“When I came into the business, the only man in a beaded jacket was Liberace. Nobody had tasty beading for men. Nobody.” —American costume designer Bill Whitten, who designed the blue beaded military jacket and silver sparkling socks and glove Michael Jackson wore on the Grammys on this day in 1984. The outfit Read More »

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards are this Sunday, but rather than string together another Best Dressed List of shimmery, on-trend gowns, I’m celebrating the women who have bucked convention. So what if most of these ladies ended up on Worst Dressed lists? True style is more about individuality and confidence than “right” or “wrong,” and these ladies have style in spades. There have been many women who walked the red carpet to the beat of their own drum, and this is a salute to 10 of ‘em who said: “F*ck it. I’m wearing what I want!” Here’s hoping we see some of this sartorial spirit this weekend.

1. Björk Ruffles Feathers (2001)
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Jennifer Lopez wasn’t a nominee at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony on this day in 2000. But she assured her domination of the next day’s fashion coverage when she walked the red carpet in a barely there, green, palm frond–print dress. The budding singer was already bound to make headlines as the arm candy of Sean Combs (who was then going by “Puff Daddy” and involved in a highly publicized legal drama). But a sheer silk chiffon dress, a pair of bejeweled panties and a neckline that plunged well below her navel, ensured that everyone was talking about J. Lo, and not the guy she arrived with. All it took was Donatella Versace’s brash design, a little toupee tape and a heck of a lot of self-confidence.

Versace designed the dress (and some have argued whether the mere wisps of fabric can be called a dress) while she was still struggling to find her groove as head of her brother Gianni’s fashion house after his death three years earlier. “[The dress] was an unexpected success,” Versace told the Canadian Press in 2008. “The next day [Lopez] was all over the place with people talking about her in that dress. It was one of those moments like Gianni had with Elizabeth Hurley and the safety-pin dress.” Versace credits the media attention as a turning point in her career and threw herself into designing for the “new Versace woman.” “[The Versace woman] is confident, for sure. Determined,” the designer noted, which may be an understatement when it comes to the cojones it took to wear what is now called “the Jungle Dress.” Read More »

Are you planning on wearing something on the…alluring side this Valentine’s Day? Well, don’t go looking to Hollywood for inspiration, unless you don’t mind being faced with a schizophrenic mix of lingerie styles that run the gamut from demure virgin to high-school sex kitten to wanton sweet transvestite. I rounded up 10 of the most memorable boudoir moments in Hollywood history that might offer a bit of sexy encouragement for your romantic celebration—either that or some of ‘em might cool your jets until Arbor Day. (Bonus: I’ve included one option that won’t cost you a cent and another requires only a few bucks at the grocery store.) You be the judge—and let me know which of your favorite lingerie movie moments I missed!

1. Marie Antoinette’s fan-and-garter combo in Marie Antoinette (2006)
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The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards were last night and, as usual, the red carpet was the place for music’s hottest stars to flaunt their fashion chops. Here are some of the standout looks…for better or for worse. It’s only rock-and-roll, though, right?

Best LBD
Tie: Jenna Ushkowitz and Dianna Agron from Glee
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