Tuesday, April 8, 2014

What Is Your Eye Shape? - Tips To Help Enhance Your Eyes...

If you don't already know or are aware that there are many different types of eye shapes out there in the world then please pay attention to the following post because your make-up applications are about to get much easier.. and you're about to learn some very useful and helpful information that you can brag about to all of your friends. In the world of make-up applying, there are many rules and technicalities. Think of your eyes as a sandwich. You could throw a whole bunch of different cold cuts, sauces and garnishes on your sandwich but will it taste good? Making a sandwich takes planning and organization. You wouldn't throw together mustard, peanut butter and ham between two buns and eat it would you? If you said yes to that question I won't judge I promise... But anyways, the same applies for your eyes. In order to enhance and compliment your eyes as best as possible, you need to figure out what type of eye shape you have. Things like eyeliner and eyeshadow both should be applied according to the shape of your eye. I'm going to explain the different eye types there are and give tips on how to apply your make-up so your face will look flawless!



Wide set eyes are defined as when the space between is more than the length of an eye. Someone like Brandy has what is called wide set eyes. Your goal here is to use make-up to help create the illusion of a decrease between your eyes. Here are a few tips..
1. Eyebrows: just as Brandy has, putting a slight arch in your eyebrow gives the illusion that your eyes are closer together. 
2. Eye Shadow: using darker coloured eyeshadows will define and bring attention to your eyes. It's important to use darker colours near the base and lighter colours on the outside of the eye. 
3. Reverse flick Liner: instead of adding a "flick" to the end of your eyeliner towards the outside, extend your eyeliner line towards your nose a tiny bit. This helps to make the eyes appear to be closer together. With all of the dark dramatic make-up you are applying to your eyes, use a white eyeliner pencil in the waterline to open up your eyes. 
4. Mascara: load up on the black mascara to enhance those gorgeous peepers! 


Down turned eyes are defined as when the outer corner of your eyes appear to droop down. Actress Camilla Belle is an example of what down turned eyes are. Your goal here is to use make-up to make the eye appear more perked upwards. Here are some tips..
1. Foundation: with down turned your eyes may appear to look 'droopy', there may be bags or dark circles under your eyes that are more prominent and you can appear to look tired. To help avoid these issues, apply a small amount of foundation underneath your eye. This will help to brighten up the eye. 
2. Liner: liner is a very crucial part of your make-up application especially when it comes to enhancing down turned eyes. What you want to do here is instead of following the natural curve of your lid, stop a few centimetres before you reach the end and angle your 'flick' towards your temple. This will help lift your eyes. 
3. Eyeshadow: stay away from dark colours near the outer corner of your eyes. In this case, Camilla did not follow this rule and the effect, in my opinion, really brought attention to her droopy eyes. Use natural and light colours near outer corners of your lids to brighten and lift your eyes. 
4. Eyelashes: curling your eyelashes will also help to lift your eyes. Be careful with heavy fake lashes because they will definitely drag your eyes down. 




If you have almond eyes I must congratulate you because you have what is known as the "ideal" eye shape. This is the easiest eye shape to apply make-up to. Almond shaped eyes are defined as having a symmetric shape - tapered at each end, hence looking like an almond. Actress Olivia Wilde's eyes most definitely resemble that almond shape. Here are a few enhancing tips..
1. Eyeliner: to enhance the beauty of the almond eye, starting from the very corner and lining the lash line all the way out into a taper or flick will look amazing on this eye shape. 2. Eye Shadow: you basically have creative freedom and can go as heavy or as light as you want when it comes to shadows. One technique, as seen by Olivia, is to smudge a bit of shadow underneath the eye to make your eyes pop. Also, with this shape adding coloured shadow to the upper part of the lid will open up the eye and help brighten it.



Close set eyes are defined as having less than the length of one eye between them, the opposite of wide set. Modern Family actress Sarah Hyland has close set eyes. Your goal here is make your eyes seem further apart than they are. Follow these tips..
1. Eyebrows: try to stay away from having your eyebrows too close to the middle of your forehead. You want your eyebrows to start at the inner corner of your eyes to make them appear further apart. 
2. Eyeliner: unlike what Sarah has, try not to start your eyeliner at the very inner corner of your eye, start it a bit before the middle of your eye. Add a wing or flick at the end to stretch out your eyes. 
3. Eyeshadow: when it comes to shadows, you want to start off with light colours in the inner corner and fade into a darker colour towards the end. The light will open up the inner corner and the dark will draw attention to the outer corner making them look longer. 


Protruding or prominent eyes are defined as big or round, bulging out (which is quite a harsh way to say it) and are quite prominent on your face. Actress Christina Ricci is an example of someone with protruding eyes. With this eye shape, less is definitely more because your eyes are already a gorgeous work of art. Here are ways to enhance these beauties..
1. Eyeliner: a thin line starting from the inner corner all the way out works well with this eye shape. You don't need a lot or a thick line because your eyes already naturally stand out. 
2. Eyeshadow: with this much lid space protruding eyes make a make-up artists' dream come true! You can go all out with colours and patterns if you please and it will look awesome on you. Enhancing your crease line will also look really great on you. One thing that is important is to try and add some shadow below the eye as well so there isn't an overwhelming amount of focus on the top lid. Try to avoid glittery/shimmery shadows - these tend to 'bulge' the eyes more. 
3. Mascara: plenty of mascara is great but try to steer clear from overbearing fake lashes which will open the eye too much and give you a doll type look (unless that's what you're going for.) 


Hooded eyes are defined as when your natural crease is hidden by the excess skin under your brow, hence "hooded". Selena Gomez and I both have hooded eyes. This eye shape can be difficult to work with because there isn't a lot of lid space to work on. These are a few ways to help your make-up application with hooded eyes (from personal experience)..
1. Eyeliner: for me personally, I've found that what works best for me is starting from the inner corner and going out to a flick. What isn't a good thing to do is apply eyeliner in the water line. This will cause the eyes to appear smaller than they are. Add white in the water line instead to open up the eyes. 
2. Eyeshadow: with hooded eyes, you don't have much space to do anything and you are also limited to how high on the lid you can bring your shadow. Personally, if my shadow goes any higher than a little above my crease, I start to look like a clown - this is because when someone with hooded eyes places shadow on the brown bone, it creates an even more droopy effect. If you are going to put shadow on the brow bone stick to a highlight colour right underneath the brow to take away from the hooded part. Also, adding a bit of shadow underneath your eye will help to make your eyes appear bigger. 
3. Eyebrows: because you do not have much room to work with, ensure that your eyebrows are always clean and crisp to maximize the space you have. 


Deep set eyes are defined as located deeper in the skull or eye socket and appear to be 'sunken in.' This allows your brow bone to become more prominent. Megan Fox is an example of someone with deep set eyes. The goal here is to make your eyes pop. Follow these tips to help enhance your eyes..
1. Eyeshadow: keep shadows on the lid to bring your eye forward. Adding a highlight in the inner corner will also help to make your eyes pop. Stay away from darker colours or smokey eyes because this will make your eyes appear more sunken. 
2. Eyeliner: a thin line across the lash that is slightly lifted at the end will help to bring forward the eyes. Also, starting from the middle of your bottom lash line apply a thin line of liner to the outer corner to help your eye recede. Stay away from lining your water line, this will sink your eyes. 
3. Mascara: adding fake lashes is a great idea because the bigger the lashes the more your eye pops. Add lots of emphasis to your outer lashes to open your eyes up.   


Asian eyes are defined as slightly smaller, resembling almond shaped and do not have a visible crease. Lucy Liu is an example of someone with asian eyes. The goal here is to enhance them and make them look bigger. Here are some tips..
1. Eyeliner: apply a thin line across the whole lash line and add a wing if you please. Stay away from liner in the water line for this will make the eye appear smaller. 
2. Eyeshadow: do not overuse dark shadows. The best way to do eyeshadow on asian eyes is to go for an ombre effect. Start with dark shadows underneath your eye, medium shades on your lid and highlight your brow bone. The dark and highlight will help to open up your eye and allow it to appear bigger. 
3. Mascara: the more the better. Double up layers, add fakes, the more extreme your lashes are the bigger your eyes will appear. 

So those are the eight main eye shapes known in the make-up world. I hope you have decided which shape you are and I hope I have provided you with some helpful tips and information. All eyes are beautiful, enhancing them will provide us with even more beauty.  

Monday, April 7, 2014

My Academy Country Music Awards Best Dressed Picks...

The Academy Country Music Awards were on last night and every country cutie and cowboy attended to celebrate the honky-tonkiness that is country music. The awards were well deserved, the musical performances were pleasing and the fashion was out of this world! Of course, as I have said before, my favourite part of award shows are the red carpets, where the attendees always look their very best and absolutely fabulous. Here are my best dressed picks for the 2014 Academy Country Music Awards...



Cassadee Pope
Wearing red on the red carpet is very risque and tricky to master, but I absolutely think that Cassadee Pope has nailed choosing the correct red for walking the carpet. Cassadee is wearing a wine coloured Maria Lucia Hohan gown - the make and style of the dress is perfect for her frame with the elegant flowy skirt and criss cross straps. Because of the busy strapping of the gown, choosing to accessorize lightly was the right decision for her look. I love her natural looking waves - pulled back off of her face along with her natural make-up and a nude lip which balances out the bold red of the dress. With just a simple diamond bracelet and matching earrings, Cassadee looks simply gorgeous.


Shakira
Oh baby when you dress like that, you make a fashionista go mad! Shakira pun most definitely intended. This gown is totally crazy and out there but it totally works for the exotic spanish singer and I love it! Shakira is wearing an emerald green Zuhair Murad gown with amazing, bold cutouts. This dress reminds me of an alluring butterfly that mesmerizes any one who passes by and this is exactly what Shakira does (in this gown or even in sweatpants to be honest.) Once again, limited accessories was the right choice with this very daring dress as well as hair and make-up. When it comes to Shakira's look, less is more. Shakira shows off her gorgeous, thick, blond locks and her beautiful face with a natural make-up application. Stunning, stunning, stunning!


Taylor Swift
Miss Taylor Swift brings a crop top and maxi skirt to a whole other level! As always, the princess of country looks so chic on the red carpet. Going for a black and white look, Taylor turns a summery beach look into a red carpet ready ensemble. Cut outs, mid-section and a little leg showing gives the look a sexy and spicy addition without revealing too much. Her black strappy heels are great paired with her simple look as well as her matching black clutch. The trend on the ACMA's red carpet this year seemed to be limited jewellery, which you don't always need to layer up on the jewels to make a look pop. Taylor is showing off her new adorable short hair cut that adds a bit of edge to her classy and modern look. Miss Swift goes for blue eyeliner - making her blue eyes pop, and a big surprise here, instead of her signature red lip she goes for a coral colour instead which looks very springy and compliments the blue. 


Kellie Pickler
This year has been a very colourful year on the ACMA's red carpet - red, yellow, green, blue, nude, black and white and now Kellie Pickler in this gorgeous lilac coloured Romona Keveza gown. This dress looks amazing on Kellie and compliments her skin tone really well. The simple sweetheart neckline, a touch of sparkle on the waist and the long flowy gown definitely grabbed the attention of everyone last night on the country carpet. Kellie's short, wavy bob and natural make-up pairs well with the soft pastel coloured dress. A touch of diamonds on her wrist and finger creates an elegant fairy tale look on Miss Pickler! 

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Summer Wish List...

Wow. So it's been a while since I've blogged but that's because I was finishing up with school - exams, seminars, essays. I'm finally done (just have one more exam) so I am free to blog again! On Tuesday or Wednesday I'll be posting my first 'Lifestyle Change' blog where I'm going to update you on my progress (I'm excited to share.) This post is going to be my summer wish list - just a list of things that I want for the summertime. Hopefully that warm weather gets here soon!!


Jumpsuit
Jumpsuits are so in and they are very stylish. What I love most about them is how versatile they are - you can wear them out casually or you can dress them up with heels and lots of jewellery for a fancy night out. There are so many different kinds of jumpsuits out there as well; denim, wide leg, velour, strapless, patterned.. you can basically have a field day trying to choose which style you want (and did I mention that they are extremely comfy?) I really want to grab one of these this summer. 


Romper
Basically a shorter version of a jumpsuit, rompers are so cute, light and so fashionable. You can wear them to a pool party over your bathing suit or you can wear them to the mall, again very versatile. Just like the jumpsuit they come in so many styles, colours and prints. I think I might just buy myself a whole closet full of rompers and I'll be set for  any event this summer! 


Charlotte Olympia Flats 
Okay so I've wanted these flats for a very long time because they are so adorable but obviously they are a little out of price range.. so every time I walk by a store window with them on display I just want to cry because they are so cute. I think that they would be great to wear this summer with a dress or ankle jeans or even tights. I have seen rip offs at Ardenes and even a few places online so I'm going to make it my mission to find a pair as close to the real ones as I can for the cheapest price. Wish me luck!  


Top Shop Velvet Lips 
If you knew the amount of times I've been to Top Shop and went to see if this product was in stock you'd laugh - partly because I've been so many times and partly because each time they never had it in stock. Right now Velvet Lips is one of their top selling make-up products and I want it extremely badly! It also comes in black and a plum/purple colour. I really love the red even though I have millions of red lipsticks already but hey, you can never go wrong with a red lip, right? 


Mac Diva Lipstick 
Oh surprise, surprise Alex wants another red shaded lipstick - but this one is a maroon/deep red colour which I promise I don't have!!! I absolutely love this colour and I've been looking for a deep red lipstick for a while and you can't go wrong with Mac right? So this will definitely be on my shopping list next time I hit the mall. 


Coloured Blazers
My goal is to own a blazer in every single colour of the rainbow spectrum. I think they are so useful and work for any look. You can wear them with basically everything - pants, a dress, shorts. Blazers are not only a major clothing staple for your closet, they are also great to turn any casual outfit into a more sophisticated look. They are definitely a must have for the summer. 


Tiffany Blue Nail Polish 
I've wanted this colour for a long time now and it's so perfect for the summer. It's fresh, clean and looks great against tan skin! This colour is exactly like Tiffany blue, it's so cute. The one in the photo is NARS in kutki which is pretty pricey at $38 but there are some cheaper options that have that same Tiffany blue look. There's "China Glaze in For Audrey", "Essie in Turquoise and Caicos" "Nicole by OPI in My Lifesaver" and there's even a nail polish by Top Shop called Pool Party that's a Tiffany blue shade. I'm definitely going to be using this colour a lot this summer.  

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

A Lifestyle Change...

This is quite a serious and personal blog post that is typically different than all the stuff I usually write about. The reason I decided to write about this personal matter in my life is because writing helps me paint a big picture of how exactly I feel towards something. It's therapeutic to me.

Since I was young, I have always been overweight. It didn't bother me as much when I was a kid, but in my teenage years it has always been in the back of my mind. I have tried and attempted countless diets to try and lose weight, but my issue with them all was the fact that if I didn't see success quickly, my motivation would break and I would just give up.
I can become motivated and try really hard for a few weeks, but if I don't see change, it's done.

The biggest concern for me with my weight is that it's holding me back in life. I am a very confident person, but to be quite honest my body type keeps me from doing things I want. I am a summer girl, I love the warm weather, but it's also a time when I feel self conscious. I try not to wear shorts because I get embarrassed about how my legs look. When my friends have pool parties I never go swimming. I don't like the beach, and I always don't fully enjoy myself when on vacation.

As you can see from my blog I am extremely passionate about fashion. I love clothes and make-up and anything to do with the fashion world. But, I never get to dress how I want or wear the cool clothes that are in style each season because I know I won't look good in them. I know I want my career path to fall in that industry, but how can I be what I truly want to be if part of me is always hidden away in fear?

This is also starting to affect my social life. I won't go to a lot of parties because I worry about how I look in a dress. I don't want to be seen as "the fat girl." I recently went to a party where there was dancing and I was sitting at a table with five or six girls. A guy came up to the table and started asking some of my friends to dance, they each said no. He went around the whole table asking each girl and after the one sitting beside me I figured I was next. He turned around and walked away without asking me at all. I would have said no anyways, but the fact that I didn't get asked hurt. I know it has to do with my size. This is why I try to steer clear from going out to places like this.

I have a lot of friends and I'm known as someone who is funny and always cracking a joke. I like having that reputation, it's nice, but I am only seen as that to guys. I'm not rushing into finding a relationship, but I wouldn't mind having one. This is another thing that is being affected because of my weight. I won't put myself out there because I'm self conscious.

I want to act, model, be known to the public eye, and this is not to say that bigger people can't get this recognition (Adele, Melissa McCarthy, Jonah Hill) but in all honesty, being bigger limits you. In modelling you'll be seen as "plus sized" and in acting you'll get type-casted according to your size. Body image is not everything, of course, but it's a big part of surviving and succeeding in society.

I have recently decided that I'm going to put myself on a very strict diet because I want to change my lifestyle and I want to be one hundred percent confident and happy with myself. I decided to talk openly about this on my blog because I thought it would motivate me more knowing that people were possibly reading and following my story. Maybe I'll motivate someone else who is feeling the same way as me. I want to document my successes and failures so that when I win in the end, (and I will win) I can look back at the journey that I took to reach my goal.

My goal will to be to lose thirty to forty pounds by the end of the summer and to become more active. I recently got into a gym craze where I tried to go every day, but I fell out of that routine. I hope to start that back up again. I have also started to go to yoga weekly which I really enjoy, and that is something that I want to become a routine this summer. I will try to update and talk about my achievements every two weeks.

So here's to a healthier and happier lifestyle and here's to conquering my goals for the present and the future. :) Wish me luck.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Eight Foods To Eat When Aunt Flo Is In Town...

Here's how the story goes... You're drinking your eight glasses of water a day, eating healthy, exercising properly, and keeping your carb intakes low - you're as motivated as ever to get ready for the hot summer weather, new Victoria Secret bikini already purchased and hanging on the wall. But then, something happens. An annoying, vexatious, and unpleasant visitor knocks on your door, and hands you an obnoxiously pretentious present in which you did not ask for on your wish list. Yes, I'm talking about that horrible monthly gift that graces us women with it's presence every twenty-eight days. It turns your self-controlled and in-check cravings into reprehensible, and shameful, out of control munchies. Chocolate, ice cream, chips, candy and all things junk food are what you yearn for - by the time seven days have passed, there is zero food morsels left in your house. Trust me, I speak from experience. Though, I've come to the conclusion that we should absolutely not let this evil and vile 'visitor' take over our life and make us do these preposterous acts. To help all you ladies out, I've researched a few foods that are healthy and won't mess up your diet that you've been working so hard on for the past few weeks.


Brown Rice 
Carbs are something we all hunger for, especially during our time of the month. We crave carbs when we are PMSing and on our period because we have low-energy. To solve this, most of us turn to sugar to treat the craving. A healthy alternative is to eat fibre-rich complex carbs to keep up your energy levels, such as brown rice. Brown rice is not only really tasty, but there are so many different ways to prepare and eat it.  Also, it's loaded with magnesium which is said to reduce bloating and contains lots of vitamin B. 


Yogurt 
When Aunt Flo is in town, she is very demanding, pressing and energy draining - basically by the time she leaves, you've had twenty naps in seven days and you're still falling asleep in class. To reduce these symptoms, a simple solution is to eat a lot of yogurt or drink lots of milk. Along with decreasing fatigue, low-fat dairy products are good sources of calcium that can reduce breast soreness and cramping. An added bonus, is eating these foods with high doses of calcium in them can help lighten your flow. 


Leafy Greens 
During your time of the month, eating plenty of leafy greens such as spinach, kale or swiss chard have lots of good benefits. Any type of leafy green is rich in iron and vitamin B, and have a high fibre count - these can help with digestive issues during your period. Greens also contain lots of calcium which is good to alleviate depression and irritability during PMS. The good thing about greens is it's easy to incorporate with any meal whether you are having a salad for lunch or spinach at dinner. 


Nuts
 When your monthly gift arrives, sitting on the couch with a giant bowl of crunchy and salty chips while you're curled up in a blanket watching The Food Network sounds like a dream, right? Well, we all know that those chips are totally not good for us. But fear no more, there is a healthier alternative to your chip craving that still satisfies those salty taste buds. Nuts contain magnesium which help reduce bloating and also help to shorten and lighten your period. They also are a great source of iron, to help keep you from getting iron deficiency. Nuts like almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts and brazilian nuts are great to snack on when you feel like something salty and you don't want to stuff your face with oily and greasy potato chips. 


Avocados
It's inevitable, when Aunt Flo comes for a visit, you will not be able to escape the horrible cramps that she brings along with her. One way that's known to reduce those ugly period cramps is to consume lots of vitamin E. Avocados contain lots of vitamin E which helps reduce pain during your monthly gift. Avocados also contain acids and compounds known as 'plant sterols' which have an effect on hormones such as estrogen and progesterone that control the regulation of menstrual cycles. If your period is irregular, avocados can help regulate it. So whip up some guacamole, or slice them up plain - either way, they are a great source of nutrition and aiding for your period.


Bananas 
You can never have too many home remedies to help reduce those pesky cramps, and another way to help soothe your tummy pains during your week of suffering is to eat bananas. Bananas are loaded with potassium and magnesium which help reduce cramps and decrease bloating. Not only are bananas good for cramps, they also contain vitamin B6 which - you'll thank me later for this fact - helps keep your skin looking young and healthy! (And we all know how we feel about our skin at this time.) 



Water
It's extremely important to stay hydrated on your period, so drink lots and lots of water - do avoid cold water though because it could increase painful cramps. If you get dehydrated on your period, this could also induce painful cramps, and we definitely want to avoid this at all costs. If you're not a water drinker, or you just want to make it a bit more interesting to drink, add lemon to it. Lemons can help ease the pain of cramps and can also lighten your period - it's also a great cleanse for your system. 



Dark Chocolate
I couldn't write one of these lists without including dark chocolate because let's face it, at the end of the day, we need just a little bit of chocolate to keep ourselves from going crazy, right?  Dark chocolate (65% or more cocoa), believe it or not, is actually good for soothing those cravings during your monthly gift - so do indulge, please. (Ok, don't get too crazy though.) It is also linked to boosting serotonin in your body and contains endorphins which helps improve and enlighten your mood. (And we need all the help we can get in that category, right ladies?) Another awesome fact about dark chocolate is it can actually help with cramps and PMS. Chocolate contains magnesium which can ease cramps and increase energy. So next time you are having a crazy craving for a chocolate bar, on your monthly gift, or not, you need not feel guilty if you sneak a little piece.  


I hope this list helped you out a little and I hope you try out some of these remedies to help yourself through this painful and unpleasant time of the month. Whether you're reducing your cramps, or lightening up your mood, every little thing helps, right? Leave me a comment and let me know of any remedies you have, or if you tried any of the above and they worked well for you!     

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

My Oscars Best Dressed Picks!...

The Academy Awards have come and gone once again, and not only are we left with the best picks in film and actors, we are also left with a whole lot of fashion to critique and judge. The Oscars was one of the toughest award shows to judge this year because everyone looked so fabulous! Here are my picks for the best dressed at the Academy Awards...

Cate Blanchett looks exquisite in this nude coloured Giorgio Armani gown. Many said that the dress is so stunning on her because you can't tell where the dress ends and her own skin begins - the colour is perfect on her. Usually someone with a skin tone as fair as Cate's would get lost in a dress this colour and would be washed out by it, but this is not the case for Ms. Blanchett. The fitted top and flowy skirt look exquisite on her figure. One of my favourite parts of this dress is the sheer sleeves which once again practically blend into her body. Cate's make-up is very light and natural, her hair is a styled beautifully and effortlessly and she accessorized with gorgeous Chopard earrings and a diamond bracelet - simple yet sophisticated. 


Olivia Wilde not only looks fabulous in this Valentino dress, she is glowing proudly with 'soon-to-be-mama' joy. Olivia proves that you can still look high-class and trendy with a baby bump. The gown's design is made perfectly for the mom-to-be with a high neckline and a cut out back. The simple yet bold black of the dress looks elegant against Olivia's glowing skin. The 'pop' of white in the back adds the perfect amount of brightness to her look. Ms. Wilde's simple up-do pairs perfectly with her Lorraine Schwartz diamond earrings - giving those jewels a perfect opportunity to dazzle and shine.

Emma Watson looks classy and sleek in this metallic Vera Wang top and skirt ensemble. Emma only came to present an award, but she definitely stood out and made a statement on the red carpet. The dress compliments her small figure perfectly. Her simple hair style with a side swept bang is not too much for the look and her natural make-up with a red lip gives the outfit a bit of a colour pop. Emma is wearing Solange hoop earrings and various rings from different designers such as Chanel, Bouchon and Jessica McCormack - giving the classy look a modern edge.     

Jennifer Lawrence, the face of Dior, looks stunning in a bright red Dior (duh!) gown. Even though she didn't win an Oscar, Jen still won for one of the best dressed people on the red carpet, standing out in this gorgeous strapless dress. Jennifer looks so classy in the gown, and the addition of her Neil Lane statement necklace gives the perfect amount of elegance and fun to her bold look. Jennifer's natural and light make-up and styled back hair show off her gorgeous face and are an ideal choice for the loud gown. 

Kate Hudson wow'd everyone on the red carpet in this striking white Atelier Versace gown. The plunging neckline and long silk skirt train compliment each other and Kate's fair skin tone. Looking at the front of the dress you're in awe at how elegant it is, then Ms. Hudson turns around and the back is as exquisite as the front! The low back shows off just the right amount skin, and that cape - marvellous! Kate pairs her statuesque ensemble with side swept curls, an edgy smoky eye and simple drop diamond earrings. 

Lupita Nyong'o is not only an Academy Award winning actress, she's also the newest style icon on the fashion scene. Lupita dazzled in this elegant duck egg blue Prada gown, which was made personally for her. Lupita looks like a modern day Cinderella with this pleated skirt, plunging neckline, simple diamond jewels to accessorize and a diamond tiara-like headband that adds a magical feel to the look. The best supporting actress winner said the colour reminded her of Nairobi, her hometown in Kenya - she wanted a little bit of home with her. 

My absolute favourite look of the night, and also the most underrated look was Naomi Watts in this stunning white Calvin Klein dress. Naomi looks like a goddess in this gown. The cut is perfect, the material is angelic - it looks like the dress was made for her. The whole ensemble from her hair and make-up to her accessories flow so well and make her stand out against the crowd. Naomi's spiderweb-like Bulgari necklace is very chic and modern against the classy gown. Her simple hairstyle doesn't busy the clean look and the red lip gives a colour pop to the frosted ensemble.  

Sunday, March 2, 2014

The Little Gucci Dress - Six Ways To Dress Up A Little Black Dress...

"Should I wear, the little Gucci, the little Gucci dress or the little Gucci dress?" "I know, how about you wear the little Gucci dress." Sound familiar? A little nineties throwback for you all in which Posh Spice just couldn't decide what to wear. This turned out to be every girl's biggest problem when trying to find something to wear out. Yet, what do we all most likely resort to? A little black dress. Well, that's what I tend to do of course. It's simple, yet always looks chic and trendy.
Here are six different ways to dress up a little black dress, so you stand out from the hundreds of other little black dress wearers.


 A Cute Sweater is Always Better...


If you're going somewhere you know will have the AC cranked up, or are going to a party that is outdoors, a sweater is a necessity to pair with your black dress - a fancy one of course. I wore a black knitted sweater with gold buttons down the side, it's comfy and cozy yet still looks stylish. You could wear a coloured sweater also and possible coordinate your shoes with it. So many possibilities! 


Coloured Tights, City Lights...


One trend that I really love this year is all the amazing patterned and coloured tights there are. Whether it's cute polka-dot tights, bold, bright blue tights or even edgy tights with rips in them, they are a perfect way to turn your black mini dress get-up into something a little more different and unique. I paired my dress with a pair of maroon tights (because I'm loving this colour right now) and wore black pumps. Still a simple, elegant look but has a bit of a 'pop' to it. 


Let's Be Reckless With A Necklace...


I really love big and chunky necklaces, and I think wearing a striking piece of jewellery with a simple black dress is a great way to compliment your style. Also, because of the simplicity of the black dress, you can basically go as wild and crazy as you want with your jewellery and nothing will clash or look too busy. This is also the perfect opportunity to wear your hair up so everyone's attention will be drawn to that gorgeous necklace.  I once again went with a maroon colour necklace which I just recently bought and I absolutely love - as well as put my hair up in a ponytail (which I don't do often, but this was a great time for me to change things up!)  


No Need To Snarf With A Fresh New Scarf...


A scarf is not only useful for keeping you warm on a cold winter day. It's also a great accessory for your black dress. Just like I said about the necklaces, because you are wearing a solid, black dress, your scarf can have the most intricate patterns on it. This is your chance to go big here! I wore one of my favourite black and white checkered scarfs - the bold pattern stands out beautifully against the dress, yet still compliments the outfit nicely.  

Boys Will Chase Her In That Blazer...


So I have a bit of an obsession with coloured blazers. If I could, I'd have the whole colour spectrum of blazers in my closest. Wearing a blazer with a dress is one way to turn a mini dress into a smart and sophisticated piece - a coloured blazer does all that and adds a bit of fun too! I paired my black dress with this teal blazer and accessorized with a silver necklace, because blue and silver look amazing together! 

Be My Guest, Wear A Vest...


What else is better than dressing up your little black dress with a fur vest? (Faux, of course) I've always thought the faux fur vest looks incredible sophisticated and high-class worn to accessorize basically anything - jeans, a skirt and in this case, a little black dress. I also added a long chain necklace to the look as well as a bold red lip. This outfit will for sure make you stand out in a crowd, and all eyes will be on you the whole night. 


Of course there are many other ways you can accessorize with a little black dress, these are just a few that I have listed.
Leave me a comment and tell me how you dress your party outfit up!