Helen Mirren: great actress, crazy dresser.
[Courtesy of Zap2It.com.]
I love the sari itself. It's lovely. Except for the part where it's totally a weird choice for Aging British Actress Helen Mirren [unless, of course, she is celebrating India's freedom from Great Britain's tyranny, circa 1947. In which case... okay, but at the Emmys?]
I think Mirren looks -- facially -- fantastic. If she's had work done, it's brilliant work. She's aging beautifully. Good hair, even. But... I just don't get the sari. It's a beautiful piece and she doesn't look bad in it, exactly, although she does look maybe a little shapeless. I just don't GET IT. I guess it's not "fugly" so much as it is "confounding." What is the theory behind this outfit? Is it "funky multiculti that also hides my unsightly bulges?" Is it "the cleaner shrunk my Dolce and Gabbana and this is the only thing in my closet that's vaguely sparkly?" Is it, "oh, what the hell! I'm bloody Helen Mirren and I can wear whatever I like?"
Is it maybe the wrong color? What if it were Prussian blue? I can't figure it out either.
I don't think you're aware of how thoroughly Indian culture is integrated into British life. Our national food is chicken tikka marsala, to give you an idea. I don't see anything strange/weird/wrong with Mirren's choice of outfit.
i believe she wore it b/c a friend made it for her, etc
there was some bigger story behind it that i forgot b/c i didnt care
i thought she looked fine.
I could see some of your points and I was glad to see you took it very easy. The only thing that caught my eye was the red shirt underneath...not sure I would have done that, but all in all, that is a great piece of fabric worn wonderfully by someone who feels they know how to walk in a sari....and that is not everyone.
I don't know if there is Bigger Story behind her decision to wear a sari. I think some of it is "I'm Helen Mirren, so fuck off" Which I admire.
There are no American actresses (that I can think of at this time) who could look this good in a sari because 1) they'd fug it up with slits and boob shots and tassels, things like that and 2) no American actress (still alive) has the carriage to wear such a gown gracefully. If Susan Sarandon wore it it would be gross because you'd know that there was a Big Important Reason. Helen just looks good and not like she's trying to co-opt some aspect of Indian culture.
I don't really get it either, but Helen Mirren could dress up as a ninja and it would be fine by me. Man, she looks stunning in this picture -- for any age.
That's not a red shirt underneath -- that's a sari blouse ;)
Gorgeous-- and it would have been gorgeous on a mediocre starlet as well. Just not as interesting.
That is a sari blouse, sari's are usually two or three pieces, a blouse, sometimes called a choli, the actual sari wrap, and then a skit underneath (kind of like a petticoat in usage but not as flouncy)
I think Helen Mirrin is absolutely goregous. I think the reason it seems so weird is that here in the State's Indian culture is not a huge factor. However, in Britian (who owned parts of India at one point) has a lot of influence from many European and Indonesia countries.
I don't care where she is from or where she is going, for that matter.. all I know is that she looks lovely. Much, much better than some of the other horribly bad and tasteless mistakes (made by other celebrities) that are passed off as clothing.
One of the red carpet interviewers asked her about the sari, and she said something about it being sold by a non-profit working on children's or women's issues in India. I think. Basically, she was supporting and bringing attention to a cause. Or trying and failing to bring attention to it, since clearly no one really knows what exactly it is.
Um, Bollywood much?
To the comment about the "red shirt". It's a sari blouse, and one way to wear a sari is to wear a "contrasting" blouse - I think her choice is excellent. However, unless they've been all the range in the last 4 years since I've been away, cap sleeves aren't the traditional sari blouse sleeve. But really -there's no rule, I've seen all types of sari blouses -whatever works.
Helen looked great, btw!
What is wrong with Helen's outfit: 1 - the brooch which makes it look as though she didn't trust that it would stay on her bod without falling off. 2 - the choli, which makes it look too folkloric/costumey. Moi whould have gone without one, the fabric is not see thru so no boobage showing. 3 - Not enough bling. 4 - The hair, too casual, too LL Bean, forget what I said about the folkloric look, maybe a tikka would have helped. But cheers to Helen for wearing a sari though moi would have chosen a drape that would have better shown off that beautiful border.
stop being racist..
Unless she's playing a female role of Ghandi and his famous Salt March, that sari should NOT be worn.
Ever.
And if she DOES wear a sari, she needs to wear a different color. Something that compliments her looks.
The word you're looking for is "complement". Two e's.
The sari looks fine.