An ongoing love affaire with all things fashionable, tasty and fun

Posts tagged “Alexa Chung

Links You’ll Love

Health & Fitness:

Dark Chocolate Cherry Zucchini Bread

I was quite the little baker this Summer and I have to say that this was one of the tastiest and most creative recipes that I tried out – Dark Chocolate Cherry Zucchini Bread.

A short, energizing yoga workout is a great way to de-stress and stretch out after a long day at the office in your desk chair – Women’s Health yoga video.

Love Thy Self! Gala Darling agrees and wants to help you – 10 Radical Self Love Exercises To Boost Your Summer Lovin’!

A vegetable stir fry with either a grain or soy, tempeh, or tofu is one of my favorite quick & easy mid-week dinners so I enjoy finding new sauces and combinations to try out, like Peas And Thank You’s Szechuan Broccoli and Quinoa.

You don’t need a full hour for a workout to be beneficial, fit in some walking and short bursts of exercise whenever you can! Before work, during your lunch break, before a class starts – Get Fit In Only Fifteen Minutes.

Fashion:

Being able to break out all of your jeans is one of the fun things about Fall dressing. Check out FabSugar’s The Ultimate Fall Denim Guide — Every Trend, Cut, Color, and Fit.

My favorite part about Fall is the outerwear – I love full ankle-length coats, peacoats, trenches, blazers, basically anything that I can get my hands on – Coat Check: How to Take Your Look in a Ladylike Direction.

Most of us wish we could get more sleep, so why not save a few precious minutes in the morning by speeding up your beauty and makeup routine? How To Do Your Makeup In 5 Minutes (Really!)

Dressing for work doesn’t need to be boring, from colorful separates to chic suits to fabulous sheath dresses, Harper’s Bazaar has the answers – Stylish Work Clothes.

Our 6 Favorite Breast Cancer Awareness Products

Celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness month with some stylish pink finds – From beauty products to accessories and jewelry, no matter what you’re in the mood for you can support this great cause. Mama’s A Rolling Stone – Our 6 Favorite Breast Cancer Awareness Products.


London Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Street Style & Front Row Fashion

The street style in London always has a bit of drama to it – While New York Fashion Week is full of fun, bright Summer separates, London usually has more focus on deeper colors, outerwear, and great boots.

You can always out on Miss Dita to give great face. She always gives a look her all and looks perfectly put together.

Mixing prints like this is not a challenge to be taken on by a novice! Bright colorblocking, paisley pants, red, black & white heels, and an oversized black clutch with red piping. Masterly!

Mulberry had itself quite the front row! Designer Emma Hill was joined by the a couple of fabulous British It girls – Alexa Chung, Kate Moss, and Lana Del Rey.

Texture! Texture! Texture! Between the stacked beaded bracelets to the contrasting lace in blues and creams to the chunky statement necklace – This look is all about mixing and matching textures and fabrics.

Such a stylish, colorful outfit – I love the marigold cropped pants paired with the emerald-green double-breasted blazer, it’s an interesting and striking combination.

This is such a great British outfit! The sweet silhouette of the drop-waist shift dress, the contrasting collar, and the chic retro hat are lovely, and I like how she paired them with a statement necklace and brightly colored clutch.

Poppy has been a longtime fan and supporter of Matthew Williamson and put together a great boho look for his show – Torn jeans, metallic strappy sandals, an embroidered top, and braids.

This is a fantastic jacket and I love how she gave it a fun, relaxed feel by paring it with a graphic tee and the cherry red handbag.

Rocker chic meets Catholic school girl – Daisy Lowe put together an edgy but stylish black & white ensemble by pairing a pleated mini with a high-neck blouse, cropped motorcycle jacket, and ankle boots.

I absolutely adore this – The puppy sweater is too cute for words, the tweed coat is killer, and I NEED those moccasin heels!

The stylish outerwear wasn’t just on the runway at Burberry, Miss Julia RestoinRoitfeld and Robert Konjic looked great in double-breasted coats just outside the show.

Drama Queen! Never interested in being a wallflower ADR stuns in statement pieces after statement piece! Maybe she got caught in a fashion shower on her way to the show? 🙂

I adore this shot of models Poppy & Arizona. They have such distinct styles, but they both look great. Poppy’s studded ankle boots and black & white printed blouse suit her perfectly, while Arizona’s button-front dress and cropped leather jacket work really well to create a fun, unique look.

Stunning! I love the sweet Peter Pan collar and can’t imagine a more flattering color or cut for her. And those booties? Swoon! Leave it to a blogger to knock it right out of the park! 🙂

{Click on the links above to view the original source}

Previous LFW & Spring 2013 Collections: New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part I, New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part II, New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part III, New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Street Style & Front Row Fashion, London Fashion Week Fall 2012, London Fashion Week – Street Style & Front Row Fashion, London Fashion Week Spring 2012 Round-Up, and Streetstyle & Front Row Fashion – London Fashion Week.

Additional reviews, photographs, shows, and videos: London Fashion Week Spring 2013: Parties & Front Row, Street Style Spring 2013: London Fashion Week & London Backstage Beauty Files: Spring 2013 from Harper’s Bazaar.

Do you prefer the wild & vibrant styles that feature heavily on the sidewalks of New York City or the moody, Fall-inspired fashions on the London streets during Fashion Week?


Looks of the Week

Let’s start out this week’s Looks of the Week post with a fun Style Stalker piece from WhoWhatWear on Erika Bearman, otherwise known as The Oscar PR Girl. She’s an Oscar de la Renta insider and one of the premier voices in the online fashion community, with killer style, as you can see below.

Tres chic, non?

Very nearly speechless. That coat is PHENOMENAL. And on top of that she paired it with an adorable green handbag and killer blue velvet sandals. Absolute perfection!

So. Cute.

I love everything here – The chic but fun & girly gingham dress, the tan trench, the gorgeous Celine handbag, and the classic gold jewelry.

This tropical print wrap skirt from Zara is fabulous, and I love that she paired it with a simple white tee to keep the look low-key and perfect for Summer.

I love the way that Anna dello Russo styled this chic little Moschino dress – The bangles are gorgeous and those ankle strap nude & gold pumps are pretty darn cute.

If this adorable white mod-inspired dress looks familiar it’s because I featured Alexa Chung in the same piece a few weeks ago – Looks of the Week. Which look do you prefer, Alexa’s red carpet glam take or Anna’s more casual summertime style?

I’m not sure if I can pick just one – I love Alexa’s flamingo clutch ADR’s jewelry is the perfect finishing touch…

I love that the black skirt, wide-brimmed hat, and buckle-adorned boots give this look some edge and a fun, rock n’ roll vibe, keeping the floral button down from turning it in to a sweet, romantic look.

This is such an amazing combination of pieces that only an expert like Be Frassy could put together, I love how it all comes together to create a fun, sassy look.

Cute cute cute. This sleeveless white blouse looks clean and crisp despite the NYC heat, this is definitely a great way to keep cool this Summer.

And why not finish up this Looks of the Week post with a couple of my favorite looks from Comic-Con this past weekend? Don’t mind if I do…

Can you picture anything more adorably perfect for Comic-Con than this 3.1 Phillip Lim top? Cute, funky, and fun. She looks fabulous and appropriate.

It’s a tough job but somebody’s got to dress up as a kick @$$ superhero girl for Comic-Con. Must have? Skin-tight leather pants!

Boondock Saints is one of my all-time favorite movies and since I’ve had a massive crush on Norman Reedus since college I just HAD to include his sexy Comic-Con look here. Swoon.

I absolutely adored this look, the fun colors and youthful silhouette make it a great superhero-esque outfit.

What’s your favorite look here? Are you still living in warm weather clothes?

Click on images above to visit the original source.


Looks of the Week

Welcome back to another Looks of the Week post, personally, my favorite way to finish up a Monday.

How fabulous is he? I love everything from the umbrella and pocket square to the cut and color, to the black tie and suspenders. Just perfect!

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It can be hard to wear one color all over without looking like you’re trying to hard to having the hues not quiiite match up properly. This neutrals short outfit is a great example of how to make it work though, she looks put together and chic, but relaxed.

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I really enjoy mod-inspired fashions and this is a great great modern day example. She looks chic and well put together. Love!

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So. Cute. If you’re scared of trying out the peplum trend, a black skirt version like this one is a great choice to ease you into it. The highlight of this looks for me though is the Romwe Spiked Headband. Amazing.

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This is a great example of how a simple dress can be styled into something even better. She adds an adorable patterned blazer and gorgeous neutral colored accessories and takes this from basic to perfect LA style.

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This layering look is great. I love the slouchy sweater paired with short-shots, it creates a fun, unique silhouette.

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There’s a great retro vibe here and that’s part of what really caught my attention. I also adore the layering that’s going on. The button down, plus a collared button-up sweater, and finally the fabulous Jack London jacket. Well done!

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Wide leg pants can be incredibly chic and Zina’s look is perfection. The silhouette is flattering and the accessories are fabulous.

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So what’s your favorite look here?


2013 Resort Collections

Did the breathtaking Chanel Resort 2013 and Oscar de la Renta Resort 2013 collections whet your sartorial appetite for more gorgeous warm-weather clothes?

Me too!

I’ve narrowed down some of my favorite looks from all of the gorgeous 2013 Resort collections for you. I wish I had the time for a full review of each lovely show, but alas, I do not. Enjoy these highlights!

As usual, the Stella McCartney show was cheerful and fun, offering beautiful clothing in a fun atmosphere. Games, a lemonade stand, celebrities & fashion insiders, and gorgeous models sporting gorgeous, summery pieces. Perfection!

Roomy silhouettes, matching separates, strong lines, and beautiful, flattering prints. Yup, it’s Stella!

Florals, animal prints, shirt dresses, oversized blazers, matching short & top combos, lace, and pretty pinks & yellows. Ready for Summer?

Cute. Fun. Flirty. The Carven show was filled with great, wearable separates. A few dresses were sprinkled throughout the show, but the separates were the highlight. This collection had Alexa Chung’s name written allll over it!

The mixing of bold hues and use of colorblocking are really eye-catching in this look. The details are really great, I love the two-toned heels, contrasting collar on the jacket, and cute little Peter Pan collar on midriff-baring top.

This muted paisley cap-sleeved shift is a fabulous day look. You could easily wear sandals or flats with it to run errands around Paris!

I was thrilled when I heard the news that Miss L’Wren Scott was planning to show her first Resort collection this season. I’ve been a longtime fan of her Fall and Spring lines, I adore her ladylike silhouettes and the phenomenal attention to detail that her garments always have. And this fabulously retro collection, tailor-made for Mad Men or Pan Am, was worth the anticipation.

Aren’t these striking silhouettes, fabrics, and colors perfect for warm weather. Very eye-catching!

Sweater sets, mix n’ match separates, sleek sheath dresses, and matching hats & lace up heels were just what the doctor ordered. A ladylike spin on traditional Summer fare.

Marc Jacobs was all about brights, prints, and separates. As always, the show was busy, a fabulous chaotic mess of fabrics and patterns and color. Oversized, baggy shorts paired with sequined T-shirts, maxi dresses with cut-out backs, midi-length dresses and skirts in a-line silhouettes, and bold colors embellished with sequins, lace, and shimmering brocades. A feast for the eyes!

Voluminous shorts can be hard to pull off, but in these adorable prints and colors, I bet many will try next Summer!

Billowing mid-calf length skirts, contrasting prints, bright florals, collared T-shirts, thick strap Mary Jane’s, and belted waists. Could there be more elements in these looks?

I’ve been a fan of Phoebe Philo’s work at Celine since day one. The lines, the silhouettes, the pants, the chic minimalism, the accessories. Oh lord, the accessories.

All-white is great for Summer and this unbelievably chic look is perfect for next year. Just add some chunky jewelry and you’ll the be best dressed girl at the resort!

Black & white never looked so good! This is the sort of style that is universally flattering and can work for most women. And that bag… Swoon!

The colors and fabrics of this look really make it stand out. The clean lines mixed with the eye-catching colors is a great combination.

I’m a sucker for a pretty pattern and easy, wearable separates, which makes most of the Tory Burch collections right up my alley. This year’s resort show included mixing & matching patterns, thick banded sandals, striped & checkered pieces, over the shoulder bucket bags, headbands, short shorts, and even seashell accents.

These striped pants are fabulous, they’re flattering, fun, and versatile. You could just as easily throw them over a bathing suit with a simple white T-shirt & sandals as you could pair them with killer heels & a strapless top for nighttime.

These checkered shorts caught my attention immediately, I thought there were too cute paired with the chic, structured navy jacket.

Preen had great  florals, maxi dresses, and striking separates, but these two looks really stole the show in my opinion. I loved the dramatic quality of the color choices and the striking cuts.

This mix of fun, floral prints is really eye-catching and the cut of this dress is incredibly flattering. You could easily go from a daytime shopping trip to clubbing with a change of shoes, handbag, and accessories.

I love a maxi dress with a unique twists, like this one which has a more structured t-shirt silhouette, more daytime than beach time.

Michael Kors showed lots of solid colors and dazzling gold pieces. His silhouettes were simple and classic, the colors and occasional pattern definitely took front stage.

Great summer nights dress. Pretty, flattering and versatile, the perfect piece to take on vacation since you can wear it multiple times!

Without a doubt my favorite piece from this Resort collection. Fabulous cut and perfect styling, those gold sandals are killer!

You can always count on a Moschino Cheap and Chic show to be playful and entertaining, and the clothing to be cute and fun. This collection was all about gorgeous outerwear, whimsical prints, and relaxed, chic separates in cool greens and pale blues.

I love the light, Springy green of this coat, the relaxed silhouette, and the muted print. I’m also smitten with these retro spat-inspired black & white booties. Tres chic!

All the pieces of this look are great, but what makes it so striking is the combination. The oversized sweater paired with fitted black short, the to die for colorblock handbag, and the ridiculously cute striped peep-toe wedges. Great combination!

I always look forward to all of Jason Wu’s shows, his designs are inevitably chic and polished. Each and every look could go straight from the runway to the street outside the show without missing a beat. Classic, well-tailored, and timeless, these clothes are a great investment!

I NEED THIS! That’s the first thing I thought when I looked at this collection. These looks are eye-catching and too adorable for words. Pieces from this collection are definitely going to make their way into my closet!

And I’ve saved my favorite for last… Rachel Zoe! Fun, sexy, and completely drool-worthy. Daywear, club gear, bathing suit cover ups, all with a little drama and a 70’s spin. Just the way we like it!

Mod perfection. LOVE.

So sexy & chic! I love the black & white combinations here, the slim pants and the flirty a-line skirt are both fabulous. Love!

Great colors! The skinny suit is too chic for words and I love the darker florals, it’s a unique color scheme for summer.

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If you dying for more check out the following reviews and summaries for the fabulous 2013 Resort Collections – FashionVibe’s Resort Report, FabSugar’s Over 250 of the Best Looks From Resort 2013, and Refinery 29’s 17 Resort ’13 Collections That Blew Us Away.

What do you think of this collection of Summery runway shows? What were your favorite collections and pieces from the Resort 2013 lines?


Looks of the Week

Happy Tuesday! I don’t know about you, but I have quite the week ahead of me and losing myself in some pretty pictures each day is a MUST in order to preserve my sanity. So enjoy the pretty that I have planned for you this week!

Diane looking tres chic in contrasting colors and patterns. The dress in interesting and eye-catching but it was those shoes that stole the show in my opinion.

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Can you imagine anything more adorable or more Alexa? A basic, well-worn tee paired with a gold sequined mini skirt. Perfection! I just wish that I could see her shoes...

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Zoe Saldana looking fresh-faced and ready for Spring in an adorable coral Alexis Mabille crocheted dress. I love the color and especially the gorgeous bronze accessories that she paired with it.

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Miranda Kerr stunned in a printed coat and great Louis Vuitton bag - Proving yet again that she's one of the girls to watch when it comes to street style.

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I love the combination of prints here - the black & white geometric mixed with a Spring floral. I also love those shoes & need that jacket desperately!

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Natalia Vodianova was the picture of understated French elegance during Paris Fashion Week. I love the zipper details on the textured dress and the idea of wearing a turtleneck underneath.

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Magdalena Frackowiak's flat boots here were just too cute not to share. Love, love, love this casual & fun, but 100% chic look.

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Heather Marks walked Joe Fresh @ World MasterCard Fashion Week in Toronto with Meghan Collison & Alanna Zimmer. Colorful & toasty warm!

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Interested in seeing what the top models are wearing these days as they relax post-fashion week? Modelinia has photos of everyone from Hanne Gaby Odiele and Elettra Wiedemann to Victoria’s Secret Angels Doutzen Kroes and Candice Swanepoel.

Are you a Hunger Games devotee? Well here’s a little red carpet action to wet your appetites…

The Hunger Games Los Angeles Premiere Red Carpet:

Leslie Mann blew all the kids out of the water in a Monique Lhuillier jumpsuit. Chic and fun - j'adore!

Great cocktail dress! Its fun and eye-catching but the high-neck keeps it from being too too.

Odette Annable looked sleek and adorable in her simple green dress. Perfect standout look for a red carpet.

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The Hunger Games London Premiere Red Carpet:

Elizabeth Banks looked stunning in this yellow Bill Blass confection. A great, head-turning color for a blonde.

 

I like that this isn't your standard young male on the red carpet look... It's interesting and different, a nice change of pace - Way to go Josh!

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The Hunger Games Germany Premiere Red Carpet:

This custom Elie Saab number suited Miss Banks to a T. She's setting these HG red carpets on fire!

The three-piece grey suit is quite sharp but the highlight of this look is the striped shirt & checkered tie combo. Brilliant!

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Now don’t forget to enter the Spring Giveaway for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate from Bloomingdale’s. What better way to start a new Spring season?


Links You’ll Love

Health/Fitness:

Need some good reading materials? Here are two  healthy & nutrition related pieces to check out: Is Fructose Being Blamed Unfairly For The Obesity Epidemic from Science Daily and Dr. Terry Wahl’s video – Minding Your Mitochondria, about the unparalleled benefits of following a Hunter/Gatherer diet.

How to Fall In Love With Healthy Living from the amazing & hilarious Rachel Wilkerson – her latest article for Shape Magazine.

Interested in probiotics but not sure where to start? Here are a few pieces that you can read to help educate yourself: FitSugar’s The Pros of Probiotics and Choosing Raw’s Probiotics: To Take or Not To Take.

If you’re beginning a new workout regime or interested in really focusing your energy in order to get the best results possible at the gym than the word for you is INTERVAL. Intervals, Tabata & HIIT are the most effective ways to drop weight and build muscle through cardio. Here are some good basics to get you started:

Fashion:

If you haven’t seen Garance Dore’s hysterical Fashion Week diaries they’re a MUST: Pardon My French Part I, Pardon My French Part II & Pardon My French Part III. Gorgeous shots from the shows, backstage and the parties & events, all narrated by . Too cute.

Spring staple to get your hands on? The shirtdress! The Stylist’s latest recurring series is called Lessons For A Modern-Day Lady and their most recent piece is titled: How To Wear A Shirtdress.

Fun boots were all over the runways for Spring, what version are you going to live in? Modelinia has models loving their brown, low heeled ankle boots, FabSugar has the How To on wearing Winter boots with breezy Spring looks, The Stylist shows chic celebrities in Rain Boots or you can try combat boots a la Lisbeth Salander from The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. What is the right style for you?

In the mood for some grown up arts & crafts? Check out FabSugar’s DIY: Make A Sequin-Collar Top video, Design Sponge’s DIY Project: Leather Lunch Tote or the great DIY: Beaded Collar Blouse post from Moda, Moda that found when I was working on the Freckles In April 10 Day Style Challenge.


London Fashion Week – Street Style & Front Row Fashion

Happy Saturday! I know that one of the reasons that I enjoy street style blogs and front row pictures during Fashion Week is that it can really get your personal creative juices flowing. Seeing interesting new ways to pair pieces and fun mixing n’ matching can give you a fresh perspective when you look into your own closet.

Alright, ready for some cute looks from the always entertaining LFW? Lots of brights, lots of fun, warm fabrics like tweed, wool and cashmere and lots of fresh patterns and prints. I feel like the looks that people put together for London Fashion Week are a little more fun and irreverent than New York Fashion Week… What do you think?

My absolute favorite look of London Fashion Week was Poppy's adorable blue polka dot pants with great t-strap heels, a cropped blue coat and a chic blouse. J'adore!

Poppy Delevingne (Storm Models, London): exits the Unique Show.  Click HERE 4 Storm Models Portfolio

Marie Claire fashion editor Zanna Roberts Rassi was one of many who embraced the new floral pants trend. She kept them as minimal as possible by pairing the bright prints with basic black on top.

FabSugar even made a bold floral leggings look their Look of the Day.Are you brave enough to rock this new trend?

Alexa Chung and Poppy Delevingne wore similar looks in London - A brightly colored print skirt, a solid top and a blocky shaped overcoat - similar building blocks that come out to two distinctly different looks.

The gorgeous Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Kate Bosworth shown front row at Burberry. I like that both of them look warm and comfortable, they didn't try to brave a London winter in summer pieces. P.S. Kate's wearing the Pre-Fall booties that I wanted!!!

Rosie's look was so cute I thought a close up was necessary. I love the colors, fabrics and layering here. Purple cords with a salmon sweater and grey sweater-coat? But somehow it works! Works well!

Garance captured even more fun floral looks on the streets of London and My Dress. My High Heels. My Style. has a full list of all the Burberry arrivals – from Poppy & Clemence to Donna Air and Ellie Wintour.

Rose Byrne's new hairdo almost outshone her adorable Pringle of Scotland dress. Almost.

London Fashion Week It Girl Poppy stays warm with a classic trench over her adorable green pleated skirt, striped top and gorgeous lace-up platform booties straight from the runway.

Seriously cute Burberry look - The patent shoes and bright orange shoulder bag are to die for!

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Be sure to keep an eye out for Moi Contre La Vie’s Giveaway after Paris Fashion Week finishes up, trust me, its worth the wait!


Looks of the Week

Happy Valentine’s Day, I hope that you’re having a lovely Tuesday. Not always the easiest holiday to survive so here’s some pretty to help get you through.

I LOVE it when Diane has a movie coming out. Here she is in an interesting gown from the Giambattista Valli Haute Couture collection. The black sequins fading down to a subtle grey print is really beautiful and I absolutely love the metallic belt - a GV trademark.

If you ask me, she looks even better than Frida Gustavsson did at the show a few weeks ago, if that’s even possible!
 

Miss Diane stunned again in a 10 Crosby Derek Lam frock with bright yellow platform sandals. I absolutely adore the unexpected combination of green florals and black & white stripes. Another interesting and incredibly flattering number.

 
 

I am really really not sick of the 20's flapper looks yet. 🙂 Anja Rubik was an absolute vision in shimmery gold & black Gucci at the AMFAR Gala NYC.

 
Check out Karl Lagerfeld’s Jazz Age photoshoot featuring the always phenomenal Joan Smalls, Arizona Muse and Saskia de Brauw  in gorgeous 20’s inspired looks from Marc Jacobs, Giorgio Armani, Alexander McQueen, Ralph Lauren, J.Mendel, Chanel, Valentino, Alberta Ferretti and Tom Ford to name a few.
 
 

I love the combination of the slightly hippie, flowy maxi with the rock n' roll inspired cropped jacket. A great mix.

 

Joan Smalls was a head-turner in Prabal Gurung at the Runway To Win Fundraiser for the Obama Victory.

 

What I love about Alexa Chung is that no matter who she's borrowing clothes from (Louis Vuitton here) she is always completely and utterly herself in an outfit. She never looks out-of-place or like someone else chose her clothes for her.

 
 

Such a great dress! The sturdy grey tweed makes it perfect for winter while the chic belt and double-breasted buttons keep it from being boring and the slight flaring of the pleats is the perfect finishing touch.

 

Miranda Kerr was ready for Spring in an adorable floral skirt by Willow at a promotion for her organic skin care line KORA. Chic but sweet.

 
 

I honestly can't decide what I like best about this blogger's look - But I've narrowed it down to the skirt, tights, strappy wedge combo. Adorable. Accessible. Real.

 

Not sure how to layer for colder weather boys? Here's a great example of an unusual way to layer and keep things interesting. Very low-key but still fashionable and fun.

 

Something about the simple, classic plaid dress and the thigh-high tights is just too cute here. Paired w/ a fun hat and platforms, it's a pretty unbeatable look.

 
Have a great evening!

Looks of the Week

Welcome to Moi Contre La Vie’s Looks of the Week.

This is a special edition because at the end I’ve included some snaps from the Fall/Winter 2012 Menswear collections. And why is that so special? Well… Prada had some very interesting special guests that walked their runway.

Fuzzy, powder blue Philosophy Di Alberta coat paired with purple pants and kick @$$ black leather booties? Yes please! Hanneli, you're my hero.

 

Polka dots, leopard print & sequins? For daytime? It takes quite the talented stylist to pull off that combination and make it look this chic.

Not sure how to stay warm on date night? Rachel McAdams wears a buckled wool coat over a seriously cute pleated LBD with dramatic, pointy toed nude & black pumps.

 

Alright, its official, Matt Bomer is no longer just a pretty face. He's a pretty face that can seriously put together an outfit. Love the camel coat. Love the shoes. LOVE the purple scarf. What? I live in San Francisco.

 

Olivia Palermo absolutely knocked one out of the park with this ridiculously chic look. The cropped pants, leopard heels and bag are incredibly well chosen and the fur-trimmed, double-breasted jacket is beyond stunning.

There may be a Style File coming on this look…

Emma's look here is super cute, but simple enough to copy easily. I especially like the flashy red pants and the black and white striped scarf.

  

Model Imogen Morris-Clarke was captured on the street in New York wearing a phenomenal vintage YSL coat and varying shades of blue and black. I love the mixing of colors, fabrics and textures in this look.

 
Alexa Chung’s cropped navy trench look got fashionable mention on Frugal Fashionista. This is a GREAT way to cover up when you’re wearing a midi length skirt or dress – go for a completely different length top layer!
 
alexa chung burberry, alexa chung paris
 
 

First, why am I not in Paris right now??? Second, LOVE this look. A high-waisted skirt is a challenge to pull off but this bright little number paired with a crisp white button down and seriously hot heels make it work oh so well.

 

It's no secret that I adore outerwear - so there was no chance I wouldn't fall for this look. Knee-length, double-breasted camel colored coat with a matching scarf? AND leather gloves & pressed, hemmed slacks. Oh Milan.

 
Prada’s Fall/Winter 2012 Menswear show in Milan showcased some gorgeous outerwear, slacks, and accessories. It also showcased some new talent on the runways. Think these gentlemen have a future in modeling? 🙂
 

Willem Dafoe was chic in all black with a dramatic broach-like decoration on the breast pocket of his overcoat. I also love the way they parted his hair for this look!

Adrien Brody in a phenomenal red brocade double-breasted coat with fur lapels and hippie-inspired round glasses.

Gary Oldman finished up the show in another great overcoat over a high white collar and great shoes.

Quite the trifecta, no?
 

Links You’ll Love

Health/Fitness:

Mixing up your workout routine is part of maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle, so why not add some weight bench ab exercises to your workouts? Crunches, hip raises, twists, leg lifts and extensions. Or 20 Minute Intervals with walking and core exercises from Prevention.com.

5 Reasons Your Workout Isn’t Working from the Huffington Post – Advice on keeping things mixed up and how to not lose your motivation if you plateau.  

How to work your triceps – Tone Your Arms in 3 Moves from Tracy Anderson for Fitness Magazine.

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5 Minute Workouts, 10 Minute Workouts & 15 Minute Workouts – No excuses kids. No matter how little time you have, you have time for a workout!

Fashion:

Mixing and matching high-low fashion is a trick many celebrities and fashion-insiders swear by – Olivia Palermo, Zoe Saldana and Kate Bosworth to name a few. And with stores like J Crew, Zara and French Connection creating well made, on trend clothes for a fraction of what designer duds cost, who can blame them for taking advantage? There are also an increasing number of amazing designer collaborations like Karl Lagerfeld for Macy’s impulse, Versace for H&F and Missoni for Target, where you can swoop up high-end designer created pieces for every day prices.

Kate Moss - Leopard Print coat

Looking for some fun new ways to wear traditional winter pieces? Faux fur has long been a winter staple, not only does it evoke old-school glamour, it keeps you toasty warm. Olivia Palermo‘s cropped jacket paired with a skirt and blouse is modern and chic while Kate Moss‘s longer jacket works equally well with Capri pants and a dress with tights.  On the other end of the spectrum is plaid, a low-key winter look that can be really versatile and laid back. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley makes plaid a little rock n’ roll with booties & a blazer and Alexa Chung channels the 60’s fashion with a plaid babydoll dress.

The Sartorialist Unconventional Gift Guide….. #4 Pecari Gloves from Maison Fabre

Boys, it’s time to step up. Fashionable doesn’t have to mean gay. When in doubt, turn to The Sartorialist – He’ll answer your questions & alleviate your fears. And in related news, Isaac Mizrahi AND Vera Wang may be launching menswear lines.

FabSugar’s Top 50 Reader Looks of 2011 – This is great for finding new ways to mix and match what you already have in your wardrobe in new and exciting ways.

 
 

In the market for some new glasses? Take some inspiration from the stars over at The Daily Beast.

Have a good Sunday!

 


The British Are Coming! The British Are Coming!

Happy Friday! To celebrate, I say we look at pretty people getting all dressed up. And luckily for us, there were a couple glamorous, star-studded British events this past week with some very eye-catching looks worth mentioning.
 
2011 British Fashion Awards
 

Georgia May Jagger continued the Great Gatsby trend in pale, shimmery Julien Macdonald. I miiight have worn a sandal with a dress this delicate, but there's no denying she looks great here!

How can you not love a girl who can get away with flats at a black tie event? Alexa Chung looked adorably retro and chic in Christopher Kane.

 
Source (For Alexa & Georgia May)
 
There were two other looks at the 2011 British Fashion Awards that I – GASP – couldn’t make up my mind about… And you want to know what? They were both Matthew Williamson outfits. Go figure.
 

Olivia Palermo in Matthew Williamson

Source 

I should preface this by saying that I’m a little hesitant when it comes to fringe, especially high-octane fringe, but I couldn’t help gasping when I saw this dress. If it was floor length I think the fringe would be too much, but on a cocktail length frock its perfect. But my issue with this look is actually the styling… The hair is a bit severe, I think a gracefully swept back ponytail would have been perfect, and the shoes & clutch are waaay too busy. The key to pulling off this dress is maintaining a level  of simplicity with the rest of the look.

Poppy Delevigne in Matthew Williamson

 
Since I clicked back to this picture three times I decided that I should say something. It’s a beautiful dress and manages to suit her coloring even though strictly speaking I wouldn’t say those are her colors, and I like her simple accessories and loose braid. My issue? The fringe! I think without the small spots of straw-colored carpet fringe (and a little hemming) this would be a picture perfect look.
 
Moral of the story? I have zero hard & fast rules when it comes to fringe! 🙂
 
BAFTA Los Angeles 2011 Britannia Awards
 

Mr. Yelchin is doing quite well on the red carpet lately. What I really like is that he's not wearing boring suits, they all have subtle patterns, interesting fabrics or an embellishment of some sort that make them stand out. And one word. TAILORING.

This is everything that you want in an evening look, its stunning, head turning and fits Asha to a T. I also love the capsleeves and vintage silver earrings. Simply beautiful.

Felicity Jones looks fresh and young in this fitted Moschino with a ballerina skirt. I think her clutch and hair are the perfect touches, keeping the look minimally chic. (I'll be doing a post on Miss Jones next week so stick around if you'd like to see more of her!)

 
Source (BAFTA pictures)
 
Have a good weekend!
 

Hippie Love

As Hippie Chic is one of the most highly viewed posts since MCLV started last spring, I decided to do a follow-up post to celebrate the fabulous 60’s & 70’s inspired looks that are all the rage this fall.

Now follow me down the rabbit hole and let’s revisit some of our favorite hippies of all times… (Cue the Jefferson Airplane soundtrack)

Boho-Chic:

Boho is short for Bohemian, which is defined as: “a person, as an artist or writer, who lives and acts free of regard for conventional rules and practices. ” The boho styles of the 60’s were more than just a fashion statement, they were an escape for women from the confinement of the clothes and social norms prevalent in the 50’s. They were free, loose and created a new style that trickles down to us today.

Original boho-chic icons: Janis Joplin, Talitha Getty, Stevie Nicks & Steven Tyler

Characterizations of the style: Loose layers, beads, tinted round sunglasses, bright colors, tie-dye, vests, boots, headbands, chunky jewelry, scarves, stacked bracelets, floppy hats, patchwork

Modern day equivalents: Kate Moss, The Olsens, Sienna Miller & Johnny Depp

Fashion Show Love: Matthew Williamson Fall 2011 RTW

Matthew Williamson Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear

What to buy for Fall: Maxi & midi length skirts & dresses, flowy blouses and boots.

{Aqua Paisley Dress – $110 @ Bloomingdale’s}

{Polka dot blouse by Free People – $100 @ RevolveClothing.com}

Mod: The other fashion sub-culture of the 60’s was known as Mod, short for Modernist, which originated in London and was heavily influenced by the music of the time and the all night dance clubs that started appearing.

Original Mod icons: Twiggy, Edie Sedgewick, Jean Shrimpton & The Beatles

Characterizations of the style: Shift dresses, mini skirts, go-go boots, monochromatic suits, flats, knee socks, plaid coats, colored tights, Peter Pan collars, fake eyelashes, exaggerated eyeliner

Modern day equivalents: Nicole Richie, Zooey Deschanel & Alexa Chung

Fashion Show Love: Prada Fall 2011 RTW

Prada Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear

What to buy for fall: It’s all about the dresses & outerwear, think shifts & dropped, belted waists. Love!

{Ali Ro Printed Shift dress – $140 (on sale) @ Neiman Marcus}

{Faux-Fur Collar Peacoat – $100 (on sale) @ Victoria’s Secret}

Rock n’ Roll Hippie: The hippie trend of the 1970’s was a continuation of the 60’s Boho style, with some serious rock star additions, and was incredibly popular with both the men and women of the psychedelic rock era.

Original Hippie icons: The Grateful Dead, Stevie Nicks, Debbie Harry & The Rolling Stones

Characterizations of the style: Bell bottoms, suede, fringe, halter tops, hip huggers, leather, bandanas, jean jackets, studs, chains

Modern day equivalents: Taylor Momson, Avril Lavigne & K$sha

Fashion Show Love: Emilio Pucci

What to buy for fall: In a perfect world we would all be ready to hop up on stage to channel our inner rock star with this bag, but given the price tag I think we can live with more – ahem – reasonably priced accessories…

{Top left: BebStu Riga belt – $65 @ Zappos.com, Top right: Martin & Ricci Gunmetal Plated Feist Bracelet – $90 @ Max & Cleo, Bottom: Rockstar Wristlet – $70 @ Bebe}

Disco Era: Drugs, sex & rock n’ roll! 70’s disco was all about music, dancing all night at clubs and was heavily influenced by the smaller factions that it was composed of (gays and minorities like African-Americans & Latinos). If you visualize one thing when you hear the word “disco,” it should be STUDIO 54!

Original Disco icons: YSL, Bianca Jaggar, Ziggy Stardust (aka David Bowe) & John Travolta

Characterizations of the style: Platforms, sequins, glitter, wrap dresses, hotpants, le Smoking Suit, high-waisted jeans, lamé suits for men & women

Modern day equivalents: It’s still ALLLLL about Iman. Yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Fashion Show Love: Balmain

What to buy for fall: Diane Von Furstenburg wrap dresses & anything by Halston Heritage. Fine, those were the easy answers. But honestly, I’m loving all of the disco-inspired separates out there, that way you can inject a little glam into your wardrobe without risking overload (and please, for the love of all that is holy, only resort to this if it’s a Halloween costume. Thank you. From all of us.)

{Karen Kane Sequin Blazer – $180 @ Bloomingdale’s}

{Martinez Valero ‘Chase’ Sandal – $75 (on sale) @ Nordstrom}

{Runway photos from Style.com}

Still in the mood for some more inspiration before you hit the stores to stock up on hippilicious goodies? Here’s some help from The Outnet and TopShop.

Now be off my little hippies – Peace!


(Non-FW) Looks of The Week

In case you’re sick of looking at models, editors, buyers and A-Listers at the four major fashion shows, here are some… Oh never mind, it’s all the same people, but at least they’re not at fashion shows in these pictures. 🙂

Kirstin Dunst glowing at the premiere of her new movie. I think she looks really beautiful here and though you can't tell, her hair is really cute and her dress has a keyhole in the back.

Olivia Palermo on Project Runway. I love love love this look and may put together a Style File for it. The skirt in cute & fun with a great 70s vibe and she keeps the rest of her look neutral to let the skirt take center stage.

Selena Gomez looking cute & low-key, this is a great alternative to the ubiquitous LBD.

Taylor Lautner & Lily Collins at their movie premiere looking adorable in black. Rarely can a guy pull off a t-shirt w/ suit look, but this one works. And her Versace dress is just the thing!

Claire Danes at the Emmy's looking sleek and modern. A very unique look that I think paid off.

Evan has really been hitting her stride lately and this is another gorgeous example. Absolutely striking.

Bananas! Nina Doprev devastated in red at the Emmy's, it was one of my favorite dresses by far.

Naya Rivera from Glee looking chic in black & white on the red carpet for American Horror Story. Some of the Glee girls tend to look a little... Matronly. Then there's Lea. I feel like this is a great in between look, age appropriate and fun, but classic.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead (I admit, I had to look her up on IMDB) looked adorable in this Dolce & Gabbana dress. I thought I was sick of stars, but apparently I just wanted to see them in a fresh new way. Et voila!

Jaime King & Selma Blair looking chic in black and white at the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic.

Alexa Chung at the ANDAM Dinner after PFW

Amber Heard isn't exactly a newcomer but with her (recently cancelled) TV series Playboy Club and the upcoming Rum Diary w/ Johnny Depp, she's popping up all over the red carpets. She's a gorgeous, gorgeous girl and likes to keep things classic, which suits her incredibly well.

Michael Michele looking utterly flawless in white on the Ides premiere red carpet. Whoa!

Head over to TLo for a rundown of Miss Lea Michele in Paris in a great 70’s look here. Floppy black hat & kick-ass boots included. 
 
And for the love of all that is holy, this is how to work a red carpet ladies! 
 

Honestly, could this woman look more phenomenal?


Trendy vs. Chic: How to be Stylish

Anyone can be a slave to new trends, it doesn’t take creativity or style to dress in a runway look head to toe. So what is style? What does it mean to be chic and stylish rather than a fashion victim?

Style is a very personal concept, it can be different for everyone. It’s about knowing you body type, knowing what looks good on you and knowing what you’ll be comfortable wearing. You can ignore every trend that ever graces a magazine cover and still be a fashion icon.

Good style is eternal.

Whether you consider Jane Birkin, Audrey Hepburn, Diana Vreeland or Lauren Hutton to be your ultimate style icon, there is something  that each of these women possess. She is true to herself and has created a style that is inherently “her.”

What are the basic guidelines that every lady must follow in order to be stylish?

[1.] Know thy self – Take a good, hard look in the mirror and understand your assets & limitations. What are your best characteristics – Great shoulders? Long, lean legs? Christina Hendricks curves? Find a style that plays up your assets. Yes, you can mix up your style each season and incorporate great new looks to keep things fresh, but you need to first have a good understanding of what you can, can’t and shouldn’t bother trying to pull off. Do you have short legs? Stay away from skinny jeans and don’t even think about wearing mid-calf boots, both will make your legs look truncated. On the curvier side? Stay away from ruffles and busy tops, they will make you look top-heavy. You don’t need to look like Gisele to look polished and put together, you just need to know how to work with what you have!

[2.] Find your sweet spot – Once you know what works best for you, the next step is to create a style that is totally your own, a home base of sorts that you can always start with or go back to. Whether you love Twiggy-style shift dresses, sexy menswear, a darker pallet, retro ladylike silhouettes or Alexa Chung-inspired hipster looks, make the look yours by adding personal flares. If you’re comfortable and confident in your clothes, you’ll have every eye on you as soon as you step into a room. Wear your clothes, don’t let them wear you! My personal look is very classic and a little formal, I love dresses and skirts, but with a bit of an edge. My favorite looks are traditional with a modern twist, like a chic LBD with funky pearls and patent leather booties.

[3.] Invest! It’s always fun to try new trends – if you’re careful with them – but a large portion of your clothing/accessories budget should be devoted to classic, long-term pieces. High quality basics that you will be able to use season after season, which can easily be spiced up with the newest handbag or sunglasses. A trench coat, great jeans, a button down shirt, a Little Black Dress, (see Real Girls Need Real Closets & Real Girls Need Real Closets – Accessories Edition) these are the building blocks to a great wardrobe, regardless of your style. When you see pictures of Jane Birkin’s bangs and little tunic dresses, Audrey’s trenches, Coco’s pearls or Bianca Jagger’s suits they still all look chic and modern. Why? Because they were stylish women, not slaves to trends.

Some words of wisdom to think about when you’re considering you personal look:

  • “Style isn’t about change; that’s fashion’s job. Style is about knowing yourself, knowing the image you want to project, and finding the look that suits you the best for your goals.” TLo from Tom & Lorenzo: Fabulous & Opinionated
  • “Fashion fades, only style remains the same.” Coco Chanel
  • “Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.” Yves Saint Laurent
  • “Attitude is everything.” Diane von Furstenberg

Have you seen the Audrey Hepburn movie Funny Face?

There’s this phenomenal dance number with Kay Thompson, who is one of the highlights of the film, called How To Be Lovely. Whenever I think of being stylish and chic, I think of this scene and it makes me laugh. This is a great reminder that fashion is supposed to be fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2pKD8TY0rY

Enjoy!


Chanel Resort Wear 2012

 

“Too much may not be enough.” These words, uttered by Karl Lagerfeld after the show, seem to sum it up perfectly.

– The backdrop? Hotel du Cap, in Antibes on the French Riviera, one of the most exclusive and expensive hotels in the world.

– The cast? All the big names from the past few seasons, Abbey Lee, Siri Tollerod, Jac, Natasha Poly, Karlie Kloss, Stella Tennant, Karolina Kurkova and Lily Donaldson, to name a few.

– The jewels? Real, darling. Of course.

– The front row? A-list fashionistas only, Blake Lively, Rachel Bilson, Alexa Chung, Vanessa Paradis, Clemence Posey, Laura Bailey and Poppy Delevigne among them.

The Chanel Resort 2012 collection began with slim, smart suits in yellow, lilac and cream, followed by black and white swimwear, cover-ups and dresses, and finally summery, hippie frocks and gowns.

While the wearability of the shin-guard inspired thong sandals is questionable, I thought that overall the show was lovely. In another life, far, far away, I can just see myself walking lazily along the water in one of these black and white swim suits, a gauzy white wrap thrown over my shoulder, or swirling regally around a ballroom in one of the crystal encrusted gowns. Right.

And the fashion didn’t stop there, off the runway the stars watched Karl’s masterpieces in their own stylish ensembles.

Clemence Posey looked adorable in a sunny dress (reminiscent of the blue one worn by Emma Roberts at the fall Chanel show) and gold heels.

Who wears short shorts? Too cute Rachel Bilson, who donned micro leather shorts, a boyfriend blazer and crocheted white top.

Blake Lively looked gorgeous and summery in a chic black and white Chanel ensemble, including a tiny skirt and sequined blazer.

 
Overall it was an elegant, sumptuous affaire. Come on Karl, did my invitation get lost in the mail?