iwantmk.comLuanne Storer,IBC

You may be wondering, “Why is this girl so obsessed with the Oscars?”  I have been relentless in my pursuit of perfecting the Oscar fashion trends, and this is why:  What other event is the culmination of ridiculously talented designers fused with the most influential trend setters (celebrities) on the planet?  The Oscars comes at the time of year when spring collections are kicking off, and the styles that are seen on the red carpet always have a way of popping up.  If you take your cues from this venue, you are way ahead of the fashion curve!  That is why I am devoting some quality time to our friendship with Mr. Oscar, knowing that you and I will undoubtedly reap the benefits in spades of style.  That said, let me proceed as planned, with the next trend from my original post, “Top Trends from the Oscar Red Carpet,” Texture.  I narrowed it down in my original post simply to “pleating and ruching”, but I have expanded this piece to include all textures.  This is a tantalizingly tactile trend to those of us who have super senses.  When an item looks scrumptious to the eye, it makes you want to reach out and touch it, making it far more goose bump-worthy than than an ordinary dress or top.  As a refresher, here are some examples we saw at the Oscars:

    Marisa Tomei in Versace              Alicia Keys in Armani Prive          Diane Lane in Dolce & Gabbanna

 Vanessa Hudgens in Marchesa     Taraji P. Henson in Roberto Cavalli           Mary Hart in Mon Atelier

And truly, there were even MORE!  Now that you are dying to rub your face about Vanessa Hudgens’ bosom, (but not in a weird way…), you can see that the idea of texture is all in the details.  Marisa Tomei’s Versace is pleated to perfection, looking  like an intricate and precise origami project, while Mary Hart’s is crinkled and wrinkled haphazardly for an uncontrolled and unexpected air of easy glamour.  No two textured pieces are identical, so they all look original and unique.  Let me introduce you to some pieces that you will love as dearly as the dresses above, but your pocketbook will appreciate them all the more.

Banana Republic Silk Georgette Dress $150.00  This gorgeous dress is not only beautifully ruched at the bust and waist, it is made of the most beautiful, finely crinkled silk Georgette.  If you take a look at the site, you can zoom in on the fabric and see for yourself.  Not to mention, the bright, sunny yellow is a color must for spring.

Piperlime Wanted ‘Drape’ Pump $50.00  The quintessential neutral pump to get you through spring.  This is a ‘go-to’ staple that will look great with many items already in your wardrobe.  The neutral shoe is huge this season, and the ruched detail here is what makes it so interesting yet understated.

 Pink Ice Puff Floral Purse $49.99  This puffy purse is obviously a funkier choice, but an excellent way to perk up any casual weekend outfit.  The bright blue and scrunched up texture are unexpectedly chic, and fiercely fun!

Victoria’s Secret Pleated Silk Blouse $48.00  Ladylike and demure, the pleating on this blouse is ultra feminine, and in a word, ‘pretty’.  Don’t we all love pretty?  The soft fabric with the barely bright color just works on everyone.  A modern take on a classic, this blouse’s possibilities are endless.

   J. Crew Ripple-Ruffle Tee $39.50  This tee is so simple and easy, yet the cute factor is significantly amped by the textured neckline.  Such a small detail adds so much.  It suddenly becomes so much more than a gray tee shirt; it’s a statement piece.  Dress it up, dress it down, dress to impress.

Heavenly Couture Sheer Ruffled Blouse $17.95  An absolute steal, the ruffles make this stunning blouse sexy and soft at once.  Can’t you just see them bustling about in the spring breeze?  Gorgeous!

Surely these items are immediate motivation to get texturized!  Thankfully, this season we are seeing this trend everywhere, from the catwalk to the sidewalk, and you simply must take advantage of the opportunity to draw all eyes, and perhaps hands, to you.

Because fashion should be fun, not fundamental!

Katie

As promised, I am going to go much more in depth on some of the trends that I noted in my post from 2 weeks ago: “Trends from the Oscar Red Carpet.”  The first trend I want to talk about is my personal favorite, BOWS!!  This is actually one facet of an even larger trend for spring, which is ultra femininity.  Right now is the time to let out your inner girly-girl.  Chances are, if you’re into fashion, then you have a little bit of that in you already.  So, go all out sweet and pretty, frilly and free, demure and lovely.  In addition to bows, we’re talking femme details like ruffles, lace, floral patterns, flowy fabrics, pearls, cameos, pastel colors, and practically anything else you can think of that screams, I mean whispers, “prim, proper, and pretty.” 

Just to jog your memory about the beautiful bow trend we saw exemplified at the Oscars, here are some prime examples of how gorgeous a bow can be on a super luxurious designer evening gown:

Amanda Seyfried in Valentino    Miley Cyrus in Zuhair Murad     Jessica Biel in Prada’s ‘Half Bow’ Dress

Now seriously, who can deny that this look is amazing?!  It is so fresh and young, but sophisticated at the same time.  Perhaps most importantly, it’s fun, fun, fun! However, you may be saying to yourself: “Sure, it is a gorgeous detail on an evening gown, but I won’t be going to the Oscars anytime soon, nor will I be rocking Valentino.”  Understood…the exciting thing about bows is that you can wear ’em a million different ways!  Here’s what I mean:

     Shabby Apple ‘Duck Beach’ Dress $76.00               Victoria’s Secret ‘Lace Bow Cheeky’ Panty $26.00

       Fashion Bug ‘Pleated’ Dress $42.00                   J. Crew ‘Houndstooth Bow Button’ Cardigan $39.99
                              

    Target ‘La Regale Pleated Bow’ Clutch $29.99            Wal Mart ‘Lacy Satin Bow’ Underwire Bra $12.00

Betsey Johnson ‘Betseyville Bow Fuschia’ Heel $47.88                Wet Seal ‘Bow Front Tube’ Dress $20.50

Wet Seal ‘Arrow & Bow’ Necklace $8.00                            Draven Misfits ‘Polka Dot Fiend’ Flat $45.00
 

 See what I mean?  Bows are a great addition to just about anything you can imagine!  This is an easy trend to copy too, even if you don’t want to purchase something new.  I suggest placing a ribbon around your hair like a headband, with a dainty bow tied to the side.  You can also tie a scarf around your waist in a bow for a flattering, feminine look.  Why not borrow your daughter’s bow barrettes and clip a couple in your hair, or better yet, on your jacket lapel.  Voila!  Instant charm!  See, being trendy isn’t just fun, it’s easy.  Just stick with me, and I will have you thinking “How can I turn this out fit OUT?”  in no time!

Because fashion should be fun, not fundamental!

Katie

The Oscars is arguably the most glamorous event of the year, and thus, the most important place for trend-spotting.  Who really cares who wins, right?  It’s all about what they’re wearing!  I have to say, this year we saw some truly beautiful dresses, and yes, some awesome trends for your consideration.  The top 5 trends I noticed and loved are totally do-able, and can be incorporated into anyone’s daily wardrobe.  You can even find cheap-chic variations of the actual gowns at some retailers online.  (I will have more information on those in a future post, so stay tuned. )  But until then, here are the trendy top 5:

Top Trend #5: One-Shouldered, Asymmetrical Necklines.  This is a flattering look for most anyone.  It’s great for spring because you can show off your gorgeous shoulders and toned arms.  Or if you’re like me, and you don’t love your bottom half, this draws attention upward, and balances out bigger hips and thighs.  Expect to see this trend even in casual wear like cotton tops and sundresses, not just evening gowns.  That means affordability and functionality!!

Kate Winslet in Yves Saint Laurent      Frieda Pinto in John Galliano         Queen Latifah in Georges Chakra

Top Trend #4: Red Hot!  Fashionistas typically steer clear of this hue at the awards show because they don’t want to compete with the red carpet, but because red is so “ in” right now, that rule of thumb simply did not apply.  There are many different shades of red, so there’s one that works for any skin tone.  No one should shy away from the color’s statement making appeal.  Even redheads look beautiful in it, as you can see here on Amy Adams, even though it’s been said in the past that they don’t.  So be bold this season and work red into your spring wardrobe.  It’s an attention-getter for sure, and you’ll be glad you did!

  Amy Adams in Carolina Herrera         Heidi Klum in Roland Mouret           Virginia Madsen in Kevan Hall

Top Trend #3: Bows, Bows, Bows.  I love this one!!!  Bows are everywhere this season, and they are fun, flirty, and oh so feminine.  You can work a bow in your hair, on your shoes, and even on your lingerie.  Wherever you choose, it adds that special touch that speaks volumes without saying a word.  If you don’t own anything with bows, and don’t want to spend the cash on a trendy item that might not make it past fall, I bet you have items in your wardrobe already that will work.  Try a pretty, flowy scarf around your waist and tie it in a fluffy bow.  Have some ribbon laying around?  Tie it in your hair like a headband, finished off with a bow to the side.  There are many ways to enjoy this trend right now!

Amanda Seyfried in Valentino          Miley Cyrus in Zuhair Murad         Jessica Biel in Prada’s “half bow” dress

Top Trend #2: Bold Statement Jewelry.  Now is the time to think “gaudy”!  No, really…one piece of super-dramatic jewelry is all it takes to set an outfit off!  Gold or silver, gemstones or diamonds, colorful or monochromatic, all it takes to feel super trendy and glamourous at once, is a larger than life piece of jewelry.  Now, since we can’t all afford those amazing baubles the stars wear, we’re obviously talking costume jewelry here, but they’re dazzling nonetheless.  Whether it be a dangling pair of earrings, a cuff bracelet, or a collar necklace, you must remember, the bigger the better!    

Adams in Fred Leighton necklace     Jolie in Lorraine Schwartz jewels         Henson in Fred Leighton jewels

Top Trend #1:  Pleating & Ruching.   There were plenty of your simple, run of the mill gowns, and they were lovely in their own right, but the real show stoppers were those dresses that looked hand-sewn with breathtaking, painstaking attention to detail.  The real beauty of this look is in the fabric; gathered tulle, silk organza, shiny satin, and sheer chiffon , all wonderfully handcrafted, making each dress something special.  Look for this trend to pop up in dresses and tops everywhere, now that it has had its date with Oscar.

   Marisa Tomei in Versace                 Alicia Keys in Armani Prive            Diane Lane in Dolce & Gabbanna

Now that you know my favorites, I would love to hear from you what yours are.  What did you love, and what did you hate at the Oscars this year?  Your comments would be much appreciated on this, my very first post!  AND please check back in the Fridays that follow, as I will be filling you in on how to get the gorgeous Oscar dresses seen here for a fraction of the cost.  We will also take a closer look at each of these hot trends and how to incorporate them into your wardrobe today-for less! 

Because fashion should be fun, not fundamental!

Katie