OutfitOfTheDay.
watch ASOS. top & belt Forever21. skirt Francescas. nails OPI Ate Berries in the Canaries.
Mmm, Cannes. You give me a hearty dose of red carpet when I’m jonesing for awards season to come back. Designers are not playing around at this southern France affair & there’s better fashion here than most of the year. I also appreciate the global collection of legitimate actors, producers, writers, etc., who show up in their chicest to give some well-deserved face time to great works in film.
And now, the classiest dames of Cannes.
Jennifer Lawrence in Christian Dior
Black and white was big at Cannes and this is a shining example. She’s really gotten accustomed to rocking the strapless throughout awards season and I appreciate her doing the dress justice with firm posture. Hair and makeup are killing it; keeping Jennifer young and bright. This dress could’ve been styled differently on someone 30 years older and still worked. It’s always about how you package a dress!
Julianne Moore in Christian Dior Couture
I went back and forth on this choice for a while, but this is just such a great dress for a woman of her personality and age, and she wears it sooo well. Jewelry, hair & shoes (except her pinky toe - what the hell?) are all great choices. It’s just really fun, formal & trendy.
Isla Fisher in Dolce & Gabbana
White is such a perfect choice at Cannes. I can hardly think of a better backdrop for Isla’s firey locks, pink skin and the warmth & luxury of southern France than a crisp, white dress. Insanely classic; love the laser cut detail.
Nicole Kidman in Dior
Hey Nicole, let’s have some tea while you let me wear those shoes. And later I will make curtains out of your ornate, pretty, midi frock.
and the hair
I’ve never seen this and it’s one of the most formal, appropriate ways to wear a ponytail on the red carpet. With Nicole’s look, it’s very chic and sleek, but this could easily work as an edgy hair choice with a more defiant, powerful look.
Carey Mulligan in Dior
So elegant. Stunning. Old Hollywood. I wouldn’t make a habit of wearing that color with such a light skin tone. Make it a moment. Like this!
Cara Delevingne in Burberry
Bam. Black lace, red lips & nails, diamonds. I don’t think this requires further explanation.
Freida Pinto in Gucci
and again in Sanchita
Twice. Because she is a red carpet stunner and can do no wrong when it comes to Cannes. Freida has an amazing track record of fantastic, on-trend, on-point looks every year. Classy, exciting, creative. Love her.
Zhang Yuqi in Ulyana Sergeenko
I’m slightly torn, only because I think this dress looses some refinement and class with the heaping serving of cleavage. It’s such an elegant gown in a gorgeous, saturated green, it’s kind of a shame. While she looks beautiful in it, I would’ve liked to see this on a very small-chested lady. I think that’s the only way you can pull off a deeeeep neckline.
Cheers!
This mani moment is courtesy of my new favorite pink. It’s like a glossy, fresh, frosted donut on my nails.
Essie Neo Whimsical for the win.
Between the Starbucks (which is a treat for me, not a daily thing, so I like to make a big deal about it & how happy it makes me) and this fresh mani, Friday is off to a good start. The little things, dolls.
Neo Whimsical is an opaque, cool, sweet light pink that’s darker than a blush and lighter than a medium pink. You may not realize it (because you’re likely not as nerdy about polish as me - count your blessings), but this shade of pink is extremely hard to come by.
Because of the pink undertones in my fair skin, I wear either a light blush pink or a dark, cool fuschia. Medium pink, bubblegum pink, mauve pink - completely blech on my hands. This might be a completely different scenario for you, but regardless, this pink.is.amazing. Flattering on any skin tone, it will pop without being too immature or obnoxious.
You’ll be surprised how many looks it blends into, even if you’re wearing another shade of pink. This polish color also looks killer with camel, ivory or gray. It’s super cute for spring & summer and pigmented enough to work on your toes, too.
THERE’S MORE
I feel like I owe you a really solid post, considering I’ve been a bit less active lately. I blame the psychotic spring weather we’ve been having. From snow to heat advisories in a 10-day span, my head has been spinning and I’ve been in a fashion funk. Let’s just get to some consistency, please.
Now that a reliable warm season has arrived, we should chat about summer shopping. Even if you live in a climate that’s warm year-round, there are still summer-specific pieces you’re likely excited about. And if you’re anything like me, it’s easy to get caught up in the exhilaration of summer shopping. To be sure that you don’t go overboard or overspend on one piece, keep your eye on cheaper doppelgangers and implement some strategy into what you really must have.
Save vs. splurge
Summer, in my opinion, is not the best time to splurge. So a general guideline is to go for the save, every time. Warm weather pieces tend to be ultra-trendy and will last longer because they aren’t up against the harshness of a long & chilly fall/winter. Don’t you dare spend more on a pair of sandal wedges than you would on tall heel boots.
Here are a few trend pieces and proof that saving is easy this summer.
No disrespect to the higher-end pieces, but only go for a splurge if it’s exactly what you’re looking for (you’re certain nothing else will do), you need it for a special event (rehearsal dinner or another event where you’re the center of attention), and your summer wardrobe is already set. Otherwise, Savings City it is. Plus, no.one.will.know.
Happy shopping!
Cheers,
For a cool, spring evening downtown. Live music & drinks.
Pretty pink pleated maxi. Seasonally on-point. Bolstered by black; the color of classic, urban, un-fussiness. Tan booties for a bit of lift with tons of comfort for hours of standing & walking. Tresses are curled & easy-going.
This is a great alternative if you’re not in the mood for jeans, heels & a top and don’t want to be too dressy.
Short & sweet today, dolls. Perhaps I need more coffee…
Hope you all had a lovely weekend!
Cheers,
When you want an easy color that will shine with any look, but you’re just not in the mood for a nude or pale pink…
…go for a rose gold.
Mani of the Moment brought to you by Essie Penny Talk.
I would definitely consider this a neutral. Just like your jewelry, a metallic nail color will blend into any outfit you pair it with. It doesn’t really count as an additional color in your look. And depending on how dressed up you get, Penny Talk can go from glam to playful & cute.
The difference in usability between a rose gold versus a silver or gold nail color is actually quite vast. The rose gold won’t try to mimic your white or yellow gold jewelry; it’s not overly glitzy and it won’t make you feel like it’s New Year’s Eve. The rose tint makes all the difference.
So, if a fuchsia or red just seems like too much for the moment, but you want some mystique in your mani, slather on a coat of rose gold and be on your way.
Cheers.
The scene out my window is lacking variation or vibrancy. Gray skies, dull earth, rain/snow that blurs everything into a chill shroud. While gray is one of my favorite colors, that’s not the point. I have spent months (and then a few more months) appreciating the sharp, dark branches, hugged with plush snow; a quiet, soft landscape of monochrome and muted tones. I love that sh*t, don’t get me wrong. But, enough is enough. I’m overdue for a soiree of color palettes. The design seeds below and their accompanying looks are a welcome escape and a sight of things to come. Sometimes, creating a look that starts with a specific set of colors is the best way to satisfy your fashion soul. Fun colors, warm weather outfits. Let’s do it.
Follow me on Instagram @ctzhs. #fashiontidbits
It seems my role as a wedding guest is feast (last year) or famine (this year). Instead of a wedding guest series, this is all you get!
A lovely wedding that narrowly escaped the spring snowstorms that had been beating us senseless, like a slip of paper under the door. Thankfully, that meant we could all go along with our planned spring attire.
Inspiration
appliCAITion
This dress was the perfect coverage & color balance. The bright, peachy pink is a warm nod to the season, while the long sleeve, shift cut keeps it classy and appropriate for a wedding (or even the office!). The mod 60s are all over the SS13 ready-to-wear looks, particularly shift dresses. Get ready for shift dresses to be way in for the spring & summer. Feel no remorse stocking up - they are insanely versatile.
I chose nude and gold accessories to keep it light and warm, with the focus on the dress color. I bolstered the ensemble down with a dark, dusty rose lip, so my blonde hair and fair complexion didn’t get totally lost in the light look.
You could take a bright dress like this and make it a night look with a camel blazer or faux leather jacket, dark nails, black wedges, a black clutch and a giant cocktail ring.
Convert this pink frock into an office look with neutral flats, minimal jewelry (maybe a long, simple necklace and studs), a sleek chignon and gray or taupe nails. You could also throw a gray or beige blazer over the dress to tone down the impact of color.
Mmm, the possibilities.
While there may not be another wedding guest series of posts this year, there is sure to be plenty of fashion challenges to tackle and style strategies to implement.
I’m also totally open to ideas. If there’s a style series you want to see or you have a challenge of your own that you’d like me to solve, let me know! Send me a Facebook message or Tweet me.
Cheers.
It wouldn’t have been a good weekend without some good vino. And a chic, pale polish.
OPI Bubble Bath
Bubble Bath is my all-time favorite, go-to, must-have pale polish for ultimate class and sophistication. It’s understated without being boring; it’s feminine, versatile, and pretty. This OPI shade is a light blush pink that really looks more like a nude on my hands because I have very fair skin with pink undertones. It goes from sheer to opaque in 3 coats, and has a very creamy, soft finish that looks great with high-gloss topcoat.
This color is truly an all-seasons pick. Perfectly delicate for spring, clean & refreshing in the summer (and a great balance with bright looks), chic & polished with tailored looks in the fall, and a soft balance to rich, dark looks in the winter.
As I described in the nail polish essentials post, your perfect shade of nude or pale pink may not be the same as mine, but every lady has one. Consider the undertones and shade of your skin and do a bit of experimenting. Some beauty supply stores will be nice enough to let you test a few shades or you can purchase mini packs of Essie or OPI (Amazon has a wide variety for slightly cheaper than stores).
If you don’t wear nail polish regularly or can’t figure out what your favorite colors are for your particular style set, start with a pale pink. In the nail polish world, a blush color is considered a neutral. It’s really easy to commit to this shade because it’s such a chameleon and isn’t too bright or trendy. It might just be your gateway drug to the gorgeous world of nail color.
Cheers!