#IconCity: I'm Simply Obsessed with Kerry Washington

This week, the Emmy's were on (on a Monday night, no less) and somehow, I survived the entire show without falling asleep. Despite the valiant efforts of Seth Meyers, some jokes just didn't translate into laughs and the evening continued to drag on. For celebrities, it's a lovely event as well as an occasion to get all dressed up and hope for a win. For us common folk, it's just background noise while we compulsively check our social media combined with a bit of FOMO.

Anyway, one of my favourite parts about these awards shows is the Red Carpet (if you hadn't already figured that one out). One of the standouts at every event is Kerry Washington. Not only is she beautiful, but she is ALWAYS best-dressed. Everything she wears looks like it was custom made for her (and this time, it actually was) and she's consistently a stand-out. Watching her walk the Red Carpet makes me want to check out Scandal for more of a glimpse at her style. With a repertoire of films, I definitely have a lot of catching up to do. For now, let us just marvel as some of her best looks.

LOOK 1

You wish you looked this good in white. Wearing a classy Cushnie et Ochs suit with a slight peplum, Kerry looks enviably amazing. Let's not forget to mention her pop of colour with those red Brian Atwood pumps and that standout Kate Spade New York clutch. I'm dying for this.

via InStyle

LOOK 2

Only a girl with serious style savvy could pull off this high-low dress in electric orange. As soon as I saw this Michael Kors look on the runway, I knew that only a true diva could wear it and own it. Kerry wears it beautifully and with a stunning bun that we're all fantasizing about.

via thefashionspot.ca

LOOK 3

This look accentuates Kerry's gorgeous curves and once again, that pop of red was exactly what this outfit needed. Not afraid of a bold print, Kerry proves that she really is an icon to admire.

via berrysa.blogspot.ca

LOOK 4

Has your jaw dropped yet? This is so incredibly beautiful, I want it to be my wedding dress. And that hair is a complete dream. I'm speechless.

via InStyle

LOOK 5
This is definitely my favourite Red Carpet look on Kerry and that says a lot considering that I love ALL her Red Carpet looks. I'm obsessed the perfect fit of this mermaid Zuhair Murad gown . And her hair is, simply put, amazing.

via fabsugar.com

What do you think of Kerry's style? Which is your favourite look?

Ponder It,

XOXO,

Bella

Story of A Magazine Addict

via shop312.wordpress.com

Ever since I was a pre-teen, I've been devouring magazines like they were my birthday cake and it was my birthday every month. It started with J-14 and M Magazine (remember those, 90s kids?). I proceeded to purchase gossip tabloids (because who hasn't gone through that phase?). All I wanted to do was follow celebrity gossip and find out who was dating who and which hubby cheated on his hot wife. After a while, I grew sick of these false stories being told by journalists craving a good story in US Weekly and InTouch, because honestly, who the hell cares? At this time, my interest in fashion started to grow and suddenly, I found myself addicted to this genre of magazine.

Today, it's all about Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, FASHION, Flare, and InStyle. It's about those magazines I'll never get sick of. As soon as I spot them on the racks at my local drugstore, I can't resist the one with the prettiest cover. I yearn to turn those pages and discover the latest fashion news, the photoshoots, and the cover story.

So, ladies and gentlemen, I confess to my addiction with an open heart. I am fully aware that I am obsessed with magazines and my only means of self-control is someone I really hate gracing a cover. I keep my archives because frankly, isn't that what fashion is all about? Nostalgia? Reminiscing? Inspiration from past collections?

So, when my parents ask me why I can't let go of my magazines, I tell them just that. Every page is reminder of the rich history of the fashion industry. Perhaps I don't have access to 1893 Vogue, but my 2008 version is just as good (sort of). It's a memory of my own evolution as a fashion lover.

Back in my awkward teenage years, fashion was simply an afterthought. Today, I look at these old magazines with new eyes. I am no longer that girl who just flipped through the pages, casually eyeing the photographs. I'm the girl who analyses and nitpicks every element that goes into it because I can finally appreciate the art that is involved.

I know what you're thinking. Did I seriously waste my time reading this testimonial when I could've been on Style.com? Perhaps you did. And if so, maybe it'll make you realize that your magazine addiction is not the worst thing in the world. Everything in moderation.

Ponder That,

XOXO,

Bella

#EMMY'S 2014: Another Best-Dressed List

For the first time since 1976, the Emmys were held on a Monday night and the world was in an uproar.

Just kidding.

Nobody had anything better to do last night than sit back, relax, and watch Seth Meyers' make awkward puns about all the celebrity presenters. It was a night filled with awkward comedy (Weird Al Yankovic) and a few tears were shed when Billy Crystal paid tribute to Robin Williams. Other than that, most of the evening was fairly dull with a few wisecracks and inside jokes only an elite group of celebrities would understand.

Now, let's get to the main event: The Best-Dressed List.

Since I haven't made one of these in a while, I am very excited to share my choices with you. This was a difficult list to make as many celebrities were well-dressed on the carpet this year (much to our utter surprise). The stylists clearly know their clients and that definitely made it slightly more worth our watch.

Here it goes:

NUMBER 10

Taylor Schilling in Zuhair Murad

As soon as this Orange Is The New Black star hit the Red Carpet, her sleek gold number stood out. Sexy, yet tasteful, this look could not go wrong. After all, everyone loves a little shine on the Red Carpet. It may not have been orange, but I get the feeling she's just sick of the colour.

via Huffington Post

NUMBER 9

Halle Berry in Elie Saab

I did not spot Halle's dress until she got on stage to present an award and needless to say, I was very impressed with the choice. The soft dusty pink complimented her skin perfectly and the thigh high slit is always a crowd pleaser.

via Huffington Post

NUMBER 8

Heidi Klum in Zac Posen

It wouldn't be an awards night without a Zac Posen dress gracing the Red Carpet. Of course, Heidi Klum was the perfect candidate for the part. This classy coral number made her skin glow and accentuated those enviable blond locks.

via diarandi.com

NUMBER 7

Julia Roberts in Elie Saab

Yet another Elie Saab dress makes the best-dressed list. Maybe I have a soft spot for the designer or maybe Julia Roberts looked too stunning not to make the list. Choosing a short dress was definitely a risk for the Emmys, but Julia pulled it off with ease. With a perfect V and an adorable ruffled skirt, she stood out from the crowd.

via Huffington Post

NUMBER 6

Kate Mara in J. Mendel

There's something about this dress that was just right. Perhaps the flowing white fabric or the intricate floral appliqués at the top. Maybe white just projects an angelic vibe like no other colour. Whatever the reason, I really loved Kate Mara's dress last night.

via Huffington Post

NUMBER 5

Lizzy Caplan in Donna Karan Atelier

This dress was that jaw-dropping kind that everyone was talking about the moment, Masters of Sex star, Lizzy Caplan, hit the Red Carpet. Classy in the front and party in the back, Lizzy was the envy of everyone in the room. She's come a long way from her days as fierce Mean Girls character, Janice Ian. 

via tomandlorenzo.com

NUMBER 4

Sara Hyland in Christian Siriano

Only a young starlet like Sara Hyland could wear a crop top to the Emmys and look utterly chic. The sliver of skin was just right and let's not forget to mention that gorgeous coral skirt. Extra points go Hyland for the high bun.

via dearandi.com

NUMBER 3

Kerry Washington in Custom Prada

Maybe Kerry is number 3 on my list because I have a girl crush on her. Sporting the colour of the evening, ORANGE, Kerry looked stunning and the glimpse of sparkly hot pants peeking out was the perfect finishing touch to this look.

via ph.she.yahoo.com

NUMBER 2

January Jones in Prabal Gurung

Red was another theme last night and I'd like to award best red dress to January Jones. It was elegant and ostentatious and that is exactly why I loved it.

via Huffington Post

NUMBER 1

Allison Williams in Giambattista Valli

Giambattista Valli is one of my favourite designers and therefore, Allison Williams' decision to wear it automatically landed her on this list. I love the touch of yellow at the waist and the feminine bow at the bust made it feminine and chic. Did I mention I'm in love with it?

via Harper's Bazaar

What are you thoughts? What would your best-dressed list look like?

Ponder it,

XOXO,

Bella

The #VMAS: Let's Face It, It Was All About Beyonce

Let's get one thing clear. The VMA's are not about fashion. Or about music.

They're about one celebrity outdoing the other. In this case, everyone's goal was to outdo last year's Miley and Robin Thicke performance (without the backlash).

via MTV.com

A lot of amazing things happened last night that you may have not noticed, so pay attention. We saw Lorde dance to Beyonce, which compensated for the absence of a performance from her. Blue Ivy did a little shake and it was the cutest thing we've ever seen in our lives. Obvi, Taytay couldn't help herself either and you can expect many gifs about it in the near future. Rita Ora's face during Anaconda took the cake for most blatant expression of utter shock. Nicki Minaj held her dress together during her trio (triette?) with Ariana Grande and Jessie J. because clearly something wasn't working and a wardrobe malfunction was in our midst (ALMOST). Kylie was WAY better dressed than Kendall (just had to get that one out there). Miley Cyrus' compensated for last year's fiasco by giving a shoutout to the homeless. AND Usher spanked Nicki Minaj (ERR...)

So, let's make this a contest or an "award show", if you will, in honour of the true meaning of the VMAs.

BEST GLITTER:
Nominees: Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Ariana Grande
And The Winner Is...BEYONCE
Apparently, one MUST wear glitter on stage to attract the most attention possible. Obviously, nobody can compete with Beyonce when it comes to glitter or sequins or sparkle. Though Taytay made a valiant effort, even she knows that she could not possibly beat out the Queen.

BEST BUTT:
Nominees: Nicki Minaj, Beyonce, Ariana Grande
And The Winner Is...BEYONCE
I know you all think Nicki deserves this award, but Beyonce made her butt look tasteful somehow and that is no easy feat. Nicki's may have been more prominent, but Beyonce's drew us all in and therefore, she still gets this award.

via MTV.com
Sorry, Nicki, Better luck next time.

BEST RAP:
Nominees: Iggy Azalea, Nicki Minaj, Usher
And The Winner Is...BEYONCE
Just kidding.
Of course, Iggy Azalea is the best female white rapper on the scene right now. Usher tried to rap (ish) it at the beginning of his performance, but I think that moment had us all confused. What are you doing, Usher? You're a soul man. Nicki is runner-up once again, but I'm sure she's fine with that. I'm still waiting for the Nicki and Iggy rap-off to happen.

MOST EMOTIONAL:
Nominees: Sam Smith, Beyonce, 5 Seconds to Summer
And The Winner Is...BEYONCE
This time, Beyonce wins for REAL. Evidence? I actually cried during the last five minutes of her performance. Her tribute to Blue Ivy was beyond beautiful and that shout-out to feminism had me a little teary-eyed as well. Sniff Sniff. Go Queen Bey!

CUTEST FAMILY LOVE:
Nominees: The Beyonces, The Kardashians, Ariana Grande and her Nonna
And The Winner Is...THE BEYONCES
We're going to call them "The Beyonces" because clearly, she runs the world, girls. Blue Ivy's little shake during her momma's performance was probably one of the top five cutest things I've ever seen. Jay-Z looked snazzy and super proud of his wifey, who he is probably not divorcing despite the rumours. Let's hope they stay together forever and ever, guys.

via MTV.com
The Beyonces

SEXIEST PERFORMANCE:
Nominees: Usher, Beyonce, Adam Levine
And The Winner Is...BEYONCE
As much as I love these two beautiful men, Beyonce still takes this one because she's Beyonce and let's face it, she can probably turn any straight woman. Considering that I am in LOVE with Adam Levine and Usher, that says a lot about Queen Bey.

BEST DRESSED:
Nominees: Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Kylie Jenner
And The Winner Is...BEYONCE (kidding again)
Because this had to be a category, I've decided to choose Katy Perry. She paid tribute to the 90s, keeping up with the current trends. We all miss Britney and Justin's adorable puppy love and Katy Perry brought their sexy back. I think we were all pretty pleased with the result. #feeling nostalgic
Actual best-dressed: KYLIE (even though I'm not a huge fan of the Kardashian clan, this Alexandre Vauthier was so goth chic and I seriously loved it)

via MTV.com
HOT STUFF

Who would you vote for? Do you think Beyonce deserves the crown?

Ponder That,

XOXO,

Bella

#IconCity: When Bella and Bella Collide

I love Bella Thorne because we share a name. It cannot be denied that I don't really know anything about her other than the fact that she has amazing style and obviously, that we have the same name. Due to this embarrassing tidbit, I decided to do some research and here is what I discovered.

1) Her name is actually Annabella (so we don't actually share a name).
2) She's 5"8. I'm 5"1 (we clearly have NOTHING in common).
3) She played a young Taylor Townsend on The O.C once (I loved the O.C.)
4) She is a natural redhead (Mind. Blown.)
5) She sponsors a child in Kenya (she cares about people).

Based on the knowledge I acquired from IMDB, I've concluded that she deserves to be part of IconCity. Mazel Tov.

Here are some of her best looks.

LOOK 1

Yes, she is a Disney girl. So what? Does she not deserve to be an icon at such a young age? If anything, her early success is pretty iconic. Also, she knows that emerald green looks amaze on a ginger. 2 points.

via Teen Vogue

LOOK 2

Let's all take a lesson from Bella Thorne. Florals and neutrals look incredible together. This is essentially Adele's Valentino gone right. And the Pocahontas braid adds extra disney points. 3 points.

via outfitidentifier.com

LOOK 3

Somehow, Bella wears a crop top with cutouts and it looks perfectly classy. It's called "pairing it with a pencil skirt". Of course, this pastel hue looks perfect against her porcelain Irish skin. And add points for that bun, please. 4 points.

via Teen Vogue

LOOK 4

This is so cute. I'm Rachel Zoe dying for it. Palm trees are all the rage and this lady knows it. Besides, anything Fausto Puglisi gets points in my book. 5 points.

via stylevanity.com

LOOK 5

To some this may be a bit "whoa", but to me, that's an accomplishment. If you can wear head-to-toe prints and pull it off, kudos to you. Matching her hair to her outfit is genius and that messy bun is beyond.

via modamob.com

Holler if you think she deserves to be in IconCity. If not, that's fine too.

Ponder it,

XOXO,

Bella

What Your Nail Polish Collection Says About You

My Collection

I wrote this post back in 2013 about my addiction to Essie nail polish (read it!). For some inexplicable reason, I LOVE Essie (good marketing?). All my friends wear Essie, my aesthetician uses Essie, and it has every shade your brain could possibly imagine. When it is on sale, my heart leaps out of my chest and it instantly becomes the best day of my life. I can't explain why. It just is.

Yet, there are so many other amazing brands to choose from:
OPI
Deborah Lippman
China Glaze
Marc Jacobs
Butter London
NARS
Hard Candy
ZOYA

The list goes on. So, why Essie? It feels right to me and perhaps someday I will be open to other brands, but for now, this is my poison.

Your nail polish collection is not only about the brand you choose but the colours you select. Let me tell you, this says a lot about the kind of person you are. Based on my pre-conceived notions of people, I've decided to help you figure out who you are and whether you'd like to become more experimental based on your nail lacquer collection.

If Your Collection Consists Of...

MOSTLY Reds, Pinks, and Orange Tones
You're a classicist. You're not really a nail polish risk-taker, but you like it that way. You want to look classy and put-together at ALL TIMES. That is perfectly fine. I won't look down on you. I admire your loyalty to a chic selection of colours. Your number one is probably Essie's cult favourite Fiji. That's fine. I own it too. Keep on wearing Fiji. It's lovely.

MOSTLY Blues, Greens, and Shades of Black.
You're a little edgier than most. Your aunt might give your nails a looksie and cringe a little bit, but you like it. You want that reaction. The weirder the colour, the better you feel. Who needs those standard colours? You especially LOVE that there are so many versions of black on the market. After all, who can pick just one? You're probably a big fan of Essie's Butler Please, Turquoise and Caicos, or Devil's Advocate. Your nails are always bold and edgy, exactly like you. And who's to judge?

MOSTLY Nail Art
You are the most patient person on the planet (in my biased opinion). You love YouTube because it offers a world of options. Who needs one colour on your nails when you can have 3? Louboutin nails? Love it. Polka dots? Bring it on. Multi-coloured french mani? That's the ONLY way to do it. You love experimenting and you're a major risk-taker. If you make a mess, who cares? It's all art, isn't it? You're a lot of fun to be around because you'll try anything once. People really love you.

MOSTLY French Manicures, White, or Nudes
You ONLY paint your nails on special occasions. You like them clean and cut. You are very clean cut yourself. You love a classic pantsuit for work with a chic bob or blunt bang. Your nude Celine handbag is your best friend. Who needs wild colours? Those are for children, you say. I'm ready to be a woman. You ALWAYS look sophisticated and people envy your for it. You don't need to try new things because you know what you like and you're more experience driven than trend driven. I salute you.

This may be a product of my imagination, but you might find some truth to it. Take a peak at your nail polish collection tonight and let me know where you stand.

Ponder That,

XOXO,

Bella

Why We Need To Stop Rationalizing Our Shoe Collections

via shoephoric.tumblr.com

We all have weaknesses and guilty pleasures that cause our brains to shut down and that stimulate our impulses. For me, this phenomenon occurs when I see an amazing pair of shoes and correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm almost certain that there are many others like me. Every time I spot a pair of shoes, I tell myself that love cannot be denied and I MUST have them. Let me confess that logic does NOT come into play. At least not real logic.

Sometimes I tell myself that I need a pair of sneakers for when I (don't) go to the gym. Occasionally, I'll spot a pair of sky high stilettos and justify them by remembering that it's my best friend's birthday next week and I HAVE to wear something new. Also, I'm 5" feet tall, so a pair of high heels is ALWAYS necessary. Fall is approaching and I obviously need a new pair of knee high leather boots. They are a closet staple, aren't they? The snow devoured last year's pair. Oh well. I also need a lower bootie for those slightly warmer days. Besides, they look ridiculously edgy with my new LBD. If I'm going to go out, I'll definitely need a high heeled version of both. I also need some Sorels for the snow because I don't want to get my nicer boots dirty. Can't make that mistake again. After all, they were a bit pricey.

Does this sound familiar?

If these words have played in your head every time you bought a pair of shoes, you fall into the same category as I do: The Shoe Addict.

How do you overcome it?

To that I respond: Do I have to?

To some of us, the shoe makes or breaks the outfit. With your basic white tee and jeans, that Sophia Webster heel may be all you need to take it from daytime chic to party on the town. While some spend all their money on clothes, all I need is a variety of shoes to dress up or down my simplest looks. Is that such a crime? Maybe trying to rationalize our shoe collections is pointless. Or perhaps we could all use that one perfect sneaker (unless you're my height). Whichever camp you fall under, fashion is NOT about rationale. It's about passion and self-expression. If that takes you straight into the arms of Valentino Rockstud Pumps, who am I to judge?

Perhaps we should all pay more attention to our shoes. Maybe being a shoe addict isn't such a bad thing.

But then again, that's also coming from a shoe addict, so who am I to talk?


Ponder that,

Bella

P.S 15 DAYS UNTIL NYFW