While the at times tearful/ego-centric Academy Awards speeches are thrilling, I would much rather discuss the fabulous fashions, and this year there were a handful of belle’s who truly stunned on the red carpet!  So who was the most beautiful one of them all?  Sandra Bullock, was a knock-out in that super elegant platinum gown that was all fem and not at all generic.  I loved her classic hair and make-up styling that created an “Old Hollywood” feel as opposed to the hard brazen looks some other actresses tend to lean toward.  Who else hit a high note?  While many others despised the look Zoe Saldana donned, I thought she was fabulous in sparkly lilac with a skirt embellished with whimsy-pouffs of icey purple and amythest tulle.  So, what that her dress wasn’t the typical mermaid, ballgown, or sheath.  While I do feel that some of the tulle was a tad over-done (coming up on the sides) I still feel like  She rocked the look and looked all the bit glam and not at all icky.  NOTE: not too many people could pull off this Givenchy look like her.

Suprisingly, I was completely and utterly in LOVE with the look the newly svelt Kelly Osborne donned for the evening’s after hours soirees… Miss Kelly who is proud to show off her new bod was the epitomy of femininity in this blush toned ostrich skirted frock with pretty sheer top.  Perhaps I am just partial to feathers this season… or just not used to seeing Kelly girlified…Who, knows… In any event this “B/D-lister” made my list of fabulously fashioned starlets at this year’s awards.  GORE-GOUS! Mom on the other hand could use a bit of help… eek!  Can you say Mother of the Bride???

Others who I thought looked mad fab were Penelope Cruz – always pretty in a lovely deep crimson gown and Glee actress Lea Michele looked super elegante in her black dramatic gown with mermaid shape and exotic collar. 

Who was awful?  Mariah Carey was horrendous as usual in a navy gown complete with crotch hovering slit… Don’t show off the gams if they aren’t lookin’ so hot.  Maggie Gyllenhall did NOTHING for me also in her Dries Van Noten tropical mess of a dress… This poor gal  looked like she took one of my towels bought at the discount drug in the late 1980’s  and swaddled it ’round… eek.  Not a good move.  Who else didn’t make the mark?  Kate Winslet in boring pale silver, AND surprisingly Charlize Theron typically one of my favorites who chose a soft pastel purple number with swirling circles about the breasts that made her look like someone didn’t rub in the cream all the way.  ATROCIOUS! 

By the way sorry for the delay in my postings dear readers… It’s bit a trifle busy in my neck-o-the-woods but I hope to provide more diligent fashion coverage in the coming weeks and months!

When jackets and coats become a necessity its important to make sure you’re keeping everything fresh. A great way to add interest to a basic blazer or jacket is to layer complimentary colors with luxe or basic fabrics.  For instance, a pretty lime colored velveteen jacket would get a zip worn with a pretty silk top in Tiffany blue.  OR try a basic black fitted blazer with a pewter/metallic toned top embellished with ruffles or lace worn under a hum-drum hoodie.  Don’t forget some pretty chandelier earrings too and hair worn in a cute high pony with volume at the crown.  Read on for where to shop…

All looks courtesy of Jcrew.com. 

LODEN BLAZER: $148.00

BLUE TANK: $295.00

TUXEDO BLAZER: $228.00

METALLIC TOP: $98.00

HOODIE: $59.50

Sick of looking like everyone else?  Looking for a new way to express yourself with your wardrobe?  Then invest some time in vintage shopping.  And when I say invest, I mean it.  Vintage shopping takes a lot of patience, profound editing skills, and beneath it all a great eye and innate sense of style.  Scared yet? 

A plethora of websites these days are dedicated to all things vintage – clothing, accessories, shoes – etc… the great thing though is that these sites have all been edited by a pristine eye leaving only the creme de la creme to choose from as opposed to digging through dusty piles at your local goodwill.

Of course there is a price to pay for this service – garments are typically a little pricier than the $.25 find at the Village Thrift but you will be guaranteed an ensemble that will be hard to duplicate. Take this beaded frock from the 80’s for instance that has loads of appeal and ‘tude… If it was my size I would snatch it up (psst… $225.00)! 

My favorite site for the old and the new these days is www.nastygalvintage.com.  The site is chock full of the sweetest threads vintage and new (but with a vintage feel).  I am partial to these fabulous buckled up beauties featured right, that have a distinct Tory Burch feel without the sting of the pricetag.

Sunglasses and other accessories are fab on this site as well and won’t rob your bank account.  Since the flat top sunglasses of the 80’s are hot to trot right now try out a pair yourself to really get the edge going!  I am dying over these gold edged pretties featured left that would be great all year round.

It’s time to begin thinking about what to wear for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday!  As most of you know, I am a big proponent of dressing up for any sort of occassion and find the holidays the perfect time glam it up.  Why don sweats and tee’s over to Gram’s house when you can feel pretty in a warm autumnal hued short dress with a pretty beaded cardigan OR feel trendy chic in a pair of sequins leggins with a draped tunic.  When you dress up you not only feel better about yourself, you are also respecting your host/hostess who has gone to a lot of trouble creating a wonderful get together for you.  The images featured left are some inspirational pieces to think about before next Thursday!  Gobble gobble!

Dresses: Try a pretty frock in a deeper shade like magenta, goldenrod, or navy and don’t forget to perk it up with textured tights, booties, and some fabulous accessories.  Think clanky bangles, oversized button earrings, or a huge statement necklace in burnished bronze. (all dresses available at Lulus.com

Skirts: I am totally digging skirts at the moment and LOVE pairing something really frou with a basic tee or tank finished with a fem fleur at the neck.  Finish the look with a sweet leather jacket or denim fitted number.  For more comfort finish the look with a rounded ballet flat or don a pretty high heeled sandal with bow or sequins embellishment.  (Cage skirt: asos.com, gold wrap: lulus.com, tiered mesh: forever21.com)

Cardigans: It’s chilly out for heaven’s sake and not everyone will have their heat jacked up!  Invest in a sequins cardi that will liven up a dress, skirt or pants! (gold: forever21.com, black: asos.com)

I am not a country music kind of gal, but I don’t mind checking out the fashions worn by some of the industry’s brightest stars and making my comments on their choices of course! 

The days of atrocious and excessive fringes and sequins are pretty much long gone and instead, the country stars of today are donning glam and tasteful frocks that exude stylish confidence and appeal.  While there were some misses, the majority of the ladies looked great – even though the styling could have been tweaked a bit with a few…

Taylor Swift was very prim and fem in a frothy and tastefully sequins gown in glittering gold and champagne.  Experts say that nominees who pretty much think that they have it in the bag usually don a more conservative “pretty” look as opposed to selecting an edgy/fashion-forward piece.  I’d say that Taylor definitely planned ahead with this one.  I am also loving her retro-romantic hair that falls softly around her face and prettily finishes the look. 

STYLE TIP: when donning sequins keep accessories at bay.  The sparkle of the dress is first and foremost.  Bling isn’t necessary nor apropos with a look such as this.

Pretty girl Carrie Underwood did another metallic just right choosing an icey platinum rather than glittering gold like Swift.  The form fitting gown perfectly accentuated the singer’s petite  frame and the intricate and unique beading was quite current and a change from standard sequins.  Underwood too got her hair dead-on – full bouncy curls and easy upswept sides break up the severity of the structured embellishment and enhance the overall look.

STYLE TIP: Over-the-top dresses with excesive bling or exaggerated anything are best suited with a more fem approach to hair and make-up, while a more conservative frock lends a plain canvas for artisic cosmetics and coifs.

Gunmetal was the shade of choice for Kellie Pickler who donned this season’s popular one-shoulder look for the evening.   While I like the shape of the gown and the interesting color, I find it to be utterly unflattering on Pickler who recently changed her more complimenary blonde locks for a blah auburn that does nothing for her.  While I agree that an asymetrical look is best with an updo this one was a tad messy and did nothing to perk up the look… ALSO, Pickler’s jewelry is all wrong too.  A better choice when wearing a non-traditional neckline would be oversized chandelier earrings.  NOT a short collar necklace that competes with the single strap.

Kim Williams-Paisely in one word looked AWFUL.  The autumnal colors that made up her chiffon frock did little to make Kimmy a standout and the simple design was a snoozefest.  HAIR?  Terrible too.  The half-up, half-down look is sophisticated when done right, but in a case like this appears more juvenille than jazzy.  Quite honestly, a dress like this is entirely too casual for a red-carpet event and certainly not suitable for an actress in the public eye.  Kim has a great figure and she could have really done it up!

STYLE TIP: Short dresses can be just as elegant, if not more, than a long droopy look like Williams-Paisley’s.  An abbreviated style with a fitted bodice and full circle skirt would have been far more festive AND flattering.

And so  it goes my friends… The cooler breezes of autumn are blowing the leaves off the trees and forcing us into warmer attire.  In order to keep away the biting winds, many of us turn to the tried and true: A scarf.  But, what seriously befuddles me is the notion that a colored skinny rat’s tail-like fluff of fabric is any means to keep the breeze at bay… Perhaps many of you  are familiar with the scarf I am describing – to label it a chic accessory is serious oversight, however to perhaps equate it to a dead muppet is more apropos and entirely accurate.  I see women all over town donning these flimsy polyester fuzz tails around thier necks  and I have to tell you that it absolutely horrifies me.  A scarf does two things: 1. keeps you warm – (therefore cashmere and wool make sense where as poly-whatever does not) and 2. Brings an outfit together/adds interest to a heavy woolen coat.  The barfy boa accessory I am discussing does none of the above.

So, what shall we replace these atrocious gnarled nooses with?  Pashminas are fabulous investments and come in a plethora of colors that will suit a variety of skin tones and compliment many-a-jacket or coat.  Pashminas are wonderful because they are large enough to not only swath around your neck, but also to throw over your shoulders once the jacket has come off.  Stick with cashmere since it will keep you the warmest.

While it may seem unlikely silk scarves are quite warm as well despite their thin-ness.  Try this season’s hottest look – a pattern – paisley is nice – and don’t be afaid of wrapping it in BIG loose bundle around your neck as Nicole is pictured right - The bigger the better with these babies!  The best part?  They make a basic tee and jeans look fab once the outwear gets tossed.

Last Thursday our favorite Atlanta Housewives on Bravo bid us all adieu as they ended another season.  Along with all the catfighting and major ‘tude Sheree also debuted her highly anticipated (?) line “She By Sheree” fashion collection.  The real question is, who did the better fashion line this season – Sheree or Lisa?  My rants were evident in a past posting when I clearly admitted my dismay after viewing the cheap, unstylish looks presented at Lias’s unprofessional show.  So, I was a little curious as to how Sheree’s final show would come together…. And, I was pleasantly surprised.  The collection was a cohesive grouping of lush platinum silks and fabulously chunky accessories.  My personal favorite was the nickel jumpsuit with pretty pleating and an easy flow to the leg.  A piece such as that would be appropriate throughout the year and could be dressed up or down with a swap of accessories.  Where can I buy one?!

What else was great about the show?  The styling.  Thanks to buddy Dwight – hair and make-up was not only pretty and edgy it was also the perfect compliment to the pretty clothes that featured the very current structured shoulder.  What’s more is that Sheree’s show was a true “Fashion Show”  my girl didn’t clutter the stage with inappropriate furniture but instead kept it professional and chic with a long runway and her logo subtly lit up in the back.

Tsk!  Tsk!  What a bad blogger I am!  I will not provide excuses… Even though I have some good ones… and will instead cut to the chase and chat about my favorite subject – CLOTHES! 

If  following the fashion trends isn’t your “thing” you may not realize that fur is a big-time must have this season.  Never fear though, you don’t have to worry about spending $1000’s on the real McCoy – faux pieces are wonderful alternatives and when choosen with a discriminating eye look quite good and add just the right oomph to your fall skinnies or black legging staples.

There are BAD faux fur pieces out there though – in fact, stylist to the stars Rachel Zoe designed her own line for QVC which in one word can be described as “awful”.  Rachel is known for her love of fur – if you watch her show, you’ll see her swinging around the studio of fashion great J. Mendel in some fab-o coat or jacket that she just “dies” over.  However her line does not reflect the fine craftmanship nor the stylish structure of any new or vintage fuzzie she dons on the show.

So where can you find a more natural looking fur vest that won’t leave you in the poor house?!  Hop on over to Summit Mall or the nearest Express to you!  This brown zip up is super cute and will be cozy too and costs a mere $98.00.  Wear your’s with a black cashmere turtleneck, leggings, and to-the-knee equestrian boots or try with a boho paisley dress and thick brown tights.  Need some extra warmth  and a stylish new layer to your favorite coat?  Don the vest

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3034061?cm_cat=datafeed&cm_pla=outerwear:women:vest&cm_ite=damselle_faux_lynx_fur_vest:264289&cm_ven=Linkshare&siteId=J84DHJLQkR4-RdE8tXH5Hfa_EFAnfrTmFQ

Olivia Palermo

Ok, I have never been a huge fan of “The Hills” and when Whitney branched out with her new show “The City” I was not thrilled, especially since I never found her to be particularly fashionable.  So, needless to say, I didn’t tune in last season, BUT last night when flighting to find sleep I happened upon the first “The City” episode of the season where former DVF intern (?) Olivia has now “POOF” become accessories Editor of one of my favorite glossies Elle Magazine.  (A rather plum job if I do say so myself).  Anyway I was thoroughly engrossed whenever Olivia hit the screen as I pretended to live vicariously through her as she scampered across the streets of NYC trying to find some cheap chic looks for an upcoming Today Show segment.  But it wasn’t just what she was doing that had me jealous, it was her FABULOUS wardrobe!  My goodness can this girl dress (It helps that she’s a stick and gorgeous). 

Oversized Scarf

So, I have now found a new style muse and will definitely be tuning in week after week to acquire a bit of inspiration.  What did I love last night?  Fabulous paper-bag like shorts with an oversized psuedo safari like loose tunic finished with an AWESOMELY gigantic subtly printed scarf in the same putty like shade swathed generously around her tiny neck.  Please note though, her look is not for everyone.  While I LOVE her flowy tunics, they aren’t meant for non-willowy creatures like myself (and the vast majority)… Sometimes too much flow creates a non-shape and the illusion of extra bulk.  So, never forget proportion rules… While Olivia’s tall lanky frame can handle billowy shorts and shirts worn together the average Joe should try one larger shape with something more fitted.  Try a tunic for instance with skinny jeans or leggings.  Or wide leg pants/shorts with a fitted tank worn under a cardigan sweater that hits a few inches below the “bottom line” and add a waist line with a mid-width belt.

I read recently, that a stylish gal opted to wear the same dress for ONE full year but switched things up a bit by layering jackets, sweaters, turtlenecks, belts, and other accessories to change the look up COMPLETELY!  I must say, after viewing her “diary” of looks it was hard to recognize her LBD as the same in most of the pics!  While I am certainly not insinuating to wear the same exact dress every single day, I do want to share some different ways of styling up a basic so that you can get extra mileage out of it during the work week when that dreaded “I have nothing to wear” hits you square in the face.

I have selected a very plain but full of style black tunic dress that would work on just about every body type but can be changed up easily with the swapping of a flat to a heel and a slouchy sweater to a fuzzy faux fur vest.  All items featured can be found at www.revolveclothing.com