The headband, over the top hair, and ruffled dress all pair perfectly to create a look I’ll never forget!

lily collins dressed as priscilla presley at the 2019 met gala

Lady Gaga’s Metamorphosis

Camp is Lady Gaga’s specialty- one she’s been dishing out for years, ever since she hit it big in 2009, serving us looks like dresses made from a range of odd materials like Kermit plushes and meat, and creating spectacles, like when she showed up to an awards show in an egg. The fact that Lady Gaga is actually a persona is the essence of camp. All of this to say, I was expecting the Queen of Camp to outdo everyone on the red carpet- and she did, by serving not one, but four looks that she slowly revealed as she made her entrance alongside an entourage of backup dancers and makeup artists. When asked how anyone could follow Gaga’s surprising arrival, Anna Wintour replied that you simply couldn’t, and you should just go home.

Zendaya is Our Very Own Disney Princess

Zendaya has always been one of my favorite celebrities just because of how wholesome she is. Although she’s been a Disney channel star for pretty much her whole career, she never ended up falling off the deep end like many child stars do after missing out on having a normal childhood- which is why this recreation of Cinderella’s iconic blue dress is so endearing! Plus, the dress lights up, creating an even cooler look and an unforgettable moment of magic where her longtime stylist, dressed as the fairy godmother, lit the dress up with his wand.

zendaya as cinderella in a light up dress at the met gala 2019 camp

Diane Von Furstenberg x Lady Liberty

Iconic designer Diane Von Furstenberg looked positively radiant in her look inspired by Lady Liberty that featured an oversized print of a painting of herself done by Andy Warhol. You can’t get much more camp than wearing art of yourself, especially when it’s done by Warhol, a king of Pop Art and campy culture.

diane von furstenberg in a lady liberty dress at the 2019 met gala camp

Barbie: Kacey Musgraves Edition

Kacey Musgraves charmed us all in her monochrome, hot pink outfit inspired by Barbie- complete with shiny, silver pumps, a handbag shaped like a hairdryer, and long, blonde waves. Box her up and she would be any girl’s dream doll!

kacey musgraves dressed in hot pink as a barbie at the 2019 met gala camp

Katy Perry Lights Up the Red Carpet

How could I make this list without mentioning Katy Perry’s extremely extra chandelier costume? I mean, it’s so delightfully unexpected that I couldn’t help but smile, then appreciate the insane craftsmanship that went into making this incredibly intricate dress that actually lit up. Mad props, Katy Perry, this looks was fire (literally)!

katy perry as a chandelier at the 2019 met gala camp

Honorable Mentions

Yara Shahidi
Tracee Ellis Ross
Natasha Lyonne
Lucy Boynton
Liu Wen
Hailee Steinfeld
Florence Welch
Ezra Miller
Emma Roberts
Emily Ratajkowski
Dakota Johnson
Celine Dion
Billy Porter
Amber Valetta
Caroline Trentini

Cover photo from The New York Times. All other photos from Getty Images.

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Culture

Hot or Not: The 2019 Oscars Edition

Since February has nearly met its end, that means we have all survived another awards season, culminating in the Oscars- one of the most loved and reviled television events of the year. While most people will casually look up the results of the show later to chat about them in the office, I feel like not that many people excitedly tune into the show anymore. Perhaps it’s because of how stinking regressive it all is (I mean, have you seen that graphic going around that has the amount of lines spoken by female actors vs. male actors in Best Picture winning films? It’s staggering!). Or perhaps it’s because the show is just. so. long. and if we’re being honest with ourselves, we probably only care about like the top 4 awards anyways, so it isn’t worth sitting through the rest of the dog and pony show.

Anyways, this post isn’t about how much nobody cares about the Oscars. It’s about the FASHUN people- did you forget what website you were on? It’s red carpet judgment time and my takes are coming in hot.

Honestly, the red carpet looks were pretty dang good this time. I liked most of them, surprisingly! I feel like people really amped up their fashion choices here and everything started to look a little less prom-y (thank goodness!). Plus, it’s always fun to see the latest couture looks find their way into the real world. Read on to see my favorite and least favorite looks from the evening.

HOTS

Kacey Musgraves in Giambattista Valli Couture

Pink taffeta/tulle has been having a huge moment in fashion lately, and if you know anything about my style proclivities, you can probably predict that I freaking love it! This one is just so fluffy and whimsical- I adore the statement shoulders!

oscars 2019 red carpet fashion couture kacey musgraves giambattista valli the young eclectic

Rachel Weisz in Givenchy Couture

Latex??? On the red carpet? I’m here for it! I love Weisz’s neutral makeup and simple hair, too, because it really lets the red dress speak its own language. I’ll sum up my opinion like this: I would wear it.

oscars 2019 red carpet fashion couture style the young eclectic rachel weisz givenchy

Tessa Thompson in Chanel

The simplicity of this look is so charming and it looks so good on her! The sleekness of the black with the gold details is so dreamy, and I love the peplum on the hips and hemline!

oscars 2019 red carpet fashion couture style the young eclectic tessa thompson chanel

Lady Gaga in Alexander McQueen

First of all, it’s Lady Gaga, and when have I ever not approved of her look? The minimalism of this allows her to shine through in all of her Lady Gaga-ness. And those structured, architectural hips? Just incredible. I love it. *Italian chef kiss*

oscars 2019 red carpet fashion couture style the young eclectic lady gaga alexander mcqueen

Gemma Chan in Valentino Couture

Another major pink dress moment that I am practically salivating over. The ruffled color! The full, dramatic silhouette! The pockets! The cookies Chan brought in her pockets! (Yes, she really brought cookies with her!) – All amazing.

oscars 2019 red carpet fashion couture style the young eclectic gemma chan valentino

Elsie Fisher in Thom Browne

Wow, Elsie is really slaying me with this look. I’m 100% here for women wearing suits on the red carpet- it’s just so damn chic! And look at those shiny boots and that necklace/tie/collar under the collar! It’s all so good, it makes me want to be her BFF so she can share all of her style secrets with me!

oscars 2019 red carpet fashion couture style the young eclectic elsie fisher thom browne

Billy Porter in Christian Siriano

So you thought I would write an article about the Oscars red carpet without mentioning Billy Porter’s fabulous, gender-bending ballgown, huh? Well you thought wrong! It just blows my mind when people push the envelope and work to change what is considered the “norm,” which is basically arbitrary anyways. Bravo, Billy! Keep being you!

oscars 2019 red carpet fashion couture style the young eclectic billy porter

NOTS

Emilia Clarke in Balmain

The glitz and soft pink/purple color of this pretty dress are not what I have an issue with- it’s the unflattering way the dress is draped in the abdomen area that ruins the whole look. It’s honestly a little tragic 🙁

oscars 2019 red carpet fashion couture style the young eclectic emilia clarke balmain

Tina Fey in Vera Wang

I love Tina Fey, but this dress is just too plain for the red carpet. Like my main complaint with most of my least favorite looks, it just reminds me of a prom dress. There isn’t anything fantastic and showstopping about it, and if the Oscars red carpet isn’t the place to be as extra as possible, I don’t know where is.

oscars 2019 red carpet fashion couture style the young eclectic tina fey vera wang

Maya Rudolph in ???

So, I know you must be thinking “Why is this look in the ‘Nots’ when this is another frilly, pink dress?” Well, there is something here that just isn’t working for me. It may be the dated floral print, or the half-hearted ruffles. Or maybe it’s the cape that seems a little out of place. I’m just not sure.

oscars 2019 red carpet fashion couture style the young eclectic maya rudolph

Lucy Boynton in ???

Lucy Boynton has been killing the red carpets this award season with so many fun and whimsical looks that made her seem like even MORE of a gorgeous, ethereal, otherworldy goddess than she normally is. This dress is just bland. It’s fine, but when compared to her other looks, it just falls short.

oscars 2019 red carpet fashion couture style the young eclectic lucy boynton

That’s all, folks! Were you satisfied with the results of the Oscars this year? I’m just glad that Lady Gaga won an award, no matter how small and insignificant of an award it was! Award season is over now, so if you’re a fan of this series, you’ll have to wait a while for the next one. Stay tuned for other content, though!

All images in this article belong to Getty.

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Fashion

Hot or Not: The 2019 SAG Awards Edition

I know this one is a little late to the game, as this year’s edition of the annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were held on January 27, I figured I would still cover the red carpet because I spent time looking at all of the looks, so that has to count for something gosh darnit! These looks definitely weren’t as wow-worthy as the Golden Globes looks, so I honestly had a hard time getting through them all (first world problems, I know), but I did this for you guys!

If you read my last “Hot or Not” article that covered the Golden Globes red carpet, a lot of my main complaints about the looks came from the fact that the dresses just look like average prom dresses, which I am forced to stare at all day every day while at work. That complaint still applies here- I mean, is it too much to ask that the dresses be more interesting? Apparently!

Buckle up and get ready to see my favorite and least favorite looks from the SAG Awards red carpet:

HOTS

Yara Shahidi in Fendi Couture

Okay, okay so I really adored this Fendi collection with all of the ethereal, sheer dresses layered over dreamy, liquid-esque shimmer, so I was psyched to see someone wear it on the red carpet, especially someone like Yara, who looks absolutely incredible and full of life!

yara shahidi fendi couture cartier jewelry and christian louboutin heels sag awards red carpet fashion style

Timothée Chalamet

I mean, come on… Just look at the guy! I’m not the type of gal that fawns over “hot” celebrity doods, but I think he looks really great here- effortlessly cool with a ton of different textures going on that create interest in the absence of color.

timothee chalamet red carpet fashion style menswear

Margot Robbie in Chanel

Honestly, Margot Robbie is absolutely glowing in this gorgeous Chanel dress! I love how much the gold pops against the white! I don’t have much else to say- keep being fab, Margot!

margot robbie chanel couture red carpet celebrities fashion style sag awards 2019

Lady Gaga in Dior Haute Couture

Would any of my “Hot” lists be complete without Lady Gaga? The answer is no! So here she is, looking very Marilyn Monroe in a flowing, white dress that hugs her body in all of the right places. And that leg slit is to die for! I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us at the Oscars!

lady gaga dior haute couture jimmy choo heels tiffany and co jewelry sag awards 2019 fashion style red carpet celebrity

Lucy Boynton in Erdem

I’m honestly kind of obsessed with Lucy Boynton’s recent looks- they’re so whimsical and fun! Compared to the other more glamorous, classic looks, she really stands out and her style really speaks to me! I can’t wait to see what else she wears in the coming months!

lucy boynton in erdem sag awards 2019 fashion style red carpet celebrities

Emma Stone in Louis Vuitton

I am so here for Hollywood women donning sleek slacks on the red carpet, so I was instantly drawn to Emma Stone’s chic look! The gold top is glam, but balances out nicely with the understated pants! I can only hope that more women will start flexing their fashion muscles and attempt a pants look on the red carpet!

emma stone in louis vuitton sag awards 2019 fashion style red carpet celebrities

Kate Nash

Some might call it tacky, but I think it’s fun! More celebrities need to show their personalities on the red carpet, and I think wearing a funky dress is a great way to do that, even if not everyone will like it. Just look at how happy and cute it is!

kate nash sag awards 2019 fashion style red carpet celebrities

Stephanie Shepherd in Rasario

There is something so classic and simple about wearing a flattering, black dress to the red carpet, so it’s hard to hate on it! This one stood out to me because of the fun ruffles down the skirt and the glamorous, all-over glitter effect.

stephanie shepherd in rasario red carpet sag awards 2019 fashion style celebrities

NOTS

Elisabeth Moss in Monique Lhuillier

Elisabeth… why?? I love you in The Handmaids Tale, but this dress is just… ugh. It looks like a cheap wedding dress (Lhuillier IS a bridal brand…I would know) and that black belt at the waist just looks so random and out of place… It would have been 1000% better without the belt!

elisabeth moss in monique lhuillier sag awards 2019 red carpet fashion style celebrities

Madeline Brewer

Another The Handmaids Tale alumni that is just leaving me scratching my head. This look would be alright if the lace looked a little more high-quality and she was wearing more than just a bodysuit underneath. I don’t know, man. I just don’t like it. It’s too “boudoir” for my tastes!

madeline brewer sag awards 2019 fashion style red carpet celebrities

Fiona Xie

This dress looks like a quintessential Seventeen magazine prom dress creation, or something a star would wear to the Kids Choice Awards (complete with anime hair!). While it is fun, and I can understand the appeal, the color palette just doesn’t appeal to me at all.

fiona xie in hearts on fire jewelry sag awards 2019 red carpet fashion style celebrities

Alison Brie in Miu Miu

While I like the idea of wearing a giant bow on my back in theory (it’s very whimsical and playful and charming and fun), I just didn’t like how this one looked from the front. It honestly looks too costume-y for my tastes and I couldn’t help imagining how in the way it must have been!

alison brie in miu miu sag awards 2019 red carpet fashion style celebrities

TBH guys, I wasn’t feeling this one too much. Should I keep doing them? I think I will definitely cover the Oscars and MAYBE the Grammy’s, so if you’re actually enjoying these Hot or Nots, stay tuned!

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Lifestyle

New Year, New Outlook- No Resolutions Required

New Year’s day always feels so bright and fresh and new like the pink scar flesh under a scab. There is nothing but possibility and promise in a new year, a fact many cash in on with endless lists of New Year’s Resolutions meant to shape you into someone better, because there is no better time than the advent of another year to finally start making yourself into the person you always wanted to be. Unfortunately, according to an article by U.S. News, 80% of all New Year’s resolutions will fail by the second week of February. That’s… a staggering amount of failure. And starting off a year feeling dejected about the resolutions that could have been but never were is a great way to begin things on the wrong foot.

But why do we fail at resolutions? Why do resolutions make us feel so bad? Our lofty goals of saving a certain amount of money, or losing a certain amount of weight (the most popular resolutions after the excessive indulgence of the holiday season) can seem overwhelming, leading us to consciously or subconsciously give up before we even try. That’s because we try to change our behaviors on a dime without changing what really matters first- the thing at the core of it all- our mentality, our attitude, our outlook. Failure or feelings of dejection are inevitable if we don’t start small and figure out how to change the way we change ourselves.

Writing down a list of goals can seem like the first step to making improvements in your life, but it really isn’t a requirement for cultivating a meaningful, positive experience for your 2019. All you need for that is an adjustment in your own inner vision.

I’ve lived a life of pessimism and creating distant objectives for myself like “lose 20 pounds” or “get a book published” that do nothing for my self-worth but degrade it. And in the age of social media, where everyone’s best moments and personal triumphs are plastered across 5 different mediums, what you see as your own personal failures begin to feel monumental. This is where the change in perspective comes in, something that I’ve chosen to embrace for myself in the coming months because I’m tired of living in a swirling miasma of negativity. The first thing you have to do is quit seeing anything as a failure. While some things may not go according to plan, “failure” is a reality of life and only serves to improve you as you move along. Every “failure” is a triumph in disguise, even if that triumph is small. For example, if your goal was to find a better job, but none of your interviews panned out, you still triumphed because each interview you had was practice for the next. Just re-framing your thoughts like this can do wonders to improve your confidence and overall mood.

Another way to ensure a productive and successful new year is to start small. Resolutions like mine have been in the past seem so impossible because there is no clear pathway to achieving them. Small, bite-sized goals like “I’m going to make my bed every morning” are much more easily achieved and will lead to a positive, uplifting attitude that will make achieving larger, more challenging goals seem more realistic because successfully achieving goals, no matter how small, will cultivate higher confidence. It also helps to split up these tougher resolutions into smaller bits. Like, if your goal is to save more money, put into place a simple, achievable monthly plan like “I will save $200 from every paycheck.” You would be surprised how much this helps!

While goal-setting can be an important part of reaching where we would like to be in our lives, it isn’t necessary for self-improvement. In the past couple of months, I decided to stop pressuring myself too much, and to appreciate myself for what I am and what I’ve already achieved. While I didn’t lose the weight I wanted, my body is healthy and works so hard at carrying me through life, something I fail to recognize. While I didn’t write enough articles one week, that’s alright, time moves ever-forward and I have an opportunity to do better next week. Improvement isn’t instantaneous and doesn’t always have to be obvious. Like I said before, a simple change in outlook can make you feel like a new person, no resolutions required.

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