2012 SAG Awards

1. Michelle Williams in Valentino 

     This past Sunday the 18th Annual SAG (Screen Actors Guild) Awards took place. Compared to the Golden Globes and the Oscars, the SAG awards is a bit more low key and relaxed, because this is an award show that's solely based on their peers. I believe TBS's advertising logo for the event is Actors celebrating Actors celebrating Acting. But nonetheless, the ladies of Hollywood, without disappointment came out to leave a lasting impression. My favorite look of the night however has to be Michelle Williams in a red Valentino. How appropriate right? If you're going to wear Valentino, why not choose a gown in a color that's he's so famously known for. The lace detailing on the shoulders which spreads to the back is just divine, and even though I've been saying this since she got that haircut, no one can pull off that pixie cut better than she can. Even though she didn't win the Best Actress award for her role as Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn, she was the clear winner for the best dressed in my fashion book. The rest of my favorite looks are as follows:

2. Emily Blunt in Oscar de la Renta 

Such a beautiful jewel tone-green and super sexy leg slit! The Twitterverse was buzzing about this dress and how could you not love it let alone Emily Blunt?

3. Emma Stone in Alexander McQueen

Take notice my little fashionistas, tea length/midi skirts and dresses are going to be making a comeback and this McQueen dress is the perfect start (despite the fact that Tina Fey tried to get the ball rolling with this hem length a couple of award seasons back) 

4. Kristin Wiig in Balenciaga 

The moment I saw her on the red carpet, I believe my first words were, Holy What the Choker? I guess it took some getting used to, because after a while, I actually didn't mind the choker, but I think it had a lot to do with the fact of how well the dress fits her body and how the styling of her hair and make up makes up for it (and I love her as a brunette btw) 

5. Rose Byrne in Elie Saab

Before she was that snooty girl in Bridesmaids, I first became familiar with Rose Byrne through a little movie called Wicker Park where she played a complete psycho-of-a-neighbor. But at least her taste in fashion is not as crazy. I think this Elie Saab jumpsuit is so modern and fashion forward and suits her perfectly. If you're going to wear pants at an award show, might as well a jumpsuit as chic as this one. But I bet you're going to be regretting the choice once you need to use the ladies room. 

6. Sofia Vergara in Marchesa 

Over the past few award shows, Sofia Vergara has finally rubbed off on me. Even though I've seen her in this silhouette so many times before, I think it's perfect for her because it highlights her assets very well. She still needs help pronouncing her A's and E's but I think that's what I love about her. 

7. Natalie Portman in Giambattista Valli 

I didn't see Natalie Portman on the red carpet, but once she stepped out to present, her Giambattista Valli dress confirmed my beliefs about her love for deep red/wine/purple gowns. Remember all of her red carpet looks last year? She wore a Rodarte gown (how fitting) in a similar, but brighter hue when she received her first Academy Award for Best Actress. 

8. Kailey Cuoco in Romona Keveza 

The red carpet commentary on this dress was mixed, but I personally love it. Sweetheart necklines -- love. Pastel colors -- love. Explosion of ruffles on the skirt -- double love (and milkmaid braid -- adorable!) Kind of reminds of a Monique Lhuillier frock, but Romona Keveza is definitely a label that everyone is going to start hearing often on the red carpet for the years to come. 

9. Viola Davis in Marchesa

Marchesa -- Need  I say more? But I do love this Marchesa dress on Viola Davis. Not only does it fit her well, but the styling of the entire look is also perfect with the right kind and right amount of accessories. Congrats on the Best Actress award for The Help! I still need to watch it.  

10. Jayma Maysin Reem Acra 

Before she was that teacher on Glee she was that girl I loathed the most on Ugly Betty (Betty and Henry belonged together) but T.V. grudges aside, I think this shimmery Reem Acra with the lace sheathe detailing in the back is actually quite beautiful.      

Love, KB

25 Days of Style: a Fashion Blog series -- Day 21

     Day 21 and the day that I've been dreading since entering my adulthood is here -- My 25th birthday. Don't get me wrong, looking old is the least of my problems -- I look like a sixteen year old teenage girl. I just feel like there's so much that I still want to do and feel like I'm running out of time (eep!) But nonetheless, this is a happy occasion, because I love birthdays (especially when it's mine! lol.) I've been showered with great gifts and company from the past week and I couldn't help but feel like I'm the luckiest person in the world, even without all of the presents. I have an amazing family and sister, great friends, and a beyond wonderful best friend who simultaneously act as my significant other. And since today is my birthday, let me make this blog post brief so I can get back to celebrating and feeling old. 

     Here's my style advice on birthday outfits: wear ANYTHING that makes you feel pretty, happy, and or sexy. My red 25th birthday dress is very modest Kate Middleton in the front, but very va-va-voom sexy with its bare back. However, I still feel it's the right balance of class, intrigue, and provocativeness (just plan accordingly when wearing bare/open back styles if you know what I mean. We don't want those things poking out when it gets chilly.) For a little bit of sparkle (because every girl needs a little sparkle on her birthday!), I've opted for my favorite investment buy of the month which this crystal collar necklace. And for a touch of simplicity, since the dress and choice of accessory is so loud, I've chosen my favorite black suede pumps. Birthdays is the perfect time to wear whatever fancies you, because the day is about you after all. Where what you want, let your hair down, and have lots of fun. This is even the day to have fun with your make-up and nail polish! Glitter? Go for it! Today really gives true meaning to it's my party and I'll cry if I want to (hopefully no genuine tears of sadness!) Oh, and off to eat cake too! I wish someone really did make me that Chanel cake. But I don't know if I'll be able have the heart to destroy something so prettyyyyy. 

Love, KB

dress by Zara 

black suede pumps by Steve Madden

poplin/peter pan collar necklace by BCBG

25 Days of Style: a Fashion Blog series -- Day 20

     Day 20 and we're finally on the homestretch. Today's blog series touches on a very important subject which is Fashion and Style Do's and Don'ts. Let me start by saying this, pay attention because this is really important -- there are definite fashion and style felonies and beyond atrocious looks (they do exist) but you have to differentiate that from certain styles and pieces that doesn't necessarily work for you. Does that make sense? 

     To clarify, Amanda Brooks, who wrote I Love Your Style said that, there may be things that are not right for you, but it's almost impossible to rule anything out for everybody. Even if you can't pull something off, chances are someone else can. And that's what's great about personal style. For instance: having your thong peek through your low rise jeans will never be classy and a definite style felony, the same goes with exposed nipples, denim cut offs that are so short that your ass cheeks are showing, and designer knock-offs -- so not chic (Sorry for the blunt and vulgar language but I'm trying to make a point.) All of those are definitely fashion and style DON'Ts. 

     So called fashion and style "rules" on the other hand (like the ones you hear on fashion police type shows, which I don't like to watch because all they do is bash celebrities on television like they've never made fashion blunders before. We're all human.) are meant to be broken like: Not wearing white after Labor Day (Who really cares?), you shouldn't wear brown with black (Rubbish, tell that to Burberry), you should always match your purse to your shoes (Excuse me? Are all of my shoes and purses from the same color palette family? No.), twin sets are never chic (Uhm, have you seen the styles of Jackie O and Grace Kelly?), mid-driffs are a no-no (Tell that to the resurgence of the trend which keeps recycling back to style. If you can pull it off, I say go for it.) My point is, there are style felonies that no woman should ever commit, because let's face it, you want to be perceived as a lady and not a tramp. But at the same time, so called "fashion rules" that you hear about all the time are complete rubbish. Just because it doesn't look good on you doesn't mean the same applies to everyone else. Just remember that we're all different -- our styles, tastes, and body shapes greatly differ from one another -- no one woman is the same. 

     Do you remember when everyone once said that pink and red never looks good together since the two colors come from the same immediate color family? And the moment that Emma Stone came out in a Giambattista Valli pink and red number on the red carpet and Sarah Jessica Parker in a similar look by wearing a Prabal Gurung blouse and pants outside of David Letterman, every self-proclaimed fashion police was immediately retracting their initial statement about the color combination.  And that's the theme of today's look -- breaking so-called style and fashion rules. To start off, I've paired this pink polka dot Zac Posen dress with red tights (don't confuse them with leggings which are footless and what you usually see worn at the gym) and peep toe wedge espadrilles. I once heard that you shouldn't wear tights with peep toe styled shoes, but whoever came up with that has never seen the work of Eric Daman on Gossip Girl and never flipped through a J.Crew Fall/Winter catalogue. Colored tights on a peep-toe, t-strap shoe is the cutest thing ever. And to mimic the color of the wedges, I've paired the look with a simple cardigan for an extra layer of warmth on this wishy-washy winter weather that we've been having. 

     So lesson learned? DON'T make style blunders, but DO break fashion and style rules -- as contradicting as that may sound. Fashion is so fun and can be a great outlet for play and fantasy, so don't let these self-proclaimed fashionistas tell you what you shouldn't wear and how you should wear certain things. They're probably just bitter that they can't pull off a mid-driff look as good as you can. 

Love, KB

tights with peep-toed shoes

dress by Zac Posen for Target

cardigan in a light blade green by J.Crew 

red tights by Express 

vintage wedges espadrilles 

25 Days of Style: a Fashion Blog series -- Day 19

     Day 19 and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! And also, today is the third (and last) installment of last weekend's Zara shopping trip. This dress combines all the details that I love about a dress -- LBD, lace, poplin/peter pan collar, an A-line skirt -- and the fact that the dress fits like it's completely tailored! (This is the main reason why I love shopping in that store, all of the clothes fit like they're made just for me.) But lace is one of those fabrics that every woman needs to have in her closet. I know I say that a lot, but only because I'm trying to make a crucial style point. Lace is one of those fabrics that looks good on just about everyone. 

     What's great about this dress is the manner of how the lace is utilized in the garment. A lot of lace dresses out there, especially the ones that are in my closet, is lace all over. The lace in this dress is used on the very top of the bodice and the sleeves. The rest of the dress is made out of this black viscose fabric, which is a commercial form of rayon, but feels a lot like thicker cotton. The thick black fabric can easily hide your waist, especially where the skirt meets the bodice, so to highlight this asset I wore a skinny glitter belt. And speaking of fabric, that's another point that every stylish woman should know -- how to take care of your clothes. Unless you're that kind lazy slob who never takes the moment to properly care for your clothes, then chances are you're familiar with garment labels. They're the little tags that are sewn inside your clothes which tells you the material that the garment is made out of and how to properly clean them -- machine wash, hand wash, dry clean, low heat, dry flat, etc. Knowing how to properly care for your clothes is crucial in having them last forever. I know all of those things seem like common sense, but you wouldn't believe how many women out there don't even know what garment labels are. 

     As for the rest of the look, I styled my hair in a fishtail braid with an embellished pearl head band to keep it fresh and young, because the entire ensemble can look very old and churchy very fast with the wrong styling (not that anything is wrong with church especially on a Sunday.) Besides, when you're wearing a lace dress you want to look like Kate Middleton and not Margaret Thatcher. A little color on the lips, my trusted black suede pumps, and a spritz of my favorite perfume Miss Dior Cherie L'eau and I'm ready to head out the door. To learn how to find your scent and shop for perfume, click this. Happy Sunday! 

p.s. halfway through the shoot, I've forgotten about the belt so enjoy the medley of both looks! 

Love, KB

lace dress with poplin/peter pan collar by Zara 

glitter belt by Forever 21 

black suede pumps by Steve Madden

pearl headband by Natasha 

perfume by Miss Dior Cherie L'eau