BASIC LOVE

What are your favorite ways to spruce up a basic white tee and jeans look?

ARE YOU STRAPPED?

I'm not quite sure what it is, perhaps it is that je ne sais quoi, but I love ankle straps. I used to shy away form them because I though they would make my curvaceous legs seem short and stumpy, but lately I've run across various styles that are exquisitely elegant and I love 'em. What about you? Are you strapped?

BACK TO THE BASICS

Photos courtesy of essence.com and peoplestylewatch.com

I think wearing black & white is not only a classic, but it's classy—the perfect solution for someone who's color shy like me. Who's B&W look do you like the best?

GILDED LOVE

Images courtesy of Essence.com & Elle.com

What were you favorite looks of the night? Do you agree with my choices?

BRING ON THE FEMININE

Are you into full skirts or are you typically drawn to body-conscious styles?

RECENT CELEB WINTER LOOKS I'M LOVING

The only reason I love winter is the fashion—thigh-high boots, stylish trenches, blanket scarves, lots of leather, layering and...black! Do you like these celeb looks?

SJP ON THE JANUARY COVER OF ELLE

Green is actually one of the only colors I feel comfortable wearing. Especially emerald and Kelly green. What's your fave?

Kim And I Have The Same Boots!

Kim Kardashian shooting the opening credits for KKTNY

I bought these same boots when I was in London in March of this year and since then I've only worn them maybe ten times. I was shopping with my sister and she bought them first. After I saw her with them I just had to have them. I was dying to find a pair of over-the-knee boots that I could actually afford and so I was smitten when I found these. So why can I count the number of times I've worn them? Well, the heels is probably about four and a half inches tall—not tall enough for me! I can't work with anything under five inches anymore. On top of that, i've realized that i prefer thigh high boots versus over-the-knee. They work on Kim because she's five inches short than me. Also, my major peeve with these boots is that when I walk more than fifty meters they start sagging over my knees and such. Gets really unbearably annoying.

But yeah, this is still cool.

ASB,

xoxxo

Thing's I'm Loving...

Twenty-one seconds of pure magic...absolute favorite commercial airing right now. It's the only ad since Charlize Theron in J'adore Dior that's combined sexiness with class and a dash of ethereal beauty. Love the concept + it's stunning to watch (don't ya love the eye candy?!)

Just bought this professional emery board from the Sephora Collection a couple hours and took it for a test file. Fell in love. Now usually seven inches isn't enough to satisfy me...

This is an exception, go figure.

Kim's on other December covers (like Cleo in South Africa) but this one I love as well as the spread. Love the different makeup looks. 

Which one is your fave?

I told you how much I adored Jessica Alba's December Elle cover but back then they hadn't released this photo. This one is my favorite. Love the glasses. So fun and fab.

Candy colors for spring...it's all I'm about these days! So excited, are you?

ASB,

xoxxo

I Know How Much You All Adore The Kardashians...

So here's some Kardashian stuff for you.

Can I just tell you how much I l o v e this picture?

Khloe gushed on Twitter and her blog that she is in love with this purple Birkin bag that her hubby Lamar got her for their anniversary but I love the affection he's showing her in this picture. True affection is the one thing that I think that cannot be faked and by Lamar's expression in this photo it clearly isn't.

There's too many things about this Christmas card that I love to mention them all—here's a synopsis.

This photo is the epitome of what a family holiday greeting card should be to me.

I think the way the individual families are broken up is sweet and clever.

Come on, the fashion is insane! Look at Khloe's tiered gown—the soft bush color against her flawless complexion, the contrasting liquid silver belt that accentuates her curvy waist—it is to die for. Loved that Kourtney didn't go with the obvious glamour gown look and went for a mens tuxedo and sultry dark lips.

Stunning family, stunning staircase, stunning colors, stunning, stunning, stunning.

ASB,

xoxxo

Ain't Going Nowhere

Ri Ri leaving her hotel in London

I swear every month it's something new...


And I love it. Rihanna never gives you a chance to get used to her. She's always changing, evolving but remaining true to herself and that's the key to longevity.  That's why she's here to stay.


Do you like that Rihanna traded in her candy apple locks for something closer to her natural hair color, a silky chocolate brown?


I enjoyed the red. I like the change.

Just Had To Let You Know...

...That I'm currently obsessing over Ciara's leather jacket and ring in this Essence photo shoot. I love how she put together her outfit—it's sporty, rocker chic, tough and edgy all at once.

Let's Fly Away

Okay, so I kinda have an obsession with airports...

Jessica Alba at LAX

I digress.

I love flying—the flight have been the highlights of some past trips I have taken. But it's simply my itch to see the world, my boundless wanderlust and airport style of course! I love airport style because number one is to be comfortable and warm, espesh on two-hour plus flights. So, heels or no heels? I say heels. True, you need to be in comfortable shoes in case you need to make a run for it—I have been in this predicament in the worst ways many times—but there's just something so posh and picturesque about walking out of the airport with your feet perched in a pair of five-inch pumps, isn't it?

Here are some of my favorite airport looks from some celebs.

Beyonce in LAX

Heidi Klum at LAX

Kim Kardashian at Heathrow

Leann Rimes leaving LAX

I am strong in the belief that there are very few times when style should be compromised. Traveling is definitely not one of them.

(+) Traveling gives you the perfect excuse to wear excessive layers, (so comfy!) which I absolutely love.

(+) Blanket scarves are heaven on long flights.

ASB,

xoxxo

Let's Talk Sexy

Was there ever a (fictional) man sexier than Brad Pitt in Troy?

I know, if there ever was a silliest question, it was that one. I digress.

Troy is a movie that I can watch on MUTE and still be beyond entertained by the end—not only is it a perfect blend of history, love, and fashion (I lust after the gladiator boots they wore to pair with a maxi dress, of course Grecian-inspired)—from Brad Pitt to Orlando Bloom to Eric Bana, it's a carnal feast for the eyes in every which way. But there was something intoxicating about Achilles.

He stomped around in body-conscious armor, (by the way, I would totally rock the piece of armor that they wore on their arms to spice up an outfit!) his blond hair never ceased to stop blowing in the wind and he fought like a it was second nature—for God's sake, the man had on a skirt (of varying lengths) for the entire length of the film. Thighs made out of steel, killer instinct like a lion and those eyes. That savage squint of a warrior that lived in his piercing baby blue eyes. But those aren't nearly the only reasons why he's got to be one of the sexiest characters of all time. 

There wasn't a single moment of the movie (I've seen and analyzed it numerous times) where I didn't believe he was Achilles. He took this war hero from a myth to a fantasy. His moxie—blatant defiance, refusal to just follow some old fool's rules and unwavering opposition had my breaths flickering in and out of existence like fireflies. He made killing glorious, skirts virile and our fantasies to see his ass—excuse the French—come true.

Can someone pass me a glass of water, please? It's a little hot in here, no?

ASB,

xoxxo

About Face

This look on Alicia Keys is one of my favorites, hands down. For some odd reason, she usually piles on the foundation and makeup that with such a naturally beautiful face and ethereal features, she doesn't have to. I love that she had the courage to step out on the red carpet and in the spotlight sans her normal highlights in the corners of the eyes, heavily glossed lips, false eyelashes and everything else. The bare nails and simple black dress oozing of minimalism only add to the au naturel look. Oh and course the hair. Digging the swirl. She looks so beautiful, truly has never looked better.

ASB,

xoxxo

Kim Kardashian for Bebe Jewelry Collection

This is my favorite piece from Kim Kardashian's jewelry collection for Bebe. I have a penchant for double (and triple) rings and I can never seem to find any that do it for me. This one does. I actually love several pieces from her new collection at Bebe and I have to say that I'm impressed. I mean, I never expect less from KK, but I do expect less from Bebe. Back in the day, about five years ago, I absolutely l o v e d Bebe. It was my favorite brand, hands down. I would pour through the pages of the catalogs that I got in the mail daily, never getting tired of the editorials. I used to create outfits in my own wardrobe based on them—I would have worn the Bebe clothes, but I was a broke high school student with no job. 

But then the editorials got cheap looking to me. It was noticeably less and less creative, less imaginative, less appealing to me. The clothes became too high fashion and not enough quality. They just looked nice. But they weren't comfortable, or able to survive the washer—they weren't wearable anymore. I even stopped cruising in the stores—of course, wishing I could actually afford the stuff—when I made my weekly trips to the mall. 

But then Kim came. First, with the collection she collaborated with Kourtney and Khloe.

And now the jewelry.

ASB,

xoxxo

Some Things You Just Know

I used to be foolish and naive. I used to believe that everyone reached some point of ultimate happiness before they died. Before the lights shut off and it was over forever.

I used to believe that everyone's dreams eventually came true.

Childish, right?

Now I know that those are merely hopeful, innocent figments of my imagination. Finding happiness and living out your dreams isn't certain. It isn't assured. It isn't destined to everyone. To anyone. True happiness is a state of the mind that only the strong have the ability to possess. When I am around happy people, I get overwhelmingly sad because it is only then that I realize how truly unhappy I am.

But there is one thing that hasn't changed. There is one thing I still know and I still believe. I know that one day I will find happiness. I know that one day I will be living out my dreams. And it won't be because I'm one of the 'lucky' ones. Not because I'm one of the 'chosen' ones.

It will be because I believe it.

I don't know when, and I don't know how, but one day it's gonna happen for me. I can see it. I can feel it. I know it.

ASB,

xoxxo

Incomprehensible Love...

This is my favorite look that Rihanna has done since she's colored her hair red.

I have to admit, I was not a fan at first. I thought it had good intentions, but just was too much. I was tired of her constantly changing her hair every time I finally got adjusted to a new look. But I get it now. Aside from the business perspective, it's just her way of expressing how she's feeling—and that I will always support, no doubt. I mean, seriously, what Rihanna does with fashion, how committed she is to expressing her own true style, is nothing shy of incredible to me.

Just this one outfit says so much. It may look simple or plain, but it's so much more than that. I mean, how many of you would have woke up and decided to pair a long sleeved mint green fishnet blouse with a pair of leggings in a faintly lighter shade of mint green with a cream colored pump? Exactly. It's very abstract and incomprehensible—and that's what I l o v e about it. About her. About Fashion. About style. About life.

The cherry red lipstick with the candy red bone straight hair vividly contrasting to the soft greens and deep nail color (I can't believe she finally chopped her nails down!) is absolutely gorgeous. I love her jewelry choices, especially those rings on her left hand and of course, the best part of her ensemble, and this picture in general, is her smile. Magnifique. 

ASB,

xoxxo

Instead Of Magazine Spreads...

 

Okay, you need the beginning of the sentence for it to make sense...


Elle always makes art instead of magazine spreads. 


These are my three favorite shots of Jessica from the spread. This is one of the best photo art spreads I've seen of Jessica in a while. I don't understand what some editors or stylists think when they usually pile on the mascara, lipstick, concealer, foundation, blush, eyeliner, etc.—I scream, "It's Jessica!" It's a rarity, but she's much too beautiful, far more beautiful than any mascara, lipstick, concealer, foundation, blush, eyeliner, etc. could ever attempt to make her. Makeup only distracts the eye, fiction in the disguise of reality. This shoot shows how less is obviously more on Jessica. She's looks ethereal in these shots, natural like an Autumn leaf cascading to the ground.


Can't wait for the December issue to come out so I can read the interview. Reading interviews is absolutely one of my favorite pastimes...uh, diversion (hate that word pastime). Yeah, diversion from reality. My choice are the ones written like short stories, brief glimpses into someone's life—someone who I would (most likely) never meet off the pages of a magazine. I like those seasoned writers who can with descriptive words and embellished language make a swift and sometimes superficial fifteen-minute rendezvous last for hours. I like those writers who can make me feel like I was a fly hovering over the tape recorder while the interviewee got fed dozens of unanswerable questions, when I can close the magazine and feel like I know her...or him.


Sigh*

ASB,

xoxxo

Out Of the Spotlight

It's one thing to look flawless on the red carpet...


And another thing to look flawless off of it.


After a hairstylist, makeup artist, wardrobe stylist and hours upon hours are spent on a single look it becomes more of a mind-numbing business arrangement than fashion or style.


Rachel Bilson always nails the casually urban look for me. This is just one of my favorites with the combination of a classic beauty like this timeless Chanel bag with her distressed Paige Denim jeans and vintage-y ankle booties. That feline-esque scarf is exquisite and I love her obvious overgrown roots hair.


This is simple my opinion What do you all think about Rachel Bilson's style? And do you think there's a correlation between a celebrities red carpet presence (in terms of style) than off the red carpet?

ASB,

xoxxo