And the Oscar goes to...

So we all know that the Academy Awards are the most boring of all the awards shows. Everyone knows who the winners will be, no one is drinking (at least on camera), and the hosts will never be as quite as captivating/comical as we always hope they will be. BUT THE CLOTHES!!!! Oh, the clothes. Surprisingly, there were a low number of flops. The usual heavy-hitters brought their A-game. The one thing I was a little disappointed about was the lack of volume. Come on ladies, this is The Oscars! Can somebody put on a ballgown already? Or at least a Mermaid with a voluminous bottom! Nearly all of the women were in column silhouettes. Bummer. 

However, despite my feeling let down, I thought that these 10 ladies rocked the red carpet. 

{Gwyneth Paltrow shines in Calvin Klein}

{Halle Berry wears Marchesa}

{Rhea Durham was totally fresh in Naeem Khan}

{Natalie Portman looks radiant in Rodarte}

{Jennifer Lawrence is SMOKIN in Calvin Klein}

{Michelle Williams is pixie perfection in Chanel}

{Anne Hathaway in my favorite of all her looks...Lanvin tux and Brian Atwood heels}

{Reese looked like Hollywood Barbie in Armani Prive}

{Camila Alves wins my Best Dressed of the night in Kaufman Franco}

{Mila Kunis got Thompy's vote in Elie Saab}

Who had your favorite look of the night?

Spring Shoe Update

I posted a few weeks ago about some spring shoes that I've got my eye on. Well the past two weekends have been jackpots for my shoe collection! Two weeks ago, I picked up the gold Sperry's seen here. They are SO comfortable, and even better looking in person than on-line. 

Then on Sunday, my sugar-daddy (read: husband) and I headed to the mall. Thompy made his way to the suit store (boring!) and I went straight for DSW. It was there, with my head on a swivel (as one must do when walking the aisles), that I spotted these little gems. I just can't wait to wear them. 

{Crown Vintage Realm Wedge Sandal, $60, DSW}

I mean, they are the perfect springtime bootie! I can't wait to wear them soon with some wooly tights or some matchstick jeans, and then later in the summer with a maxi dress. The best part of all, they are super comfortable with a substantial platform so I can totally wear them to work. Bonus! 

Look What I Made!

Nothing gives me greater pleasure than finding something amazing for a next-to-nothing price.....except for when I can make that amazing thing for free! My parents gave me this awesome screen-printing machine for my birthday last month, and I've been teaching myself the process over the past few weeks. Check out this bag I made for my mom.

Thanks to this awesome gift and some internet clip art, I've got a totally re-vamped tank top that would otherwise be sitting in the bottom of my closet. Sweet! 

I took this old tank top that I don't think I've ever even worn

Next, I printed out this adorable looking bow graphic onto a transparency

Jump ahead a few steps, and I've got my screen all ready for printing

Add some ink......

...and Voila! 

A completely re-styled tank with a trompe l'oeil twist! 

A big thanks to my mom and dad for giving me such an awesome gift.  I can't wait to go through the rest of my drawers to find some more things to screen!!! 

Prep Power

I was cruising around Unabashedly Prep, a blog that I simply adore, when I stumbled across this image of a young woman. 

{Image from Alfred Elsentaedt, via Unabashedly Prep}

She was one of the 148 women who were accepted into the first mixed-gender undergraduate class at Princeton in 1969. I was struck by how easy-breezy she looked, despite the multitude of emotions that must have been running through her during those first days of class (excitement, power, nervousness). I think what really played a part in her care-free exterior was her preppy-chic outfit. Cool, collected, polished, but appearing as though she just tossed any-old-thing on and ran out the door. Thus is the power of the prep style- and here are a few key pieces to help you live it (on the cheap, of course!)

{Trench Coat with Contrast Piping, $35, Forever21}

{Women's Chambray Shirtdress, $30, Old Navy}

{Filigree and Chain Scarf, $9, Forever21}

{Tonal Stripe Cardigan, $60, Gap}

{Dr. Scholl's Original Sandal, $49, Zappos}

{The Whistle Bag, $75, Jack and Lulu}

{Metal Aviator Sunglasses, $30, Express}

Snappy dressing, lovely readers!

Step Ahead {to Spring!}

Last week, Punxsutawney Phil failed to see his shadow, meaning that spring is right around the corner. So I guess I need to switch out of winter-clothes mode and look forward towards warmer weather! My favorite thing about the change of seasons is shopping for new shoes. While I can make most of my clothing work during different times of the year, I'm much pickier about having specific footwear for each season. Here are a few pairs I have my eye on....clearly its going to be the Season of the Neutral Shoe for me :-)

{Tinley Road Lesley, $59, Piperlime}

{Stylin', $89, Nine West}

{Michael Antonio, Gillesbie $55, Piperlime}

{Braxton, $99, Nine West}

{Blowfish, Roman $49, Piperlime}

{Sperry Top-Sider, Authentic Original 2-Eye, $85, Piperlime}

{Cole Haan Air Brandon, $128, Zappos}

{Zurick, $149, Steve Madden}

Just think of all the floral print maxi dresses and denim cut-offs that I will be able to pair all of these gorgeous pairs with! Yeah, Spring!

Romper Room

I love watching awards shows to see what the stars are wearing, but let's face it. Sometimes its just more of the same. Which is why I am head-over-heels in love with the look that Julie Bowen was rocking on the red carpet at the SAG awards. If you're going to buck tradition and wear pants, why not make it a jumpsuit?! The look is sleek, sexy, current, and totally unexpected. Bravo. 

{Julie Bowen wears Valentino at the SAG awards}

Wishlist*

{Tucker Cross Front Jumpsuit, $415, shopbop}

Double Wishlist!*

{Dolce Vita Jaide Long Sleeve Romper, $264, shopbop}

Love this for a summer afternoon

{Blue Rushed Maxi Jumpsuit, $60, Topshop}

Girl's Night Out!

{Vero Moda Jumpsuit with Biker Detail, about $61, Asos}

A sexy, second-date option

{Asos Tailored Silk Open Back Jumpsuit, about $82 on sale!, Asos}

Last summer, I decided to wear a romper to a wedding. While Thompy was skeptical (huge surprise), it was a total hit. The thing that I love about rompers especially is that you really can wear them all year. Wear them with bare legs in the summer, and then with tights in the winter. Anywhere you would rock a skirt (short or long), you can wear a romper or jumpsuit. Be bold!!!! Go one piece.