first lady of fashion

Greetings, fashionistas and ‘nistos! I recently moved to NYC and will continue blogging from the Big Apple. However, I wanted to pay homage to my home District and our First Lady of Fashion, Michelle Obama.

Like the rest of the world, I’m in awe of Mrs. Obama’s classy and elegant style. She carries herself with Old Hollywood glamour and the grace of a powerful woman. Here are a few of my favorite looks from her White House closet:

Michelle’s keen sense of style is enough to shake up the political landscape in DC and all over the world. Cheers to her and our Nation’s Capital!

style icon of the week

we could all use a lesson from leighton! leighton meester of the hit cw series ‘gossip girl,’ of course. the actress seems to have come into her own over the past year, impressing us with her wardrobe choices both on-set and off.

whether rocking a jewel-toned ensemble on the red carpet or one of her character’s signature prep school pieces, leighton’s ability to mix and match accessories is impeccable. we’re also mildly obsessed with her idea of throwing cropped jackets over simple dresses for a more buttoned-up look.

all in all, we think leighton’s style is lovely. we’re totally on team blair! xoxo gossip girl 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the haute list turned politico???

well, sort of. since today was day 1 of the dnc in denver, i thought it’d be fun to dedicate my post to our next president. barack obama recently inspired a collection by donatella versace herself – how many presidential candidates can say they accomplished that feat? he also may be responsible for the ugliest purse ever created, but i forgive him.

below are some obamalicious designs for the donkey in you. be sure to barack the vote on november 4th!

  

say it ain’t so!

this weekend marks the end of summer. goodbye, lazy days at the pool, gelatto, havaianas, bad tan lines. until next year. i’m not exactly sure where my summer went, but i plan to live up the last few days of it!

lauren conrad’s style epitomizes summertime for me – maybe that’s why i’ve constantly featured her on my blog this season. i just tried this new hairstyle of hers. thought i would share the instructions for it with you all. rock it while you still can! B-)

 

1) blow-dry hair.
2) wrap thick sections around a curling iron for loose waves.
3) create thin braids in front. pin in back. 
4) finish by pulling down the curls to loosen. set with light hairspray.

you’re either een or you’re out!

i love, love, LOVE project runway and am so happy for its return. however, is anyone else bored by the lack of creativity so far this season? i can’t really see any of the designers making it big – except for kelli and kenley. what ticked me off the most was the gristedes challenge during episode 1 – i couldn’t believe only one or two of the contestants used produce to create their garments! most of them used tablecloths or other fabrics, which is pretty much cheating..

but i digress. i was really impressed by kenley and leanne this week (their designs below): 

 

the rest of the designers need to get their mojos going…or auf wiedersehen! holla atcha girl 🙂

fun in the sun

seems a torrential downpour has swept through d.c. tonight! this craptastic weather only makes me all the more anxious for sunny days, sunglasses and the tank tops that patiently await me in my walk-in closet 🙂 

speaking of sunglasses, do you know which types are most flattering for your face? are you a halle, or more of an sjp? see below for the lowdown – applies to fashionistos, too!

long face a la sjp – look for wide frames to break up the length of your face. oval or round shapes give the illusion of greater width. a word of caution: avoid anything with vertical lines – it will only make you look longer.

round face a la kate bosworth – look for angular frames that contrast with your curves to create a longer and slimmer look. opt for shades with squared-off bottoms, and skip very rounded or curved styles.

 

heart-shaped face a la reese – look for frames with rounded upper corners to draw attention away from the forehead. square bottoms will soften the chin, but on top, stay clear of any hard horizontals.

square face a la paris – if you have a square face like paris hilton, look for gently curved oval or round frames to lengthen the face – think aviators over any square styles.

oval face a la halle – lucky girl! you can pretty much pull off any sunglass style, so go for it! try the new hipster fave or a glam retro look.  

style icon of the week

…goes to the Other Boleyn Girl, Natalie Portman!

Not only is this petite star talented and intelligent (Harvard alum, what?), she’s got plenty of style to boot. She seems to pull off conservative, simple styles effortlessly and has been coined the Audrey Hepburn of our time. 

Not to mention how absolutely obsessed I am with the purple Lanvin she wore in Cannes!! Kudos to Ms. Portman 🙂 

later that day, i got to thinking…

..about how much I heart Carrie Bradshaw!!! Only 10 short days till every girl in America will get her Manolo fix during the premiere of the Sex and the City Movie!

Below are a few of my favorite Carrie looks and ensembles I put together inspired by her:

ELEGANT PARISIAN

 

WILD CHILD

 

HIPPIE CHIC

Launch of The Naute List

My newest vision for The Haute List is the launch of The Naute List. The Naute List will feature the right and wrong ways to wear specific trends. Eventually, I’d like to work up enough courage to feature fashion faux pas I observe in my daily life. Watch out, DC! 😉

I thought it appropriate to launch The Naute List by focusing on a classic trend, the LBD. Below Gwyneth completely butchers the trend (can we say, TMI? – zoom in, people), while J. Aniston is tasteful and stunning in her shimmering Chanel.

  

hippie hair!!

the haute list has been a bit of a lovefest for lauren conrad lately, but what can i say? i adore the girl! below are instructions for “the lauren” — and duh, i tried it for myself!

**WARNING – this hairstyle should only be worn with free-flowing, hippie-esque clothes**

How to Do It
1) Part hair on the side.
2) Create a French braid from hairline to ends, spraying hairspray as you go.
3) Pull hair into a loose ponytail with a rubber band.
4) Wrap a thin strand of hair around the band and secure it with a bobby pin.