On the eve of December 5th, the SDFB community gathered in anticipation of the Black Excellence Awards - in which many established members of our beloved internet cult snagged well deserved awards for their contributions in StarDesign, graphic design, and popularity. But alas, before the trophies were doled out, all attendees received their moment in the limelight as they showcased their best looks for the opening carpet ceremony.

I selected my five best looks, five worst looks, and a few honourable mentions of the night to endure some appraisal and/or scrutiny from yours truly. Note that these are solely my opinions, don't mean shit, and were highly sought after from the vast majority of you;

(PSA: all looks featured were designed by the person wearing them, unless stated otherwise. None of the criticism is based on the quality of the graphics, but rather the look itself.)

BEST OF THE NIGHT;

BANKSY

TGP runner up and last nights winner of Best Graphic Designer, Banksy raised the bar in more ways than one. Sporting a bionic bodysuit, trimmed with seams of neon and armed with a pair of bioluminescent swords, this electrifying ensemble is a testament to Banksy's renowned creativity and innate ability to transform themselves into something that is not quite of this world, but you wish it were. Red carpets events on SDFB have existed since the conception of time itself, and in an effort to do something "new" many often fall flat, yet Banksy took the challenge head on and delivered one of the most insanely unique takes on avant-garde fashion of the future and cemented their status as the best of the best.

BERKE

Proving that less is more, the stunning Berke put their money on monochrome in Mugler (styled by Umut) and came out winning. Adorned in a form fitting lapis-blue gown with ruched detailing, paired with a wraparound gloved shawl and cascading crystal earrings, Berke takes ownership of this hue-raising ensemble, claiming every inch of the garment with a moody forward strut. This laid back look is a gentle reminder that excess need not always be abundance.

ELI

It was no surprise to see a littering of Iris Van Herpen trail down the carpet of this event, given the futurism theme, however nobody wore it quite like Eli. Stacking a Fall 2011 Couture 3D printed dress atop this slouchy Balenciaga get up was a stroke of genius and a styling choice so unique to Eli's exquisite taste. The juxtaposition between the simplicity of the pantsuit and the ornate excellence of the Van Herpen sculptured dress is wonderfully immaculate and a true celebration of fashions finest offerings, in a way that only one with an eye for perfection can achieve.

NIHIL

Would this even be a best dressed list without featuring the fashion anarchist themselves, Nihil? Once again proving that riding your own wave is the best way to stand out from the crowd, and doing it to the fullest extent. Nihil encapsulates the theme in an eclectic and cyber-gasmic ensemble by Happy 99, donned in layers of wet pleather and plastic, and a colour palette to write home about with avid enthusiasm. It takes immense nerve to show out in such an extremely niche look as this, and nerve is something we all know Nihil has in spades - who else could possibly dare to wear an outfit so bizarrely beautiful and categorically offbeat? Nihil makes it known that they are never here to play games.

RIN

Rising star and ascending designer Rin blew us all away in an alluring look from Namilla consisting of a satin gown and contrasting cape (by Eve), flipping the theme entirely on it's head and showcasing a side of futurism that speaks in soft whispers rather than distorted roars. While many often opt to display their presence with a sense of razor-sharp hostility, Rin stayed more than true to their aesthetic that we've all come to love; soft, breezy, and elegant, while still matching the same level of boldness an aggressively chic outfit might accomplish. It goes without saying that staying within your box, yet pushing the sides out just enough to expand an already well carried aesthetic is key to owning your place on the carpet - and Rin did so effortlessly.

WORST OF THE NIGHT;

BADDIE

As a self acclaimed fanatic of minimalism in fashion, a huge part of me wants to love this, but a better part of me refuses to applaud an outfit so mundane and void of personality. In essence, this is a poorly constructed look accompanied by a "take it or leave it" stance, with zero attitude and a dizzying lack of styling. A pair of thigh high aluminium foil wrapped boots and a vulgar metallic "V" glued to a busty frame does not an eye catching look make. The trend of nudity in SDFB events is one that has been done to death (partly by myself, many years ago) and it seems that some will rely on a lacklustre ideology of sex appeal to sell their look, disregarding the grind of seeking out fresh and interesting concepts. It's tacky, sterile, and uninspiring to say the least.

DARIO

A line must be drawn in the sand between the decision of "should I show up in this" or "should I show up at all" and unfortunately for Dario, the latter should have been followed. Sporting a Chiaraboni cutout dress with gloves, pedestrian stilletos, and what I can only assume is a grey clutch bag (?) I get more edgy new mother at a school fundraiser than a carpet event at an awards show. The only redeeming quality of this look is the hair (made by Umut), and that speaks volumes. The outfit itself is dull and says nothing at all. We all know by now just how high the bar has been set, and if you can't bring the heat, then stay out of the kitchen - in Darios case, this look dubs them as more of a dish washer at best.

ROXX

Drenched in a grotesque display of opulence, Roxx arrived at the event seemingly with child and without a sense of style. It pains me to speak ill of an Alexander McQueen ensemble, but miraculously this is possibly the worst that one could decide on, and for that reason I will go on to talk about how dire it is. While this look is beautifully made by none other than Nihil, it appears as a stain on her otherwise immaculate portfolio - nothing but a sloppy concoction of gaudy aesthetics, creating a melting pot of tragic fashion faux-pas. The bejewelled bra desperately attempting to escape from an overabundance of gathered green fabric is nothing short of an eyesore, only outweighed by a confusing headpiece situation complete with costume-y and nonsensical jewellery. What hurts the most is the fact that this look could have perhaps been pulled of well by someone else with a few edits here and there, but as it stands, it remains unforgivable.

SUSIE

In a piss poor effort to make some kind of a statement, Susie opted to wear a Burberry fit (by Maria) finished off with a pair of Timbs, and ultimately, a sense of rebellion which fell more than flat. Many of us enjoy a rule breaker, someone who doesn't particularly follow dresscode (some of the most notable being yours truly, and the legendary Nimka) however Susie does not fit the bill, especially not on this occasion. The pants I can let slide, as for the rest of the look, it speaks to the implications of trying to outdo everyone by flipping the script - while brave at it's core, can sometimes lead to missing the mark entirely. Part of staying true to your own style is first establishing a style that is sturdy enough to transcend criticism, which is unfortunately a feat Susie has yet to achieve.

VELKJO

It's no secret that sex sells, however I hope that Velkjo kept their receipt. After drumming up controversy with their allegedly misogynistic takes on the female form and glamorisation of eating disorders, showing up rail thin wearing next to nothing might not have been the wisest choice. There comes a point where we all collectively become so bored of watching someone dig themselves deeper into a hole that we care not to even pry the shovel from their hands, and instead watch stoically as they try to convince us that what they're doing is worth giving a second glance at (side-note; it's not). Standing bobble-headed with thighs a mile apart is not the iconic fashion moment you think it is, and once again we see an unwelcome attempt at showing skin to override the fact that you have little to no original creative thoughts when it comes to making your mark.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS;

MELEK

While not quite making it to my best dressed list, Melek still delivered one of the more subdued and alluring looks of the night. Draped in a gorgeous Schiaparelli gown suspended on doubled up hoop earrings, this look is a stark demonstration of Meleks deep-cut fashion knowledge and impeccable styling abilities. Matched beautifully with a demure makeup job, knife point peep-toes, and a slick bob, Melek covered every base and collectively pulled together a look that is both stripped back and forward thinking at once.

MIRAGE

All hail Mirage! The renowned wig designer and one of our communities biggest personalities left no page unturned in this immaculate Tom Ford X Sasha Velour ensemble (by Lullih), delving into their archival knowledge of drag and opulence for an inspiration that was executed flawlessly. Leave it to Mirage to reach into the farthest corners of fashion and showcase a look that is simultaneously provocative and essentially glamorous, while adding their own polished flair.

LISA

Head co-ordinator and all round icon, Lisa laid it all out and showed us how it's really done. Encased in a delicate shining armour and wrapped in a lip-puckering lime miniskirt complete with laced up glimmering gladiator sandals, this look (by Nihil) is a pinnacle of strength in styling and elegance, with just enough sex appeal to leave you drooling at the sight. The cherry on top of course being a luscious unit of jet black locks, a signature owned entirely by the communities most fearless designer.

The rumours are true, I was unfortunately not in attendance of the 2020 BEAs - I only saw it fair to give the rest of you a chance. Alas, the least I could do is share my commentary on the highs and lows of the evening.

Thank you for tuning in, and be sure to send any malicious complaints to the inbox of Oipy on stardoll.com

Until next time,

JAILER REVIEWS

BEA 2020 CARPET REVIEW