Bound With Chains

Jewelry has evolved, extending beyond the expected with the creation of wearable body adornment. Influenced by the Middle East, the reign of Cleopatra and even the 70s, body jewelry decorates the forgotten and untouched pieces of a woman's figure.

The strategically placed chains drape across the upper arm, head, back and chest and become the focus of any outfit. These items are beautifully crafted, unique and often surprising.

Some of the items I love:

SNAKESNESTDESIGNS:

DAME:

I really want to try out the head and arm pieces! What do you think? Are you daring enough to step out of the "jewelry" box?

Photos courtesy of google images, dameadornments.com and snakesnestdesigns.com

Elle Fanning - Rodarte: The Curve of Forgotten Things (2011)

Beautiful video:

Elle Fanning - Rodarte: The Curve of Forgotten Things (2011)

"Hollywood's latest darling, Elle Fanning, goes digging for buried treasure in Todd Cole's new collaboration with Rodarte, The Curve of Forgotten. The film highlights design duo Kate and Laura Mulleavy's spring 2011 collection, which drew inspiration from 1970s northern California, referencing Redwood forests, the gold rush and Asian influences. The Somewhere star pirouettes through the empty rooms of the historic Baldwin House (which sits on an oil field in LA's Baldwin Hills), her outfits magically changing from one room to the next. Shot on a RED camera using Cooke lenses from the 70s, the short's dusty focus references seminal movies of that era, such as Terrence Malick's Badlands, while Georgia-based indie rockers Deerhunter provide the dreamy soundtrack. As for the title, Cole explains: "It's the title of a Richard Brautigan poem. The poem and the film are about forgotten things—circles and the curve of time." The film follows on from last spring's intergalactic project that Cole shot with Rodarte and comes at an extraordinary moment for the designers, whose dazzling costume contributions to Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan will form part of their upcoming solo exhibit at MoCA."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7TJjjZ9yGw&feature=player_embedded

Seattle Fashion Week

This year I will be volunteering at Seattle Fashion Week, May 6-15! I am so excited to be apart of the event and do whatever I can to help. If you remember, I attended shows during New York Fashion Week last year (which was one of the most incredible opportunities of my life) and I think it will be interesting to get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into the production and execution of a fashion week.

I will be a member of the Front Of House team and will be learning all about the shows so as to assist anybody requesting additional information--essentially the face of SFW (so they put it). I will keep you guys posted!

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW

About SFW:

"Seattle Fashion Week 2011 is going to be a year of big changes! A new executive management team has been announced for 2011; Gabriel Choy Executive Producer, Blair-Nichole Sams Director of Production and Marketing and Jose Luis Smith Director of Entertainment and Music.

We are currently accepting applications from Designers and Boutiques, Sponsors, Models and Volunteers for the May 2011 events. If you are interested, please use the Contact page to get in touch with the right person!

For 2011 we are looking to Showcase Seattle Designers for the industry to see, and bring international designs to Seattle.

Seattle Fashion Week is a series of entertaining and high-energy events designed to propel fashion designers to the forefront of the national fashion spotlight. These events present an exclusive opportunity for designers and other artists to gain the necessary access to key opinion makers, such as buyers, media, fashion community and industry leaders, which are so vital to gaining a foothold on the first rung of a successful future career. Furthermore, Seattle Fashion Week provides a live arena for the buyer and boutique shops to seek out new designers and fashion-conscious consumers to get the early access and first look at emerging fashion trends.

Since it was revived in 2003 by a committed group of fashion industry professionals with dreams of placing the city among the elite list of internationally-recognized fashion weeks, Seattle Fashion Week has showcased clothing lines from retailers, independent designs, and runway-inspired hair and make-up. Attracting more than 1,000 attendees per year, the momentum and enthusiasm for Seattle Fashion Week has continued to grow and gaining support from national brands, local businesses, independent designers, and industry leaders.

The continued success of Seattle Fashion Week is due to collaboration among talented group of professionals with their passion and vision of uniting the community in culture and arts through Seattle Fashion Week."

Learn more at

http://www.facebook.com/seattlefashionweek and http://www.seattlefashionweek.net/

SFW-In Other News:

• Model auditions April 10, visit: http://www.seattlefashionweek.net/modelsaudition.html
• The 3rd Annual Comcast Student Fashion Designer Competition Winner is: Anna Dicklhuber from New York Fashion Academy. You can see more of her designs at www.annaddesign.com

Photos courtesy of google images

Bloglovin'

Follow my blog with bloglovin

My Style Icons

I feel I should start sharing with my readers where I find my fashion inspirations, who I look up to and who defines personal style. So here is a first glimpse:

My Style Icons: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

The Olsen twins have come a long way from their stint on the television series Full House, and the duo shows no sign of slowing down. MK and Ashley have found much success throughout their 25 short years, building an empire around TV, movies, Dualstar entertainment company,books, fragrances, magazines, dolls, posters and clothing lines.

The twins' have maintained their celebrity status largely in part of their fashion and clothing choices. In fact, "...the New York Times declar[ed] Mary-Kate a fashion icon for pioneering her signature (and now popular among celebrities and fans alike) "homeless" look." Mary-Kate and Ashley have distinct styles (Mary-Kate bohemian and edgy while Ashley tends towards the chic) but together they create magic. The pair created two fashion lines starting in 2007 which include The Row (couture) and Elizabeth And James (named for their siblings and is more contemporary) and are currently working on their next: Stylemint.com. "The site “will meld e-commerce and social media platforms to offer consumers a personalized shopping experience, based on a monthly opt-out model, similar to book-, music- and wine-of-the-month clubs," describes WWD.

These girls are my style gurus...what I wouldn't give to raid their closets!

Downtown Nordstrom, Seattle Washington for an Elizabeth And James private shopping event. Wish I could have been there!

Photos courtesy of olsensanonymous.blogspot.com and fashionnetworkseattle.com

Orange Is The New Red

Well, I did it! My first video blog, or VLOG...it's a bit rough but still kind of fun nonetheless! Hope you enjoy!

Orange lipstick, we've seen a lot of it already but will see much more as spring approaches. Be bold, be brave, be beautiful...try it out--I did:

Song: Starry Eyed, Ellie Goulding

Wildfox Couture

I LOVE this company. Wildfox Couture never fails to disappoint, especially when it comes to the creative direction of their prop and outfit styling. Their designs are fun, edgy, distinctive and casual and I want absolutely everything!

"WILDFOX COUTURE is an American Vintage-inspired women's knitwear brand. Combining great style and unsurpassed quality, Wildfox has quickly gained a following amongst celebrities, trendsetters and top retailers worldwide.

Childhood friends Emily Faulstich and Kimberley Gordon are the creative force behind Wildfox. Inspired by sleepovers, beautiful books, fairies, dreams, vintage t-shirts and their friendship, the young designers gave birth to a brand based on love and having fun!"

Check out their 2011 White-Label for Spring and their latest campaign below:

http://www.wildfoxcouture.com/collections-white-label-spring-2011

Wildfox Couture - Vive La France from ny lon on Vimeo.

Some of my favorites this season:

www.wildfoxcouture.com

The Bangs Are Back

I decided last week to take the plunge...again. Just in time for spring (although it doesn't quite feel like it in Washington) I cut my hair and got straight-across-bangs! At first I always seem to fiddle with them...wishy-washy over whether or not it was actually a good idea, however without fail, I quickly grow to love them.

And I am NOT alone...Kate Moss and Abbey Lee Kershaw are just a few of the many models that rock the look, not to mention the hoards of actresses and singers. I don't exactly have VOGUE written across my face, but if I can do it...so can you! I understand that many females are scared of this "do"--frightened of looking like a little girl or the supposed increase in maintenance, but in reality it can help add an edge, freshness and even some sex appeal from head to toe!

P.S. If you hate it, remember that hair grows!

Images courtesy of Google Images

I Want These:

I WANT THESE:

How cute are these BABOOSHKA THIGH HIGH NUDE & BLACK PANEL LEGGINGS??

"Not your typical leggings. High waisted style with a waistband created completely out of nude spandex cotton jersey. This fabric has the perfect amount of stretch to be your go to leggings.

Thigh High faux leather coated spandex from the thigh down. Reminds me of layering knee socks over leggings but with these your socks will not fall down! Full length."

Love them. Edgy, adorable, unique and adds a perfect amount of interest to a potentially boring outfit! These are the type of pants that you could live in--the next pajama jean, if you will!

http://babooshkaboutique.com/

WWU FASHION CLUB Interview

Here is the interview (mentioned previously) about the WWU FASHION CLUB. My business partner and I started this club on campus just last quarter (January 2011), we are trying to get the word out. Please help us by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter:

http://www.facebook.com/wwufashionclub

http://www.twitter.com/wwufashionclub

VTV 4:7 from VTV on Vimeo.

Personal Style: Sophisticated Stripes

The other day, I was interviewed for a local TV segment on fashion. This is what I threw on:

Black leggings and boots, silky striped tank, white button down (left open), tuxedo blazer, silk scarf, rings.

Personal Style: Miscellaneous

Here is a collection of a few looks I've put together over the last month but have not yet posted: ENJOY!

Chains And Lace

A Little Torn Up

Once you can accept the universe as matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy. " -Albert Einstein

Dark Femininity

Oscars Fashion: Hits And Misses

Fashion was out in full force last night at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards. Here are my picks for the best and worst:

BEST DRESSED:

Mila Kunis: Lavender lace and silk organza gown by Elie Saab Haute Couture

SIMPLY stunning!

Other hits:

Jennifer Lawrence: Calvin Klein Collection

Hilary Swank: Gucci

What I WOULDN'T give to wear this gown!

Halle Berry: Marchesa

Hailee Steinfeld: Marchesa

Best dressed girl of 2011--very age appropriate!

Gwyneth Paltro: Calvin Klein Collection

Natalie Portman: Rodarte

Rodarte also designed the costumes for Black Swan, for which Natalie accepted the award for "Best Actress".

Mandy Moore: Monique Lhuillier

Misses:

Reese Witherspoon: Armani Prive

Pageant queen?

Marisa Tomei: Charles James

Nicole Kidman: Christian Dior Haute Couture

Helena Bonham Carter: Colleen Atwood

Wearing Colleen Atwood (costume designer), paying tribute to film, instead of fashion. Helena, you always seem to find yourself on the worst dressed list but we love you anyway.

Almost, but not quite:

Melissa Leo: Mark Bouwer

Congrats to Melissa for stepping out of her comfort zone and into a gown, however it seems a little boxy on her figure.

Scarlett Johansson: Dolce & Gabbana

Yes, she looks beautiful. The color is gorgeous and the fit is mostly flattering but I'm not a fan of the see-through lace (is it on purpose?) nor the undone hair for the Oscars.

Cate Blanchett: Givenchy Haute Couture

Props to Cate for taking such a risk but this dress seems too futuristic for the Oscars.

Amy Adams: L'Wren Scott

Love this dress--extremely figure flattering! However, because the dress's neckline is cut so high already, I definitely would have lost the necklace.

What did you guys think of last night's fashion? Who should receive awards for BEST and WORST dressed?

Photos courtesy of fashion.telegraph.co.uk and mtv.com