2016 Oscars Red Carpet Moments

The 88th Academy Awards came and went, and while we celebrate Leo FINALLY winning that coveted Oscar, we also celebrate the evening's red carpet moments. Here are my five best dressed selections. The theme for my choices is the deep plunging necklines, definitely a 2016 do.  

1. The evening's best dress was definitely Margot Robbie in Diane von Furstenberg. Classic Hollywood with a moder twist.

2. Charlize Theron in Dior with jewelry by Harry Winston.

3. Julianne Moore in Chanel Couture with Chopard jewelry.

4. Brie Larson in Gucci.

5. Saoirse Ronan in Calvin Klein Collection with jewelry by Chopard.

This seafoam ARMANI PRIVE dress worn by CATE BLANCHETT is a head-scratcher. Every time i look at it i have a different opinion. I like it because it is an anomaly.

The worst dressed has got to be HEIDI KLUM IN MARCHESA. The outfit is all over the place with a colour and embellishments that does nothing for the Project Runway judge. Aufwiedersehn Heidi! 

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Donning the Double Braid

For many of us the double braid conjures up memories of primary school and Sunday evenings spent on the floor while being braided. New York Fashion Week this year however, showed us that the braid is back!

According to Vogue “a tight pair of twin plaits became the ultimate off-duty hair statement for Kim Kardashian West and Harper Beckham, and already the style has a street style stamp of approval from models who wore their plaited runway looks straight off the runway”. Right now my favourite double-braider is Jess Glynne, who knows how to rock a tune and rock a hair-do. 

There are many different ways to wear your braid; from sleeked back, to messy and festival-styled boho, but my personal favourite is the Dutch-braid and the Milkmaid braid. Both of which are versatile and fun, can be worn to work and on a date, and are both simple to do DIY.

Follow these simple steps for a milkmaid braid:

Step 1: Brush your hairs thoroughly so you can be sure there is not even a single knot throughout your hair.

Step 2: Make a partition in your hairs so you can have equal bulk on both the sides after partition.

Step 3: If you wish then rub hair styling cream on the partition and start plating you hair so you can reach to end & your braid is ready.

Step 4: Use some hair spray so you can make sure that no hair falls out.

Step 5: Pull up the braids upward across your head and fix them underneath each other with the help of bobby pins and the final hair spray will secure your hair style.

It’s rare that runway becomes real-wear, but this trendy new hairdo is definitely one such case, and i'm loving it. 

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A Culotte Above the Rest

Hello fashionistas! Yes it has been more than a year since my last update, and in the meantime I have become a mom and started a new job as the Head of Corporate communication and Marketing at our national research institution.

During my hiatus I couldn’t help but notice a wonderful and scary new trend emerging among the young and fashionable – Culottes.

These knee-length trousers, are cut with full legs to resemble a skirt, and have their origin etched in history. First worn by men, that term has been around since the late Middle Ages. From kings to military personnel and the first few presidents of the United States, men wore trousers that hit just below the knee. But later, the definition shifted to mean bottoms that look like a skirt but are actually pants — like the original French definition of the word, which described the liberating split riding skirts that women wore to ride their bikes. And today, they've become even slimmer, looking more like a wide, cropped trouser. 

If like me, you’re wondering if this cut of pant will be flattering to the African shape, and if the idea of wearing these flaring, cropped trousers congers up memories of unflattering, frumpy, frowsy, wide-legged pants, then you may think that you will look more dumpling than diva. But the secret to finding a pair of culottes that actually works for you is all in the length. The most flattering pairs end at the skinniest part of your leg — for most women, that's right above your ankle. Once you've got a pair that hits there, your culottes will look correct, no matter if you're wearing heels or flat.

Culottes, also known as gauchos and palazzo pants, can be an intimidating trend to try but when you do find the right pair of culottes, it's like a whole new world — they can be just as versatile as your favorite jeans, not to mention they look super-chic. So whether you're wearing your culottes on a date, out for brunch on the weekend, or to work – brace yourself for a fantastic new fashion adventure. 

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2014 Grammy Awards Best Dressed

1. Chrissy Teigen in Johanna Johnson  

 2. Ciara in Pucci 

 3. Iggy Azalea in Elie Saab 

 4. Colbie Caillat in Ezra Santos

5. Taylor Swift in Gucci Première

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SAG Award Favourites

1. Amy Adams wore a dress by Antonio Berardi with Jimmy Choo heels

2. Lupita Nyong’o in Gucci 

3. Sandra Bullock wore a strapless dress by Lanvin with Jimmy Choo sandals and a Roger Vivier clutch.

 4. Isla Fisher accessorised her Oscar de la Renta gown with Bulgari jewels and a Salvatore Ferragamo clutch.

5. Michelle Dockery wore a J. Mendel gown with Gianvito Rossi heels.

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2014 Golden Globes Best Dressed Selection

1. Mila Kunis in Gucci

2. Kate Beckinsale in Zuhair Murad

3. Uma Thurman In Atelier Versace

4. Sophia Vergara in Zac Posen

5. Julianna Margulies' in Andrew GN

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You're (not) Welcome!

Hello 2014! Its official…a new year of fashion and trends have dawned upon us, and while I am still scouring glossy magazines and European fashion shows for trend inspiration, I am also pleased to say goodbye to 2013 trends that are no longer welcome in the new year or our wardrobes. I give you nine of the worst (and ‘we’re so over it’) trends from last year.

1. Beanies

Usually a winter staple that can be fashionable and practical during the colder months, Beanies became somewhat of a novelty in 2013. They were suddenly everywhere. During Fashion Week in February the beanie's popularity even trumped all the perfect blowouts beneath them. But then they didn't fade out the way they normally do with the warm weather, and people kept wearing their beanies at weird times, like summer parties and on the red carpet. I realize that there is something very nonchalant and model-off-duty about a girl in a beanie, and guys dig it. It does give that wannabee rapper vibe that says, “I’m hip and cool”. But when it's hot and obvious we're trying really hard to commit to the whole beanie look, it  ruins the whole "I'm sooooo laidback" vibe that we love about them.

2. Mirrored Sunglasses 

To be honest, I really only noticed this trend in December last year. But while on holiday they started popping up everywhere, from knockoff street vendor varieties to Ray-Bans. Suddenly the reflective lens was the new thing. I like them but not entirely sure I would ever rock a pair. There’s only one problem: they're so ubiquitous they've lost a lot of their punch.

3. Crop Tops

Those crop top looks paired with high-waisted skirts that just show a sliver of your torso? That’s the chic modern version of an otherwise 90’s disaster trend, I loved in 2013. But there are those that are so aggressive I think even 1998 Britney Spears would second guess her choice. If there’s too much belly on display it looks trashy and cheap. And if including this on my list is as a result of one to many servings of Christmas pudding, then so what? It's subjective. It’s pretty clear though, that the crop top is here to stay in 2014, since the S/S 2014 runways were filled with crops and cutouts - Eek!

4. The Peplum

It's not that the peplum isn't pretty or interesting—it is! Designers have even made elegant and creative leather updates to peplums last year. I love the peplum…it’s an easy go to wardrobe item that’s suitable for work, a wedding and even date night. But that lone ruffle has been around for quite a few seasons now, and, frankly, we need a break. Thankfully, there wasn’t much of this on the runway for S/S 2014.

5. Itsy Bitsy (Denim) Shorts

Don’t get me wrong, I love a pair of denim shorts, but I do wish the too-short, butt-cheek-skimming version could be saved for music festivals and Daisy Duke Halloween costumes ONLY.  And the ‘Shorts So Short You Can See the Pocket Liners’…that has got to go this year!

6. Wedge Sneakers

Let’s just address the elephant in the room right now. Seriously—how on earth did we just sit back and let these happen? We have seen some disastrous trends but this is just—no. It was bad enough when we were all foolishly rocking this back when the Spice Girls were all together.

To quote the always stylish Olivia Palermo, "If you're going to do a sneaker, just wear a regular sneaker." Now that we've all had a chance to try this trend, I agree. Time to get back to basics.

7. Long-Back Dresses and Skirts

Although I jumped on this trend rather late, the party-in-the-front, business-in-the-back look has officially overstayed its welcome. It's the fashion equivalent of being indecisive! This thing is officially the mullet of fashion—and I don't mean that in a trendy, throwback sort of way. While this trend has gone on season after season, it’s seemingly dying off (albeit more slowly than we would like) and thankfully will have no place in our closets this year.

8. Baseball Caps

Why? Seriously—why? When were these ever cute on anyone? We don’t even really like them on guys. Basically unless you are playing an actual game of baseball, these do not belong on your head. There are so many other hats out there—fedoras, berets, panama, beanies (please see number 1 on this list), bowlers—any of which would look better and less lazy or ‘gangsta’ than a baseball hat.

9.   9. No Pants

And NO explanation needed here!

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