Wearing is Believing

Red Carpet Rundown: 2009 Emmys

The 2009 Emmys were all about bold: color and accessories were positively eye-popping on the red carpet. 

The carpet wasn’t the only thing that was red: it was by far the night’s most popular gown color.  Red looked smashing on starlets young (Hayden Panettiere, Blake Lively) and aging gracefully (Sigourney Weaver, left).  Red also was the most popular lip color, whether it matched a dress perfectly or provided a pop to a gown of another hue.

Second runner-up in the color popularity contest: white.  Kim Kardashian, January Jones and Olivia Wilde (right) were just a few of the celebs who wore

the crisp, clean shade to the Emmys.  Olivia Wilde kept the accessories simple with her lacy cutout dress, wearing a single strand diamond bracelet and delicate drop earrings.  Get the look of Olivia Wilde’s understated elegance with Holsted Jewelers’ Her Majesty’s Platinum Over Sterling Bracelet, which features more than 31 karats of glittering cubic zirconia.

Nearly every star rocked a bold ring on her finger: whether it was Christina Applegate’s oversized sapphire, Drew Barrymore’s outrageous pearl, or Sandra

Oh’s divine gold gem, huge rings were THE red carpet accessory for the ’09 Emmys.

Cuff bracelets continued to be the wrist adornment of choice for stars like Leighton Meester and Kate Walsh (left,in a Stephen Russell Contemporary Collection diamond and 18kt yellow gold and platinum cuff).  Want a glam cuff all your own? Catch everyone’s eye with the Spotlight Cuff Bracelet or the Kendra Scott Cuff Bracelet - both under $150!

Brooches were an eye-catching addition to some celebs’ gowns: Chloe Sevigny (right) wore a lion’s head at her waist, while Lindsay Price’s shoulder was adorned with

a cross brooch that looked fit for royalty.

People Names 10 Best Dressed

People Magazine recently named their 10 Best Dressed female celebs - and it’s no surprise that many of the stars I dish about on this blog made their list!

I’ve picked out her Oscar and Golden Globes looks as favorites before - and Kate Winslet (at left) was selected for “Best Red Carpet” style.  Always ahead of the curve (and an expert at picking styles that embrace her curves and accentuate them!), Kate brings elegance and glamour to any event she attends.

She’s been called the new Jackie O - and in a true reflection of today’s times, she’s been a trendsetter without breaking the bank!  First Lady Michelle Obama’s mix of designer (Michael Kors, Isabel Toledo) and department store labels (like J. Crew and Gap) earned her the “Best Accessible Glamour” title.  Michelle (at right) helped popularize citrus shades this summer and has made sheaths incredibly chic!

Reese Witherspoon’s style transformation this year earned her a spot on People’s list for rocking the “Best Short Dresses”.  While she’s always been adorable, who knew Reese had such great gams until she started wearing minis by the likes of Rodarte and Fendi? 

Check out the rest of the list on People.com.  Do you have a favorite trendsetter?  Tell us - and don’t forget to find me on Facebook!

The New Little Black Dress

The new LBD is the Little Blue Dress!  More modern and popping with bold color, the little blue dress has been spotted at cocktail parties, clubs (cobalt is rocking the dance floors of Vegas), and red carpet events alike.  No matter the shade - baby blue like Sienna Miller or royal blue like Renee Zellweger, you’re sure to turn heads in a little blue dress.  Even better - it’s flattering to nearly every skin tone, and nothing makes blue eyes look bluer.

What to pair with your little blue dress?  Cream or nude pumps look fabulous - as will silver or gold.  Avoid matching your shoes exactly to the shade of your dress - it’s too on the nose these days.  And how about some little blue bling?  It'll add the perfect compliment to your dress.  Try a piece  that mixes diamonds and sapphires, like the Fabulous Faux Sapphire Celestial Eternity Ring ($45) or Midnight Mystique Drop Earrings ($45).  Topshop’s Multirow Necklace ($30) features numerous shades of blue, so it’s easy to match you your little blue dress - and will look great with a strapless cocktail dress.

There’s never been a time to get into the blue - so give your favorite little black dress a rest and try something new!

Booties, Baby!

It’s true that everything comes back in style eventually.  I threw away all of my ankle boots in the late 1990s, along with the vests and tapered jeans I so often wore with them in the early ‘90s.  Spotted on runways and in stores as summer turns to fall: ankle boots.

I can’t say I’m thrilled that booties are back -- and this time, they’re being paired with eveningwear.  Stars like Sandra Bullock (left) and Kristen Cavalieri (right) are wearing black ankle boots with cocktail dresses, dresses normally worn with strappy, delicate shoes.  To me, it looks like one of these things is not like the other - boots feel clunky and out of place paired with a cute little dress.  And beyond that, the only person I’ve seen pull them off without looking stumpy is Leighton Meester, who made granny boots look seriously stylish on Gossip Girl.

Still, if you’d like to try a pair, there are a few really cute options out there.  For fall, it’s all about soft suede versions.  I like Betsey Johnson’s Kilburn, a black ankle bootie with a rosette accent, and Tahari’s Gerry, which comes in elephant grey and purple, two of the season’s hottest colors.

What do you think of this trend?

Just For Twilight Fans!

What’s hotter than vampires these days?  Whether its novels, movies, or TV shows, immortal bloodsuckers are all the rage - and the trend has crossed over into fashion and beauty.

Nordstrom is releasing a Twilight clothing line this October, just in time for the premiere of the second Twilight film, New Moon.  The retailer is previewing tees from the line on their site before they go on sale.  While anything related to Twilight is bound to sell like hot cakes, t-shirts emblazoned with “Team Edward” or “Team Jacob” (for 2 of the points in New Moon’s love triangle) are hardly novel or fashion-forward.  That said, there are plenty of tweens and twentysomethings who will find Nordstrom’s New Moon line right up their alleys. 

I am genuinely excited, however, about the Twilight cosmetics line.  Also inspired by the Twilight saga, the line features two branches: Luna, inspired by the saga’s romance and the flush of young love, and Volturi, which culls its influence from the darker, villainous Volturi vampires, and aims to evoke the royal, immortal beauty of the Volturi characters. Both ends of the line feature mascara, staining balms, and palettes for the eyes, cheeks and lips.  One item I simply can’t wait to get my hands on:  Luna “Twilight” DuWop Lip Venom, which has crimson droplets suspended in the clear, slick Lip Venom lipgloss fans love.  With shades named ’53 Chevy (for heroine Bella’s red truck), Surrender, and Kindle, no fan will be able to resist!

Trendspotting: Romantic Ruffles

One trend that’s here to stay, at least through the fall, is ruffled tops.  A very feminine twist on the traditional men’s tuxedo shirt, this fresh look can go casual, or be dressed up for a night on the town. 

Pair a more casual button up version (like J. Crew’s Frances stripe ruffled tuxedo shirt, at left)  with your favorite jeans for the perfect laid back look.  J. Crew’s dressier Scattered petals tank works equally well with jeans and peep toe pumps as it does with a fitted pencil skirt.  My favorite take on the trend is BCBG’s sleeveless ruffle top, available in two of fall’s hottest colors - azalea pink and a royal purple.  Tuck it into a slim black pencil skirt for a perfectly pulled together look, great for  after work cocktails or dinner.  The BCBG top also looks great under a fitted jacket (as seen at right) - leggings make it more casual.

No matter what your style, a touch of romantic ruffles will add dimension and pop to your wardrobe!

True Blood Style - For $8?

Affordable fashion isn’t just for regular people - it’s for TV shows, too!

The stylist for True Blood, HBO’s steamy Southern gothic drama, recently revealed that she she shops for the female characters’ sundresses at Wal-Mart.  Audrey Fisher says that it wouldn’t be believable if the rural Louisiana characters wore edgier designer duds, so she dresses lead actresses Anna Paquin (at left with Stephen Moyer) and Deborah Ann Woll (at right) in the discount chain’s inexpensive yet adorable dresses.  Fisher then tailors the dresses for a perfect fit that sizzles on the small screen.

With most dresses retailing for under $20 (and some as little as $8), you can get the look of True Blood for beyond less!  And if you’re checking out Wal-Mart’s steals and deals, take a look at Miley Cyrus’ new line with designer Max Azria, which features youthful leggings, tops, and tees.

Don’t forget to find me on Facebook!

Passionate For Purple!

Last fall, I wore the heck out of my favorite purple trench coat.  Great news - purple continues to be huge, and is one of the big colors for fall this year, too!

The color of royalty adds punch to even the most drab ensemble, and is appropriate at any age - just check out Jessica Alba’s plum Converse (at left), and her toddler daughter, Honor’s purple sweatsuit if you need proof!

Purple is easy to pull off, even in large doses, like Eva Mendes and Megan Fox (at right) demonstrated at recent red carpet events - and it works in everyday life, too.  I got nothing but compliments every time I wore my purple trench, my favorite plum blouse, or my purple cocktail ring.  Purple flatters all skin tones, too - anyone can find the shade that’s perfect for them.

Wear it with black, or, take a cue from Megan Fox and wear two complimentary tones together.

Some of the coolest pieces to try: Forever 21’s scarf ($13), Lauren by Ralph Lauren purple trench ($199, at Macy’s), or Enzo Angiolini 'Merryann' Open Toe Pump ($79, at Nordstrom’s...just don’t buy all the 6 1/2s before I get mine!)

How Short Can You Go?

The recent Teen Choice Awards were all about cute little dresses and miles of leg -  almost every star hit the green grass red carpet in a minidress.  At a show where teens pick the winners, ball gowns just don’t fit the bill, so the more casual cocktail look was more than appropriate.

Brace yourselves, because I may never say this again:  I think Fergie (at left) looked fantastic.  Her black mini was striped with bright neon lines, evoking the fun and whimsy of childhood - very fitting for the event!  She accessorized with fierce purple shoes and a huge, almost warrior-like cuff that was reminiscent of an eagle head.

My least favorite look of the night?  Singer/actress JoJo (at right) abused a Bedazzler and perhaps 75 cans of Magic Sizing to come up with a stiff, studded mini that almost looked like cream colored armor. 

I’m a little torn on Britney Spears’ look at the show.  While she’s come so far from the unkempt mess she was in recent years, and she’s back to her glowing blonde self, there was something slightly off at the Teen Choice Awards.  Maybe it was the Jimmy Choo sandals?  Her asymmetrical Roberto Cavalli minidress was fun, but it seemed to draw the eye downward and make her look too elongated.  It’s tough for so little fabric to achieve this affect, but somehow it happened here.

What did you think of Teen Choice Awards fashion?  Or of the Awards themselves? 

Mad Men Style Hits The Mall

Very few TV shows these days have the style and panache of AMC’s Mad Men.  The curve-hugging dresses, the dark dapper suits, red lips and doe eyes, transported from a time when one could smoke in the office and have cocktails at lunch. 

In what is one of the greatest marketing marriages I’ve seen lately, the Emmy-winning drama has partnered with Banana Republic to create a line of looks inspired by Mad Men’s signature style.  Want to show everyone who’s boss at work?  Check out the chic pencil skirt and printed blouse inspired by the show’s sassy, sexy office manager Joan Holloway.  Career girl Peggy Olson’s newly sophisticated look is captured in a patterned sheath, snakeskin heels and gradient scarf.  Although Banana isn’t promoting a specific Betty Draper (at above left) look, I picked up one of the collection’s amazing little black dresses, reminiscent of Betty, the original desperate housewife.

And what man wouldn’t want to evoke the smoldering style of the show’s ad men - particularly Don Draper (above left)?  The collection features fedoras, dark suits, crisp shirts and ties.

The show comes back on August 16, and I’m not sure which I’m more excited to see - where the story picks up, or what the characters are wearing!  Mad about Mad Men’s style?  Share it!