Style Inspiration from the Big Screen

My husband and I are extremely avid movie-goers, ( I am talking 3 movies in 1 weekend) so it is no surprise to me that I find so much fashion inspiration from not only the movies we attend on our regular Friday night dates, but even the old movies that we tuck away in the back of our TV consoles.  Over the past couple of years I have began to collect old movies from Gone With the Wind to Scarface.  I love them all, and you can find a little piece of style in every movie.

Here are a few of my favorites!

Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes got all the women asking
 for diamonds galore from their gents
(Photo Courtesy of wikimedia.org)

Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface is stunning in this scarlet dress
(Photo Courtesy of sodahead.com)

Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face brought us the black cigarette pants
 with black turtlenecks, who would've thought?
(Photo Courtesy of screenrush.co.uk)

Barbara Streisand in Funny Girl lets her inner animal out
(Photo Courtesy of retrokimmer.com)

Elizabeth Taylor in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof shows white lingerie
is sexy with her cropped brunette curls, delish!
(Photo Courtesy of democraticunderground.com)

Summer Fling

As the rest of the world is gearing up for Fall, I am still stuck in the blazing hot city of Houston. Even so, I have my sights set on Fall.  I can smell the chili on the stove, taste the Sam Adams winter lager, and hear my husband screaming at the television while football is roaring in the background. But I do know that us Houstonians have a while to go before we really feel any relief from this intense heat, so I decided to go ahead and do a few more posts with my summer outfits of choice!  I love this ensemble because it is still classic but has a sprinkle of retro-chic.  I bought the scarf wrapped around my head at the wonderful NYC vintage shop What Goes Around Comes Around, and I was so elated when I came across it!

Hollister shirt, Gap skirt, Lipstick Couture pearl necklace (coming August 23rd!) , Converse shoes, What Goes Around Comes Around scarf
(Photography Captured by Shan Renee)

You, Me, and the Emerald City

My husband and I have been looking forward to our big trip to Seattle since January!  We have been incredibly curious about the Northwest coast and finally decided to make the long trek from Houston to this beautiful part of the US.  We first stopped in Seattle (The Emerald City) and had a magnificent time milling about the Pike Place Market.  We bought the most amazing fruits, vegetables, and seafood to cook at our wonderful beach house on the coast.  We arrived at Seabrook where we rented a quaint, french cottage to ease our minds for the week and have a late 4th wedding anniversary celebration.  I did however talk him into stopping by H&M on the way because we sadly do not have one in Texas! (very sad)  I bought the cutest sequin tank and wore it to the market Sunday morning.

H&M tank, Zara cardigan, Express boyfriend crops, TOMS shoes

Pike Place Market on Sunday morning

There was tons of fresh seafood

The crab looked delicious but we got shrimp instead

Gorgeous flowers at the Pike Place Market and cheap too!

Our beautiful french beachhouse

We bought so much fruit and have almost eaten all of it!

I heart Marilyn Always and Forever

It goes without saying, I regard Marilyn Monroe as one of the sexiest, effeminate, luxurious women of all time. I love everything about her from her careless attitude about what the modest population thought of her in the fifties to her bleach blond perfect tousled curls to her blazing red lips.  This was my personal take on her astounding influence on women, fashion, and even the president.

Top vintage, Skirt Zara, bow headband and tights Forever 21 , shoes Aldo, necklace Lipstick Couture (coming August 23rd!) 

Everyone Loves Lipstick Presents Lipstick Couture

I love, need, and yearn for the icing on the cake we ladies call accessories. That final touch that helps us say - "I am ready to be fabulous today!" I have spent at least half my pay-checks for as long as I can remember on these trinkets and baubles we decorate ourselves with. I was, keyword WAS, a huge shopper of Charming Charlie's, Sam Moon, and any other super cheap, discount jewelry store I came across that would swipe my plastic. But over the past few months, I started to realize that all of the jewelry I was buying would either break right away or I might only get two or three wears out of each piece. I was so frustrated that I vowed to myself that I would learn how to make jewelry.  What if I could custom design each piece for my wardrobe needs?! Well, I absolutely fell in love with jewelry making. It feels like a modern-day throwback to knitting which somehow comforts me as I make knot after painstaking knot between each pearl (sometimes there are hundreds!) So, after much vigorous work in my woman cave with the company of many of my fav Sex and The City episodes, I began to create my very own collection! I am now thrilled to introduce Lipstick Couture!! This is a preview (a teaser if you will) of what is to come! I anticipate launching the Etsy online shop on August 23rd so don't worry, it won't be long.

(All photography by Captured Photography by Shan Renee)

A TuTu, Ferris Wheel and Cotton Candy

I was so delighted to get my brand new tutu from American Apparel after a wonderful giftcard was given to me by my bestie, Queen B.  I cannot tell you how long I have been waiting to buy a tutu, and I never dreamed that I would get to shoot with it at a night time carnival. We had a ball doing these photos and I am sure everyone there thought we were crazy (we got lots of stares and glares), but then again, we are!

Shirt Express, Tutu American Apparel, Tights Forever 21, Mary Jane Shoes Aldo

Photography Captured by Shan Renee

Hot and Hot

So Queen B (Natalie) and her boyfriend of a couple of years (LOL) just recently got engaged and decided to tie the knot! They then made the decision to have their engagement photos taken this past weekend in the fabulous city of Austin, Texas.  We all traveled down to the eclectic and groovy city together on Saturday. I was graciously asked by Queen B to style her photo shoot which included picking her wardrobe pieces, styling her beautiful locks and freshening up her gorgeous face! I was so excited to style their shoot and work with the insanely talented Dallas photographer Shan Renee.  After eight hours (I am being completely serious) of shooting in various locations, we were all exhausted but pumped about the magnificent photos we got with everyone's talented efforts.
Here are a few teasers we got, Enjoy!

All Photography Courtesy of Captured Photography by Shan Renee

Styled by Angela Deaton

Fall Sneak Peak!

With the sweltering heat in our midst, it's difficult to think about this year's Fall Fashions and the garment layers that come with it. On the other hand, if you are me, your heart goes a pitter patter just thinking about the various fabrics, colors, and cuts you will engage in this Fall! I've taken some time to do a little investigating on some Pre-Fall 2010 trends that are sneaking on our horizon...and I must say, it's very different and rather innovative compared to the years past!

I know this will come as a shock, but Military inspired wear is here to stay this Fall (Gasp!). This makes it incredibly easy for you to incorporate your Spring military wear into your Fall wardrobe simply by adding a few Fall touches by layering with the traditional fall colors. You will want to keep an eye out for the olives, browns, navies, and brass button garments. Texture is going to be all over the Fall Runway along with different layering techniques and outerwear! Imagine a camel colored pea or trench coat instead of the traditional colors like black or coal. Imagine a lingerie camisole gracing atop a long sleeve blouse and thick thigh high leggings adorning wool shorts. Imagine furs and a variety of cool grays, blues, and browns with a mixture of plaids...you catch my drift? It's going to be a very different Fall Runway this year and I cannot WAIT to see all the creative looks from the designers!

Here is a Pre-Fall sneak peak from some of our favorite designers!

J. Crew Fall 2010

(Picture Courtesy of J.Crew)

Ann Taylor Fall 2010

(Picture Courtesy of Ann Taylor)

Banana Republic Fall 2010

(Picture Courtesy of Banana Republic)

Old Navy Fall 2010

(Picture Courtesy of Old Navy)