the oscars...

We may no longer be in college together (or in the same county for that matter) but myself and Emma Kilduff have for I think our fourth year in a row inspected the fine actors and actresses of the Oscars ceremony and here are our top choices. Top girl and top guy... I know it's such a lazy post but since we all like to scour through them I thought we'd give our 2 cents (4 cents?)

We both thought that this year had some serious contenders. It was really hard to choose but my top girl had to be Anne Hathaway. I doubt it'll be everybody's choice (Yahoo gave her a D+) but I think it was pretty, simple, chic and just a little bit daring. Like a mullet (business in the front and party in the back) but much nicer. Very different from anything else we saw on the red carpet, the pale pink really complimented her skin tone without looking too neutral. Plus she is just working that hair! Oh and the necklace is beautiful as well... Ok I'm done now. My top guy is of course Christoph Waltz. I am just loving the understated muted navy tuxedo on him. I am a sucker for a navy suit anyway so he definitely had the edge. Subtle and refined, perfect match for his wife me thinks!

Now, through the voice of Emma... 

Jennifer Aniston's dress is normally everything I hate about these kind of gowns, its massive and plain but some how that's what makes me love it on her. She knows what suits her and sticks to it, this dress is no exception it's just gone up a gear. The simple strapless dress is a similar cut to some of the previous dresses Aniston has worn and it suits her perfectly. The skirt drapes beautifully and the colour is the perfect shade of red. All this combined with simple styling makes the perfect Jennifer Aniston look. Joseph Gordon-Levitt's suit is by far my favourite. The fit is perfect and the little details like the lapel trims add some personality. This with the dicky bow, pink button and his charm make this my perfect suit.

And of course we couldn't be complete without a gawk at the after party dresses. Some people had a lot of fun here! My favourite is Amy Adams in this sultry Gatsby-esque gown. Chic but still a little offbeat. Not necessarily neutral but not garish either (which sparkly dresses can sometimes be – and some of them were). Thrilled she kept accessorising and styling to a minimum. Pure understated elegance. AND it's an Oscar de la Renta, a real weakness of mine.

Again through the voice of Emma....

Diane Kruger's after party dress is GORGEOUS!! This monochrome, well I'm not sure what to call it, baby doll dress?? has an interesting silhouette and great print. It's just very different and I love it. (Im not a big fan of the shoes, but I can ignore them cause I love the dress so much) The hairstyle and jewellery set this outfit off perfectly.

Do you agree with us? What outfits did you love/loathe? Do you think they were better than last year? Please weigh in and join the debate!

further style inspiration...

The internet is a constant source of inspiration. You never know what or who you're going to get. This week I discovered this wondrous lady. Her name is Erin and her blog is Cali Vintage. And I simply adore her sense of style. She has a vintage chic style mixed with dashes of little girl cuteness. I mean what's not to love. She teams mini dresses with flat shoes and plays with her colours and her patterns, has simple but interesting make up, wears hats and has made me fallen in love with skinny strapped handbags (be prepared to see more of them on this blog).

There is something so playful and endearing about her outfits. Something I would love to bring to my own outfits. I feel I am not playful enough with what I wear. It is possibly my New Years resolution... Yes in fact I think it will be. A least that's one thing sorted.

inspired by...

Pinterst

A Beautiful Mess

Bluebird Vintage

Behance Network

Skinny Taste

As I stated earlier in the week you can feel the change in the air. Well I certainly can anyway... And all this change of weather has me wanting different hobbies, different clothes (LOADS and LOADS of wooly things), different food and so on. 

I want to take more time to read. I read a good bit to begin with but only in bed, which just ends up with me falling asleep and drooling all over a good book. Not the best look I can tell you. I want to reawaken my autumn wardrobe with some vibrant warm colours and some western/librarian touches (that can totally be a thing). My mother had the house filled with flowers during the summer and it made the place smell divine. I want to keep this up but with more fresher, greener colours balanced with golden leaves from outside. I have been musing over many design sites seeking inspiration for FELT Fashion Journal and I really love this minimal yet bold style. I think it could work for one of the articles. And finally I want soups, but not just any soups. I want to drink up spicey mexican style soups that'll keep me both warm and interested. Nothing worse than being bored by your meals...

What do you want to get up to this week?

inspired by...

Pinterest

Pinterest

Pinterest

Etsy

A Beautiful Mess

Rain always makes me dream of different things. It makes me restless for a bit of change, not in the weather but in me. And not big changes don't worry, just new things to think and to try and to get wrong sometimes. It's the changing of the seasons and why shouldn't we change just like it... Moods and feelings and thoughts and actions.

I am lusting after wide leg items, not just jeans but also trousers; to suit the autumn months. I want to a place to stack my books high, not just on shelves but on floors also. I thankfully have collected quite a few (with the intention of getting more) and I think they give a bit of character stacked in such a way, though I just know my mother would SERIOUSLY disagree. My sister is expecting and it makes me want to find an old camera, dust it off and just go snap happy with it. Digital photos are not suitable for this big change in all our lives (it's my first time to be an aunty!) and we should have something concrete to hold onto as the little one grows. I want to (a) buy one of these prints and (b) become more daring in my colour scheme in my work. Experiment while I can before I get a real job and have to restrain myself somewhat. And finally due to bad weather I want to enjoy cheesy comfort food. This mozzarella, pesto and tomato tart looks like it would go down extremely well!

inspired by...

Republique Theatre on Behance Network

Keiko Lynn

A Beautiful Mess

Pinterest

A Beautiful Mess

I feel like I am developing new tastes... or at least wanting to try new things. Get a bit of experience under my belt. I have been looking at quirky and hard branding styles, I have been crushing over not so plain tights which I used to think looked really childish on me but now I want to give them a go! I have been lusting over my own place (with my own furniture – just they way I want them!), I recently inherited my uncles record player that my dad was given which means I need to get a whole record collection and I am looking forward to buying old ones, record by record. And I also am going out tonight for the first time in a long while with my fella and I want to try some interesting yet classy concoctions!

Sidecar anyone?

inspired today #5

Dress from Red Velvet

Pinterest 

Etsy 

The Girl Who Ate Everything

Richard Prince

Work is weighing down on me and I cannot help but dream of a time when I'm free! I have been living in comfy clothes the past few days and it has made me realise how few comfortable items I actually own. So I have been lusting after comfortable maxi dresses, busted up converse, cool rockabilly hairstyles that will keep the hair out of my face while I'm working and casual tote bags to carry all my stuff around in. Eating healthy has also gone out the window for the time being... I want my food to be cheesy and delicious! And finally I have been leering at Richard Prince's Nurse collection, it's so sinister that I may die... or just keep looking.

inspired today #4

Keiko Lynn

The Girl Who Ate Everything

Etsy

Modcloth

Garbage Dress

This week I want to be dancing in gold glitter and suede, eating as many of these chocolate and peanut butter brownies as I can, staring at this beautiful print (oh how I want to stick it in a frame and love it completely), dressing to match the awakening of spring in this stunner of a dress and rocking the victory rolls like Zana Bayne of Garbage Dress.

On another note, who thought a PVC dress could look so demure???

inspired today #3

What is inspiring me this week... Possibly the most beautiful make up (and face) from Keiko Lynn, A beautiful outfit and colour palette from Taghrid, simply divine opaque patterns (want this for my home) discovered on Pinterest, seriously craving these delicious cheesy/pepperoni-y rolls from The Girl Who Ate Everything and finally realising (thanks to Blau) that a biker jacket can dress down the prettiest of dresses, found on Blaubushka.

inspired today #2

Pretzels on A Beautiful Mess

Irregular Choice

Found on Pinterest

Dianna Argon for NYLON

NeverLazy

Dying for some pretzels while working away on my portfolio, dreaming of purchasing this pair of Irregular Choice when they come back in stock (here's hoping), loving the idea of covering my walls in frames filled with everything, digging the sexy sixties vibe from the NYLON magazine (cat flicks and beehives were had today) and oozing over photos from the new issue of NeverLazy.

inspired today #1

A Beautiful Mess

We Heart it

Etsy

Loladee

Lana Del Rey

Andi B. Goode

Dreaming of life after the thesis while I sit here... typing, always typing. I'm looking into 2012 and I feel excited... a big year ahead. I'll be growing up. College is insanely difficult at the moment and I'll be finishing up this year. I can't help but think what life will be like after college.

Right now I dream of beautiful work spaces, fussy and frilly underwear, old-fashioned posters of not so old movies (Eckersley would be proud), the beautifully cute bows of Lola Dee, listening to the smokey and sultry sound of Lana Del Rey and, dressing like I was born in the wrong decade.

graphic monday...

How darling is this poster... How awesome is this poster! It was designed by Boris Pelcer for "The Roaring Twenties" themed 20th Annual Montessori de Terra Linda Auction, established with the intent of raising crucial funds for M.d.T.L. independent school in San Rafael in California. 

I just love everything about it... The colour scheme is striking with that punch of red but still understated. The illustration is simply a work of art, even in the close up. And normally I wouldn't choose a hugely stylized font like that Art Deco one because I feel it just has to be used appropriately. But thankfully he didn't over used it and paired it with that really quirky typeface. And, of course, it has a vintage feel while still staying modern.

Overall I love it! Hope you do to...

images via Behance.net

blog inspiration...

My latest blog addiction is this cutey pie of a blog called A Beautiful Mess... And what a beautiful mess it is! It is a serious feast for the eyes. Full to the brim with gorgeous outfits, delicious looking recipes and quirky DIYs, you will not know where to start with this blog and you will not want to stop. The blog belongs to the dotey Elsie Larson, co-owner of Red Velvet, an amazing shop so get looking. She has friends that contribute beautiful things to her blog, such as recipes, how to hairstyle posts and random (yet gorgeous) DIY projects. Honestly, there is something for everyone.

I want her home, I want her entire wardrobe, I want her hair, I want her bike and I wanna get baking after reading this blog. It is so colourful, fussy, fun and down right fabulous. It has elements of a vintage lifestyle but with loads of modern twists, this girl is not afraid to have fun with fashion, with food or with life. Definite inspiration to beat those winter blues!