Model as Muse @ The Met

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

Marc Jacobs and Kate Moss in Marc Jacobs

LOVE the back!  Drapey back!!!

Photo credit: JustJared

First Paris and now NYC... Anyone want to pack me up in their carry-on and trot around the globe to peruse fashion exhibits?! Takers???

Tonight was the MET's Annual Costume Institute Gala.  This year the exhibit is entitled "Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion" and focuses on how social changes have defined our culture's view of feminine beauty which have been personified by the figures and faces of iconic models.  "Model to Muse" specifically captures the progression of these changes over a span of five decades from 1947-1997.  Magazine covers, various photographs and garments made famous by the models who strutted down the catwalk will be on display to characterize these diverse time periods and the constant evolution of beauty.  The exhibit opened today and runs till August 9, 2009.

Ashley Olsen in her own line, The Row

Again, drapey back (I'm a fan if you haven't noticed)!!!

Love that black, embellished chain going down her back... 

Photo credit: NewsDay

With over 13 pages of photos on WireImage, you know the event huge.  And who wasn't there?!  Let's try to put things into perspective with a little bullet-point list (though this does not do justice!):

• The Planners:  Co-chairs Anna Wintour, Justin Timberlake and Kate Moss arrived with daughter Bee Schaffer, paramour, Jessica Biel and primary sponsor Marc Jacobs, respectively
  
• The Models: Tyra Banks, Bar Refaeli, Heidi Klum, Elizabeth Hurley, Cindy Crawford, Iman, Claudia Schiffer, Brooke Shields
• The Fashion Doyennes:  Stella McCartney, Carolina Herrera, Donna Karan, Donatella Versace, Tory Burch, Diane Von Furstenberg... And then there was John Galliano ;) 
  
• The Musicians: Rihanna, Madonna, Kanye West, Bono, Ciara
• The Actresses: Renee Zellweger, Eva Mendes, Anne Hathaway, Liv Tyler, Marisa Tomei
• The Starlettes:  Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Emma Roberts,  Katy Perry
• The Trump Card:  Donald and Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump and Ivanna Trump
• The Power Couples:  Tony & Eva Longoria Parker, Tom Brady & Gisele Bündchen
• The Attack of the Kates - Kate Beckinsale, Kate Bosworth and Kate Beckinsale 

Some of the fashion highlights/lows:

Our girl! Always the fashionista...Rachel Bilson in Bally

Photo credit: Just Jared

Anne Hathaway in Marc Jacobs... What's up with her hair?

Photo credit: NewsDay

Kate Beckinsale in Marchesa...Can't decide if I love/hate the train

Photo credit: FabSugar

Rihanna in a Dolce and Gabbana tuxedo jacket and capris... Mixed feelings?

Photo credit: NewsDay

Madonna in Louis Vuitton... Uhh... What was she thinking?!

Photo credit: NewsDay

Again, I love Kate Hudson in her gold Stella McCartney gown

Photo Credit: FabSugar

Eva Mendes in Calvin Klein... Classy and sophisticated

Photo credit: FabSugar

Kate Bosworth in Stella McCartney... So 50's chic in the red lipstick and black lace

(Bruce Willis likes it, I guess)
Photo credit: FabSugar

Kate Hudson - Cartier at 100

Kate & Demi @ Cartier at 100
Photo credit: WWD

Recently, Cartier celebrated it's 100th anniversary in America by throwing an opulent bash in it's NYC 5th Avenue Mansion. Cocktails were flowing, h'ourderves were passed and a posh crowd of A-list celebrities like Kate Hudson, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Anne Hathaway, Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel, Eva Mendes and Elton John were dressed to impress. Some of Cartier's most divine pieces were on display including Elizabeth Taylor's famed "TAJ MAHAL" necklace and Steve Wynn's 231-carat diamond.

But jewelry aside, this is about Kate! Kate Hudson looked absolutely stunning in her cut-out black gown. Critics have gone as far as to say she looked "trashy", but I think she looks hot! The sexy, open sides make quite a statement and she pulls it off amazingly. Perhaps another color could make the dress seem garish, but you can't go wrong in black. Kate's diamond encrusted choker necklace is the most beautiful piece and delicately pulls the look together!

Photo credit: Zimbio

Rachel Bilson: New Columnist for InStyle!

Rachel Bilson in Herve Leger at the
Whitney Contemporaries Art Party & Auction in NYC
Photo credit: Just Jared

Have I ever mentioned how in LOVE I am with Rachel Bilson? Ever since I met the acquaintance of Summer Roberts through The OC, the girl crush formed. She's so cute! And I love her style! So you can imagine my delight when I found out that "Ask Rachel" will be a recurring monthly column in InStyle where readers send their inquiries seeking Rachel's fashion advice.

Pick up the May 2009 issue of InStyle now! Below are excerpts from the issue including Rachel's debut column for the magazine.

Stella McCartney on Heidi Montag

Promised my #1 fan and supporter, J, that I'd write my next post with her in mind. Hope this will suffice, and that you killed that architecture deadline.

Photo credit: MTV

This past summer, J, KT and I sipped green tea and lattés at Barnes & Noble while we studied the GMAT, anatomy of the human body and the LSAT, respectively. When we weren't vigorously working in the zone, we'd chat about vapid celebrity gossip (i.e. our not-so-secret obsession with that ridiculous, contrived "reality" show). Yes, I am unabashed. THE HILLS.

I mostly watch for the fashion (especially now with Whitney gone), so in my defense, it's educational. :) In the season premiere, Heidi was even wearing the new spring Stella McCartney platforms I posted a while back. Disclaimer: I am not a Heidi fan, but grudgingly admit she has some style and an array of to-die-for-items in her closet. Exhibit A: The Stella McCartney bandage dress she wore to her wedding rehearsal dinner last week... To see Heidi in it, go to CelebStyle.

Photo credit: Bergdorf Goodman

The dress is simple and sexy chic. The bandage across the shoulder is the detail that makes the entire piece. Besotted.

Stella McCartney: As the daughter of former Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney, Stella was born into the world of glitz, glamor and fashion. At the early age of 15, she completed her first internship with Christian Lacroix and continued to work in design on Savile Row, a London fashion hotspot. Her claim to fame as a designer was when three friends modeled her collection as a favor to her for the graduation runway show at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. These three friends were none other than model icons Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss and Yasmin Le Bon.
In March 1997, Stella was appointed head designer of the French fashion house, Chloé. Her appointment was initially met with skepticism from many including Chanel's leading man, Karl Lagerfield, who was quoted as saying, "Chloé should have taken a big name. They did, but in music, not fashion. Let's hope she's as gifted as her father." Wow. Despite remarks like these that implied her success was due partially to nepotism, today, Stella's talent is indisputable. She has gained much respect since her Chloé debut and has collaborated with Gucci, Lesportsac as well as designed for celebrities like Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow. In early 2007, she also released her own skincare line, CARE.

Designer Dictionary - i n d a h

In 1996, Libby De Santis, with the help of her husband, Joe, moved from her hometown, Hanalei, Kauai, to Brazil to pursue her dream: to create a clothing line that was beautiful, beachy, and breezy. And so she did. Today, Indah has not only gained popularity in the Hawaiian islands, but has also branched out to the mainland. Trendy boutiques like Los Angeles' Planet Blue carry her line and how's this for PR... Kate Hudson was spotted last year wearing a red, hot Indah bikini! For Spring 2009, De Santis took off with the boho-chic trend and created a line full of tie-dyes, ruffles and sexy drapey backs!

Indah tie-dyed keyhole dress, Faryl Robin slippers, asymmetrical feather earrings from a jewelry sale in Kailua, wooden bangle from my mom, wrap bracelet by me, straw bangles from Goodwill

My first Indah piece... Knit peasant tunic, gladiator heels from Tokyo, headband by me, necklace from the Malibu Flea Market

www.indahclothing.com

3.1 Phillip Lim & Balmain Crystal Heels

Besotted!

I tried this exact Phillip Lim dress on last winter but it was in a dark perrywinkle blue color. If you've been following my blog, then you know that I LOVE coral, so when I saw this dress I died a little. And of course, the fact that Cameron Diaz wore this exact dress to the Spike Awards last May doesn't hurt. ;)



Thank you to my friend Leslie who introduced me to these Balmain Studded Sandals... The beguiling, $2,000+ strappy, crystal heels have been seen on celebs like Jennifer Connelly, Rihanna, Molly Sims and Audrina Patridge.

Photo credit: Red Carpet Fashion Awards, theinsider

DSquared2 for Britney Spears

IT'S BRITNEY, BITCH!

Britney's Circus concert kicked off in the Big Easy last night! I'm not one for concerts because I hate all the pushing and shoving against my 5'2 stature, but this is one show I'm dying to go to! Britney and The Pussycat Dolls, please come to Hawaii!

Aside from what is guaranteed to be an amazing performance, Dan and Dean Caten, the Canadian twin brothers behind Dsquared2 have designed numerous ensembles for Britney and her dancers! I'm excited about this because when I was 17, I fell in love (and into debt) with Dsquared2. I was a big girl with my very own credit card so I purchased a black, gold studded dress from Aloha Rag. The delicate bow in the back was the hooker!

The Caten's circus-themed costumes for the tour are WILDLY hot. According to Dan Caten, Britney, "starts off with the cheetah-head, removes it to become the ring-master and lion-tamer, and then strips off the jacket to reveal a Swarovski-crystal corset, fishnets and thigh-high boots." Hot damn!
Photo credit: People

The Little White Dress (LWD)

I love Cheryl Cole's white appliqué dress from the 2009 BRIT Awards. Such detail! The rest of "Girls Aloud" group looked fantastic as well with their coordinated pastel tones.




Photo credit: chicstories.com