Showing a Little Shoulder

Early this week the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), held their annual wards ceremony at the Lincoln Center in New York. One of the common threads on the red carpet was the display of shoulders. There were many that chose to wear sleeveless, strapless or the newly revived one shoulder dresses. I have always said that the neck and shoulder area of a woman is extremely sexy and was glad to see the choices that were made.

Here are a few of my favorites and what I like best about them below:

Picture #1 -- Nicole Miller(right) and a model in her designs looked lovely. I actually prefer the white dress that Nicole was wearing with the silver accents. I must warn that this type of dress could prove problematic to the large busted woman and distract from design of collar and bodice.

Picture #2 -- This beautiful J. Mendel satin floor length gown worn by Padma Lakshmi serves as the perfect day time formal gown. It is a pity that her hair is hiding the one shoulder neckline with bow and pleating detail. If you are tall, this type of dress will be sure to accentuate your long lines.

Picture #3 -- Rachel Roy's printed peplum dress (left) is so cute! I adore her designs, and this dress that would cleverly camouflage a multitude of hip and mid-tummy concerns is no exception. The choice of the color green and interesting texture brings what would be a very conservative dress alive. There are not many people who would not look good in this one, including Kim McDonald, who wore it well.

Picture #4 -- Alexis Bryan is wearing a black and white dress done right! This dress can be worn anywhere with a quick change of accessories. The length of the skirt and the minimal detail lend itself to the versatility of this dress.

Picture #5 -- Behnaz Sarafpour (on right)has been one of my favorite designers for some time now. There is an underlying sense of youth to most of her designs. Although this dress can be worn by a mature woman it is most suited for the young woman in transition. It is the perfect mix of fun and formal

Picture #6 -- This Michael Kors dress worn by Blake Lively screams fun and fearless. The bold color is not for the faint of heart, but has big returns. Any woman will be sure to be noticed in this dress. The color compliments a sun kissed completion perfectly and gives it an extra glow.

Picture #7 -- Michael Kors gets an A+ for this maternity creation for the beautiful, and frequently pregnant Heidi Klum. She looks comfortable in the skin AND the dress that she is in. Who can ask for more?

Picture #8 -- This white dress by Kaufman Franco is not for the faint of heart or the out of shape. This dress is expertly constructed but certainly is not forgiving and the color can be a tell all as well. This dress is gorgeous none the less.

Picture #9 -- This Thakoon dress looks like a blue cloud from heaven. This is perfect for the slender gal who needs to give the illusion of a little extra curve but just as genius for the curvy gal who needs to hide a few things. Love it!

Picture #10 -- Although this is pretty printed dress is not ideal for the designer's body type, this Tracey Reese dress is no less fabulous. How could a woman not feel soft and dainty in this one?

Picture #11 -- Vera Wang is known as the go-to designer for wedding gowns, but she clearly has a fun and edgy side. This sequined ensemble is light hearted and fashion forward enough for the event and surprising flattering to many.

Can't wait until next year!!