13th Annual Costume Designer Guild Awards: Red Carpet

Halle Berry Wows, Kristin Davis' Goes To The Ball and Diane Lane Does the Charleston...

One Word: Wow! Halle Berry in Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring 2011--Costume Designers Guild Awards 2011

Last night were the 13th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards (CDGA) at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. It was a star-studded gala as one might expect, especially in the week leading up to this Sunday's Academy Awards. The CDGA honors Outstanding Costume Design in film from the previous year.

There's not one "Best Costume Design in Film of the Year" award but they break it up into categories, which I think is great (especially for us Costume Design-aficionados). Many actors, stylists, costumers, costume designers are invited to this event which has become the Oscars of Costume Design. Costume Design is often an under-appreciated yet essential part of movies and movie-making and now, more and more, in these "Red Carpet and Fashion-Centric" times, they are getting their due--finally!

Host Kristin Davis in...

Oscar de la Renta Spring 2011 black-and-white polka dotted strapless ball gown

The Gala was hosted by actress Kristin Davis, who looked every vision of her "Sex And The City" character Charlotte York in Oscar de la Renta Spring 2011 but the Red Carpet Fashion Star of the night was the GORGEOUS Halle Berry--who was given the first ever "Lacoste Spotlight Award".

Halle Red: Elie Saab Spring 2011 Haute Couture

She wore a Spring 2011 HAUTE COUTURE Gown--fresh off the Paris Runways--from Designer Elie Saab. She looked BREATHTAKING!! Halle + Elie= Can Do NO WRONG! It's so amazing to me that even to a non-televised awards gala such as the fabulous CDGA, the top A-List actresses are still "giving" Haute Couture!!! In the past, these $50,000-$100,000 hand-sewn one-of-a-kind gowns were reserved for Cannes or the Oscars, but no more. Well, when you are Halle Berry, you can borrow the best!

Others present were: Actress Diane Lane, giving a 1920's "Charleston" vibe in this handkerchief hemmed sequined dress and "sensible" strappy heals...

Actress Claire Danes in a metallic gray cocktail dress

Demi Moore in Vivienne Westwood royal blue silk taffeta gown

New Fashionista In Town: TV Presenter (from E! and MTV's "The City") Louise Roe GIVES it to you!! She is wearing Manish Arora and shoes by Versace. Those shoes-by the way-are RIDICULOUSLY good!!!

And naturally, there was a Costume Designer or two: Above is the fabulous Colleen Atwood (wearing a dress by Roland Mouret), Costume Designer for "Alice In Wonderland" (with her daughter), who won the award for "Excellence in Fantasy Film" Costume Guild Award for 2011.

In case you were wondering--the following costume designers were honored with awards last night--Congratulations!

Excellence in contemporary film Black Swan - Amy Westcott

Excellence in period film The King's Speech - Jenny Beavan

Excellence in fantasy film Alice in Wonderland - Colleen Atwood

Outstanding contemporary television series Glee - Lou Eyrich

Outstanding period/fantasy television series Boardwalk Empire - John Dunn & Lisa Padovani

Outstanding made for television movie or mini series Temple Grandin - Cindy Evans

Excellence in commercial costume design Chanel - Bleu de Chanel - Aude Bronson‐Howard

Nick Verreos on TV Guide Network Special THIS SUNDAY NIGHT: "Academy Awards: Iconic Stars, Legendary Fashions"

Academy Awards Couture Special...on TV Guide Network!!!

Grace Kelly at the 27Th Academy Awards in 1955 wearing Edith Head aquamarine duchesse satin gown

In anticipation of Hollywood's biggest night, TV Guide Network will celebrate the Academy Awards by looking back at the legendary fashions worn by film stars from the 1950s to today.

Nick Verreos joins TV Guide Network's "Academy Awards: Iconic Stars, Legendary Fashions" TV Special

I was invited to join an illustrious panel of experts, including the AMAZING and legendary Bob Mackie, to speak on Oscars Fashions for TV Guide's very special program: Academy Awards: Iconic Stars, Legendary Fashions.

Bob Mackie

This special TV program will be a special insight on Oscars Fashion through the years--and through the eyes of Fashion Designers (like myself and Bob Mackie), hair experts, fashion editors and stylists. The one-hour special will also highlight classic style icons Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly and modern day trend-setters Nicole Kidman and Angelina Jolie.

Halle Berry at the 74th Annual Academy Awards

You know we'll talk about the gorgeous Halle Berry in that Elie Saab gown (No one had heard of this Lebanese Designer until then! Well, no one outside of the LA-NY-Paris-Beirut Fashionista circles!).

And of course, the photo of Cher and THAT iconic Bob Mackie creation might make a "special appearance" in the show. If you LOVE Fashion, are a fan of the Red Carpet and the Academy Awards...well, this is THE SHOW for you!

What: Academy Awards: Iconic Stars, Legendary Fashions

When: Sunday, Feb. 20 at 7/6c on TV Guide Network

68th Annual Golden Globe Awards Fashion: Who Wore What? Halle Berry in Nina Ricci Fall 2009

The gorgeous Halle Berry in Nina Ricci (from Olivier Theyskens' last Fall 2009 Collection for the house).
*Thank you to my informed commenter/reader for pointing it out--LOVE my readers!

Wish I could say the same for that gown. Two Words: Oh Dear. In a sea of Statement-Making Architecturally Draped Gowns and all-over beaded stunners, she shows up in this? A black chiffon and satin bustier dress that looks as if she's wearing her undergarments and hasn't actually gotten dressed yet. Is it 2003 or 2011?

The under-dress cuts her off at the thigh and the chiffon over-drape skirt is just odd. And to top everything off, she makes a very safe and dated shoe choice. If she had gone with an edgier platform shoe, I might have thought she was making a statement. Definitely NOT one of my favorites of the night. And interestingly enough, why I do LOVE it on the model, on the runway, and with those STOMPING boots? But, wow, Halle is GA-GA-GORGEOUS!!?? Look at that body, that face!!! What did you guys think of her gown choice?