American Music Awards 2011: The Ugly

Sorry it's a day late but I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday if you live in the US or a nice Thursday if you don't. You didn't think I forgot about The Ugly did you?

There isn't much that I can say that is nice about this dress. I'm not a hater but what is redeeming about this Ugly frock? I'm not a fan of the handkerchief hemline and never have been and I don't enjoy the rosettes on the front of the bodice. I don't like the look of the shoes, they seem comfy but not necessarily sexy. I hope Cheryl redeems herself next time.

Julie Bowen's dress doesn't horribly offend me, if I saw it on a soccer mom at a holiday party I wouldn't think twice. I just don't think this look works for the red carpet, now matter how casual the event. Yes, I know it's sequined but the stripes make it more sporty and the high pony only adds to that effect. The Loubies are sexy but I personally would have gone for navy or metallic to bring out those shades in the dress.

If you're anything like me you're wondering who the f*@! this person is. Well, it's Kimberly Perry from the country group Band Perry. Yeah, that doesn't clear things up for me either. I never listen to the radio and certainly not country, Sorry! Either way I have to say I'm not a fan of this dress. If I didn't like it on my darling Emma Stone I'm not going to enjoy it on anyone. The hair doesn't work, neither does the bag but I love, love, love the gold and black shoes. I'd wear those with a cuter dress. Next!

I know, I know, Nicki's going for a look I just don't like it. The top of the dress is fine, not great but okay, it's the bottom that I don't like. I don't like the pickups as they are called or the shade of green that was chosen, especially not with pastel pink hair. Plus, if she's wearing a wig (which she always does) why the hell is it not perfection? Again, I love the heels in this one and I adore the eye makeup but perhaps it would be better paired with either a nude lip or a natural haircolor, not bright pink both.

Are we in agreement? Let me know in the comments!

Summer Fashion: Capris

Life is too short not to wear what you love, no matter what. It's a realization that I came to at the beginning of the summer when I spotted adorable light colored tops at Old Navy. Most of my clothes were in darker colors, at the very least darker shades of purple, blue and green but these cute tees were light peach, hot pink and lavender and I wanted them, so I bought them and rock them all the time.

If you listen to style experts like Tim Gunn (who I love btw because he's the perfect combination of bitchy and tactful) capris are a big no-no for pretty much everyone. Unless you're a model, tall and thin with nary a curve to speak of, you might look a little heavier and/or shorter in capris. At least that's what they say. I don't think that's always the case. Personally, I'd rather see a woman in capris than trying too hard with booty shorts that just accentuate every lump and bump we have. I see a lot of it around here and I wish I didn't have to.

Here are some of my favorite types of capris to keep you looking cute and chic all summer. We've got ones that are comfy for running around, being athletic or we've got capris that you can dress up and take out, unlike the man in your life who you can spiff up all you want but you still can't take him anywhere (luckily I don't have that)!

First up, the simplest, easiest Capri style, leggings. To properly rock leggings choose a dark shade (pref. black honestly) and ALWAYS wear a shirt that covers your bum. I like leggings under mini dresses, tunics and longer flowy tops. They look best with wedges, flats or thong sandals or for more casual days flip flops. I personally don't think they really work with dressier shoes and definitely avoid the boots or what's the point in wearing a capri length legging?

Then, also a cute casual choice, capri yoga pants. These are best left for the gym, hanging around home or running errands. Please make sure they fit snugly but not too tight and that you're wearing panties that aren't going to give you a VPL (visible panty line). These look great with tanks and tees but keep your accessories to a minimum. I like those with a cute foldover waist with an adorable pattern or fun color!

For causal days running around town or hitting the mall capris in sporty materials are great to keep you cool without showing off too much. These are great for those transitional days in spring or fall or for cool/rainy summer days. Worn with a tight top and cute shoes there is no reason you can't look fashionable while still being comfortable.

Perhaps my favorite capri look is a dressier jean type pant. Whether it's skinny cargos, simple white jeans or slim fitting leather, dressed up capris look hot! Go crazy with accessories and you can really up the caliber of this simple outfit. Anything goes with your shoes but, for the most part, higher heels can be worn with these styles. There are so many cute options out there that it's a great choice for those of us who rarely, if ever, wear shorts.

Then, of course, there are jean capris, a summer staple for all of us. Make sure to go for a thinner denim that hugs your curves in all the right places, it will hold you in and still be comfortable even on those 100 degree days. Unless you're super slim and looking to add curves I would avoid the boyfriend style and make sure the crotch of your capris is up where it should be, not resting between your knees like the boys do.

Moral of the story, make sure those capris aren't baggy, hit a couple inches below the knees or below the widest part of your calf, and by God do not rock them with your chunky sneakers (sleek Puma-esque sneakers are fine) or your highest stilettos both will look off. Tighter fits will accentuate your curves and make you look like a bombshell and prevent you from worrying about bending over in public the way shorts can.

Summer Fashions

I wish it were summer year round, at least fashion-wise. Bulky sweaters just make me look bulky and I really like showing off my legs in a skirt and my decolletage in low cut V necks. Neither is very attractive in the dead of winter when the cold makes skin so raw after 3 minutes in the winter air. Here are some of the summer fashions I'm wishing I had the money for right now!

There has been some controversy over this picture of Angelina Jolie for Louis Vuitton's Core Values campaign. No it's not that Angie's values are a little iffy (come on, who can forget the blood vial, the admitted knife play and her making out with her brother on national TV?). It's that she's supposedly not wearing makeup when any beauty junkie can clearly point out that is not the case. Look at those gorgeous smoky eyes. Anyway... I got a little off track there. What I wanted to say about this picture is how in love I am with the outfit, the loose gray tee and linen-esque cargo pants. This is a look that would keep you cool from morning til night when the occasion doesn't call for shorts. Lovely!

Here's a picture of gorgeous supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (aka Jason Statham's arm candy) looking super fine in a white backless dress. This is something I could never in a million years pull off but I would like to if given the occasion or $$$$ that comes with such a hawt outfit! The gold heels only add to the luxe look.

Two words: Leather shorts! I so want to go there but I just can't. First, I hardly ever wear shorts, just skirts and dresses, and secondly, ouch! You know that feeling you get when you sit on a leather banquette for a while and then try to get up and you're STUCK? Imagine that all the time. The deconstructed tee with the fringe really adds to the rockstar look. Maybe someday I'll have the guts to go for it.

This one's not really summery but would work for transitioning into fall even though I can't believe I'm thinking that far ahead. I love the loose tank that's sloppily tucked in but I'm really adoring those purple jeans. J'adore. I would so wear these, especially since purple's my favorite color. To make this work now I'd ditch the heavy boots and add some kick ass flat sandals but no flipflops.

To give you an idea how fair I am I bet Isla Fisher is darker than I am. Seriously. For that reason I adore this dress because it doesn't make us pale girls look even paler and the flowers lend a sophisticated garden party like vibe to the look. The waistline of this dress is super flattering to those of us with boobs and a tummy. I would have chosen a different color for the accessories though, probably the medium tone blue in the dress.

It seems like no DOC fashion roundup is complete without a picture of Jordin Sparks and honestly I'm not even a fan of her music, I'm not even sure if I've ever heard her music. Girl is totally rocking this outfit, gray tank tucked into a lime green bandage skirt. If I didn't have such a big belly I'd be all over this look. The colors work so well together but I'd never think to put them together. I used to have a prairie-style (but shorter) skirt that was lime and I loved pairing it with black for the contrast but gray is much more subtle and sexy. Way to go Jordin.

I found the perfect day off ensemble on Victoria's Secret Angel Alessandra Ambrosio. Her tan skin looks fabulous in neon pink shorts but I bet they'd look equally fabulous on my albino legs. The sweatshirt keeps things comfy in the early morning and into the evening when a tank just won't do. Plus, how cute is her daughter Anja?

Another frequent fashion inspiration of mine is Kerry Washington. I'm loving coral this year and along with everyone else I can't wait to get my hands on something simmering and coral. This dress on Kerry is gorgeous. The color is perfect for many skintones, in fact as a fair girl with pink undertones, coral is one of my best colors. The draping on this stunner camouflages a multitude of sins and would be perfect on just about any figure from stick thin to full and fabulous.

Minka Kelly is a flawless beauty and her style has come a long way in the past few years. She's always been beautiful but I just love her in this easy summer outfit of faded and ripped jeans with a cute white top. This is a look literally everyone could rock and I bet we'd all look pretty damn hot in!

There you have it, my favorite summer fashions so far. There's plenty more to come. Each week when I skim through (who am I kidding I read them cover to cover) the glossies I'm on the lookout for the next cutest outfit. I hope you enjoy my little fashion foray. Clearly my love of JustJared.buzznet.com is coming into play a little bit.

Fitflops for Fashion

I'm sure you've seen them around, probably everywhere, and are just as appalled as I am, the "workout" shoes that have giant platforms and leave you with instability to help improve your leg muscles during daily activiity. That's all well and good. Who doesn't want that? Well, what if they're too ugly to see the light of day? Yeah, sorry, I'd rather have cankles than sport some of those fugly things. That's why I was surprised when I saw an ad for Fitflops in Self Magazine. Wow, those are kinda cute, I thought to myself. That's what I'm talking about.

Take a look at the Fitflop Pietra, isn't it pretty? These look just like sandals you'd find me wearing to the beach, no clunky platform, no wiggling to stand still, just a pretty shoe with rhinestones (!). Could you ask for more?

For those of you that are more girly, or like a little variety, there's also the Frou, a gorgeous suede-esque ruffled flower sandal. Just look at her...


With so many other styles to choose from you're sure to find something beautiful that you could see yourself wearing. Do yourself a favor and check out the site. I know from experience that regular ol' flipflops offer zero support for feet, knees, hips, even your back and even if these didn't help you tone up while you ran errands, shopped or strolled on the beach, they obviously offer a lot more support than the flat thongs we slide into every day all summer long.

Available at zappos and fitflop.com

Summer Style

As we get closer and closer to the summer, even if it doesn't feel like it with all this rain, I can't help but get excited for summer fashion, most of which I'd never be able to pull off or wear in my regular life. That doesn't stop me from dreaming and wishing though. Take a peek at some of the looks I loved this week.

I could never see myself wearing orange, it just isn't going to happen. Peach, yes. Orange, no! That didn't stop me from adoring these next two looks, an older picture of Zoe Saldana that I just can't get out of my head and the always beautiful Jordin Sparks totally rocking an orange dress with a peekabo black bra underneath. Beautiful. If I had a body like hers I'd be flaunting it too. As for Zoe, I just adore the belt and the ruffles that add to her thin frame.



Speaking of always beautiful, Brooklyn Decker tops my list this week with her adorable light denim-style shirt and metallic skirt. It's not a look I'd put together for myself but Brooklyn makes it look fun and feminine at the same time. Bravo! Next time I'd like to see some more summery shoes though.


Wow! I was utterly speachless when I saw Helen Mirren in this funky, should-be-too-young-yet-somehow-she-pulls-it-off look of a leopard print maxi dress and leather jacket. If I have style like this at her age (or hell, even at my age now) I'd be very proud. I love the boldness of the look even though it's completely covered up. It has me wanting a printed maxi dress pronto! Any chic, cheap options available in plus sizes you guys know of, let me know!


Black can sometimes read too funeral-ly for real life but sex it up a little and we're talking drop dead gorgeous, much like the look that knocked me off my feet when I spotted it on Gwen Stefani. Check out that awesome halter neckline. It looks like a haute couture bridal gown only black. I can't say enough great things about it, especially paired with her perennially platinum hair and dark smoldering eyes.


What about you? Any fashion looks you wish you could afford pull off like these ladies do? Honestly, I find myself more drawn to the looks I probably would never wear than the ones I could easily see myself strutting down the street in if I were about 10 sizes smaller.

Spring Fashion Finds

Do you know by now how much I hate winter? I probably say it every day between late October and early April, the six month winter we have here in Maine. Not only is the weather outside nasty, my skin and hair a hot mess, and cabin fever in full effect but I'm stuck wearing pants, sweatshirts and *gasp* socks! It truly is just starting to warm up here in New England but I've been wearing flip flops for weeks now, ready for the days I can start wearing capris and skirts. What better way to inspire us all then to look at the celebrities we love for inspiration.

This image of Hayden Panettiere screams springtime to me, from the mint green Vena Cava dress, summery makeup to those fabulous nude YSL strappy platforms. I'd live in this dress if the weather (and my figure) would allow it.

This nude Victoria Beckham creation on Minka Kelly lends itself perfectly to summer weddings. I love how she punched it up with red pumps but personally, for my personality and coloring, I would have gone with lilac or hot pink.

While I'm not one for prim and proper, if I was, I'd be wearing this gorgeous sky blue tweed dress from Chanel seen on Emma Roberts. Chanel's known for their fabulous tweeds and this is no exception with the added fun-factor of fringe and feathers.

If you're into pants, what better way to spring-ify your wardrobe than pastel jeans? Rachel Bilson does it best in blush pink J Brand jeans and those gorgeous butter yellow Charlotte Olympia heels. Colored jeans are all the rage for spring and I've been dying for a gray pair for years now.

What rocker girl's wardrobe is complete without a leather dress? Not just any leather dress, coral leather like Malin Akerman. It really speaks to me on a weird level. I have no idea if I'd be ballsy enough to pull off this J. Mendel asymmetrical dress but it's gorgeous none-the-less.

In another shade of orange I'm not quite daring enough to wear, Katharine McPhee rocks this orange asymmetrical, one shoulder dress. I love the silver strappy heels as accent, not too stuffy or heavy for such a springy outfit.

In another Victoria Beckham dress, Camilla Belle looks flawless and has me imagining summer dates and dining alfresco. This is something I could pull off and to spice things up a little I'd even add a fun pop of color with some sexy shoes.

Last but not least, we cannot forget the feet and I've been lusting after these Yves Saint Laurent Gipsy platforms for a while. Just the pop of purple had me at hello. I love me some purple, purple anything. The rest of the shoe is neutral enough for any occasion. J'dore. I could see rocking these with a royal purple pedicure.

How about you? What are you most looking forward to wearing this spring and summer, I mean besides that sexy new bikini? That part I'm not looking forward to as much.

Melie Bianco Ariana Bag

I don't normally talk about fashion on the blog but I'm a huge believer that the right bag or shoe can really elevate an outfit. You can never be too fat for a shoe or a bag. Jewelry's never been my thing, I have tons but I never ever wear it without a huge reminder. I'm never without a great bag and a nice shoe. Whether it's the perfect pair of purple snakeskin peetoes or the tan Nine West bag I relived my best friend of seasons ago, I always wear the right thing for my mood.

I can't stop thinking about the Melie Bianco Ariana Bag in turquoise, I can't get my mind to stop going there. It's so beautiful and I can see wearing it all the time, the color works for all seasons and you know how I feel about turquoise. I even have the perfect pair of peeptoes in my closet to match if I'm in a matching mood and plenty of neutral shoes for when I'm all about the contrast.

What do you think? What accessories would you pair with this gorgeous bag? More importantly tell me about your spring fashion lemmings.