You've gone too far, etsy

I think I've mentioned that I haven't been happy with etsy and they way some things are done there. They're making changes fast and furious now in trying to make etsy a social e-commerce site like just like Facebook (if Facebook offered shopping).

I'm quite upset about the latest change: they've announced that they're going to be adding a feature similar to Facebook's Friend Finder. Etsy members will be able to give etsy access their email account after which etsy will check the email against a list of etsy members and their emails to show which email contacts also have a username on etsy so that they can become part of a person's "circle". Etsy will email those email addresses not associated with an etsy account to invite them to join etsy.

On the surface, this seems like no big deal, right? Right. No one has to allow etsy access to their email account, so that's ok. And if someone has a lot of friends on etsy and they get a lot of emails inviting them to join etsy, that's... sort of ok. It would annoy me and I'd want etsy to stop emailing me, but etsy hasn't said anything about a procedure for people opting out of that email so I'd be out of luck.

The list that etsy will use to check whether an email is associated with an etsy username will be compiled of all etsy users and will be opt-out, which is not at all ok due to privacy concerns. No list of this type should be opt-out because it's a sneaky, underhanded tactic. Etsy has already said that the list will be opt-out because otherwise they wouldn't get enough people signing up and it wouldn't be a good first-time user experience. Hmmm.

Etsy is beginning to send emails to all members informing them that this change will happen in mid-February and that they can opt-out of the list when this feature goes live. They're starting with the members who haven't accessed etsy in a long time - one-time-only buyers and members who haven't visited etsy in years. How many people will remember to opt-out in two weeks or so when they haven't visited etsy in a long time? I call shenanigans.

I'm personally against the Facebookization of etsy and I'm strongly against this new service. Not only do I want etsy checking whether every single person I've ever emailed has an account on etsy, I don't want etsy sending them emails. From a privacy perspective, etsy has not specified who will have access to the emails they collect or what they will do with those emails and has not described a process for people to access their won information. These are required under Canadian Privacy laws (PIPEDA).

I know that etsy is running their own business and have to do what they think is right for it. However, I don't have to support them by giving them my money or by shopping there. Quite frankly, I don't like the direction etsy is headed and I've lost my trust in them.

Therefore, when I do start making and selling jewelry again (and I will), I won't be selling it on etsy. Instead, I'll put it up for sale on ArtFire, an online sales venue that is an etsy competitor with all the best things etsy used to have plus all of the features and functionality etsy needed. Unless I'm buying from friends or family, I won't be shopping on etsy again.

So, so, tired

This latest Pamidronate has really had a strong effect on me. I've been extremely tired and my sternal mets are quite painful. I guess the Pamidronate is targeting areas of bones that need repairing, like my mets. That'll be the cause of the pain. The tiredness is probably from my body trying to do repairs on the bone.

I've had a couple of short naps today but I'm still exhausted. Fortunately I've had nothing to do all day but sit around and watch tv while surfing the internet (when I wasn't sleeping) so I'm not getting any more tired.

Time flies

Yesterday was Pamidronate day. It occurred to me as I was getting my port accessed that my mom died exactly eight weeks ago yesterday. This caught me off-guard because in some ways it feels like it happened yesterday and in others it might have happened months ago. I still miss her.

I must be grieving even though I don't always feel it up front. Every time I see that ad for Kennedys' Home Movies (airing Sunday night) where Johnny Cash sings In My Life, I tear up. The lyrics of the song are sort of melancholy and Cash's voice makes the overall impression even more sad. Of course if it wasn't this ad reminding me that my mom is gone, something else would.

I guess that being reminded of the person who died through dates and songs and random people (I still sometimes see what I think is my mom when I'm out) is part of the grief process. There's no way to short-circuit any part of this process although if I could, I would. When things are overwhelming or otherwise negative I wish there was a way to skip them - while still retaining the lessons or knowledge I get with those parts - and just stay with the happier times. But then I suppose the happier times wouldn't be as meaningful.

I guess I'll have to get through this the old-fashioned way: one step at a time.

My first metalsmithing class

I had my first Jewellery and Metalsmithing class last night. I loved it! Each class we'll be learning techniques by practicing them and then making a product of some kind. Last night we made a pendant by cutting a shape out of copper sheet and then filing and polishing it. I didn't finish cutting mine and most people were still filing theirs so we'll all have some more work to do later.

We cut the copper sheet using a jeweller's saw which turned out to be a little tricky. The blade part is like a toothed, square wire that you put into the frame in such a way that the saw stays under tension. The instructor said that we would break blades and that this was ok, which is good because I think I broke more than everyone else. I ended up doing something like saw, saw, saw, saw, snap. Saw, saw, snap. Saw, snap. Saw, saw, saw, saw, snap. It got a little frustrating, and worse - the more frustrated I'd get, the more blades I would break! It's like a metaphor for life or something.

A couple of times early on I think I managed to twist the blade while putting it into the frame which created pressure points that would then snap. Also, I would get impatient and try to turn the saw or piece too quickly and the blade would snap. I'm pretty sure I was so behind everyone else in finishing my piece because I broke so many blades. Then again, I got the most practice putting blades in the saw, so that's ok, right? :)

By the end of the class I managed to not snap the blade a couple of times so I think I'm now more aware of what I was doing to break all those blades. I hope. We'll see next week whether I've really learned my lesson.

It turns out that I'm not all that good at following the lines while using the saw. Just trying it reminded me of learning to sew for the first time, where we tried to follow lines on paper with our sewing machines. I couldn't follow those lines perfectly that first time, either, but now I can sew curves and straight lines and crazy seams. I figure that if I get some practice with the jeweller's saw I'll be able to follow all kinds of design lines that I couldn't do last night.

I can hardly wait for the next class. In addition to finishing up our pendants, we're going to make metal earrings from scratch by making the earwires and the dropped piece by rolling a design onto a sheet of metal and making a dome out of it. In a few weeks we'll be working with sterling silver, too.

I love this course already. Learning these techniques opens up a so many design possibilities and I'm just itching to really try them out. Getting all of the equipment isn't exactly trivial even though I don't need to get the same equipment as is in the studio. If I really love these techniques and come up with my own designs and materials, maybe I can pay to use the studio. I think I heard that she has other classes also so it might be possible for me to learn even more. This is so exciting!!!!

Of course I'm getting ahead of myself; I need to get through this course and see how I feel when it's done. At least it's off to a fabulous start!

Exciting day

My replacement Kindle arrived today! I charged it up as soon as it warmed up and spent some time getting all of my books downloaded and sorted. There are a couple of books that I was interested in reading before I wrecked the old Kindle and I'm looking forward to reading them. My old Kindle never did come back to life, even though we tried to dry it out. I've definitely learned my lesson about taking care of my things.

This afternoon we had some insulation added to the attic. When we bought the new furnace we had an energy audit done on the house and one of the recommendations from that was to increase the insulation in both the cathedral and regular ceilings. We'll book a second energy audit to determine how much energy savings we'll get  between the insulation and the new furnace. We'll also get some money back from the government for making our home more efficient.

Between learning to take care of my things and getting things done for the house, I feel like I'm starting to grow up. And here I thought I'd get to be a kid forever. :)

Project Runway 8 in Canada

Project Runway season 8 started airing on Slice network in Canada a couple of weeks ago. The season was fairly controversial when it aired in the US, with accusations of significant meddling by the producers as well as behind-the-scenes chaos.

There were also some format changes: one significant change was extending the show to ninety minutes from the previous sixty minute show. Last season, the half-hour Models of the Runway aired right after Project Runway in a ninety minute block, but Project Runway itself was only an hour.

Last season, Slice aired both Project Runway and Models of the Runway in one ninety minute block. Yet for some reason, instead of airing the full ninety-minutes of each season 8 episode, they've cut the show down to sixty minutes. Worse, the first half of the show alternates between four minutes of show and four of commercials, cutting the original content even further. Why would they think that this was a good idea?

I'm mad. If I could watch the show when it's first aired in the US, I would. If I could watch it on one of the approved online sites, I'd do that, but being in Canada it isn't available. So I'm stuck with watching the butchered Slice version and it's just not good enough. I've written to them to complain but I don't expect that to make a difference. I'm just one voice.

At least my mom had downloaded that last season and wrote them out to DVD, so I'll be able to watch it as it originally aired. I'm not sure what I'll do if there's another season of Project Runway. Maybe it's time to give up the show... either way, I've given up watching it on Slice.

A little bit of sewing

Over at Ian's work they built a photo booth - like the ones you see in the mall, where you get four pictures for a dollar or two - to create memories for someone who is leaving. They needed a curtain for the entry area and Ian promised to make one over the weekend.

Since Ian spent a lot of time actually constructing the photo booth, I became the designated curtain-maker. This is the first bit of sewing I've done in months - a simple curtain with header, buttonholes for hooks, side seams, and hem. I haven't sewn in so long that it took longer than it should have but that's ok.

I didn't set up my sewing room to sew this curtain since it's not ready. Instead I set up a temporary sewing station in the large basement room where the previous owner's pool table used to be, because there are extra lights there. It wasn't an optimal setup but it worked for a one-off sewing project.

In some ways I'd love to do some more sewing - I keep looking at fabric online and thinking of projects - but I'm seriously lacking in time until April. You see, I'm taking a silversmithing course starting next Wednesday evening until mid-April. I've got my book club every other week until April, I'll be at my suicide bereavement group every Tuesday starting in a couple of weeks until April (if they'll let me attend even though I have to miss the first session), and I have my counselling every week or two for forever. I don't feel completely overwhelmed (yet), but it wouldn't take much more to do it.

So even though I want to do some sewing I won't have time for it for a couple of months. Maybe by then we'll have actually fixed up my sewing room, if I can find the time to help Ian do that.

Ancient civilizations?

I've started watching Ancient Aliens, a show on the History Channel that discusses the possibility that aliens visited this planet before Egyptian civilization and (possibly) interfered with human evolution. Sure, the subject matter is a little "out there" but the show is interesting.

The latest episode showed that there are a number of what appear to be cities off a whole bunch of coastlines. These cities would have been sunken underwater around the end of the last ice age about nine or ten thousand years ago. The trouble is that as far as we know, advanced civilizations - advanced enough to create cities like these - have only been around for the last four or five thousand years or so.

So either these things that look like ancient cities aren't cities or there were civilizations long before we thought. If humans did live in cities at the end of the last ice age, it makes sense that those cities would have gone underwater as sea levels rose. But if there was a civilization that long ago, what happened between then and the earliest known civilizations? Why wasn't there a continuous record of human civilization?

The idea that civilizations might have existed long before we though is definitely interesting. Until these underwater structures are fully explored inside and out no one will be able to say for sure what's going on there. All we or the show has is speculation which is enough to keep me entertained. I'm looking forward to see what other mysteries and theories Ancient Aliens has in store for me.

I think this therapy thing is going to work

I thought I'd leave the red carpet post at the top of the page for a few days. Well, that and nothing has really happened over the last few days :)

I had my second individual counseling session. I definitely think I've made the right decision by going and that this counselor will work for me. We're not focusing so much on how I was raised or my family or anything or going over my history, piece by piece (which I don't remember much of, anyway). Instead, I start talking about things that are going on and how I'm feeling about them and she asks me questions or gives me suggestions. Her questions encourage me to look at things in a different way or from another perspective  which is very helpful.

Through this question-and-suggestion process, we managed to uncover a few things that I've been assuming or thinking that I hadn't really realized before or that I was hiding from myself. Getting to this point was a bit of a struggle for me but when I realized what I'd been thinking I felt lighter, as though a weight had been lifted from me.

Of course knowing about something and changing it are two different things! She gave me a few activities that will help me make the needed changes. The session itself was emotionally exhausting and I left feeling drained but happy. I can tell you that this process isn't going to be all that easy but it will be worthwhile.

Golden Globes 2011 Red Carpet

Warning: this is a very long post with a lot of images (76, I think) so it might take a while to load.

As promised, this is my Golden Globes 2011 red carpet post. I'm only focusing on dresses worn by women on the red carpet. I've excluded outfits worn to the after-parties and what the men were wearing. Men's fashion doesn't interest me as much as women's and there just isn't room for all of the red carpet and after-party outfits.

Elegance seemed to be the order of the day. Most of the women on the red carpet looked ladylike, glamorous, and beautiful without looking trashy or messy. 

There was a rainbow of colour on this red carpet with lots of sequins and beading and sparkle. Most dresses are shades of white or black but bold blues, greens, yellows, oranges, and reds were all over the red carpet. 

Style-wise, dresses were varied mostly strapless or one-shouldered. Big shoulders appeared in a couple of dresses Texture through pleating and ruching is still prevalent but most of the texture comes from the elaborate beading and sequins or flowers. There are quite a few trumpet- or mermaid-style dresses where the hips are fitted and the skirt increases in width below the knee but there were numerous sheath dresses as well. Trains on skirts are getting shorter (finally!) and ball gowns look out of place.

Jewelry and accessories were understated. The chunky "statement necklaces" that have been everywhere over the last few seasons were conspicuously absent on this red carpet. Makeup was mainly subtle and natural, letting the dress take center stage.

With all that said, let's look at the actual dresses. Here they are, sorted roughly by colour.

Shades of white (including nudes and pale colours)

Gia Mantegna in 
Lorena Sarbu

Pretty but kind of boring. The black sash helps because otherwise this dress would look like a big towel.

Hailee Steinfeld in Prabal Gurung

Gorgeous!!!! She's a teenager but her dress looks amazing on her. There's just enough sparkle to make it interesting but it  doesn't overwhelm her. Even better, it's white but doesn't look like bridal wear.

Nicole Kidman in Prada

Not everyone loved this look - I think many found it boring - but I think it's fabulous on her. It's sleek and the overall sequins don't add too much texture, just lovely shine.

Vanessa Williams in Roberto Cavalli

This is the least crazy Roberto Cavalli I`ve ever seen, I think :) This dress, like Nicole Kidman's, is allover sequins but looks a bit flashier. The dress doesn't fit her all that well... notice the bellybutton?

Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad

OMG. What do you say to this? It reminds me of so many other JLo dresses; she's not taking a risk here. The shawl is pretty and the dress simple and the look isn't bridal, so I guess this is ok.

Susanne Bier

I imagine she's wearing a Danish designer. This dress is lovely and fits her well, although it is a little bit bridal.

Jennifer Love Hewitt in 
Romona Kevesa

She looks like she's standing in a pool of fabric which isn't attractive. The waist and skirt silhouette is attractive but the super-sized crumb-catcher is a little too much.

Tilda Swinton in Jil Sander

You have to admire her for going her own way, even when that way is shapeless. A fitted, stretch top would have worked better with the skirt. I do love that she doesn't wear makeup to these events.

Kaley Cuoco in Katherine Kidd

How pale and ethereal the skirt is! It's a pretty dress but the colour washes her out. Her hair is also a bit messy for the dress.

Dianna Agron in J. Mendel

I don't love this dress but she looks polished and comfortable. At least her boobs aren't fighting to get away and the colour suits her. I love her hair.

Leighton Meester in 
Burberry Prorsum

Um, wow. The waist is strange on this dress, not to mention the sleeves. And the skirt. And the fabric.

Sandra Bullock in Jenny Packham

Like Scarlet Johanssen's dress, there's something weird going on with the sleeves. Of course it's hard to notice the sleeves because of her hair - especially her bangs. That cut does nothing for her or the dress.

Heather Morris in Lorena Sarbu

Now this, I love. Love! the shape is perfect for her and makes her look sexy and beautiful. I love the sleeves and the allover sequins, too.

Sarah Hyland in Max Azria

I want to like this, I really do. The bodice is interesting and the lower skirt is fine but the dress is too flat over her abdomen, making it look big. The colour isn't quite right for her, either.

Michelle Williams in Valentino

She needs to learn to stand up straight. Posture is important! Then again, good posture wouldn't make this dress look more mature. The pattern is just a bit too juvenile and shapeless for the red carpet.

Julie Bowen in Tadashi Shoji

In many ways this is a lovely dress; I especially love the ruffles. I'm not keen on the striping effect on the torso, however, and the colour definitely doesn't suit her. She looks washed out.

Kelly MacDonald in J. Mendel

The colour is completely wrong on her and the silhouette does her no favours. The ruching and cowl neck and peplum all look droopy and sad.

Anne Hathaway in Armani Prive

A knockout! I didn't love the shoulders at first but they've grown on me because they balance the dress. Love the colour and overall sequins. Gorgeous.

Blues and greens

Amber Riley in Oliver Tolentino

This sequinned dress has a lot of texture and it looks good on her. It would look better if the texture weren't all over the dress - but at least the colour is gorgeous! 

Jane Krakowski in Badgley Mischka

A lovely dress in a great colour! The only thing I don't like is the shoulder strap because it looks weird.

Jenna Ushkowitz in Rebecca Taylor

This colour looks great on her but the skirt looks strange. Maybe it's because it's too long and all ruffled.

Hope Davis in Bibhu Molapatra

I don't know why I love this dress, but I do. The colour and style are gorgeous and suit her well. I'm not sure what to make of the limp, straggly train, however. Take the train away and the dress is fabulous.

Amy Adams in Marchesa

A beautiful colour, but this looks like a bridal dress in blue. It fits her well and looks lovely on her. The big flower-things could possibly be a bit smaller but they still work on this scale.

Tina Fey in L'Wren Scott

I love this navy velvet dress! I wish that Tina Fey would learn how to pose in a dress, though, because her pose detracts from the beauty of the dress.

Mandy Moore in Monique Lhullier

Meh. This looks like a bridal gown in blue. I love the tulle in the bodice but I don't like the skirt shape or  fabric.

Julia Kurbatova

Many people didn't like this but I think it looks lovely. I love the leaf embroidery on the bodice and the fit of the dress. I also love the colour combination.

Catharine Zeta-Jones in Monique Lhullier

Another bridal gown, this time in dark green. The colour is perfect against her alabaster skin and the dress shape suits her figure (plus her boobs aren't trying to escape). The dress looks very heavy to wear because of the overall texture.

Elizabeth Moss in Donna Karan

I almost love this except for the area around her hips. It looks a bit too big for her there. The bow on the bodice is also kind of saggy. At least the colour is fabulous on her. I do wish she'd worn a slightly brighter lipstick to bring more attention to her face.

Mila Junis in Vera Wang

Another strangely ruched green dress. Again, this colour looks great on her, but this dress isn't flattering to her figure. It makes her hips look huge.

Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace

Many, many people are saying that this was the best dress of the night. Angelina Jolie looks vibrant and beautiful in this colour. The style seems a bit old for her, though. The allover sequins add an interesting texture against the smoothness of her hair and skin.

Yellows, oranges, reds, and pinks

Helen Mirren in Badgley Mischka

What a beautiful silhouette! I wish she'd chosen this same dress, which looks phenomenal on her, in a bolder colour. She'd look so much better if the dress was red or green.

Lara Spencer in Angel Sanchez

I love this dress. The details on the bodice aren't too overwhelming and the dress fits her well. The colour isn't quite right for her, unfortunately, and so the dress is wearing her. I also wish that she'd done something more sophisticated with her hair.

Kyra Sedgwick in Emilio Pucci

Not many people can wear this orange but she manages to pull it off. The pleating and ruffles give an interesting texture. I wish she'd done something else with her bangs.

Katie Lee in Christian Dior

I love, love, love this dress. I love the bodice, I love the skirt, and I love the colour. She looks amazing in this colour and style and her hair is lovely.

Emma Stone in Calvin Klein

This dress is pretty, but plain, and the colour washes her out. Some details of some kind would have improved the look of this dress on her.

Nancy O'Dell in St. John

Now this is how to wear this style of dress! She owns this dress style and colour. If only her hair weren't quite so messy.

Katey Segal in Douglas Hannant

When I saw her accept her award I thought she looked like Cuddy on House. Neither the colour nor the style of this dress are right for her, and her hair looks awful with it. 

January Jones in Versace

If she wanted to wear the most talked-about dress on the red carpet, she succeeded. Some love this and others hate it but no one is indifferent about it. Personally, I think the colour is ok on her and the style looks all right. I don't like the knee-length skirt under the fringe; I think it should be shorter or longer. I also wish that she had a band over her cleavage as I think this dress is too revealing.

Christina Hendricks in 
Romona Kevesa

The dress silhouette is fabulous! The colour works with her skin but not her hair and that flower is practically eating her head. I like the ribbon on the hem and I'd love the dress if that flower were much smaller.

Edie Falco in Valentino

Another red that looks wonderful against her skin but that doesn't work with her hair colour. I love this dress otherwise.

Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang

I love the fabric used for this dress because it shows both pink and dark coral, adding depth and interest. I really like the pleated neckline and waist, and the black belt definitely adds to the dress. The silhouette and colour work for her.

Julianne Moore in Lanvin

Pretty much everyone, including me, thinks that this dress looks terrible on her. The poufy sleeve, the wrinkles, the weird-looking hem, all conspire to make her look like she just wrapped fabric around her willy-nilly. Definitely a mistake.

Claire Danes in Calvin Klein

Pretty much everyone, including me, thinks that this dress is one of the best from the red carpet. The colour is fresh and looks beautiful on her and the silhouette is quite flattering. Love her hair, too.

Lea Michele in Oscar de la Renta

Another bridal gown, this time in pink. She looks like the diva she is. I think I'd like it more if it didn't have that comforter of a train.

Natalie Portman in Viktor & Rolf

The colour is lovely on her but the rose looks strange. If the rose weren't there this dress might be better although then it would look like a pink monstrosity. It might be better if the rose design were in a different colour and added to different parts of the dress.

Megan Fox in Armani Prive

I love the woven bodice but I don't love the matte skirt with the front slit. The colour is good on her and the silhouette is good, but this dress doesn't succeed like it should.

Julianna Margulies in 
vintage Yves Saint Laurent couture

I'm not a fan of light pink with black. To me, the contrast is too much. I like the skirt on this but the bodice doesn't look right. That might be because of the way that she's standing; she needs help with her posture, too.

Maria Menounos in Pamela Roland

I love this and I wish I could wear it myself! The play of matte/shiny textures appeals to me and I love the neckline. The colour works for her.

Scarlett Johanssen in Elie Saab

This dress fits her very well and the colour is ok. There's something weird about the sleeves. I think I'd have liked it better if they weren't there or were longer and less full.

Naya Rivera in Douglas Hannant

I love this dress even though it doesn't fit her perfectly: the bust isn't perfect and the hips are weird, too. Maybe I just love the colour?

Blacks

Melissa Leo in Marc Bouwer

The sleeves are different but I love this sequinned black dress. I especially love the neckline and silhouette and I think the dress suits her perfectly.

Annette Bening in Tom Ford

It looks like she woke up, rolled out of bed, and threw on the dress as she rushed out the door. The sack of a dress isn't all that attractive and her hair  is a mess.

Jane Lynch in Ali Rahimi

I don't think this is the first time that Jane Lynch has chosen a dress with a lovely bodice and a not-so-lovely skirt. She looks like she's melting into the floor and like her hips are ginormous. At least the bodice works for her.

Piper Perabo in Oscar de la Renta

Piper Perabo is smiling like this in most of her pictures. I wonder how she felt about this the next day, because her mouth looks like an elastic band. The dress is gorgeous although the ruching on the right side ends too low.

Eva Longoria in Zac Posen

This is some kind of whale tail! Too bad she's melting into the floor. I know she's short but she can do better. And that skirt/train looks dated.

Halle Berry in Nina Ricci

I don't like mullet dresses (short in front, long in back), and there's something about this dress that I really don't like. Maybe it's the matte black chiffon train. I like the bodice but the skirt/train just doesn't work, in my opinion.

Julie Stiles in Romona Kevesa

This is a black bridal gown. I like the shoulder ruffles and the bodice but not the skirt.

Kat Kramer

I almost like this dress; I like the skirt and the bodice and especially the asymmetric lines. What I don't love is the lace thingy on the one shoulder. With the asymmetric lines the lace shoulder strap looks a little too designed. This dress makes her look short, but at least she's not melting into the ground.

Jessalyn Gilsig in David Meister

Another black bridal gown, this time covered in lace. The bodice is sort of interesting and the dress is flattering on her, but it does yell out "bridal!"

Giuliana Rancic in Zac Posen

Those things on her boobs look strange, don't they? It gives the bodice an unusual shape at the top. The pleating and gathering makes the skirt interesting.

Julianne Hough in Marchesa Resort

I love this dress: it's simple yet elegant and it looks comfortable, too. The collar is what makes this dress most interesting. She looks fantastic in this outfit.

Jane Fonda in Georges Hobeika

I'm not usually a fan of sheer sleeves and yoke but I love it here because of the way they've been embellished. I'm not sure how I feel about the extra shoulder thingies, but I think I don't like them. Still, she looks radiant here and the dress definitely suits her.

Jayma Mays in Alberta Ferretti

Now this is a sexy dress! Look at that plunging, sheer neckline and the texture of the sequinned lace fabric. Gorgeous! I don't love her makeup because the eye is too heavy for that lipstick colour. Her hair is lovely.

Jennifer Lawrence in Louis Vuitton

I almost love this dress. The straps are a little long and heavy for my taste but I love the fabric and silhouette. Unfortunately, the dress appears to be wearing her and not the other way around: she needed to do something different with her makeup or hair to stand up against the dress, I think.

Shaun Robinson in Oday Shakar

I love, love, love, love this dress. I'm a sucker for allover sequins but what I really love is the form-fitting silhouette paired with the single sleeve. This is a very sexy dress and she wears it to perfection.

Olivia Wilde in Marchesa

Many people picked this dress as their red-carpet favourite. I don't know. I like it, of course - how could I not, with the gradated sequins and gorgeous bodice? I think I'd prefer this dress if it weren't so full and if it was less of a ball gown. It looks like some tulle is escaping down there in the bottom right and I think it has the right idea. I don't like her hair for this dress, either; it's  too every-day to really look right.

Kelly Osbourne in Zac Posen

Not everyone loved this dress but I do. I especially love that line of colour running asymmetrically down the dress. It works with the bodice and the one-shouldered neckline. This dress would be perfect if it wasn't too long and if she weren't melting into the floor.

Hayley Atwell

This is definitely an unusual silhouette with the big shoulders, nude bodice, and black skirt. The silhouette works for her but that nude colour just isn't right. I love the feathered hairpiece.

Prints

Gabourey Sidibe in Marc Bouwer

It's a shame that there aren't many good red-carpet choices for larger ladies. This dress is definitely flattering but it would be so much more gorgeous in a solid colour or an ombre or something like that. The print, while interesting, doesn't really work for the red carpet. Still, she looks amazing and radiant in it.

Jo Champa in Dolce&Gabbana

I haven't been able to find the designer for this dress. Kylie Minogue wore the same dress by D&G on New Year's Eve at the Jools' Annual Hootenanny but I still don't know who designed it. As perfect as the dress was for a New Year's Eve celebration, it was just as wrong for a red carpet appearance. She should have lots of red-carpet dresses to choose from, so why on earth did she choose this one? There's no need to announce that she's a cougar on the prowl; most people can figure that out themselves. The colour is great on her but the silhouette does nothing for her figure. This was definitely a bad choice.

Christina Aguilera in Zuhair Murad

Imagine this dress made of white beaded and sequinned lace over a white fabric (instead of black on nude) and what do you have? A bridal gown, of course. I think I have to stop watching all these bridal shows because I'm seeing bridal everywhere! Back to the dress. it should work and be gorgeous on her, and it definitely fits, but there's something wrong. Maybe it's just that it looks dated, like we're seeing the her from a few years ago. Maybe the dress would be better in less contrasting colours. Either way, it's long past time for her to change her look, maybe into something more natural this time.

Catt Sadler

This is definitely an unusual dress but I like it. It fits her and is eye-catching and it seems to suit her. The colour definitely works for her. Her hair is a little tall, however. She could have brought it down from the heights just a bit and it still would have looked great.

Heidi Klum in Marc Jacobs

I never thought I'd mourn for the days when she only wore short, tight, shiny dresses everywhere, but that's the point I'm  at right now. Did she think that the red carpet would be laid out on the beach this year? The colourslook ok on her but the dress isn't flattering at all and her hair is much too casual for such a casual dress on the red carpet. I wish she'd find a look in between her old one and this frumposity.

Helena Bonham Carter in 
Vivienne Westwood

Helena Bonham Carter is nothing if not interesting, and this getup is definitely interesting. The dress is unusual, if not particularly flattering and her hair is its usual mess. At least the colours work on her. I kind of like the idea of wearing different shoe colours on each foot because it makes matching prints so much easier. At least no one can say that she's dressing for anyone but herself. That's good, right?