Art League Open House & Holiday Party

On Friday, December 2, the Art League will be holding an open house and holiday party; there will be food, drinks, music and of course art! The best part of this event that it's free and open to the public. So, if you would like to start of your holiday festivities with a little bang, please mark your calender and plan on attending.

Where
The Art League - Madison Annex

305 Madison ST, Alexandria, VA

When 

Dec. 2, 2011

Time 

6 - 9 pm

Cost

Free

Art Scene: Rebirth of Cool

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Bird On Money, 1981. Acrylic and oil on canvas, 66 x 90 inches.

This weekend the Corcoran Gallery of Art is launching its new exhibit, 30 Americans. The kick off party is going down at Capitol Skyline Hotel, which will be hosted by artist Kehinde Wiley. Just think, art, barbecue and the hot sounds of DJ Jahsonic and DJ Keenan, does it get any better?

When: 
BBQ, Fri. 6-9 p.m., Exhibition through Feb. 12, 2012
Where: 
Party Rock, Capitol Skyline Hotel
10 I St. SW, Washington DC
Corcoran Gallery of Art
500 17th St. NW
Cost:
Party - $35
Art - $10

"We decided to call [the exhibition] “30 Americans.” “Americans,” rather than “African Americans” or “Black Americans” because nationality is a statement of fact, while racial identity is a question each artist answers in his or her own way, or not at all. And the number 30 because we acknowledge, even as it is happening, that this show does not include everyone who could be in it." – Rubell Family, November, 2008

Fall Trend to Watch: Infinity Scarf

Scarves can be both fashionable and cumbersome, but there is hope in the infinity scarf! These scarves come in different lengths and materials, but the best thing about it, is the ease of wearing it. You will literally loop the scarf around once and you are set. Like most things in fashion, these scarves range in price from $15 - $100 depending on designer and quality. I recently purchased two, a tie dye one from asos.com and a metallic one from South Moon Under, both were under $20 each. Remember, fall is here and this is a great item to update your wardrobe with.

Dear Nicki Minaj: Authenticity is Key

Please stop trying so hard, it's not coming across as genuine. Dress the way you want and express yourself, but there are LOUD hints of unoriginal in your get ups. I am talking about you, so that is something...

Trend Stop Alert: Rompers

For most of last summer and now this summer, my eyes have been blinded by this one piece clothing item that horrifies the masses - THE ROMPER! It will not go away.

I despise the idea of a romper for several reasons:
- Children wear rompers
- Romper = Onesie
- Ridiculously short
- Doesn't do justice for the backend (gives diaper bum)
- Have to be unzipped/unbuttoned and pulled completely off to use restroom
- Is it the 70s or 80s?

Yes, everyone always says, "but skinny girls always look good in rompers," or "but this one is stylish and chic," yes, I guess sure, do whatever you need to justify wearing certified baby clothing.  It's the entire concept that I do not get or understand. Wear the romper to the pool or in the comfort of your home. There isn't a point to the romper on a grown woman when she can just wear a skirt and top and not deal with the hassle.

Do me a favor clothing designers...STOP!For those of you willing to spend money on rompers, they are available at almost every available clothing store.

Bottom line, most people (friends, boyfriends/girlfriends, spouses, relatives) do not think you look fabulous in a romper, you look childish. And to my friends/readers who own a romper, I still love you.

Royal Wedding Fashions

By now, everyone knows that Kate Middleton now Catherine Duchess of Cambridge is married to Prince William Duke of Cambridge.

And perhaps equally as important, are all of the fashions from the wedding. In keeping with the theme, I have included below some of the top finds in beauty and fashion from the wedding as well as her dress. 

$4 - $8 Nail Polish from Essie in Allure (check Amazon, it hasn't sold out yet)

The $89 dress from Zara she wore the day after the wedding.

Grace Kelly and Kate Middleton's Wedding gowns respectively. It is remarkable how Kate's dress is reminiscent of the classic gown worn by the Hollywood icon.

The dress, which was designed by Sarah Burton of the Alexander McQueen fashion house. Her dress was made of ivory and white satin gazar, a loosely woven silk, with the skirt echoing an opening flower, with white satin gazar arches and pleats and a train measuring 2.7 meters. The ivory satin bodice, which is narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips, draws on the Victorian tradition of corsetry and is a hallmark of McQueen's designs, Prince William's office said.

Similar wedding dresses, without Kate Middleton's price tag! Top - Monique  Lhuillier, bottom - Romona Keveza.

Fashion Scene: The Vagina Monologues

Fashion Empowering Women Foundation will be hosting an event to help raise funds and awareness to end violence against women and girls. The event also benefits Our Place DC, a non-profit organization that provides services and advocacy to help women rebuild their lives after a period of incarceration, and the DC Fashion Foundation, a non-profit organization created by the Greater Washington Fashion Chamber of Commerce to support the local fashion community.

V-Day brings the issue of violence against women and girls front and center in the culture and the community. In order to understand the grave importance of this cause, one must know that violence is an issue that plagues all women and men in every part of the world. To better show the depth and scope of violence against women, V-Day has compiled a list of statistics and resources that evidence the impact that violence against women has on the individual, and the community. V-day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM) and sex slavery. In 1994, a play called The Vagina Monologues, written by playwright Eve Ensler, broke ground, offering to the world a piece of art like nothing it had seen before. Based on dozens of interviews Ensler conducted with women, the play addressed women’s sexuality and the social stigma surrounding rape and abuse, creating a new conversation about and with women. The Vagina Monologues ran Off-Broadway for five years in New York and then toured the United States. After every performance, Ensler found women waiting to share their own stories of survival, leading her to see that The Vagina Monologues could be more than moving work of art on violence; she divined that the performances could be a mechanism for moving people to act to end violence.

Entertainment will be provided by Grammy Nominated Washington D.C. native, Carolyn Malachi. Please check out her interview clip below from the 53rd Grammy's on CBS.

When: Friday April 29th & Saturday April 30th 

Where: Montgomery College Performing Arts Center (map)

Time: 7:00 - 11:00 pm

Tix: $25 Students | $35 General Admission

Please try to come out to not only support a great benefit, but to enjoy yourself and if nothing else walk away more informed and empowered about a great cause.

I have two free tickets for the event that I am giving out to readers, be the first to contact me and tell me why this cause is important to you and you will win the tickets.

Celebrity Make Up For Less: Alexis Bledel & Jessica Beil

Do you ever see your favorite celebrity at an event or the red carpet and their makeup is done so well and you wonder, how do I achieve that look? And more importantly, how do you achieve the look without spending hundreds of dollars? I love the look on Alexis Bidel and Jessica Beil: Classic eye with full lashes, fun pink lip and peachy golden cheeks.

Face:

Mix your favorite bronzing powder (will only need a small amount) with face moisturizer - rub in hands together and smooth all over your face.

Victoria Secret Brilliant Shimmer - $14

Eyes: 

For more drama, add falsies, otherwise use your favorite thickening mascara. 
L'Oreal's Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara - $8
Line lids with both a black eye shadow and liquid liner - that's the secret for lasting lid lines. First use a an angle brush to line lids with the black shadow, then go over the line with the liquid liner. I use MAC Black Tied - $14.50 and Rimmel London Liquid Liner in Ebony Black - $5.00

Lip:
MAC Quite the Thing! - $14.50 - For those with medium to brown skin tones.
MAC Insanely It! - $14.50 - For those with fair to light skin tones.
This lipstick actually has sheen to it, so it provides color and glossy finish.

Cheeks: Use a peach colored blush - this color will vary between skin tones.
Rimmel Lasting Finish Blush Autumn Catwalk - $5
Rimmel Lasting Finish Pink Sorbet - $5

Dresses & Bows: How it's Done

On Friday, I plan on wearing a Milly black silk bow dress to a gala, which is pictured below. The gala is black tie optional, so as usual I scurried around my closet like a mad woman, until I found the perfect dress via Rent The Runway. Dresses and bows have had long been associated with 'frilly' and 'frump' and the right style can be hard to find. Luckily I found a few that are both classic and chic! 

My Gala Dress:

Milly 'Dominique' Gaza Dress

- Rent the Runway  $50
- Neiman Marcus $145

- Nordstrom $375

Alice + Olivia Gretchen Dress - Shopbop $145

Kate Unger Strapless Bow Dress - Saks Fifth Avenue $330

Lotusgrace Moire Faille Double Bow Dress - Saks Fifth Avenue $428

Kate Spade New York "Shelley" Dress - Bloomingdale's $248

SAG Awards Fashions: A walk down the red carpet

The Screen Actors Guild Awards red carpet fashions - as seen through objective eyes.

The Hits

Love the color and the sweet heart neckline! Julianna Margulies looks fabulous!

Julia Stiles! Where have you been? The ombre effect on this dress is so unique - it was nice to see a different color palate.

Everyone has been talking about Lea Michele's dress, I think it's perfectly glam and the 

décolletage is stunning.

Yay! Modern Family representing on the red carpet and the salmon colored dress and slight knot cinch at the waist is age appropriate for Sarah Hyland.

The Misses

Pale on pale never works, also a larger size helps. Amy Adams please try again.

Nice try Angie, I am not feeling it. Too many frills, could almost be a wedding dress.

Christina I adore you, I really do. Please allow me to style you, just once.

Another Modern Family appearance, but sadly Julia Bowen misses with this jump suit apparatus.

I love this color, but the black belt ruins the look. With the wrong accessory, an entire outfit can go down.

The Decent

January Jones looks more classy this time around (see any picture from People's Choice Awards), but I can't help but think curtain. The silhouette is lovely though.

I love the color purple, but the bedazzled bust, strap and waist cut out are too much. Kim nice try though.

Again love the color and Mariska, but the material looks and is probably stiff taffeta. 

Another request for styling assistance, please choose me Natalie. The hair is very formal and satin is a wrinkles best friend.

If you can't tell, I am obsessed with Modern Family. Sofía Vergara looks great in purple, would have preferred a loose side bun and less cleavage. The design at the waist is unique, but the entire look isn't working.

The flowers, too much. Had the print been solid, I would have placed Tina Fey in the fabulous category.

Winona Ryder! You are still relevant! No to the dress, which is a actually for a wedding. No to the black purse, which is actually for little old ladies.

Love this dress..for the beach and without the belt. Not SAG carpet worthy. Mila Kunis you can do better.

Update Classic Fashion: Yo Vintage!

Vintage clothing can be risky, at times you aren't sure whether or not clothing that your mother/father used to wear will look good on you, but Yo Vintage! takes the confusion out by offering fabulous, one of kind clothing at affordable prices. Flaunt the sequins or stripes and go wild! This site offers you the vintage state of mind...