Lucy Liu in Carolina Herrera Pre-Fall 2013: Lucy wore this Baby Blue Floral Silk Duchesse Satin Strapless Full Skirted Gown by Carolina Herrera. While I always appreciate a risk and "changing it up" on the Red Carpet, this was a bit of a miss for me.

Someone as petite as Liu will always have a hard time pulling off such a grand silhouette. I love the gown and the oversized floral, but I think it would have worked better on a taller actress.

What do you think?!

Born Fashionably...
The 10th Annual CFDA/Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards for 2011 were handed out tonight at the Alice Tully Hall in the Lincoln Center New York City. And the Red Carpet Star of the Night was none other than Miss Lady Gaga. Miss Gaga was being honored as "Fashion Icon" and she was on hand to accept her award. She wore a teal pageboy wig and Mugler high-low gown. And to no one's surprise: Some SERIOUS platform boots (above). I have to say, she looked kinda SEXY!!! I've never thought of Lady Gaga as sexy but huney! She done BROUGHT IT, with this ensemble! Live for this moment darling. Live for it. Jessica Alba: 30 year old--and very pregnant, actress Jessica Alba wore a two-toned custom empire-waisted and drop-shouldered Diane Von Furstenberg gown in peach and purple silk Habotai. I will not say anything nasty about a pregnant woman so I will say, Jessica Alba looked "Pretty". Love the color combination. Chloe Sevigny: Rumor has it that what she wore is a "Sneak Peak" of her new line for Opening Ceremony. It was a black ruffled leather plunging neck top and eyelet pencil skirt with a peplum. Loved it. Modern, chic, you-go-Chloe! Love the black-and-white shoes. Kirsten Dunst: Kirsten wore a black with turquoise blue shawl collared tuxedo suit with matching UBER skinny pants from NYC-based CFDA 2008, 2009, 2010 Swarovski Award for Menswear Nominee Designer Patrik Ervell. She accessorized with Prada shoes and slicked back up-do mini-bun hairstyle. I like seeing this more "androgynous" side of Kirsten. It's very Euro. Her tiny frame can really handle this super skinny and super fitted look. Lucy Liu: Liu wore a black strapless gown by LA-based/shows-in-NY-only designer Monique Lhuillier. It was, dare I say it, A BIT much! This was more of an Oscars gown as opposed to CFDA Awards. Leave the big gown moments to Miss Lady Gaga--or Cannes. I have to say that unfortunately, this was a bit of a MISS for me...I think Lucy thought she was at Cannes but somehow forgot... Marcia Cross: Desperate Housewives star Marcia Cross went the complete opposite of her Bree Hodge character for the 2011 CFDA Awards. She went DISCO Happy, wearing a halter neckline jumpsuit (they are ALL THE RAGE kids!) from designer Pamela Rolland. I think she looked rather HOT! If you're going to wear a sequined 1979-inspired jumpsuit, it should be for the CFDA's. Seriously.
Here's a Rundown of This Year's CFDA Awards' Winners:
Womenswear Designer of the Year: Proenza Schouler
Menswear Designer of the Year: Michael Bastian
Accessory Designer of the Year: Alexander Wang
Swarovski Award for Menswear: Robert Geller
Swarovski Award for Womenswear: Prabal Gurung
Swarovski Award for Accessory Design: Eddie Borgo
International Award: Phoebe Philo
Media Award: Hilary Alexander
Founders Award: Hal Rubenstein
Fashion Icon Award: Lady Gaga
Geoffery Beene Lifetime Achievement Award: Marc Jacobs
Board of Directors' Special Tribute: Arthur Elgort

Catch the Couture Bouquet:
To promote Lucy Liu's new Lifetime Movie: Marry Me premiering Sunday, December 12 at 9 pm et/pt , I was asked by Lifetime to send them some photos of recent Wedding Dresses from my NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Demi-Couture Collection. And although we do not have a full line of Wedding Dresses, I always have one or two special Bridal Pieces to complete each collection, so I was happy to send images of these new looks. They also asked several other Project Runway Designers--Season 2 Winner Chloe Dao, Season One's Austin Scarlett, and Season 5 Winner Leanne Marshall to name but a few.
*Click HERE to view all the wedding dresses by Project Runway Winners and Alumn as well as Wedding Gown Design Veterans such as Angel Sanchez, Oscar de la Renta, Vera Wang, and Monique Lhullier.

Manolo, Lucy, Hillary, Nicky Hilton (and bad Season 2 Memories), plus the always FABULOUS Jennifer Coolidge...Nick Verreos Goes on a night out in Beverly Hills!
This past week, I was invited to attend the 2008 Rodeo Drive Walk of Style honoring the one and only Manolo Blahnik. I asked my buddy, John Wade (from Season 2 and current Head of Merchandising at Marc Jacobs-West Coast) to be my date--he obliged of course. We arrived at the event, and quickly walked through the red carpet step-and-repeat (when Lucy Liu AND Manolo Blahnik are standing right next to us on the carpet, there's nothing to do but sprint right along since no one wants a photo of us....). However, as soon as we began walking up those Rodeo 2 Collection steps and found ourselves right behind Lucy--and her agent, Stephen Huvane. We knew this was A-List instantly! Once we braved the fully stocked bar and hors d'oeuvres lining the stylish cobblestone pavement of 2 Rodeo, we settled ourselves in to do some "fashion spotting" as well as ogled the stunning Manolo Blahnik shoes displayed throughout the party in enclosed glass cases (bullet proof I assume!). We eyed a fun mixture of old school Beverly Hills-Ladies-Who-Lunch-at-the-Beverly-Wilshire Hotel, young Hollywood girls, with a fashionista gay or two strewn in for good measure (oh, that would be John and I, sorry!). John instantly spotted Hillary Duff making a bee-line to the bar, looking pretty in a blouse and skirt ensemble and carrying a fabulous clutch. I ran into my UBER- friend, the gorgeous Lily Collins (daughter of rock star genius Phil), in a black fitted skinny trouser suit and Pucci scarf. I met her mom for the first time and had her take a photo of us! I also spotted Nicky Hilton-- there with her mom and dad--wearing a red satin dress cinched with a wide belt. At John's behest, I approached her and said "Hello". I hadn't seen her since that fateful Project Runway Make-A-Dress-For-Nicky Hilton Challenge years ago when I was on Season 2 and thought it would be nice to say "Hello". She was shy and almost uncomfortable, thereby making me ill-at-ease. Noticing the awkward silence, she then proceeded to tell me how her and Paris had "hung out" with my Season 2 alumnus, Santino, recently at a party. Right about this time, my trusty confidante, John, grabbed my arm and I barely got to say Goodbye... The night ended with a fun BANG, however, as we ran into one of my favorite actresses, Jennifer Coolidge--of Legally Blonde and Best In Show fame. John knows her because she's a loyal Marc Jacobs shopper and they discussed, amongst other things their LOVE for MJ. She was there with the dapper Michael Patrick King, executive producer of Sex And The City. It was a fun night overall.