Gucci Glam at LACMA

This past weekend while most were trick-or-treating in costume, stars showed up in serious style at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) for the annual Art+Film Gala Fundraiser. Sponsored by Gucci, the best dressed attendees chose to wear looks from the popular fashion house. 

Supermodel Cara Delevigne donned a one-shouldered midnight sheath with a cape featuring a flash of sequins on the underside.

Actress Nicola Peltz, one of my favorite new style stars, chose a black column gown in two textures, showing that simplicity is chic.

Cindy Crawford wore a sparkling ice blue dress with a mirrored sequin pattern.

Salma Hayek's husband, François-Henri Pinault, is CEO of Gucci's parent company, Kering. She celebrated in a one-of-a-kind white gown by the designer with diamond shoulder straps.

Actress Kate Beckinsale wore a unique light dusty mauve gown featuring a swingy batwing top and bracelet-length sleeves.

Kate Hudson paired her sequined, blush pink gown with a bright pink lip for a fresh look.

Amy Adams' elegant blue dress brought a pop of color lined with glittering black beading.

Jennifer Lopez was a showstopper in a sparkling midnight blue gown with plunging neckline and slightly sweeping train.

The night's fashion was proof that a truly talented designer can create looks to suit various styles and personalities. Paired with natural makeup and simple accessories, these stars let the gown do the talking.  Which Gucci glam look was your favorite on the LACMA black carpet?

Fashion Month Trend Report Part 3: Gingham A-Go-Go

Popularized by such icons as Brigitte Bardot, Jackie O and even Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, gingham has seen it's share of history in fashion.  On the Spring/Summer 2015 runways, designers used the checked pattern in a variety of chic ways.

Print-on-print is possible with the addition of a light layer, as shown at Altuzarra.

Temperley London used gingham on easy-fitting cropped pants for an effortlessly cool look.

At Michael Kors, a 50's-inspired silhouette of an off-the-shoulder top and full gingham skirt was countered beautifully with earthy leather accessories.

The trench coat was given a fresh Spring update by Oscar de la Renta with 3/4 length sleeves and large-scale gingham print. 

Diane Von Furstenberg's collection included gingham dresses to inspire anyone's inner-glamazon with checks of varying size cut on the bias.

Proving that this checked pattern can be classy, cool, boho, fresh and even sexy- Fashion Month's global designers know that this isn't your picnic blanket's gingham.  Is gingham a go for you in the coming seasons?

Fashion Month Trend Report Part 2: Vested Interests

A prevalent trend at this past Fashion Month is a piece that is able to transform or enhance a look's silhouette: the vest. Let's take a look at some of the ways vests were styled and presented.

At Akris, a waist-length vest added texture and structure to a monochromatic look with flowing top.

BCBG Max Azria showed how a vest can be used as a long sleeveless coat over a gown suitable for evening wear.

Coach's cargo vest is a great counter for Spring's pastels and light separates.

Dior's collection featured several brightly-colored vests over black-and-white outfits.

Nanette Lepore showed how a vest can add a colorful, airy layer to your Spring style.

Temperley London included vests as tops, a fresh and lovely twist on the traditional men's three-piece suit.

Layers aren't just for Fall and Winter- vests can provide a light and chic addition to your look, worn as anything from a top to a sleeveless overcoat.  Pulling double duty for all seasons, a stylish vest is a smart investment piece.

Fashion Month Trend Report Part 1: Mesh With Perfection

From New York to London to Milan to Paris, a variety of fresh trends have cropped up on the runways for Spring/Summer 2015.  Over the next few posts, we'll explore these new and exciting designs.  Up first: fashion houses across the globe rediscovered mesh as as a textile used to inject a sporty element into their looks. 

Damir Doma lined an orange mesh tank with varsity stripes to up the sporty factor.

Balenciaga topped the open-knit mesh dress with a trench in the same hue.

Gabriele Colangelo allowed the edges of her mesh top to go unfinished, revealing a fresh take on scalloped collars and hems.

Alexis Mabille showed that a little goes a long way using a panel of mesh from the collar and into a hood for an uptown-chic vibe.

Chic, dressy, athletic or edgy, mesh is a versatile textile, lending itself to any style.  For the upcoming seasons, how will you incorporate mesh into your wardrobe?

The Right Cut: Best Dressed at the Academy of Country Music Awards

Last week the stars of country music and beyond came out to walk the red carpet of the ACM Awards. Many would joke that country artists never met a rhinestone that they didn't like.  However there were some decidedly beautiful looks at this year's event- and all of my favorites proved that having a perfectly tailored cut to your garment can be the key to a winning look.

Faith Hill's pale blue Saint Laurent gown featured long sleeves balanced by a plunging neckline.  This graceful dress was paired perfectly with her tousled hair.

Taylor Swift wore a J. Mendel skirt and crop top combo which she pulled off perfectly.  Between the high slit and the shoulder cut outs, the overall look stayed classy and very fashion-forward due to the timeless black and white color combination.

Olivia Munn was elegant in Reem Acra's rosy cap-sleeved dress. The high slit and deep-v neckline kept it from being too sweet, and the draping on the gown was impeccable.

Who were your favorites at the ACM Awards?

Orange County Fashion Week

I was lucky enough to have been sent to Orange County Fashion Week by Uber.  I am honored to report back on what a fabulous experience it was.  What I loved about Orange County Fashion Week was that designers presented looks that could be worn very soon - in the coming weeks or months - as opposed to most major fashion week shows where we get a glimpse of what will be trending for the next year or season. Perhaps that's one of the many perks of OC life - fresh fashion is readily accessible.  I saw intricate crochet crop tops, breezy tie-dye caftans, versatile shape-shifting swimwear and easy gowns that looked suitable from beach brunch to belle of the ball.

Day 1 - Sugar Rush

OC Fashion Week kicked off with resortwear and men's intimates at the Seven Degrees venue in Laguna Beach.  With a beautiful red carpet, brand-new Vespas on display and pop-up shops ranging from jewelry to hats to beauty, the atmosphere was welcoming and fun.

The night started with an expert fashion panel including Neel Grover, CEO of Bluefly.com; Rose Olson Januzzi, COO of Chinese Laundry; Lash Fary, CEO of Distinctive Assets; Kelli Ellis, Celebrity Interior Designer and Sarah De Anna, supermodel and author of the book Supermodel You.

Noia showed some of the coolest coverups I've seen with ultra chic body jewelry as the perfect accent to take your day from poolside to pre-dinner drinks.

Charmosa Swimwear came from Brazil to show her designs.  She did feature bikinis and one pieces, however for me, the standouts in her collection were the maxi dresses that seemed to float down the runway.

Indie Soul's collection was decidedly tribal in influence with ethnic beaded elements and tie-dye patterns.  This fringed crochet top is one I could definitely see paired with jeans and heels or on the way to the beach this Spring and Summer.

Day 2 - HauTECH

The second night was held at the incredible Lyon Air Museum at the Orange County Airport. Set amongst vintage airplanes and the newest luxury car models, this night of menswear designs was definitely swanky.

Celebrity stylist Daniel Musto was a stylish and delightful emcee for the evening.

One of the featured pop-up shops was David August, Inc., which creates custom menswear ranging from polo shirts to tuxedos.  Their clients consult with them and each item is measured to fit the man perfectly.  They also have gorgeous accessories such as ties and cufflinks and they can monogram any piece of clothing as well.

Another of the pop-up shops on night two was The Left Shoe Company, which uses innovative 3-D scanning to create stylish made-to-measure men's shoes.

Valor Collective's laid-back looks were perfect for the guy who wants to look put-together and stylish even in his casual wear.  The high-end streetwear featured many interchangeable separates.

Popular surfwear company Rip Curl featured their boardshorts, tees and California-cool activewear.

The Orange County Ballet Theatre preformed in between each fashion show, with exceptional pieces geared to express the theme of each preceding designer.

Pal Zileri's stunning collection of elegant menswear featured suits and separates in fine Italian fabrics and super chic color combinations.  The impeccably tailored styles were the epitome of the modern gentleman.

Day 4 - Avant Garde

The splashy and sophisticated restaurant, Anqi, was the host venue of the avant garde night of OC Fashion Week.  Highlighting local and international designers who push the limits of fashion, the night was full of fascinating creations.

Coral Castillo's designs were a standout of the night.  Using embellishments and an all-black palette, the pieces seemed at the same time light and structural.

Final Night - Fashionably Responsible

The final night of Orange County Fashion Week was held at Dawson Cole Fine Art Galley in Laguna Beach. In the outdoor courtyard, dotted with graceful sculptures and waterfalls, the night celebrated Orange County's local designers who give back to the community.  It also highlighted OC Fashion Week's 2014 charitable cause: HomeAid Orange County, the founding chapter of a national non-profit organization with the vision and purpose to end homelessness. 

Ansari Haute Couture is the design house of Nasrin Ansari, who uses unique fabrics and fine detailing on her creations.  The styles were decidedly European and sensational.

Dan Richters Couture designs are artful and otherworldly.  How appropriate that his collection was entitled "Vessel".  The gold and black pieces in rich textures featured embellishments fit for a warrior queen.  Beyond the elegant structure applied to each design, what was so striking on the runway was that every other model was en pointe, pacing the catwalk on the tips of her toes.  The idea was inspired, adding to the transcendent value of the finale collection of Orange County Fashion Week.

Go Buy Now: Pink Coats

The whirlwind season of New York, London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks has come to a close and there were so many unique looks shown for Fall/Winter 2014. However, it was impossible to ignore the "it" item still prevalent in numerous collections: the pink coat.  This item has actually been popular for a few seasons, and the most recent runways prove that this new classic is not going anywhere.  While pastels are always in the Spring fashion forecast, a huge plus is that you can wear this now and through the end of the year as an unexpected neutral to balance out Fall and Winter's darker hues. These designers show that the pink coat is far more versatile than it sounds.

Burberry Prorsum showed a wool version with a thick scarf thrown over one shoulder- a cool new way to accessorize outerwear.

Carven's salmon coat featured a half-zip closure and showed how you can introduce prints to your ensemble with a wide leopard lapel.

At Christopher Kane, an angled and embellished hem adds modern edge to the pink coat.

A sportier version stood out in Fendi's collection, paired nicely with army green to show how earthy tones can work well with a pink coat.

Giambattista Valli's pink coat had swinging peplum wings lined in pink's chic counterpart: red.

Givenchy featured a glamorous take with a blush-colored coat upgraded by a fur lapel and fur sleeves.

The pink coat at Gucci had a sixties-mod, double-breasted silhouette.  Paired with a pink turtleneck, this proves that this monochromatic style can look very polished.

A cape, like the pink suede version at Ralph Lauren, is a cool spin on the trend.  When styled with varying textures, such as cableknit and cotton, the aesthetic is effortlessly chic.

Rochas featured a loose wool version in the popular oversized cocoon silhouette.

You can work one of the many variations of the pink coat into your wardrobe with some of the more affordable versions below:

ASOS Vintage Cocoon Coat

Kenneth Cole Boucle Coat at 6pm

TopShop Wool Boyfriend Coat

Zara Round Neck Coat