Style Showdown: Kate Middleton’s Military Makeover and More

Sometimes stars get it right, and sometimes they need another celeb to step in and show ’em how it’s done. Here’s a look at celebrity hits and misses, from Amanda Bynes’ bad bandage and Alicia Keys’ bunchy harem pants to Kate Middleton’s military makeover and Lucy Hale’s hot Herve Leger.

Trend: Bandage Dress

Photos: Adriana M. Barrazza/WENN.com, DJDM/WENN.com

Miss: If Kim Kardashian has contributed one thing to celebrity fashion, it’s the popularity of the bandage dress. Easy A actress Amanda Bynes gave the red carpet crowd at the MTV Movie Awards her best Kardashian in a beige bandage dress, but her look just didn’t make the cut. She looked uncomfortable in the super-short skirt of her Herve Leger, and the turquoise fringed Louboutin heels—which are a Kardashian sister favorite—didn’t match at all. We’d love for her to ditch the wannabe Kardashian extra-long extensions, overwhelming eyeliner and fake-looking tan and return to the goofy old Nickelodeon-era Amanda, please.

Hit: Lucy Hale made the Herve Leger look her own at the Gallery Nightclub at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. She made the most of summer’s brights in an teal green bandage dress and effectively mixed colors with her fun coral nails, keeping her accessories neutral to let the dress shine.

 

Trend: Military Madness

Photos: WENN.com, gofugyourself.com

Miss: Australian TV personality Kerri-Anne Kennerley donned this red military jacket and boots at the Kung Fu Panda 2 premiere for a look that was part Sgt. Pepper, part Prince, and all wrong.

Hit: When visiting families of Irish guardsmen killed in the line of duty for Armed Forces day, Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton wore a very event-appropriate navy coat by Alexander McQueen. The military-inspired look was complete with double-breasted button, epaulettes at the shoulders, a navy fascinator, and a gold shamrock brooch, proving that Middleton might just be able to pull off any look.

 

Trend: Black Harem Pants

Photos: Apega/WENN.com, celebrityfashion.onsugar.com

It’s a tie: Alicia Keys’ ensemble at the BET Awards was half there; her messy fishtail braid and on-trend white dinner jacket were summery and elegant, but her black harem pants rode too low on her hips, making them bunch unattractively at the knees and giving the suspendered look a “send in the clowns” feel. Shenae Grimes, on the other hand, wore an outfit with black harem pants that worked on the bottom but failed from the waist up. The high-waisted black pants on the 90210 actress’ Rebecca Taylor ensemble draped beautifully and the sash added a pretty, feminine detail, but she didn’t quite fill out the lacy bustier top so it sagged at the bust and spoiled the ensemble. If only we could combine Keys’ top half with Grimes’ bottom to make one elegant menswear-inspired red carpet outfit.

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