Inaugural Ball Designer - Jason Wu is the Winner

Update: Well, i was wrong on my designer pick! Thank goodness Stylehive's Aunt Bee sent me an email late last night to keep me in the "know."

Aunt Bee says: Michelle Obama wears a silk chiffon Jason Wu gown with crystal rhinestones -- this young designer must be on top of the world right about now--gorgeous gown!

I can now sleep peacefully, thanks to Stylehive. :)

--Style Junkie

Inauguration Ball: No News is Good News?

Update:

There is no update! CNN's latest news reads "Obama, first lady make party appearance" - but i can't access the coverage! The horror of it all.

If anyone out there knows what and who Mrs. O is wearing please comment below. I'm sure the fashion critics will provide glaring reviews tomorrow morning and i will post something shortly thereafter.

My prediction is another Isabel Toledo ensemble, or she could go with her beloved hometown designer, Maria Pinto.

We'll see...

Mrs. O Wardrobe Update!

UPDATE:

Michelle Obama departed from Blair House early this morning in a stunning gold Isabel Toledo skirt ensemble. Follow the link below from Women's Wear Daily to read more!

Obama-Rama

More to come!

--Style Junkie

Golden Globes Top Five!

Hi Friends,

Like most of you, i tuned in to the Golden Globes last night to see Brad and Angie making out at a table in the back, Rumer Willis as Miss Golden Globe (Stand up strait and don't hunch!) and last but most certainly not least, the amazing evening wear our billionaire besties were sporting as they cascaded down the red carpet

After countless hours (okay maybe minutes) of debating who would be crowned "best dressed" i decided on the following list:

2009 Golden Globes Top Five Best Dressed

5. So, i broke down and included a cocktail-ish ensemble on the list, but i had too! America Ferrera looked ultra-comfortable and very non-Ugly Betty in her Oscar De La Renta frock and matching clutch.

4. As always, Penelope Cruz looked breathtaking in a pale gold column dress crafted by Giorgio Armani Prive. Cruz floated along the red carpet smiling, waving to fans and looking as though she didn't have a care in the world. What's the happy glow all about? Who knows, but i'm sure we'll learn all about in the tabloids tomorrow.

3. Eva Mendes rocked her Dior white silk taffeta gown by contrasting chunky aqua green jewelry and showing off her gorgeously tan cuban skin. This dress almost made me forgive her for having an affair with Meg Ryan's husband in "The Women," but I'm still bitter (that's why she's number 3).

2. Not to go all "goth" on everyone, but i fell in love with Kate Winslet's black, belted Yves St. Laurent gown. You know what they say, black is the new size 2 - work it girl!

1. In a true "let them eat cake" moment Amy Adams rocked a glitzy gown that resembled an over-the-top, yet incredibly sexy wedding dress. The dark navy hue was perfectly contrasted with Adams deep red hair and creamy alabaster skin. I also enjoyed her sage green platinum jewelry - nicely done to Amy's stylist!

Pamella Roland Rocks NYC

Congrats to the Pamella Roland (a.k.a our very own Pam DeVos) camp for pulling in mega-stars last Thursday at a private screening of Brad Pitt's new movie, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

According to WWD and New York Magazine, a slew of A-listers attended the screening including Mary-Kate Olsen, Chance Crawford, Lauren Bush, Cynthia Rowley, Ciara and Pamela DeVos herself.

A few additional notes pertaining to Pamela Roland:

• Visit Pamella Roland's Web site to take a gander at her exquisite 2009 collection (what girl doesn't like jewel tones and cocktail dresses?!)
• Pam's personal profile includes a great photo of her and her husband cascading down a red carpet in their hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich. (GR represent!)
  

Until next time....

Stylehive

Hey everyone!

Interesting new fashion web site that only encourages fashion addicts like myself by providing members with real-time updates of who's buying what and where in the "hive." It's all kind of confusing at first so let me break it down for you:

1. Join Stylehive.com

2. Research other hivers that have the same style as you do and shop their hive!(each member has links to their must-have clothing essentials!)

3.To be a fellow hiver you must also research fancy frocks that fit your style regimen and bookmark the clothing web site so your Stylehive friends can cash in on your finds.

4. Create a fashion diary and connect with other fashion obsessed members! We always love new fashion friends!

5. Add big-name retailers to your hive and be the first to review "just-in" looks.

6. Have fun! I just became of a member of Stylehive and I've really enjoyed perusing the site and gawking at the millions of rockin' handbags, shoes, jeans, blouses, and dresses.

P.S. When creating a user name on that site the word "bee" needs to be at the end of your screen name and i didn't know that so my user name is "lynsey03" - If anyone from Stylehive reads this post please contact me and let me know how to change my user name so I'm not viewed as the resident "stylehive dork." - Thanks!

What is Fashion?

What is fashion? Is it spending thousands of dollars each season purchasing a new wardrobe just because you have the means to do so? Is it obnoxiously parading around in public displaying three or four different "popular, like OMG!" brands?(a.k.a brand whoring) What about buying fake impersonations of those "popular" brands just so you can pretend that you actually have the funds to purchase that product?

As you may have noticed by my dripping sarcasm, none of the statements above capture the words "fashion" or "style." I've been thinking about this question a lot lately. What is fashion? How do we define fashion and most importantly, how do we define style?

The dictionary reads:

Fashion - a prevailing custom or style of dress, etiquette, socializing, etc.

Style - an elegant, fashionable, or luxurious mode of living.

Do i agree with the dictionary? Not really, you see fashion may be defined by the couture gods every season, but style is defined differently by each individual. I'm reminded of the quote from Coco Chanel, "Fashion fades, only style remains the same."

That said, personal style is important to your very existence. Don't go through the motions people! If you fancy scarves, then find a way to work the beautiful prints into your outfits two, maybe three times a week. Perhaps you are addicted to bold, gold accessories - then go for it sister! Who cares if Vogue says "gold is out out out! for the season. Take that one trend that defines your style and stick with it. Too many times i see women who become slaves to the season trends, spending gobs and gobs of money on pieces of clothing that do not define their personality in any way.

I am inspired by the people in my life who dance to their own "fashion" tune. For example, every day i come into contact with a woman who fully embraces her own personal style. She doesn't have a large wardrobe nor the funds to gallivant around the local boutiques every week, but she does invest in pieces that speak to her. Would i purchase the bold patterned blouses or tunics that she does? Probably not, BUT -- do i secretly steal a glance in her direction every time i catch her in the elevator see what she is wearing? You bet your Jimmy Choos i do! She is constantly mixing up the her small wardrobe by belting, scarfing (is that a word?) slipping on a unique necklace or jeweled cuff and throwing in some patented leather flats now and then for good measure. Brilliant.

Now is the time to define your personal style! Think back through the years to pieces of clothing, accessories etc. that complimented your eyes, cheek bones, boobs or butt. Next, pull those old relics out of storage, dust off the moth balls and incorporate your treasures into your next few outfits. And remember, fashion isn't for everyone else, it's for you!

Here's to looking fabulous!

--Stylejunkie

P.S. Your bank account will thank you!

The Decisions Have Been Made...

Remember my dream job? Social media, fashion, Gossip Girl celebs? Right, well the PR firm i'm describing, Porter Novelli pop-up firm Jack+Bill have finally annouced the lucky clients that will be receiving FREE PR services!!

Read the information posted below - compliments of prcouture.com

:)


Jack + Bill, Porter Novelli’s pop up fashion PR agency, has finally announced the results from its casting call! Last month, the agency staged a two-day open audition for New York’s next big fashion stars, promising the winners free representation leading up to Fashion Week.

For Jewelry Design, J+B picked DANNIJO, a line created by sisters Danielle and Jodie Snyder (top left). AIRA has been chosen as Women’s Apparel Designer (top right), Kalyn Johnson has been named Fashion Stylist (bottom right), and Christopher Fawcett is J+B’s hot pick for Model (center).

Attendees at the casting call competed in one of the four categories mentioned above. And in a surprising development, J+B created a fifth “Wild Card” category, and announced Badgley/Sneed Designs as an additional client. Badgley/Sneed Designs is a new jewelry line created by Gossip Girls’ star Penn Badgley’s mother, Lynne, and godmother, Jan Sneed. As has been widely reported in the press (Jack + Bill landed People and a sound byte on E! News to name a few), co-stars Penn and Blake Lively accompanied the Badgley/Sneed duo to the casting call. After presenting the jewelry line to J+B, the four special guests posed for pictures and spoke to media.

Alyson Campbell, partner at J+B, explained the agency’s decision to bring in a “Wild Card” winner: “There were so many talented individuals. We thought, let’s give exposure to more people.” But isn’t J+B concerned about possible criticism of its celebrity client, given its mission to represent emerging designers?

Alyson added that August will be a busy month as J+B as staff sit down with their new clients and plan their PR campaigns. The agency’s services to the winners end on September 5th. J+B plans to throw a rap party at the end of Fashion Week to celebrate its clients’ achievements. For more information on its new clients, including videos from the casting, visit J + B’s blog

How To Be Glamourous - Rachel Zoe Style

Style A to Zoe - The Art of Fashion, Beauty, & Everything Glamour was an overall intriguing read. I slowly worked my way through Rachel Zoe's self-described "glamour bible" making sure to make a fair decision on whether it was actually informative to someone who isn't a millionaire, and who doesn't name their best friend as Katie Holmes - you get the jist.

Zoe (pronounced like "oh") covers everything from how to accessorize correctly to jet-setting in style, and even directs you how to decorate your home (if you're a fabulous millionaire, of course). Much to my surprise, Zoe gives a good amount of advice that us "normal" girls can use. However, there is a fair amount of advice that i probably will not be using - such as: how to dress for my weekend trips to the Hampton's or what to bring in my bag for all those unexpected Europe vacations!(maybe someday...)

But, alas, I have to give Zoe credit. The woman has dressed everyone from the Backstreet Boys to teen queen Britney spears, not to mention our favorite rehab-er, Linday Lohan. To be honest, I can't deny my jealousy. The woman travels the world in the name of fashion and has become fabulously wealthy and well-connected because of it.

However, stardom always comes with a price. Just a few seasons after being unofficially recognized as the woman who single-handidly created the trend known as "boho-chic" (think Mary-Kate Olsen, yuck) Zoe was accused of turning her clients into scrawny, orange skinned, "Zoe-bots." Nicole Richie fired the styling guru last November claiming she needed to be surrounded by "positive people." Is it a coincidence that almost all of Zoe's young clients look like they live on a strict diet of Red Bull and Marlboro's? You decide.

In the meantime, listed below, are the most important take-aways from Zoe's manual - Enjoy!

Five Glamour Essentials Under $50
- Red Lipstick
-Black eyeliner
-Great heels
- Faux fur shrug (not sure this is top on my list...)
- Metallic clutch (Love it!)

Zoe's Red Carpet Must-Haves (Just in-case i have a movie premier tomorrow)
-Classic black dress
-Nude or black patent pumps
-Perfect red lipstick
-Fishnets and black tights
-An all-season wrap or shrug

Day-Off Essentials (Basically a "weekend wear" guide)
-A great fitting pair of jeans (dark)
-A roomy jersey or cashmere constructed top
-A wrap or shift dress in cotton, jersey, or another Knit
-A tote, hobo bag or anything roomy
-Lip gloss
-Rosy cheek tint
-An all season wrap (does anyone recognize a pattern here?)
-Sunglasses (or as Rachel calls them "Sunnies!" - barf)
-Glam-on-the-go footwear (flats, boots, or wedges)