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? 

Endless Summer

          

Who is ready for an Endless Summer getaway? This past week I was fortunate enough to spend my 31st birthday at Universal's newest resort: Endless Summer Resort. I wanted to share my overall experience and review on the resort, so if you are interested and were thinking of booking this resort read along. 

First and foremost, let's talk about how NEW everything looks and smells which is always a a big perk for any resort with such a vast amount of occupants. As soon as you walk into the lobby your temperature is checked and a colored armband signifying each day is given. Currently, there is no pool or hotel hopping due to Covid measures but the shuttle to the parks and CityWalk are functioning with spacing precautions. The resort has two towers (Dockside & Surfside) for the time being the only rooms available are on the Dockside towers. The lobby has great modern beach décor with a Starbucks and Sunset Lounge attached. This side of the resort is known for it's great sunset views, so don't forget to grab a drink and enjoy the view from the Sunset Lounge.

We booked a double queen bed room with a pool view and I was highly impressed with our room. If you have ever been to any Margaritaville resort, the rooms and décor are very similar with the relaxed beach themes. I slept like a baby all three nights and have zero complaints about the room. The bathroom is filled with great lighting, a spacious shower and the most beautiful mint floor mosaic I have ever seen. 

The pool area must have been my favorite with its heated pool, speakers underwater and the sand. Looking out into the water definitely makes you feel like you are washed away in a resort on a tropical island. The pool does not go deeper than five feet and is huge, so it makes it a great place for kids, families and those who just want to relax and get some sun. The bar is open for drinks but if you want to get some snacks or lunch, you have to go to the lobby market, where you can order and take your food to eat poolside. Overall, this is a great value resort for both families and those who want to get away for some time. I will definitely be making another reservation to visit very soon. 

How to take #OOTD pictures

How many times have you scrolled through Instagram and seen girls take these awesome #OOTD pictures? If you follow me, then you know I love posting mirror OOTDs, so much that I have a highlight dedicated to them. When it comes to actual OOTD pictures, you do not need a glam squad, or a professional camera to get a really great shot. I wanted to share 10 of my personal tips to getting an Instagramble shot of your OOTD. 

FIND A LOCATION

I like to take all my outfit pics in front of plain white walls. This keeps the focus on my outfit, keeps my feed cohesive, and allows my outfit's colors, textures and details to pop. It seems like a lot of effort but it is actually not, look around your neighborhood and you will notice how many plain white walls there are. Often times, I will be driving to work, the mall or home and notice so many spots for OOTD pictures around me. When all fails, I like to use my garage door as the background. 

LIGHTING

Even if you have your entire picture, pose, props and outfit planned down to the details, lighting can make or break the shot. Natural light is best for #OOTDs and selfies too. I like to have the light in front of me and try to avoid having too many shadows on my face. Another factor is choosing the right time to shoot your shot to avoid being too bright or full of those unwanted shadows. 

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Often times, people ask me how do I pose so naturally, and the truth is that for every good picture there is about ten silly faces. Nailing just the right pose can be hard. I like to practice in a mirror so I know which poses work best for each outfit and my body type. Try to remember the poses that make you look and feel your best. Learn your best sides and most flattering angles. For example, I am only 5 feet tall and have very wide hips, so I avoid pictures that are straight on, I like to angle my hips and rest all my weight on the foot not facing the camera. Another tip to elongate your body is to create triangles, whether with your arms or legs. 

HAVE SOMEONE HELP

People are usually surprised to know that a lot of my pictures are taken by my mom, dad, or my bestfriend. Often times, what I like to do is take a pic of them first, lining up the shot exactly how I want it to look. I show them the picture, we swap places, then it is easy for them to recreate the shot easily. This comes in handy when you want an exact shot done in a certain way. Often times, I show an inspo picture at the same exact spot to make it even easier to recreate. Another tip, is having whoever is taking your picture talk to you to achieve those cute effortless candid's. My bestfriend will say things like walk, twirl, look left, and make me laugh, to achieve different shots. It might feel ridiculous at the time, but a laugh makes for a great picture. When in doubt go for a hair flip. Trust me, anything is better than a forced smile or an unnatural pose.

SET TO SQUARE

If you plan to upload your #OOTD directly into Instagram, use the square option on your phone or take the picture with enough space to crop it into a square. That way you’re sure to have all the details in your final shot, because how many times have you had a great shot but you have to choose between your full head or your shoes. 

TRY DIFFERENT ANGLES

Is your straight on picture just not working? Try taking some from a little above or a little below. Different perspectives make a huge difference. Recently, I have started to flip my iPhone upside down when I want to look taller, or I am trying to achieve that perfect kick picture. 

TRY SITTING DOWN

There is no rule that says the picture has to be standing up, so try a seated pose from time to time. I especially love them because they make my legs look longer, if I pose my legs slightly towards the camera. 

TAKE A TON OF PICTURES

Have whoever is taking the pictures keep snapping all while you’re making small, slight movements. This will give you a nice variety of pictures and poses to choose from. How many times has your body looked amazing but you smile is a little off? To avoid this, make small changes with every click, this gives you more options to choose from. 

DONT FORGET DETAILS

Do no wrap your mini shoot without getting a few pics of your jewelry, bag, and shoes so you’ll have even more gorge feed. Recently, my bestfriend took an up-close of my top and the shot was gorgeous. 

EDITING 

Once all the hard work is done, the fun process begins. I personally love editing my pictures and playing with the different colors in the shot. The reality is that no matter how great a camera you use, no lens is better than the human eye. Therefore, I like to use either Lightroom, Snapseed, or VSCO to enhance my pictures, which also helps you create a cohesive aesthetically pleasing feed. About a year ago, I learned how to make my own presets in Lightroom, which makes editing a 1, 2 step. Once I select the pictures I like, I import them to Lightroom and simply apply the same preset to all, which makes it easier to narrow down to the ones I want to post. 

I hope my tips can help any girl or guy, who often struggles to create OOTD content. Let me know if you have your own tips and tricks, I am always looking for new ideas.