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The Five Most Red-Hot Red Carpet Looks At The 2011 Oscars

Save for The King's Speech nabbing both the Best Director and Best Picture awards, the 87th Annual Academy Awards telecast was short on surprises. As expected, the extraordinary Christian Bale nabbed the Best Supporting Actor award, while brilliant character actress Melissa Leo scored the Best Supporting Actress prize, a very pregnant Natalie Portman won the Best Actress statue, and the debonair Colin Firth nabbed the Best Actor title — all well-deserved and widely predicted wins.

Similarly, the red carpet was littered with safe looks that, while pretty, failed to make our jaws drop in fascination and pure fashion delirium. Fortunately, a handful of actresses restored the glamour to Hollywood, with dreamy gowns that could make any viewer's eyes widen in excitement. Here, our top picks of the evening.

 

1. MILA KUNIS

Nina who? Though she was the Black Swan counterpart to Natalie Portman's White Swan in Darren Aronofsky's cinematic masterpiece, Mila Kunis was the epitome of grace, not aggression and carnal passion, when she appeared on the red carpet in an ethereal lavender chiffon Elie Saab Haute Couture gown. The effortlessly criss-crossed draping, deep scooped neckline, and lace detailing along the bustline lend the bodice a seductive, lingerie-like effect that feels delicate and intimate, while the tiered lace along the skirt feels like a coquettish game of fashion peek-a-boo. The grosgrain ribbon cinching the waistline seems to toy with ballerina motifs, a fitting touch for this tiny dancer.

 

2. GWYNETH PALTROW

Gwyneth Paltrow proved that a simple, understated dress can make a bold, dynamic statement. Her sleeveless, white gold Cavin Klein Couture gown perfectly hugs the contours of her body, and the column-style gown magnifies the sleek, statuesque silhouette. The plunging neckline, meanwhile, is such a narrow rectangular slit that it looks demure rather than scandalous, and the slit's geometric shape adds a hint of '70s chic to the look.

 

3. SANDRA BULLOCK

Last year's Best Actress winner looked even more stunning and relaxed this year, sashaying across the red carpet in a red satin Vera Wang dress. The strapless gown shows off Bullock's toned arms, while the ribbing along the corseted bodice and the seams running diagonally along the fitted hip area, all create a flattering optical effect, accentuating her hourglass shape. The elegant train, meanwhile, works as the exclamation point to punctuate this fashion statement.

4. MARISA TOMEI

At 46, Marisa Tomei has the type of figure most twenty-somethings dream of, and she flaunts it in this vintage Charles James dress, which features a corset-like, midnight blue, satin bodice and a fishtail-shaped skirt with layers and layers of purple and dark blue tulle sewn across the skirt in a diagonal slant for added volume and a playful effect worthy of a Can-Can dancer.

5. MICHELLE WILLIAMS

When Michelle Williams appears on screen, she dazzles because of the tender vulnerability she infuses into her characters, the way she manages to capture the emotional nuance of every look, gesture, and tone of voice. Her performances aren't always operatic — sometimes they're gentle whispers that linger in your mind and heart well past the movie's closing credits. Her silvery white, short-sleeved Chanel gown, with its embroidered floral details and clear stones, fits Williams' acting style perfectly: soft, beautiful, translucent, and angelic.

 

 

Sandra Bullock's Textured Updo At The 2011 Oscars -- How To Get The Look

 

Last year's Best Actress winner Sandra Bullock dazzled last night in a strapless Vera Wang gown with a slim, rectangular "U" shape at the center of the bustline, a corseted bodice with a cinched waist and ribbing details at the hips, and a slinky train. The gown's scarlet color was itself a welcome change from the black, champagne and cream dresses Bullock donned during last year's awards season and set the bar for her charming appearance on stage, when she delivered one of the funniest, most endearing speeches as the presenter for the Best Actor award.

Celebrity hairstylist David Babaii, working for Couture Colour created the textured feel of Bullock's youthful updo. After shampooing and conditioning hair, towel drying tresses, Babaii applied the Couture Color Pequi Oil Treatment, a frizz-taming, moisturizing, antioxidant-rich treatment derived from the pequi fruit found in the Amazon rain forest. To ensure that the product was evenly distributed, Babaii ran a wide tooth comb through Bullock's damp hair, then dried her mane using a round brush. Once he'd finished blowing out Bullock's hair, Babaii smoothed an additional pea-sized amount of the Pequi Oil Treatment to her hair, brushing it to the back of the head.

Next, Babaii used the IT&LY Hairfashion Digital Styling Iron and twisted half-inch sections of hair around its barrel. But rather than opting for tight curls or Shirley Temple-like coils, Babaii focused on giving Bullock's hair texture through haphazard, imprecise, natural-looking waves. He hence chose half-inch sections at random, rather than relying on a system that would create identically curled strands. Once he'd twisted strands, he pressed the flat iron atop each coiled section, flattening the curves a bit and allowing the heat to set the look. He then allowed each section to release naturally upon cooling.

Once he'd roughened up the front half of the head a bit, giving it a wavy but imprecise and lived-in texture, Babaii added a smidgen of Pequi Oil to his hands, rubbing it between his palms and then finger combing the hair, avoiding brushes and other styling tools so as to achieve the desired sophisticated but free-spirited, not-too-sleek effect.

Babaii then gathered all the hair into a low ponytail, securing it at the nape of the neck with an elastic band and wrapping the hair around the band, securing it with bobby pins. Any loose strands were allowed to flow freely, completing the Bohemian but Parisian chic look.

 

Marisa Tomei's Velvety Orchid Lids And Shiny Berry Pout At The 2011 Oscars

 

At 46, there are no signs of Oscar winner Marisa Tomei's biological clock "ticking like THIS!" (to use one of her most memorable My Cousin Vinny lines). The Brooklyn-born actress is as stunning now as she was as a baby-faced, scatter-brained college student in A Different World — if anything, her confidence has increased, translating into a more poised version of her younger self. Last night, at the 2011 Academy Awards, Tomei flaunted her stunning figure in a vintage 1950s, midnight blue, satin Charles James dress featuring two thin shoulder straps; a modest sweetheart neckline; vertical seams along the bodice that yielded a slimming, corset-like effect; and a voluminous, layered, dip-dyed purple-and-blue, can-can-like tulle skirt that extended from the middle of her right thigh to her left hip, creating a gorgeous asymmetrical line. To accentuate the look, Tomei wore diamond and yellow sapphire earrings resembling sunflowers from from Van Cleef and Arpels.

Tomei's makeup artist Matthew Van Leeuwen worked with Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics to give the actress a radiant complexion and understate makeup in light purple, raspberry, and mauve tones.

To give Tomei's cheeks a rosy tint, Van Leeuwen dipped his brush into the cream blush part of the Anastasia Highlighting Crème Duo in St. Tropez, sweeping it back and forth along the cheekbones. Using the same brush, he then dipped the bristles into the golden highlighting crème, applying to the top of the lips and the bridge of the nose to give her complexion a sun-kissed glow and illuminate key features.

Since Anastasia Beverly Hills leads the pack in brow care, it only makes sense that Van Leeuwen would take special care to make Tomei's arches look their best. First, he reached for the Anastasia Brow Wiz Pencil in Brunette, using light feathery strokes of the mechanical pencil to fill in any sparse areas and defining the bottom edge of the brow. Next, he used the Anastasia Brow Duality Pencil, using the matte end of the double-ended, thick, crayon-like pencil to highlight the arch of the brows.

On lids, Van Leeuwen started by brushing on the shimmering, ballerina-worthy, petal pink color in the Anastasia Illumin8 Eye Shadow Palette 1, applying it all over the eye area. Next, he used the candy-grape-meets-mauve shade in the Illumin8 Eye Shadow Palette 3, blending it into the crease to yield a soft, orchid purple. Next, he lined her peepers with a black pencil, smudging the line with the sparkly, near-black, midnight blue shadow from the Illumin8 Eye Shadow Palette 3 for a smoky but glistening effect. Last, he curled lashes and added two coats of Anastasia Lash Lifting Mascara.

To keep Tomei's look youthful and not too severe, Van Leeuwen opted not to use any dark lip colors, instead relying on a lightweight gloss: the Anastasia Hydrafull Lip Gloss in Sangria, an understated, amethyst-tinged, wine-like shade.

 

Gwyneth Paltrow's Sleek And Straight Hair At The 2011 Oscars

Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow's storied red carpet history is practically a testament to the power of simplicity, the eloquence of minimalism. Back when she was dating Brad Pitt, she held his hand at the 1996 Academy Awards, wearing a floor-length, slip-like, free-flowing Calvin Klein gown in a pink charmeuse gown that came to define her effortlessly sensual yet elegant personal style. For the 2011 Oscars, Gwyneth Paltrow once again turned to CK, donning a shimmering white gold gown from the Calvin Klein Collection. The sleeveless gown featured a deep narrow slit along the bodice, revealing just a hint of the chest area without going into cleavage-bearing mode, while the floor-length skirt hung in a straight, column-like fashion, creating a statuesque effect. The understated dress fit Gwyneth so perfectly that the white gold color practically looked like it had been molten onto her body. Paltrow also donned gold Brian Atwood pumps and earrings from the Louis Vuitton L'Ame du Voyage collection that framed her face with their undulating shape, which seemed to resemble floral bouquets, and added a hint of color to the look thanks to their multi-colored stones.

To complement her demure gown choice, Paltrow's hairstylist Harry Josh sought to create a similarly unfussy yet glamorous look. Josh, John Frieda's International Creative Consultant, cited Paltrow's effortless sophistication, her innate elegance, as his inspiration, choosing not to overshadow her natural beauty with an overly complicated look and instead opting for something sleek and simple.

To create the look, Harry started out by spraying on the new John Frieda Frizz-Ease 3-Day Straight, a humidity-blocking treatment featuring a blend of polymers with keratin protein that wrap around each strand, preventing frizz from emerging and lengthening the lifespan of straightened looks. Next, he started blowing out her hair with a Mason Pearson brush (the Rolls Royce of brushes), straightening her mane one section at a time. Josh then divided the hair into small sections, running a comb through each part and flat ironing the hairs therein for a pin-straight effect.

For a modernized take on Aly MacGraw's preppy-meets-Boho hair look in the classic 1970 film Love Story, Josh gave Paltrow a center part, spraying on the new John Frieda Full Repair Touch-Up Flyaway Tamer and combing hair to make sure no flyaways would tarnish the flawless look.

Since the Touch-Up Tamer comes in a travel-sized tube and features a mascara-style wand that users can run through any unruly sections of hair, we can assume the product will be safely tucked inside Paltrow's clutch throughout the evening.

Redken Nature's Rescue Collection -- A Seaside Journey

 

By now, we've all heard the edict from haircare gurus: if you want a regimen that won't strip tresses of their natural oils, leave the scalp dry and flaky, accelerate the fading of color treatments, and possibly deposit harmful carcinogens that could penetrate the blood stream, you need to completely eradicate any cleansers, conditioners, and styling products containing sulfates and parabens. Yes, ladies, the big, bad wolves lurking in the beauty landscape are known as sulfates, parabens, and silicones. Since Redken seeks to always address the desires and needs of its clientele, it developed a range of haircare products formulated without these villainous ingredients: the Redken Nature Rescue collection.

The four products in this collection feature images of gorgeous seaside landscapes, with tranquil ocean waters seen through lush green, tall grass spears, an expansive aqua blue sky practically kissing the surface of the water. Though not 100% natural, the products' formulas do include botanical ingredients derived from the ocean — mainly: strengthening and protective sea algae, which is rich in minerals like iron, potassium, copper, zinc, and manganese, and is rife with proteins (particularly blue-green algae), fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6, and vitamins A,B, C, and E; soy protein, which increases hair's ability to retain moisture, helping to improve its texture and make it more manageable; and aloe vera, which boasts anti-inflammatory properties, soothing the scalp and smoothing the hair cuticle, and which is also said to promote hair growth. All the products also boast a light, aloe-tinged, fresh and watery fragrance that will remind you of outings to the beach.

The Redken Nature's Rescue Refreshing Detox Shampoo cleanses hair without relying on sulfates to create an unnecessary foamy lather (that is, after all, their only real function), managing to remove dirt, product build-up, and impurities, all while being gentle enough to use on a daily basis.

Next, there's the Redken Nature's Rescue Refining Sea Polish, perhaps the oddest product in the collection. Packaged in a 3.4 oz. tube, each tablespoon's worth of the pumice-enriched polish feels like wet, gravelly sand on your palms. When you apply it to damp hair, then, it will feel like you're coating your hair with minuscule sand granules. The texture, then, is a bit rough, and you'll want to smear it onto each section of hair starting at the roots and moving down to ends, massaging the polish so that it will exfoliate the hair's surface. The application process is rather messy and inconvenient but, when you rinse tresses, you will notice they feel remarkably smoother and softer (and, unlike sand, it's fairly easy to wash this out of your mane!). That being said, I'm still hesitant to use this product regularly since, while it's billed as being safe for color-treated hair, I've noticed my hair color doesn't look quite as vibrant after I use it.

My absolute favorite product in the collection is Redken Nature's Rescue Cooling Deep Conditioner. This moisturizing conditioner is a punchy, aqua blue color, and has a gel-like consistency. When you apply it to hair, it instantly detangles strands, plus it soothes your scalp, giving it a pleasant cooling sensation that lasts even after you rinse your strands and emerge from the shower. For best results, I'd  suggest applying the conditioner and then tucking hair underneath a shower cap, letting the product sink into the hair for a good 10-15 minutes before washing it out.

Last, there's the Redken Nature's Rescue Radiant Sea Spray, which boosts shine and adds body and volume. This mist does have some practical benefits, but its main function is making hair smell delicious, infusing it with time-touch fragrance capsules that release an oceanic aroma when hair is touched.

These products are formulated for all types of hair (dry, normal, oily, straight, curly, wavy, color-treated, etc.), and the shampoo and conditioner do deliver the promised results but, that being said, if your hair is on the drier end of the spectrum, you might need to complement this range with some heavyweight leave-in conditioners and replenishing masks.

Still, it's a step in the right direction for Redken (and for women lusting after mermaid-like tresses).

Redken Nature's Rescue Refreshing Detox Shampoo, $16; Redken Nature's Rescue Refining Sea Polish, $19; Redken Nature's Rescue Cooling Deep Conditioner, $17; and Redken Nature's Rescue Radiant Sea Spray, $17. Visit Redken.com to find a salon near you carrying these products.

MAC Wonder Woman Collection -- No One Can Resist The Golden Lasso!

 

In the male-dominated comic book universe, populated by vigilante-style crime fighters (Batman), mutants with knife-like claws (Wolverine), wealthy playboys in powered suits of armor (Iron Man), and even a man whose anger bouts lead him to involuntarily transform into a green giant monster (the Hulk), one female superhero sought to bring peace and order to the universe using love, rather than weaponry: Wonder Woman.

The DC Comics character made her debut in the All Stars Comics #8 published in December 1941, just months before artist J. Howard Miller created his now iconic "We Can Do It!" poster featuring the muscle-flexing, bandanna-wearing Rosie the Riveter, an image meant to encourage housewives to enter the workforce and take on traditionally "male" trades during World War II, while their husbands were off at war, leaving many a job vacant. Over the years, Rosie the Riveter became a symbol of female empowerment, as women clung to the "We can do it!" slogan and celebrated the key role women played in sustaining the American economy during wartime. The fact that the Wonder Woman comic book character was unveiled just as American companies encouraged gender equality at the workplace (albeit for their own self-interest, since they fully expected women to resume their domestic duties upon their husbands' return) is a testament to the atmosphere of the times. In fact, in many of the earlier Wonder Woman comic books, the stylish heroine was shown fighting the Axis military forces and defeating Nazi villains. Talk about art imitating life.

Women clung to these images of female empowerment: Rosie the Riveter encouraged women to take on any workplace challenge, while Wonder Woman urged them to take on the world. Two decades later, another women's right movement blossomed, with activists calling for gender equality in all fields and again championing the passing of the Equal Rights Amendment first introduced in the '20s. Wonder Woman, then, was much more than an illustrated character — she was a symbol of our strength and potential.

The MAC Cosmetics Wonder Woman Colour Collection celebrates the iconic comic book heroine, with products packaged in palettes, tubes and compacts in an apple red and metallic blue, emblazoned with the two stacked Ws constituting the Wonder Woman logo. Each product comes packaged in an illustrated box with images practically plucked from vintage DC Comics pages, each showing Wonder Woman in her strapless leotard and red boots, wearing her star-adorned Golden Tiara, with which she could use as a boomerang, and her bulletproof golden bracelets, and clutching her glowing Lasso of Truth, which forced anyone roped inside its length to utter the truth.

The limited-edition collection's packaging is enough to lure beauty hounds, but can the makeup offerings themselves live up to Wonder Woman standards? See for yourself! Below, you'll find photos of all the products in the collection, along with swatches of each shade.

 

New H&M Fashion Agaist AIDS Collection — Great Cause, Awful Clothing

  

 

Four years ago, retail giant H&M launched its Fashion Against AIDS (FAA) campaign, consisting of a limited-edition apparel line aimed at both heightening awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic via clever slogans and images and at raising funds for international non-profit organizations and initiatives — among them Designers Against AIDS (DAA), the peer advocacy and AIDS education NGO that initially proposed the concept to H&M brass; YouthAids, a global health organization that focuses on condom social marketing, HIV treatment and counseling, and community outreach programs that aim to change behavioral patterns and thereby curtail the spread of AIDS, particularly in areas with high incidences of HIV; the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, which uses mass media resources to educate youth about HIV prevention; and the United Nations Population Fund, which focuses on prevention and treatment of HIV in at-risk populations all over the world. During this time time frame, H&M has donated over $41 million to these organization. The campaign's success, then, is a testament to the power of fashion as a conduit for social change.

Given the noble nature of the campaign, then I'd like nothing more than to rave about the latest H&M Fashion Against AIDS collection, set to hit stores on April 26th (as with previous collections, 25% of proceeds will be donated to he aforementioned HIV/AIDS projects). Unfortunately, from a purely aesthetic point-of-view, the latest collection sinks below lackluster into treacherously ghastly territory.

Each piece in the unisex collection is meant to appeal to both female and male customers, with loose silhouettes that can (theoretically) be styled as desired and hence don't reinforce traditional gender-based fashion rules. Male consumers might wear the collection's slogan-emblazoned orange and mint green tees with jeans, Dunks, and hoodies, while female buyers might roll up the sleeves, tug at the necklines to reveal more of their neck and shoulder areas, and  accessorize these with low-slung belts. It's a fair enough concept — save for the fact that most women have smaller shoulders and curvier silhouettes, not to mention that they require more room in the bosom area.

The idea gets even more impractical as we move on from tees to other garments. A white, long-sleeved, button-down shirt is billed as being an essential for any man's wardrobe and a great piece for women seeking a boyfriend-inspired look, as they could potentially roll up the sleeves, undo a few buttons, cinch the waist and wear as a dress, styling the piece with their own dose of feminine moxie. It's a sound concept — except for the fact that, when worn as a dress, the shirt looks as formless as a terry cloth bathrobe.

The most head-scratching pieces in the collection, though, are the long-sleeved, hooded, zip-up jumpsuits: a white one featuring all-over, headline-sized black lettering that feels like something Left Eye, Chilli, and T-Boz would've rocked with big floppy hats and condom-adorned sunglasses in TLC's "What About Your Friends" or "Ain't Too Proud Too Beg" videos; and an orange jumpsuit that instantly conjures up images of correctional facilities (really, guys? orange jumpsuits?) and maybe even Goku's signature get-up in the Dragon Ball Z Kai cartoon franchise.

Running shorts, anoraks with sleeves that can be altered via zippers along the elbows, tapered sweatpants, and sleeveless tanks — in the ill-advised yellow, orange, mint green and cream palette selected — complete the collection. Save for one sleeveless belt with a subtle biker motif, most of these pieces are sheer dreckitude (to use André Leon Talley's trademark jab on America's Next Top Model).

It's puzzling that H&M steered so far from its modern, flash, funky prints (like the amazing tribal patterns in last year's collection) but, most of all, it's sad since I doubt this collection will fare well in stores, making this a missed fund-raising opportunity.

Check out more photos below, after the jump.

Give Lower Lashes Top-Notch Treatment With Clinique's Bottom Lash Mascara

Thanks to the countless mascara options on the market, we can now volumize, lengthen, and define upper lashes, imbue them with colors ranging from jet black to cherry plum and indigo blue, infuse them with nourishing vitamins and minerals that will facilitate their growth, and render them practically impermeable. Our poor lower lashes, however, get the raw end of the deal, like the kid who was always picked last for the dodgeball team, or the one who was cast as a tree in the school play. Sure, there was a period when we all coveted Twiggy's signature mod look and hoped to accentuate our lower lashes, making the rim around our eyes look like the legs of a centipede — but, once we discovered how difficult it was to manipulate a regular-sized mascara wand within the under-eye space, we quickly shifted our beauty fascination elsewhere. And, sadly, our bottom lashes were left forgotten and neglected.

But no more! We can finally push our lower lashes back into the limelight, relieving them of their stand-in status, with Clinique's new Bottom Lash Mascara. Each 0.7 oz. mascara tube features a minuscule wand with a special brush tip measuring under 0.5" in length. The mascara wand's small scale make it easy to reach lower lashes without smearing color onto cheeks and nostrils (and winding up a raccoon-eyed mess!). The tiny brush tip lets you tug gently at the lashes near tear ducts and all the way at the outer corners of eyes, plus the placement of their bristles minimizes potential clumping.

Not only does Clinique's Bottom Lash Mascara allow you to deposit color atop lower lashes, but it makes them appear noticeably longer. In fact, when I apply mascara to upper lashes (I play with different mascaras but am particularly fond of Givenchy's Phenomen'Eyes and Clinique's High Lengths) and follow with the Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara, my top and lower lashes almost stick together. As a result, then, I try to wait a few seconds to allow the lower lash mascara to set before I move on to my lipstick and gloss, placing a blotting paper beneath the upper lashes to prevent them from adhering to their counterparts down south.

The Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara comes in a lightweight, pocket-sized silver tube adorned with floral motifs, and is available in either Black/Brown or Black. And, while the mascara can be easily removed with warm water, it won't run everywhere if you tear up a tiny bit, so there's no need to worry about looking like an anguished French mime at the first sign of moistness.

 Who's on top now?

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara, $10. Available at Clinique.com

Dannijo Ismene Necklace -- As Seen In Britney Spears' "Hold It Against Me" Video

After enthralling the blogosphere with almost a dozen previews of her new "Hold It Against Me" video,  pop star Britney Spears premiered the full clip on February 17th, revealing a return to her glory days as a snake-charming, Madonna-kissing, blond temptress persona of earlier days (think of her dripping in diamonds in the "Toxic" video). Sure, her voice occasionally conveys a momentary type of wistfulness but, overall, both the lyrics ("'Cause you feel like paradise/and I need  a vacation now/So if I said I want your body now/would you hold it against me?") and the cinematic, no-holds-barred video, with its choreographed dance routines, futuristic (and largely voyeuristic) technological references, its campy fighting sequence between two Britney alter egos, and costume changes and pyrotechnics galore, keep the mood perky and upbeat. Best, of all, the fashions showcased in the video are substantially more refined and glamorous than anything we've seen Spears wear on screen, a welcome deviation from the strategically sexualized ensembles of years pasts — i.e. the schoolgirl plaid skirt of her "Oops! I Dit It Again" days or even the bondage-inspired ensemble in the "If U Seek Amy" video.

On the fashion front, the "Hold It Against Me" video features one particularly breathtaking moment when Spears is shown wearing a corseted wedding gown  with a mammoth skirt that seems to grow taller and taller under the camera's watchful eye. The gown was the result of a collaboration between costume stylist by B. Akerlund and Tom Tom Fashions, was accessorized with white lace fingerless gloves from LaCrasia that covered only half of her hands, extending from the top of her thumbs to below her fingertips; Swarovski-encrusted arm bands; and the above-pictured bib necklace from New York-based jewelry label Dannijo.

The intricate necklace, handmade using oxidized silver chains and silver-plated Swarovski crystals makes the fabled piece Marilyn Monroe donned in Diamonds Are A Gir'ls Best Friend seem like child's play. Measuring 19 1/2" in length, the Dannijo Ismene necklace's crystal pattern is 4" wide at its widest point and features chandelier-like draping and both faceted oval and teardrop-shaped clear crystals. The clarity of the stones, when juxtaposed against the darkness of the oxidized silver, creates a clever play on light and dark, pure an sinful, pristine and tarnished — a perfect metaphorical space for Spears to navigate.

 

Dannijo Ismene Necklace, $745. Available at Dannijo.com

Loeffler Randall x SUNO Limited Edition Footwear Collection -- A Kanga Dream

When designers Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty showcased SUNO's Spring 2011 collection in September, fashion insiders marveled at the breezy, artsy, Bohemian feel of their designs: a retro garden dress in a watercolor-esque print featuring splashes of mint green, ink-y blue, mustard yellow, and cornflower blue; an asymmetrical, sleeveless, slightly sheer zebra print dress with tiers of ruffled trim arranged in a zig-zagging pattern from the waist to the cinched hemline of the calf-length skirt; a short-sleeved apron dress in a shimmering champagne shade worn over a long-sleeved, navy-on-blue deco circle print shirt; a cream-colored, knee-length romper with a V-shaped neckline in a vintage-looking coral rose print; among others.

Though the collection incorporated jaunty navy-and-white polka dot prints, mint green and chocolate brown plaids, a fair share of zebra patterns, and even a retro fruit print (on a 50s-style full circle skirt, no less), the SUNO team staid true to its roots, referencing traditional kanga fabrics (the pattern, rectangular cotton fabrics sported by women and men alike throughout East Africa, many of which feature messages in Swahili) in many of their designs.

Two footwear styles were unveiled at the show as part of a collaboration with Loeffler Randall. First, there was the Audra, a flat sandal with three snap-on straps running horizontally along the vamp, an open toe, an ankle strap with a metal snap creating a gladiator-like effect, cage-like cutouts along both sides, and a 25mm heel. For more of a height boost, models donned the Erin, a lace-up platform sandal with triangle-shaped cut-outs along the center of the vamp, laces made to resemble slim ribbons, a wooden wedge heel measuring 135mm in height and a 55mm fabric-covered platform.

After months of anticipation, the Loeffler Randall x SUNO has finally landed at LoefflerRandall.com. Each of the two cotton canvas footwear styles is available in two print options. The Erin, for example, is available in a clustered caviar print (featured at top), which consists of tiny yellow speckles with black cubes at their interior and white shadowing against an olive green backdrop, and a vintage rose print (shown second from top). The Audra, meanwhile, is available in both a gray-and-yellow print (pictured third from top) and an art deco circle print (pictured above, last), with navy blue cotton uppers bearing thin white stripes and oversize white polka dots.

 

Loeffler Randall x SUNO Erin Lace-Up Wedge, $645, and Loeffler Randall x SUNO Audra Flat Sandal, $475. Available at LoefflerRandall.com