It feels like only yesterday that award season had just begun. Now we are only days away until the 88th Annual Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, California. Yes, there will be more red carpets throughout the year, but there’s no doubt that the Oscars are one of my favorite to watch.
Before we celebrate on Sunday, I chatted with Ricardo Aldama, owner of Rex Fabrics in Coral Gables in Miami about all the hottest trends thus far. Will we continue to see a sea of florals, white, and plunging necklines? How can us mere mortals wear these trends for our special event?
More than ever before, I’ve noticed women are wearing plunging necklines. Ricardo, who sells exclusive couture fabrics as well as custom made gowns, suggests taking the plunge but keep all-else covered. “The best way to wear a plunging neckline is by using fabrics to cover other areas of the body,” he explained. “For example, if you want to accentuate your neckline, then perhaps you can add sleeves or a long skirt to your look so that the eye automatically sees the neckline at first glance.”
With the spring and summer arriving soon, all the celebrities rocking white gowns have been ahead of the game. There are so many outdated rules about wearing white but do they still hold true?
“When I think of white, I typically associate it to summer time. However, the fashion world is constantly changing so I’ve seen many spectacular white dresses ranging from beaded to lace. I don’t think there’s a specific rule. It’s a trend and it can be worn by anyone. As long as you feel confident in your dress, you can wear a white gown no matter your size or shape.”
Thanks to Gwyneth Paltrow, Jada Pinkett and my girl Jennifer Lopez, I’m beyond obsessed with the cape. When is it appropriate for us to add one to our ensembles? Ricardo suggests, “A cape is something that is typically worn for evening affairs like a gala, a wedding or a red carpet event. I wouldn’t recommend it for a casual outing like a dinner date or an afternoon tea. I know its trendy but you should save the cape for a momentous occasion when your mission is to make a powerful first impression. That’s when the cape look serves as an elegant touch and it makes more of an impact.”
Let’s talk fabrics— what’s hot right now? “Fine laces are really popular,” he said.“Embellishments on solid fabrics like organza, sateen, or silk (like chiffons) have been highly popular amongst our clients lately. The embellishments can also be seen on lace fabrics as well. From prêt-à-porter collections to haute couture collections, the hottest trend right now involves the use of digital prints. Lastly, metallic brocades are trendy as well.”
Thanks to Rex Fabrics, it is much easier these days to have a look you loved from the red carpet inspire your very own unique creation. “When you schedule an appointment with one of our consultants at Rex Fabrics, you’ll be able to be a part of the design process from start to finish. Our clients usually come in with pictures of their favorite dresses and our staff helps them find the perfect fabrics, laces, embellishments or stones to start designing their special piece. After a few fittings, their custom dress from Rex will either be similar to their original red carpet examples or higher quality. We don’t like to create the exact designs of other designers because we believe each client should have a truly unique and custom couture dress. By the time you walk out of Rex, you’ll definitely be trendy but with your own unique style!”
