My top Oscars Red Carpet Dresses of All Time

Who is ready for Oscar Sunday? 

The Oscars is one of the most watched red carpets in the world next to the MET Gala. Time after time the Oscars has blessed us with numerous fashion forward moments, like who could forget Charlize Theron’s glittering Gucci gown from 2004, or Björk’s Marjan Pejoski swan dress? Growing up, I would sit in my room like I was attending the award show and judge all the outfits like Joan River (RIP). In honor of the ceremony being this Sunday I will be doing the exact same but not before I share what I believe were the greatest Oscar Red Carpet moments. If you are ready for some iconic looks read along. 

Gwyneth Paltrow Ralph Lauren 1999

Not only did Gwyneth Paltrow cement her status as an award-winning actress, but she also cemented her status as a style icon in the making.

Julia Roberts in Valentino, 2001

I’ll never forget it and neither has the fashion world, Julia Roberts in her vintage Valentino gown for her first-time Oscars win for Erin Brockovich. 

Charlize Theron in Gucci, 2004

Charlize Theron’s glittering silver Gucci gown is a prime example that less is often way more on the red carpet. Despite its simple shape, it’s one of the Oscars’ most memorable dresses in history. Theron looked the part of a true Hollywood movie star with a touch of sensual elegance. 

Lupita Nyong’o in Prada, 2014

 There was something truly magical about the Prada dress that Lupita Nyong’o wore to the Oscars in 2014. First off, the pale sky blue color was such a great match for the actress, and a shade you don’t see too often in Hollywood. She looked like a real life Disney Princess.

Halle Berry in Elie Saab, 2002

My obsession with Elie Saab begun in 2002, when Halle wore this iconic dress that not only shaped history but is part of infamous memes. Halle wore this beauty while accepting the first best actress award for Black woman. #HistoryintheMaking

Jennifer Lawrence in Christian Dior Couture, 2013

Yes, she fell going up the stairs to accept the big prize, but boy did she sure look fabulous doing so. So simple, sexy, elegant and chic. 

Hilary Swank in Guy Laroche, 2005

This dress will FOREVER be my absolute favorite. In fact, my prom dress had the same midnight blue and backless design. If I could be a dress this is it! Classy, sassy with a little bit of assy.

Björk in Marjan Pejoski, 2001

When Björk wore Marjan Pejoski’s Swan dress to the 2001 Oscars, Joan Rivers said, “This girl should be put in an asylum” but this dress has been replicated, used in movies, and such an iconic moment in Oscar history. 

With Sunday approaching I look forward to some Oscar red carpet fashion moments. What was your ultimately Oscar fashion moment? 

Tips on how to afford Luxury Designer

Often times when we want to splurge on a luxury designer item we wonder how can I look rich without going broke? As someone who is pretty open about my weakness for designer handbags and shoes, I know a few tips on how to afford high end pieces. The most important thing to remember is that buying designer items is a luxury and not a need. Now it is perfectly fine to treat yourself, especially after an accomplishment or a life milestone but we have to remember to pay for our actual everyday needs first. Below are some tips to follow so that you can afford to buy designer without feeling guilty about it!

1. Save first

Make sure you are setting up a savings for the future before you invest on a designer piece. This means putting money aside for retirement, your long-term, and short-term goals and also paying all your monthly expenses. I like to balance between spending a big chunk of money and also saving a big chunk of money into my savings. I often times set a goal, for example if the bag I want is $2000, I have to at least have that amount in my savings after the bag is purchased. Always remember, your financial goals are more important than buying a designer handbag. 

2. Buy quality over quantity

Think about all the times you've purchased something cheap that after a few years fell apart or that looked like what you wanted but in reality did not. Completely not worth it right? It's better to buy the item you initially wanted than 5 items that kind of look like the item. Buying the designer style will actually save me money. rather than buying five look alike because in the end I will eventually splurge on the real deal. Additionally, designer will last longer than cheaply made items. Also keep in mind that many designer items if kept almost new count as investment pieces, that can be worn for years or resold. 

3. Wait for your "must-have" pieces to go on sale or buy from the resale market

Although classic pieces from designers rarely go on sale, if you are patient, you can find a lot of seasonal items with a classic vibe in the designer sales. Often times these sales will mark down the seasons colors that did not sell and you can achieve the look for less if you do not mind certain patterns, fabrics or color selections. 

 I am also a huge fan of buying gently used or pre-owned designer handbags from consignment sites like the RealReal, Fashionphile and Rebag. The resale market is much like buying stocks, when the "it" trend is tiny bags you can easily find totes at a cheaper resale price and vice versa. My first designer bag was a Celine luggage tote from the RealReal for half the price and in great condition, and though it is not an "it" bag right now I highly believe the style will come back and I still receive lots of compliments when I wear it. Also, consignment softens luxury’s impact on the environment, and I can approve of that. 

4. Save for the big-ticket items

For the past few years, I have started to take my time with my big buys, I often research and think about what I am going to buy for months. Not being such an impulsive buyer has actually saved me money and now I actually wear what I buy instead of having it in my closet for display.

5. Stay away from fast trends

Stay away from expensive things that are overly trendy. If you want to achieve the look but not invest in the item for long term use depend on stores like Zara and H&M. If you are going to spend a ton of money, it should be on timeless pieces with neutral colors to maximize the wear. 

6. It's not a competition

Buy what you like and what you can afford because you like it and not for anyone else. Don't get caught up keeping up with the Jones or with the social media influencers because they receive these products for marketing purposes and for free. You should always buy something because you love it not because of what anyone else thinks about it.

7. Mix it up

There's nothing wrong with wearing a $10 dollar tank top with a Chanel handbag. Absolutely nothing. Determine what your style is and mix it up. Not everything you wear has to be super expensive. I personally like to splurge on bags and shoes but will never pay more than $50 for a pair of jeans. It’s perfectly okay to have a mix of high end brands with pieces from Zara in your wardrobe, it's called balancing. 

In the end, when it comes to expensive handbags or other high-end fashion purchases, as long as you are doing it the right way, occasional splurges are allowed. Just be sure that the important stuff comes first.  There is nothing wrong with splurging from time to time as long as it doesn’t hinder your financial goals.

Why skinny jeans are dead

Recently, a Tik Tok trend went viral discussing how Gen Zs want to cancel the wear of skinny jeans, but as a Millennial, I might have to to agree with them. There is no doubt that when skinny jeans first grew popularity, they were a revelation. They accentuated the butt, elongated your legs, and were high-rise, so before you attack me, here are my reasons why. 

Yes, skinny jeans were once an outfit stable but let's be real, skinny jeans now just make me look lumpy, stuffed and overexposes my body's problem areas. Not to mention that skinny jeans have largely been non-existent on the runways for several seasons now, and no matter what I pair them with, the proportions somehow always just feel all wrong. Another factor that led to the demise of the skinny jeans is the dreaded jeggings. As soon as they started to mix the denim with too much stretch, it just became trashy. Yes, the fabric is extremely comfortable but, so are sweats. Not to mention, that the materials you find in your typical pair of skinny jeans or jeggings is unrecyclable and deeply bad for the planet. 

Now I know, I am not the only one that feels this way either. The truth is, as we get older and our bodies change, showing off our curves or wearing tight clothes is no longer a big priority. I am now in my thirties, and I worry more about feeling sexy rather than showing too much. I prefer to invest in feeling comfortable rather than being in some tight jeans. Sadly, Millennials need to move on from their skinny jeans phase and begin to buy bootcuts, straight legs, wide legs and baggy styles which are classic alternatives to swap out your skinny jeans with. 

*See examples below

Budget & Bougie

Let’s be real, we all want to look classy, expensive and well put together, but, often times our wants don't meet our wallet's need to stay green.  

While I believe that some expensive fashion items scream wealth and individuality, I also know some tips for looking bad and bougie on a budget. This post is not about how to show off that you have money but rather how to look expensive, powerful, and put together. 

Before we go on, you may be wondering why do I care to look more expensive? For me, dressing to look more expensive is less about trying to impress other people and more about feeling confident, well put together and polished everyday. Ultimately, when you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good, you attract positivity into your life. In fact, studies show that dressing well, does in fact effect our performance and makes us feel better about ourselves and more confident. So, here are a few tips to looking more expensive. 

1. Wear all black

2. Dress Monochromatic

 

3. When buying basics, stick to black, white, gray or camel tones.

4. Always wear the right size.

5. Avoid wearing distressed or ripped jeans.

6. Add gold jewelry to elevate any outfit.

7. Presentation is key, always take care of your clothes by ironing, washing and steaming them properly.

8. Only splurge on pieces that are inter-wearable to create a volt of staple pieces.

9. Avoid wearing too many labels and mixing labels. You don't want to be a walking ad.

10. Invest in quality over quantity. Do we have nothing to wear or have we spent too much money on high quantities, rather than high quality pieces? 

11. Wear a structured bag.

12. Keep good personal hygiene.

13. When in doubt simple is better. 

I hope these small tips are helpful enough to make subtle changes in your day to day outfit selections and always remember to ...

dress for the life you wish to live. 

FADS vs. Fashion

In the world of fashion, trends come and go faster than the seasons, making it damn near impossible to keep up with the "it" styles. However, I have found some tips on understanding the differences between fads and fashion that will enable you to put an end to the fashion fueled guessing game. 

Fashion fades, style is eternal.

Usually fashion and fads are considered the same thing, but, they do in fact, have several differences. Fashion is something which is always present. It keeps changing, transforming, and adapting itself to the evolving society trends and times. For example, blazers, trench coats, the little black dress, and a well constructed suit, will keep adapting to the changing times depending upon comfort, industry, and textiles that are being developed. Take Dior's very famous Lady Dior bag, though, it has been reworked with new textures and prints it still looks just like it did when the beautiful Lady Diana wore it.

Whereas, a fad is a style moment that stays for a very short era, does not change, and just vanishes after a time period. In fact, some may say for every horrible fad that dies, seven more are born (I am totally kidding or am I?). The word “fashionable” is used for people who keep up with whatever the present fashion is and adapt it to suit their own personal style. Yet, a fad, is often referred to as fast fashion, that only fits a particular person or style, yet, everyone wants to follow it. For example, currently, the new "it" trend, is an oversized dad vest with a white button down that could be three times your size paired with Doc. Martens and tiny sunglasses. 

Do you all remember when it was cute to wear overpriced trucker hats just because they were Von Dutch? Yikes! The reason that it is important to understand the differences between both a fad and fashion is to 

1: help you create your own style, 

2: to understand when to try a trend or pretend it does not exist and most importantly 

3: to know when to dish out the cash or make the pass. 

Some examples of FADS we are all guilty of wearing

(warning graphic images may be triggering):

 Butterfly clips

Bubble Dresses

Long dress or tunics over jeans

Capris and Chunky Necklaces

Juicy Couture ANYTHING, especially the velour track suits

Von Dutch Hats

Chunky Belts on your waist not for your jeans duh

Low rise Jeans

The Hollister polo aka high school mean girls uniform

Chokers

Whatever these were

and the oversized bug designer sunglasses. 

Now, I am more than guilty of wearing all these, as they shaped my middle and high school days but, ultimately, I started to view my closet like a portfolio, only to be filled with classics that help elevate my own style and compliment new pieces added. 

So, remember:

1.Fashion is ever present.

2. A fad is just a type of fashion for a very short time.

XO Mimosas and Pumps 

Let's talk shoes

Do you love shoes as much as I do? Then, let’s talk about it. I wanted to share my favorite shoes I have collected throughout the years, as well as mention what I personally believe are my worst buys, what brands to splurge on and when to find the look for less. For a person scared of heights, I tend to wear pretty tall heels, so my first honorable mention go to my holy grail shoes, the Yves Saint Laurent Tribute Sandals. I have them in various colors, heel heights, and textures. 

These beauties never disappoint or fail me, if my feet had soulmates these would definitely be it. If I could be the spokesperson for these shoes, I would do it for free. These are completely worth the splurge and a great investment to any shoe collection. Often times, you can find many of them on the resale market (I prefer The Real Real) for half the price. Even though, it may seem like I am being completely bias and opinionated on these shoes, I do have two disclaimers. I have found and so have many owners that the heel on the different textures vary in sturdiness. For example, my suede camo pair are super sturdy and I am 100% sure I can run a marathon in those, as compared to my patent leather navy pair. In that pair the heel feels loose and wobbly like it is going to break off, but, once tied tighter the problem is fixed. Another opinion is based on the wedged version of the shoes, although just as beautiful, they are extremely heavy and the sole is very flat and hard. None the less, if I could be a shoe it would hands down be these. 

My next opinion might be a controversial one but someone has to address the elephant in the shoe luxury world. Christian Louboutin are the most uncomfortable shoes I have ever bought, owned, and worn! I repeat, Christian Louboutin are the most uncomfortable shoes I have ever bought, owned, and worn! Has it stopped me from buying more pairs? No, but I have also begun to understand which styles are more comfortable and bearable. So I am going to share which I think are worth the buy and which to run from.

NOs!

New Very Prive

So Kate

Jonatina

All the shoes mentioned above for my foot, are too tight on the toes, too flat and just plain hurt like what I assume child labor feels like. The soles are also extremely slippery making the shoes even harder to walk in. In my personal opinion, the Jonatina are my biggest disappointment, even though my close friend swears by them. I find that the heel gets stuck and ruined very fast, the closure is a pain to close and the clear material has burned the side of my foot. 

*Now, I want to share one buying tip that I have learned to use and I want to share. When buying expensive shoes, yes try them on of course walk around, call your mom, and twirl all you want but most or even all shoe departments stores have carpet. When you try them on and walk on carpet, yes of course the shoes feel amazing but let's be real, we do not walk on red carpets for a living, therefore, the next time you are trying on shoes and you are about to buy them, try to find some bare floor. You'll thank me later. 

YES! YES! YES!

Highness

Loubi Queen

So Kate Booties

When it comes to these three, I believe not only are they classic and beautiful shoes but you get the best for what you spend. The highness may seem scary and though they do not make them anymore, the added height from the platform makes them painless. On the downside but the added height calls for a skilled walker. 

Next up is my favorite flats and sandals worth the splurge. Both the Gucci slides and the Chanel espadrilles are my go to when it comes to running errands. The Gucci slides are lightweight and feel like a dream, whether at the beach or going shopping, but when I want to look more put together, the Chanel espadrilles are a classic statement piece and worth every penny. 

So, when should you splurge or shop the look for less? Now I am no one to separate love at first shoe, but, when it comes to a fast fashion trends, shopping the look for less is your best bet. Most of my big splurges have either been classic statement pieces, things I have always dreamed of owning or things I have bought to celebrate milestones in my life. Fast fashion trends are things that are HOT HOT HOT but come and go faster than you can spell cold. For those instances places like ZARA and Lulus are your best bet for getting quality items for less that have the same aesthetic. I hope my opinions either help you or at least make you laugh. 

XO Mimosas and Pumps