I have to say that I am on the fence about Rihanna’s Giambattista Valli gown, but judging from what I’ve seen online, people either loved it or hated it. In fact, there are quite a few memes that have popped up online and they are hilarious. I don’t really care for dresses that completely hide a woman’s figure, especially a figure as banging as hers. It looks like a very pretty and expensive umbrella to me. What do you think of Rihanna’s fashion choice for the Grammys?
Last week I wrote a couple of posts about Victoria Beckham (I guess last week was unintentionally all about Victoria Beckham) and one of the mentions was in my weekly newsletter “News From The Beautiverse” about her stint on Vogue’s 73 Questions series. British comedian, actor, and writer Holly Burn decided to spoof it (somebody had to) and it is absolutely hilarious. See for yourself.
73 Questions with Victoria Beckham Vogue – Spoof:
Victoria had no problem with this is as she posted it on her twitter account. She obviously has a sense of humor and I am sure she is smiling on the inside. Here is the original version.
73 Questions with Victoria Beckham:
Tell me what you think about both versions in the comment section and see what else Mrs. David Beckham is up to.
Paris Couture Fashion Week has been well underway for a few days, and I went completely against my normal urge to post Chanel and went straight to what really played with my emotions, the Jean Paul Gaultier runway show featuring Dita Von Tesse. Why? Anyone that gorgeous that sees past the distraction that is Marilyn Manson and finds his soul is truly fascinating.
Have fun with this fun and flirty collection and tell me what you think of the theme.
If you aren’t familiar with FashionTV, this is a good time to check out the present and upcoming runway shows that us mere mortals don’t have access to. There is live streaming, interviews, and anything that is remotely attached to the fashion world. For me, couture is the most fun because it is so creative and over-the-top, and the challenge of dialing it back to reinvent the looks for the real world is like a roller coaster thrill. I really marvel at those who can execute creativity and talent so flawlessly. Sigh… I would wear many of these looks just the way they are with absolutely nowhere to go.
I posted Chic Anarchist’s Biker Jackets from Polyvore and it doesn’t post to “save to draft” from the app like it does from the site so all of the content did not publish at that time. Please revisit the post especially if you are a Charlie Hunnam fan.
I know the post is supposed to be about biker jackets, but the idea was completely inspired by the basic cable show “Sons of Anarchy” on FX, which also stars Katy Segal and one of my favorite action stars Ron Perlman.
I got this particular picture from Shea Magazine and I love this quote:
“If I turned a corner and ran into this face, I may pass out. Hopefully his big strong arms would catch me so his tasty mouth could resuscitate me.”
I hear you girl…
Well, I am back from a little hiatus. I’d like to call it a vacation, but really it was just a recovery from wrist surgery. Treacherous. I tried to create posts on my iPod Touch and thought voice recognition (Dragon app. is fabulous), would suffice and while that was fun, it wasn’t as productive as I would have liked. All of that frustration got my already ADD brain working overtime and obsessing over what I was missing out on. What I can say is that I feel mentally refreshed. Sometimes you have to get input, especially when you spend most of your time producing output, and I have a hard time relaxing, even in vacation mode.
All kinds of things happened while I was away. Timothy finally got booted on Project Runway, Sandro lost his mind and quit the show, and it became obvious that Sue Waller couldn’t handle modern-day sewing technique. Hell, she couldn’t even thread a basic Brother sewing machine, much less know how to sew with it. Justin LeBlanc was voted off, something no one took very well, including Tim Gunn who used his one and only save to keep Justin in the game. I was one of the teary-eyed, and I was elated by Tim’s save. I want to see more from this designer who uses his architecture background to create stunning clothing.
Jane Cosmetics, an iconic makeup brand from the 90s is making a comeback after coming out of bankruptcy. As of August 18, Jane Cosmetics is available online and at Ulta.
How gorgeous was Selena Gomez in Atelier Versace, and Ciara in Givenchy? Look for Ciara on papermag.com as she is September’s cover girl. An honorable mention goes to Erin Wasson for her sheer Alexander Vauthier dress. I loved what she wore under it. If only…
To show how much in work mode I was not, I bought this really cool ruler while shopping for office supplies yesterday and then I saw it on a local daytime show but it was advertised as a bracelet. I found the ruler and sure enough it is called a Slap Ruler, a bracelet and ruler all in one. Leave it to me to lock onto a ruler disguised as a bracelet, a bracelet for children no less.
Beautylish is my makeup haven. I just love all of the makeup tips from people in the trenches. This sight is so inspirational for anyone who absolutely loves expressing themselves through their appearance. I have never done a nude lip primarily because I can’t get the shade right but after watching this nude lip tutorial by Wayne G., I see nude lips in my future. You can follow Wayne on YouTube under gosssmakeupartist. An added bonus is if you watch the video on YouTube, an extensive list of nude lip liners and colors is included in the about section and like me, he is a huge fan of MAC cosmetics.
Finally, StylEnigma is evolving. There will be more posts, a different format, an event calendar, and more cool features. I am so excited. See, this is why I can’t relax.
The minute I saw the promo for Project Runway’s seasons 2nd episode, “Million Dollar Runway”, I got very excited. The challenge of designing creations worthy of $30 million dollars worth of diamond jewelry is exciting and daunting. For this challenge, Heidi brought back the dreaded “button bag” which was used for picking which model diamond baubles they wanted. Whether or not Model Musical Chairs will continue remains to be seen.
This was the contestants first trip to Mood, and they got 45-minutes instead of 30, and they got their Go Bank cards, giving them the option of spending whatever they want on their designs. The additional challenge of managing a $4000 budget on their own is a great twist. Of course, Timothy Westbrook has no choice but to s rummage through scraps for remnants in an effort to stay true to his sustainability mantra. His concept was “From Trash to Treasure.” Of course it was. So predictable.
Zac Posen swears the velvet came from his studio, but Zac magic wasn’t cast on his latest catastrophe. Seriously, he is the only thing I can’t stand about this season. It’s like someone is sucking all the fun out of it by placing this annoyance in the midst. I wish he would go away. He is annoying, he looks annoying, he sounds annoying, and if he had any talent I could overlook that because the show is about talent. So far, I don’t see any talent, and he has to go.
This is by far the crankiest and most emotionally unhinged group of designers I’ve ever seen on Project Runway, and I have been glued to this show from day one. Sandro Masmanidi is an immature, confrontational hot head, and Sue Waller can’t thread a sewing machine (did she not watch the show before entering?), can’t be gracious when help is given, or accept responsibility for her own short comings. Basically, there are going to be a lot of mental breakdowns and bitching this season.
In the end, Kahindo Mateene’s horrific print and off the rack sensibility sent her packing. She chose a fabric that she had never used before (silk charmeuse) which didn’t help her either. Tim’s dress was an ill-fitting, white and blue racer back in the front cut-out which made the breasts look flat and unsupported. He can’t seem to wrap his brain around a head-to-toe look. Helen’s dress wasn’t constructed well or executed properly, but Kahindo’s material choice did her in. I’m disappointed because I wanted to see more of her African influence. That olive green organza over the print only emphasized the hideousness once the judges lifted it.
Kate Pankoke’s dress won with what snarky contestant, Alexander Pope crowned a “Vivienne Westwood knock off.” Ouch! It was a beautiful gown and true to her aesthetic but not original or surprising. Her talent can not be diminished however, so congratulations Kate.
Dom Streater’s green and white silk Grecian gown was my personal favorite. It flowed and complimented the emerald and diamond necklace her model wore. As Nina Garcia said, it offered a different perspective of what to wear with extravagant jewelry. Dom’s dress was described as “estate chic” by guest judge Eric Damon, who was the Emmy award-winning costume designer on Gossip Girl. Good looking men make my day.
I can not wait until tonight’s episode because the folks from Milwaukee, Tim and Miranda Levy, are going a few rounds AND it’s a team challenge, AND the designers will be using untraditional materials again. I wonder if this is the episode where Miranda is predicting she’ll need therapy. I haven’t picked out a favorite designer yet, have you?
Project runway season 12 started out with a blast with “the unconventional challenge” straight out of the gate, an unusual and cunning move. The designers didn’t even get the chance to settle in before Heidi threw what most would say is the most difficult of challenges at them. Usually, the “unconventional challenge” makes an appearance further down the road and the unconventional material that the designers were to make a garment that represented their aesthetic was the nylon from parachutes that were delivered by skydivers on an airport runway. Sweet!
The fans bought Kate from season 11, better known as Project Runway Teams, back for a second chance,and no one wants her there because she has an obvious advantage, but not enough to overshadow anyone else’s talent, in my opinion. This years accessory wall from Belk, me no likey. What I do like is no team challenges smothering the designers and the new changes, especially the fact that Tim Gunn will be on hand during runway and judging to give the other judges, Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia,Zac Posen, and the weekly special guest, in this case, Kate Bosworth, his opinions.
The first runway was great, except that the judges really should have let Mr. Sustainable, a.k.a., Timothy Westbrook, 24, from Milwaukee, WI, go home. He is an “annoying”sustainability-focused fiber artist” according to the Project Runway blog. Hey, I didn’t write it but I am not going to argue with the truth either. Without getting into his issues too much, let’s just say there is a lot of hypocrisy and insecurity going on. And please find time to feel sorry for his poor model…
Los Angeles designer Bradon McDonald, 38, was this seasons first winner with a flowing, pastel color-blocked gown that highlighted the sheer trend perfectly. Angela Bacskocky, 33 – Richmond, VA, was sent home for being boring and unoriginal, which is not what this season is going to be if this teaser is any indication of what is to come. The drama started before the first episode with a controversial promotional billboard that was banned in L.A.
Another new addition is fan interaction with the new on-screen feature, PlayRunway, which will allow fans to use their smartphones, tablets and computers to share their reactions to episode storylines, design challenges and judging decisions. Fan interaction is increasingly implemented into reality competition shows lately. Social media is the difference between life and death when it comes to fan driven competition shows.
Other changes include, an anonymous runway; the judges won’t know which designer did what until after the points are added up, the judges will look at the designs up close and personal as part of the judging process; not good for any designer with design flaws and glue jobs that would have been hidden previously, and Tim has the power to rescue one designer from elimination for a second chance.
This seasons prize package is the biggest one yet. This is a list of the prizes that are worth over half a million dollars straight from Project Runway’s site on Mylifetime.com:
As part of the winner’s prize package, this season’s champion will receive $150,000 from GoBank, the award-winning new bank account made to be used on a mobile phone; $50,000 of next generation technology from HP and Intel to help enable their creativity and launch their new business; a year’s supply of Resource Natural Spring Water and an all-expense paid, luxurious spa retreat for two to the exotic Maldives, courtesy of Resource Water; a chance to design and sell an exclusive collection at Belk; a complete sewing and crafting studio from Brother Sewing and Embroidery; a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine; a 2014 Lexus IS 350; a $100,000 fabric allowance from Tide Pods to inspire fashions that truly pop; and a $50,000 styling contract with L’Oréal Paris. It is a prize package worth more than half a million dollars. The model paired with the winner of “Project Runway” will receive a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine and $25,000 from L’Oréal Paris.
This season is going to be SO good, and I can hardly wait to see which one of the remaining designers will fail to measure up. I haven’t picked a favorite yet but who do you think is going home?
Miley Cyrus seems determined to wipe her Hannah Montana persona from our minds. In her V magazine, May 2013, and upcoming Elle UK, June 2013, magazine covers, she continues to show the world just how edgy she has become. We got it Miley, calm down. I have to say I am a Miley fan more for her persona than her music, but I do admit to liking Party in the U.S.A. She’s young, she’ll get bored easily so she will be switching it up often and fans get bored easily too. I think the rebel element is real so she is going to do what she wants to do. She is going to be provocative, and she is going to be unapologetic. She has adopted a punky androgynous look that suits her, and she has never been girly anyway. I’m looking for her to hook up with a girl next.
Both of her cover shoots were definitively editorial and showed off her killer body. The Elle UK shoot was…classier and more artistic than the V magazine shoot, in my opinion. The V magazine pictures were… provocative. I could have gone the rest of my life without seeing Miley give herself a wedgie, and I almost didn’t put the pictures of her in boy’s underwear in the post, that’s how unattractive I found them; not her, the underwear. There are several pieces in each shoot that I would wear in a heartbeat.
Currently, she is working on a new album and according to a recent Good Morning America segment, it is taking precedence over everything. Judge for yourself. Which cover shoot do you think is better and why?
This season of Project Runway was as much of a challenge for me as it was for the contestants with the team format, and after watching all season, I’m not a fan. Ok, maybe not as much of a challenge for me since I still tuned in every week. I just can’t quit Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn. We are finally down to the final three, and I have to say that except for Stanley Hudson, the other two finalists, Patricia Michaels and Michelle Lesniak Franklin were not on my finale list initially. Daniel Esquivel, who was eliminated in part 1 of season 11’s finale was actually an early favorite of mine, but Michelle’s second chance was his undoing.
I can’t stand Michelle’s funky attitude, but I LOVE her clothes, which is more important than winning a personality contest. I would wear her clothes all day, every day if someone else was designing them. I’m one of those people that if I don’t like you, I reject everything that comes with you. Donald Trump is a perfect example; He has been a monumental Ass for a couple of years quite some time, and as much as I love The Apprentice and Celebrity Apprentice, I had to let them go because I can’t support the notions of an idiot. The same goes for Kanye West and his Taylor Swift stunt. I have to make do with Late Registration (which I love), and not buy any more of his music because too much money, and adoration has blinded his ability to respect others and celebrate their success without it becoming all about him and what he thinks.
Fun Fact: Michelle’s model is Lisa Jackson from America’s Next Top Model Cycle 9, one of my favorites and certainly one of the most beautiful models to grace either runway.
I was completely through with her when she was wallowing in self pity because the others got to jet off to European fashion capitals, and she had to stay in New York. Her field trip around the city rejuvenated her spirit, but that was replaced with animosity because the others had the audacity to come back from their trips happy and excited. No appreciation whatsoever for getting a second chance, just sour grapes. If that wasn’t a turn off, the constant cattiness and rejection of support from the others certainly was. Nevertheless, I loved the dress she made for that challenge and I would wear that with or without the quilted breast plate, with or without the smudged hem. I like a bit of edginess. What can I say?
Sorry, I digress… Where was I?
The Finalists
Patricia Michaels, 46, Taos, NM, representing Native Americans in a way that is not often seen. What she brings to the table is her unexpected and innovative textiles, not to mention her out-of-the-box creativity. After the third episode, I knew she was special and I looked forward to seeing what she produced every week. However, her three collection preview pieces has me worried. She is all over the place, and it shows. Zach Posen was so adorable with his critique of her collection and while Heidi and Nina Garcia were being “mean girls” and comparing her outfits to Dr. Suess (because of one of her headpieces) he cushioned the blows with appreciation for the head pieces as well as her creativity. Patricia has never won a challenge and usually, the judges take that into consideration when choosing the final three, but I believe her textiles and creativity had them hooked despite the fact that she teeters on the line of being crafty.
Michelle Lesniak Franklin, 34, Portland, OR, is the youngest and moodiest of the contestants. We already know what I think of her so let’s get down to business. First look, hated it! Second look, I loved the olive green pop of color and how unusual that dress was. The last look that she showed was a hardware laden jacket that could accommodate several bags, and I liked it, the judges weren’t as excited. She got an earful for having too much hardware, but I am one of those women who would be carrying all of those bags so I can see the value. The judges were not happy with her styling either; the hair was messed up, bland makeup, but I got it – Lone wolf separated from her pack. I got it, the judges didn’t.
Stanley Hudson, 44, West Hollywood CA, quiet, contained, bossy. I have always liked Stanley, he reminds me of my brother Mark but the judges thought his collection was matronly. I liked the zipper in the back of his dress, I thought it was sexy, but Zach called it dated. Tim told him that his collection was not sexy or modern enough. I thought it represented classy, understated sexiness. I would wear Stanley’s clothes. As much as I like an edge, I also like sophistication. I live in Colorado, I want to be covered up. It’s cold here in the Rockies. The judges didn’t like anyone’s styling because the made fun of his as well.
Michael Kors finally makes an appearance for the season 11 finale and it won’t be long before we find out who is going to get a 2013 Lexus GS 350, a spread in Marie Claire, a technology suite worth $50,000 from HP and Intel, and the opportunity to design an exclusive collection for Lord & Taylor. I won’t even make a prediction as to who the winner will be until I see the finale fashion show that was taped during the 2013 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York.
This is her show, and she won’t let us go. Beyoncé kicked off the “Mrs Carter Show World Tour” yesterday at the Kombank Arena in Belgrade, Serbia, and all anyone can talk about is the costumes, especially the gold “nipple” bodysuit by The Blonds, which was hand embroidered with Swarovski crystals and took over 600 hours to make. Earlier reports credited Julien Macdonald for the naughty outfit, but the Blonds have stepped forward to shut down that rumor.
“Beyoncé effectively put Madonna’s infamous Jean-Paul Gaultier cone bra to shame”
Yesterday, I mentioned that DSquared2 was on board with costume design, but through the gallery at InStyle, I discovered Emilio Pucci, Ralph & Russo, and Stuart Weitzman were also on board. I really liked the Grecian inspired costume by DSquared2 and Julian MacDonald. The gold accessories, especially the custom-made gold Weitzman shoes, really bring the coral color to life. And while I am not a fan of the peplum trend, I really liked the pearl and crystal details on the white bodysuit by Ralph & Russo.
Let’s get on with it! InStyle’s Mrs. Carter Show Tour Costumes Gallery:
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