Lovely Lavender Eyes

Yesterday, Hollywood star, human rights activists and beauty legend Elizabeth Taylor passed away.  I have to admit, I have only ever seen one of her films, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.  However, I think her beauty, her marriages and her grand glamour have become the things of legends - so much so, that people "knew" her without ever really knowing her.

Taylor's most standout beauty feature were her eyes, often called lavender or violet eyes they sparkles and seem to be the centerpieces for all of her beauty photographs.  In a very Old Hollywood way, before colored contacts, fake tanning and botox, a young Taylor was lovely with lavender eyes.

To bring a little bit of that color into your own life, and just in time for Spring, here are some favorites:

Lovely Lavender from L - R:  Plissé silk-chiffon dress by Alberta Ferretti at the Outnet; Brian Danielle Pink Amethyst Pendant Necklace at Max & Chloe;  Lavender Bloom False Eyelashes by Shu Uemura; Waterford "Alana Prestige" Pitcher at Bloomingdale's; Sweet Lavender Silk Top by Catherine Malandrino; Color Design by Lancome; Natalie bandeau bikini by Lisa Marie Fernandez at the Outnet; Dried Lavender in Clay Pot at Pottery Barn; Barbet Long Dress by Odylyne at Shopbop; Williams Sonoma Essential Oils French Lavender at Williams Sonoma

May we all have a reason, even if it is a rainy Thursday, to be glamorous - just like Liz.

Go Green

On the flight home from India I watched "The Joneses" a film starring Demi Moore and David Duchovny.  If you have never heard of it, do not feel badly, it did terrible in theaters.  Anyway, in the movie Demi Moore wears a hunter green silk dress, and pretty much since that time I have moved hunter green to the top of the list of colors I need to incorporate in my wardrobe.

Demi and I have similar skin and hair coloring and so this seemed like a good model that it would work.

It seems that I am  not the only one who saw "The Joneses"...

Obviously when Angelina wears anything beyond black or white that is a style victory, but I don't love this dress or her hair.  The hair bothers me because frankly that's what my hair looks like when I do a 15 minute blowdry and I feel like the Golden Globes deserve better than that.  Regarding the dress, I like the color and the shoulders were very on trend, but somehow, I feel like the waist cinching reads very 80's and not 80's inspired.

Angelina Jolie in Versace via People.com

Mila Kunis looks sweet.  I like the hair, she's glamorous. But, I don't loooove it.  The dress has interesting texture, and the rumor is that it was put together 4 days prior to the show - so that is impressive, as well.  It's just not my favorite green gown of the night.

Mila Kunis in Vera Wang via Instyle.com

And this is the winner!  This is the green gown that would make me a green-eyed monster.  I think Catherine Zeta Jones looks marvelous, and glamorous and old Hollywood.  The color is so deep and made richer by the unique texture of the gown.  I like how she styled her hair and makeup and kept it simple and pretty.  Also, the more I stare at the picture it reminds me of Scarlett O'Hara in the drapes, minus the finials and fringe, of course.  I love that she wore a true movie-star gown for her husband's return to health and the stage.  Maybe the green will signify good luck!

Catherine Zeta Jones in Monique Lhuillier via Instyle.com

Editing the Red Carpet

The 62nd Emmy Awards are now just a faint memory and now exists for the Fashion police and blogosphere to criticize and joke about.  Here's my attempt to tackle the Red Carpet's best, worst, and just-off looks, all images via the Huffington Post.

Back in Black

Black for formal wear is so classic so it is always interesting to see how celebrities and their stylists keep it ineresting.  I think some fared better than others.

Rarely do I not swoon for Marchesa, but Heidi's dress feels just a little small, and a little extra short.  I wish she would have given herself an extra in every direction.  Mindy Kaling is a very petite lady and I feel her bad-ass ballerina is overpowering her, without the ruffle at the top, I feel like she'd be wearing the dress and not the other way around.

 Kelly Osbourne looks glamorous and still very comfortable in black.  The fit on the bodice is gorgeous and the skirt is beautiful.  Julia Louis Dreyfus is in the winner's category simply because she continues to look radiant, healthy, and the dress fits gorgeously.

Fashion that Makes You Gleeful

The trend color of the night: Navy.  The best dressed in navy, Jayma Mays and Lea Michelle.  I like the relaxed tresses, and I love Lea's jewels, but when in the fit category I give the win to Jayma Mays all the way. 

 Jenna Ushkowitz seemed to fly low on the fashion police's radar, but I loved this look.  She looks young, which she is, and still trendy and current.  I don't love the mix of accessories, and would have preferred all gold - but otherwise she looks fabulous.  Okay, this pains me.  Naya Rivera is beautiful.  This dress' color is beautiful.  But, it is too over the top, too much skirt, too much hair, too much drama.

Can We Edit This?

I wish both Dianna Agron and Keri Russell's dress had been shorter.  Agron's at a tea length would be more Audrey/Grace and less Scarlett O'Hara.  Keri is very much modern Baby (Dirty Dancing), I just wish it was shorter, and fit better at the bodice, it looks about a size too large.

Things I loved

Emily and John, Kevin and Kyra, Stephanie Carter, Susan Sarandon and Eva Amurri.  I love the sweetness of the newlyweds, the jewels and color of the long marrieds, the glitter of Jennifer Carter, and the mother-daughter love of the ageless Sarandon/Amurri.

Things I am feeling Ehhh About

Maria Menounos dress feels like a poor man's Sandra Bullock's Marchesa.  Lauren Graham is a beautiful woman, this dress does nothing for her and is more matronly than it needs to be.  January Jones reminds me of Anne Hathaway when she was everyone's fashion muse, edgy and overdone, it is just not believable for me.  Christina Hendricks in Zac Posen, I wish she would have lost the feathers, it feels like one detail too many.

Who Shouldn't Have Been Invited:

I feel like there are no words.  This is neither a Mad Men Costume Contest, and I assume Stephanie Pratt's house wasn't on fire, so I cannot understand why she is not wearing bottoms. 

Winner of the Red Carpet Game:
I didn't care for Claire Dane's speech, but I loved the honey hair, makeup and glittering gown. This was a dress I would want, and would wear, even if it was just while sitting on the couch while watching the Emmy Awards next year.

Thoughts from the Red Carpet

I have always loved Awards Shows and tonight I wanted to share my moment by moment thoughts of the show, here goes!

Pre-Emmy Wish List and red carpet thoughts:

I hope a woman besides Tina Fey wins. I know she is talented but I would love to see a new girl win, show earnest emotion and joy.

Has Glenn Close never aged? P.s. Love the earrings and the matching daughter gown.

Holy Cow! Kelly Osbourne is skinny.  Ryan Seacrest has also just pointed this out. I wish he wouldn't make these obvious body comments.

Love how the Glee kids are enjoying this show and event, and how Arty's celeb crush is Sally Field.

Best surprise details, Eva Longoria's anything but basic black evening gown.

Sofia Vergara is wearing gorgeous jewels and has dream come true hair, but the dress feels a little prommy.

January Jones, is this dress a joke? Pass.

Christina Hendricks, I wish she had committed to more of a vibrant shade of that color and lost the feathers, and I really wish Ryan had refrained from the cheap shot about her breasts.

Okay, also Julia Louis Dreyfus has also not aged.  Also, it is adorable that she is getting choked up about taking her son to college.

Julianna Margulies and I have the same hairdo tonight. She's on the red carpet and I am sitting on the couch.

Kyra Sedgwick always looks so blissful on the red carpet and I looove the color.

John Krasinski's tie is bit petite, no?

How did I miss all of the Losties???? Are they still hanging out at the churchon the???

Wait! Look who it is - Dr. Jack Shepard on the red carpet, says he is looking for LOST closure. Aren't we all looking for LOST closure?

Favorite jewels

Claire Danes' ring

Anna Pacquin's bracelets

Heidi Klum's necklace

Mindy Kaling's earrings

Jane Krakowski's earrings

Favorite hair

Kim Kardashian, she looks glamorous, but I pass on the makeup and the dress

Diana Agron, her hair, gown and styling is young and modern Grace Kelly

Notes the red carpet was filled with high glamour, the makeup was simple and clean and the celebs seemed to indulge Ryan and Giuliana's inane banter really well!

Time for the show!

Plum Romance

Inspiration can come from anywhere, and as summer very quickly winds down it is a reminder that fall is around the corner.  Fall, to me, sparks the beginning of something grand.  The colors, crispness and start of the celebrating season all connote a sense of royalty, grandeur and glamour.

For a bride getting married in the fall, I say go for glamour.  

Four Season Palo Alto Wedding

When I first saw this picture I was in awe.  It is romantic, glamorous, sophisticated, but it doesn't scream "wedding!"  With a few tweaks it could easily be the setting for another fabulous social event.

In this image, the impact is all in the color.  There isn't an abundance of flowers, and if working creatively as shown in this wedding you can use fabrics to supplement the visual impact floral arrangements would typically provide.

I wanted to imagine what the rest of this wedding might look like for you.

Plum Romance by dailybatch

I took the liberty of adding a classic and very glamorous wedding cake, and picking out the wedding attire, and outfitting a black and white post wedding lounge party.  Also, how great are the bow topped candles? I think they would be great as a favor.

Purple is the color for royalty, and on a wedding day every bride is a queen.