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!

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

Saying Goodbye To A Legend

Oscar de la Renta might as well invented the word timeless for his designs constantly captured such a breathtaking perfection. The designer was the rare kind of artist who could combine sophistication, drama, and softness all in one look. Over the years, Oscar never failed to awe with his charming designs and personality. I've found such inspiration from following not just his amazing collections but also his representation of himself and his brand (as seen through his interaction with the new tech age). For me, Oscar de la Renta has always symbolized the ideal brand to work for - one that valued creativity and ambition. 

I'm not one to romanticize but Oscar de la Renta's art and presence in the fashion industry gave us all a reason to be dreamers. With his ear to ear full smile, Oscar always seemed so full of life. The intriguing sense of beauty he brought with his talent and his charisma makes this recent loss even more tragic.

Rest in peace to an amazing icon, you've left a mark that will never be forgotten xx

"The qualities I admire most in a woman are confidence and kindness."

-Oscar de la Renta

2014 Emmy's : Best Dressed

Sarah Hyland

The Modern Family actress got one last good use of the summer crop top style with this trendy yet elegant look. The coral Christian Siriano skirt was poofy enough for award season but playful enough to highlight Sarah's youth. On a totally bias note, loving the ombré pulled into the bun!

Lizzy Caplan

Oh Janis, if Regina George could see you now! Now THIS is how you wear a cutout, revealing dress in a classy (and safe!) way. Lizzy Caplan stunned in this DKNY Atelier gown. And that drop in the back - gorgeous gorgeous!

Sofia Vergara 

Sure it's nothing crazy, but it's definitely different from Sofia's usual mermaid gowns. The white Roberto Cavalli with her blonde hair gives a sweet, angelic vibe!

Camila Alves 

She might be there as a date but don't count Camila out as just some good arm candy. Matthew McConaughey's leading lady looked absolutely timeless in this abstract Zuhair Murad. Total knockout!

Gwen Stefani

God damn god damn GOD DAMN! Beautiful! I'm not a huge fan of the hair/makeup as it makes Gwen look almost unrecognizable but that outfit! The glitter, that cut, the fact that it's a two piece  - so classic. Versace, fierce as always. 

Kerry Washington 

What better way to mark the return of primetime TV than with Olivia Pope. Even through her pregnancy, Washington never shied away from fashion risks so it's no shocker her look was one of the more different looks of the night. The orange Prada with the blue glittery peek a boo in her slit was a gorgeous Emmys look. A little end of summer, a little fall fashion, and a whole lot of chic. Best Dressed - it's handled.