I overcame last week’s moment of doubt and wore my vintage Patrick Kelly leopard print gown to Vanity Fair’s Oscar Party last night. Not only was I glad to wear the dress again — I feel like I’m not done with it! I want to wear yet again soon. I’m obsessed with this dress. Next thing you know, I’ll be walking the dogs and going to the supermarket in it. Maybe then I’ll finally get a good picture of myself in it. Last night, amateur photographer MrB struggled with harsh lighting. I need to start a TV show like Wife Swap, but for fashion bloggers. It would be called “Significant Other Who Follows You Around With a Camera All Fucking Day Swap” and I would get to borrow one of those boyfriends/fiances who live to take professional-quality photos.
What Wendy Wore
Dress: Vintage Patrick Kelly dress
Shoes: Prada (2010, last seen here)
Purse: Something old and unmemorable
Earrings: My own Cleopatra design
Ring: My own Hathor design, carnelian side up
Lipstick: Lasting Lust by MAC
Hair and makeup: Stephanie Daniel
I couldn’t get a good shot of my hair but it was an off-to-the-side chignon just like here.
Before the party, we stopped at the Four Seasons Hotel for a drink, and the dress earned four compliments in ten minutes, which made me happy on behalf of the late Patrick Kelly. Patrick died on New Year’s Day, 1990, five years before the launch of eBay, which was where I found this dress in 2008. Who would have imagined back in 1990 that people would be admiring his dress 21 years later! (There’s a shorter version in the same fabric on eBay right now. If you bid, don’t forget to snipe!)
We had a great time at the Vanity Fair party, where the first person we laid eyes on was Madonna. Totally missed Justin Bieber so I didn’t get to tell him that he’s the same age as my beloved Lagerfeld shoes. I was amused to see that young Hailee Steinfeld of True Grit had changed out of her heels and into red Chuck Taylors, which worked well with her Marchesa dress. I told Adrien Brody that I was still traumatized by his genetic-experiment-gone-awry movie Splice, and he said, “Not as much as I am.” I chirped, “Best speech of the night!” at adorable Luke Matheny, who won for best live-action short. As I walked away, feeling like I said something original, a man rushed up to Luke and said, “Best speech of the night!” He probably heard that 100 times. Later, as I chatted with my gorgeous friend Jane, new fathers Elton John and David Furnish drifted ever closer, till Jane was back-to-back with Elton. If she’d been any closer, she would have been under his jacket.
We also spotted Colin Firth; Billy Crystal; Reese Witherspoon; Mark Ruffalo and his wife Sunrise (I introduced myself to her because my jewelry used to be sold at a store called Kaviar and Kind, in which she was a partner); Michelle Williams (smoking outside); Quentin Tarantino rubbing Paz de la Huerta’s back; Jennifer Hudson; Valentino; Diane von Furstenberg (MrB chatted with her husband, Barry Diller); my Wear What You Want style icon Helena Bonham Carter and her director husband Tim Burton; Sandra Bullock; Harvey Weinstein, whom we congratulated for his big wins for The King’s Speech, and his wife Georgina Chapman of Marchesa; Donald Trump (we go way back with him); Emma Stone; Cameron Diaz; Anderson Cooper; Eric Schmidt of Google (we chatted to him too); Brendan Fraser; Sir Howard Stringer of Sony (he was the chairman of MrB’s Committee to Protect Journalists fundraising dinner in November); Jane Fonda; Jude Law; Matthew McConaughey; Steven Tyler; Carolina Herrera; Jake Gyllenhaal; and, of course, our handsome host, Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter.
The party decor included apples.
I had no idea I was up for an award myself, but back in New York, my emoticon-heart ring helped gorgeous client/blogging friend Jordana of Clutch 22 score the award for best jewelry at Style Coalition‘s Oscar viewing party.
Jordana’s hand, ring and statuette.
What an honor! I guess I have to give a speech. Well, I couldn’t have done it without Jordana’s jewelry inspiration and finger. I’d also like to thank my mother, who provided craft services while I was growing up. And … and … oh my God! What else should I say? This looked so fucking easy when Melissa Leo did it last night!
Don’t forget: gorgeous blogger Sheila’s Leopard Week begins today. Send her your best leopard shots!
Holy cow lady…To have been a fly on the wall…You rocked the heck outta that gown as usual!
You look FABULOUS, darling! 🙂 What material is your dress made of? It’s wonderfully satin-y looking. As opposed to Satan-y which would be very different.
My favourite Oscar dress was Amy Adams – it wasn’t even so much the dress as the retro, old-Hollywood-in-the-sixties sparkle and the gorgeous blue-purple colour that just worked her hair and skintone perfectly. Plus she has the same haircolour and skin colouring as me, therefore, I coveted that dress madly. Failing that I’d be all over Mila Kunis’ lavender number. Really I’m more down with the idea of Miss True Grit’s red Chuck’s and a ballgown. 🙂
The Kelly dress is kind of a spandex-y velvet.
Loved the color of Mila’s dress too.
Love it! Good shot for bad lighting–and love the way the striped carpet looks with the dress.
Oh Miss Wendy, you amazing party animal! The Patrick Kelly looked stunning on you, sleek and slinky and sexy, just crazy-wonderful. Elton John so close, I probably would have inched ever-nearer just trying to breathe the same air, are you kidding?
It looks and sounds like an amazing time, loads of fun and people-watching to the nth degree, I’m so glad you went! Ad congrats on the award for your emoticon ring, that is very cool.
Grins & Giggles,
tp
My god 4 years later and I still never tire of the dress – you look a million dollars gal!! xx
Holy cow, you lucky girl. I bet you stole the show from all those actresses in boring princess gowns x
Hi my dear-you totally look so divinely gorgeous in this dress, it is a true style investment piece and you have done Patrick Kelly proud-thats a beautiful photo and it sounds like an amazing night too! xxx
You look fabulous in that dress and just like Mr B and the centre piece you complement the carpet so well!
Wendy, Mr B took a good picture, you look marvelous and it sounds like it was a totally fun evening. Ours was fun too we went to an Oscar party with friends, drank wine and dished the dresses! Your dress is way better than any of the ones we saw.
you always look amaze, no matter what the lighting is like!
Actually, Mr. B did pretty well with that picture! You look fantastic. That’s some guest list, next time will you wear a wire so we can hear the conversations??? 😀
Agreed!!!
That dress is utterly incredible on you! Congrats on the award and for having shoes older than the Bieber. xxx
Yes, I admit it. I’m totally jealous that you got to go to the VF party.
And, you look smashing in that Patrick Kelly gown.
Meanwhile, I was totally jealous of everyone else in the room! I felt like a country (or civilian) mouse surrounded by city (or Hollywood) mice.
That dress is so amazing, to right you have to wear it more!! x
This recap is awesome. Sounds like a pretty magical night. Whenever I’m around celebrities I’m always rushing around like a madwoman, never dressed in a glamourous gown. Glad we’re able to live vicariously through you.
Eeeek!!! I would so have loved to be at that party. I particularly love Billy Crystal. He was the only good thing to happen to the Oscars last night. He turns up on the stage, and everything starts to go right. Did you talk to him?
No, we just eyed him from a short distance!
I am so happy you wore that dress! You look killer! And oh, all those stars – sounds like a totally fun time!
Thanks for the shout-out, Wendy! Right back atcha, girl!
Wendy, you look adorable. I can’t believe you are such a celeb that you go to the Vanity Fair party and yet I get to leave you a comment. Wow.
Probably just as well that you didn’t see Justin Bieber as you would have made your shoes feel old.
And in order to take part in “Significant Other Who Follows You Around With a Camera All Fucking Day Swap” you will need such a significant other. Never seen Wife Swap where one of them didn’t have a wife. Sorry, just sayin’
Damn!
I’m laughing to myself – I have a bf photographer (but he was a photographer before we started dating) and only takes like 20% of my photos. Although he did take the last few because I forgot my camera at my parents house and had to wait for my lazy sister to send it to me.
Your dress choice was perfect, you look glamorous. And what more could you wish to dress up for than an Oscars party?! I’m going to speak for everyone and say that we’re e-starstruck by your celebrity acquaintances 🙂
If you’re not using your bf photographer, can I borrow him?!
That dress is breathtaking. You look great in it. It must have been fun celeb spotting. I’ve never seen a celebrity in real life, unless you count concerts.
Wendy….wow, that about sums it up for me….you look amazing in the gown….your description of the evening is unbelievable….work it girl!!!
Oh Wendy… you make me so happy.
My anti spam word is highheel… that makes me happy too.
I’m LOVING your hair! And of course your dress and everything else. You always look so happy!
Whocares (that’s my spam word), you look stunning. Mr B did a great job. Your head is above the back railing, the light on you is good and you are in focus. Hey, you’re not in a studio. Best photo by a spouse goes to Mr. B.
Ooh, I’ll let him know. I had to tinker with the lighting via photoshop.com because my face was very washed out…I was worried I had made it worse but I guess I didn’t!
the dress AND the photo are gorgeous. Love the detail about Michelle Williams smoking outdoors…
Sounds like a good time was had by all, yet not one of the party-goers was at Yappy Hour here in Portland, Oregon. Yappy Hour! You’re a hoot, WendyB. Thanks for that tidbit in reaction to my post today at Portland Oregon Daily Photo. I can’t believe after your two nights out that you had the time/energy to take a look at the post; I am glad that you enjoyed it.
Dear Wends
Good to see you living the dream with All The Big Names.
I like your frock and your polish looks 11/10.
What was Georgina chapman wearing? x
Hobnobbing with the nobs! Sweet!
You looked great, as always. It’s nice that the leopard dress gets out so much these days. 🙂
So jealous! I would have been stalking a few of those people all night, which would have probably ended in my being escorted off the premises. To echo Kristin’s sentiment..oh to have been a spot on your leopard print dress…
YAY! Glad you wore that stunner again. What an amazing party!
I would have stalked Helena big time. heehee
You look so fucking divine!
Ooops, I hope you bleeped that 🙂
There is no way I could have come up with anything resembling a sentence to speak to Adrien Brody! I am super impressed. And PERFECT choice, the Patrick Kelly looks amazing in LA at one of the best parties of the year.
I live vicariously through these posts of yours. (LOL at the Justin Bieber line.)
You and your leopard dress are beyond fabulous. I have a deep leopard print collection from years of estate sale adventures and wear pieces from it every chance I get. Contributing to Sheila’s Leopard Week, which I understand is in honor of you and your leopard dress, is truly an honor.
You look like the woman I dreamed of becoming when I was a little girl. Stylish and fun, understatedly flamboyant (because I believe that is a compliment) … confidant enough to wear exactly what she wanted. imagine a pair of blonde braids staring at you in awe, the five year old inside of me thinks you are beautiful and amazing, to be honest so does the 25 year old 🙂
You are so sweet! This makes my day.
Thanks for your comments on my posts, if you ‘do’ leopard nails let me know, I’d love to see! I have been admiring this fabulous dress and have been taking part in Leopard week- not in a glamourpuss way like you! 😀
I think YOU were born to wear leopard!
You always rock everything you wear–it is definitely that red lipstick and huge, happy smile. I love people who seem to have a genuine smile. It makes me happy.