I quite enjoy this patterned gown on Naomi Watts — it’s a very cheerful, delicate contrast to the subject of her movie, The Impossible, which is supposed to be excellent but also gut-wrenching.
But what I can’t decide is whether any tweaking would make it even better. For instance, what if we clip the wings and make it sleeveless, or cap-sleeved? What if it nipped in at the waist instead of at the knees, thus creating a more flowy, unimpeded skirt? What if I couldn’t think of a third idea, thwarting my attempt at honoring the rule of threes? Obviously I am a dangerous rebel.
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Comments (37):
My biggest thing would be to take the swath of smaller flowers that currently runs across her hips and bring them up to waist level. As it is, my eye is constantly drawn to her hips and she seems very bottom heavy. I think with the flowers moved up the skirt could stay as is and it would look more like it nips in at her waist and again and her knees, rather than boxy from shoulders to hips, and then snug through the thigh.
I do love the pattern though, so lovely!
Could hardly agree more!
And wings are OK – they add to the flowyness of it all.
It’s that offset with the different flowers that give one a qualm, if anything.
EXACTLY
Love as is, but for SPRING. This is a spring dress.
It’s spring almost summer in some other parts of the world (Southern Hemisphere woes) so it doesn’t seem wrong. I also think that since patterns and flowers are so on trend this seems quite fashionable, albeit very old glam.
Doesn’t matter, it’s December, approaching Christmas. This is way out of season.
I do really love the dress itself, though.
Hey, she is an Antipod.
What if her hair looked as nice as her face and her dress.
I like it just as it is! It has a very Old Hollywood style to it.
Yes, I think she looks faaaaahbulous. She could be Amanda in Private Lives (Noel Coward).
I like the sleeves but agree on the knee-nippedness. It is making her look hippy and also hobbled.
I would hate this on me, but on her it is glorious. *chinhands*
I love *chinhands*! Gonna use that.
I love the dress and am thrilled that it’s in my favourite colour.
This reminds me of somebody else’s dress at some big awards thing. Michelle Williams?
Blanche Devareaux at the Volunteer Vanguard Awards Banquet?
I like it as it is, but i would love it with capped sleeves. (In all honesty, I will love most clothing items with capped sleeves)
I love this dress. Her hair is a different story.
I would definitely put the emphasis on the waist and not the knees. It this were one color the knees might work, but not with that pattern.
I would add some artfully deployed beading around a few of the flowers for perfection.
There are things I could nitpick, but c’mon, SHE WORE A PRINT! I get so tired of the same ol’ solid color dresses, so I have to applaud when someone wheels out head-to-toe print. And also, I really like Naomi as an actress, so perhaps this colors my opinion? The same thing happens to me when I see Rachel Weisz; I just don’t care to criticize because she’s so good.
I love it all, but the hair is too much.
I love this, and I love the sleeves most of all – she still looks glamorous and sexy and elegant, and it’s something different.
Cap sleeves so the top of the dress is more sleek, and I love it!
Agreed. Too much volume in the sleeves are taking away from the skirt….
Or this could be a cocktail length dress ( fitted of course) and keep the sleeves…
I also agree with the note to change where the heaviest part of the pattern falls.
Divine. She looks like she stepped out of 30′s drawing room, but fresh, not fusty. I hope the back dips down to her waist !
The bleached finger waves and knee-seam make this too costumey for me. A bit of a wing trim and a proper waistline might make this more 2012.
The shape and cut, as is, would’ve worked better in one solid color. With the print, I agree with the argument for a simpler sleeve option.
But it’s her hair I’m bugged by. It’s just not working for me here. I would’ve thought, of all people, that Naomi Watts would be able to pull off something flapperish, but this makes her face look round and shiny. It’s just not flattering her, and she’s such a pretty lass.
I love it–so beautifully retro. You could transport this through time to Carole Lombard, and no one would blink an eye.
Fabulous. Okay, maybe it’s a bit more spring than almost Christmas, but old Hollywood and still modern.
I really love this print but think I would prefer this dress with different sleeves in a different season. I know florals don’t have to be only in spring and summer but this is just a tad much just a couple weeks away from Christmas…
She’s fab , I just wish she wouldn’t use that hairdo so often
she seems like such a nice lady and she is pretty, but she NEVER gets it’ right. there is always something missing. move the smaller flowers to the waist and bring in the red lippy
LOVE! It’s fun, sexy & flattering! COVET! And, Naomi is the queen of “excellent but also gut-wrenching” movies!
I really like this. The print is bold without being overpowering, and the sleeves are really pretty. I like her hair, too – very flapper girl.
This dress is wearing her. So much potential, too much fabric and too much pattern.
Make the sleeves longer (floaty and medieval). Once you’ve done that, nip in the waist. You then have a beautiful princesse gown. This dress is pretty as-is but it looks just one degree too much like a slipcover. If it were altered so as to be slightly more “fantastic” on the one hand and a lot more fitted on the other it would look great.
It’s just unflattering. Maybe it’s her hair color that’s throwing it off.