Vaguely in my memory I seem to remember owning a pair of floral shorts a child. Like many things, let's not tell my mother that something I abhorred in the past has now come to haunt my sartorial dreams. In one instant, I can think that these floral shorts from Vancouver boutique Adhesif are at once ugly and lovely. Talk about confusing. I am quite intrigued though by the look of having a patterned bottom paired with a starkly minimalist top. A messy braid is always a covet-able thing as well, though frankly impossible at this moment for me with my shorter hair length. I can envision wearing these shorts in any number of combinations. Perhaps a trip to the Main St. location will be in order? Check out these and the rest of the spring collection online.
It's almost April and spring is on our mind. The end of winter is coming and one must be prepared. Time to dust off those floral flats, crocheted cardys, and dainty dresses! Spring always seems like the time to shuck off dark colors and heavy knits in favour of lighter, floaty things and this year is no different. Trends this year point to skirts that float on every breeze paired with bright colors and pure whites. Lengths plummet to your ankles with maxis seemingly popping up everywhere, but midi lengths are also very popular as well. What's great about this season's offerings are that they are not just for the pretty waifs with their teeny waists and endless gams, but are accessible to anyone! European retailer One Stop Plus has a great plus size dress section where I saw tons of wearable and beautiful dresses for spring:
First up, this gorgeous silk patterned dress. Love love love the delicate crepe de chine pattern in this soft peacock blue color that will flatter just about anyone. This floaty silk will just flutter beautifully in the breeze and the wrapover effect effectively hides any tummy. Match this with some trendy fringed purses and sandals and you are good to go.
Lace has been an occurring trend for a few seasons now and it doesn't look like it'll be leaving anytime soon. It's easy to see why when few other materials embody innocence and sex appeal so completely like lace. A white lace dress should have a home in every woman's spring wardrobe and this classic sheath is most versatile.
I have yet to find my perfect maxi dress, but this hot basic is pretty close. The cut is simple and the fabric infinitely touchable being made of a combination of viscose and elastane. Since I sometimes find jersey to be a bit too clingy in the wrong areas, so I would go for a size bigger just to get that trendy, loose fit. With such a simple cut, opt for a bright cheery color like this coral!
Lastly, for when you need to go for a more formal, upscale look, do it up in a floral patterned knee-length dress like this one. The knee-length look is such a classic and emphasizes shapely calves. I love how this dress has a retro feel with its round neckline and short sleeves. Utterly charming my dear!
What spring dress trends will you be trying out this year?
** This post was brought to you by One Stop Plus. All images and content were chosen by the author.
Update (20:40 PST): Thank you to reader Cathy for letting me know I had gotten the store name wrong! It has now been corrected.
If you watch a film during the glamourous glory days of Hollywood, you'll see countless starlets, posing with legs primly crossed, red lipstick in place, checking their porcelain complexions in the reflection of a chic compact mirror. That vision of poise and beauty made a lifelong impression on me and a fond appreciation for pretty compact mirrors. Sadly, I have yet to own one that would qualify as anything but utilitarian, opting instead for ones that came with built-in lights useful for check-ups in darkly lit club washrooms. Now that I don't have a need for that sort of tool as much anymore, I'd much rather have something more chic and feminine to slide coyly out of my purse while out and about.
What better spot to start looking for appropriate compact options than that place of all things whimsical and vintage, Etsy? A quick search astounded me with how many compact mirror makers there are out there! Here are a couple I have my eye on, ranging from vintage chic, to cutesy fun. Help me decide readers!
What could be girlier than polka dots and pink? Nothing except if I'd worn my floral skirt with this too, which thinking about it, I should have. I've been trying to narrow down a short blurb about what my style is as I was recently asked what I would define mine as. The closest I could come to was downtown-girly-chic. I love a slightly edgy, urban look that is a little boho, a little rock, and I seem to favour oversized items. However, I do love fitted, retro silhouettes and full-on feminine glam ranging from classic sophistication to Japanese kawaii.
In terms of life, life has been crazy! March has been full of dinners, coffee chats, events, and lots of writing. I have a couple of interviews coming up for Killahbeez and Schema that showcase some great entrepreneurs, and I'm also going to be speaking at a couple local events!
The first coming up is the Asian Canadian Journalists Association monthly dinner on Mar. 31. Join me and the guys behind Vancouver food blog Vancouver Slop as we talk about the business of blogging. Email to rsvp: acja.vancouver at gmail.com
The second speaking event will be on behalf of Schema at #NetCulture: Stories of Culture & Diversity in Social Media on April 5. The event is this month's feature for the widely popular technology & community workshop series, NetTuesdays. Occurring on the 1st Tuesday of every month, these intimate unconferences highlight various topics that will inspire you to use technology to accomplish change in your communities. I believe #NetCulture will be streamed LIVE online, so check out the site for info closer to the date!
Right now I'm obsessed with the modern minimalism look. It takes real craft to make simple things, complex. Like a piece of art, you could easily brush a bag like this off as super plain and boring, but I ask you to take a longer look. A simple design puts the stress on craftsmanship, like straight stitching, quality materials, and unique, subtle details. This shopper from Furla echoes the clean aesthetic of Chloe and Fendi, but with a more mainstream edge. The combination of cream, cognac, and black leather is soothing and appealing to the eye. Inside, this bag is comfortably roomy with an interior zip pocket and slots for your wallet and phone. Simple and sophisticated: remember these words this season as they are words to live by.
200 billion plastic bottles are consumed each year worldwide.
20% of this 200 billion is recycled
1.5 billion barrels of oil is used every year in the US alone producing plastic water bottles. That's enough to run 100,000 cars for a year
Knowing these things makes it hard to justify buying that expensive bottled water on an everyday basis. We in North America take water for granted, but we don't have to. Our purchasing power can have an impact. Today is World Water Day and on today you have a chance to make a conscious decision. Save the planet: reduce, reuse, recycle!
Instead of buying bottle water, bring your own water bottle. Today I'm featuring steel water bottle maker, S'well. A S'well bottle is designed to keep your hots hot, and your colds cold and their bottles come in a rainbow of colours. The price of $40 a bottle, is pretty steep at first until you add up what you would have spent before buying bottled water! Also, S'well donates 10% of their sales profit to Water Aid, an organization that aids developing communities in securing a reliable water supply. The idea is that if the people of these communities, particularly women, don't have to spend hours everyday collecting water, then they can spend more time improving their lives with education. It's a noble cause with real results that I can definitely get behind!
I am super excited to attend this week what is surely one of the sexiest events I've been to in a long while. In celebration for the premiere of the film Suckerpunch, Rio Theatre and Lace Embrace Atelier are throwing a special movie premiere/fashion show extravaganza!
Local boutique lingerie house Lace Embrace Atelier, Scout Boutique, and TrunkShow by Misty Greer will be presenting a feast for the eyes with their gorgeously seductive take on 50's burlesque, including corsets from Lace Embrace which were featured in the film! After the show will be a midnight screening of Suckerpunch.
I am super psyched to check out some hot bods and hot fashions, drink plenty of libations, and watch some girls kick ass in the film. I've even managed to convince Mr. Artist to be my photographer for the evening, although a night of drinks and propped-up cleavage was probably more convincing than spending time with me. If you'd like to go, tickets are available for $18 via Rio Theatre!
Now onto the important part: what does one wear to a burlesque fashion show? Obviously all eyes will be on the models, but wouldn't it be so fun to play up one's inner sex kitten? Methinks a hotter-than-hot corset is entirely appropriate. I have always fantasized about owning a corset, but frankly the ones I've tried are either super expensive, or incredibly difficult to fasten up solo! Corsets are great body-shapers, sucking in all your wobbly bits and creating a smooth and sexy hourglass. Corsets are also one of those regretably few fashion items that truly suit the curvy over the waif. To wear a corset well, you have to have something to put into it! If I were to get one right now, I would definitely be drooling over these curvy-gal-friendly and pretty damn amazing options, all from Simply Yours:
For something a little cheekier, try this reversible black & pink satin corset which features some flirtatious touches like lace cups and front facing hook & eye closure. Easy to put on (and off!)
Finally, for those of us who believe in going big, or going home, try this white-hot number! Give your man a heartattack by wearing this lace and satin corset with the garters, or remove the garters and pair the corset with a blazer and skinny jeans for a slightly more respectable look.
If you haven't checked out the trailer for Suckerpunch, I would recommend doing so - it looks bad-ass! And if you are going to the event Thursday, give me a shout and I'll see you there!
(Seriously, who wears falsies in a mental hospital?! This movie is so ridiculous looking, it's cool)
Haters be silenced. A designer of lesser talent would have crumbled under the enormous pressure that Sarah Burton must have felt as she sought to fill Alexander McQueens' uber cool large shoes. Taking over a design house after the dramatically tragic death of its founder? Gawd, I would not wish for that. Burton however has risen to the occasion, debuting a season of clothes, shoes, and accessories that would have her predecessor clapping. One such star of the season is sure to be this 3D Hobo. Reviving the most classic of hobo shapes, Burton's McQueen chooses to make it edgy and avant-garde with its addition of highly embellished Western style gold buckles and studs. Take a closer look and you will see that every gold link is delicately carved throughout - such details are the true mark of a great designer item. The other unique and obvious detail are the leather cut-out leaves that adorn the sides of the bag. When I first spotted this bag on Purse Blog, I thought they were actually leather feathers and I still wish they were. Feathers would be awesome Sarah, take note, but leaves are just as cool a twist on the regular flowers that everyone else is doing. It's nice to see that one of my favourite design houses will continue to be strong and just as original as it always was.
In other news, some of you may have noticed a new button on my sidebar under the Find Me On section! The other week I was approached by UK siteThe Shopping Forecast to have a spot on their coveted Style Council. The Shopping Forecast is a very unique and cool website concept; members of the Style Council (made up of bloggers and fashionistas around the world) choose and submit hot fashion items to the site, which are then voted upon by the site's community, called the Style Electorate. Each item gains points for each vote and there are regular tallies of the most popular items. Users can create their own outfits, and through their votes, share what they feel are the hottest trends for each season. There are also chances to win great cash prizes for creating the most popular outfit collages! I have to say that I'm proud to represent as the only Canadian on the council. Check out my bio and the rest of the style council here and vote for today's lust of the week by clicking the image below!
According to Japanese beauty brand HadaLabo, a bottle of their Shirojyun lotion is sold every 4 seconds! That is a pretty convincing statistic, as is the many glowing reviews of this product online. The Hadalabo Shirojyun lotion is actually what we in North America would call a toner as it works to refresh, moisten, and purify cleansed skin. This particular lotion also has whitening ingredients to give you a youthful, elegant glow with it's "pure and simple" beauty philosophy.
The Guts
The primary agents in this lotion/toner is Supahiaruron Acid and Hyaluronic Acid, which act as powerful hydrating ingredients that replenish your skin's moisture as well as repair its outer seal to prevent further moisture from escaping. Hyaluronic acid is very popular it seems in Japanese beauty products. HA is found naturally in one's skin, but as we age, we produce less. The Shirojyun lotion acts to repair the skin's barrier to retain moisture and return it to its natural moisture balance. For those with sensitive skin, this lotion is also perfect for you as it contains no fragrances, mineral oils, alcohol, or other irritants.
Price & Packaging
I bought this lotion on sasa.com for around $12 for a very large 170mL bottle. The packaging as you can see is very simple with a straightforward flip-top lid.
Effectiveness
Using the Shirojyun lotion requires a bit of a different technique than regular toners. After cleansing, pour about a dime sized amount into the palm of your hand, spread the product between your palms, and then slap your face. Now, I don't mean you should just bitch slap yourself, but use more of a gentle clapping motion against your face and pat the product in. HadaLabo even provides a helpful video on how to use the product (the girl here is having an ectastic time using it!). After this step, use your moisturizer as normal.
When I first tried this product, I thought it was a moisturizer and used it during the day. The product is quite watery and translucent. When applied, your skin immediately feels super moist and soft, almost dewy. It absorbs quickly with some energetic slap/patting, but leaves it very very slightly sticky for a minute after. I still think you could use this lotion as a moisturizer and toner in one if you have normal to oily skin and it is summer when you want a lighter moisturizer. However, if you have normal to dry skin and it's winter then you may wish to follow up with a day moisturizer.
The biggest con with this product was that it made my skin break out! A couple weeks after using it regularly, I got little minor zits all over my T-zone. Considering this product is supposed to be non-irritating, I was certainly disgruntled. After a couple more weeks, the zits have gone and my skin has settled back down. Perhaps it just needed to adjust to these new, strange ingredient combinations?
Buy or Ditch?
At the moment I am still on the fence with this one, but I will say Buy if forced to choose since I have yet to read a bad review of this product, it's cheap, and the tutorial video is hilarious.
It's thisclose to the middle of March, but already my thoughts are in June. All I can think about are the choice trends and colors I am wanting to wear in the impending sunnier season. Argh, patience may be a virtue, but it sure sucks like anything. Sadly, I'll have to live vicariously through my blog, fantasizing with you about what will adorn my feet when it no longer becomes necessary to pack an umbrella, gloves, and toque every. single. day.
This summer for me is all about fun and neutrals mixed with splashes of vibrant color. Fashion cycles are pointing back to the 70s and that means natural, earthy looks are in, but yet so are vibrant color blocking! Pair the two together and you have fantasticness.
Check out these fabulous heeled sandals here for instance; these sandals embody several trends, such as the color blocking, the peep-toe, and the sling-back. When I was in Zara recently my eye was immediately caught by these vibrantly colored sling-back kitten heels and why not - sling-backs have a certain sexiness to them, like a flirtatious wink, and they allow you avoid that not so attractive slap against your heels that non-sling-back sandals tend to have.
Keeping with the earthy vibe are these fun and easy fringed sandals. Wouldn't these be perfect to wear to the beach, complete with a tan, a tanned boy, and a guitar? These sandals are definitely an echo of the gladiator style, but the fringe and studding on the ankle give it more modern vibe. I also really love how the studs look like they are varying colors!
Summer to me is a time to wear easy-going, slip on and go, shoes and you can't get any easier than these sandals! I could walk all day in these, they look so comfortable, and yet they are pretty enough with the large studs and shiny silver straps that they could go with anything from denim shorts, to floral dresses. Strappy, flat sandals are always a staple in my summer shoe closet as the straps add visual complexity to a shoe, but the flatness makes them as comfortable as flip-flops.
As you can see, I do love sling-backs. I owned a pair of sandals like these before and literally wore them into the ground. In fact, I'm pretty sure I still have them in the vain hopes of resurrecting them one day. The gold tone leather of these sandals is so appealing as it warms up the skin and yet this tone is light enough that it could blend easily with most outfit colors. The criss-cross straps are demure and lady-like and check out once again people - obviously peep-toes are the big thing! Showing that little bit of toe (and pedicure of course) is so much funner than covering them all up. Kinda like cleavage, a little goes a long way ladies.
So what shoe trends will you be wearing this summer? Heels or flats, boots even? I'd love to know! Also, if you liked the shoes featured here, then you should check out all the other great and affordable styles available at Viva La Diva Shoes. They have a wide variety of sandals, boots and the Viva La Diva high heel shoes section is especially tempting!
** This post was brought to you by Viva la Diva Shoes. All content and images were chosen by the author.
Taken on a day when it was sunny and not uber chilly, so I decided to bust out the flats instead of boots. In a strange mood while I write this. The post title is a song lyric from a band I've recently started listening to, which is a little indie, a little country, and a lot of unusual for my ears. Perhaps it's time to swing my musical tastes back to my original guitar strewn origins?
Anyways, the title makes me think about the word vulnerable. It's kind of a fun word to say, just rolling off the tongue like a rumbling drum roll, but it's a supremely difficult thing to be. I find it extremely difficult to reveal that side of myself to a person and in fact in the past I would rather cut off my own hand than extend it out to someone in the hopes they would take it. Rather than letting a person hurt me, I would preemptively hurt them first, so then in a sick way I would feel like I deserved what karma I got, because at least I got them before they hurt me. Why does it feel worse to be the victim blindsided?
It seems like we all have our complicated methodologies to protect ourselves. Just like the song, we turn our backs to face away from the blow, while desperately hoping inside that it will be a caress instead. I've been trying to change myself though. I could much more easily have built up walls around myself after being extremely hurt numerous times by people I loved, but I am a big sap and believe that maybe out there, is a person who won't let you down. Maybe I've found it? For the past year I would say, I think I have actually stopped being as afraid. My back is still turned, but at least I can say I am looking back over my shoulder.
Last month I had the pleasure to meet up with the stylish and highly talented Keys N Krates. Made up of turntablist Jr. Flo, keyboardist Matisse, and drummer Adam Tune, this band packs a powerhouse of musical talent together to create an innovative new sound that has never been heard before. Pioneers of the "live remix" Keys N Krates merges the electronic samplings of a turntable, with the melodies and rhythm of a traditional band into one delicious stew of sound. Oh and did I mention that the guys are pretty easy on the eyes, especially Matisse! I met up with the band before their recent Vancouver show and we talked music, style, and inspirations. Check out the video, subscribe to my channel, and take a listen to their music. Keys N Krates: MizzJ approved.
My inbox is always cluttered with alerts to sales and new items to tickle my fancy, so usually my process to get through it all is to skim, skim, look at pictures, delete. The keys for making me stop and read an email are good subject line and catching imagery. This week, Hayden Hartnett caught my eye with their adorable and practical carryall pouches. Judging by the blogosphere's "inside my purse" posts, many of us females carry a variety of pouches to carry all of life's miscellaneous matter: makeup, pens, paper, change, keys, anything! Why not stow your things in a cute pouch you'd be proud to bring out? Hayden Hartnett offers a variety of pouches, ranging in material from leather (vegan too!), to metallics, to calf hair! Plus right now, they're on sale for 20% off as well as their edgy-chic cuffs! I'm partial to the leopard print myself, what do you see calling to you?
Last week I was privileged enough to attend the 2011 Nicole Bridger show for Vancouver Eco-Fashion Week. As always, Nicole failed to disappoint. Her runway was straight and to the point and showcased what was in and what was not for Fall 2011. This season, it is all about deep, harvest tones. I'm talking plums, rich maroons, navy, mustard yellow, and gorgeous coral tinged reds. It all makes me want to dive gradefully into a pile of amber and red leaves until I remember that leaves are actually soggy, brown, and filled with worms. Here are a few of my highlights from the show:
Love love love this luxurious white wool coat. The rippled front is genius and just begs to be left unbuttoned while you casually drape a silk scarf around your neck like coldness is something that only affects the unfashionable.
This gorgeous sheer number was my favourite of the night, at least with the top half. The sheerness with that cute black bralet, high neckline and loose sleeves is so on point and the color is the exact shade of red that would look amazing as a lipstick. Nicole, please make coordinating makeup to sell please!
This outfit I wanted to feature for the cool mix of mustard and navy, plus check out the amazing belt the model is wearing! After seeing many a blogger knot their belt, I've decided plain buckling is for chumps.
Finally, I think this look here encapsulates the idea of the whole collection. Featuring Nicole's signature relaxed silhouette, jersey, and draping, this outfit also features a rich combination of cranberry and plum. So deliciously pretty!
Thanks again to Vancouver Eco-Fashion Week and Vanguard PR for another great evening!
If you'd like to see more photos from the fashion week, check out their Flickr stream!
Yesterday I was woken by a strange thing. My room was filled in the wee hours of the morning with a golden ambiance shining through my blinds and disturbing my slumber. What was this phenomenon happening to me? I seem to remember what it is.. ah yes, sunshine. Readers, it seems that Spring can not come quickly enough for those of us in the Northern hemisphere. Everyday as I pull on my trusty boots once more, I look longingly at my floral flats, strappy sandals, and jaunty heels. Soon, soon, I will take them out for a much needed walk.
Coinciding with one's spring footwear, one needs appropriately spring-like clothing. Florals are a big trend once again this year, something which I'm glad for as I still haven't quite gotten my floral obsession out of my system just yet. Nothing banishes winter's dark colors and layers like delicate floral dresses and tops. If you're looking for some floral items that will literally cost less than a night of all-you-can-eat hot pot (yes, this is how I calculate value), then you simply must check out UK retailer Bank Fashion. I'm not super familiar with this retailer, but they seem targeted towards the Forever 21 set. Bank Fashion has a wide variety of casual, pretty clothes that are super cheap! Here are a few ways to incorporate florals into your closet, all for under 20£ (or $31 CAD!):
I actually own a dress very similar in shape to this so I can attest to its wear-ability. Create that perfect hourglass shape with its accentuated waist, while side pockets are a plus plus in my book!
Maxis are another big trend this spring. At first I was very wary of this look, but after seeing a few intrepid short bloggers rock this look, I am on the hunt for a great maxi! Take on two trends at once with this walG maxi dress. Wouldn't this look perfect with some wedges and the next item below?
While not technically floral, it does feature a floral crochet pattern! If you're not a huge fan of florals, but want that feminine touch, something like this shrug is the way to go. A shrug is uber versatile; make it girly with a dress and flat sandas, or make it edgy with a vintage band tee and dark skinnies!
How will you wear florals this season?
** Please note that this post was brought to you by Bank Fashion. All content was chosen and written by the author.
This weekend it seemed like spring decided to give us a glimpse of what we've been missing! It was actually sunny and warm enough to not need the multiple layers I usually have to wear to stay warm. This outfit here reflects my current love of comfy clothes and easy on the eye colours. While I love the look a crisp white shirt can give you, I find it horribly difficult to find one that fits! I have heard of many other petites having the same problem, but I cannot just simply buy the smallest XXP or whatever other ridiculously mini size they have out there. Oh no, see I'm short, but I'm not necessarily tiny. I actually have a bit of curve so that throws another wrench into things, or however that expression goes. Thus, I've decided to make do and use a white button-down as a layering option, like so. Since my top is so loosely fitting, I balance it out with a short skirt and tights. All this just so I can wear this tank top, which I love! I found this supremely soft tank top at a little store in Metrotown I'd never noticed before called Habit of Urban. This store is rather unique as it seems the majority of their items are reversible! I got this tank, plus another one in different tones for $9 each! Such a steal. That's like $4.50 per variation! Perfect for layering, as soft as a baby's bum, and machine washable. It really doesn't get better than that.
Mark your calendar Vancouver fashionistas. Vancouver is going to have its first FNO on Tuesday, March 8 2011. This isn't just a night of bubbly and pretty clothes though. This premiere event is actually a fundraiser to raise support for Out in Schools, an organization dedicated to breaking down stereotypes about the LGBT community in schools and providing a safe haven and resource for youth.
Attendees will be treated with a special fashion by The Hudson Bay Co.'s White Space as well as a cocktail reception featuring live DJs, a silent auction, and of course amazing swag! Here's the deets:
Event: Fashion’s Night OUT
Date: Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Time: 19:00-22:00 (7:00-10:00 pm)
Venue: V Lounge at Earl’s Yaletown
Pricing: $20 with all proceeds going to Out in Schools
Why I share these things sometimes with you readers I don't know. If I share it with you, then there is less chance that I may purchase it myself! Please I beg you, lay off with the mouse clicks, unless of course you are going to purchase this darling dress for me. Bloggers don't survive on window shopping alone you know, but rather on cheeky little dresses like this one! Oh, and ramen.
This past week was a whirlwind of activity. Myself and the co-editor-in-chief of Schema Magazine were interviewed for our work by a journalism student in Montreal. It was fun being interviewed, but sometimes I have to admit I did not understand the questions that the interviewer was asking! Note to fellow writers, if you are interviewing someone, don't try so hard to sound intellectual. Say your question concisely and in clear language; it's about the meaning, not the form. The rest of the week was a blur of volunteer meetings (shh but big announcement coming in March!), watching the Nicole Bridger show during Vancouver Eco Fashion Week, and getting inspired about open source video initiatives at the Remixology event Friday. Finally it became the weekend and I was very grateful for a couple days of doing nothing with Mr. Artist and the doggie doo. I also finally got some time to learn more about how to use my new DSLR! I am so in love with my new baby, even though I have little understanding of how to use it. Shutters, aperture, ISO, it's all so confusing! After watching some tutorials, I think I understand what the different functions are for, but now I have to develop my "artistic eye." Any recommends on how to learn?
In other news I received the Versatile Blogger award from a fellow blogger way over in Indonesia! If you haven't heard of Yuri's blog Two Thousand Things, then you really should hop, skip and jump over, because her wardrobe remixing and styling posts are some of the best ever! She stuns me with how creative she is. For this award I have to list 7 random things about myself and then pass it on to 7 other blogs! So here goes...
I hate it when my feet stick out of the blanket while I'm sleeping so I always have to have my feet covered; however I cannot sleep if I wear socks to bed either!
My favourite flavour of pho is beef balls with beef flank
When I was little, I would make mayonnaise sandwiches. That's right, just mayo and bread!
When I interviewed Far East Movement, one of the bandmates had dry lips. I offered him my strawberry Lip Smackers.
I have terrible, incomprehensible handwriting. Sometimes I can't even read it.
I used to be able to do this when I was younger and it is my yoga goal to do it again someday
I have never been to the circus because I find clowns to be the creepiest things
As far back as I can remember, I've watched the Oscars. In my family, bonding time is TV time. We all gather together, get comfy and debate the fashion highs and lows, who brought who as a date, and which films would come out on top. Since I've grown up, the family Oscar watching has sadly ceased, but I try to keep the tradition going in spirit. This year, I even managed to convince Mr. Artist to keep it on in the background this past Sunday. Sadly, he did not remember any of the red carpet highlights, but lucky for me I have you readers to commiserate with!
As soon as you can see the red carpet fashions, you can bet there will be a ton of Oscar knock-offs appearing. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with these inspired gowns. Celebrities are meant to inspire us with their trend-setting looks, be it gowns, hairstyles, or body sculpting tricks. As long as you're not trying to pass off your knock-off as the real deal, then why not? Here are a few of my favourite looks from the Oscars and their more attainable look-alikes:
Halle Berry looked stunning in one of my favourite designers, Marchesa. Halle always goes for stunningly romantic gowns in neutral tones that complement her glowing skin. While not everyone was a fan, I personally loved the cascading beauty of Halle's train. This Mignon gown at $578 echoes the same color family and chiffon ruffles as Halle's dress, but at a much cheaper price point.
Next we have Natalie Portman. Natalie, I worship thee. Not only are you gorgeous and a natural beauty normally, you are literally luminescent as a pregnant woman! Class, beauty, elegance and intelligence are the words to describe Natalie and in this beautiful plum Rodarte gown she is the epitome of all those things. You cannot even tell she is pregnant here as your eyes are just captivated by how rich that color looks against her complexion. Well done. This Mori Lee gown on the right has a very similar color as the Rodarte, but with a different halter neckline that is also quite flattering, especially if you have well shaped shoulders, and a sexy cut-out back. Available for $330.
Finally there is Sandra Bullock in her drop-dead hot revenge dress. Who says revenge is a dish best served cold when you can serve it up in the form of a smoking red Vera Wang? I loved how simple this dress was, letting the color take center stage. Minimal jewelry put the focus on Sandra's porcelain skin. The final blow is delivered to us by that clever little dip in the neckline, giving us just a peek of cleavage. Classy and sexy done well. Sandra, you just proved without a word why you are sooo beyond that trailer trash. It's ok darling, we all make mistakes. Anyways what was I saying? Well, if you need a revenge dress as smashing as this one, consider this Flirt by Maggie Sottero gown. It's still got that devilish red color, the notched neckline, and also features a glamourous ruffle and jeweled accent at the waist. Take that!
So what were your favourites from the Oscars? Would you wear any of the more affordable options here?
