Camilla and Marc Dress

Besotted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay I'm in love. Like seriously... I WANT THIS CAMILLA AND MARC DRESS! And I can't find it!!! ....ANYWHERE! I am considering calling every single Planet Blue in California to inquire if by some miracle they have it in stock for me... Please oh, pretty please, please, please.

In 2003, Marc Freeman, an engineer, and his sister, Camilla, a starlette graduate from the Whitehouse Institute of Design, collaborated to create a line of clothing and bathing suits... And thus, the brand Camilla and Marc was born. Their debut at Australia's Spring/Summer Fashion Week was received with enormous praise. Since then, their pieces have garnered attention from various celebrities including Ginnifer Goodwin, Lindsay Lohan and Kirsten Dunst.

Ultra-feminine, flirty and just plain fun, the inspiration for their clothes were to design for a woman who "Knows what she wants, knows how to put an outfit together, doesn’t need to be styled. Strong sense of self but never over confident.” - Camilla Freeman

Photo credits: PlanetBlue

Fiona Paxton

Besotted!!!

Midas Necklace
Photo credit: Flickr

I am officially obsessed with FIONA PAXTON. Her jewelry is just beautiful, stunning, gorgeous... I can't praise her enough. Her creations stem from her love for ancient Indian jewelry craftmanship and thus, are hand-made. I LOVE her signature chunky metal necklaces! A simple tee shirt and jeans outfit can go from boring rags to fabulous riches by pairing it with any of her pieces. I love them all- So exquisite and regal! Celebs like Paris Hilton, Drew Barrymore, Isla Fisher and Hilary Duff are among the many stars who have been spotted wearing Fiona's glam accessories.

Lane Necklace in Silver and Gold ($398 at Intermix)
Photo credits: Nina and Lola


Miller Necklace ($425 at ShopBop)
Photo credits: ShopBop

Sylvie Necklace in oxidized silver, silver and gold ($298 at Intermix)
Photo credits: Nina and Lola

Vanya Necklace ($340 at ShopBop)
Photo credit: ShopBop

Paxton graduated in 1992 with a degree in textile design from the Royal College of Art in London. After graduation, she spent the next 15 years of her life working for fashion houses and retailers with notable designers such as Chloe, Armani and Moschino. Several years ago, her interest in Indian jewelry inspired her to design a line that embodied these ancient techniques. Her collection of jewelry and scarves was first introduced in 2008 and was favorably received by the fashion community. Today, Fiona Paxton continues to work in East London drawing her inspiration from all spheres of life including street imagery, art galleries and vintage patterns and designs.

Harley Necklace in Silver & Black
Photo credits: Nina and Lola

Milly Cuff ($225 at ShopBop)
Photo credits: ShopBop

Fiona Paxton
www.fiona-paxton.com
Shop online at ShopBop, Intermix, or Singer22

Jewelry by Alanna Bess

Turquoise Circle Cuff

As I browsed through today's sales on HauteLook... I just couldn't resist posting something about this designer! I mean her name is ALANNA with 2 n's like me!

After a life-changing trip to Italy, Alanna Bess created a line of jewelry inspired by things she enjoys wearing herself. With an array of accessories like wooden beaded bracelets, thick gold embellished cuffs, and necklaces adorned with everything from hamsahs to peace and zodiac signs, her jewelry line is ethnic, diverse and appealing to a wide demographic of shoppers. Many of her statement pieces incorporate the use of semi-precious stones (turquoise, topaz, garnet) with hammered gold and silver toned hoops.

I love love love accessories. I love to browse, love to buy and recently...Even love to create jewelry! So I must admit I was just a little disappointed with my fellow name-bearer's collection. :( Her designs are beautiful, clean designs all of which are very wearable, but there was nothing I saw that was spectacularly original. Then again, who am I to judge? Alanna Bess was picked up by Henri Bendel and has frequent trunk shows at the high-end department store. As for press coverage, celebrities like Rihanna and Anne Hathaway have been photographed wearing her designs!

Some of my favorite pieces below:

Green Mystic Topaz Necklace and Wood Sets Coin Pearl Bracelet

Fresh Water Pearl Clover Ring and Katie Peace Necklace

Hamsah and Mop Necklace and Cancer Charm Necklace

Photo credits: Hautelook

Alanna Bess
www.alannabess.com

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.

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