Style Showdown: Jumpsuits

Trend #1: Military

Photos: STS/WENN.com, blogs.babble.com

Miss: There’s a point in every aging model’s career when she rolls up her sleeves and tries out a new calling—judging by the military green khaki jumpsuit that Heidi Klum wore while taking her son to karate class, it looks she’s heading into the auto mechanics industry. If the baggy onesie didn’t have such an unflatteringly saggy waistline and she hadn’t paired it with undone kicks, this bizarrely shlumpy look might’ve worked.

Hit: Gwen Stefani got everything right that Klum got wrong—her jumpsuit was breezy but tailored enough to flatter her figure. Wearing it with wedge heels and her signature bright lipstick added a feminine element to the onesie’s masculine military edge for a look that’s worth a salute.

 

Trend #2: Tuxedo

Photos: FayesVision/WENN.com, fabsugar.com

Miss: I love the tuxedo lapel details and the pleated pants on the Band of Outsiders tuxedo jumpsuit that Gwyneth Paltrow wore to the Women in Film pre-Oscar cocktail party. The look would have been perfect if Paltrow hadn’t taken the plunge all the way down to her navel. I know that Jennifer Lopez opened the door for side boob acceptance years ago, but when will slender stars learn that visible ribs are not a fashion accessory?

Hit: At the Vanity Fair Vanities party, up-and-comer Shailene Woodley wore a very similar catsuit with a more appropriate cleavage level and figure-skimming fit. I only wish that she would have actually taken a cue from Paltrow—a sexy catsuit is about as high-drama as it gets, but without accessories Woodley lacked Paltrow’s sparkle.

 

Trend #3: Backless

Photos: sdcs.celebrity.aol.co.uk, Daniel Tanner/WENN.com

Miss: Selena Gomez had a series of winning looks when she hosted the European Music Awards, but this red halter jumpsuit by The Blonds wasn’t one of them. The butt-grazing pants bunched awkwardly around the waistband and reminded me too much of overalls.

Trend: Celebrity chef Giada de Laurentis was cooking up some jumpsuit magic when she wore a Valentino jumpsuit to the Golden Globes. Her onesie’s cutouts were a classy take on Gomez’s idea, and the flattering high waist, on-trend cape, and volumized hair created a glamorous retro look. My only critique is the length of her shoe-concealing pants—they look like a stumble waiting to happen.


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