ANTM Cycle 8- Spoiler!

So I know how annoying it is when you inadverdantly find out who the winner is before you watch the finale- this has happened to me in the past 2 seasons. Last time, my friend casually dropped the bomb in conversation. And this time, I caught a glimpse of it on yahoo.com! ARGH. Anyways- don't say I didn't warn you not to scroll down!

Admittedly, this show is getting old. One can only take so much overdramatic girl cat fights before starting to wonder if they're delibrately making up something out of nothing. And after all these seasons, the girls all start to seem similar to those from past seasons. And they must've ran out of countries, because really Tyra, Sydney Australia? AGAIN? I was expecting something more exotic and new. The only thing that keeps me watching are the makeovers (its crazy what a huge difference hair, make-up and styling tips can do), the ever innovative shoots (although there weren't too many really exciting ones this season) and the glimpses into the fashion industry.

Granted I didn't like any of the girls in particular at the beginning and wasn't really vouching for anyone, I was disappointed with the two finalists- Natasha and Jaslene. They not only looked awful when they're not doing a job (this is AFTER they've had their make overs and well into the season- they just look like two badly dressed girls on the streets. And someone should just tell Natasha that she looks bad in skinny jeans)..

..but they also looked awful in the final judging in these Sass & Bide creations, with that make-up and hair. On a side note, I thought that it was kind of cool that they got to do a Sass & Bide runway- I didn't even know that they were Australians! And that runway show they were doing with the view of the Opera house- I was just there 5 months ago!
Ultimately though, between the two, I was glad that Jaslene won even though she didn't even make it into the house the last season- although this kind of makes me wonder whether she really made a huge transformation or whether the quality of the girls this season is just really bad. I'm leaning towards the latter.

But anyway, I thought she rocked the runway and she took consistently good pictures. Also, I liked her character better. She was a bit more genuine and all.

Especially compared to Natasha. The other models are right, she did appear really fake and annoying. And yet the judges just seem to be blinded by her exuberant personality. Can't they see that the things she says are not cute but obnoxious? She always had to twist any criticism she got into a good thing- can't the girl just take the criticism as it is? Although one does have to give her points for improvement. I thought her cross dressing shoot as a guy was pretty well done.
The girl I most wanted to win though, was Renee. I thought she did really well in everything. She had a great personality, her photos were consistently good and most importantly, she totally rocked the Cover Girl commercial while the other two finalists completely flunked it- honestly, I just wanted to wince watching! The only reason I can see why she got eliminated was because she looked "old," which is unfair since she can't help it and she's only 20. And really, if make-up, hair and photoshop can make Jaslene and Natasha look so good in photos as opposed to real life, they can make Renee look younger. Perhaps ANTM can't have another winner who looked so much like the last winner? One criticism for Renee- what kind of name is "Nee Nee"?? It sounds so ridiculous and stupid.

The rest of the season...was mediocre. There weren't too many photoshoots that I remembered that made too much of an impression on me. Other models- I couldn't believe that Jael made it so far. She should've been eliminated way before, like when she made a fool of herself in that celeb party annoying 50 cent. And her image, I get that she's trying to be different, but to me, it was just as if that girl couldn't decide whether to be girl and nice or rock, punk and cool. Britney, I was sympathizing with her short term memory thing, but Dionne made a good point when she said she remembered all the lines in the acting challenge. Also, I thought she was getting too cocky about her photos in the end and was just a huge melodramtic whiner. Oh and I liked Whitney the Dartmouth student. I thought she was very eloquent and smart- too bad she never got her act together with the photos.

And lastly, I just wanted to make a comment about Tyra. I know she's retired and everything, but what is with the outfits she's been wearing on the show? They look awful. If I knew how to take screenshots from videos, I can go on and on for a whole post on her fashion mistakes.

Short Shorts in SS07

So it seems that the short shorts from last season have prevailed onto the SS07 catwalk.
They are crisper and sharper than ever paired with the softer tops this season. For something more girly, pair them with feminine, frilly, soft tops like above in left: Derek Lam and right: Zac Posen. I LOVE the Peter Som (whoops! thx, I got too lazy to check!) outfit here, the contrast of the pretty frilly top and cardigan with the crisp boxy shorts is stunning.

For something more casual, pair them with this season's just as boxy structured tops left: Pringle of Scotland or loose tops right: Paul Smith. Last season I was still floundering, but this season I think I REALLY want a pair of white short shorts- preferably a boxy pair, because I think the "boxiness" has more volume, making the legs look slimmer. Also, it doesn't look as skimpy as hot pants.
So I am starting to look again this season. I am definitely going for white, because I think it will match everything best. Something like these two above from left: Adam + Eve and right: Express. In fact, I think I'll go to Express this weekend and try them on and see if they fit as perfect as they look!
More cute shorts from Alice + Olivia. I love the cuff details on the grey shorts!
For a bit more interesting details, go for the rows of buttons like these two from left: Lauren Moffatt and right: Express. Although, the downside is that its going to be the devil to take off, so don't wear them when you're going shopping for bottoms!

Photo Credits: Elle, Express and Shopbop

MET Fashion II- Poiret: King of Fashion

More on the dresses from the Costume Institute Benefit gala , here are some of the dresses that I was unsure about or are just downright terrible.

I KNOW Anna Wintour is the queen of fashion and everything, but this is not a flattering dress on her. She looks weighed down. Especially with the metallic shoulders and feathers....it looks like part of a body armour.

I read that she is actually looking better in this dress, but Cate Blanchett still looks very scary and skeletal to me. Maybe its the spikey hairstyle, it makes her look even more gaut and edgy.

This one I'm on the edge. I love the drapery and the greek goddess concept behind this Marchesa dress and its also very classy and discrete for JLo. But then, its not exactly very complimentary to her figure.....

And this one. On one hand, this Bally dress is quite flattering, but on the other hand, the see through material of the bodice makes it look really trashy. Maybe if we just convince ourselves that its not really see through. . . ?

At first glance, I did not like this outfit. Shalom Harlow looked like some evil vampire. But then I found out it was from Viktor and Rolf and then it made much more sense why it looked so strange.

The cutting of this dress is actually very flattering to America Ferrara's figure. But i think i just don't like the stripes in the skirts.

What is with Renee Zellweger and fishtail dresses? And to make it worse, the pattern of the dress actually reminds me of a fish this time. The spotty, stoney looking ones.

Conceptually a simple white strapless dress should look elegant. But Christina Ricci just looks uncomfortable and awkward. Maybe Calvin Klein was too heavy on the starch.

I've always loved the way Liv Tyler looks. She's always so elegant and classy. This dress fell short of my expectations. The color is dull along with the cutting, while her make-up is waay too striking and pale.

You'd think this girl would look good in a haysack, but seems like she's human after all. This dress looks awful on her. The bodice is too tight. The dress too short. The color too dull. It looks like she's trying to fit into a little kid's fairy costume. And the fishnet stockings. . . . ugh.

I really don't think green is much of a red carpet color. Although this one on Chloe Sevigny is slightly more striking, the cutting looked a bit amatuer for something by Balenciaga.

Mary-Kate's tiny frame looks like it's being smothered by the overload of feathers. But minus the feathers it doesn't look too bad.

I usually love the way Ashley dresses, but this one looks like she hastily put it together last minute with some strings and tape. . . not very fitted. And WHO is that old man she's with? Please tell me that its strictly platonic (correction: the old man is indeed Christian Louboutin, so it is indeed strictly platonic).

Maybe Ashley and Claudia Schiffer (correction: Gisele Bundchen) made their dresses together?

And for a truly horrific sight, check out Jessice Simpson in Just Cavalli. *shudder*
And WHAT was Karolina Kurkova thinking? What is that THING around her shoulder?
Looks like Parker Posey had a bit of an accident with the laces....

And Claire Danes decided to wrap herself up in tin foil.....burnt in the middle tin foil at that.
And this looks like the tin foil version of something I drew in pre-school.