Raiding Grandma's Closet

A few weeks ago I put on a dress that made my boyfriend ask me if I had been "shopping in his grandma's closet."  While I appreciated the flattering comparison, the answer was no.

Dress by H&M, sunglasses by Tom Ford, bag by Balenciaga, gladiator flats by Madewell (last season).

Met Gala 2014: Best Dressed

Last night was the annual Met Gala AKA "Fashion Prom."  While my friend and I were discussing our excitement for it the other day she described it as our own Super Bowl.  I laughed but agreed with her.  Throughout the year we watch playoff games in the form of various red carpets and they all lead up to the ultimate red carpet.

To me this year's dress code wasn't as exciting as last year's "Punk: Chaos to Couture" but luckily fashion is filled with rebels who do their own thing and we have them to thank for these standout red carpet looks. 

 

Nicole Richie in Donna Karan Atelier.  This is the only look that I'm posting from two angles, that's how much I like it.  And that hair, oh, I love that hair.  My vote for best look of the night.

Cara!!  One of a few ladies to rock pants last night and she she did it the best.  She's so cool it hurts.

Like Cara before her, Kate Bosworth also opted for Stella McCartney.  This photo also gets bonus points for capturing the back of Rihanna's white Stella McCartney dress.

Joan Smalls in Vera Wang.  The braid and the purple lipstick really take this to the next level and from being too safe.  It doesn't hurt to be a supermodel, either.

Dree Hemingway in Proenza Schouler.  She looks like a Hitchcock blonde and I've never heard that used as a negative.

I'm biased for the Olsens and probably will find good in every outfit they ever wear but I love that they do their own thing and totally own it.

Honorable mentions go to Emma Stone in pink Thakoon (bonus points for a crop top) and Zoe Kravitz in  vampy Topshop.  Best all white?  It's a tie between Rihanna in Stella McCartney and Victoria Beckham in her own design.  And my favorite pretty princess ballgown of the night goes to Giovanna Battaglia in Dolce & Gabbana.

 

  

What were your favorite looks at this year's Met Gala?

Images via Harper's Bazaar, Huffington Post, WWD, PopSugar, Getty.

Happy Anniversary, Live Through This!

Today marks the 20th anniversary of Hole's Live Through This album.  Not only is this one of my favorite albums of all time but Hole is also the home of one of my favorite rock stars, Courtney Love.  I have had a huge girl crush on Ms. Love since I was a kid.  She's the reason I attempted to play guitar (that lasted about 2 weeks) and why I wrote my future occupation as "Rock Star" in my 8th grade yearbook (please refer to the former part of this sentence for that outcome).

I remember the day I purchased Live Through This.  I bought it in 1999 at Best Buy right before hitting up the local Wendy's and sneaking into the R rated movie Varsity Blues with a friend.  Needless to say, my love for the album outlasted my love for the movie.  Afterwards I went home and listened to the CD on my Discman and I don't think I listened to anything else for the next week.  I was 12 years and absolutely taken with this woman yelling in my ear over 90's grunge rock.  I loved the garage-esque sound of the music and the lyrics were probably one of my first encounters with what I would consider "ugly-pretty-cool."  

I not only became entranced by the music but also by her style.  She was the ultimate 90's grunge princess.  Babydoll dresses paired with combat boots and smeared red lips with a cigarette in her mouth.  Maybe even a tiara and a fur.  In later years Ms. Love would trade in her babydoll dresses for high fashion gowns and even be included in a Saint Laurent campaign but she always somehow managed to stay true to herself and her persona.  It was just the evolution of a badass rock star.

So, cheers to you, Courtney and Hole!  You've made an album that I still know every word to and will most likely continue to blast and sing along to until I'm 80.  I'll end this post as Hole ended their album..."goooood....bye!"

Images via MTV.tv, Suicide Blonde, Wikipedia, Hipalien.

Starting The New Year Off With a Bang

Happy 2014!  In honor of the New Year I have decided to make several resolutions that will result in some big changes in my life.

No, I'm totally kidding.  I got bangs.

The last time I had bangs was in 2007 so I felt that it was time to revisit the issue.  Why bangs?  I've always had a thing for them and like an addict, I keep coming back.  If done right, they can look super fashionable and a bit rock 'n' roll.  They also evoke that cool, effortless French girl style.  You know the one I mean, girls with messy but perfect wavy hair and thick, cool bangs.  Dare I say that certain je ne sais quoi.

Some of my favorite bangs are worn by forever cool model Freja Beha, "It" girl Alexa Chung, and French girls Lou Doillon and Caroline de Maigret.  Not only do they have enviable style, they also rock enviable haircuts complete with bangs.  When I went to get my hair cut I even showed pictures of Freja as a reference (yes, I'm a dreamer).

Do you have a certain hair style or color that you keep coming back to or do you find what works and stay committed?

 

  

Images via StyleBistro, Google.