-
Australian singer Natalie Bassingthwaighte - Source: ONE News
Heavy metal, not heavy rock ruled the 2009 ARIA awards red
carpet as Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Jessica Mauboy and Kate Ritchie
competed for best dressed in heavily embellished outfits.
Following the excessive trend first born on the Paris catwalk and
transplanted straight to Acer arena, best dressed ladies of the
night like Mauboy and Bassingthwaighte wore heavily detailed
outfits covered in gold studded details completed by highly
reflective accessories and towering heels.
Their over the top glamour and attention-grabbing frocks would
compete with the likes of Lady Gaga and Rihanna.
The eccentric pop performer has created headlines this year for her
outrageous outfits, but despite her critics, Lady Gaga has set the
precedent for other artists to live up to.
In the case of Empire of the Sun's Luke Steele and his wife they
preferred to channel a new millennium bleached-blond David Bowie
meets Barbarella.
Like Lady Gaga, they pushed the boundaries of costume complete with
white horse-hair covering their shoulders that would top the Worst
Dressed list purely for being so politically incorrect.
The Arias were split between heavily styled celebrity frocks and
artists making a statement. As was the case for Claire Bowditch who
opted for a dress constructed with recycled plastics.
"This dress is about sustainability and fashion and it's carbon
neutral," Bowditch said.
She made the Worst Dressed list as much for the excessive
accessories she wore with the environmentally friendly outfit
conjured up by designers Kim Kneipp and Zoe Stuart.
Who rules the red carpet is often more competitive than industry
awards themselves with both the Logie Awards and Academy Awards
generating higher ratings for their red carpet coverage than the
actual ceremonies.
No one understands this better than Bassingthwaighte who wore head
to toe Sass & Bide that was covered in high gilt and reflective
metals.
Although she declared "it's my stylist who came up with this outfit
... I'd rather be in track pants" her glamour quota was too high to
ignore as Bassingthwaighte wants to be seen as a major red carpet
star.
Mauboy and the awards host Ritchie turned to J'Aton, a
Melbourne-based label that is fast becoming the dominant choice for
young celebrities seeking a sexy but fashion focused look.
But J'Aton was careful for Ritchie and Mauboy to have separate
looks with the television star wearing a one shouldered black dress
complete with embellished crystals.
Mauboy was stage ready with her tight, white body conscious
dress.
Other artists refused to play the `best dressed celebrity game' and
instead followed the black gothic Twilight trend.
Black was the colour du jour on the red carpet and provoked
comparisons to the vampire fashion that has bitten young
Hollywood.
The Australian music scene appeared to have a style transfusion
with Sarah Blasko in a noir dress complete with excessive shoulders
made of many ruffled layers.
The sea of black brought an air of gothic chic to the Arias with
Dash & Will and Israeli actress Noa Tishby, wife of Australian
Idol host Andrew G succumbing to the Twighlight trend.
Also following the black Twilight trend were Vanessa Amorosi,
Paulini and Charli Delaney of Hi-5 fame.
