Getting Fit With lulu!

I've never been a huge workout lover. The machines tend to bore me after a while, the attire always seems borderline tacky for the most part, and being out in public without a proper dosage of foundation is overrated. However, after developing a Zumba obsession, I gave a little more thinking to this workout thing and found that whole positive "love and light." That light was particularly found in the form of lululemon pink neon workout gear. And with warmer weather finally here, what better way to celebrate than with comfortable and fitting gym/lounge wear. (Spoiler: nothing)

The Essentials

Matchy Matchy

Seeing as I'm not a floral lover, I shocked myself with this little number. The chic, yet subtle design on the bottoms drew me in to a not so typical workout design. The matching shirt (props to my mama for finding) manages to somehow jazz up an outfit I will predominantly sweat in. And with the tight and body hugging crop pants, these lululemons are as close as I'll ever get to knowing how Beyonce must feel when showing off her assets.

Something Blue

It's not possible for me to shop without picking out a piece in my favorite color - blue. For a while, I was obsessed with finding a signature lulu tank with the built in sports bra and side cut out. The color this tank came in was an amazing added bonus!

Think Pink

The shirt that started my love. This long sleeve piece was perfect during the winter, working out or hanging around. Accommodating everything from the sleeves accenting vibrant nails (or just for your hands to hang through, whichever) to the built in "vents" for sweating. I still don't really understand how or why this shirt has so much going for it but I can verify it's working and it's perfect!

Cannes Couture

Remember a few summers ago when Blake Lively was living every girl's dream just chilling with Anna Wintour while Christian Louboutin named shoes after her? I couldn't stand her. Not the type of irritation that arises from jealousy, but the type where I actually couldn't stand to see her flaunting all over Vogue. But as time has changed, so have my feelings towards Lively. Due to her recent red carpet outings, I'm finally starting to appreciate her couture connections and fashionista title. Blake has matured from a flashy It Girl to total glam. Sign me up for the fan club because girl just made every other fashion moment at Cannes this year completely forgettable. 

Gucci and Blake Lively are an ideal designer/actress duo. Lively's previous pairing with Chanel, and even Marchesa, produced some beautiful looks but something always seemed a little out of place. Gucci, however, does a phenomenal job of complimenting Blake's bombshell appeal with their sultry appearances. This burgundy gown was stunning for the Cannes opening and the cut at the chest works great for her figure. 

On a slightly hypocritical note, Lively has never looked so amazing in Chanel. This is the most gorgeous dress I've seen from Chanel couture in years. Everything about the detailing is so original and what better setting to show that look than in France!

Just a little Giambattista Valli, no big deal. Blake made this little number look gorgeous, comfortable, and perfect for a summer vacation (a very expensive/luxurious vacation, but still).  

And boom! The opening movie for Cannes this year was based on Grace Kelly so it was nice that someone at the festival did pay a fashionable homage to the icon. Blake ended her Cannes run with another look from Gucci, this time veering more towards a timeless aura. She looks like a total movie star and even was meticulous enough to change her nail polish to red for an aw-worthy grand finale. If Cannes gave out awards for Best Festival Fashion, Blake Lively you easily would've won for this gown alone. 

Summer Must Haves

Every new season is defined by a change in the latest trend or pattern to come into fashion. Considering I'm pure east coast, I really try to take advantage of the summertime's new colorful and flirty styles after wearing all black for a good six months. Every girl needs at least a few vibrant standouts for the summer, so here are mine! 

Ombre

It's true what they say, once you bleach your hair you totally become addicted. Back in October, I got a little antsy and decided to add a shade of honey blonde into my hair. Even throughout the cold winter, my impulse continued to grow, leading me to touch up the color again in April. Now the summer is starting, the color vibrancy conditioner is in full force, and color pops have never been so much fun. Moral of the story: definitely brighten up your hair color this summer. 

The Summer Blues

No matter the season, I have a major obsession with the color blue. I live by the motto "Tiffany blue everything." Nevertheless, summer is the perfect time to indulge in this obsession. Bye bye bye to Essie's "Wicked" nail polish color and bonjour to "Barbados Blue" and "Bikini So Teeny." With these shades, your nails will be on permanent summer cruise vacation status. 

Patterned Shorts
I might be the last person to realize Aerie sells clothes and they're actually super adorable. The shop is seriously beach season heaven. However, the cute dresses aren't the only essentials for a summer wardrobe. The shorts with varying designs are perfect to dress up summer's usual casual style. My personal favorite? These white frilly pair which I can't wait to whip out for fourth of July!

Met Gala 2014

Warmer weather, lighter clothes, beach trips - none of these beginning of summer traditions have quite the same effect as the annual Met Gala. The extravagant event marks fashion's version of the Oscars, meaning the red carpet intensifies with a sprawling staircase and the dress expectations get even higher. This year, the theme was "Charles James: Beyond Fashion," calling for the chicest black tie New York City get together. 

J'adore Dior! Leave it to Charlize to bring the fierceness to the event. Charlize Theron killed it, as usual, in this black and white number. The real standout of this attire: those earrings! Talk about modernizing a classic event. 

With this Burberry gown, Suki Waterhouse showed why everyone should probably stop referring to her as just Bradley Cooper's girlfriend/Sookie Stackhouse (the ladder can't just be me?). The ruffles, gorgeous ombre, and dark lip totally gave Suki a well deserved entrance to the Delevigne/Smalls/Dunn supermodel crowd. 

Oscar de la Renta's gowns never fail with the intricate detailing and dramatic appeals. And for this reason exactly, I would never even think TSwift would fit with the brand's image. So kudos to both for combining Oscar's amazing talent and Taylor's love of sparkles for what made a fairytale come true on the steps of the Met. Bonus points for the appropriate use of red lip. 

This is what a dream couple looks like. The Beckhams, aka true British royalty, looked stunning in this simplistic, yet elegant combination. Posh took the event to smolder and wear her own design - flawless. How does one find such a sleek dress and man! 

It took me a few years to get on the Blake Lively train but this glamorous Gucci gown did me in. I need this girl to come out of her fashion retirement that resulted from her marriage and dominate again. The caping (my new favorite red carpet trend) and the fit of this gown have me SO ready for her fabulous reign this time. 

The queen of the Met Gala (sorry Anna). SJP strolled into this event with her hair high and Oscar de la Renta gown trailing on those red stairs like a true fashion icon. And the back of that dress! The monogram, the ODLR signature - gasp/swoon! This look is timeless and with every SJP moment, we are truly watching fashion history occur. 

A Day of Mourning

It was the cover seen around the world. And the one that completely destroyed Vogue's prestige. 

Anna Wintour's decision to put Kim Kardashian on the April cover (thanks to her beloved rapper fiance Kanye West) shook the fashion world today and resulted in humorous backlash. While the puns and slams have been funny to watch, it's hard to ignore the sadness of realizing Vogue just lost a ton of respect. By allowing a reality TV star, who rose to fame from her sex tape, be on the cover of a magazine that once prided itself in credibility and class, the magazine isn't just being controversial - it's being tasteless. 

Like many, I've always looked to Vogue as the ultimate bible and Anna as an iconic fashion influence (who could forget her first American cover with the bejeweled cross jacket and jeans combo?!) but this is easily a game changer for the worst. In the past, Vogue's notable transitions to combine classic and modern has been admirable. I've loved anxiously awaiting fresh copies of the magazine in the mail so I could frame covers, mark pages, and overall adore the latest trends. Now my mailbox will be stuffed with an issue that promotes a Kardashian as influential and does so by using a hashtag...seriously? There's no better setting for change than the fashion world. But there's also many better settings for this specific public figure that should not include Vogue. 

Side note: An amazing/redeeming comeback would include finally giving Victoria Beckham an American Vogue cover. And let Annie Leibovitz shoot it...she deserves some happiness after this mess. 

To SJP: A Woman of Many Shoes

Every female owes some sense of their fashion sense to Sarah Jessica Parker's reign as Carrie Bradshaw. After all, her valuable lessons included: showing us that running in heels isn't always chic and sometimes you face plant in Dior, Manolo Blahnik Mary Jane's are not an urban shoe myth, and of course, that you should definitely start own shoe registry to celebrate your single hood/fabulousness. From playing Carrie through the years and even holding her own as a fashion icon, it only makes sense to pay tribute to SJP's amazing shoe moments as she launches her own personal line at Nordstrom.

Ah the loubs! The red sole shoes are the ultimate designer shoe goal. And the combination of those sultry stilettos with the SATC iconic newspaper Dior dress made for a dreamy NYC moment.

SJP had multiple great ensembles with these vibrant Nicholas Kirkwood shoes. Only an aqua shade like that could make a major pop of color turn a sophisticated look into a trendy one. 

Another gorg Nicholas Kirkwood pairing! This time, SJP kept it classic in shimmery gold with these gladiator high heels. 

With an arch and pump that high, those straps provided style and safety on the cobblestone streets. SJP, always a role model when debating the height of a shoe. 

Last but definitely not least, Sarah Jessica's blue satin Manolo Blahniks from the Sex and the City movie. The heels symbolize everything one could ever want - an enormous walk in closet. Or in Carrie's case, a committed relationship but, priorities. 

      "Life is too short to wear boring shoes." 

Best Dressed: Oscars 2014

The 2014 Oscars displayed a range of trends consisting of pastels, capes, and even one daring actress who shut it down in black. The ladies absolutely brought it this year. And when Jared Leto is looking like an absolute smoke with that flowing ombre, they definitely had to work overtime to bring the prettiness. 

Cate Blanchett

The Blue Jasmine actress shimmered in this Armani gown which must've looked amazing in person with all of those jewels! The coloring was perfect for Cate's light complexion and usual posh appearance. Those intricate designs totally fit the royalty/Oscar winner (same thing right?) look. 

Charlize Theron

It's rare that any women dares to sport such a simple color like black. After all, the Oscars are a time for diamonds and trains, not the risk of being forgettable. So when Charlize strutted down the carpet in this sophisticated Dior dress, it was a game changer. Not a huge fan of the clear straps, but the combination of that neckline, necklace, and sheer bottom makes up for it. Now if she would just dispose the awful accessory that is Sean Penn, that'd be great. 

Lupita Nyong'o

Ah Lupita! Easily the best fashionista to come out of this past award season. She's worn nearly every color to these shows and nailed all of them. I wasn't sure how she was going to top her teal Gucci gown from the SAGs, but she definitely came close with this light blue Prada dress. Lupita took her big moment to shine with the go to princess dress and even added the classic headband to perfect her look. Timeless!

Jennifer Lawrence

Back in the day, long before her contract with Dior, JLaw used to shut it down on the red carpet with her fresh looks. Lawrence sure has changed from then, maturing with more classical looks, but it's nice to see a nod to her past styling. Major props to her stylist for doing a throwback with this red Dior gown to her first Oscar moment in a memorable, and similar, red Calvin Klein. Would love to see her return to these high end, yet youthful, gowns again! Sidenote: the backwards necklace is becoming a great trademark for her.

Kate Hudson

Idol. Perfect. Hollywood royalty. Kate Hudson has been a personal red carpet favorite in recent years, seeing as she never misses a beat. With this white Atelier Versace, Hudson redefined chic. Between the cape and the waist detailing, she epitomized Hollywood glamour on tinseltown's most iconic night. That alone deserves an award.