I will spend my entire life trying to "Mirren" this Helen

Holy Buckets. Check out Dame Mirren.

As if I wasn't obsessed with Helen Mirren enough. In all seriousness, I ADORE her. Here she is at the European premier of 'Arther' in Dolce and Gabbana. First, I love the D&G attitude. Second, leather jacket over leopard print?! Girl, you had me at leather. I would steal this look in a minute and only pull it off half as well at half her age.

Helen, you get down with your bad self.

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Marchesa goes to the grotto.

Apparently they're opening a Playboy Club in London. To celebrate Marchesa is doing a quick take on the iconic uniform. Here is what they had to say:

"Marchesa is thrilled to be a part of the Playboy London Club launch, and for the opportunity to design a one off Playboy Bunny costume - one of fashion and pop culture's most iconic emblems, in celebration of the return of this club," says Georgina Chapman, co-founder and designer of the luxury label. "We've taken our inspiration from the original costume but added Marchesa's signature details, such as hand draping and embroidery, while staying true to the Playboy Bunny's classic corset silhouette. The result is a modern, yet feminine interpretation of this legendary look."

You can't see much from the sketch. I adore Marchesa so I'm not super excited about this. Let me explain... Playboy feels... well, cheap. I get that they have the Vegas suites and that the clubs are exclusive, but there is no getting around where they really make their money. I'm not knocking those folks, that's their style choice, but it is inline with the Marchesa esthetic? No. I think of crotchless bodysuits when I think of Playboy (which clearly have a time and place) and romantic and whimsical gowns when I think of Marchesa. This? Does not compute.

The part I find funny? They're auctioning it off for breast cancer. Playboy remains loyal to it's pro-boob position.

[source: Fashionista]

Oscar de la Renta had a garden wedding

..and it was beautiful! As a recently married lady I still have a twinge of the wedding obsession, and let's face it, I have never not loved gowns and romance. This collection was MADE FOR ME. Everything is ethereal, romantic, and light. Young love just seeps out of every piece. This is was weddings should be. A simple lovely celebration of love.. and flowers.

I'm bias, having been a Spring bride, but the Spring flowers and colors just make my heart melt. I adore when Spring isn't equated with terrible pastels but with lovely natural colors and tones that actually join us in the Spring months.

Enough talk, here are my top three:




Here a few more.. want to see it all? You can check it out on Tom and Lorenzo [also, my photo source]

A Little Bit of Chicken Fried

Tonight I was reminded of an evening I spent with my mother at the Holiday Inn in Lexington Kentucky. We were road tripping my from (past) sublet condo in Williamsburg Virginia back home to Nebraska. We arrived in Lexington the evening of July 3rd and hit the downtown area right after the 4th of July parade ended. After 12 hours of driving followed by wandering around and eating some (amazing) BBQ, at what we discovered was probably the one lesbian bar/restaurant in downtown Lexington, we were more than ready to go to the hotel. Being of the same linage we were both drawn to the hotel bar for a few drinks before hitting the sack. What we discovered was epic. A local and quite authentic blue grass band! The majority of patrons in the bar were clearly family and friends. The bartender was adorable and not so into the blue grass. The whole experience was so... Kentucky. The following day we drove through the Kentucky countryside to Louisville and toured Churhill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby.


Why does this merit a blog post you ask? This random unimpressive yet lovely memory got me thinking. Through my professional and academic associations I befriend and work with some very well-traveled folks. Outside of Canada and Mexico I have never traveled extensively outside of U.S. states or territories. I have never really have the money. I travel on the cheap. Regularly I hear about very impressive international travels, and don't get this post wrong, I don't mean to diminish those trips. Someday I hope to travel to remote and famous international locations. That said, I have explored the U.S. somewhat extensively and largely by road trip. And. It. Has. Been. Awesome.

Getting to know my people, my citizens, and my (forgive the cliche) fellow Americans has been an experience all its own. I've gone from Manhattan to San Fransisco...


I've had a meaningful experiences visiting every Navy base my father was stationed in Puerto Rico and Norfolk Virginia...



...the Wisconsin state fair in Milwaukee, South Beach in Miami and Key West with my best girlfriend...


The Mall of America in Minneapolis, plenty of quick trips to Denver and Red Rocks, a few whirlwinds in Las Vegas, Snowy Range Wyoming and beyond...



The upshot? I love this country. The diversity of people and personality you can get without a passport never fails to amaze me. What does that have to do the "Chicken Fried" title you ask? Living in middle America gives me this gift. I can be in the south or west or close to a cost in 13 hours via car. People under estimate the value of the road trip and the value of the Midwestern locale... and our propensity of "chicken frying" everything.

This May I head to Alabama with my best friend. We plan on taking several civil rights tours and attending a hot air balloon race. While this isn't Paris, having an understanding of our American heritage is invaluable to me. My connection to this land and my country is undeniable - and yes this is coming from a liberal feminist.

Bitch Stole My Look

Look, I'm happy for Kate and William, really I am. Good for them. But now Lifetime is hocking knock-offs of her Sapphire engagement ring. Why is this a problem you ask? This is why:
Her Ring:

Side profile of my grandmother's (now my) ring on my wedding day:

Better (albeit less pretty) shot of my ring, on my left hand because my wedding ring was being repaired:


Bitch stole my look.

I don't mind sharing a look. What I'm bothered by are all the "Be like Kate!" knock-offs... and the sort of people who buy them. I would prefer to not be lumped in. This sentiment is catty, but mine is a natural real sapphire surrounded by natural real diamonds... not ordered from Lifetime for $29.99. Hrumph.

So, do I ditch my faithful right hand ring until the royal wedding blows over?

American Royalty

Why should the Brits have all the fun? Michelle Obama is better than Kate Middleton any day. She is under the diligent eye of the fashion industry (many of whom argue she should only be wearing American designers) and faces a lot of scrutiny. In my opinion she nails it. Always appropriate but never boring. The one color pant and skirt suits are behind us (God willing). I understand that if she were the President suits would be a staple, but I'm glad that as a first lady she gets to have some fun. Let's take a look (pictures from Tom & Lorenza).

Here she is in Jonathon Sanders at the White House Women's History Month dinner. Gorg. Respectable and still a little fun with the accents.


The Obama's went to El Salvador. Her she is with the first lady in a print from Jason Wu resort. Styling of the dress is totally different, but I like it. You can't lose with an A-Line. Classic.

Still in El Salvador, here she is in L'Wren Scott. I couldn't find a great picture, but love this anyway. That heavy fabric could age her, but it doesn't. She has the perfect American classic look. This dress was meant for an elegant first lady.


Michelle is a woman of my own heart. Here she is on Saint Patrick's Day in Michal Kors. Swoon. Kors.


Last but not least she wore H&M on the Today Show! H&M! Affordable! Accessible! Adorable! A perfecta. She took some chances on the accessories and I think she nailed it. Young with out being inappropriate.


Also note, she has finally broken the J.Crew marathon. I'm fine with some J.Crew every once in awhile, but I'm pleased she has been mixing it up!

Woman of the Circus

OPI has created a "soft tone" collection called Femme de Cirque. I fail to see the marketing plan behind circus themed names and soft feminine neutrals. OPI has also stumbled upon one of my biggest pet peeves. Saying something in French does not inherently make it classy. Maybe it's my five years of French parler, but Femme de Cirque sounds JUST AS STUPID as Woman of the Circus. Do not be fooled or wooed by Cirque de Soleil. Although, in fairness, Circus of the Sun sounds kind of awesome.

A Woman of the Circus sounds like a carney. "Carney" is a look I rarely desire.

So, while I love these colors, I am annoyed by the mis-match in the names to the colors.



On to the important part: the names!


Image and Formatting from Beauty Junkie

I like all the colors and the names are cute and funny despite being senseless.

Grade: B

Red Light Special: Everything Must Go

New nail color is Sally Hansen's "In the Red". Isn't being "in the red" a bad thing? My fingers are losing money apparently.

Another Life Gold

Number Four. I would like to be an actor in a infomercial/commercial making some task seem devastatingly difficult in a way that it most certainly is not.

For example, making or buying coffee:

Casper and the innuendo

Todays color is OPI's Panda-Monium pink, only its not really all that pink. My name idea: Casper the Friendly Finger. I'm going there without really going there.

I'm loving this "blogging from my phone" situation. So easy!

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Move'n Rouge

Move'n Rouge is stupid, but is still better than just "rouge". I, umm, accidentally, lost my last tube of red lip stick at a bar. I needed a cost efficient replacement. Enter, Rimmel Rouge. Oh, look at that, another better name.





I'm LOVING the color. For $6.49 it seems to be staying pretty well. Will there ever come day I don't love all lip color?

PS - the little crowns make everything Rimmel makes seems more expensive, doesn't it?

Steel Magnolias

Not only is it one of my favorite films, it would be a WAY better name for my new nail polish. Seriously? Where is my job?!

I give you Steel Grey by Rimmel London:

Maybe she is born with it, maybe she stained it.

Against my better judgment I bought some Cover Girl Lip Stain today. I have heard all the terrible reviews: creates kool-aid lips! looks like a 5 year applied! Popsicle mouth look! I am one of those people, however, who must learn by doing. So.. here we go.



Hour One: I bought a more natural shade just in case it "stained" unevenly. Seems like it's going well so far. I like it. Lips feel bare and yet there is color!

Here is the funny thing, the color is: Sassy Mauve. Really? Can mauve be sassy?

Hour Two: Color developed a bit darker than the bottle shade, but I like dark colors so I'm OK with it.

Here is a creepy little picture of my lips.


I'll update again after I eat/drink. Stay tuned. Fascinating, I know.

Hour Three: Just ate my mac n cheese and enjoying a glass of wine (totally off set by my walk earlier, right?) and its still holding.

Folks. We may have a winner.

Another Els

I am not one for body snarking and I advocate for fashion and style for every body and every person. This is one of the many reasons I find plastic surgery scary. First off, I find any elective yet dangerous surgery somewhat suspect. Allow your body to do what it is supposed to do: age. That said, I am not totally one-sided on the issue. I have friends who have chosen to alter their bodies and faces and not for entirely shallow reasons. I empathize.

So coming from a slight bias with a touch of understanding I watch the Real Housewives franchise. I have caught a few Miami episodes and was immediately wooed and taken aback by Elsa. Elsa is Marysol's mother, a self-proclaimed witch/psychic, and a wine drinker. She is right up my alley. The striking thing? This:


At first I assumed she had suffered through an accident or a fire. A little bit of internet research has shown that her current facial structure is a result of elective surgeries. What have we done, as a society, to make a beautiful woman find this necessary? Bravo.com revealed some older pictures of Elsa.





Personally, I feel pretty certain she would have aged gracefully and beautifully. I still love her presence on the show, but her look shows her insecurity. It can't help but make you sad.

Life Gold

I have many bucket listy type goals.

1 - to play a murder victim in a movie/t.v. show/cop training manual
2 - judge a food network competition (cook for me, minions!)
3 - Name a nail polish

I am obsessed with nail polish names. Granted, I'm easily amused by simple word-play. Anyone who follows me on twitter can attest to my weekly nail color changes. Below I have added a few of my recent updates, followed by some new nail color collections I'm loving and giggling over.

My current nail color: OPI's Miami Beet


My current toe color: You've been berry naughty


Last week's nail color: OPI's Barefoot in Barcelona



OPI has a new collection simply called "Texas". Kind of boring, but whatev, I like the colors. More importantly than the colors, the NAMES. My fav? "Houston, we have a purple"...

In order, down the line: "Don't you think I'm Texas-y", "Houston, we have a purple", boring, boring, "Big Hair.. Big Nails", boring, boring, "Suzi Loves Cowboys", "San Tan-tonio", boring, "It's totally Fort Worth it", and last, "I Vant to be A-Lone Star". Check em' out.


Below is the "Illamasqua: Toxic Nature" collection. There is, of course, some large political message in that title. I, however, choose to go with "pretty!" Colors: Purity (peach), Radium (acidic lime shimmer), Gamma (neon orange), Bacterium (pearlescent ash ochre), Stagnate (grey mauve). My favorites are Bacterium and Stagnate.

Picture from Fashionista.


So what will I name my polish (yes I mean will and not if, we must think positively)? This decision will an excoriating impossible choice.

Current Front Runner: Life Gold

...get it? It'll be gold.

This Is A Test: Repeat, This is a Test.

Seems as though modern technology now allows me to blog via my phone. Impressive, I know.

Think of the shop blogging possibilities!

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Suppose they all drive Saabs?

I really like Elie Saab's 2011 Winter Paris Fashion Week Collection. It's nothing too original or over the top, but that's sort of it's charm, no? I like glam gowns and will not apologize for that. It's a crying shame this show was after awards season. Try not to swoon, I dare you.


I love the glitter and the drama of this one. So many people hate on head-to-toe sparkle, but I think in certain instances, it is STUNNING. Haters to the left.



I feel like this dress was designed specifically for Amy Adams.



TREND SPOTTED. REMAIN CALM.
Check out the Elie Saab (red on the left) from 2011 Paris Fashion Week next to the Michael Kors (black on the right) from his 2011 New York Fashion Week collection. Time to grab some spray-on panty hose and strappy sandals ladies. The good news? You can wear whatever bra you want.

Chloé: I would do anything for love, but I won't do that.

I have previously been known for my love of all things hippy and bohemian, and lord knows I never shy away from sundress, so Chloé Autumn 2011 runway initially appealed to me.



I was even along for the ride with the snake skin (the skirt I will take asap)...



I would have rocked the hell out of this 20 pounds ago (and maybe now with enough back-up from spanx)...



But I draw the line at pleated baggy leather pants. Just no.