Vanity Fair’s September issue has been devoted as “The Style Issue” for several years now. Yesterday, we even got a sneak peek at the dual VF covers – one for Michael Jackson, one for Farrah Fawcett. Now Vanity Fair online has released this year’s “Best Dressed” list. While I always enjoy this feature, and the photo spread that goes along with the list, I do have some nit-picking. VF puts way too much emphasis on Europeans, and seems to reward the most “over the top” high-fashion trendsetters. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy looking at high fashion, but I like a “best dressed” list that actually features people who look stunning in a well-cut suit, or simple dress.
I’m just going to skip over some of the names on the list and focus on the most high-profile names. If you’d like to see the complete list, with a slideshow, go to VF. Here’s the “Best Dressed” in various categories:
Women – Penelope Cruz, Anne Hathaway, Alicia Keys, Kelly Ripa
Men – Tiki Barber, Daniel Craig, Barack Obama, Brad Pitt
First Ladies – Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy
Hall of Fame – Catherine Deneuve, Lapo Elkann, Renee Zellweger
Couples – Paloma Cuevas & Enrique Ponce; Diana Taylor & Michael Bloomberg; Natalia Vodianova & Justin Portman; Shelley Wanger & David Mortimer
[From Vanity Fair]
VF should be ashamed of themselves for not including Jon Hamm on the list. That man has done for retro men’s fashion what Sarah Jessica Parker did for expensive shoes. And Renee Zellweger on the “Hall of Fame”? For real? But of course, the thing most people are focused on is Angelina Jolie’s absence on the list. She’s made it in past years, usually as part of the “best dressed couple” with Brad. It’s as if Angelina’s red carpet appearances in a string of shapeless, glittery sacks in various dark or neutral colors isn’t considered “high fashion”. At least designers think she’s “easy”. Shocking!
Other than that, I agree with many of the names on the list. Michelle Obama is now some kind of fashion icon, and VF points out all of the up-and-coming, or simply off-beat, designers that are getting worldwide notice because Michelle has brought their designs front and center: Isabel Toledo, Jason Wu, Thakoon Panichgul, Junya Watanabe, Maria Cornejo, Jasmin Shokrian, Hanii Y, and Prova. It’s enough to make Oscar de la Renta say something else bitchy about Michelle’s fashion!
Here’s President Barack Obama and Michelle, Anne Hathaway, Kelly Ripa, Tiki Barber, Catherine Deneuve, and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. Images thanks to WENN.com .
Angelina Jolie looks very unattractive on that above photo, especially in the face. She usually looks quite nice. This lists are always determined on who happens to be hot property right now, it is mostly about popularly then anything else. Maybe Bradangelina are not as hot as they were last year.
Damn, Tiki Barber is FINE.
Tiki is fine, but damn, his bald head looks like it’s been laminated.
Kelly Ripa?! Seem like a nice lady, but best dressed?!?
I agree, whats up with the Kelly Ripa bit? and Renee? HUH?
Renee wears the same dress to every event. Sure, it’s a nice dress–but pretty much the same thing over and over.
these lists are opinions of a select few…I think if the public were to vote – these lists would be more realistic, that being said- Angelina looks awful in that dress..I mean she looks like she’s been traipsing through some dusty graveyard and feasting on the brains of the living..Cause this thriller, thriller night!
That’s not my favorite dress or look. She did have twins not too long ago, so I bet she’s probably trying to cover up a little.
yeah cover up track marks
And can I just ask… how fierce was the competition in the “First Ladies” category? Gasp – the First Lady of Cameroon (and her hair) didn’t make it?
Bore.
I love Angie’s Versace Dress above and thought she looked great in her Elie Saab Oscar dress as well. I think she has her own style which I love. Renee’s simple style is not her’s, it’s Carolina Herrera’s style. She notoriously wears her designs to every red carpet event and they are stunning, but it’s Carolina dressing her, not herself, so that in my book is not Renee’s style.
I think they help cover up the fact she’s got no ass.
I don’t know who was the smartass who once invented that Angelina Jolie had fashion sense. Because she doesn’t. She never had. But I must say she used to be much more interesting and fierce back in 2001 than now. Saving the world is such a bore.
Now, this list is a joke. Kelly Ripa? She seems to be a nice girl, but c’mon, stylish? Renee Zellweger? Alicia Keys? Apart from the occasional nice dress, I don’t think you can call her a fashion icon. Carla Bruni? She bores the crap out of me. Her choices are extremely safe. She was never fashionable, she only managed to have a career as a model because of her rich daddy. She’s like a prettier Pixie Geldof, actually. Barack Obama? He’s a cool lad, but, c’mon, what’s so stylish about wearing the same suit a million times over? Bruce Weber, for crying out loud? He may be kinda original with his head acessories, but, if you wanna an elegant photographer, go for Patrick Demarchelier. He’s the class.
Where are Kate Moss, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Queen Rania of Jordan, Emma Watson (she’s very chic for a 19 year old!), Cate Blanchett, Anna Mouglalis, Marion Cotillard, Eva Green (she pulls off risky looks very well), Isabelle Huppert (she owned everyone else in Cannes 2009), etc?
I love Kelly Ripa’s top and skirt.
But to me it’s more casual wear…
And she never really seems best dressed.
Does she even go to red carpet events?
She’s oh so sexy even though she covers up. She makes haters hate and fans go wild over her, hot property she is. After seeing her in the premier of Kung Fu Panda when she wore the black mini, omg she was mouth watering gorgeous. Her legs seem to never end. She saves the best for her man Brad.
kelly ripa?! she looks like malibu barbie, so bland and tan.
I don’t get Rippa. The list is little weird. I consider myself to have excellent taste. The material is evrything for me. Like or dislike the following ladies, here’s my list of people who wear nice clothing, not just material but elegant, no bling bling stuff. Kerry Underwood has excellent taste, and Taylor Swiff. I also think Diaz, for the most part, wears nice clothes, Tiger Woods wife has great taste, Megan Fox has worn some great dressed lately. The tailored, yet elegant look is very sexy. I like the Ralph Lauren look, even Armani. Anything that looks like polyester or is clingy isn’t becoming. Oh, Katie Holmes, when she tries, also looks great. Anjie is pretty, and some of her putfits are nice, much many are dull and drab. Almost forgot, Aniston has great taste in casual clthes and some evening wear. Of all people out there the only person I would ask to dress me would be Kerry Underwood. Love her taste. As far as men, I can’t really think of any. Just don’t care for too much tie, or too little, or too short, and the vests are not so great unless the whole suit is elegant and the color flows. Obama does dress nice and safe.
She looks like a corpse with man hands.
I like I first lady, but the belts are crazy. They reach her breasts. I think she waers some things really nice, but most of her clothes and the colors I wouldn’t dare wear, regardless of cost. I can think of 3 times she looked stunning. The white dress we all know off, the black dress she wore to broadway, and a off shoulder top, with blank pants that didn’t reach all the way. Believe this was during a poetry reading. Those outfits were beautifull. The rest are below average, in my taste, but can appreaciate she has her own style. The belt trend is not for me, and I don’t think most people find it suits her either. The plain dress, and the plain blazer with the belt is getting repetitious. She’s still a beauty. Oh, forgot. The dress she wore for the presidential photo, showing off the arms, was very pretty. She looks great in black, and young in white.
Go Oscar, go! You happen to be able to resist the brainwashing about MO’s “class”. It’s not that just because one agrees with her politics (or likes her ethnicity) then s/he has to call her “classy”. Jackie Kennedy was classy. Carla Bruni is classy. But Michelle Obama??? Holy mackerel!!!!!!!!!!
Kelly Ripa dresses like any other rich upper east side mom, there is nothing special about her style.
I’m not a fan, but I don’t think it can be disputed that this woman is gorgeous.
Kelly Ripa openly admits that if not for her stylist on the set of “Regis & Kelly” that she would look like a homeless vagrant.
She claims she has no idea how to put an outfit together and that when she does go to red carpet, or other public events, she has to use the show’s stylist to pull a look together. To me, that’s not the definition of someone who belongs on the “best dressed” list.
A “best dressed” person is someone who has an innate sense of style and fashion, both past, present and future. She also admits to buying looks off mannequins at department stores. There’s nothing wrong with that, and it does help to pull a safe outfit together, but at the risk of repeating myself, that is not the definition of someone who belongs on a BD list.
Kelly Ripa? Seriously? It seems to me that AJ really doesn’t strive to be ‘fashionable’. I just don’t think she cares that much. Just my impression. Also, no Diane Kruger? Shame!
Carla Bruni always looks gorgeous. I’m also surprised that there’s no Kate Moss here, I love her style, and as for guys, I’d have to be patriotic and say where the fuck is Daniel Johns?
Someone must have gone behind my back and re-defined the word shapeless and the word sack yesterday.
I really like Kelly Ripa, she goes on tv every weekday wearing the best clothes and she looks great doing it.
Is everyone just jealous because she looks great being blonde and slim? She is so down to earth. I would just love to hangout with her for a day!
If we’re the same size shoe, I want to be Kelly’s best friend. And then I’ll steal her Louboutins and blame her kids.
Poor Anjie. She shouldn’t read negative press or she will eventually lose it. I hope she knows that people vent out their frustrations on blogs and not to take it seriously. Why should she? She has kids, money, fame and that’s all she needs. The fame I could do without, since it’s a horrible thing to go through these days, but she’s a good person and beautiful and hope for her sake, she doesn’t read the negative crap. It’s ok to have our own taste. She does. Anyway, wish her happiness and let’s move on. This woman has put up with a lot and we should all be more sensitive and even stop blogging. I’ll take my own advise and only blog if I have something nice to say. Peace
Nicole-
What makes you think aj has put up with a lot? what because people she doesn’t know and will probably never meet are blogging about her ? ha- BFD! I doubt she has even noticed and if she has – I’m sure she doesn’t care..do you know how much money this woman has…I’m sure she’ll be just fine. SO us bloggers don’t need to stop blogging and expressing our opinions- okay- but if it bothers you, nicole than you are free to stop expressing yourself- that’s up to you
Don’t worry Nicole I am sure fake a la Ferocity does not read the blogs.
Just curious how do you know she is a good person? Do you actually know her? People that actually know her don’t really think she is that good of a person.
I still blame Angelina for the shapeless, boxy, billowy clothes in all the stores right now.
I liked this dress, but not the color. it made her look too washed out. it would look better in black, midnight blue, or a shade of red. I see what she was going for in the flesh color, but it didn’t work.
“Just curious how do you know she is a good person? Do you actually know her? People that actually know her don’t really think she is that good of a person.”
what’s interesting to me is that her co-stars always say nice things about her, but she doesn’t seem to have even ONE female friend. Even Paltrow, as annoying as she is, has female friends. Ditto on Madonna and other supremely annoying or controlling women. But Angie? You never see or read about her doing anything with any girlfriends. (the only female I ever heard about her having a relationship with was that Asian woman who said they were lovers.)
Could be that she’s just a private person that enjoys her alone time, but then I think about her other relationships (with MEN) and realize that it can’t be simply that she prefers her solitude…
To Cinderella…you’re right! That is one shiny noggin!
Sorry, I think she’s absolutely beautiful!
and they’re referring to her tits, not her clothes! hahahahahahahaha!!!!
Ha! I sincerely thought that was the point of the article, lol. Then I noticed the dress..