Ask and You Shall Receive

I was whining about the lack of creativity with outfits and then the Grammy attendees decided to throw their red carpet looks in my faces.



Beyonce was gold from head to toe, but not obnoxiously at all. The dress' zipper, pattern and accents took the beige-gold hue from tacky to tremendous. Beyonce knows how to work her amazing curves with skintight dresses that still leave plenty to the imagination.



Carrie Underwood wore a dress that would have been a tacky prom dress, but fortunately it was saved by very modern metallic straps that turned a possible prom loser to a Grammy fashion winner. Carrie's adorable short haircut helped the dress look cooler than a stuffy up-do would have done. I'm so glad that crimped hair and cowboy boots are a thing of Carrie's past and that beautiful dresses and timeless hair seem to be a thing of her future.



If a high school did a production of the Wizard of Oz and did the costumes with a modern twist, this is what Glinda's costume would be. One of the Lady's most appropriate red carpet looks, I actually like this look from the neck down. The dress could almost have been made in a high school art class, but in a totally cool way. The tragedy was the hair and make up situation. The dandelion hue at the ends and her Amy Winehouse eyes were the scary part of a mostly normal award show dress. All critiques aside, Miss Gaga, thank you for doing something different and filling my void for a great, outside of the box dress.




Even the horrendous outfits were at least creative! You all are so sweet to comply with my wishes of originality!

Britney, so close! Say it with me, "sheer" not completely transparent. We're all proud of you that you are back to your sexy body, but it's not that tight just yet. 

Miss Perry, congratulations on the engagement! Now, save the nudity for the wedding night. We realize your hubby-to-be is a comedian, but keep the funny business off the red carpet and banned from your wardrobe.

Shaila Durcal, really? There are not enough words to shame you for this dress. 

Thanks Yahoo! for the pictures!

Sir, No, Sir!

            One of my least favorite trends that just cannot seem to die is the military trend. When I think of this trend I think of angst-y, alternative teens who wear their secondhand military jackets embellished with patches of their favorite alternative bands. Too much mall goth and not enough military-chic. Well apparently the epidemic has stricken the world once again and soon we'll be seeing those dulled greens and khakis all over the mall. 

            There is one piece though that holds hope for the universe with this trend. When diving between the goths and the pretzel stand at the mall, walk into the Gap. 
            Ignore the tragic camo fatigue skirt and go towards the dresses. Stand up a little straighter when you see what they've done to the classic shirt dress. This utility shirt dress is an answer to prayers from the fashion gods. A classic shirt dress in either military green or khaki, appears to be any other shirt dress until the details. Military inspired pockets, buttons, and shoulder straps make this dress more trendy than tragic and has the possibility to survive almost every season, black tights for winter and sexy sandals for summer. Belt it, wear it with a sweater, wear it with heels. I don't care how to wear it, just make sure you do. 
             If we're going to fall into this trend, let's do it the right way with pieces like this that are made on trend by the small details and don't make us look like we forgot to take off our "Sexy G.I. Jane" costume from Halloween. Also remember, as with any trend, wear ONE trend item at a time, because if I see you ruining this shirt dress by accessorizing with dog tags and clunky boots, I'll ship you off to a drill sergeant where you belong.

Are Those Things Fake?

            January is almost done, which means most people have already abandoned their resolutions for the new year. Most of mine have already fallen through but there is one that I am almost keeping. One of my goals for the year was to be a little more earth conscious and more conscious of the chemicals I'm putting in and on my body. With that in mind I have decided to make the switch to organic make up. 

            My everyday make-up routine consists of Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil  next to my lash line, a quick curl with my Shu Uemura, and then a swipe of DiorShow Mascara. The look is easy and effective. The eye pencil is soft so it doesn't require tugging on your eyelids and it goes on and stays on, while my DiorShow gives me the perfect glamour lashes that often get me asked if I'm wearing falsies. So what's a girl to do when her favorite products that make her look like a star are packed with chemicals that are probably responsible for the hole in the ozone? Time to find replacements. 
             I started at my favorite beauty website's organic section. Organic make up is  so new and not as popular yet that the finds aren't as extensive, but after reading reviews online and comparing different products, I think I found my matches.
            After trying out my new organic make up routine, I came to the conclusion that my new products might even be better than the originals. Tarte and Korres are both natural/organic make up and beauty companies with good reputations so that's where my purchases were made. One black eyeliner from Korres and black mascara from Tarte, time to see if going natural meant sacrificing looking like a bombshell. 

              If you had me ignore the packaging and apply one eye with the Urban Decay eye pencil and one with Korres Eyeliner Pencil, I would have never known the difference. Korres' pencil applied the same inky black in a soft pencil that blends so perfectly and then stays put, it was like a miracle.  Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! applied after curling your eyelashes, gives you those perfect mascara commercial eyelashes that fan out and curl up beautifully. It is also a mascara that people mistake for fake eyelashes, and if you're looking so good that it looks fake, you're doing something right. 
              I am officially converted to natural eye make up. It looks just as good, if not better, and I never noticed it, but my eyes were frequently itchy when I used my old make up and with my new natural stuff my eyes are just fine. Not to mention the fact that I look better than ever with the natural stuff on my side. So, unless you have an exclusive ad campaign with a non-organic make up label, give the natural stuff a try. It won't hurt you, it will actually help you and mother earth just a little.

Mom Jeans for Teens?

    Over the years I've seen thirteen year old girls dress like twenty year olds, forty year old moms trying to dress like their teenage daughters, and just about every thing in between. Lately, it has come to my attention that there is a new age confusion in dressing that might be worse than all of its inappropriate predecessors. 
      It's a "trend" picked up by girls ages thirteen to twenty one who have taken fashion cues from their over-processed mothers that are trying to dress like sorority girls. So get it straight, an eighteen year old trying to dress like her mother that's trying to dress like a young girl. The whole look is painfully lost in translation.
      These girls put on their True Religion high rise jeans and then proceed to throw on an uncomfortably tight, seamless tee shirt tucked taut into those jeans with a belt through the belt loops to pull everything together. The ones truly dedicated then curl the ends of their overly processed hair, throw on a set of pearls, and slip into their sensible mommy loafers, deeming their aging outfit "timeless" and "classic" when they look in the mirror. 
      Let's try something else. When you're thirteen, dress like you're thirteen. When you're a forty five year old mom, dress like it. Especially when you're a good looking nineteen year old girl, take advantage of it! You're body will never look so good, so take advantage of it by dressing your age to show it off! 


Picture: Best Week Ever

Boys, Ready to Fight for Fall?

There were two distinct looks that stood out to me for 2010 Fall, the fighter and the lover.

On one end we've got John Paul Gaultier and Dsquared, whose lines were so violent the models sported fake injuries with blood, bringing contact sports into their clothes while still maintaining sophistication. These lines were perfect for any guy that wanted to look like a million bucks while still having the option to kick someone's ass. 

Then we've got the softer side with fair isle sweaters, suede jackets, and layers from Trussardi 1911 and D&G. The two lines went separate directions with details, D&G making their line revolving around a man destined for the slopes as opposed to Trussardi's look for the rugged sexy man in the snowless mountains.

Gaultier did a fabulous show of what can only be described as a boxing champ meets a twenties gangster who has a really great tailor on speed dial. Using luxe materials like leather and fur with a juxtapose of what literally could be called a "sweat" suit, the line was fantastic and had great pieces for the fashion meek and bold hitting something for everyone in between. Gaultier, with no surprise, Fall 2010 is a total knockout.

Dsquared played their game as usual making their clothes a cross between fashion and a costume with this season. I'm guessing that Dsquared got their inspiration by crossing to Canada and hanging in a dark nightclub full of gothic-chic metro men, not forgetting to add the hockey aspect for those Canadians. The  line had waves of multiple trends in one show: sporty, sophisticated, chic, gothic. The magic known as Dsquared managed to take all these components and transform them into a great line that could translate between many different types of men.

Trussardi 1911 kept fair isle and flannel from last year and carried it through by pairing it with what could be considered the skinnier three piece suit. Mixing and matching pieces breathes new life into separates that were dead from over-wearing by the mass public. Topped off with wonderfully tailored suede and leather, this mountain man look can stay around for a while as long as men don't forget those tailored pieces.

D&G also kept fair isle around and paired it with fur trimmed hunting hats and showed that there's never such a thing as too many, or too bulky, layers. Although the snowboarding pants should be contained to the runway or the slopes, I hope to see the layers and the fair isle paired with the tailored suede and leather creep into men's closets all across the world.


Here's to a very stylish fall, boys.


Pictures: Style

You're Boring Me.

        The 2010 Golden Globes have come and gone. Some lucky nominees went home with the gold, some returned empty handed. I could care less who won what, because who cares if you're empty handed when you're wearing a better dress? 
      Unfortunately, I was put to sleep by the dresses this year. Strapless, strapless, strapless/sweetheart, long, long, long. The same thing over and over again. Most dresses actually have exact replicas hanging in prom boutiques all over the country that have been worn to proms for the past five years. Starlets, with all the money and the world's most amazing designers at your disposal, why would you show up to the Golden Globes in a dress that belongs at a midwest prom?

Photos : Extra TV

         Emily Blunt wearing D&G, Sandra Bullock sporting Bottega Venetta, Vera Farmiga in D&G, Maggie Gyllenhaal in RM Roland Mouret and Sophia Vergara wearing Carolina Herrera.

All gorgeous women, all fabulous designers, all boring dresses.

Look at all those dresses in a line. All strapless, some sweetheart, all grazing the hips and thighs being sure to hit the ground. Some have some extra straps or embellishments but all are basically the same. The color that stuck out the most was the red carpet because the colors of the dresses were just another bore.

Where's her corsage?

David's Bridal

         Fergie who is usually too fabulous for words, went with a drab potato sack dress by Elie Saab. Apparently Elie was taking inspiration from a David's Bridal dress(that's been around for at least ten years) for this periwinkle number. Here's a hint Fergie, no matter how much money your hubby is spending on strippers, don't wear anything that could have come free with a $99 wedding dress.

Those who didn't fail...

Diane Kruger was a pop of refreshing style and color in this stunning Christian Lacroix dress. The bubble gum pink isn't a most desired color, but with the intriguing  design it's fun and different. Kruger is the queen of finding, and rocking, unique evening wear that it equal parts: beautiful, quirky with just a pinch of avant garde for good measure.

Zoe Saldana did not disappoint in this gorgeous wine colored mess of ruffles and femininity by Louis Vuitton. A classic start of a dress with a beautiful and exciting end.

Best in Show

The fashion gods were smiling down upon Kate Hudson this night. A little Lady Gaga? A little origami? Don't you dare associate this fabulous bright white dress to a wedding gown, it's too cool to be one. This Marchesa gown was it. No other words necessary.

Yes. I'll have a shot of Clinique.

I woke up today not feeling my usual, refreshed self. My mind flashed back to the night before. I had taken my nightly shower, put lotion on my hands and hit the pillow with sweet dreams. I had missed a step though, neglected an old friend that my mom had introduced to me many years before.

There it was on my vanity not distinguishable in any way, just a plain frosted square bottle half full with yellow liquid, its metal cap missing from one of its overnight excursions away with me. Nothing glamorous, just Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion.

A lotion that my mother(and secretly, my father too) has been using for years, I would always steal the sample sized bottles that she would get with her Clinique purchases. Back then, I felt so grown up putting the creamy yellow liquid all over my face. Now, just the opposite, I know I'm preventing my face growing old too fast and I get to wake up the morning after using it feeling refreshed, hydrated, and glowing.

Most moisturizers leave my combination type skin feeling like it spent the night in a bowl of whole milk, too heavy and greasy, but with Clinique the skin on my face feels so healthy and fresh from the second I wake up.

This classic lotion hasn't changed one bit over the years, except for Clinique adding a handy pump top to its iconic bottle. One squirt will moisturize your whole face so the bottle doesn't go quickly which can help justify the purchase. The only thing that could make it any better? If Clinique would make a formula with SPF. So get on that, Clinique.

Doing Good is a Girl's Best Friend

         I have a confession to make. It's not shocking, but honest. I am one of those many people who has it in their head to make a difference, yet I can never seem to get off of my lazy butt to do so. So anytime I find an easy way to do some good I like to jump on it. Currently, I am obsessed with the new "do-good" bracelet designed by Rachel Bilson.
        The Everlon Bracelet is self-declared, "a beautiful way to make a difference" and I couldn't agree more. Pretend this bracelet wasn't up to any good, it is still a piece worth buying. A beautiful 14k gold knot with a round-cut diamond on a brown leather strap daintily dangling from your wrist sounds pretty perfect to me. The fact that it's only $100? More Perfect. $20 from the purchase of each bracelet is donated to the Diamond Empowerment Fund(DEF), a non-profit organization that supports education in Africa. That makes this bracelet the most perfect thing of all.