Award Season Results: The SAG Awards and BAFTAs

Combining two award show results... because I forgot want to. And squeezing this in yet again, as it is the Oscars on Sunday and I kinda need to get the predictions one for that done and out. Oops...

Anywhooooo.

So let's go back in time to the SAG awards!

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

Prediction: 12 Years a Slave – Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Garret Dillahunt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Paul Giamatti, Scoot McNairy, Lupita Nyong'o, Adepero Oduye, Sarah Paulson, Brad Pitt, Michael Kenneth Williams and Alfre Woodard

Result: American Hustle – Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Louis C.K., Bradley Cooper, Jack Huston, Jennifer Lawrence, Alessandro Nivola, Michael Peña, Jeremy Renner, Elisabeth Röhm and Shea Whigham

Oops...

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Prediction: Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave

Result: Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club

Oops...

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

Prediction: Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine

Result: Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine

Nailed it!

Outstanding Performace by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Prediction: Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club

Result: Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club

Nailed it!

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Prediction: Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle

Result: Lupita Nyong'o – 12 Years a Slave

Oops...

Well... didn't do so well with the SAG awards did I. However I'm actually quite glad I got the Best Supporting Actress wrong.

On with the show! Now for the BAFTAs.

Best Picture

Prediction: 12 Years a Slave

Result: 12 Years a Slave

Nailed it!

Best British film

Prediction: Gravity

Result: Gravity

Nailed it!

Best Director

Prediction: Alfonso Cuarón - Gravity

Result: Alfonso Cuarón - Gravity

Nailed it!

Best Actor

Prediction: Leonardo Dicaprio - The Wolf of Wall Street

Result: Chiwetel Ejiofor - 12 Years a Slave

Oops...

Best Actress

Prediction: Cate Blanchett - Blue Jasmine

Result: Cate Blanchett - Blue Jasmine

Nailed it!

Best Supporting Actor

Prediction: Michael Fassbender - 12 Years a Slave

Result: Barkhad Abdi - Captain Phillips

Oops...

Best Supporting Actress

Prediction: Lupita Nyong'o - 12 Years a Slave

Result: Jennifer Lawrence - American Hustle

Oops...

Best Animation

Prediction: Frozen

Result: Frozen

Nailed it!

The EE Rising Star award (voted for by public)

Prediction: Will Poulter

Result: Will Poulter

Nailed it!

Ah, that's a bit of a better result for my predicting abilities! Maybe it's because it's a British affair that I was a smidge more able to guess the winners... ;)

As I mentioned above, the Oscars are on Sunday! The big one! Also the last major one. Can't wait to see the dresses! See you then!

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What I Would Wear to the Academy Awards

I dream in gowns and dresses, there is nothing more wonderful & fantastical to me than the thought of wearing a gorgeous piece of art, and it seems to be that the Oscars (this sunday!) is the SUPERBOWL of that kind of thing. 

If you're Gwyneth, or Angelina... You probably think, "Ho hum, I've been going to this goddam awards show since I was a teenager, I don't care what I wear."

But if it were me, This would be a major (excuse the phrase, because it's absolutely perfect in this sitch) YOLO!!! 

moment, so i would pull out every single stop POSSIBLE.

If I was going to the Oscars I would want to wear something SHOWSTOPPING.... Like this:

 Christian Lacroix Haute Couture 2003. And then all night I could say, "It's Lacroix, Sweetie"

Or how cool is this gown, below? It's by Manish Arora, 2011.

I love the delicacy & strength of it at the same time. Such an intricate art piece, i just LOVE the design!

I've always loved this dress by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen 2013:

 For the Academy Awards I would probably not wear the headgear... But I just love the beautiful voluminous floral motif with the cage bodice balancing. So good.

John Galliano has always been one of my favies for over-the-top couture goodies, pretty much every gown in this S/S 2010 collection is perfection. But I espesh love this black and yellow one:

 Rihanna wore it for a singing engagement, but sorry Ri, but I would still wear it. I loce it. It's gorgeous. And then Fashion Police could do a "Bitch Stole my Look". I'm sure I would win. LOL jk.

This last gown I kind of found on accident but jesus lord how sumptuous and decadent is this fabric! I just want to snuggle up in those rosettes and sleep forever!

This gown is by Rami Kadi Haute Couture S/S 2013, and the marigold and scarlet together are so striking as well. Mmmm Mmmm Mmmmm.

Let The Spring In!

Happy Friday!

The second month of the year has come to an end and we're approaching spring! What I love most about spring is the vibrant colors many woman and so men will wear. What do you love about the spring season?
Have a safe weekend.

"beauty is a lifestyle"

Gown Search - Habitat for Humanity Oscar Ball

Hopefully sunday I'm going to the Detroit Habitat for Humanity RED CARPET BASH (here's all the info). Still trying to win over the hubs on the idea, he is not a fan of these types of things.

So anyways, I might as well be prepared, right!? So Boojie and I went to Neiman Marcus this morning and found this GORGEOUS Alice + Oliva "Chantal" gown. Buy it here

The colors look more bright and rich in person, and just taking a glance at all of the racks that they had of gowns to offer, this really was the only one for me. 

 It has my favie Deep-V back and exposed zipper for EXTRA SASS!

 And I just love the simplicity of the cut. I'm toying with the idea of wearing a belt with it. and probably a stack of insanely bright gaudy cuffs on both wrists.

I had them hold it, hopefully I can go and pick it up later!!

Mini Review Type Thingy: Becoming YouTube

The last episode of this series by ninebrassmonkeys came out last night delving into what makes YouTube, well, Youtube. Here's the trailer.

I have loved this series, partly because it helped me discover so many YouTubers but also because it is like proper telly. As in half hour episodes that you can really get into. In the past, TV has looked at the internet and tried to understand it. When BY looks into YouTube, and even the internet as a whole, it’s great because it gets the internet. It’s irreverent but thought provoking, and nerdy to the extreme.

Also Ben Cook (/ninebrassmonkeys) is really funny and so insightful. I met him at SitC ‘13 and he is the nicest guy, despite all video evidence to the contrary. I asked him a question and gave me a proper in depth answer even though there was a massive queue of people waiting to meet him. Huge respect for him.

The last episode really cracked me up at several moments. There was a huge reference to Harry Potter, which included Jack and Finn (/jacksgap) in it. Loved it. Nerd heaven… literally. It mainly talked about change. As always, very interesting. Especially as the interviews are all from a few years ago, and lots of the most controversial changes (G+, I'm looking at you) hadn't happened.

There was a hint at a second series of BY coming in the summer and I am so excited for it! So glad it’s coming back. If only to see how YouTubers' opinions have changed since S1.

Anyway, if you're at all interested in YouTube or internet community, you should definitely watch it.

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Makeup Evolution

I remember as a teen thinking, "What would I ever need on my skin but a little Cover Girl powder, some mascara, and Dr. Pepper Bonnie Bell lipsmacker?"

I dabbed my skin at night with Ten-0-Six astringent. Never wore sunscreen, and didn't have a care in the world.

Things have changed so much with the way I apply makeup. OH MY GOD!

In college I began my life-long obsession with high end cosmetics.

Which meant SLATHERING the face with MAC studio fix. Which on young supple skin is fine! It looks great! But now that I'm 34, things are different. My face has different needs.

In college I still didn't wear blush, I thought, "why the hell would anyone need that?" I had that rosy young person complexion, i was a naive little bitch.

But now my skin looks more like this:

And there's nothing wrong with that, but wow, when you open your eyes, you can really see that cosmetics can transform your money maker in 10 seconds flat.

I mean, look what blush does:

Don't you just want to reach out and pinch Miranda's cheeks? Blush is a MAYJ part of my life now.
I use:

• Ulta Cheek Color in Sun Kissed (here) 

That cakey one dimensional Studio Fix face?

No, we cannot do that anymore.

Every product I put on my face must be luminous like this:

I use:

• Pixi Illuminating Tint & Conceal (here) mixed with my SPF 45 sunscreen all over my face. It has a metallic finish, but then dries down to a little glow. 

Then so that my Crow's Feet aren't magnified so that you can see them from THE MOON:

Under my eyes INSTEAD OF CONCEALER (because EVERY concealer I've ever tried creases because I have a wacky face) I use:

• Dermablend Quick Fix Illuminator (here) mixed halfsies with L'Oreal True Match foundation. I would never use a damn drugstore foundation, I'm much too snobby for that, but a makeup artist recommended it to me, and it really is great. 

I fear this CREASING. Oh my god, this is what I do not want to look like:

sorry Pammy, but not good.

To set all of my makeup, I used to place loose powder all over, but I've found that I can't do that anymore, for fear of looking like this:

Too thick. Ewww.

So instead I just use some:

• BareMinerals Finishing Veil (here) ONLY on the T-zone. NO WHERE ELSE. 

Because I want that sheer glowy Halle beauty:

Another thing I've learned is the importance of eyebrows, my eyebrows by some cruel joke of nature are blonde. I am not kidding:

Just like this, above.
I mean, look how amazing the queen of all eyebrows Cara Delevingne is:

So I use, which I just got last weekend, and am head over heels in love with:

• Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade (here) . I LOVE it. You can carve out some ridic Drag brows with it... Do some subtle clean up with it... and it does not move all day.

Something that has saddened me, but I've had to come to terms with, is that my signature black liquid eyeliner is slowly becoming not as flattering anymore.

Don't get me wrong, i'm not going to stop wearing it. But maybe just not every single day, 24/7/365.

Look at J.Lo in it:

this is not working. i'm finding that sometimes it makes my eyes look SMALLER. and the line appears a bit harsh.

But a BROWN liquid eyeliner looks FANTASTIC!

It's soft. It still defines the eye, and the color is warm and nice and goes more with my coloring than the cool black.
I use:

• Clinique cake eyeliner (here) I've only bought one package of this stuff in my WHOLE LIFE. I am not kidding. It lasts forever!!!!!!!! Lifetime supply!

By following all of these new rules I hope to walk out of my house every day looking as fresh, unlined, and beautiful as Eva Mendes...

With my strong brows, glowy skin, rosy cheeks, and gently defined eyes!

Gucci Fall 2014 rtw IS MARY TYLER MOORE CHIC!

Right now it's Milan Fashion Week, thank god, and many of my favorite houses (fendi, gucci, moschino) are having their shows, perché amo gli italiani così tanto.

Gucci BLEW MY MIND THIS SEASON! Oh my god. I started seeing the photos pour in on Insty from my "front-row friends", and I was like HOLY CRAP I would wear EVERYTHING. 

 "Hey Ladies, do you have all 3 of these ensembles in size 38?"

I just can't STAND this pea/trenchy coat. it's so good, and the glasses. omg. want.

But you know what I was thinking? This is really 1960s/1970s, MY FAVORITE ERA OF CLOTHING EVER.

and you know what else? It reminds me of my childhood idol!! Mary Richards of the Mary Tyler Moore Show!! DON'T YOU THINK!!??

The A-lines, the boots, the color palette... It just screams, "I'm a single unmarried woman with a job and I got my shit together!" *Wu Tang sign*

These are the clothes of a confident woman, a powerful look. This is what I look for when I hunt for vintage clothes, these very elements.

I think it's very flattering too. The dress on the right above, hits at the natural waist, and paired with those boots, makes the legs look a mile long. I like that.

This suit above is just so louchey beauty, I love it. When I was in high school, I had this vintage treasure trove that I used to go to in Flint where I would buy skinny men's late 60s/70s suits cut just like this, and ALWAYS get tons of compliments.

I want everything. Especially that leather skirt. Mary would so approve.

I mean look at Mary....

 This suit is so Gucci.

 The fit of this dress above is my FAVIE. and it really is obviously an influence of frida giannini from this collection, you cannot deny.

Oh Jesus, when I was growing up I was OBSESSED with Mary Tyler Moore. I watched that show on *Nick at Nite* and just thought she was the most smart, independent, chic, she had that bad-ass apartment. Oh my god everything.

Presidents are nice... But FIRST LADIES ARE FASHIONABLE

Right now we are spoiled. We have the most beautiful fashionable First Lady in the World. Finding pics of her for this post was like shooting fish in a barrel, I don't think I saw one photo of her where I didn't love what she was wearing. 

I mean.... Seriously???? swoonfest:

I loved this McQueen gown, below, the draping is just mindblowing, and I like the neckline.

This below is a look I would wear, 100%. I have a necklace just like that! Great sunset colors on her!

And this i think it's the GREATEST GOWN OF ALL TIME ON HER. This Marchesa is soooo pretty!

And this Cushnie et Ochs, you all know how much I love those designers. and the fit on this dress on Mrs. Obama is so gorgeous. I would love to wear this. Her poor daughter, though, looks not super pleased to be there. Poor honey.

But there were OTHER Fashionable First Ladies!! Especially mid last century. From my vintage clothing hoarding habits, you know that I was salivating over this dress below, on First Lady Betty Ford. I would fight Secret Service for this pumpkin dress with the little square brooches!! So chic. THAT SEAMING!

 Now, Lady Bird Johnson, shut the hell up. FUR CUFFS? YELLOW SATIN? FUNNEL NECK? I would freak out out over this evening coat. I wish I could see the gown underneath.

I just love how Mamie Eisenhower has this, "I know I am WERQING IT OUT." look on her face. I believe this was her inaugural gown, and it really is so pretty and sparkly and awesome.

Rosalynn Carter... I have tried this type of dress on, and WANTED TO BADLY FOR IT TO WORK ON ME. I cannot wear it like you did. Mad Respeckt.

And Jackie Kennedy... Oh Jackie, Fashion Icon for all eternity... Perfection you are.
When living in the White House she had a very Jordan Almond sweet, candy colored, clean lined aesthetic. Beautiful.

But then things started getting SASSY, and i love it.

I love this Cape Cod summering scarf look. I'm going to rock that this summer.

This dress, is so First Lady Jackie. With the pearls and the bow and the gloves. Precious as a perfect pretty picture.

Happy President's Day!