Happiness is Award Season

Miley Cyrus in David Koma

Emma Stone in Gucci

Leah Michelle in Marchesa

Evan Rachel Wood in Valentino

Shailene Woods in Calvin Klein

Diane Kruger in Prada

Jessica Chastain in Balenciaga

Award season begins in January and ends in March with the Academy Awards. I love this time of year. Not because I am a film or actor enthusiast, but because I like looking at all the pretty dresses (and ugly ones). I get embarrassingly excited for the red carpet of all the award shows.

The first of the bigger award shows of the season was the People's Choice Awards - where I was disappointed with many of the fashion choices, but my judgmental side got a little treat. I did, however, love Miley Cyrus' look in David Koma. I was even okay with her neon Jimmy Choo stilettos. For  a young former Disney Channel star who may or may not be addicted to salvia I thought they were surprisingly appropriate. Leah Michelle was one of my favorites in Marchesa. I loved the flapper style of her gown and paired with her  glittery Choo heels and long hair it was perfection. And Emma Stone looked cool as always in a Gucci pant suit carrying a Tiffany clutch. Sigh.

A bigger treat for my eyes was the Critics Choice Award. I loved many of the dresses that were flaunted on the red carpet... or should I say grey? I am a big fan of sleek, clean and simple. I will choose class over sparkle any day. And that is exactly what I loved about Jessica Chastain's pink gown by Balenciaga. The dress looked amazing against her pale skin and red hair and the cut was flattering on her slim frame. Diane Kruger was a shoe in to be on my best dressed list just by the colors of her Prada gown. Yellow and grey has to be one of my favorite color combinations and the actual style of the dress wasn't bad either.

This is just the beginning. Tomorrow is the Golden Globes - where the stars of the small and big screen come together; and if the past shows are any evidence we will get to see a variation of gowns, cocktail dresses and some sexy pantsuits - ooo I can't wait!




Photos via Usmagazine.com 

The Illusion of Nude

Katy Perry

Betty Page (notice the stripe)

Pinup

Zooey Deschanel

Deschanel in nude fishnets

Sarah Jessica Parker 

Pippa Middelton

The Middelton sisters

Carla Bruni

Bruni in (gasp) tights and opened toed shoes

Grease

A difference I noticed almost immediately upon moving to Norway was the women’s ability and willingness to wear a pantyhose. Now, I credit this mainly to cold weather. Before I moved to Oslo, I never owned a pair of tights. I don’t think I even thought of them. Now I have a drawer full of them. I didn’t think much of it. It is cold in Oslo, especially during the winter, and it doesn’t really get cold in San Diego. It was as simple as that.

Then Kate and Pippa came onto the scene. And there was all this talk about tights and if they were a "back". I don't think in Oslo they ever left.  All of a sudden tights were the talk of the town and Zooey Deschanel was saying how tights are her "safety blanket". 

You know how you start thinking about tacos and all of a sudden tacos are everywhere? And you wonder whether you're just seeing tacos because you're thinking about them, or if the reason you're thinking about them is because there really are tacos everywhere? That's how I feel about pantyhose right now.

My grandmother told me a story about how she used to draw the straight line on the back of her legs so it looked like she was wearing tights. It was too embarrassing to go without. In Pictures of pinups and the ever so sexy Betty Page they are often wearing tights. So, when did this become a deal? A thing to be covered in countless blogs and magazines?

When I was around 13 I would watch Grease with my best friend Sarah. That was what we did - we would watch musicals and sing and swing dance. On one of these musical nights we had to pause and re-watch , pause and re-watch the clip I posted above. Sarah and I were so damn envious of the actresses' legs. When on about the 5th rewind we realized "Ohhhhh, they're wearing tights!" Why at that moment we didn't go to Target and buy a pair of nude tights beats me. Maybe it's because we were living in San Diego.

I have come to love panty hose, but yet, I am weary. White tights are a no go for me. Anything with horizontal lines: absolutely not; and nude pantyhose I am iffy on. They need to be the absolute right shade for my skin tone and the shine needs to be spot on. Not too much, yet not too little. I am no expert, and several kroners have gone wasted because I bought the wrong size, shade or shine. But when you have found the right pair of nude tights I believe they will make you look as fabulous as Kate Middleton. Just don't ever wear them with opened toed shoes. Yes, I know Carla Bruni is doing just that in a picture above. But she is French, and a model, and married to the president. She's allowed.

Jeffrey who?

To my shock and awe I found out that Jeffrey Campbell is a Californian. I could have sworn with his shoe design overtaking the streets of Oslo he had to at least, be European. This year (or I should say this last year. Happy, happy new year!) I have seen Oslo fashionistas of all shapes and sizes and various capability to walk in these high, high, heeled shoes all over town. 

With a price tag of 1300 nok or above (around a couple hundred dollars) and icy sidewalks I was surprised at the frequency of which I saw these designs. And these shoes do stick out. They are extremely unique in shape and design. I have not yet decided if I like these shoes. I know I will not be buying any. I am not brave enough to walk out and about on Oslo's cobblestone icy streets in one of Campbell's designs. I can see myself now: There I am running to catch the bus. There I am falling on the ground. There I am laying on the ground as the bus drives away. And there I am with a lot more than just a bruised ego.

I do admire his brave design, and color combination. The thick and different heel shapes are interesting and the different patterns and colors are exciting. I see glam rock sophistication. They have yet to win me over. But, I am sure they will, if not already, win over every fan of New York Dolls from Oslo to California.

Queen McCartney

Kate Hudson, Stella McCartney, Liv Tyler, and Kate Bosworth

Angelina Jolie

Gwyneth Paltrow

Stella McCartney for Target

Julia Roberts

Kate Winselt, Paltrow, and Hudson in Summer 2012 McCartney

Time after time I am impressed with pantsuits on the red carpet. And time after time they seem to be designed by Stella McCartney. Oh, does that name sound familiar? That is because she is the daughter of Sir Paul McCartney (of that band, The Beatles) and the late Linda McCartney. You try to hate these types of women, or these types of people: born privileged and then turn out to be immensely talented and kind.

Stella McCartney, like her mother, is an animal activist (which puts her on my list of favorite famous people by default). She does not use any animal products - like leather or products made from animals - like silk in her clothing line; she is a member of PETA, and has recently established Meat free Monday, where she encourages and supports meat eaters to go meatless one day a week. Something I fully support (which just makes me that more green with envy).

Not everyone is as enthralled with McCartney as I. The infamous Karl Lagerfeld voiced his opposition to her being named the head of Chloe. He has apparently said he wishes a more famous and distinguished design name be chosen, and not rock royalty. But the success of both Chloe and her own line have proven these words dismissible (if they were actually spoken - so much drama and rumor spreading in the fashion world).

The truth is, which is undeniable, is that McCartney makes wearable clothes. She seems to know the women's body extremely well. And so she should, since she has one! Her pantsuits are designed and tailored to perfection and her dresses accentuate all the right areas. The red and black dress Kate Winslet is wearing is part of McCartney's summer 2012 line - the black sides of the stunning red dress are brilliant. They seem to be literally creating Winslet's enviable shape. I have yet to wear an original Stella McCartney because of its hefty, high end design price tag, but I bet if I ever do get my hands on one it will make me look and feel sexy, confident and stunning. So, you better watch your back Ms.Winslet (or at least the clothes on it).

Blissfully Engaged

Badgley Mischka

Monique Lhuillier

Christian Dior

Vera Wang

It has been months since my last post. My excuse: I got engaged; You may be thinking I have spent every dripping waking moment planning my nuptials, but I haven't. We don't even have an official date. We have decided on a long blissful engagement. An engagement filled with love, laughter, fights and trips to foreign countries. The date - date we are thinking late spring 2013. Yes, I said 2013. 

Don't think this 18 month waiting period has slowed down the wedding planning. My mind and I already have the whole shindig planned. From the flowers to to the flavor of cake. (Red velvet, cream cheese frosting yuuuum). I have tried to include my lovely, handsome fiancée in these planning adventures with little success. I get responses like "Oh yeah, and when is this wedding?" and "Sounds pretty. Who's getting married?" or, my personal favorite: "Sounds great, babe, but I'm thinking a 

dinosaur themed wedding!" It is all in good fun, but I am beginning to wonder why the date had to be "next, next summer." 2012 anyone? Truth is I think being engaged is fabulous and am in no rush to get to the serious planning - the planning that includes money and the saving of it.

My wedding daydreams have taken me to the cliffs of fashion excellence and luxury and I have learned something surprising about myself. I thought I was going to be a regal bride, like Grace Kelley. I thought I was going to be a diva bride like Kim Kardashian. But it turns out I am more of the rustic-romantic bride. I am thinking lace, candles, wood and green trees surrounding us. I am thinking dancing to Bruce Springsteen and Louis Armstrong barefoot under the stars with my husband while our guests eat Italian tapas with their hands and indulge on champagne. And there will be buckets of champagne!

This made me realize how special and personal a wedding is. From the font on the wedding invitation, to the color of the bow tying the bridal bouquet together. It is going to be our day.

A wedding being so personal made it hard for me to make my usual, and sometimes snooty fashion opinions. I couldn't say I hate this type of wedding dress or this color is an absolute wedding don't. That should be the brides choice. And all the bridesmaids and mothers of the world should respect that. It is probably going to be on of the most exciting and exhilarating decisions. One I can't wait to make.

That being said the pictures I posted are designs from the bridal heavy weights of the fashion world. A wise man once said, "You want pasta, you go Little Italy; You want wedding you go Wang" and it is hard to argue with Mr. Anthony Marentino.

Color me this

Orange and purple are the for sure it colors for spring! Oh, you already knew that? Well, honestly, how could you have missed it?

I have seen this Gucci color block dress everywhere! From a princess to a Kardashian; from a promotional movie article to a high fashion Vogue Paris cover with Lara Stone. There is nowhere this dress won't go. Is it as fabulous as bloggers and fashion royalty make it out to be?

Apparently this dress is what to wear this summer. But look at all those magazine covers. When has a single dress completely taken over before? Or a single color combination? And I thought it was a fashion taboo to be seen in the same outfit as someone else? What makes this dress special enough for top magazines to have the same cover dress in a span of a few months? It is a great dress, but color me confused.

And can we all remember orange's humble beginnings as Rachael Ray's favorite color? No one saw orange coming even when Rachael Ray put it on everything. From non-stick frying pans, casserovals and moppines to the backs of Kim, Lara and January. Well played, orange. Well played.

Eau De Summer

The infamous Chanel 5

Juicy Couture

Marc Jacobs

Escada

Christian Dior

Chanel

Sarah Jessica Parker

Paris Hilton

Every year I pick out a new fragrance, this is one of my favorite things to do. That smell can bring me back to a lot of special moments, and in a way it sets the tone for each occasion. That is why I like to have a special perfume that I wear on date nights or to parties, and a daily perfume - that I wear, well, daily. Right now my daily perfume is Paris Hilton, yes Paris Hilton and I love it!

Summer 2011 is a special one for me. It marks one year in Norway with challenges beaten and changes ahead. This year I have chosen Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B. It is a powerful, yet light, floral and citrus scent that lasts all day on your skin. But it is now discontinued...Why? I don't know, because it is fabulous. But thank god for overstock.com!

When choosing your scent - whether it be for special occasions or a daily perfume, make sure it is personal. Perfume smells different on each person and they conform to who you are and become apart of your identity. Just a slight whiff of Sarah Jessica Parker NYC takes me back to last summer when I was moving to Norway and leaving everything I know; Miss Dior Cherie reminds me of my first dates with Michael. Perfumes are better than diaries, better even than pictures. So choose wisely, because it can take you back to that exact moment of pleasure, sorrow  and exhilaration in one light spritz. Close your eyes and indulge in that moment; then you are ready to take on a whole new day.