Color Theory - The Dance of Spraypaint in Art Deco/Pre Columbian Colors

I started redesigning the house in the last couple weeks. After visiting the Guardian Building (click here for that post) which was built between 1928/1929, I was hugely influenced by the feel of that building, and decided I want to bring some of that Roaring 20s glamour back to my own 1920s house. 

One of the most major things that struck me about the Guardian Building was the color used. The turquoise and coral was so striking against the neutral tans and metal. 

Colors like this were a hallmark of the Art Deco movement. As you can see here:

I was really drawn to the combo of the deep eggplant purple, with the coral and turquoise. It's Art Deco, but it's also really reminiscent of "Pre-Colombian" art from Latin & South America. 

 This weaving told the story of human sacrifice, and the camel and coral tones really appeal to me.

 When the turquoise is introduced to the rest of the colors, they hang back and just act to draw out the brilliance in that light blue.

**Another obsession of mine happens to be Pantone color chips. I don't know why I can geek-out over color number, names and combinations for the rest of my life and be entirely happy.** 

So my walls were already this rich Caramel Latte color:

which because Pantone is awesome, you can get a cute tea/coffee mug to MATCH PERFECTLY!! SWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON.

 So I did what any sensible human would do, and I rushed out to Home Depot & found spray paint in my accent colors so I can spraypaint everything in my house.

I found this "Human Sacrifice Coral", or as Pantone so delightfully calls it - Tangerine Tango:

 Which you can get this dress to match. I'm wearing that headband right now.

And then this SUPER RICH GORGIE purple color, which I've been painting my previously black picture frames with, and they are just reading a neutral dark. Which i think is so mindblowingly enchanting.

You bet your bottom dollar that for Christmas this year I'm going to get ALL OF THESE ORNAMENTS. omg.

 And then this Turquoise as well.

Which since it was "Color of the Year" in 2010, you can just SWAG YOUR BRAINS OUT WITH.

And then what happens when you put all these colors together is almost musical. The Turquoise leads, the Coral gives warmth, and the purple accents... on the canvas that is the 729 C.

Kate Blanchett Dazzles in Givenchy

                                            Cate Blanchett in a marvelous shimmery Givenchy gown. I've said for years this woman wears art!

Happy Friday!

I want to end this week with the lovely Kate Blanchett wore another gorgeous shimmery ensemble to the AACTA Awards. Blanchett completed this beautiful sequin Givenchy with metallic eye shadow and soft pastel pinkish lips.The statuesque beauty is one of my red carpet favorites! Well style mavens that it for this post! Enjoy your weekend and lets catch up Monday.


"beauty is a lifestyle"

Wednesday Inspiration: President Obama

                               "America has never come easy"- President Obama


                                     

New Trend Alert: Naya Rivera's Oakland Raiders Crop Top T-Shirt

                                              Rivera's tee is a salute to her brother Mychal, 23 who plays for the Oakland Raiders.


Naya Rivera was recently spotted wearing this cute sporty crop top ensemble. For some of you living on the west coast you can rock this look now. However unless your bold  my east coast ladies will have to endure the cold a little longer. Get this adorable My Boyfriend Tee by UjENA that you can roll up and rock just as Naya Rivera. Wear it to bed, with a pair of jeans or a pencil skirt like Naya Rivera. The best part about fashion is you can make your own statement.



                                               Go Team UjENA!



"beauty is a lifestyle"

GRAMMYS 2014 - Visions in Gold!

I had no idea what to expect for the Grammy's this year. Sometimes the music people go nuts with glamour, and sometimes they wear jeans, you never know. But I was elated that everyone looked beautiful and glowing and many people wore my favorite color, which is SOLID GOLD  baby!!

My Best Dressed for the Night was:

Chrissy Teigen in Johanna Johnson

Oh glory to the universe for creating this dress. It's just pure gorgeous. Chrissy looks amazing. I love the large scale palliettes. they add to the Old Skool Glamour vibe. It's just pretty and simple and lovely. 

Another Golden Goddess for the night:

Amber Rose in Naeem Khan

I just think Amber is one of the most beautiful people on Earth. She looks perfect, and this gown plays up all of her glorious attributes. It's funny, because I thought, "Hey, doesn't Amber have tattoos?"

yeah, she does (see above). But she covered them up with makeup. I guess to let that body just speak for itself?

24 karat light from the Sun #3:
Ciara in Pucci

I love a pregnant celeb making pregnancy look so wonderful. She looks like a dream here. I'd even say she's never looked better! I love this gown with it's sequin designs, the neckline, the fit, everything.

Also beautiful, but not wearing Gold:
Colbie Caillat in Ezra Santos Couture

This dress is cool. But what I really love it for is the back.... and the train...

HOLY MOLY WOMAN!! And I  just thought you were a sundress wearing teen!! Slap my mouth. The crimson is lighting her skin from within, and she just looks happy and content within herself, and I love it.

A woman who I have NEVER mentioned in a *Best Dressed* post:
Giuliana Rancic in Alex Perry

I love love love love Alex Perry. You really have to see the entire collection here, (click here). I WANT EVERY SINGLE THING.
The original dress came in a "tennis ball yellow", which I actually think would have popped better against Giuliana's skin. Since she, like me, has an "orange is a neutral" skintone. But hey, it's still a homerun. This is the best dress I've ever seen her in, in like 20 YEARS OF SERIOUS E! News watching. Brava bellissima!

Grammys Best Dress Beyonce, Chrissy Teigan & Metallic Gowns

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a safe and relaxing weekend. As you know the Grammys aired last night as did Keeping Up With The Kardashinas, Blood, Sweet and Heels and The Real House Wives of Atlanta. Between the three I had to watch the Grammys  because I figured I could on demand the other shows. After the Grammys red carpet, I made two batches of buttery ranched flavored popcorn and I watched the show with my mom. Sleep arrived  about 10:30 pm  and from there I retired to my bed.  I love to watch awards shows mainly for the fashion and to my surprise the Grammys 2014 red carpet was dominated by metallic gowns. So lets get to my list for best dress.

Paris Hilton has been M-I-A for  years. I almost forgot about her. However, I have to give respect when its do! Prior to the media storm of Kim Kardashian it was Paris Hilton who branded herself as the social elite heiress. Its was Paris Hilton who allowed  cameras into in the life of the rich girl. She had a perfume line, mad a hit single and so much more I can't  recall. Paris Hilton's reemergence at the Grammys was as pleasant surprise as she arrived in this beautiful white shear cut out jeweled gown. When  I think of Paris fashionista never came to mind however I think she's had her first official red carpet glam moment and I love it!

For this reason alone red has always been one of my favorite colors. I think that could be the Scorpio in me  but Colbie Caillat captured my attention in this ravishing red floral figure hugging gown that she finished off with a beautiful braided up do and red lips.

 

  Pink wore a elegant  strapless red gown but what I enjoyed most was the simplicity and how she finished with short hair. Pink gave us an understated no fuss moment.

The Metallic Goddesses of the Grammys 2014 I wasn't expecting to see so many metallic gowns so early in the year and at an award  show. However, the ladies turn up and showed out last night. From Rita Ora, Taylor Swift, Amber Rose, Chrissy Teigen and Ciara shimmering green, bronze metallic were the highlights.




Beyonce looks beautiful with her crop bob smoky eye and red lips with a body hugging floral white lace gown. What were your favorite gowns?


"beauty is a lifestyle"

BEST from Paris Couture Week 2014

I love in the intricacy of Couture. Tell me someone spent 1000 hours hand-beading a gown & that will make me faint of absolute passion. 

Use a fabric that doesn't have ONE ANGSTROM of give so that I can see the skill of the tailoring, and now every garment has to be made for every individual woman. THAT IS COUTURE. THAT IS ART.

I watched all of the couture shows, and sadly I thought many lacked the drama that I yearn for. 

BUT TWO FULFILLED ALL OF MY COUTURE FANTASIES:

1. Ulyana Sergeenko.

Nevermind the fact that I have an enourmous crush on Ulyana herself, due to her amazing personal style. But these pieces were perfect. 

The fabric of this top is completely unforgiving, and it is flawlessly fit. This is couture. 

Beautiful, elegant, timeless colors and rich silhouettes.

A satin jacket that's fitted within an inch of it's life. Plus, I love the look on this models face. She knows she looks marvelous.

2. Valentino.

Gowns that look fit for a royal archive. No detail forgotten, This belongs in a collection and will hold up under the test of time.

These gowns look like the should cost a million dollars. And probably do.

I can imagine the woman that commissions a piece like this being very powerful, and collecting garments like people collect Van Goghs.

**Sparkle Size** Suiting for Size Sixteen

After my post the other day "Plus Size Controversy at H&M" (read it here) I had an OUTPOURING of emails, tweets & comments from friends about the **SPARKLE SIZE** (because that is what we are calling size 14 & up from now on) issue of finding cute professional clothing in this garment bracket. 

By the way, I'm calling "Straight Size" (00-12) **DRAB SIZE** from now on, for no reason at all. I am drab size and I'm ok with that. it's just a word, right!? 

So I thought who would know more about where to get the best **Sparkle Size** suiting than my friend Nicolette Mason!! Look at this beauty:

She's a writer for Marie Claire & a blogger, and she always looks fabulous.

Nicolette suggested Ann Taylor, Talbots and Lane Bryant.
I checked all of those out, ad nauseam, AND Some other stores that I thought would have good selection and I found some pretty cool stuff.

First of all, do not go to Talbots & Lane Bryant for suiting. I thought the fabric was cheap looking, the seaming & design looked old fashioned, it was not a good thing.

So here's what I found, EVERYTHING HERE COMES IN UP TO A SIZE 16. ALSO, EVERYTHING HERE HAS A "TALL" OPTION:

Ann Taylor. 
They were good, Nicolette was right. A lot of cool, modern cuts and colors. Lots of choices.

Tropical Wool One Button Jacket (buy it here)

 I like a one-button women's suit jacket. It nips the waist, that's all a button closure on a suit jacket is supposed to do. You aren't looking for warmth. If you have 2 buttons you can get a gaping, and that is not a good thing. So yeah, stick to one button EVERYONE.

Modern Tropical Wool Trouser (buy it here)

Nice cut pants, let's not do cuffed hems, let's not do pleats. It's a good fabric. Just good. 

Seamed Satin Shell (buy it here)

Goes under the jacket. Doesn't give bunchy sleeves (because it doesn't have any!) and gives a pop of color.

The Limited.
Known for affordable modern workwear, and everything comes in extended sizes!
I love this suit the best.

Collection One Button Jacket (buy it here)

I like this shell. Great color, a little detail down the front. (buy it here)

And these pants, which I think are really flatteringly cut. (buy here)

There's even a matching pencil skirt if you're feeling sassy! (buy here)

Torrid.
We are young women, we want cute fun stuff. We do not want to look like elderly people. I've seen a lot of their clothing on people and I think it's really cool.

Terry Knit Blazer (buy it here)

 Isn't this little jacket so damn cute! I would wear it with a T and jeans.

Here's a more "suity" jacket.
Cross Jacquard Knit Blazer (buy it here)

 This is a great silhouette!

and it can be paired with the,
Torrid Boot Pant (buy here)

 BOOM YOU GOTS A SUIT!

If you have any questions about dressing ANY SIZE woman, please don't hesitate to ask. If I don't know, I will know someone who knows!! I promise you this! Muah muah, happy shopping!