Suzy Amis Cameron, founder of the Red Carpet Green Dress design contest, announced the winning dress and surprise actress who will wear the sustainable gown to the 84th Academy Awards.

Actress Missi Pyle, recently seen in the Academy Award nominated film “The Artist,” will wear a design by Valentina Delfino when she attends the 84th Academy Awards. Delfino – born in Venezuela and based in Miami – was among hundreds from around the world who submitted a sustainable dress design for the competition, which began last November.

“The Red Carpet Green Dress contest gives aspiring or established designers a chance to make a beautiful and sustainable gown that will be seen on the single most anticipated red carpet,” said Suzy Amis Cameron. “When the talented actress Missi Pyle steps onto the red carpet at the Academy Awards this Sunday, everyone will see why sustainable design can also be stunning design. Valentina Delfino has created an Oscar worthy dress, and I am thrilled Missi has joined us in creating an important fashion moment.”

Environmental advocate and wife of Director James Cameron, Suzy Amis Cameron started the Red Carpet Green Dress contest in 2009, during a non-stop red carpet bonanza she experienced while attending “Avatar” premieres, in which she wore countless dresses and began to understand the environmental footprint fashion can have on our planet. The experience helped her shape the global challenge, now in its third year, in which designers submit red carpet worthy designs made entirely of sustainable materials.

“All the world is watching this red carpet,” said actress Missi Pyle. ”And as artists, I believe it is our job to show the world that we not only care about creating incredible art, but that we are mindful of the fact that, in doing so, we can make something beautiful that is also sustainable. It is an incredible honor for me to walk the most glamorous red carpet in the world in such a stunning and meaningful dress.”

“This is a winning year for all involved in the Red Carpet Green Dress contest,” said Samata Angel, Red Carpet Green Dress Global Campaign Director.  ”We not only have a stunning garment from Valentina Delfino, but we have an actress who is part of an Oscar nominated ensemble. Missi Pyle is a talented artist whose commitment to sustainability extends to the red carpet. Her gown will shine both for its strong design, and for the important statement it makes about sustainable fashion.”

Red Carpet Green Dress benefits MUSE School CA and Global MUSE – a non-profit founded by Suzy Amis Cameron and her sister Rebecca Amis to provide resources to their partner schools around the world.  Their initiatives include assistance for basic school operations, curriculum development, and nutritious lunches for every student.

Partner Support

Red Carpet Green Dress has received support from notable partners around the world.

Missi will be wearing shoes designed by Christian Louboutin and accessories from Stella McCartney.

The dress itself was made under the guidance of award-winning designer Birgit Muller.

The Ambrose Hotel, Santa Monica’s only award-winning sustainable boutique hotel, will host winning designer Valentina Delfino. The Ambrose’s green values are the perfect compliment for the Red Carpet Green Dress contest.

Zem Joaquin, Founder & CEO of Ecofabulous.com, has supported Red Carpet Green Dress and assisted in the selection of the winning garment.

Cradle to Cradle and the Natural Resources Defense Council have worked in partnership with Red Carpet Green Dress to ensure the final design is sustainably created.

Eco fashion is a growing trend and movement among red carpet regulars, including Livia Firth and Viola Davis.

About the Winning Design

The gown will contain silk peace chiffon, lined with recycled polyester and a sustainable zipper located on the left side seam. The silk chiffon will be dyed with a natural mineral dye, which is both environmentally friendly and OSHA approved.

Peace Silk (or Cruelty–Free Silk) is the non-violent silk created through the process that permits the full life cycle of the silkworm pupae. The silkworm is able to emerge naturally and only then the cocoons are unwound.  On the contrary, the traditional sericulture approach kills the worm inside. This is done through the process of heat or steam, in order to keep the pupa from breaking through the cocoon – causing numerous threads rather than having a single fiber.

For more information, visit redcarpetgreendress.com

Image Courtesy of   Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

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Christian Dior needs a prestigious creative director, and, according to Vogue UK, there might be a special interest in Alexander Wang. A source close to LVMH, the parent company of Christian Dior and many other luxury brands, claims that top executives may be gravitating towards the idea of hiring the young designer from New York.

Marc Jacobs, Haider Ackermann and Riccardo Tisci have been considered in the past few days, and have not been officially turned down but insiders have supposedly confirmed to Vogue UK that:

Ackermann is said to be ‘way too edgy’ for Dior; Jacobs wanted the job a lot, but LVMH wants him to stick with Vuitton; and Tisci simply refused, saying that he was feeling more than comfortable with the job at Givenchy.

In addition to those revealing words, they also specify on their online edition that Alexander Wang might not be the perfect replacement for a visionary artist like Galliano, the former creative director at Christian Dior. Alexander Wang’s style veers more to street-wear than theatrical and couture-esque opulence, which explains why experts are still skeptical about the New Yorker.

Whether Wang is to become the new face behind Dior or stay Wang, the fact that a company like LVMH has set their eyes on the young creator means there could be a succulent invite to join any of the hundreds of projects they own. Fellow New Yorker Marc Jacobs landed his current position that same way, and now runs the Vuitton empire.

The question is: is there anyone quite like John Galliano out there? Fashionistas all over the world compared Galliano’s firing to Alexander McQueen’s suicide. Can anyone else awe the whole world with a dress and take the concept of high fashion to the level of art?

On September 9th the world woke up to headlines that seemed to conclude a phase in John Galliano’s troubled life. The day before, the British designer was found guilty of making anti-Semitic comments and sentenced to pay a $8166 fine. According to his spokesperson he was relieved that the infamous events could be now put behind.

Earlier this year John Galliano was fired from Christian Dior, the fashion house where he served as creative director for more than 10 years. After some shocking accusations that claimed the designer confronted a couple at a Paris café using anti-Semitic remarks, a video was made public and Galliano’s public image started a downward spiral.

The blurry footage, recorded with a phone, featured the designer, who was undoubtedly intoxicated, proffering some inglorious words and even confessing his love for Adolf Hitler. An outrageous outburst that not only made Galliano lose his exclusive job but also embarrassed the troubled soul underneath the flamboyant costumes.

It is very uncertain what future holds for both Christian Dior and its former genius John Galliano whose last gig, a stellar wedding dress for long-time friend Kate Moss, could be dubbed as his re-introduction to the social circle he always belonged to. Meanwhile rumors and insider’s testimonies are likely to keep spilling on the media.

One of the most influential magazine editors, Vogue Italy’s  Franca Sozzani suggested Galliano should be re-hired for the job,

‘Look, I understand their point of view. I understand they couldn’t just say, ‘Bad boy! We forgive you! Come back!’ But it’s really a pity. And I will never believe he believed what he said. I think he was drunk and alone in a bar. When people go crazy, they go crazy. It’s a human case; it’s not political or religious. He didn’t kill anyone!

Image Courtesy of  http://www.flickr.com/photos/alyson-hau/

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D&G models walked the Fall 2011 Milan Fashion Week runway in sporty sneaker heels, a trend that several designers and companies have attempted to establish in the past.  The D&G sneaker heels matched the brightly colored outfits that the models donned.  The shoes had a similar design to that of Converse’s popular high-top sneakers (plus a 5-inch stiletto heel).  Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana established D&G as an eclectic and contemporary fashion line which aims to set trends instead of following them.  The idea of transforming sneakers into high heels, however, is nothing new.

Several years ago, Nike came out with an Air Force One sneaker heel.  Today, Nike has an entire collection of Nike Jordan high heels.  These heels sport the Nike swoop logo and various bright colors and designs.  Why anyone would ever buy these sneaker heels is beyond me.  These are among the ugliest sneaker heels I have ever laid eyes on.

You know a fashion trend has reached an all time low when Mariah Carey is emulating it.  Mrs. Nick Cannon herself developed a sneaker heel and is selling it on the Home Shopping Network.  She claims her shoe is where athletic wear meets chic and sexy.  Unfortunately, MC’s sneaker heel is known to be very painful to wear (and look at).  What is the point of merging sneakers and heels if you are not going to get the comfort benefit of a sneaker?  It certainly is not for the “unique” style.

In 2009, Italian fashion designer Sergio Rossi teamed up with Puma to create their version of a sneaker heel.  This heel premiered during the Fall/Winter 2009 collection.  The leather shoe sits on a 3.5 inch heel and is called the “High Heel 1st Round Sneaker.”  The shoe originally cost $760 and currently sells on Sergio Rossi’s website for $454.  Rossi, known for his impeccable fashion sense, and Puma, known for its sneaker innovation and style, created the least ugly of the sneaker heel I’ve seen yet.

Christian Louboutin, a French designer of five inch or higher red soled stilettos, and my personal favorite shoe designer (given my 5’2″ frame), created a sneaker heel for his Fall/Winter 2010 collection.  Louboutin classified his design as an ankle boot, with admitted, but obvious, inspiration from the Studio 54 disco era.  The ankle boot is made from python and leopard print with shiny metal.  The 5.5-inches of heel is accompanied by a 1-inch concealed platform.  Louboutin calling his shoe an ankle boot does not make it any less of a sneaker heel, it is still tied up with black sneaker laces.

Now, for the Fall 2011 Milan Fashion Week, D&G donned every model in high heeled sneakers.  D&G usually sets trends, but I am not so sure about this one.  I hope it doesn’t stick.  There is a place on the shoe rack for both sneakers and stilettos, there is no need to compact them into one shoe.  I think this is definitely a trend failure.  It would almost be understandable if the sneaker aspect of the design offered the feet in a sort of comfort-heaven, but this is not the case.  The 4+ inch heels still leaves feet in blistering pain.

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