Gownfabulous!
The Miss Universe 2010 Pageant is happening, as I type, in Las Vegas. With 83 contestants arriving last Monday from all over the World, joining in on the two-week festivities, photo op's, parties, and competitions, that lead up to the Final Live Telecast Monday August 23rd. As a beauty pageant fan (there, I "came out'!), this is a fun time for me. It is like Awards Season! Last week,
I took a look at some proposed National Costumes that the international beauties might be wearing for the competition and finals. Now it is time for some Evening Gown Watchin'!
The photos are up on the web of the gorgeous ladies in their evening gowns and you just KNOW that I have my
"Nick Verreos Two Cents" to give. Now, realize that these might not be the actual gowns they will wear on the final night (most of the beauties bring SEVERAL gown choices and wear a different one on the final night), but still it gives us a chance to:
A) See their taste level in evening gowns and more importantly,
B) See the Good and the "Oh Dear, What Was She Thinking?!"
Let's Begin With The Good:
Miss Albania and Miss Canada
*Miss Albania's dress is my favorite dress from all the preview photos. It has everything you would want in a gown: Elegance, sexiness and it looks expensive!! The color and beading is perfect for the Miss Universe Pageant and everything about it looks very modern. She looks gorgeous and her sexy come-hither pose is just right in the photo.
*Miss Canada also gets it right in this strapless creme and gold gown. Of course it wouldn't be a pageant without a slit up to your waist, but the the rest of the gown is elegant enough to carry it off. The beaded/print detail at the hem looks unique and intriguing. This gown in a shocking PINK or Turquoise might not look as elegant, and in fact would look more "Mrs. Tennessee" and less Miss Canada Universe.
Miss India and Miss Spain
Miss India is giving you
Grecian Goddess DIVA!! I even love the beaded shoulder detail. The color is an interesting choice but I could probably do without the headband, although she definitely is "serving it up"!!! She gets a good 9.10 from me!
I give
Miss Spain "Nick Points" for keeping it elegant and wearing a gown that you might see on Spanish Royalty--very
Princess Letizia of Asturias. Although the color might not be my favorite choice the gown is beautifully made and I love the Spanish Lace detailing on the bust.
Runner Ups:
Miss Kosovo and Miss Turkey
*Miss Kosovo and
Miss Turkey both chose "all over" beaded gowns which is a HOT TREND in Evening Gowns.
Miss Kosovo looks amazing from the back (although I am not too sure about the backwards necklace) but I will have to reserve my complete opinion until I am able to see the front of the dress.
*I like the slithering silhouette of
Miss Turkey's fire-red sequined gown, just not sure about the crushed velvet high-cowl neckline. It should have been silk charmeuse or maybe the same red sequin material. Also, bring that neckline down huney, she's too covered up!
The "Giving You FASHION!" Award goes to:
Miss Thailand and Miss Georgia
*COUTURE darlings!!
Miss Thailand's gown is VERY
Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall 2010. It's VERY close to one of the gowns from that collection. It is either an
Elie Saab or a very good Knock-Off. I am sure that "traditional" pageant fans might HATE this gown but as a Designer, I love it's voracity, intricate detail and again, that obvious nob to
Paris Haute Couture. Go on
Miss Thailand! Work it OUT!
*
Miss Georgia gets my "Fashion Points" because of her choice for this BOLD metallic heavily sequined shoulder-covering gown. If you follow the runway trends from both
Pret-a-Porter and
Haute Couture, it is all about strong defined--even Exaggerated--shoulders. So, she is on-point with that. But then of course, she's gotta add the "Pageant Slit"!
Worst Dresses:
Miss Belgium and Miss Aruba
*
Miss Belgium: Two words: Oh Dear! The color is awful, that side opening is awful, the styling is awful. Well, you get it. It just looks cheap. she's like a Mail Order Bride from some obscure Eastern European country. Hope she doesn't wear this on the final night, she's too pretty!
*Miss Aruba: Really Aruba? I want to know what "red carpet" event she's going to in this, where she is not going to be ripped to shreds by the "fashion police". I understand that she represents Aruba, a Caribbean island so there's a little bit of Island Spirit in this gown (if you would call it A GOWN!). Did the designer run out of floral-printed chiffon and therefore the BIG missing space?
Miss Peru and Miss Denmark
These two ladies are giving you Transparent. And I'm not sure that's such a good idea...
*Miss Peru: She's GORGEOUS!! But all I can focus on is her you-know-what--and if it is showing! Who made this gown decision?! I actually like the silver/white almost "Space-age" fabric but why not a lining Miss Peru?
*Miss Denmark: OK, this is NOT a gown but a negligee! I'm waiting for her to have a box of Godiva Chocolates and a glass of red wine and she's calling it a night! And BLACK PUMPS??? Really? No.
Miss Ireland and Miss Panama
*Miss Ireland: One of the prettiest contestants at this year's Miss Universe 2010 and actually a favorite to take the crown. But not in this gown! The organza over-sized rosette right on her bust looks like a target. I love it when
Marchesa does it, but not here darling. But let's just talk about her PANTIES!!! Seriously, she took the "Pageant Slit" to a whole other level. Why? Why? Why? Is the skirt detachable and then she's going to do a dance number only in her leotard/panties?
*Miss Panama: Oh darling. Blessed is the 19 year old "fashion student" who made this for you (I'm assuming since that is what it looks like!). Either that or now we know what
Cassanova has been up to since Project Runway. The color, the cheap-looking flower petal details, the cha-cha silhouette. Oh what would
Nina Garcia and
Michael Kors say about this one?
Miss Romania and Miss Norway
These two ladies have themes going on with their gowns and well, I'm not sure I am enjoying the themes.
*
Miss Romania is giving you animal print...as a LINING!!! Contrast Animal Print Lining are Four Words I don't EVER wanna see used in one sentence!
*And then the exotic
Miss Norway (who's stunning!) looks like she's going to
The Renaissance Faire! Or playing
Lady Macbeth at the Oslo Dinner Theater. Now, I spoke of girls who might be showing too much (
Miss Ireland,
Miss Peru) but here's a case where she's too covered up!
Finally, Most Disappointing:
Miss Venezuela and Miss USA
I LOVE these two ladies. Since I grew up in Venezuela, I have--and will always have a personal affinity to the Venezuelan beauties and I am a big fan of
Miss USA 2010, Rima Fakih but I was, as
Michael Kors would say "underwhelmed" by their choices for these "Preview Gowns". *I do like the contrast of the black and the ivory-creme in
Miss Venezuela's gown , and the fit (especially at the bust and torso is exquisite) but it just doesn't scream "Miss Venezuela" the way that I would expect (you know she is "busting out" with a completely different gown for the Finals!).
*And finally, I was disappointed with
Miss USA's slinky black gown in this photo. Rima is such an exotic beauty that I think I would have chosen a lighter color. It's just too strong for her and it ages her. It looks as if it fits beautifully and shows her amazing figure, I am just hoping she wears something a bit more dynamic for the finals. We'll just have to wait and see.....
Stay tuned for the
Miss Universe Pageant on Monday August 23rd! You know I'll be watching and have much more to say!!!!
Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2011 Viviana Ortiz: Where will she end up on my "Top 10 Best" List?? 
Now, these are NOT necessarily the actual FINAL Gowns they will wear on the FINAL night (A LOT, reserve a "very special" gown for that!). But still, it gives a good indication of their "taste level" and well, how "Gown-Savvy" and "Not-So-Gown-Savvy" these women are. So, even though these ARE NOT NECESSARILY the Final Gowns they will wear on the Telecast, I still have to give my "Nick Beauty Pageant Gown Two Cents"...
In ascending order from 10 to 1, here are my Top Ten:
No. 10: Miss Kosovo Universe 2011 Aferdita Dreshaj--Aferdita squeaks into my "Top Ten Gown Faves" in this canary yellow halter-style taffeta satin gown. The color is impacting. The silhouette and style fits her very well and reminds me of a 1950's "Hollywood Starlet". I do realize that it is a little bit "Miss Teen USA" and well, kind of "Disney Princess", but this girl is so stunning, that it works. The only thing that DOESN'T work is that BOUFFANT hair of hers. Someone should be FIRED for that!
No. 9: Miss China Universe 2011 Luo Zilin--This bubblegum pink is a popular color for pageant dresses this season and it looks amazing on Miss China Universe. She's OVER 6 feet tall, and I'm just happy the gown is still the correct length and not ending up above her ankles. Also, she gets EXTRA "Nick V." points for the peep-toe nude/blush-colored pumps, especially when you see the STRIPPER heels some of my "Not-so-Faves" wore (in an upcoming post!). I'm also happy the slit isn't up to her you-know-what.
No. 8: Miss Vietnam Universe 2011 Hoang My Vu--This strappy animal print chiffon gown that Hoang My Vu is wearing here is very Cavalli runway and on-trend with what's going on in evening gowns. Therefore, she gets high marks from me. It fits beautifully and stands out--in a good way--in a sea of solid bright colored satins. Bring on the prints! As long as they're delicate ones.
No. 7: Miss Slovak Republic Universe 2011 Dagmar Kolesarova--I really like this pretty blush colored satin and chiffon gown with crystal strap detail on the exotic and strong-featured Dagmar. It softens her. I also love the straight-on pose (SOOOO many girls did these odd and awkward side-to-back poses which were NOT cute!). The big pouf in the front of her head is a bit 1994 and Prom-y, but I will forgive her for that! (again, can we fire the hair people!!??).
No. 6: Miss Angola Universe 2011 Leila Lopes--Wow. Period. There were lots of these silver or creme/nude-colored gowns in this year's "Miss Universe 2011 Website Evening Gown Portraits" but this is one of the strongest for me. It has drama, gorgeous sequin and feathered detail; it's elegant and Red Carpet-ready! Not a fan of the "Beyoncé Armpit" pose, but other than that: An "A" for Angola!
No. 5: Miss Switzerland Universe 2011 Kerstin Cook--One of the most beautiful girls in this year's pageant (and there are A LOT!!), this 5'11", 22 year old is DESTINED to be one of Donald Trump's "Trump Model Management' girls! (if the Miss Universe crown proves elusive to her). The red color is a stand-out choice for Kerstin. The draped chiffon bust style is fabulous and "Grecian-Goddess"-like. I also love the just-the-right-amount of sequined straps, to give it that touch of "Pageant Elegance". P.S.: She looks very "Taylor Swift" in this gown.
4: Miss St. Lucia Universe 2011 Joy-Ann Biscette--You. Go. Girl! This is one of those gowns that I am sure "Pageant People" will be all "a-twitter" about and either be on the "Love It" or "Hate It". I LOVE IT!!! The bubblegum pink (there it is again!) is GA-GA-Gorgeous on her and I give her MAJAH points for choosing such a "Haute Couture Runway"-like directional style. Therefore, she makes my Top Four!!! Not so sure about those scalloped edges of her peplum (should have been straight just like the top section), but other than that: You Go Girl Miss St. Lucia!
No. 3: Miss Venezuela Universe 2011 Vanessa Goncalves--One of my favorites in this color-group of gowns (there were lots!). This is a perfect Red Carpet-worthy gown that one could see at the Oscars, Emmys, etc. Things I Love: The delicate crystals throughout the dress, the interesting godet, cascading organza pieces from the thigh down, the shoulder twisted-knot detail. Also, there's no HOOCHIE slit ANYWHERE and the Mermaid-shape fits her impeccably. There's delicacy and grandeur in this gown: Muy Bien Vanessa! My Almost-Almost Favorite!
No. 2: Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2011 Viviana Ortiz--Yes kids, Viviana Ortiz and her gown make it to the No. TWO spot on my "Evening Gown Portrait" Best Countdown!! The shape, color, fabrication: All of it is absolute perfection! All she needs is the crown. It also looks expensive and almost custom. I would be surprised if it was not from one of those top Puerto Rican or Venezuelan-based designers who are so much in demand these days. This is NOT a $499 gown from a store kids (or at least it shouldn't be!). Even her styling and hair were just right: No over-accessorizing and no BIG Bouffant "Real Housewives of New Jersey" hair. Bellisima!
No. 1: Miss USA 2011 Alyssa Campanella--But my Favorite of these Miss Universe 2011 Evening Gown Portraits was definitely Miss USA. First, let's begin with the fact that she is STUNNING! OK, now that we got that out of the way, we can discuss her gown choice. Very now, very "Red Carpet", and very "Runway Model" and NOTHING, ZERO, NADA Pageantry about it!! No cheap diamantes, no too-high slits (thank you Alyssa!). I love the golden lame look of the fabrication, the diagonally pleated bust and side details as well as the "Mermaid-Lite" shape. In one word: Sublime.
*Next Up: My "Miss Universe 2011 Evening Gown Portrait" Favorites from what I call the "Pageant Safe" Gold-and-Ivory toned gowns.
