Hot or Hot Mess: Keira Knightley in Rodarte at the 2011 Jameson Empire Awards

By Charlotte

[Like it or not, we all judge people every day. Especially when it comes to their fashion choices. From the girl with the too-short skirt for class to the old guy who insists on wearing short shorts and doing butterfly stretches at the gym (yeah, try to get that visual out of your head), it's impossible not to form an opinion. And now we're gonna share those opinions with the world. Every week, I'll be highlighting a celebrity look that I may love/hate/not understand and see what you, my college fashionistas, think about it. So put on your Joan Rivers fashion cap (which is undoubtedly made out of all the skin she's had nipped and tucked over the years) and let it all out.]

One thing I love about being British is the word “quirky.” This word is frequently flung around as an affectionate way of saying that we dress kinda eclectically and often downright weird. It’s the word that allows us to get away with looking like our Grandmas and wearing our boyfriend’s clothes (the delightful Ms. Chung springs to mind). But being “quirky” and a little out-there doesn’t always work, no matter how willowy you are.

Take this dress for example. It has that perfect “found-this-in-a-vintage-store” look, despite the fact it’s price was probably closer to that of a yacht. But it also looks a little too grungy. It really should be a gorgeous dress, with the light tan color, pretty sparkles and adorable collar, but I’m not sure if it’s the odd shoulder that looks like it’s falling off her, or the tiered skirt, but it definitely looks like something old Aunt Hilda donated to Goodwill. I like that she’s kept her makeup and jewelery simple with so much going on in the dress, but maybe a lighter shoe would have tied the look in better — or a black clutch to pull together the black shoes.

Elle praised this dress as “The nude color, ruffled tiers, and relaxed cut are soft and feminine. Yet the adorable shirt collar brings in a touch of menswear, and the sequins and cutout shoulders keep the look festive” but I’m not so sure if I’d like my thousand-dollar dress to be referred to as “festive”.

But honestly,  I think the most shocking part of this ensemble is the fact that she is smiling.

What do you think? Is this hot or just a hot mess?