Allure's Best of Beauty 2011

I absolutely love, love, love this issue of Allure.  I usually grab this issue right off the shelf but just discovered this information is posted on their website http://www.allure.com/beauty-products/best-of-beauty.  This is my last tid bit of yummy information for 2011. Enjoy!

Cheers and Happy New Year!

Top 10 Trends of 2011

Most popular trends tend to hang around for a couple of years so if you're slow to discover one, or are hesitant to engage in one,  you can usually rock it the next year if you want to.  Trends start at the designer level and sometimes it takes a year or two to make their way into the main stream.   Some are fantastic (colored denim), some are silly (feathers in hair) and some are a flash in the pan (dip dye hair) but the one thing they all have in common is, they are f-u-n!  Here are my picks for the Top 10 Trends of 2011:

1.  Colored Denim - This trend took off and ran last Spring and though the style was mainly the skinny jean,  look for other styles to be in color for Spring 2012.  I lurve my green jeans and am looking forward to exploring more colors in the spring, maybe red or yellow.

2.  Color Blocking - This trend was one that people either got very right or very wrong.  Unfortunately the risk of getting it wrong was too great for many people to try.  Needless to say, don't look for this to continue next year.

 3.  The Pant Suit - I'm not going to pretend this is a super new trend because it's not, but white has been more prominent for the pant suit this year and I love it.  If I had somewhere fancy to go to, I would rock this trend for sure.

 4. Leopard Print Shoes - This is another trend that can be done so right or so wrong.  Luckily, I've seen it done more right.  There really are no rules except to keep the rest of your outfit sans print and simple.

5.  Nude Shoes - Nude is the new black especially for spring.  I love this look as well.  I have a pair of nude sling back sandals and not only do they look awesome with pretty much any color (including black) they look fabulous with denim.

6.  Wedge Booties - These are fun because there are so many ways you can wear them and so many styles to choose from.  Wear these  with skirts, dresses or skinnies, you don't want to hide them under long pants, what would be the point?

7.  Statement Tights - You already know how I feel about this trend and I'm pretty sure it is going to be around next year.  Look for lighter colors for Spring 2012 and darker ones to continue into Fall.  This is really the cheapest way to make an ordinary outfit, extraordinary.

8.  Feathers - This trend is mainly for Gen Y'rs and tweens (unless you are Steven Tyler) but it's a real cute way to add some pizazz to your hair.  I fell victim, thanks to my 10 yr old niece, but I have to admit, it was kinda fun to have a bright pink feather in my hair for a few days.

9. Dip Dye Hair- this trend came on the heels of the "ombre" do (dark roots gradually going lighter to ends).  Unlike the feather, or the ombre, it's a bit "try hard" and forced.  This trend came and went and, unless you are a rock star, will probably stay that way.

10.  Crackle Nail Polish - this is another trend that was introduced to me by my niece, but unlike the feathers, this can be worn by all ages.  I wish I had nice nails because this would be so much fun to wear.

Fashion's Year in Review

For some retailers 2011 was a year of thinking outside the box with great financial success.  For others, there was no outside the box thinking and no financial success.  One of the industry's great designers fell from grace and one made history posthumously.  Here are my picks for the top five events to happen in fashion this year.

#5 Discount retailer, Target, partnered with Missoni,  a couture Italian designer, in the summer to launch a limited supply collection to the Target customer.  Little did they know (or did they?) the sheer madness that would come of this.  The website launched the collection at 6 a.m. and by 8 a.m. the website had crashed.  By noon, the shelves at the actual stores were empty.  Despite this, everyone seemed happy with the outcome - customers got their coveted designer items for a huge discounted price and Target got free advertising for days.

#4 Like Target, high street retailer H&M partnered with an Italian couture designer, Versace, to launch a limited edition collection in November.  Due to the Target/Missoni frenzy they were well prepared and issued a set of guidelines beforehand such as wristbands with specific shopping times and quantity restrictions.   H&M’s U.S. website did not crash as it is not a shopping site so the shopping madness was left for in-store only.  And like Target, this was all considered a great success.

#3 American icon Gap Inc., which also owns the Old Navy and Banana Republic chains, announced closures of 189 Gap stores (21%) in the U.S. by the end of 2013.  While they were one of the first retailers to pave the way for lower price basics such as khaki’s and denim, they slowly lost their fashion edge to similar retailers such as Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle Outfitters in the 90’s and have struggled ever since.

#2 Famed designer John Galliano was fired from Christian Dior after being caught on video making racial slurs and declaring his love for Hitler.  Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise for Dior, who can now take this limelight opportunity to re-invent itself.  At this time, no one has been named his successor.

#1 Though the royal wedding made headlines in every media outlet known to man, fashion was definitely one of the main attractions for people world wide.  Never has there been such a spotlight on, not only the bride, but her maid of honor and guests themselves.  But despite all that, Kate Middleton stole the show in her breathtaking Alexander McQueen gown (by Sarah Burton) and with her remarkable composure.  She is a stunning fashion icon who will be influential in fashion for years to come.

Make a Difference

Me and my little sis, Amy

Putting my passion for fashion aside for a moment, a topic I feel very passionate about is supporting the disadvantaged youth of our world.  A few years ago, while I was living in Sydney, I became part of a year long mentoring program called Sister 2 Sister.  The premise is to match professional women with disadvantaged teen girls who are on the brink of, or in the middle of, going down "the wrong road" and provide them with the necessary coping skills to deal with their hardships.  I am still in touch with my little sister today and while she may think I was a big influence in her life, she was also a big influence in mine.

Last year I was approached by an organization outside of Trader Joe's, you know the one, the one you turn your head and say "no thanks" to.  The not-for-profit organization is Los Angeles Youth Network.  Their mission is to empower abused, neglected and homeless adolescents to become self-sufficient by providing street outreach, food, emergency shelter, transitional apartments and educational enrichment programs in a nurturing and safe environment.  Just a few bucks can provide so much to an adolescent in need.  Make a difference this season:

$25 - ensures a safe bed at night for one youth.
$45 - purchases school supplies for one youth.
$75 - supplies 10 youths with basic toiletries and undergarments for one month.
$150 - feeds one youth for one month.
$200 - provides holiday gifts and meals to two youths.
$500 - provides clothing to all of the youths for an entire month.

You can also help a youth in crisis all year by pledging a monthly pledge option and ensure that LAYN can continue their vital mission to help the homeless youth of Los Angeles. Please go to http://www.layn.org/donate.html for more information.

There are certain charities that tug at my heart strings and this is one.  I know that each and everyone of you reading this right now can afford at least $25 to reach out and help. If you are not in Los Angeles, reach out to an organization in your home town.

Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Fabulous Winter Coats

Not only is today the first day of winter, it is also the two month anniversary of my blog! Yay!  Anyway, to keep with the theme of winter, I have decided to pick some of my favorite coat looks this season.   Coats are things I think about with envy.  Those of us who live in LaLa land really have no need for a super heavy coat, even in the winter. However, sometimes we get suckered into buying one, two or three for that "just in case it gets below 60F" weather.  Here are six key coat trends this season:

1. The Puffer Coat

Mango

Nordstrom

2. The Trench Coat

Topshop

Topshop

3.  The Metro Coat

J. Crew

ModCloth

4.  The Pea Coat

J. Crew

ModCloth
**LOVE**

5.  The Military Coat

Mango
**LOVE**

ModCloth

6.  The Cape

ASOS

Piperlime

Statement Tights

Statement tights have been on trend for quite awhile now.  I saw this in London about 18 months ago and now it seems to have taken the U.S. by storm.  The first statement tights were bright colored opaque tights, now it's all about patterns and the crazier the better! You can find these fun tights at pretty much every retailer from better to budget.  For about $20 you can make a statement and not break the bank.  If you are daring enough to rock this trend, keep the rest of the outfit simple.  If in doubt, go with all black.

From the runways

Celebrity sightings

Me rocking my statement tights

Some of my faves

Anthropologie

Nordstrom

ASOS

Nordstrom

Free People

Nordstrom

Best and Worst 12-19

BEST IN SHOW

Nicole Richie does it again.  She looks stunning in this black dress.  I especially dig the leather cut out top! Tres Chic!

Sandra Bullock looks fabulous in this pant suit.  You all know by now how much I love the pant suit and this is exactly why I do.  It is so sexy!

Charlize Theron is probably one of the most beautiful stars in Hollywood and she almost always looks fab! This 2-tone dress is phenom...I also love the NON platform sandals which, I hear, are SO out...yay for me!

WORST FOR WEAR

Holy sequins! Rachel Zoe rarely misses but man, this sequin crop pantsuit (how does that even exist?) is hideous.  I'm not sure if this is from her own clothing line but talk about how NOT to wear sequins.  This ensemble probably weighs more than she does...ooph!

As many of you know, I can not stand Sarah Jessica Parker. This is exactly why...she THINKS she's Carrie Bradshaw.  Give me a freakin' break! I love the whole colored tights trend but please..... she bugs sooooo much!!!

I didn't even know who Paula Patton was but she is in the new Mission Impossible movie and has been making the rounds.  I have seen about 10 pictures of her and to her credit she actually looks good in most of them, but there is no excuse for this dress.  I actually don't even know where to begin because the purple leopard print and awful style renders my brain speechless.   And let's not forget the black lace....you know how I feel about it....ew!

A Good Cause

This weekend I went to a trunk show of woven bags.  For those of you who might be saying "so what?", let me tell you what.  First, who can ever have too many bags?  Second, who can pass up the opportunity to support a good cause?  Not me!  There's nothing like the feeling of knowing you have made a difference in someone's life.  It is also inspiring to hear the stories of the people who are making it happen.  The trunk show was put on by the WORKSHOP/CoOp who, in partnership with UNHCR (United Nations High Commission on Refugees),  provide hygiene sets to women and girls who are forced to flee their homes due to war and persecution.  But not only that, these bags are made in Guatemala by women at a fair wage so it gives these women a chance to be independent and take control of their lives.  Below are some pictures of the bag collection.  They come in four sizes and several bright color combinations as well as more subtle nautical tones.  Great for traveling, in-purse catch all, iPad carrier, you think it, you got it.

Hygiene set provided by UNHCR.  For more information go to www.UNrefugees.org.

Woven bag collection in a variety of colors: totes, small & medium bags and coin purses

Woven bag collection in nautical colors

My medium and small bag set.
**LOVE**