Soul Train Awards 2012: Highlights and lowlights

Last night both BET and Centric aired the Soul Train Awards hosted by Comic Cedric the Entertainer.

This year there were three major fashion trends running the red carpet. White seemed to be a popular choice of color, as R&B legend Faith Evans, American Idol alum Leah LaBelle, and Singer Melanie Fiona all donned white ensembles.

R&B Singer Faith Evans

Recording Artist Leah LaBelle

R&B/Soul Artist Melanie Fiona

Soul singer Goapele

While Melanie Fiona was most unique with a doily inspired dress (is this a new trend emerging?), Soulstress Goapele took the night with her metal band around the waist, black sandals and gold earrings.

106 & Park host Paigion

Actress Demetria McKinney

Keeping with the white trend, Tyler Perry’s House of Payneactress Demetria McKinney also incorporated color-blocking in her black and white asymmetrical dress. New 106th & Park host Paigion arrived in a colorblocked red and black number.

Actress Kat Graham

R&B Singer Elle Varner

The most risky trend of the night had to be prints and fros. Actress Kat Graham worked it with her large print floral extremely high slit dress and huge hair. “Refill” singer and Best New Artist Recipient Elle Varner contained her fro in a low ponytail and wore a black and white graphic print peplum ensemble.

Mint Condition’s Stokley Williams

One more disturbing trend re-appeared on this red carpet. Despite how simple it is for men to dress up for nice events, throwing on a well-tailored black suit seems to be too much work in 2012. Mint Condition frontman Stokley Williams arrived in a dark denim, a plaid blazer and, le sigh, sneakers. This look would’ve been great for an everyday appearance but an awards show? Please try harder next time.

Among the evening’s performances where Self-proclaimed Relationship Expert Singer Tyrese with his Song of the Year winning “Stay” followed by fellow TGT members Ginuwine and Tank. John Legend performed his hit “Tonight” from the motion picture soundtrack to Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. Legend was up for several awards and took home the Ashford & Simpson Award for Songwriter of the Year. Ne-Yo performed his hit “Let Me Love You” from his new album R.E.D., this time infusing a bit more soul into the electronica-dance based tune.

The Soul Train Awards was taped on November 8th in Las Vegas. This was the first award show to air since the passing of the show’s creator Don Cornelius in February of this year.

Honey Help Me! Flower Power

A lot of celebs are fortunate enough to have stylists that make sure they’re always well dressed. Unfortunately, celebs also have too many yes-men – people who are afraid to tell them they’re making a bad decision.

Between stylists and yes-men sometimes Hollywood’s finest step out in looks that stun us. Other times they step out in looks that just scream, “Honey, Help Me!”

Fall floral is definitely in this season, and celebrities are not afraid of this trend – especially those in warmer climates. Lauren Conrad, Elisabeth Moss, Kaley Cuoco and Emma Roberts all tried the look last week, but where they floral dos or floral donts?

Reality star/Designer Lauren Conrad

Reality star turned fashion maven Lauren Conrad wore a mock-turtleneck A-line dress with nude pumps to the Hollywood Reporter beauty luncheon in Los Angeles. LC had the right idea pairing simple hair, makeup and shoes with the bright multi-colored print – anything else would be too distracting and busy.

Mad Men’s Elisabeth Moss

Mad Men star Elisabeth Moss tried for tough-girl chic in an all black shorts and booties look topped off with a Mulberry motorcycle jacket adorned with floral-print. Ummm. Yes all black can make your sloppily put together ensemble look chic, but the addition of tacky flowers makes it look like Grandma is trying to rediscover her inner bad girl. And if she’s wearing shorts why does she need a leather jacket? She would have been better off in all black pieces that go together, like more structured shorts or just a better jacket. Maybe the stars of Mad Men are deliberately trying to sabotage their personal wardrobes, to distance themselves from their well-dressed characters on the show.

Big Bang Theory’s Kaley Cuoco

While Elisabeth Moss is running around like an edgy old lady, Kaley Cuoco seems to have resurrected her kindergarten Easter dress for the People’s Choice Awards nominations announcements. This floral Asos dress is REALLY cute for a young child, but for an adult actress not so much. I’m CERTAIN there was a better option for the red carpet out there somewhere.

Celeste and Jesse Forever’s Emma Roberts

Emma Roberts donned a white cocktail dress with orange and green flower to an outdoor event in LA. Her accessories? Simple. Nude shoes, a tiny white and gold clutch and medium-length earrings. The reddish orange lip is probably the BEST complement to this dress, as it incorporates the colors in the dress and helps offset her pale complexion. Looks like ladies could take a lesson from the Celeste and Jesse Forever star “Keep it simple, stupid” style.

Floral prints are fun and give off a youthful vibe, but only when you wear them properly. Don’t try too hard to make the print make a lot of statements and keep the rest of your look simple to avoid an overly busy ensemble. Pay attention to the cut and style of the dress – if it looks like it was intended for someone 20 years younger or older it’s not for you.

Honey Help Me! Christina Hendricks at Ginger and Rosa premiere

A lot of celebs are fortunate enough to have stylists that make sure they’re always well dressed. Unfortunately, celebs also have too many yes-men – people who are afraid to tell them they’re making a bad decision.

Between stylist and yes-men sometimes Hollywood’s finest step out in looks that stun us. Other times they step out in looks that just scream, “Honey, Help Me!”

Last week Mad Men star Christina Hendricks made  appearances at two California screenings for her newest film Ginger and Rosa, but was her style a hit or miss?

Christina Hendricks in Tommy Hilfiger

Christina Hendricks stepped out to the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills  for a screening of her new film Ginger and Rosa wearing a totally on trend oxblood belted Tommy Hilfiger dress and attached cape. Her accessory of choice? Black heeled boots. Christina usually misses the mark, failing to work with her shapely body, and this turtleneck is no exception. Everything else about the dress fits her perfectly, except the high neck. Could she have made it a scoop or square-neck instead? The cape doesn’t seem to do anything positive for her either.

To add insult to injury she pairs the dress with dumpy boots. A nice pointy toe black heel would have exposed a bit of skin and may have countered the unflattering top, but the slouch in these boots covers her up even more and just makes her look dumpy. Better luck in Hollywood?

Christina Hendricks in L’Wren Scott

Christina tried again at another screening of her film, this time at Grauman’s Chinese theater show in Hollywood. She’s definitely stepped her game up in this slimming yet sparkling black L’Wren Scott cap-sleeve sheath dress and peep toe Jimmy Choo heels. While showing a bit of cleavage with the squareneck is a good idea, she would’ve been better off if the top of this dress gave her bosoms a little more breathing room. They seem suffocated just sitting on top like that.

The lesson here? When you’re working with a lot of goods too much material will make you look sloppy, too little a bit slutty. Aim for a delicate balance that properly skims the body.

Rockin the vote

Nowadays, jeans are TOTALLY appropriate in the office, depending on where you work of course.

While more creative workplaces allow more flexibility with everyday casual wear, when wearing jeans in a more conservative environment be mindful of the regular dress code.

If your otherwise conservative company allows you to wear jeans on occasion, blend your everyday look with the denim. Dress up your jeans with a nice top or blazer. Ladies should still wear heels and gentleman stick to dress shoes. Flats or sneakers can give your look a too laid back vibe.

Here even though my pants are colored,the white top and blazer keep my outfit professional. From the top up you would never guess I was dressed down!

Notice the colors? If you haven’t done so already GET OUT AND VOTE!!

Honey, Help Me! The Angel Ball in NYC

A lot of celebs are fortunate enough to have stylists that make sure they’re always well dressed. Unfortunately, celebs also have too many yes-men – people who are afraid to tell them they’re making a bad decision.

Between stylist and yes-men sometimes Hollywood’s finest step out in looks that stun us. Other times they step out in looks that just scream, “Honey, Help Me!”

Singer-songwriter Estelle at the Angel Ball in NYC

Estelle, darling, what were you thinking? Her color scheme is GREAT – green and black with gold earrings but this is not the way to mix a print. Doing an animal print in a different color is fun and creative, but stick to one trend at a time! She didn’t need to add a belt, fur bottom, cutout and embellishment to the black. Less is more. If she’d stick to just the leopard print and get rid of the other trends this would be perfect.

Socialite Kim Kardashian at the Angel Ball in NYC

One of my favorite things about Kim Kardashian‘s style is that she knows what looks good on her, but she still isn’t afraid to take risks. This lady’s got chutzpah – and it usually serves her well, but not this time. She did well with the on trend cobalt blue, and was sure to cinch that waist with the belt but this dress  is cut WAY too loose. The bat sleeves add  too much bulk and the double leg slit is just too much. A fitted top half and single slit would make this dress a knockout.

Music Producer Nile Rodgers at the Angel Ball in NYC

It’s generally harder for men to look bad, you buy a suit, have it tailored and get a fresh cut and shave right before your big event. Which is why I’m surprised  Nile Rodgers seems to have overlooked this final step in his preparation – the hair. I’m not sure if he’s concealing an overdue twisting appointment or dye job but this dollar store bandana is not an appropriate way to do so. He should have either scheduled a touch-up in time for this event or find a classier wrap to conceal his roots.