[Chicago Fashion Event] 2nd Annual Oscar Viewing Party at Rockit Bar & Grill

Thanks to Chicago Blogger Network, I got the awesome opportunity to cover Richard Roeper & Billy Dec's 2nd Annual Oscar Viewing Party that was held at Rockit Bar & Grill-Chicago.  Guests got the opportunity to test their movie knowledge with a ballot prediction to win amazing prizes, participate in a super stacked raffle with to-die-for prizes (i.e. United Airline international roundtrip tickets, autographed Chicago athletic swag, etc), and all while noshing de-lic-ious Oscar themed cocktails and snacks.  

Even more amazing than having a fun and super sexy environment to watch the 2012 Oscars, a portion of the night's proceeds went to help After School Matters. 

Billy Dec & Arturo Gomez, Rockit Bar & Grill's Oscar Viewing Party

There were a lot of fabulously dressed people at the event, but there was one person who I thought had the best outfit of the night based mostly on her witty & effortless ensemble!

Meghan Goulette wearing a Tuxedo t-shirt & leather skirt

Don't fret if you  missed the Oscar red carpet. Get caught up with my recap and see if you agree with my 'Best Dressed' list: 2012 Oscar Awards Recap.

2012 Oscar Awards 'Best Dressed' Recap

After the fashion circus that was the 2012 Grammy Awards, the Oscar Awards were a definite welcome for sore eyes.  Key trends that littered the red carpet were: structured clean lines, long sleeves, modest cuts and mini peplums.  While many starlets wore gowns fresh off of the runways, many opted for more of a safe option. With so many amazing Elie Saab & Marchesa gowns on the red carpet, I was convinced that one of them would be at the top of my list. Then red carpet magic happened...

The actress who immediately shot herself to the top of my list took a great runway look and made it red carpet friendly (see below).
*Photo Credit: Fab Sugar

Check-out my 2012 Oscar Awards 'Best Dressed' Runner-ups & which actress made the top of my list:

Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace

Berenice Bejo in Elie Saab

Gwenyth Paltrow in Tom Ford

Sandra Bullock in Marchesa

Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad

Kate Mara in Elie Saab

Tina Fey in Carolina Herrera

Milla Jovovich in Elie Saab

Stacy Keibler in Marchesa

The starlet who stole the night for me was none other than Mara Rooney!

Rooney Mara wearing Givenchy

Ohh.Emm.Gee. Rooney Mara definitely came full circle with her signature red carpet look at today's 2012 Oscar Awards.  She captivated my attention with her first red carpet moment at the world premiere of 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' in London wearing a structured, white Givenchy Haute Couture gown.  Nailing countless premieres and red carpet appearances later, she is stunning in yet another structured, white Givenchy Haute Couture gown from their Spring 2009 collection.  She paired this winning gown with blunt bangs, Fred Leighton jewels and red lips.

Kudos to Mara, for being such a young actress and yet having an established signature style that she sticks too (and that is envious by many current veterans)!

Marni for H&M, who's ready?

So hopefully you all have recovered from elbowing your way through H&M’s last collaboration collection with Versace because their next designer collaboration collection with Marni is almost here!  It officially launches worldwide on March 8^th and there is so much to look forward to.  Italian fashion label Marni is known for its decadent prints, one-of-a-kind shapes, and bold colors.

Founder and Creative Director Consuelo Castiglioni collaborated with H&M Creative Advisor Margareta van den Bosch to create a women’s and men’s collection that will juxtapose “prints and colors, mixing modern tribal with Bauhaus graphics and adding sporty utilitarian elements,” says Consuelo.

The whole modern-tribal-meets-industrial-graphics came alive in this spring collection, and honestly, I can’t even decide which piece I want to get my paws on first. The price point ranges between $19.95 (for the sequin collar) and $149 (for the hooded dress), and if you’re planning on saving up, you’ve only got 2 weeks left!

Check out some of my favorite looks from the lookbook & the peep the commercial:

Marni at H&M Commerical directed by Sophia Coppola:

Kanye is officially the most Fashion Foward male celeb!

Kanye West first intrigued me back in April of 2011 when Kanye West sported a Céline blouse (see post) straight off of the SP/SU 2011 runway.  Well, he's done it again folks!

Kanye was looking super fly in a mint green lady sweater by Acne (as seen below sitting front row at the Mark Fast show) yesterday for London Fashion Week.
*Photo Credit: Stylelite

Don't snooze folks, Unisex clothing isn't just a trend anymore it's the new fashion movement!

[Chicago Beauty] Nail Art, Get in the Know!

Looking for a unique and different way to spice up your look? For many, the additional touch or flair that immediately comes to mind is a new fashion accessory or jewelry.  Here’s a hint for a definite unique and personal flair that absolutely no one else will have: Nail Art.  Nail Art is defined by Wikipedia as, “a creative activity that draws pictures or designs on the fingernails-it is a type of art”.  This is a definite understatement.  The world that is Nail Art is full of free expression, uninhibited creativity mixed with endless possibilities.

Because I know that many of you are like me and believe that fashion and style is a very personal reflection of one’s personality, I don’t believe in the “cookie-cutter” anything.  Yesterday I had the amazing opportunity to meet one of Chicago’s premier Nail Artist, Ashely Crowe aka AstroWifey.  My appointment started out with a consultation to assess what I was interested in.  Ashley took the time to find out what designs caught my eye, what creative details spoke to me, and overall what my personality & style consisted of in order to personalize and create Nail Art specifically for me.

While watching Ashley pimp out my nails I learned so much about this amazing young artist.  Only 22, she’s had her amazing works of art featured in a number of marketing campaigns, participated in stand-out fashion events all throughout the city (i.e. Topshop Olivia Palermo Event) and is now going to be featured in a Nail Art documentary alongside the icon Sophy Ronson.

Don’t snooze on AstroWifey Chicago!  In the meantime check out my AMAZEing nail art that I call “Tribal meets Rocker Chic”:

[Pasifika Fashion Series] Fashion Forward Fibre Artist, Shona Tawhiao!

Fibre Artist & Fashion Designer, Shona Tawhiao

Shona Tawhiao is a fibre artist and designer trained in traditional Maori weaving techniques and methods.  Tawhiao designs and creates garments entirely made of native flax or Harakeke complete with matching accessories such as hats and shoes.  The key distinguishing factor between Tawhiao and other Pasifika Fashion Haute Couture designers is her strict use of native flax  to create her unique haute couture designs. Unlike other designers, Tawhiao mixes traditional Maori weaving skills with her eye for contemporary design. Tawhiao has exhibited extensively with her style of woven art, has produced TV sets for the Maori Television Service worked in art and costume departments for films 'Maori Merchant of Venice' and 'River Queen' among others. She has been producing award winning woven garments where she has developed techniques and designs that are unique to her aspirations of Maori culture and other indigenous nations.

Tawhiao's Haute Couture collection 'Te Whiri' under her label 'TAWHIAO' is inspired by her fascination with Japan’s Harajuku girls and is influence by her interest in Maori, Japanese and Roman warriors.

"My collection is inspired by traditional warrior wear, Samurai, Roman, the Masai, and Maori of course. It's totally military warrior woman meets marching girl. --Shona Tawhiao

She goes on further to state that, "Everything Japanese is inspirational to me. How an indigenous culture creates a subculture, I think is really cool. Maori don't have that yet."

Her pieces are definitely in a class of their own.  Her pure usage of flax is truly fashion forward and innovative in creating such great peplum shapes, distinct clean lines, and movement.  Tawhiao’s pieces flow with grace and dignity in a very similar fashion to the warriors that she draws so much inspiration.

*Photo Credit: Shona Tawhiao

Check out my favorite pieces from Shona's collections:

2012 Grammy Awards 'Best Dressed'!

The ladies who made my list not only had great stand-out ensembles, but had that key signature touch that completes any red-carpet worthy ensemble.  That signature touch can be hair, a fashion accessory or the statement gown itself.  My 2012 Grammy Awards 'Best Dressed' goes to the only songstress who in my opinion had the whole ensemble pulled together: Hair, Make-up, Fashion Accessories and of course the Gown.

*Photo Credit: FabSugar
Check out my runner-ups for the 2012 Grammy Awards 'Best Dressed':

Katy Perry wearing Elie Saab 

Kelly Rowland wearing Alberta Ferretti

Adele wearing Giorgio Armani

Fergie wearing Jean Paul Gaultier

Alicia Keys wearing Alexandre Vauthier

Carrie Underwood wearing Gomez-Garcia

Gwyneth Paltrow wearing Stella McCartney

Kelly Osbourne wearing Tony Ward

Jesse J wearing Julien MacDonald

There was only one songstress who not only embraced the opportunity to make a great fashion statement, she also took this chance to redeem herself from her pre-Grammy Show flop with the Marni dress.  The 'Best Dressed' of the 2012 Grammy Awards goes to Corinne Bailey Rae in Christian Siriano's Fall 2011 collection.  The British songbird nailed it for me by wearing an age appropriate fun & flity gown that matched her unique personality and music.  Her sideswept hair and berry colored lips were the perfect finishing touches to her Grammy Perfect ensemble!

Corinne Bailey Rae wearing Christian Siriano

[Pasifika Fashion Series] Discover Fiji's Hidden Gem!

Fijian Fashion Designer, Adi Koila Ganilau (center) with models wearing pieces from her Summer Collection '11

Adi Koila Ganilau draws all of her inspiration from her home island, Fiji. With its vast contrasts of blues in the surrounding ocean, lush greens in the hills, and vibrant hues in its sandy beaches and coral reefs. It is no wonder that such a tropical landscape could make an impression in Koila’s custom print designs, which live up to traditional Fijian art style that is often large and bold in nature. You can also see influences from many countries in Koila’s designs, but her most influential inspiration is her grandmother, Adi Lady Litia Cakobau Lalabalavu Mara. “She”, Koila says speaking of her grandmother, “was head and shoulders above the rest”, and was truly the noblest of her time.

With such a poised and graceful example to direct her vision, Koila centres her womenswear line, Marama Dina, to the very woman who represents all that her grandmother embodied – class and style. Marama Dina literally translates to mean “true lady” or “real woman” and Koila proudly states that her clothing is for every woman of every size, shape, color, and ethnicity and for every occasion. With dresses, jumpsuits, tops and more and many pieces easily transitioning from day to night. Versatile Transition pieces is the key for Marama Dina.

Momo (which means “uncle”) is Koila’s menswear line, Rattoo (a play on the word “ratu” which refers to men of dignified stature) is her men’s streetwear line that caters to the younger hipster male market and Marama Lailai is her junior girls line. Four clothing lines may seem over-zealous, but Koila is quite the over-achiever and will not limit herself or her designs to one market.

All of Koila’s prints are custom drawn by herself as she has been drawing and painting since childhood and every print design is hand-printed onto various fabrics by her team. Her prints live up to the traditional Fijian art style that is often large and bold in nature. Every item of clothing in all of Koila’s lines are exclusively produced in Fiji in order to maintain the authenticity of their origin as well as ensure that each item of clothing can stand alone as a keepsake or piece of Fiji that every customer can obtain.

*Photo Credit: Adi Koila Ganilau

Check out some of my favorite pieces from her Summer 2011 Collection:

And this is my favorite piece hands down from Koila's Summer '11 collection.  The monochromatic palette, coupled with the amazing Fijian artwork and the added train just make such an emotional impact.  This is her defining piece in my opinion and I will be adding this to my closet!