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Posts with tag balmain

Beyoncé's Ultra Revealing BET Minidress - Hot or Not?

Filed under: Red Carpet Trends

Beyonce looking fierce at the BET Awards. Photo: Jason LaVeris, FilmMagic

At last night's BET Awards (June 28) held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Beyoncé hit the red carpet in a shimmery Balmain minidress with a hemline that fell only a few inches below her hips.

The sequin- and crystal-adorned number featured a smattering of purple flowers and Balmain's trademark Eighties-style shoulder pads.

The dress -- or shall we say shirt -- also featured a provocative jagged hemline that we thought Beyoncé wore with enviable ease. She completed her look with purple Dior T-strap sandals with beaded heels.

Inside the Auditorium, Beyoncé performed Sarah Mclachlan's "Angel" and "Ave Maria," where the songstress again rocked Balmain, this time it was one of the label's long white jackets, over a bodysuit for a wedding-inspired number.

Have shortened hemlines gone too far? Or in the case of Beyoncé, who looked undeniably hot, is the thigh the limit?

For other questionable celebrity style choices, see below.

Snap Judgment

    THIGH, HI! Beyoncé strikes a pose on the red carpet at the BET Awards in a multi-colored Balmain minidress. The evening's Best Female R&B Artist completed her sequin look with purple T-strap pumps and oversized turquoise hoop earrings.

    Jason LaVeris, FilmMagic

    Congrats to mommy Carnie Wilson, who gave birth a week ago to her second child, Luciana Bella. Instead of sporting the traditional Juicy Couture sweats, the singer opted for a chic leopard-print muumuu for her follow-up doctor's appointment in Beverly Hills.

    INFphoto.com

    Pucci Mama! Fergie vogues in a green and silver sequin Pucci dress with cutouts outside of the "Late Show with David Letterman" in New York City on June 9.

    James Devaney, WireImage

    Victoria Beckham arrived at Los Angeles' LAX airport on June 7 wearing a black tuxedo jacket, cutoff denim shorts and her trusty black Hermes Birkin bag. Are you feeling Posh's leggy look?

    X17online.com

    Actress Emma Watson has certainly grown up! The cutie Brit attended a party in in L.A. for Rodarte designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy, wearing one of their impressive frocks. What do you think of the 19-year-old's look?

    Dave M. Benett, Getty Images

    Just Call Her Slash Over the weekend, Lady GaGa arrived at Japan's Narita International Airport in a rocking bold-shoulder blazer, cutout leggings, and pointy toe pumps. Are you gaga for GaGa?

    Jun Sato, WireImage

    FLASH ATTACK
    Czech model-actress Eva Herzigova left very little to the imagination when she hit the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival in this nude sequin Atelier Versace gown. Is Eva's look bold or too bare?

    Dave Hogan, Getty Images

    Anne Hathaway slithered into the Village Voice's Obie Awards wearing this scaly green number with cut-out shoulders.

    Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images

    Drew Barrymore steps out in Hollywood looking like an 80s movie extra in a sheer white T-shirt and matching tie-dye bra and leggings. She completed her look with white-rimmed sunglasses, a finger-less glove, and leather sandals. Are you feeling Drew's fashion flashback?

    X17online.com

    Hilary Swank wore this metallic grey gown with its rising hemline to Cannes Film Festival.

    Pascal Le Segretain, Getty Images

From the Fragrance Frontlines - Day 1 1/2: Sperm Whales, Donna Karan, and Virgins, Oh My!

Filed under: Events: On the Scene, Fragrance, Interviews, Beauty Tips



Senior Fashion Editor Sarah Cristobal is on assignment this week in France to discover what goes into creating the world's top fragrances. Read her daily blogs as she travels to perfumeries in Paris and Grasse, and dutifully observes the ooh la la of French culture.


A lot has happened since my first dispatch. The IFF tour was amazing! Oh, the things one can learn about the origins of our favorite fragrances. Here are some interesting -- and rather surprising -- facts:

  • I am not a one-fragrance kind of gal, but Balmain's Ambre Gris is one of the favorites in my arsenal of scents. In terms of fashion, the label is currently the chicest on the market, but who knew that

    Balmain's Ambre Gris, a.k.a. Eau de Sperm Whale?

    Balmain's latest odour (launched in 2008) is based on the rarefied excretions of the sperm whale? The mammal is a squid eater -- bones and all -- and when the skeleton is broken down in the whale's body it is eventually compacted to about the size of a football. By the time it is passed, the crush of bones is so light that it floats on the water. Apparently, oil extraction from this extremely pricey commodity smells horrid at first but eventually transforms into a sweet earthy musk. Tres chic!
  • The two main perfumeries in France are IFF and Givaudan. Together they account for the creation of most of the world's fine scents. In order to win a bid on a scent, the perfumers (or "noses") are presented with a brief by an intermediary on behalf of a production and branding company such as Unilever or Coty, Inc. Teams of perfumers then compete both internally and against outside perfumers to come up with the scent that best represents the label or celebrity for which the brief was created. Whomever wins the brief takes all, and the rest are out of luck. Can you believe doing all of that legwork and then not getting paid? Insiders say that it's considered an extremely outdated model, even among top fragrance brass.

Continue reading From the Fragrance Frontlines - Day 1 1/2: Sperm Whales, Donna Karan, and Virgins, Oh My!

How to Create Your Own Balmain-Style Jeans

Filed under: Clothing, Get the Look

Photos courtesy of Time Inc. Digital Studio

Christophe Decarnin filled Balmain's spring '09 runway with models in jeans in various states of disrepair. Prices for the designer versions range from $1,900 (for a basic pair) to $4,400 (for an intricately embroidered, "very distressed" style). Inspired by their cool look, resourceful InStyle fashion assistant Katie Casamassimo took out her materials and tools (right) to make her own interpretation. Here's how:

Continue reading How to Create Your Own Balmain-Style Jeans

Jennifer Connelly in Balmain - I Want That!

Filed under: Get the Look

Jennifer ConnellyAt first we thought Jennifer Connelly danced to a one man band by the name of Nicholas Ghesquiere (Balenciaga). But now we see that she can clearly play the field after she completely rocked out in this Christophe Decarnin (Balmain) creation.

Continue reading Jennifer Connelly in Balmain - I Want That!

"Lucien Lelong" - Book Review

Filed under: Clothing, Books

Lucien Lelong by Jacqueline demornexLucien Lelong is probably the most famous designer you've never heard of. He was a contemporary of Chanel, and Dior, Balmain and Givenchy apprenticed with him. Photographers like Horst, Beaton and Man Ray photographed his gowns. But Monsieur Lelong has remained in the background, until now.

Continue reading "Lucien Lelong" - Book Review

Balmain - I want that!

Filed under: Get the Look

We've always had some sort of connection with the Balmain brand, snatching up any Balmain vintage that we could and reading relentless on Pierre Balmain's life. We have been completely floored at the resurgent success the brand has seen the last few seasons.

Continue reading Balmain - I want that!

The best shoes from Paris and Milan

Filed under: Fashion Week

Shoes, shoes and more glorious shoes! The best part about fashion week for us isn't the glamorous clothes or the celebritiy sightings -- it's the footwear.

Continue reading The best shoes from Paris and Milan

Christophe Decarnin for Balmain = total hotness

Filed under: Fashion Week

Sure, all the celebs flocked to the Dior show, but anyone who loves fashion knows that Balmain is where it was at. We love, love and love some more, the entire collection. Designer Christophe Decarnin really hit a home run with this show!

Continue reading Christophe Decarnin for Balmain = total hotness

How You Voted

    Threesome or topless?
    More than 3/4 of you think the CK campaign 'Threesome' campaign was more risque than Wrangler's topless models. Get the full story here.

    Inzemove and Fred & Farid

    Do these ads belong in the U.S.?
    StyleList readers were nearly evenly divided on this, with 52% thinking that they should run in the States, and 48% finding them inappropriate. Get the full story here.

    Inzemove and Fred & Farid

    Curly or Straight?
    While 30% of you think she's so beautiful that her hair doesn't even matter, 49% of you prefer her curls. Get the full story here.

    Kevin Winter, Getty Images | Jon Furniss, WireImage

    Offensive or artistic?
    Just over 50% of StyleList readers said they weren't offended by this shirt, but didn't know if it was totally appropriate to wear in public. Unfortunately, that wasn't the opinion in Dubai. Get the full story here.

    Photo: eBay

    ebay

    Strapless dresses on 13-year-olds
    StyleList readers think strapless dresses should be saved for older girls -- 41% of you think the look is too mature. Get the full story here.

    Getty Images

    Is Megan the new Angelina?
    Half of you think Megan needs to get her own identity and quit copying Angie, but more than a quarter said Jolie doesn't stand a chance against this Fox. Get the full story here.

    Getty Images

    Did Calvin Klein respond to public's outcry?
    The controversial "threesome" billboard in Soho has been replaced with this one, but 51% of you believe it was just to keep people talking about the brand, not because CK caved. Get the full story here.

    Rachel Been, AOL

    Calvin Klein's Racy Ad
    Is it art or practically pornography? About 40% of StyleList readers found this billboard obscene. Get the full story.

    Maggie Coughlan, AOL

    Palin's Pedi
    Do you think Sarah Palin's funky pedicure was appropriate? If so, you're in good company -- 68% of you said it was fun and fabulous. Get the full story.

    Getty Images

    Bright, Light, or Dark as Night?
    How do you like your toenails painted? Over half of StyleList readers prefer their piggies with bright, perky polish. Get the full story.

    Getty Images

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