TVB 48th Anniversary Awards Fashion Critique

This is much belated, but we are back with our fashion critique of this year's anniversary awards! From some beautiful ladies to some horrible fashion flubs and many things in between, this year's red carpet had them all. But first, Iris pens an open letter to all male TVB actors:

Dear gentlemen,

How hard is it leave the house and come to an awards show without making a fool of yourself? There is considerably less opportunity for you all to mess up, and yet almost all of you find a way anyway. You and your stylists need to get it together.

With love,
Iris

Beauties of the Night

Iris: I’m not personally in love with it, but Nancy definitely looks well-put together and like a TV Queen with the clean up do and sparkling bodycon dress. The skirt of the dress is also much more attractive in action as you can see it change colors in the light.

Niki: I love the shape of Nancy’s dress, it’s dramatic without being over-the-top but I wish it would have been a different color besides grey. I do agree with Iris on the fact that out of everyone, Nancy has the most put together look of the night. She balanced the glamorous dress out well with a simple yet elegant hairdo and makeup.

Iris: With the revealing back and delicate white lace, Natalie’s look was a very nice mix of sexy but elegant and feminine, which is pretty hard to come by at these award shows. The ponytail is a little casual, but I think it still fits with the lightness and flowiness of her dress.

Niki: Natalie owned it this dress, she looks classy, sexy, and elegant all rolled into one. The bold red lip gave the look that necessary pop of color. Without it, she may have been washed out.

Iris: Kristal is full of character, and this dress shows it even though it’s not something I’d personally wear. The pointy cut of the top of her dress could have easily looked awkward on another actress, but it shows off Kristal as the headstrong and confident woman she is. Her jewelry also matched very well.

Niki: Kristal’s dress isn’t my favorite, and the flower embellishments and white side panels look awkward to me but I do like the color. Even though it’s not my personal taste, the dress does fit very well with Kristal’s edgy and quirky personality.

Iris: Rounding out my favorite looks of the night was surprisingly Katy Kung’s. This dress makes Katy look youthful without making her look prom-ready (ahem Linda and Eliza). I love the paneling of the top and the floral pattern. I could have done without the flowers on the skirt though.

NIki: If I had to choose any dress from this year’s line up to wear (not that I can afford any of them), I would choose Katy’s. The floral paneling on top is just gorgeous and the sheer material gives it that hint of sexiness which prevents the look from being too juvenile.

They tried, sorta

Iris: Grace seems to have an affinity for ball gowns, which is unfortunate as these types of dresses overwhelm her small frame. I was not a fan of the scrunching of the top.

Ruco finally picks an appropriate outfit despite his usually strange fashion decisions. I’m not a fan of suede, but it’s not overkill with this jacket and it fits his build very well, making him look the most clean-cut of the males. And now to Niki for a rant on thin girls and ball gowns...

Niki: The messy ruching and stiff material makes the dress bunch up awkwardly instead of flow, making the entire look feel messy. These types of heavy fabric tend to overwhelm people who have small thin frames, like Grace, because it will add unnecessary volume which makes it look like the dress is wearing the person instead of the other way around. The overall shape of Grace’s dress isn’t bad, however, since the drop waist does hug her figure more so she doesn’t look completely swallowed and the color is quite nice against her skin tone. The only thing that really bothers me is the god awful ruching on her chest. If anything it makes her look even flatter because all you see is a mass of fabric.

Like Iris, I’m also not a fan of suede, but it works with the deep purple color of Ruco’s jacket. My favorite part of his outfit has to be the blazer neckline. The deep V and thick collar isn’t something you see often but it makes a bold statement and is a nice change of pace.

Iris: Tavia, as usual, chooses the boring and safe route with another black dress. However, I actually like this dress more than some of her other recent choices as the lace makes it subtly sexy. Her hair though, once again ages her.

Louis was one of the few actors to wear a classic tuxedo, which made the trendy actor look kinda boring, but at least he didn’t make a fool of himself! Louis Cheung is synonymous to me with that mustache now, but I hope he ditches the goatee soon.

Niki: I’m a sucker for a good lace design, so I really like Tavia’s dress. The nude lining makes the black pop more giving her a bit of sex appeal and the shape also hugs her body quite well.

Louis looks very polished and put together (minus the goatee), but it’s also very common look so there’s not much else you can say about it.

Iris: I actually do love the design of Mandy’s dress, which seems to go as sexy as possible without going overboard. What stops me from loving the look is the dark teal, which makes Mandy look more mature than she is. This dress would’ve looked stunning in a brighter shade.

Niki: What Iris said. Haha. The built and details of the dress is beautiful but the color does age her.

Iris: This picture is rather deceiving because Elaine’s side profile here makes the dress seem like it compliments her body more than it looked during the awards show itself. Some low-cut dresses can actually look better on small-chested ladies than well-endowed ones, but this one did absolutely no favors for Elaine. My least favorite part though was the greasy hair which came from using too much hair product. Why does anyone show up to an awards show with such greasy hair?

Niki: At first glance, I was really taken with Elaine’s look. I thought it was a very sleek look with the simple black dress and statement necklace, but upon closer inspection I was also turned off by the look. The back of the dress is unnecessarily low cut, especially considering how low the neckline is, and the sparkly chains going across it is borderline tacky.

Iris: Tony also went the classic route, but I much preferred the navy blue suit he wore at the Starhub awards in Singapore. 

Rosina Lam’s dress would have been completely boring if it weren’t for the snake that goes around it, which was actually pretty creepy. The gold does pair well with the white and a regular gold swirl would have gotten the job done. She does look sophisticated without looking aged though.

Niki: I honestly don’t see a difference between Tony and Louis’ looks, but he does look nice. Better safe than sorry I suppose. 

Some tailoring would’ve helped Rosina, since the dress just looks like it’s hanging on her frame and doesn’t have much shape.

Iris: Priscilla’s dress can best be described as mediocre yet a little awkward. Pictures don’t make this very apparent, but during the awards show, the top of the dress looked like it was just a flat and structured piece of fabric that was wearing her instead of the other way around.

Niki: To me, Priscilla looks like a mash up of two characters from The Little Mermaid. From the shoulder up she could be Ariel with her sweet smile and simple yet cute hairstyle, but the shape of her dress reminds me of Ursula the sea witch (maybe I’m being a little harsh). It’s no where near being the worst dress of the night, but like Iris said, it’s a little awkward.

Iris: And once again, Eliza looks prom-ready! This time, she went with an old-Hollywood type hairstyle, which amusingly enough, manages to balance out her youthful and baby faced look without making her look too old. I was convinced at first this was the same dress Linda had worn a couple years back, but upon closer inspection, it was actually just similar. Yay for TVB not being THAT cheap!

Niki: This dress makes Eliza look a little plumper than she actually is, which is a little amusing to me for some reason. The train in the back is a bit too long, it would’ve more appropriate if the hem was evenly cut all around, but overall it’s a nice dress.

Iris: Vincent’s sparkly jacket is fun without being too silly. However, it fits him poorly which makes him look more casual. Jacqueline’s red dress is festive but nothing to shout about, and was cut a bit too low for comfort. She has such an infectious and adorable smile though!

Iris: This marks how many times Sharon has worn white now since her wedding? The dress is alright, but Sharon should have opted for a different hairstyle as the side swept hair covers the eye-catching necklace.

Niki: I’ll just comment on Oscar since Iris has said all that needs to be said about the other three people. I love how Oscar decided to mix and match prints. The polka dot blazer injected a little bit of playfulness which matches his personality well and the black and white dress shirt provided a bold contrast for the eyes. His choice of prints made his look eye catching while the decision to stay with dark colors kept him from looking gaudy. His pants, on the other hand, looks a little frumpy and could be tailored better.

Iris: Selena’s dress looks like they were made up of two beautiful dresses that were sewn together to make one bad one. The skirt is a gorgeous pink ombre, and the top detailed (though way too feathery for my taste), but I can’t get over the awkward waist where the two meet. Edwin...just looks tacky.

Niki: I love Selena, but yikes that dress...The awkward transition aside, her torso almost looks nonexistent because of that ridiculously high waistline.

Looking at Edwin makes me feel itchy, because it reminds me of those tweed jackets grandpas wear.

Niki: Gold is a nice color on Stephanie, but unfortunately the ribbed corset mini dress looks cheap at best. It would’ve help if the bottom was fuller, but the single layer of tulle just makes the dress look choppy. I do like how she chose to kept her hair and makeup nice and simple though.

Iris: Stephanie’s dress would have been much improved if the top was just a regular strapless style top and not a ribbed corset. The dress indeed looks choppy and the high low design would have worked much better without the single layer of tulle.

"I know I'm not winning tonight, so I'll wear whatever the hell I want"

Niki: The floral embroidery on the sheer white fabric of Alice’s dress is gorgeous, but it is on the more mature side while the slit on the top is a little too low for comfort. Her necklace is also unnecessarily clunky, and just looks overwhelming on her neck.

Iris: Alice has a curvy figure, which kept her from drowning in this dress. It has a nice pattern like Nhi said, but it is unfitting for an evening dress. Her hair is also too messy. Overall, it’s a disappointing look for someone with such a killer figure.

 

Niki: Sisley should have just saved time and come wrapped in a comforter, because it would’ve looked the same as her dress...The problem this time lies in the way the dress is structured. Somehow it managed to add weight to her waist and hips making her look awkwardly bulky yet the dress itself looks droopy. To add to that, the dense yellow floral pattern looks like it belongs on a curtain in the 90’s and Sisley’s pulled back bob only ages her more.

As for Him, I’m just glad he decided to scale back from the blinding outfit he had on last year….

Iris: Please. Stop. With. These. Comforter. Dresses. The pattern could have made for a fun and more casual look, but the bulky structure just makes Sisley look awkward instead.

Niki: First of all, I have to say I love Jeannie’s make up. The orange lipstick gives her a pop of color that highlights her whole face and she balanced it out nicely by keeping everything else clean and simple. I would have liked her dress better if she had worn a black mini dress underneath instead of the two piece, but the design of the top layer is pretty cool. She definitely looks more mature here, but in a badass kind of way.

Iris: The design of the dress is a bit too mature for the youthful Jeannie, especially coupled with the slicked back hair. It is similar to Linda’s dress, which I will get into below, but what makes this 100 times better is that Jeannie looks confident and comfortable. A mini dress would have looked better underneath, but the bandeau and bottom was much better than Linda’s bikini and bottom combo.

 

Fashion flubs

Iris: I present to you… Linda and her new butler.

Niki: No kidding...every time I look at Kenneth I think he’s carrying towels…but then I realize it’s just his coat being bipolar.

Linda’s dress is just tacky to me, from the mesh material to whatever it is she has underneath...She had a similar style to Jeannie’s dress this year, but what sets them apart was the fact that Jeannie really owned what she wore instead of looking so awkward.

Iris: Niki took the words out of my mouth. Linda looked incredibly uncomfortable during the entire awards show, as if finally realizing all the eyes on her and regretting what she was wearing. Just looking at her made me feel uncomfortable. She was shown wearing a thick wrap later on in the night. Jeannie was sexy, but Linda was the tacky try-hard. Also, what's with the metallic hair?

Iris: Niki told me at 1 in the morning that Vivien’s dress looked like the designers went out and skinned a swan. Suffice it to say, I was very disturbed, but I can't say that I don't concur.

Niki: I still can’t shake that imagery of Vivien’s dress, so I thought I might as well share it with you Iris. What are friends for if we can’t suffer together. :) Besides the overkill with the dress (no pun intended), I wish she would’ve just chosen one piece of jewelry because the necklace, and the earrings, AND the bracelet is way too much.

Niki: Joel looks really nice...from the waist up. But hey, at least he wore dress shoes.

Iris: When I saw him sitting down, I thought “Oh, Joel looks pretty good.” And then I saw this picture. The skirt is awkward, but at least the outfit looks put-together. Ultimately what bothers me most about this outfit is the fact that I see Joel’s calves. No calves should be exposed at such a formal event.

Niki: Rebecca looks like she’s filming a “Silver Spoon, Sterling Shackles” sequel with this look, but all I can really see are her boobs. Unlike Grace and Sisley, this dress is a little too form fitting and I’d like to see a little less of her figure.

Matt would look quite nice if he didn’t skip his fittings. This suit looks like a size or two too big. Why so droopy Matt?

Iris: The cleavage screams “I’m young and vibrant,” and then the hair and gold pattern on her dress screams “grandma.” Talk about a walking contradiction. Matt’s pants just make me sad.

Niki: Honestly, how hard is it to properly tailor a suit? Why must everyone show up looking so baggy...

Iris: Hugo Wong is an incredibly attractive guy, but his level of attractiveness just plummeted in this awkward get up. From what I can see of his pants, he looks like they’re drowning in them. The length and fabric of his jacket looks like he’s about to take part in a circus and perform a final trick with his lion.

Grace’s dress can only offend so much while standing next to Hugo in that, but it’s certainly not appealing either, particularly the awkward black part of the top.

Iris: There was absolutely nothing in Moses’ outfit that was good. The color is cheesy and blinding, his hair is goofy, and he’s wearing sneakers. And because he apparently didn’t think he committed enough fashion crimes, he threw on that scarf too.

Niki: I'm just going to chalk this up to having two kids under 2 and a baby on the way frying his brain, because there's no other reason to explain why anyone would agree to wear something like this... 

Best Dressed Female: Nancy Wu

Iris: Nancy looks most put-together and absolutely dazzling in that dress. Niki and I went back to read our fashion post from last year, and it turns out this is the second year in a row we have chosen her as our best dressed female. Keep making good fashion choices Nancy!

Niki: Nancy has a very elegant fashion sense, but most importantly she knows how to balance the glamorous with the simple, so she ends up looking the most put together.

Personal Favorites

Iris: I personally liked Natalie’s overall look most. She managed to look sexy, classy, and elegant all at the same time.

Niki: Natalie is definitely one of my top choices, but Katy's dress has to be my favorite just because it fits my personal style more.

Best Dressed Male: Ruco Chan

Iris: As much as I love Ruco, I’d never thought I’d be giving him a best dressed title. He looked very handsome and was one of the only guys to avoid the safe route without going crazy and bizarre in the process. His suit was also fitted the best. Someone remembered to go to the tailor!

Niki: Once again, Iris and I can't seem to disagree, but let's be honest the rest of the guys didn't put up much of a fight.

Worst Dressed: Moses Chan

Iris: No need to split this up by gender. Moses got nothing right.

Niki: Who could argue with this? Moses just wins hands down.