Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Purrfect Pair

     First Lady Michelle Obama has brought the kitten heel back into style since style icon Jackie Kennedy Onassis donned them in the 1960's (thedailybeast).
     The kitten heel is a shoe with a mini heel, usually less than one inch high.  They are perfect for a woman like Michelle Obama who is 5'11" (a11news).  These heels allow her to have the formal and classical style of a high-heeled shoe without towering over her husband who is 6'1" (celebheights).
     Both of the first ladies are known for their sense of fashion in the White House.
     Michelle O. is known for her classical and conservative outfits but always adds her own stylish and modern flair.
     Jackie O. is known for her classical elegance and French-inspired clothing (hubpages).
     Having Michelle Obama in the White House, one can guarantee fashion policy will always be carried out.
 


kitten heel (pinkchocolate)


Michelle Obama in kitten heels (amominredhighheels)

Jackie Onassis in kitten heels (barefoottess)
Jackie Onassis (publicola)
Michelle Obama at the Inauguration Ball (glamour)
Michelle Obama (thedailybeast)

Michelle Obama (style)
Jackie Onassis (trendyshoeshop)
Jackie Onassis (sorrentolens)

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Fashion Flashback

     There has been a surge of 60s fashion in Hollywood.  
     Celebrities like Sienna Miller, Paris Hilton, Michelle Williams, and Hilary Duff have been seen wearing the mod fashion of the sixties (fashioninmotion).
     The mod fashion uses bold colors and minimalistic patterns with A-lined dresses and high-waisted mini skirts.  Necklines of mod dresses are also sometimes embellished with jewels and large buttons for a more chic look (lucyandlolita).
     Twiggy was the first supermodel in the world and she was an icon in the sixties for her mod fashion (twiggylawson).
     The Emmy award-winning television show Mad Men might have played some part in the recurrence of the sixties fashion.  The television show is set in the early sixties and centers around the employees of a fictional NYC advertising company and their families (cine-fille).
     The show is well-known for its spectacular sixties wardrobe.  The cast wears costumes designed by Janie Byrant.  The styles range from the classical beauty of the character of Betty Draper to the old-fashioned look of the character of Peggy Olson (fashioninmotion).
     The sixties are back for now but what decade will be revisited in the future?
    

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Cultured Fashion

     Kate Bosworth and her friend and stylist, Cher Coulter, have teamed up to create a new website called JewelMint.com.  JewelMint combines shopping and social networking to allow customers to converse with their friends and shop online simultaneously. 
     The site features jewelry designed by the two celebrity designers.  When you first join the site you must take a style quiz.  JewelMint selects four pieces of jewelry once a month that will compliment your style and personality based off the results from your quiz.  So choose your answers wisely!
     The site allows you to pick one of the four pieces specifically chosen for you to keep.  This is included in your monthly membership fee.  The membership fee is $29.99 a month.  All the jewelry on the site is 70 percent below retail value, too.  You can end up saving big if you like your pieces or it can be a miss if you don't like them.  But, if you don't like them you won't be charged and can wait for the next month's selections.  It's a win-win scenario for all the jewelry junkies out there!
     Facebook and Twitter are used with this site so you can talk with your friends and exchange feedback to see what you think of each others' pieces before you buy them (fabsugar).
     And who would have thought Facebook and Twitter could get even more useful?

Kate Bosworth and Cher Coulter (fabsugar)

Kate Bosworth modeling one of JewelMint's rings (theworldofjoyce)

                                                 Visit the site JewelMint

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Saddle up for these winners

     The Oxford and Derby saddle shoes are the new fall favorites stepping into the fashion arena.  All the hottest celebrities like Taylor Swift, Kristen Stewart, Sienna Miller, Leighton Meester, Jessica Biel, and Rihanna (retrovintageshoes) have been seen trotting in these preppy and stylish shoes.
     They are perfect for fall because they come in an array of earthy tones like brown, black, tan, yellow, and white. 
     Oxford and Derby shoes go well with virtually everything from dresses to shorts.  They can be worn with a cute pair of ribbed tights and a casual dress or skirt if you are looking for something a little more chic.  If you are looking for something a little more professional you can wear them with some high-waisted pants or a skirt and pair it with a cute blazer.  To add a little fun or spice to your outfit, wear a patterned pair of tights or leggings under your shorts, dresses, or skirt.
     They also come in a range of styles.  Some of them have more of a feminine flair while others might have a bulkier sole and be more simple.  They also come in a high-heeled shoe if you are looking for something a step above the rest.
     Although the Oxford and the Derby shoe names have been used interchangeably, there is a slight difference between the two.   The only difference is when you take a look at the vamp of the shoe.  The lace facings on the Derby shoes are not stitched to the bottom while they are stitched to the bottom on Oxford shoes (retrovintageshoes). 
     Whether you chose to wear Derby or Oxford shoes, you will jockey your way to the top of the fashion list.
Kristen Stewart, Zoe Kravitz, and Taylor Swift in Oxford/Derby shoes. (retrovintageshoes)
 Ashley Greene, Taylor Swift (again), and Leighton Meester in Oxford/Derby shoes. (retrovintageshoes)
Sienna Miller wearing Oxford/Derby shoes with all sorts of styles. (retrovintageshoes)

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Lady loves Levine

     Asher Levine has caught Lady Gaga's eye with his unique sense of fashion.  Lady Gaga has been seen wearing two of the 22-year-old's custom pieces.  She recently wore his white strait jacket coat while performing on the Today Show and one of his long black motorcycle jackets in an issue of Rolling Stone (ladygaga.bandaiders).  
     Levine recently graduated from Pace University in New York and in a matter of weeks Lady Gaga was donning his designs.  According to a Pace University publication, Levine said that he chose to go to Pace over Parsons because he needed to know how to do other things like accounting and marketing, all the things a fashion school like Parsons leaves out (thepulse.blogs.pace.edu).
      The Port Charlotte, Florida native just presented his second full collection at New York Fashion Week in New York City (pressroom.blogs.pace.edu). 
      Levine is beginning to experience the fruit of his labors with Lady Gaga.  Where will this newfound publicity lead him next?
Asher Levine (thepulse.blogs.pace.edu)

Lady Gaga wearing Levine's black motorcycle jacket (style.mtv)
Lady Gaga in Levine's motorcycle jacket (thepulse.blogs.pace.edu)
Lady Gaga in Levine's strait jacket coat (dailymail)
Click here to see Asher Levine's latest collection.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

The skinny on leggings

      Leggings are fashion forward this fall.  Celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Bosworth (fredgal), Sienna Miller (thequickanddirtydirty), Charlize Theron (denimideas), and Miley Cyrus (leathergirlsblog) have been spotted wearing leggings.
     They are being worn with all types of clothing like over-sized t-shirts, dresses, tunics, and tailored shirts.  Some people are even wearing leggings under their shorts.  Leggings can be made dressy or casual.  Some leggings have accents of lace, leather, and gold or diamond studs; and some are just solid colors.
     Leggings can be worn with different types of shoes depending on the style you are aiming for.  Ankle boots or heels can be worn with them to get a more chic and dressy look.  If you are going for a more relaxed look you can wear flip flops, sandals or ballerina flats.
     One kind of legging that is popular this fall is the jean legging, or "jeggings."  These leggings are like a pair of really tight skinny jeans, but they are extremely stretchy and comfortable.  Some brands even go as far as adding fake zipper stitching in the front and pockets in the back, while others are just a plain denim legging.
     Although leggings can look super cute and fashionable, they can also look distasteful at times. You should NOT wear a short shirt with leggings.  Leggings are not a substitute for pants.  So, please be classy and wear a shirt long enough to cover the rear.
     Leggings are perfect for those fall days when the weather is slightly chilly.  Whether you are making a quick trip to Starbucks or having a night out on the town, leggings are a perfect fit.
 

Charlize Theron in jeggings (denimideas)

Miley Cyrus performing in latex leggings (leathergirlsblog)

Sienna Miller wearing jeggings (thequickanddirtydirty)

Kate Bosworth and Sarah Jessica Parker wearing leggings (fredgal)

Kate Bosworth and Kim Kardashian wearing leggings (celebdelacream)

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Enlist in the new fall fashion

      The military trend is this fall's hot new style.  The colors of camouflage, khaki, army green, navy, and dark brown are detonating throughout the fashion world.  Celebrities like Beyonce (jonesmag), Victoria Beckham (victoriabeckham-jenna), Kim Kardashian (intheircloset), Rihanna (fashionshops), Carmen Electra, and Katie Holmes (mylifetime) are just a few of the celebrities that are soldiering this new style. They each chose a slightly different look and added their own touch to their outfits.  Whether they added sunglasses, big belts, high heels, or the perfect hat to their wardrobe, they all managed to keep it soft and chic.
      Some hot items to include in your military wardrobe are cargo and "military" jackets, leather leggings, tall boots, faux fur-lined collars, and brass buttons.  These might sound rough and masculine by themselves, but when you put them together they can create an astounding ensemble.  The leather leggings can be paired with a cargo jacket and some tall boots to create a strong, yet feminine appearance.  Adding brass buttons or a sparkly headband or bracelet is another way to give this trend a feminine boost.  The array of colors used in the military trend are mostly neutral colors, too.  It will be easy to get the most out of your wardrobe by mixing and matching some of the elements from one outfit with another.  Now,  let's see how long this war on fashion will last.


Beyonce wearing a Balmain military jacket (jonesmag)
Kim Kardashian in a military-style romper (intheircloset)

Rihanna wearing a Balmain military jacket (fashionshops)
Victoria Beckham wearing a Balmain leather military jacket (victoriabeckham-jenna)
Olivia Palermo, Carmen Electra, Elle Macpherson, and Katie Holmes pictured in cargo jackets (mylifetime)
 military trend pieces (fashionforlunch)

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Is Charlotte the new Christian?

      Charlotte Olympia is making her name in the fashion world where Christian Louboutin still stands tall.  Her shoes are appearing on all the hottest celebrities.  Blake Lively (shoerazzi), Kate Moss, Sienna Miller (Net-a-Porter), Kate Hudson (handbagcomment), Sarah Jessica Parker (shoesforwomen), and Emma Watson (InTheirCloset) are just a few who are rocking this designer's stunning shoes.  The half-British and half-Brazilian (Net-a-Porter) designer has added a pinch of spice and sass to her shoes while still allowing them to have a feminine flare.   She has designed an array of fun and flirty colors and unique designs for her shoes.  Some of them are as simple as hot pink platforms and some are as complex as suede, leaf-patterned ankle boots.  Her shoes range from $800 to $1700 (polyvore).  Christian and Charlotte seem to have a lot in common when it comes to their shoes.  They both have the glam factor and are around the same price range.  Celebrities are just quick to move on to something new and find the next big thing.  Christian Louboutin has had his fair share of fame and still seems to be ahead of Charlotte, but maybe not for long.  Watch out, Christian, Charlotte has spun a new web in the fashion world.
Kate Hudson wearing Charlotte Olympia suede, leaf-patterned ankle boots (handbagcomment.com)


Blake Lively in Charlotte Olympia velvet plexi purple heels (Shoerazzi)   
Emma Watson in Charlotte Olympia (InTheirCloset)
Charlotte Olympia heels (blackberrysherbet)
Christian Louboutin heels (net-a-porter)

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Yearning for Yurman


      David Yurman bracelets seem to be the new Silly Bandz on the wrists of sorority ladies on the Louisiana Tech campus.  Although, there is a significant price difference between the two, it doesn't stop some of the ladies from having more than one stacked on their wrists.  The prices of these bracelets range from $300 to $2200 (Neiman Marcus), as oppose to a whopping $5 for Silly Bandz.  There is no doubt that these bracelets are gorgeous and elegant in their own ways.  The bracelets are made of different thicknesses of sterling silver and gold cables.  The sterling silver or gold cables of the bracelets are crowned with a variety of gemstones (Saks Fifth Avenue).  The assortment of gemstones and the different thicknesses of the bracelets allow them to be unique.  The smaller bracelets are the typical trend among the ladies that I have seen, probably because they are significantly cheaper than the thicker ones.  The smaller ones tend to average about $400, depending on the type of gemstone.  The larger ones can cost up to $2200 (Neiman Marcus).  In addition to college students sporting these bracelets, celebrities like Taylor Swift (Passion for Fashion) and Kate Bosworth (Instyle) have been seen wearing them.  Women aren't the only ones who have been seen wearing David Yurman.  Steven Spielberg and Kevin Spacey have been spotted donning this designer's jewelry (alljewelrydesigners).  David Yurman jewelry could potentially be on the Christmas list of every teenage boy and girl this winter, if a loved one is willing to go a little more green.  

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Grade A for Gaga

     Not only did Lady Gaga stun the crowd with her 8 wins at the VMAs Sunday night (billboard.com), she stunned them by wearing a dress made entirely out of real meat.   Designer Franc Fernandez created the special ensemble for her.  Even her purse, shoes, and hat were fashioned out of meat (style.mtv.com).  Lady Gaga has created a raw sense of fashion that surpasses every other celebrity in the world.   Her wardrobe is filled, but certainly not limited to, latex dresses, Kermit the Frog, unique leotards, red and black Chantilly lace, and Saturn rings that are out of this world.  Little monsters everywhere love her for her daring and wild sense of style.  What will the fashion icon think of next?
                                                                                                            
  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/13/lady-gagas -meat-dress-photos_n_714117.html

Details on the dress

Watch her acceptance speech