Velvet Goldmine

For better or worse the nineties have been trending for a while now, and one of my favorite trends this era that has had a resurgence is velvet. Prior to the nineties velvet had a major moment in the seventies, so the velvet trend works well with this seasons continued love of that decade as well. Velvet mixes well with denim for a more casual look, but can also be quite dressy and would be a perfect option for any Christmas or holiday parties you might be attending. Accessories are another great way to incorporate velvet into your wardrobe. This year I have seen lots of fantastic boots in velvet. Here are a few of my top picks to get your velvet on!

Aquazzura blue velvet "fauna" boots

While these fabulous boots do come without the decorative bugs, I say go big or go home. If you're going to wear blue velvet over the knee boots, you might as well wear blue velvet over the knee boots decorated with gold beetles.

Wilfred bordeaux velvet tank top

A perfect little tank work on its own or under a jacket to make it work appropriate. This could work dressed up with a black lace skirt or a pair of tuxedo pants for a Christmas party, or tucked into some high-waisted jeans for a casual look.

Free People velvet flares

While these cranberry coloured and boldly printed flared velvet pants might not be for everyone, I personally think they are pretty awesome. Just be sure you choose something simple to wear on top.

Zara black velvet trousers

These pants are good option if your style is a little more classic. Red velvet flares aren't for everyone, and these ones are beautiful as well. Paired with a gorgeous blouse these could work for a party.

Alexandre Birman pink suede sandals

The pale pink shade of these tie-up sandals is so pretty and feminine. This shoe is great example of how some velvet pieces can work all year round. These would look so pretty with a sparkly mini dress for a New Year's Eve party.

Wedding Bells

Guess what?!?! I'm getting married!!! Very exciting news and the best part is, of course, the DRESS. A girl only gets one chance to get the dress right, so it is critical to select the perfect one. I have pretty much a perfect image in my mind of what mine will look like, but you never know how these things will end up. So, in the spirit of wedding gowns, here is a list I have compiled of some of the most memorable gowns of all time. Some are stunning, some are hilarious, and some are just a hot mess.

Princess Diana
This dress apparently possessed the longest train in the history of the monarch. It also possessed everything that horrifies me most about the eighties. At the time this gown represented the ultimate fairy tale, complete with a real life prince (who in the end turned out to be a bit of a frog, if you ask me). Unfortunately, while it did go down in history, I don't really think it stands the test of time. I think we can all agree that while Princess Diana truly did grow to become a fashion icon, this may not have been her best look.



Kate Moss
Kate Moss in this stunning design by John Galliano looks like a glamorous fairy princess. Which would clearly make John Galliano the magic dress-making elf. Overall, this is a pretty perfect look. The intricate beading and lace veil are so gorgeous.





Pamela Anderson
Who could forget the classiest beach wedding of all time? The day when Pamela Anderson married Tommy Lee wearing a white bikini into which approximately one of her breasts fit, was a great day for wedding fashion. Like her swimsuit, the marriage was brief.







Carolyn Bessette Kennedy
The ultimate nineties minimal bride, Carolyn Bessette wore a simple slip dress by Narciso Rodriguez to marry John F. Kennedy Jr. This is the perfect example of when less is definitely more.



Victoria Beckham
Talk about over the top! She has a crown, and apples in her bouquet. Posh Spice becomes the ultimate princess, wearing Vera Wang and marrying David Beckham in a Scottish castle.





The outfits that really need to be discussed though, are the matching purple reception ensembles. Matching purple outfits, people!!! They even put a purple top hat on their baby. These two truly were masters of the matching outfits. Does anyone else miss the coordinating Posh n Becks? I sure do.



Carrie Bradshaw
I know that this dress was beloved my many, but personally I found it to be a hot mess. The boob cups look like they could fit my whole head in one of them. The makeup is horrifying and the bird is crazy. Honestly, I might have left her at the altar too.




Kate Middleton
I'm not going to lie, I woke up in the middle of the night to watch the royal wedding in real time. This dress managed to be both modern and timeless. A royal wedding in Westminster Abbey requires a very formal and modest gown. Designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, the dress took inspiration from Grace Kelly's wedding gown. I really love her hair and makeup, too.

The 69th Annual Cannes Film Festival

The Cannes Film Festival is one of my favorite red carpets. The fashion pack always bring their A-game, and the stunning Mediterranean backdrop doesn't hurt either.

Bella Hadid in Roberto Cavalli
Bella Hadid made her Cannes red carpet debut this year, and she has proven to be a style star. I love this dress that she chose with the nude colour and intricate beading. The collar-style necklace is a perfect finishing touch.





Amal Clooney in Atelier Versace
I had to include a picture with George! Although I cannot abide by his goatee. I love the pale yellow shade of this gown, and I always think an ethereal goddess gown is a perfect choice for Cannes. The red lip and old Hollywood hairstyle compliment the look perfectly.

Blake Lively in Atelier Versace
I cannot believe that this woman is pregnant! She looks amazing. I love the graphic pattern on this dress and the colour looks stunning on her.





Bella Hadid in Alexandre Vauthier
I love a good slip dress, and this one is truly stunning, but the slit is just too much. Much too much. Red satin is tricky enough to pull off in a classy way, and unfortunately this aggressive slit just ruins this look for me.




Kendall Jenner in Roberto Cavalli
This looks like a Halloween costume to me. There is something deeply wrong with a gown that doesn't even manage to flatter a super model. No bueno.





Julianne Moore in Givenchy
While I will admit that the cobra motif is a bit weird, the more I look at this ensemble, the more it grows on me. Julianne Moore always takes fashion risks and tries edgier looks on the red carpet, so I think that this one is a good choice for her.




Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen
This dress is simply gorgeous. The intricate beading is truly breathtaking, and there are butterflies worked into the design. The only thing I would change is the necklaces. With such an ornate design I think this dress would look better without them.




Blake Lively in Atelier Versace
This girl rarely has a miss, but this is one in my books. It looks like something that a Miss America contestant would wear. This particular shade of blue combined with glitter reads extremely tacky. Everyone has a misstep now and again I suppose!







Katy Perry in Marchesa
This is a hot mess. She looks like a flamenco dancer. I don't actually mind the bottom part of the dress, but the sleeves are ridiculous. The fit in the bust area is very unflattering, and has created a bit of a uniboob situation.




Naomi Watts in Michael Kors
Now this is how you do a slip dress! I love the simple shape of this dress and the shimmering pale grey colour looks beautiful. I would have loved maybe an emerald necklace with this to add a bit more punch.





Jessica Chastain in Armani Prive
This is the ultimate Jessica Rabbit look. While this is definitely a safer choice, this looks exudes old Hollywood glamour. I love the bright yellow colour, which is nice change from all the black and nude we have been seeing lately. The necklace is a perfect finishing touch.

The Met Gala - Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology

Fashion's biggest night has come and gone. The annual Met Gala is the one evening when all the stars throw caution to the wind with their sartorial choices, and truly push the envelope. I really love this year's theme. It lends the perfect opportunity for wearing stunning designs that showcase the truly fantastic feats that can be reached with both traditional hand crafted techniques and new modern technologies. That being said, I don't think very many people on the red carpet managed to pull off this theme in a chic or flattering way. Here is my list of some of the best and worst dressed of the evening.



Olivia Wilde in Michael Kors
It makes me just a little sad that she is pregnant and you can't even tell. I love how simple and modern this dress is. My favorite part is the silver choker detail, it really makes the dress. The sleek ponytail is the perfect hairstyle to compliment this look.






Taylor Swift in Louis Vuitton
This new grunge look is really not working for Taylor. The platinum blonde hair washes out her light complexion and the dark lipstick is too harsh. The dress and the boots separately aren't bad, but put together, it's really too much and just doesn't work for me.





Kendall Jenner in Atelier Versace
This gown is just okay. I have never been a fan of the love handle cutouts, I always find it looks a bit trashy. I do like the colour and the pattern, but it doesn't compare to the emerald green Calvin Klein gown she wore last year.



Kim Kardashian in Balmain
This woman consistently fails to have even a mild understanding of what is flattering to her body. This gown is clearly made for a tall supermodel, and poor Kim looks fairly ridiculous. On a side note, apparently Anna Wintour was so upset by her selfie-taking on the red carpet last year that she explicitly told her and Kanye to not do it again this year, or they would be uninvited next year!




Margot Robbie in Calvin Klein Collection
I love this minimal look in clean white. The more subtle cutouts in this gown work without looking trashy. My favorite part of this outfit though, is the gold Wonder Woman cuffs!





Lupita Nyong'o in Calvin Klein Collection
This mermaid-esque shimmering gown is gorgeous, and I really love the sheer train. However, the hair is giving me a strong Dr. Seuss vibe. No bueno.


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Blake Lively in Burberry
I love the train on this gown. The floral detailing is gorgeous and the peachy colour looks so pretty on Blake. The only part I don't like is the earrings, they really are too much with this look.




Karolina Kurkova in Marchesa
This is one of my favorite looks from the evening. The pale blue colour is so gorgeous with the white flower applique. In truly embracing the theme of technology in fashion, the flowers actually light up! Simply stunning.




Nicole Kidman in Alexander McQueen
This beaded celestial-themed gown was another of my favorites. It looks like a dark starry night. The couture workmanship that went into this ensemble is just incredible. Of course, I love the cape too!




Nicki Minaj in Moschino
This is a mess on so many levels. She looks like Morticia Addams long lost sister that's a hooker. The whole looks is too much. Too sheer, too many buckles, too many straps, and too much boob.





Beyonce in Givenchy Haute Couture
I love everything about this, except that it's made out of a condom. The flesh-toned latex really ruins the whole effect for me. The fit is perfect and the embellishment is beautiful, but all I can think about is the layer of sweat that must be accumulating inside this dress.





Katy Perry in Prada
I love this look from the neck down. The hair and makeup is quite terrifying, but the dress is quite magnificent. I always love a good train, especially on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum.




Kate Hudson in Atelier Versace
At first glance I wasn't a big fan of this gown, but upon a second look I really like it. The construction of this dress is incredible, appearing as if it were crafted out of slices of paper. This look truly embraces the theme.

Jeanology

Jeans...there is so very much to say about them. They are worn by farmers as well as Beyonce. They can cost $2 or $2,000. Almost everyone owns a pair, yet so many own the wrong pair unfortunately. They are such a classic wardrobe staple, but they cause so much trouble for so many women. Finding the perfect pair that not only feels great, but looks fantastic as well can be pretty tricky. Here are some general tips for finding your bum a perfect match:
Generally speaking, a higher rise is more flattering to almost everyone. Not to mention that an extreme low-rise is very 2001. Especially when accessorized with a flash of thong (also known as the whale tale). Not a good look for anyone. A higher rise is one of those great things that is on trend as well as flattering. A win for everyone. Except for muffin tops, they tend to lose with a high rise. But a loss for the muffin top is a win for everyone else. Usually a mid-rise, which comes just below the belly button does the trick, if you're not comfortable with clothing at or above the belly button.



Marilyn Monroe rocking a pair of  high rise jeans on the set of River of No Return. No muffin tops here!


Another key component of a good pair of jeans is pocket placement. The pocket must sit on your actual rear end. The whole pocket must be on the cheek! It must not sit in the bum crease, where half the pocket is on your actual bum and the lower half of the pocket is on the top of your thigh. This is so crucial: the pockets must be high on your cheeks, not low in your crease! Recite this mantra. If this rule is not followed you will get a sad, droopy low hanging bum, regardless of whether or not this is the actual state of your bum.



Marilyn's perky bum - a yes.



A definite no to this flat and droopy situation. It looks like her actual bum starts where the hideous stitching begins, but the pockets sit much lower, creating this unflattering situation.


Levis with pockets ON the bum, creating a much perkier look.

Another common jean feature to be wary of is fading. Generally speaking if you want a faded look, choose a style that is totally faded. Avoid weird patches of fading along the thighs and be very careful of "whiskering", which is the little strips of fading that swipe across the hips. These accents can sometimes accentuate areas that you might not want accentuated.




An example of unflattering whiskering. This pair of jeans actually has a number of other horrific things going on as well. Starting with an extreme low rise, as well as a bejewelled button, and my personal favorite, what appears to be some nude pantyhose underneath it all. Say no to all of this. 



Keeping all of this in mind while denim shopping can be difficult, especially when you also need to consider what style of jeans you are looking for. I'm not going to tell you what style is right for you because everyone has different needs based on your lifestyle. Instead, I will just share with you my personal favorite styles. I hope you like them too!








Skinny jeans are a classic staple that is so versatile. My current favorite style is the high rise skinny from Levis.




Seventies flares are another favorite of mine. To really nail this look make sure to choose a high rise and a style that is really long (hem them to mostly cover your shoes). Also, keep in mind that this is very different flare than the one you wore in grade eight if you're close in age to me. The flare needs to start at least at the knee, not all fitted and then a sudden flare at the ankle, which can look dated. This style is from Free People.




Make sure the rear view is good too!






My other favorite jean style is the boyfriend jean. Choose a style that is still fitted on the hips and then is looser in the legs. This style is always best cuffed and with rips. Boyfriend jeans are great to wear casually with sneakers or flat sandals, but I really love them dressed up with some killer statement heels. These ones are from Sun and Shadows at Nordstrom.



I will leave you with a parting shot of quite possibly the worst jeans of all time. Say no to everything happening here: the cuffed capri length, the white stitching, the embellished pockets, all culminating in a truly heinous pair of jeans. I just know that on her feet are a pair of foam platform flip flops. So please, get your rear into a pair of jeans that make you feel fabulous, and if this final pair are what makes you feel fabulous, then that is great. Just know that I will be secretly judging you if I see you wearing them.

2016 Golden Globes Fashion

Ahhh...the Golden Globes, the one night when everyone knows the awards are bought, but no one will say it. Until now: thank you Ricky Gervais. The legitimacy of the actual awards aside, the fashion is still great...or greatly terrible. Here are some of the most notable looks of the evening.



Jennifer Lopez in Giambattista Valli
This is one of my favorite looks of the evening. This particular shade of mustard is quite tricky to pull off, but J.Lo slays, as usual. I love the little cape and the necklace is killing me it's so good. What I love the most though, is that this is somewhat of a different look for J.Lo. She stuck with her favorite red carpet designer, but this is quite a departure from the usual beaded, plunging, sheer, smokey eyed, nude lipped, massive hair situation that we are used to seeing her in. Not that I don't love that J.Lo, but this is a breath of fresh air.





Kate Hudson in Michael Kors
I was so disappointed when I first saw this, since I usually just love what Kate wears. This is a bit too much on the trashy side. I would have preferred it if this dress just had cutouts, rather than a Britney Spears-style tube top. I do love the colour and the hair and makeup is on point, but the massive strip of midriff (great abs, by the way) and the hideous choker situation is a big fail.




Julianne Moore in Tom Ford
Having Tom Ford as one of your besties would be a real asset when it comes time to turn yourself into a total glamazon for the red carpet. Julianne Moore is just killing it in midnight blue. This is how you work a weird choker thing! What I love about her is that she always goes high-fashion and takes a bit of a risk with her edginess, and she ALWAYS hits the mark.






Kate Winslet in Ralph Lauren
While there is nothing terrible about this, there is certainly nothing great about it either. It's giving me a bit of a bridesmaid vibe. The fit is perfect, and her bod looks great, but this is truly putting me to sleep. Kate, we know you can do so much better. Please bring it to the Oscars.




Jane Fonda in Yves Saint Laurent
As someone who is known for bringing some serious heat to the red carpet and giving girls four decades younger than her a run for their money, this would be a huge disappointment if it wasn't also pretty hilarious., She looks like a clown or a pilgrim and the internet has named her Jane Fondant.






Amy Adams in Atelier Versace
I love this one! She shows that you can be a redhead and wear red. I love the waist accent that carries all the way down to the hem of the gown creating an elongating effect. I would have preferred her hair to be  swept to one shoulder to showcase some statement earrings. Other than that I love it.




Cate Blanchett in Givenchy
This gown is a piece of art. Standing still, it might not be to everyone's taste, but seeing it move with the layers of individually hand sewn fringe swaying you have to at least appreciate an incredible piece of haute couture, even if you don't particularly care for it. I actually love it, and the fact that she always wears these meticulously crafted works of wearable art are one of the reasons I just love Ms. Blanchett. The delicate pink colour works perfectly here, bringing a little femininity to something so avant garde. Not everyone can pull this off (most in fact, cannot) so I applaud her for taking a risk and making it work, every single time.



Olivia Wilde in Michael Kors
I love a good seventies throwback, and this one is no exception. I love the burgundy sequins, which is a bit unexpected. At first I didn't like the necklace, but looking at it the second time around, it has definitely grown on me. The only thing I don't like is the matching burgundy eye shadow. I have yet to see anyone look good in red eye makeup.




Bryce Dallas Howard in Jenny Packham
This poor girl! She is so young and pretty, and it looks like she borrowed her grandmother's dress. The colour is beautiful on her (we saw how Julianne Moore worked it), but a three quarter sleeve tends to be quite aging. Add to that the mixture of lace and brocade, and an extremely boring hairstyle, and what you get is a big sad yawn.



Heidi Klum in Marchesa
Sometimes fringe plus feathers equals a big hairy mess. Considering she is a supermodel and has had a long standing job on a show about fashion designers, you would think she would have picked up a style clue or two. Alas, Ms. Klum continues to be red carpet disaster time and time again. The Golden Globes were no exception.



Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Atelier Versace
This is golden goddess perfection. There really isn't much else to say. It does make me feel a little bad for the actresses who are under so much pressure to not only look amazing and but then also take home an award at the end of the night, to have to share the carpet with a stunning supermodel who looks like absolute perfection and also like she didn't even try, and she's only there for the party.




Jennifer Lawrence in Dior
I know this look is topping a lot of best dressed lists, but I didn't love it. I definitely like the dress, but I don't think it's really anything too special, and the hair I hate. It's so blonde that it almost looks grey, and the updo is really boring. The overall combination with the choker is extremely aging. Be young while you can! You have plenty of years to dress like a clown, just ask Jane Fonda.