BAFTA 2016 Red Carpet Best-Dressed x 2

Valentine's Day 2016 shared the spotlight with the BAFTA's in England yesterday,  and this is one of the last stops on Awards Season. So you'd figure that as we got closer to The Big Show (Hollywood's biggest night, aka the Oscars) with the fashion stakes getting higher the closer we get, we have seen a carpet full of win, right? The looks last night were .... solid. Nothing was really off-side or horrible, but the fashion was safe, save for two looks that were my two best-dressed ladies of the night.

Via celebitchy.com

Via thegloss.com

I loved the Cate Blanchett McQueen because it was a throwback to the late designer's experimentation with texture, mixed textiles and intricate detailing. Sarah Burton also captured the McQueen-esque Classic bodice that is strong yet feminine, in a mixed-media of contrasting sequins and embroidery that blends into a skirt of soft feathers. [Side note: if you ever get your hands in the book, "Savage Beauty", you will see the background and the fertile soul where this dress would have taken root. A stunning, beautifully heartbreaking, and bittersweet collection of Alexander McQueen's works during his all-too-brief life.]

A look at McQueen's fashion legacy, from the "Savage Beauty" exhibit in England
Via londonbylauren.com

 Blanchett's dress is sure to be panned and maybe even considered a not-best-dressed front runner on the inevitable fashion best-and-worst lists, but this dress was true to Cate's fashion aesthetic of unconvential-meets-classic-meets-fashion-forward. Loved!

Via celebitchy.com

Alicia Vikander stole my fashion heart in her awesome metallic-sequinned Louis Vuitton dress a few weeks ago at the SAG awards, and at the time I said that dress was my favourite - hands down favourite - of awards season. She set the bar high with that one, and I was nervous about what she'd wear this time around.  Her dress last night was, for me, a solid follow up to that dress, and kept true to her fashion game all year, which was strong choices, flawless face, unfussy hair and surprise va-va voom. The SAGS gave is that thigh-high slit; the BAFTA's gave us moto-chic medieval warrior queen. The leather dress weighed 35 pounds, and featured silver studding in the bodice that led to silver tinsel-like embellishments down the length of the dress, complemented with interwoven leather braiding throughout.  The makeup and hair were intentionally understated - to do a heavy face with a dark or bold eye and stronger lip would have turned a fashion moment into a caricature of goth/moto chic. The simplicity of the details - black peep-toe shoe, drop earrings, hair braided in the back leading to waves over her shoulder - contributed to a look that was impactful without hitting you over the head. 

My two favourite looks did have a really good style lesson for brides-to-be and their wedding party fashionistas that is worth repeating, over and over again: go forth and be fearless. Toss the expectation look-book over your shoulder and march straight ahead. Be unafraid to follow your own fashion desires, no matter how uncommon they might be. If your dream dress or attire doesn't look like everything you've seen on the road to bridehood, don't file it away - find ways to bring the look you love to life. Be yourself - you will love the girl you see in your pictures, if you can recognize her. Be kind to her and give her an ear, hey?

Wishing you a day as limitless as you are~

Lisa and April