Kate in Isabel Marant

I've really been enjoying seeing Kate Bosworth's fashion love affair with french designer Isabel Marant in bloom. From what I gather, it seems like her acting career has taken a back seat to her status as a fashion starlette. Kate's look is an other-worldly mixture of California sunshine with a European runway model physique. She looks good in everything, especially Isabel Marant, who's clothes are gaining more and more exposure and popularity thanks to celebrities like Bosworth who patronize indie, up and comming designers.

Marant is known as the Parisienne cool girl's designer and has a cult following to boot. And it's true! There is something very, very cool about Marant's clothes. On a piece by piece basis, they can appear like over-priced Free People designs but Marant's stuff costs hundred and hold their value very well. Check out eBay and one will find that people are still willing to pay up the wahzoo for a simple peasant top. The boots that Kate has been wearing over and over again are still selling for nearly retail. Although, i'm not sure how they would look on someone less leggy than Kate, which is most people, like me

An American Beauty!

When Jessica Biel was named Sexiest Women Alive a few years ago, by Esquire Magazine, I wasn't so sure, but when she was named one of Vogue's Top 10 Best Dressed, I was in complete agreement. For me, she embodies the essence of American style - athletic, healthy, sun-kissed and practical

She's not a skinny-minnie but her body is perfect! She's muscular and athletic but still completely feminine. I love the way she does casual, which in my opinion, can sometimes be a lot more challenging than formal wear. Because, really, anyone can look like a million bucks wearing a dress that costs a million bucks. But with casual sportswear, you're suppose to look like you're not trying so hard to look fabulous. Biel always looks put together but totally comfortable.

I appreciate that she embraces her homeland's fashion sensibilities and I like that she doesn't try to look "more European." It's quite refreshing actually and I'm proud to call her one of my fashion idols! Not that the girl can't also rock couture. She looked devastatingly fabulous is the red Versace number she wore to the Met Gala.

So, in conclusion, I won't let my own weak arms stop me from loving the look of strong American women. In fact, putting together this post is inspiring me to get back into shape... after finals, of course!

Best Dressed of the Decade... Kate Moss ( per Vogue)

What is it about Kate Moss? I'm not sure, but she is quite literally the only person I can imagine in a burlap sac and still look more chic and glam  than anyone else at the party. She's not exactly the prettiest, the tallest, or the most beautiful but God damn, the girl can work it! She's does casual better and more interestingly than the average person in couture and when it comes to red carpet events, she steals the show and it appear as if she's just barely trying.

So, when Vogue came out with their 10 Best Dress list name Kate Moss as the Best Dress of the decade, I thought it was a well-deserved honor.

It was only a few years ago that it seemed like her lucrative career was over when tabloids published photos of her and her illicit drug use. Most if not all of her contract were dropped, including Burberry and it looked like it was the end. But, as we can all see, she bounced back bigger, better and more in demand than ever. And at nearly 40, which is like practically 100 in model-years, her influence on fashion is incalculable.

Long live the mystique of Kate Moss!

Paige Denim is Magic in a Pair of Pants

OK, maybe not literal magic but zipping into a pair makes me feel like I have the butt and the legs I was always meant to have. It's like the miracle-workers at Paige have figured out how to fuse Spanx into the fabric, rendering them the "Tony Robbins" of jeans for my self-esteem!

I recently scored a pair at Nordstrom's Rack with the of-the-moment flared leg I keep see in the Sartorialist. It's been a running theme in his blog, and a welcomed one, if I may add, as a fit and flare leg is slimming and lengthening like a pair of skinny's but so much more comfortable.

They're a bit longer than normal, to accomodate sky-high heels and the ratio of fit to flare is spot on. Based on Mr. Schuman's photos, I like them with a strong, pointed toe peeking from out of a hem that  grazes the floor just a tad... just a tad.

My NEW Hero... Funny Girl

I knew of Barbra Streisand. I knew that she was considered a legend and immensely respected by Hollywood. But until I saw Funny Girl a few weeks ago, I really had no idea how fabulous and incredible she was. I see it now! In fact, I see so much of her Funny Girl character in our beloved Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City. From their coy and wide-eyed brand of flirtation and their irresistible wit,  Carrie Bradshaw is our modern-day Funny Girl. Streisand was able capitalized on her unconventional brand of beauty and won over her audience with wit, charm and pure talent. I love a girl whose self-aware and Funny Girl was completely aware that she was not "the most beautiful girl," a song she refused to sing in one of the earlier scenes of Funny Girl. Instead, she stuffed a pillow under her dress, and sang it with irony. "The audience was not laughing at me, they were laughing with me," she proudly proclaimed when her character was being reprimanded by her boss. Streisand's character was a master of taking a lemon of a situation and turning it into platinum selling lemonade.
Streisand, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Aniston have relatively "non-Hollywood" faces - if you want to call it that. God knows that things that have been said about their appearance have been profoundly atrocious and insensitive.  None-the-less, they come out beautiful, smart and savvy and I love them for it!

A Karen Wedding

The MC - He had A LOT to say! Though, I had no idea what he was saying... 

It was a double wedding.

I recently had the pleasure of attending a Karen double-wedding.  The Karen are a Burmese minority and this particular family was granted asylum a couple years ago and relocated from their refugee camp to San Diego. They've done an amazing job making a home for themselves in a largely strange and unfamiliar place.

The wedding was an interesting experience and I tried to take in as much as I could given this was a rare glimpse into a very small and discreet culture. I was attending on behalf of the bride, Tadah, whose donned in the traditional white dress. Mostly everyone was under 5 feet tall, so my date and I felt like giants! The other bride and groom chose to wear traditional Karen garments woven from thick cotton yarns of brights colors. The ceremony seemed to drone on and on but we were happy to be there for the bride and her family. As soon as the processions were over, the hall seemed to almost immediately convert to a dining hall with everyone pitching in to set-up, serve, and clean up. They're a tight knit community and it was an honor to be included in their celebration.

When You Let the Boyfriend Pick Your Clothes...

The Boyfriend - a tree-hugging, a save-the-world type with grungy, threadbare outfits to match

The Mission - Find his perfect summer dress for me at Forever 21

The Outcome - Short and Bright

What I think? Well... there was definitely a running theme in his choices and overall, I did agree that the length and silhouette were flattering for my body type. Every time I came out of the dressing room in one of his selections, his face lit up in a way that made it impossible for me to say what I really thought, which was... "really?" Because the problem was, while he liked pretty and sexy, I like pretty and interesting and as you may agree, these dresses are in no way, interesting. In fact, I can't count how many time I rolled my eyes as I was showing-off the yellow, banded hem number. It just reminded me so much of women of the Housewives series and the fashion de rigeur of Vegas female party-goers. Though, I have to admit, the banded silhouette was easy to wear and made me feel taller and slimmer, I couldn't do it! Not even for him could I wear this out!

After some debating and more eye rolling, I settled for the red one. The color was nice and it was simple enough that I could layer it with lots of different things. But, as we left the dressing room towards the register, I swiftly hung it back up because I KNEW that I would NEVER wear it.