Where Can I Find It?!!?

My latest fashion craving has been for this type of double golden headband, like the one Nicole Richie is constantly showing off. It is part of her own House of Harlow 1960 collection and I am dying to get my hands on (a cheaper) one!! You can get one for $165 at www.shopkitson.com or $170 at www.singer22.com, but I definitely cannot afford that! I am determined to continue my search for this gorgeous item in order to get it by summertime, If I can't find one within the next 24 hours I'll just make my own!

what.....?

So, I'm not quite sure what Katy Perry was thinking when she donned this hello kitty rhinestone-encrusted bustier, on the red carpet no less, to the Brit Awards in London on Wednesday. Katy has always been one to take fashion risks and that is something that I admire her for, but this to me is just a huge no-no. Why is there no red circle around it with a slash through it? This is a poor choice for anybody, even the bold and daring.



I do think that this would make a cute performance top possibly (I like the outfits she chooses to wear while performing, like this one from this week's past Grammys - ABOVE), however - NOT for the red carpet, ever.

BUT, I love love love the gown she chose for the red carpet at the Grammys (BELOW). Not only was she looking stunning in her soft pink ensemble but she won a best dressed nod as well! She achieved what most stars aim for with outfits like this; she looked classy in the style and color of the gown and the large accented flower-bow gave it a twist of modern fashion while keeping it chic. Effortless chic is definitely a hard one to get right but she nailed it. Kudos to Katy!





P.S. I love her dress from the Grammys pressroom as well (BELOW). I like when celebs choose a shorter but same style gown as their red carpet choice for these types of things. She did an excellent job all around for this years Grammys fashion.

only a few more months to go!

With our few and random days of good weather thats been around here, I have been inspired to think (unfortunately) far ahead into the days of fashion in Summer 2009. I always find it harder to put together things in a different and still fashionable way in summer than I do in winter, even though I would much rather prefer the hot hot weather. In winter its like, when in doubt, layer. Throw on a hat and some hoops. Wear one of your 10000 pairs of boots. But in summer time, you can't have as many options of shoes unless you have the money to afford it. Boots are definitely not an option, even flats are too hot at times, and flip flops just don't go far enough at all. Layering, for the most part, cannot happen in the summer; so you really have to wear a gorgeous choice of outfits for things to stand out a bit. And it can be tough for some people. Luckily, this year I have started thinking so far ahead that I can be a guide rather than a tourist. So here goes:

My first stop in our search for fashionable summer clothing is Forever 21, obviously. It's the #1 go-to store for those who want to look like they have a million bucks when they really only have $30 (People like me). If you don't have time to go to the actual store or hate their annoying sales associates following you around (I have the right to say that, I used to be one of them) then you can go to www.forever21.com and there will be even more options laying out for you than in the store itself.
Here's a look that I thought was simple yet very cute and stylish:



I think my favorite part of the outfit is the jeans/heels combo. Ripped jeans are very in for summertime, and the boyfriend look seems to be one that doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. The tan strappy heels make the jeans look a bit more dressed up, as if she's going out for the day rather than running to the gas station "real quick." This look of shoe is one that I love, as well. They can go with literally anything, from this outfit to a more dressed up pair for a formal evening - they always work. I am also a fan of the way the tank looks. It's simple, clear, and yet classy. Plus, I love love love torquise. Especially with a plain tank. Gorgeous!

Here is another way the strappy heels can look (below). In this look the dress makes them a bit more dressed up. But the belt keeps the dress mellowed down and not too fancy. Very western-casual. Good choice for a lunch date? I think so.



Here are a couple items from the Lauren Conrad Collection. Now, i don't particularly like this girl when shes speaking, but her choice in clothing is fabulous. She has a style that anybody can master which is a plus rather than a minus. Not to mention that for the most part she dressed affordably. So these are just a couple things I picked out that I would most definitely like to own this coming summer:







Aside from Lauren Conrad another celebrity whose syle I envy is Blake Lively. Or Serena Van der Woodsen atleast. This picture (again, below) is from the first episode of the current season (season 2) of Gossip Girl. This dress is classy, simple, sophisticated, laid back, perfect to have as an all-occassion dress for spring or summer. I like to look at Blake's outfits also because she is a rather tall girl, and me being 5'7 I can feel rather self-concious about my height at times. I'm sick of loving the way dresses and heels look on tiny tiny girls and then when I try the same thing on I become goliath. Eck. But if you notice, Serena is wearing a very fashionable pair of gladiators in this picture. So A+++ to her for that! This is definitely a look I could copy for myself.



Speaking of summery shoes, I've taken the time to list a few of my choices for the upcoming season. I've listed a couple obvious choices of my strappy heels (i love these pink ones, which you can get at www.gojane.com for only $23.10!) but if you take a look there is also a blue converse-style sneaker, which I don't particularly care for but stars like Nicole Richie make them look super cute. These you get get at gojane.com as well for only $11.99! Also, I've added a picture of a pair of really tall gloadiator sandals. This is a look that Mary Kate Olsen rocked a year or two ago but since then only a few celebs have been daring enough to wear them. I think they are gorgeous because any dress that looks cute with boots would look equally as cute with these! they are a bold choice that only true fashionistas will try out. This pair is also from gojane.com for only $14.99! Enjoy!

Like I thought.... Michelle's a hit!!

What a surprise.... Michelle Obama just happened to look stunningly gorgeous at her husband Barak's inauguration on the 20th. Did I not call that?

Michelle started off the day wearing this Isabel Toledo lemon grass yellow ensemble to the inaugural ceremony and parade. Apparently there is much talk about the color of her outfit because no one really seems to know what it is. Now I have to admit... I've never heard of "lemon grass yellow" (silly me thought that lemon and yellow were the same thing...) but the outfit looked great on her. I love the idea of wearing a suit dress, especially one as detailed as hers. The color looked amazing on her too, even if nobody understood the outfit it was clear that she did because she looked absolutely gorgeous in it! 100% great choice, I'm in love with it.





For the inaugural ball Michelle chose this white one-shouldered gown created by 26-year-old Jason Wu. This Wu man is supposedly a rising star in the fashion world but I don't think anybody has really heard of him before. However this dress was also amazing so there is no doubt that Michelle choosing his dress will cause his career to sky-rocket. In my opinion this dress was absolutely gorgeous, it reminds me of the white one-shoulder dress that Nancy Reagan wore, which, as my last entry clearly stated, I loved. The gown was covered in fabric petals and dotted with beads which made it all the more amazing. This dress, like Nancy's, was the perfect pick of sophistication, style, and class. Great choice, great lady. Love it, love it, love it!

Fifty years of Inagural gowns

What with Obama's Inauguration coming up in a couple days people.com has put up a few pictures about the up and coming first-ladies' outfit choices ... so I thought that it would be good of me to comment on them - some of which are styles that will withstand the test of time and some that should never have been created, not even thought or dreamt of. So here goes:

In 1961 31-year-old Mrs.Jacqueline Kennedy wore this white gown and cape that she designed herself (which is awesome), but not without a little help from Bergdorf Goodman's Ethan Frankau. I think this choice is very classic and looks absolutely gorgeous on her. This woman really knew her fashion stuff and always looked radiant in whatever she chose to wear. A+:



In 1965 Claudia Johnson wore this bright yellow silk gown made by John Moore to the inauguration of her husband Lyndon B. Johnson. This "Lady Bird" was 51 but dressed with the confidence of a 20 year old while keeping private and classy, dressing perfectly for her age. This outfit is obviously gorgeous but with my 21st century vision I guess I'm wishing she would have dressed a bit more snazzy-like. This choice is a bit bland, however she did dress her age which sometimes can be hard to tackle so for that, I give her an B:



In 1969, 56-year-old Patricia Nixon wore this Karen Stark for Harvey Berin double-faced satin gown and matching embroidered cropped jacket to her husband Richard Nixon's inauguration. This ensemble I absolutely adore. The jacket is the perfect touch to make whole thing look sophisticated and strong yet youthful and fun. I love to experiment in different types of glitters, sequins, and beading when it comes to formals and when this is done in the right way it looks stunning rather than tacky. The belt and the gloves add a little extra umph to the outfit - A++ for her!:



In 1977, 49-year-old Rosalynn Carter repurposed a Mary Matise for Jimmae gold embroidered coat over a blue chiffon gown - the same one she had worn to husband Jimmy Carter's inauguration. A for effort in being thrifty for a country facing an economic slump, plus the colors go amazing together - light blue and sparkling gold are perfect for a stunning bright formal. Now if only we could do a mini make-over on that girl of hers! I give Mrs. Carter an A:



In 1981, 59-year-old Nancy Reagan wore this embroidered lace inaugural gown by James Galanos to husband Ronald Reagan's inauguration, and certainly up-ed the glam level in the White House with it. This choice is sophisticated, classy and rich but still simple, mellow and not too-over the top. Plus - not only is white an absolute go-to color and all out glamorous option, but the one-shoulder look is 100% still in and hotter than ever. Talk about seeing the fashion future - I give her an A++:



In 1989 Barbara Bush wore this royal blue Arnold Scaasi gown for husband George H. Bush's inauguartional gala. I love the color, especially paired with her snow-white hair and trademark triple-strand of pearls, however, the design I'm not to sure about. The cut of the dress reminds me of a princess back in story-land with one of those pointy hats with string on it. She did dress her age of 63 years, but I'm not to fond of the way she mixed materials. Velvet is never a good option for me unless its on a teddy bear so for this I give her a C+:



In 1993 Hillary Clinton wore this simmering purple lace gown by Little Rock's Sarah Phillips for her husband Bill Clinton's inauguration. For his second inauguration in 1997 she wore this lace gown by Oscar de la Renta. I really like her choice for 1993, the color looks radiant on her and it is very formal sophisticated so its naturally a good fit for a first lady. Obviously fashion has changed in the last 15 years so if it were up to me now I would probably shorten the sleeves, maybe take them off all together and give her gloves, plus take in the poof of the skirt and make it flow more. I love her choice for 1997, its perfect to me. The color is classy and strong and the high cut is very prestigious looking on her. For all of her choices I give her an A:



In 2001 as first lady of the twenty-first century, Laura Bush wore this red lace gown by local favorite Michael Faircloth, but also chose Oscar de la Renta to design her silver gown that she wore to the 2005 inauguration of her husband George Dubya. This dress is decent, theres nothing really wrong with it.... Its one of the first that doesnt have a neck that is cut up past the eyebrows, however there is not really anything stunning about it. Obviously red is an excellent choice for any woman - it's that one color that looks great on everyone. Plus, I like the sparkling of the gown. I guess I just wish there were more to it, maybe more of an interesting cut. Dress like its the future lady! Overall - B+:



Now, I have full confidence in our lattest first lady Michelle. Mrs. Obama is by far the best-dressed woman to enter the White House. This lady knows S-T-Y-L-E! She is not afraid to take risks in her fashion and has a way of pulling everything off perfectly - not too mention everybody loves the clothing she chooses! She knows how to work the most ruffled top to the classic LBD which is something that many women cannot do. Sarah Palin can spend 800 million dollars on her stuff, but regardless of how much Michelle Obama spends people love her. Now that says something. This is a beautiful woman who is gonna do great both in her presidential-wifey career as well as her fashion one. A+++++ for her future!!:

Hudson vs. Hathaway

So, in the upcoming movie Bride Wars Kate Hudson & Anne Hathaway duke it out over their wedding, and even though there is no conflict over fashion between the two I thought I might comment on my thoughts if there were.

Both actresses have been attending various premieres and awards shows and making appearances on television - like any other celebrity - wearing some... interesting fashion choices. For the Bride Wars photocall both celebs choice an all black attire, which in my opinion was a good choice. Black is a go-to color when it comes to formal-casual-ish events -- especially all black. Its the perfect way to look classy, sophisticated, and down to earth and the same time.



Usually I am kind of skeptical about Anne's clothing but this outfit I quite like. It seems like she is channeling her inner Miranda Priesley and it suits her well. I like her outfit because it is very casual but she finds small ways to make it look a bit more business-like; for instance, her sparkling jewlery (necklace, earrings, bangles) and her too-cute-for-words little black booties. I can't get enough of ankle booties, especially on celebs since they obviously know how to pull everything off better than any average joe ever could. But although Anne's outfit is super-cute, I've got to give it to Kate on this one. I love the business-woman-celebrity style she went with. I love high-waisted skirts, pencil skirts, and leather and she pulled it all together with one item! I also really admire the way that a simple black dress shirt can look if you put it in the right light, which I'd like to think she did with her outfit choice. Plus, red lipstick, big hoops, and black pumps are definitely my Marilyn/Christina have-to-have items that personally I think can make any outfit look chic. Love it, love it, love it.



For the New York premiere of the movie Anne chose a similar outfit to what she wore to the photocall while Kate went for something different. Although I agree that when you find a look that works for you its a good idea to use it often, variety is always a better option overall because not only do you get to play around with different things but -duh!- it lets everybody around you see how gorgeous you look in different ways! I'll never stop them from seeing my different styles of beauty, but thats just me. Anyways, I really like the dress that Kate picked. Its chic and stylish but not too over the top. B&W is also a good choice for those formal-casual-ish events. It's always been around and it will continue to always be around, making it a staple of fashion. I love the mermaid style dress as well, especially with her swept back updo hairstyle; if only I could go back and redo my senior prom I would have definitely went with an option like this one. Not only does the dress have different dementions, it fits like a glove to it is the perfect choice to show off your curves - assuming that you have them. Although I think that this style could work with more thin people also.This type of dress was everywhere on the red carpet for the Golden Globes. Some people don't prefer it but I think that this trend will stick around for awhile. The only thing Anne really changed about her outfit was her hair, and I do not think that was a good thing. I do like the high high slicked back ponytail look, but with all black it reminds me of those Alien chicks from Dude Where's My Car. Not a good thing. This type of style is iffy to me because you really have to do it right in order to pull it off, which is clearly hard to do if celebs with professional stylists can't even do it. Other than the hair I think that the all black outfit works for her again. I would've liked to see more of a difference but I'm pretty sure she'll have plenty of events to wear different styles to.



This dress I love on Kate (from the People's Choice Awards). It's california-casual style but also formal and the color is my favorite color so I can't knock it! Plus, oh my god did you see her shoes???



Love 'em. This is definitely an A+++ outfit choice. She pulls it off perfectly because it is her signature laid-back and fun style. Slits, blues, pumps, and blonde hair are four of my favorite things so this outfit in my opinion is p.e.r.f.e.c.t.



I liked this dress on Anne also. Even though when she accepted her award at the Critic's choice awards she almost had a panic attack, she looked radiant while doing it in this dress! I really like block-colored clothing and like I said before, B&W is always a good option. I also give her points for the belt. Some celebs never think to add a belt to their outfit when sometimes it is the only thing that could pull it all together. Overall, good choice Hathaway!

New Year; New Start

So it's been a couple months, yet I don't have much to catch up on. However, I do have a lot to say about the future. With Beyonce's latest cd (I Am...Sasha Fierce) coming out and her cover of ELLE's January 2009 issue, I have become quite interested in the whole "other personality" thing. Beyonce claims that when she is on stage Sasha Fierce takes over and allows her to perform in a way that "Beyonce" would not. There was also an article in ELLE describing how the writer (named Maggie) pictured herself - the advanced version. AKA Maggie 2.0. Because of all the talk about improving yourself through an alternate personality, I have naturally been inspired to do the same thing.

This new year I have a lot of resolutions that I would like to stick to.
1) Go out more -- Have more Fun!
2) Forgive my grudges (eh...thats gonna be a hard one)
3) Continue to have straight A's in school
4) Get a job!
5) Put more effort into myself (fitness, style, hair, etc)
6) Wear more of my old clothes/makeup (get use out of what I already have!)
7) spend more time with my parents as well as my girlfriends
8) Weigh 115 lbs at some point
9) Get a flat stomache!
10) Become a good sketcher

In order to keep all of these resolutions I have channeled my inner alternate-self. I decided to name her Odette. You see, Odette can and does do all of these things. Odette weighs 115 lbs at my height, she has a completely flat but not too muscley stomache, she keeps in close contact with all of her friends from high school, she makes enough money to support herself, and she has long long long flowing blonde hair. Now, I know that these things are all in my control but its really not that easy to change a habit once it has become one. However, I am determined to take full advantage of this life that God has given me and enjoy every moment of it. No more bad moods for no reason, no more ignoring calls from people I don't feel like talking to, no more laziness, no more feeling sorry for myself. This year is a complete brand new start to the rest of my life and I want to live it exactly how Odette would.