Riri's Breasts Are Talk of the Town

Rihanna won the Fashion Icon Award at the CFDAs. Naturally, she had to prove herself as a deserving candidate by bearing her breasts in a sheer fishnet Adam Selman gown with matching gloves and hairnet. It was a moment that will go down in history and it has marked her as the Madonna of current decade. While this isn't the first time Rihanna flashes her breasts, somehow it crossed the threshhold of appropriate award show attire. Personally, I think the fur stole stole the show, but in the battle between breasts and stole, breasts always win.

Though Rihanna has always revealed her bold fashion sense with striking haircuts, sexy deep V dresses, and sport chic ensembles, this one takes the cake. Flooding the Twittersphere, the blogosphere, and everyone's Facebook newsfeed, this look is all anyone is talking about. Forget Kimye's wedding, Rihanna proudly flashed the entire fashion industry and well, the world.

CFDA Fashion Awards 2014
via People Stylewatch

Do we approve? Some would say it was vulgar and distasteful. Others would say it was #forthesakeoffashion. Rihanna probably doesn't care though, so what we think is hardly relevant.

Was she doing it to prove a point or just because? Perhaps she was just being Rihanna and this is what Rihanna does.  Is she just trying to outdo Miley? Has she taken her rebel image too far? Was it merely a further call for attention? Did she just really like the dress and it happened to be transparent?

OR let us ponder the real question at hand. Would you do it?

I'd say, probably not.

But perhaps that's why she's the one getting the fashion award and not you. Maybe bearing your breasts is all it takes to capture everyone's attention.

Think about it.

Bella

MOD Moment

After months of deliberation, I finally decided to start watching Mad Men in its final season. For the past two months, I've fallen in love with Don Draper's bad boy charm and Roger Sterling's clever, nay silly, sense of humour. I stumbled into the world of 60s fashion and it became my new favourite fashion era. Inspired by Betty Francis' classy two piece suits, Megan Draper's sexy shift dresses, and even Sally Draper's adorable minis, I can't get enough of Mad Men style. I inadvertently purchased my very own shift dress two weeks ago and frankly, I can't get over it. Everyone may think the nineties are dominating the current fashion scene, but in my opinion, the sixties are back in an even bigger way.

Here are some of the latest and hottest sixties trends that have resurfaced this season.

White Nails

Spotted on Don's gorgeous wife, Megan Draper, white nails were very a la mode at the time of the MOD movement. They also happen to be the biggest spring nail trend. Once upon a time, you were putting liquid paper on your nails. Today, Essie's Blanc is your new shade of choice. 

via beautyeditor.ca

Large Sunglasses

In case you hadn't noticed, large sunglasses are only getting bigger and bolder. White is the new black and round is the new aviator. Try these on for size a la Ralph Lauren.

via Ralph Lauren

Geometric Prints

Geometric prints are having a major moment, particularly of the black and white variety. Get inspired by Aimee Song of Song of Style's sophisticated black and white look.

via Song of Style

Shift Dresses

If you've been watching Mad Men or know anything about MOD, then you definitely know that the dress cut of choice was the shift. This look was totally trending at Fashion Week. Here is a look from the Tory Burch Spring 2014 show.

via Vogue.co.uk

Big Hair

If you missed the most recent Karl Lagerfeld extravaganza, you can watch it here. That's right, ladies. Big hair is the latest 60's trend to resurface. Take a break from your straightening iron and let it run wild with luscious curls or teased hair. If Karl did it, it must be coming back.

via portobellojewlery.com

Which is your favourite MOD trend? Are you ready for this 60s comeback?

Ciao,

Bella

#IconCity: Alba Kills It Every Time

Gracing this month's cover of Glamour Magazine, Jessica Alba remains one of the most enviable celebrities in Hollywood due to her stunning good looks and impeccable sense of style. Always on someone's best-dressed list, Alba makes her way into Iconcity among fashion's elite. From her days in the dance film, Honey, to her new company entitled "The Honest Company", which will debut at Target on June 15th, Alba has come a long way. The only thing that hasn't changed is her ability to put together looks we all aspire to. She may be a mom, but she's the coolest mom you'll ever meet and we all secretly envy the little girl who will get dressed by Alba. 

Are you ready for some of her best looks?

LOOK 1

Alba expertly pairs a black crop top sweater with a midi length tutu. It's the perfect combination of edgy and girly in one look.

via Pinterest

LOOK 2

A fan of bold statements, Alba looks super chic in cobalt blue skinnys and a floral blazer.

via People Stylewatch

LOOK 3

Alba stuns in head-to-toe white and adds a purple lip to overcome expectations.

via People Stylewatch

LOOK 4

Nobody wears a chic bun as well as Jessica Alba. A plaid shirt gives this look a cool urban vibe.

via heelsloveanddrugs.tumblr.com

LOOK 5

Alba lets out her feminine side with a white bandeau crop top and full yellow skirt. Who else is obsessed with those shoes?

via People Stylewatch

Which is your favourite Alba look? Is she on your best-dressed list?

Bella

Is Orange The New Red?

The red lip has shown it's iconic face on Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor. Currently, stars like Rihanna, Lana Del Rey, and Dita Von Teese have turned it into their signature look. A red lip has always been a bold statement that symbolizes power, femininity, and sensuality. This lipstick shade is considered a staple item to have in your makeup case and can solve your every makeup woe. A shade of red exists for every skin tone and articles about the perfect red lip permeate the fashion magazines and online beauty websites. Clearly, we're all nothing short of obsessed with this lip colour.

This spring, it was announced that orange is the new trendy lip colour to experiment with. On the runways of DKNY, Prabal Gurung, and DSquared2, models sported an orange lip. Apparently, they all had the same spurt of inspiration. This is no coincidence. In the springtime, beauty looks tend to deviate towards the brighter colours on the spectrum. While fall was all about the purple lip, spring takes us to a more playful place.

via mylittlenest.org

The colour orange reminds us of orange blossoms, oranges (evidently), and orange juice. Orange is generally a happy colour in contrast with the moodier purple and matches our current state of mind with its uplifting nature that mirrors the new season.

The real question is: will orange lips be replacing red?

via fashionfademagazine.co.uk

Unlikely. As we all know, fashion is divided between seasonal trends and timeless looks. While red falls under the timeless category, orange remains a spring trend that will quickly go out of style come fall. As a fashion rebel, I encourage you to try an orange lip in the fall if you feel like it. There's nothing like making a statement by countering trends.

I recently purchased my very own orangey lipstick, the classic Lady Danger by M.A.C, and I encourage you to try purchasing this shade of lipstick for the spring instead of your classic red. Now, don't be mistaken. I am not telling you to abandon red, but merely to try something brighter this season. Lady Danger is an orangey red, so if you aren't yet ready for neon orange, this is your best bet. If you prefer a bolder statement, Lancome's Rouge in Love Lipstick in Madame Tulip is an amazing choice. For a cheaper drugstore orange, try Maybelline New York Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick in Electric Orange for a mere 8$.

Are you ready to go orange this season? I know I am.

Toodles,

Bella

Are You Loyal To Your Makeup?

You've finally hit puberty and the awkward stages are only just beginning. You start to notice girls talking about periods and training bras. Every now and then, you catch your friends using terms like "PMS" and "Brazilians" in every day conversation, but you're still slightly confused as to their definitions. Suddenly, their eyes are getting bolder, their lips are getting sultrier, and their cheeks are getting redder. It's not the sun. They've simply discovered the magic of makeup.

As a young adult, you begin by stealing your mother's makeup from her closet as a means of experimentation. Once she catches you in the act, you have the "talk" and agree to ask her before you decide to borrow her lipstick. At a certain point, you realize that it's time you own a makeup product and fill your own makeup case. Depending on whether you're a little alternative or a pop princess, you opt for a no name brand eyeliner pencil or the new L'Oreal lip gloss you spotted at the pharmacy while your mom was checking out face creams. It was your right of passage, a symbol of your adulthood. As a wise woman we call Britney Spears once said, "you were not a girl, not yet a woman."

via hotttcoco.tumblr.com

But your coming of age is not exactly what this post is about. I'm here to bring to your attention the concept of brand loyalty.

Does it exist? 

There are different types of female consumers. 

The one's who stick to one brand of makeup and buy every product from that company.

The one's who choose specific brands based on the product.

The one's who experiment with different brands to find the perfect fit.

The one's who couldn't care less.

I'd have to say that I fall under the third. An obsessive reader of makeup reviews, it often takes weeks for me to choose my brand of choice. Once upon a time, I would only buy drugstore brands. As soon as I started reading magazines, I became a self-proclaimed makeup snob and decided that Sephora was my new destination of choice. With the abundance of incredible products, choosing one is often a challenging process. 

I know what you're thinking. Do I have the time or patience for any of this? Aren't drugstore brands just as good? Does it even matter?

The answer? Yes. While the au natural look is de rigueur for spring, that only makes it more important to find the right products to ensure you don't look like your makeup is painted on. You may not need to invest in the gazillion products on the market, but choose your top three and take the time to read some reviews. I guarantee that this process will be worth your while. Once you've determined your top 3 most important products (mine are: lipstick, mascara, and blush), you can proceed to purchase any other items at the drugstore. Makeup is about play, so have fun ladies.

Bella

Fashion Really Loves Shoulders

If there's anything I've learned from having barely there shoulders, it's that blazers and blouses don't like me very much. Everything looks oversized on my petite frame and I've just about given up on finding tops my size. After spending years wondering why my purse consistently slips down my arm, forcing me to pull it up every .02 seconds, I've finally come to the conclusion that I have sloped shoulders that simply cannot support anything. Thankfully, it's a common problem.

It turns out that fashion loves to highlight the shoulders. From structured blouses to 80's shoulder pads, the shoulder is major trending and I continue to sigh in frustration. From the boxy jacket at 3.1 Phillip Lim to the square blouse at Alexander Wang, structured shoulder reigned on the Spring 2014 runways, no matter the model's frame.

And that's when I realized something. Have I been looking at the glass half empty? Is the fashion industry trying to help me out rather than point out my flaws as I've assumed my entire life? Are false shoulders merely a way for me to play pretend?

I have a confession to make. I really love wide shoulders. I'm tired of pulling up my sleeves that have been falling down my arm since I was 4 years old. I'm fed up of those bras that cannot be tightened anymore to suit my shoulder needs. Some would say that shoulder pads were the worst 80's trend. And to those people I say, "you know not what you say". Shoulders are empowering. Back in the 1940's, one of the main components of a power suit was a bold shoulder. It was an assertion of a woman's authority.

So, in honour of shoulders, here are some of the best shoulders that have hit the runways.

Rock n' Roll Shoulders

Balmain Spring 2010
via asufjc.blogspot.com

Feminine Shoulders

Lanvin Spring 2013
via zaiddor.com

Quirky Shoulders

Celine Spring 2014
via superior-mag.com

Edgy Shoulders

Saint Laurent Spring 2014
via superior-mag.com

Happy Tuesday!

Bella

Big Hair, Don't Care?

Growing up as an average awkward braces wearing pre-teen, I always hated my hair. It was consistently frizzy, unruly, and surrounded by a crown of baby hair. I tried every pharmacy product recommended by the top beauty magazines, but nothing would help. In my teens, I discovered the straightening iron and occasionally tamed my locks with this contraption on special occasions. Most of the time, I opted for mousse, but that wasn't always a sure bet for frizz control. After years of struggling with my lack of hand eye coordination, I finally learned how to manipulate a blowdryer. Last week. It's been a rough ride where my hair has been concerned, but I like to call it a work in progress.

A little over a week ago, something strange happened. Karl Lagerfeld presented his Cruise Dubai 2015 Collection and I couldn't believe my eyes. Models were walking down the runway with the teased hair and curly fros of the 1960s. After seeing models skip down his couture runway in sneakers, I knew that anything was possible but once again, as I watched these ladies rock the curls, everything I thought I knew about fashion needed to be reconsidered.

Chanel Cruise Dubai 2015
via hairromance.com

Is it possible that curly hair is making a comeback?

When Marc Jacobs introduced his Fall 2013 collection last year and had his models sport this retro look, I thought it was simply Marc being nostalgic. It was cute, but I probably wouldn't try it at home.

And then, I started watching Mad Men. Talk about teased hair. All I could think about was how I wish I had hair like Joan Harris or Megan Draper. When did my hair get so flat? Or better yet, when did I become so obsessed with flattening it? What happened to all that luscious body?

via nickyclarke.com

So, what's the verdict? Is big hair making a comeback? Will ladies abandon their straightening irons and embrace their natural pouf? If bushy eyebrows and other bushes can make a comeback, isn't it only natural that the hair on our head will follow suit?

What do you think of wild curls? Will you be reverting back to this look? Whenever you're on the fringe, remember to ask yourself "WWKD" (what would Karl do).

Sincerely,

Bella