Bling Babe of the Week: Leighton Meester

Guess who everyone’s gossiping about lately? She’s 24 years old, has appeared on Entourage and House, is the current sweetheart of teen heartthrob, Sebastian Stan and additionally, she’s a bit of a Gossip Girl herself. What was that? Do I hear Leighton Meester? Bull’s-eye!

The TV star was found guilty on the red carpet at the 14^th Annual Hollywood Awards Gala at the Beverly Hilton of stealing Rob Patz from Kristen Stewart. Correction! She was found guilty of stealing everyone’s eyes as she looked absolutely heavenly in a powder-blue chiffon Elie Saab tulle frock with subtle sequin details and a cute satin sash.

In fact she rocked the look even better than the model, who showcased the dress on the runway earlier during the Elie Saab Spring 2011 Collection fashion show. Guilty as charged I say! Matching Elie Saab peep-toe pumps and a silver Jimmy Choo clutch were the perfect pixie dust to her ensemble but what was even more magical were her shimmering beaded drop earrings from Cathy Waterman that glimmered through her lovely curls.

I really adore the Cathy Waterman jewelry collection that draws its inspiration from nature. They even make spiders look pretty (check out the spider-web cuff bangle from their website). The earrings that Leighton chose captured the romantic essence of her entire look.

Her makeup was toned down by several notches compared to the rest of the attendees and for once it was subtle chic that won amongst glitter-overkill. Later in the evening, Leighton picked up a Spotlight Award at the event for her role in the upcoming drama, Country Strong. Well she sure stole the spotlight at the Awards too in the true manner of a Hollywood glam doll!

Bookmark this post:

Taylor Swift, Diamonds & Jake Gyllenhaal

Taylor Swift is a mere 20 years old but this pretty lass from Pennsylvania has risen to the top, swifter than you can say Taylor Swift. And what’s more, she’s stayed there. She’s got her country ass well rooted to the ground despite her numerous hit singles, awards & her recently unveiled wax figure at Madame Tussauds!

But the country pop singer-songwriter, guitarist and actress is quite the plain Jane when compared to her notorious counterparts such as Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera & Miley Cyrus who, unfortunately represent today’s archetype of the contemporary female pop star. So how did a girl-next door-image, introspective lyrics and a non-sexualized media portrayal manage to stay in people’s hearts?

For the simple reason that her fans can relate to her, not only to the songs but also to her looks. Take her 1^st getup for her performance on the Today Show for instance, where the star was dressed like any other normal 20-year-old in a simple purple plaid shirt, with her hair swept away under a blue beanie.

Later in the performance though, CUTE soon transformed into HOT but without any meat embellishments, wild hairdos or other wacko incarnations. She still wowed the crowd in an uber-shimmery silver mini dress with spaghetti straps, paired with black knee-high riding boots. Signature curls cascading down shoulders? Check. Signature soft-smoky cat-eye makeup? Check.

Moreover the charming chica looked blingtastic with her bejeweled glittering guitar and layers of diamond studded bracelets. Ladies should know that it’s important to maintain your own signature look but still add some gloss to your style with a single statement jewelry piece. For Taylor, it’s almost always a cute pair of sparkly earrings or an ensemble of bracelets.

Add in some modest charm and you may even end up attracting the likes of Jake Gyllenhaal! (Yes, Taylor and Jake were spotted in several occasions recently, chatting & getting up-close and personal. No kissing yet ladies :-p)

Bookmark this post:

Kim Kardashian Turns 30 in a…

Kim Kardashian concluded her string of birthday bashes for her 30^th birthday in a private cruise along with Kanye West (BF-to-be?), family & friends. Before partying out in the waters though, the reality TV star decided to attend the Angel Ball, a charity event benefiting cancer research in New York.

She aptly chose a black strapless mermaid gown by Zac Posen as her pre-cruise wear which played up her enviable figure to perfection. But this time, her curves had to share the limelight with something else – a breathtaking statement necklace, featuring giant teardrop emeralds surrounded by strings of tiny diamonds. It rested dramatically against her bronze skin and ultimately brought her black gown to life!

She donned a pair of bright dangling emerald earrings too but frankly speaking, the diva didn’t need them at all as the huge necklace was working overtime. Emeralds were famed to be Cleopatra’s favorite gemstone back in the ages. They come in various shades, ranging from yellow-green to blue-green but the ones that are the most valuable come in a grass-green tone, like the sparklers on Kim’s necklace.

Remember that emerald jewelry is not for the faint-hearted. The serene mystery of this precious gemstone reflects your inner beauty in ways unimaginable to your male target of interest. One word. SEXY. So I’d say wear your emeralds with caution ladies. They can make your guy go crazy. Kim & Cleopatra would know!

Bookmark this post:

Helen Mirren – The Timeless Queen of Fashion

It’s common for us women to feel a tad bit weary when choosing which dress or jewelry to wear for a fancy occasion and finally we end up playing it safe. But taking a look at British actress Helen Mirren will perhaps give us a much needed kick on the backside! The talented diva is a thriving 65 years old but she delivers the same punch to her fashion as she did 40 years ago.

When I saw snaps of her back in 2008, flaunting her curves in a hot pink bikini, I knew this daring dame was here to set some serious trends a la mode not only for women of her age but for the younger generation as well! She proved herself again at the UK premiere of her new action-comedy movie, Red working a dramatic gothic black gown by Bruce Oldfield, teamed with a pair of black Caovilla ankle boots and a red gemstone-inlaid clutch.

Now Helen’s smart style can be seen from the fact that she didn’t opt for a standard red gown but paid a fashionable tribute to the movie by accentuating her black dress with a sizzling sash of red at the centre. Moreover I can’t get over the amount of bling the starlet was dripping in which included a gorgeous diamond cocktail ring and diamond bangles.

And did you see the size of those hoop earrings?! She’s certainly not one to beaten by age and her sparkly hoops were living proof of that fact! Guess what? She had a bit of a slip when one of those earrings fell out and landed on the floor. But her spruce co-star Bruce Willis came to the rescue as he picked it up for her. Awww! Now is it just me or did it look like he was rightfully bowing down before the Queen?

Bookmark this post:

Sarah Jessica Parker Brings Down the House

Oh man, she OWNED the red carpet! I wasn’t a great fan of her all-nude ensemble for the NY City Ballet Fall Gala on the 7^th of October but at the Empire State Pride Agenda Fall Dinner at the Sheraton Hotel in New York, she was back in the game! Well I’m talking about none other than our very own Sex and the City gal, Sarah Jessica Parker.

She may only be 5’4 but her confidence zoomed all the way to the 102^nd floor of the Empire State building as she stood poised, with a shiny black bag in hand rocking a hot little black one-shoulder dress from Halston Heritage, sheer patterned tights and black satin pumps.

It would be an understatement if I left this blog post at that because I would not have mentioned the key ingredient that made the cauldron go BOOM - her gorgeous statement necklace of course. Sarah Jessica Parker was the soul of the party and her huge diamante necklace was the soul of her outfit, so to speak and would have made her on-screen persona, Carrie, very proud.

It featured a mesh pattern but with tons of diamonds sparkling in the light and it also had three strands of larger diamonds attached in between. The twinkle of her rocks not only matched her shiny bag and dress but also the twinkle of her grey-blue eyes and 1000-watt smile. Now that’s what I call a match made in heaven!

Image Courtesy:

http://www.sarahjparker.com

Bookmark this post:

Eva Mendes – The Grecian Goddess

As I write this post, my speakers are relaying the pure sound waves of Vivaldi’s Spring composition from Four Seasons. My sudden urge to visit the maestro’s legendary musical piece on YouTube was initiated by a Hollywood fashionista whose name spells Elegance, Versatility and Attraction – Eva Mendes.

She graced the Walt Disney Concert Hall in L.A during the Philharmonic Opening Gala looking nothing short of a Disney princess herself in a pink-kissed blush flowing gown by Christian Dior with well-placed golden leaf embellishments. The color of the chiffon creation suited the Cuban-American beauty’s tanned glowing skin but perhaps the actress’ hair could have been pulled back into an updo to highlight her stunning gown a bit more.

Her refined jewelry sure didn’t miss the spotlight though. The 2 Fast 2 Furious actress gained my A* for her accessories featuring a beautiful Raven Kauffman clutch, diamond cluster earrings and two diamond cocktail rings by Neil Lane. But the best of her bling was surely her simple golden bracelet that underlined the tint of the golden detailing on her dress and brought a touch of royalty to the romantic aura that she exuded. Ah take me to Greece I say!

And I loved that the 36-year old took a risk and chose a trendy green eye-shadow which was a funky twist for the otherwise serene dress. Vivaldi’s orchestra is coming to the grand finale now and so am I. When people begin to hear violins and flutes in their minds once they set eyes on your fantastic dress and jewelry like Eva’s, then THAT is when you know you’ve hit the spot!

Bookmark this post:

Top Trends for the Fall that You Can’t Afford to Miss

Sometimes history repeats itself for all the wrong reasons but in the world of fashion, history is frequently presented to us fashionistas in an updated and totally trendy kind of way. This fall, get ready to mix classic styles in a whole new palette. I’ve hand-picked some of the top trends of the season, right off the ramps, which you would instantly fall in love with.

Hues Hues Hues

First things first: colors. After a season of “brights”, Fall 2010 sees an arrival of grey skies outside our windows and sophisticated neutrals on our clothing such as olive, beige, navy blue, oyster grey and other subdued colors. “Nude” and black are still very popular from last season, as well as other brighter colors that rule the roost including lipstick red, orchid purple, rose.

Swing into the 70s

The 70s are back with a bang this fall and the styles give our wardrobes the much needed vintage vibe that we all crave for from time to time. By day it’s all about the high waist pants and soft sheer blouses. The look is given a twist with belted draped pants and mixing this ultra feminine style with power dressing which includes sleek cuts and tailored jackets, made popular by Julia Roberts and Blake Lively.

Complete the look with: A leather statement handbag, lots of loud layered jewelry such as rings with bold stones, neat stacks of bangles, long pendant necklaces and strings of beads or pearls.

Capes and ponchos will be on the rise and you can pair them with stylish black leggings and complete the look with knee-high boots like Lilly Allen. A smart printed jumpsuit is another great alternative.

By night the boho chic kicks in, presenting us with shimmering flowing gowns that are loosely draped over your body with low necklines or cuts that hug your curves. For the daredevil queens out there, a pair of hot pants is the ultimate 70s item (popularized heavily by Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Alicia Keys this time around) and that also brings us to the next trend:

Wearing Your Innerwear as Outerwear

The last time we saw a shift towards lingerie as outerwear was during the 1980s AND also on Superman. Superman did it to promote a domineering image of masculine power. The reason why we ladies should do it is not a far contrast; that is to showcase a concoction of both sexuality and femininity. Think it wouldn’t suit the cold weather? Think again.

Pair that bare corsette with a pair of high waist pants and layer on a cute tuxedo jacket or wear your hot pants along with long stockings or leggings inside. This is one area where you can shift slightly from darker tones and experiment with bolder colors such as hot pink, green and blue.

Complete the look with: Layered silver chains, metal jewelry, gemstone earrings in sapphires, rubies or cubic zirconia, a single cocktail ring with a large motif.

Sheer, Cutout & Lace Clothing

I’ve included those three styles in the same sentence due to the sheer fact (pun intended) that they can be combined together for this season. Cutout clothing, normally a style exclusive to Spring/Summer has made an updated impact this fall. Cutout pieces can be filled in with sheer fabrics to fight the cool weather in style.

Don’t forget that cutout boots and pumps are a hot basic too. Lace is simply an extension of the sheer trend and a more feminine modification of cutout clothing. The ultimate balance of wearing lace is to be romantic but not over-girly and sensual but not over-suggestive. Ashley Greene’s black and white lace dress at the MTV VMAs is a perfect example of how to combine sheer, cutout & lace clothing.

Complete the look with: Pearl earrings, extra long chandelier earrings, plenty of silver bracelets or a large cuff bracelet.

Fall Essentials

The season wouldn’t be complete without the following fall necessities: Fur (and loads of faux fur) adds instant luxury to your fall couture and appear in everything ranging from collars on jackets, full-on coats and also on boots. Coming to boots, celebrities have been donning thigh-high boots for months now and you may have been wary to emulate the look in the past but take the plunge willingly this season into boot heaven!

And all those lovely silk scarves that you had been buying can now be unleashed to add depth, color and texture to any outfit. Turtle neck sweaters or vests tucked into pants or skirts as well as hats make a comeback this season.

Complete the look with: Diamond earrings, huge retro-inspired cocktail ring, bib necklaces for the vests.

So there you have it, the top trends for this season. Last but not the least, let me remind you that fall is when you can go crazy on the layering, be it in clothing or jewelry. Mix and match from the styles above and you would end up with a myriad of chic possibilities. But the important thing to remember is to take a trend and give it your own little personalized twist. Have a great season ahead!

Bookmark this post:

Catherine Zeta-Jones Kills it in Red

When Catherine Zeta Jones made her appearance in The Mask of Zorro alongside Antonio Bandaras in 1998, she looked as stunning as ever.

Her charisma, charm and ultra-sexiness captivated many a young man’s heart but she gave hers to the Romeo of all Romeos back then, big shot Michael Douglas. Now, an Oscar, two children and 12 glorious years later, the Welsh beauty looks like she still has it in her.

She made a debonair appearance on the red carpet after a hiatus, back in her homeland at the Welcome to Wales event in Cardiff, rocking a ravishing red cap sleeve creation from Reem Acra Pre-Fall 2010. The 41-year-old actress accessorized the figure-hugging satin gown with a Judith Leiber clutch and towering gold heels.

The only speck in her otherwise perfect ensemble was the severe side parting hairdo. It is no secret that the diva has absolutely gorgeous dark chocolate brown hair and I would have loved to see her flaunt it a bit more. The hairdo did, however, highlight her beautiful chandelier earrings from Lorraine Schwartz which were the epitome of intricacy and complemented her red gown to perfection.

Comprising of yellow diamonds, they formed a beautiful floral shape at the top and branched down into a series of petals, topped off with a refined drop at the end. Catherine loves long chandelier earrings and she won the crowd again with this divine pair.

With her immaculate taste in fashion and genuine persona, it’s no wonder that Michael Douglas has stood firm by his woman all these years. As for us, we can always rely on Catherine to bring that unadulterated, timeless Hollywood glamour to any red carpet.

Bookmark this post: