Trend of the Moment: Ombre Dress

Whether dressing up for a cocktail party or a black-tie affair, an ombré dress is the perfect statement this summer. Flirty, daring, and very chic, ombré is a subtle attention-getter that adds that extra spark to your evening style, whether you go for summer brights or a darker, more dramatic look.

I personally prefer ombré dresses and skirts in blues, as it reminds me of the ocean and the cool breezes on the beach. I also find the variety in ombré pieces fascinating, since you can really play around with a variety of colors and gradations to make each piece unique, from soft and romantic to edgy and dark and many other styles in between.

Below I've found some of my favorite ombré dresses and skirts online. Click on the brand name below the pictures to be directed to the site where it is available for purchase.


Cocktail Dresses


Foley + Corinna, Celine



Vivienne Westwood, Forever21



Doo.Ri, BCBG



Evening Gowns


BCBG, BCBG



A.B.S., Badgley Mischka



Nicole Miller, BCBG

I <3 the 80's

Gia, Linda Evangelista, Inès de la Fressange, Armani, Chanel, YSL, and lots of 80's styling.

What more could a girl want?




Picture source: TFS

Delfina Delettrez Jewelry

I recently discovered the gorgeous work of Delfina Delettrez. While extremely expensive, her designs are mind-blowing, stunning, and edgy. This is some of the most unique, interesting, and brilliantly-designed jewelry I have ever seen, and is totally my style. I can see any of these designs perfectly paired with a dramatic black outfit by Givenchy or Balmain.

Enjoy admiring some of her creations below:








Picture source: luisaviaroma.com

Allison Harvard

The 12th season of America's Next Top Model wrapped Wednesday night, and my favorite contestant, Allison Harvard, was runner-up. At first I was highly disappointed, as she, in my opinion, could be the next Gemma Ward with her unique looks, but now I am actually quite relieved she did not win.

Why? Because very few of the winners of America's Next Top Model go on to have "top model" careers. The most successful contestants have been runners-up, finding work in non-American markets. Because Allison has such an intense, "creepy," and doll-like look, I think she would be wildly successful in Asia, as former contestant Elyse Sewell has been.



Whatever she decides to do, I think Allison could easily become a fashion sensation, and I hope to see her in some fierce editorials in the future. Below are some of her photos from her ANTM portfolio:



Picture source: CW

Chanel Fiole Concept Car

Jinyoung Jo, a car designer from South Korea, created this stunning Chanel concept car. Jo said that the design of the car was based on simplicity of lines and “the best of black and white," making it unbelievably sleek and chic and so very Chanel. I'm amazed that fashion and specifically Chanel's signature look is so well translated into an automobile!

If this ever becomes real, I will drool whenever I see it on the streets, and will dream of having a paycheck big enough to buy the undoubtedly 6-figure-sum car.

Admire the beautiful concept car below:





Picture source: Cyana Trend Land

Budget Bags in Peacock Print

One of the "it" dresses this season is the Matthew Williamson for H&M peacock dress, seen on young starlets such as Katy Perry, Paris Hilton, and Mischa Barton and raved about by even more young women.



The colors are rich, gorgeous, and feminine, and, as a mini dress, it is youthful while still being chic with its shift-dress structure. I haven't spotted it (or any pieces from the Matthew Williamson collection) yet at my local H&M, but once I do, you can be guaranteed I'll splurge on it-- or at least try it on and admire it for hours.
Furthermore, Matthew Williamson has made a clutch for his regular line that seems to be peacock-inspired as well. Made from brightly colored silk, this bag is extremely expensive @ $1200; therefore, as cute as it may be, it's not really feasible to the average fashionista's budget.

•••••••

Since I am quite obsessed with all things peacock, as well as loving the bright-color trend this season, I have found three bags for all occasions that are just as colorful, cute, and chic as the Matthew Williamson bag above, but that are all affordable. There is a clutch for smart daywear, a tote for casualwear, and a very elegant bag for eveningwear, all of which are peacock-themed and are oh-so-fashionable.

Click on the picture of each bag to be directed to the online store where they are available for purchase.

MET Costume Gala Favorites

At the MET Costume Gala on May 4, many gorgeous models and other celebrities gathered to show off exquisite designs for the "Model as Muse" exhibit. Below are my favorite looks from the evening:


Kate Moss in Marc Jacobs

I normally do not like monochromatic looks, but Kate Moss looks so impossibly chic here. It shows what a style icon she is that she can make a turban look fresh and relevant.

Anne Hathaway in Marc Jacobs

This was my favorite look of the evening. Anne mixed it up hair and make-up wise and took a risk with her Marc Jacobs dress-- a risk that paid off. Her pale skin looks positively glowing against the rich purple color of the dress.

Gisele Bundchen in Versace

Sexy and stunning as usual. Gisele possesses that supermodel quality that makes you unable to look away. I am obsessed with the color of this dress.

Kate Bosworth in Stella McCartney

Kate Bosworth is one of the few startlets that truly embodies "effortlessly chic," and continues to exude style here. I love the Veronica Lake hair, bright red lips, and slightly gothic, slinky dress-- a darker, more retro look for her.

Diane Kruger in Chanel

Diane Kruger is another actress who always looks impeccable yet still takes risks. She looks absolutely beautiful here and can compete with the other models in attendance. The shoes are not my favorites, though, since I dislike bows.

Marion Cotillard in Christian Dior

Marion looks so elegant and ethereal without looking like she's trying too hard. She looks absolutely radiant in her dewy, nude ensemble.

Sasha Pivovarova in Giambattista Valli

Sasha is a fierce model and came dressed in a very fierce look. The coat is incredible... I wonder if it's made entirely of peacock feathers! If so, I die. The accessories really add the right touch of life and color to her LBD and black sequined heels. What an exotic siren!

Kate Beckinsale in Marchesa

Kate Beckinsale always looks glamorous (if not over-the-top sometimes). Luckily for her, the Costume Gala is one of those rare occassions where it is very hard to be over-the-top, so her huge, gray gown with bling even down to her train makes her stand out and look gorgeous.

Jessica Stam in Rodarte

A golden goddess. This is actually an unexpected choice in my opinion, since Stam normally dresses in cooler-toned colors. Statuesque and gorgeous!

Katy Perry in Tommy Hilfiger

Considering she wore a Hello Kitty spandex bodysuit earlier this year, I feel like this is a safe choice for Katy. I still love it, however, as the color really looks great with her inky black hair, and the neckpiece makes her look like a modern Cleopatra.



Picture source: Just Jared, celebuzz, imnotobsessed, style.com

The Look for Less: Zippers in Waves

I successfully acquired a zipper-embellished piece for this spring and summer without spending obscene amounts of money or buying a dress which, as edgy yet cute as the zippers may be, is, in my opinion, very unflattering. The Aldo clutch isn't currently up on their site, but I'm sure they have it in stores (where I bought mine).


Note on my picture of the clutch: My kitten Princess Zelda's cute nose aside, the zipper ruffles on the clutch look a little crumpled, probably because the same kitten was sitting on the non-zipper side before I took the picture. My apologies! It's even more amazing in person!!


Picture source: 3.1 Phillip Lim Zipper Dress

Instant Obession: Calleen Cordero Latigo Lace Up Boots

Unique. Edgy. Stunning. Well-made. Versatile.



I can think of dozens of outfits that these boots would take from fashionable to knock-em-dead-effortlessly-chic-fashionista territory. Fierce can't even begin to describe them.

♥Obsessed♥

Available @ shopbop.com.

New Header!

I updated (finally!) the header for the site; it's much better for Spring/Summer.

It features Gisele Bundchen in Dior's 2002 summer ads, Lily Donaldson in a French Vogue editorial from September 2007 photographed by Terry Richardson, and Natasha Poly in Gucci's Spring 2009 ad campaign.

I hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather, and for the lovely readers in the Southern hemisphere, make sure to stay warm going into winter and let the new sunny banner lift your spirits!

♥

Dressing It Up for Summer

Looking business casual for summer can be tricky, since you have to find a way to remain cool yet sophisticated. Lighter-weight fabrics are essential, as well as a chic pair of chinos. Invest in a pocket-square that can match different colors and textures, as well as either a navy Oxford shirt or blazer that will look very summery yet suave. Also, since it's summer, feel free to experiment with color, while keeping the other pieces more classic with khaki, white, gray, and navy.

Here are examples brought to you by Scott Schuman. Learn and make it your own!



Picture source: The Sartorialist

Casual Summer Style for Men

Here are examples of men dressed impeccably in "summer casual" wear, shot by the absolutely incredible Scott Schuman.

Note the short length, which should hit right above the knee (unless you are as daring as the man in picture three), as well as the fit of the shirts, all very slim-cut and form fitting. Furthermore, the accessories really bring out the personality of each of these men, and are the key to taking looks from cookie-cutter classic to stylish.

Picture source: The Sartorialist, a blog that should be in the Favorites folder of every stylish man.