Monday, September 21, 2015

2015 Emmy's: Best Dressed

Ah Sundays, a day full of competition and celebration. Yesterday, it was game time all around whether you were watching football, futbol, or the more glamorous ceremony - the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards. And like every award show, the main focus was not just on what stars won but rather who the stars were wearing.

Ariel Winter
That structure! Looks like the young Modern Family is following in her costar, Sofia Vergara's, footsteps with this gorgeous mermaid style dress. The neckline on this Romona Keveza gave Winter a subtle but elegant standout. 


Sofia Vergara
Speaking of Sofia! Sure, she'll continue to get a lot of flack for her consistent red carpet style but like she mentioned recently, the mermaid trend works really well for her figure - why mess with a good fashion formula? Sofia looks amazing in this St. John dress and the color is different from usual. She always brings the va va voom factor so props to Sofia for trading in the expected flashy pop of a color for a timeless champagne shade instead. 


Kerry Washington
She is a gladiator...literally. Kerry Washington brought the sparkle with this Marc Jacobs dress. At first I was a little put off by the boxiness of the bottom, but the heavy contrast kind of goes hand in hand with Washington's best features. Kerry (and Olivia Pope, let's be real) always shines with her charisma, versatility, and class. This dress totally embodies Kerry's personality and more, all while showing why she's one of the main leading ladies of Shondaland. 


Taraji P. Henson
Only Cookie could show up to a prestige setting wearing chains and still look incredible and timeless. Taraji wore a custom (of course) Alexander Wang dress that included red carpet favorites such as cut outs, sheer fabric, and sharp sleekness. In addition to a beautiful dress, Taraji accessorized with a fierce angled bob and an even fiercer presence. 


Sarah Hyland
Has Sarah Hyland ever not killed it on the red carpet? Modern Family actresses truly dominated the red carpet last night but Hyland has been the show's main break out star when it comes to style growth. This Zac Posen dress was Emmy's red carpet perfection with its maroon color, off the shoulder style, and swoop in the back. Gorgeous accessorizing and the essence of a blooming red carpet pro - Sarah won the night. 



Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Acessorizing: It's a Marathon, Not A Sprint

Transitioning from summer to fall can be a bit upsetting. The air gets a little nippier, the tan lines begin to fade. But some trends are able transition along with the drop in temperature - one of those being the trend of dressing up athletic wear.

Let's be honest, workout pants are always flattering. Sometimes the high waisted jeans or "going out" leggings can make us a little picky about our bodies. But throw on those lululemons and suddenly your butt looks perkier, the leg definition from Pilates seems to finally be visible, and you feel toned rather than tucked in. It's a weird but awesome effect.

This is not a suggestion to start throwing out those leather leggings and slim fit skinny jeans - they're still the major essential go-to's even when they make for not so desirable situations on a night out! But dressing up activewear can be fun for certain occasions. For example, spontaneous trips to the local dive bar, going out after a sports game, and quick weekend errands where you know you'll run into someone on the one day you felt like going makeup free. The key is to take the flattering aspects from your favorite lounge wear and mix that with some casual accessories. Be effortless and keep it a secret that those trendy pants are actually an Athleta purchase. Here are a few inspirations for the look:

Kate Beckinsale made sweatpants look timeless last year by pairing her slouchy white pants with matching heels and a chic, neatly styled ponytail. 


Atelier Versace and Adidas - who knew?! After an elegant night at the Met, Gigi Hadid switched into a see through dress and sneakers for an after party. Might seem like an odd pairing but the sneakers do distract from the exposing style of the dress. Opting for Adidas rather than heals plays down the shock factor and gives a nod to downtown flair. 

Stating the obvious, Rihanna has a super hot body. And this goes to show she can show it off without a sultry look. Or a deliberate sultry look. Even in her Manolos and sweats, Ri still oozes perfection. 

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Instant Style

New York Fashion Week is upon on us! And with the fashion industry's quick paced environment, seasons and collections aren't the only changes occurring.  This year, some brands are introducing collections under new creative directors, a few are switching up their usual locations, and others are making their show super accessible to the public. But the major game changer that has everyone talking - Givenchy. Not only is Riccardo Tisci bringing his new collection to NYC instead of Paris this year, he is also giving 820 lucky individuals the chance to see his show in person. On Wednesday morning, Givenchy made 820 tickets available for everyday fashionistas to enter their contact information and potentially win the opportunity to attend the brand's show. Very different from Parisian style, oui oui?

Tisci's accessibility isn't the first time a big designer has reached out a generous manicured hand to the public. As the creative director of Moschino, Jeremy Scott revealed his fall 2014 line and spring 2015 line alongside the launch of exclusive capsule collections. Trend launched: watch a fashion show live stream and purchase the items a few hours later, not so bad huh? Give or take the Barbie themed clothes that were on display, you can't knock Scott's marketing skills.

With digital platforms constantly expanding, we live in a culture that loves nothing more than instant gratification. Consistently updated Instagram pages, multiple flash sales sites - fashion is updated every second. And despite the fashion industry's exclusive nature, there's no denying the emerging trend of chic convenience is making its way onto the runway. 


Tuesday, May 19, 2015

The Surprise Dream Teams

Another high end designer and retailer collaboration is coming our way! This fall, you'll be able to purchase those sleek Balmain designs for a much more affordable price at H&M. Olivier Rousteing made the big announcement this past Sunday at the Billboard Awards (trendy targeting, right?), informing fashionistas everywhere that the collection will be available on November 5, 2015. This isn't H&M's first collaboration with a high fashion brand - they joined forces with Alexander Wang this past fall - and certainly not the first time chain retailers and designers have seen the magic of teaming up. In anticipation of Balmain's exciting new venture, here's a look at a few similar collaborations who had a successful dream team effect!

Lilly Pulitzer x Target
It was a dream come true for every floral loving female, no? The Lily Pulitzer and Target collab drew in a huge crowd with women everywhere lining up early in the morning to purchase their favorite pastel themed brand. While I'm not particularly part of the Lily demo (the most color my closet sees is Tiffany blue), this retailer and brand team up was perfect. These collaborations can sometimes raise concerns about devaluing the higher end brand and not always providing the best designs for the retailer, but Pulitzer's trademark colorful and playful aesthetic made the duo fabulous and fitting.

Simply Vera Vera Wang for Kohl's 
For two completely different targets, Wang and Kohl's have made an amazing dynamic! Wang, known for chic, sophisticated designs has managed to offer consistent and similar collections to Kohl's buyers. Wang's style certainly stands out in the mid-brow retailer but the designer's achievement of not cheapening the value and quality of her collections just because of the more affordable target is truly admirable, and something I hope Balmain is able to achieve as well! 

Neiman Marcus x Target
My personal fav! Come on, what better way to make holiday shopping relaxing than being able to purchase Marchesa and Oscar de la Renta items at discounted prices? The variety of designers involved made this collaboration even more thrilling. To this day, my dog still wears her white, trendy ODLR collar and I couldn't be more proud. The overwhelming success of this collaboration made offerings sell out so quickly that my fingers are crossed these two will join again for another, and maybe longer, holiday treat!

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Met Gala 2015

The Met Gala, also known as the Oscars for the fashion industry, always bring an interesting combination of looks. The ensembles vary from those who are simply aiming for notable glamour to others who come determined to fully embrace the theme (see: SJP, always). This year's theme was China: Through the Looking Glass. Per usual, some took on the challenge of finding a trendy, and appropriate look, while others dressed for the true Met Gala ambience. 

Emma Roberts
At first, I wasn't really buying into the hype of Roberts' look. It felt a little flat for the theme until I realized how perfectly this Ralph Lauren dress achieved a subtle take on the night. The emerald green dress gives the actress a regal look while her clutch pays a cultural homage to the theme of the night. 

Gigi Hadid
A little biased because I'm kind of obsessed with her but who isn't?! Gigi is bringing back what it means to be a bombshell supermodel. This Diane Von Furstenberg dress isn't super cohesive with the theme but it is gorgeous and defines the exclusiveness of attending the Met Gala.  

Rosie Huntington - Whiteley
Hot! Leave it to Versace to provide the perfect cutout dress. Rosie shimmered in this gown, nailing the sophistication that should be included when one chooses to go sleek for the Met. I'm not usually a fan of a deep dark lip but this one was a fabulous counter balance. 

Jennifer Lawrence
Since she was a co-chair this year, I love that Jennifer Lawrence managed to dress for the theme but also stay true to her more simplistic style. This Dior dress highlighted Jennifer's vigorous appeal while still acknowledging her role for the night. Also, that bun is perfect!

Jennifer Lopez
She is the original big booty so it makes sense that JLo would know how to properly show off those assets while still looking like the belle of the ball. Adding another Versace cutout to the night, this gown showcased how to be revealing without cheapening the look. And of course, JLo brought along her two favorite S's - sparkles and sultriness.  

Kate Hudson 
How cute is she? You've got something pretty special (and a bomb stylist) when you're able to nail the theme without any crazy antics or cultural appropriation (which let's be honest, was the biggest concern of the night). Hudson's gold Michael Kors dress and matching hair piece do a beautiful job of showing China's influence in fashion. 

Rihanna
Slay RiRi! This Guo Pei look is everything you can wish for at a Met Gala. The color gives Rihanna the perfect glow and the design/length brings the obvious wowing factor. Not everyone can do this, and it would probably not be as exciting if they could, but it's risks like these that keep us talking. That and the mystery of what she's wearing underneath that big train!

Beyonce
QUEEN! We all know Beyonce can do no wrong but her fashionably late entrance with this Givenchy sheer dress was everything. Nudity was clearly the theme of the night and it was the queen of shock factor (aka Beyonce Gisele Knowles Carter) who did it best. With the gorgeous gems, that ***flawless high pony, and her fierce poses, Beyonce was the hottest piece of work in that museum last night - and she knew it. 


Monday, February 23, 2015

2015 Oscars: Best Dressed

Trendy, trendy! This year's Oscars provided many fresh and modern looks to the red carpet, making it hard to narrow down who wore what best!

Zoe Saldana
Didn't she just pop out two kids? Because there's absolutely no sign of it. Zoe has always been the most fun red carpet fashionista (/slightly biased) and this pink Versace brought my admiration for her back in full force. 

Sienna Miller
Love. Her. Sienna looked fabulous in this black classic Oscar de la Renta gown. If you're going to wear black to the Oscars, you need to take an extra step to make a statement and Sienna totally did by bringing the sophistication factor.

Rosamund Pike
FINALLY! To be honest, Rosamund has not been bringing it this award season with her fashion choices. But all is completely forgiven now because she saved her best look for the most important occasion. With this red Givenchy dress, Rosamund brought that British elegance that we all knew she had in her. 

Marion Cotillard
Goddess! The white color and circular pattern gave a slight nostalgic nod to Cotillard's Oscar winning dress from 2008. However, Marion stayed true to her original style giving us something different to salivate over with this Dior gown's beautiful texture and draping in the back. 

Jennifer Lopez
Oh hi there perfection. JLo looks timeless, no shock. While the makeup was a little off, her Elie Saab gown looked beautiful, providing another JLo photo op to put up on life inspiration boards. 

Lupita Nyong'o 
That back! That front! Those cut outs! Again, Lupita remains the queen of award season. This custom Calvin Klein pearl dress was the number one standout on the red carpet. The Academy should've presented Lupita with her Oscar again last night just so we could honor her fabulous-ness some more. 


Monday, January 12, 2015

Golden Globes 2015: Best Dressed

Pop the champagne and Sony leak jokes - 2015 award season has begun! White, sparkles, and red were major themes (and personal favorites) of the night as the ladies of Hollywood brought their A game.

Jessica Chastain
This Versace is nothing out of the ordinary but Jessica Chastain still deserves some praise for consistently bringing the Hollywood glamour. And her boyfriend is some kind of Italian royalty, so she kind of wins at life/this is something to hang on an inspiration board.

Heidi Klum
Red on the red carpet is never an easy task but she's Heidi Klum - obviously the va va voom factor was achieved. 

Kate Beckinsale
Kate Beckinsale in a radiating number at an award show is never really a shock but damn does she nail it every time! Last night, Beckinsale wow-ed in a sleek Elie Saab dress.

Amal Clooney
Is she creeped out yet over how much we all love her? Amal might have might been at the Globes to celebrate her husband's achievements but the rest of the world was still in awe of her own accomplishments and glamorous style. With her white gloves, Christian Dior dress, and Je Suis Charlie pin, Amal once again embodied that class we admire her for so much.

Emma Stone
The jumpsuit was expected this award season and Emma Stone delivered! This style works perfectly for a more casual atmosphere like the Globes and a young actress like Emma was the perfect choice to pull this off.  With a shimmer, classic black in the front and a fancy big bow in the back, this Lanvin number aced a major trend.

Kate Hudson
Versace Versace! Kate Hudson opted for a more daring look with the low swoop and side cut out. The white coloring and shimmery sides gave the dress a rather angelic appeal, instead of cheapening it. While I would have preferred different hair and makeup choices, Hudson did a good job repeating her white and sparkle look from the Oscars with a very different approach!

Jennifer Lopez
Let's be real, when Jennifer Lopez showed up in this Zuhair Murad dress, the game was over. She looks perfect! The texture, cuts, hair, jewels - is this amazing styling or just her natural JLo glow?! Either way Jennifer looked gorgeous, making this one for the books.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Countdown to the Red Carpet

With the Golden Globes just three days away (!!!), award season is quickly approaching. And when the red carpet rolls out, so do all those new fashion trends. Last night's People's Choice Awards served as a little pre-game for the red carpet styles that are about to dominate the next couple of months. So before we delve into the Hollywood glamour and start scouting for the latest red carpet siren of award season, here are some spotted trends to look out for!

Abstract Designs
Katharine McPhee took a chance with this black and white stripe look, but will other starlets do the same? Stripes, in particular, can be a tricky design to pull off depending on the body type. For McPhee's tall and slender frame, it worked. For the ladies who are of shorter height, no worries the abstract dresses can still be applied but with a more vertical shaped design. Mila Kunis in Alexander McQueen back at the 2011 SAGs, anyone? A daring fashion move never goes out of style.

Sparkles
It's winter. It's award season. There will be sparkles. Last night, Sarah Hyland took a spin on the classic style with a little high-low trick. The dress was adorable and the length was perfect for her petite frame. If actresses opt for a more casual look at the Golden Globes on Sunday, this is the way to do it!

Jumpsuits
Jumpsuits have been quite the comeback for a while now. Portia de Rossi showed a twist on the covered up look with a sleek cut out pattern on a gorgeous navy blue color. Even though gowns are the go-to for award shows, what better way to stand out while still nailing the timeless theme?! Another throwback to prove the point- Beyonce at the 2013 Grammy's. See? Even royalty is doing it.