Since it’s been the number one movie at least in America for some 3 weeks (for good reason), I am sure many of you have already seen the movie.

And since superheroes are a hot topic in fashion circles today because of the Met’s Costume Institute exhibition “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy,” I’ve got to talk about Paltrow’s fashion style in the movie as Ironman’s girl friday, Virginia Pepper.

She looked stunning and single handedly did more for both the corset top and ankle strapped high heels than any Victoria’s Secret model I can think of to date.

If you haven’t seen it, I strongly recommend it. Robert Downey Jr. is a perfect 21st century Ironman, both heroic and funnily sarcastic, and Gwyneth Paltrow takes no prisoners as his Ironman’s Girl…Friday. I’d call them the Dynamic Duo.

P.S. We also loved her handbag in the scene where she downloads the goods from Stark Industries (I won’t give the storyline away), but don’t know whose bag it is. If anybody knows, please let me know. It’ll be first on my list of things to buy after the recession!

Bookmark

Other items of interest regarding shoes came to light during the opening of the Metropolitan Costume Institute’s exhibit, “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy,” and I really must share.

Cathy Horyn, the New York Times Fashion critic and of On the Runway blog fame, wore the perfect shoes to the opening party. What she wore and how well it came off indicates or should anyway how important it is to think these details through. The shoes were the perfect compliment to her outfit, the trends, and the length of her skirt. It all came together to make her look quite leggy….something one may only expect of fashion models, but not true. We can all look like that if we put on the right shoe with our outfit. (for more on what all the style mavens wore for the gala, see style.com)

A strappy heel is what I called it. Then about the same time, Bill Cunningham, the New York Times on the street fashion photog and documentarian, photographed a lovely segment on hats and shoes and among other things also noted the strappiness of the heels but also the uniqueness of the shoes. Take a look.

But then, there were Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise perfectly captured going up the stairs to the Met’s entrance for the exhibit…she looking like the superheroe Cinderella that she is in a red sequined Armani and these daring do “Blue” shoes and he, Tom, looking like the perfect prince pulling her up the stairs (also dressed in Armani). The best shot of the evening came from Reuter’s photog, Lucas Jackson, shown alongside Eric Wilson’s funny and quippy first impression article for the New York Times of the evenings happenings, “Stars and Superheroes Sparkle at Museum Gala.”

Nonetheless, it was the blue shoes that really made the impression……hmmmm, I wondered aloud to myself, could this have more meaning than for creating a fun yet beautifully themed ensemble for the evening? Then I spied with my little eye the cornflower blue Puma First Round Hi-tops at Urban Outfitters and knew instantly, yes, that blue has life well beyond the Superheroe exhibit and Katie Holmes’ outfit for the evening.
(okay, it’s a little lighter shade, but nonetheless has superpower written all over it)

In fact, I am hoping I can score some great same color blue sandals and/or flip flops for this summer somewhere….Mary Hart of Entertainment Tonight has been wearing these fantastic cobalt blue dresses and suits on the show and while interviewing (image from January 2008 SAG awards). I think she knows something too about this color of blue besides that it looks good on her.

So, KERPLOW! and, and, PLUNK! that.

Bookmark

Opening May 7, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute’s newest show, “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy,” is a “celebration of the body fantastic,” so says Giorgio Armani, the exhibit’s honorary chair.

Clicking through the slide show of some of the costumes reminds me of some of fashion’s better moments both on the runway and on the silver screen. For more, go here.

Image courtesy Style.com. From the Superheroes, “The Doge Knows: Philip Treacy’s futuristic Venetian mask, photographed by Irving Penn for Vogue, December 1996.”

Bookmark

Amy Winehouse with tattoos is one thing, but now there’s Diablo Cody (below left), our stripper-turned-Oscar-scriptwriter for the movie Juno and now we have in American Idol’s seventh season, Carly Smithson (below right), one of the current crop of 12 who made it to the finals. But we really can’t do a photomantage of tattoos without giving a nod to one who may have helped to kick start it all, Anglelina Jolie-Pitts.

Angelina Jolie’s tattoo looks positively sublime here, or her tattoo is as tamed as she is now (or maybe that only happens when Brad Pitt stands next to you!). Regardless, the tattooed are now among us.

Bookmark