the pale embrace

I am sure all of you watched the Oscars last night, and since then have read hundreds of posts and articles titled "best dressed" or "what were they thinking". This post is dedicated to all of my fellow delicately fair-skinned ladies, who think they could never pull off a pale toned ensemble. Well, apparently we have been proven wrong. After watching the handful of elegant woman adorned in pale purples, pinks, and blues, it is clear that even the fairest of us all can avoid being swallowed by light colors. From Amy Adams, to Anne Hathaway, these women stunned in shades rarely seen on the red carpet. While the cuts and fabrics of their gowns were not all in my top 10, I was most impressed by the bravery in embracing pastels, and the revival of classic glamour. I will definitely be trying to replicate this come spring...

 

looking to ease in to this newly discovered fashion risk? try to focus on the pastel family. you will succeed in pulling off the pale trend on this year's oscars red carpet, while not feeling like a washed out board as you take the streets. here are a few minor adjustments to incorporate in to a new pastel wardrobe...

1. stella mccartney 2. j brand 3. jcrew 4. alice + olivia
5. miu miu 6. jcrew 7. elizabeth and james 8. pjk patterson j kincaid

in the name of Fashion,
chi chi bella

images courtesy of getty

Links à la Mode

Links à la Mode is a weekly roundup of the top 20 favorite blog posts by IFB members. It is with great excitement, that Chi Chi Bella's "Something for the Both of You" post was chosen by the IFB editors! A well respected website for fellow fashion bloggers like myself, IFB is a hub you must check out. Take some time to peruse the other 19 posts featured in this week's roundup...

LINKS À LA MODE: THE IFB WEEKLY ROUND UP: FEBRUARY 21ST

• Awkward City: How Not to Attend a Fashion Show
• Chi Chi Bella: Something For The Both of You
• Dress Code: High Fashion: Bar Refaeli’s Custom Roberto Cavalli Gowns & Illustrations
• Fashionably Yours: Bag It with Pragya Gupta
• IFB: If You’re Going To Criticize Bloggers, At Least Be Original About It
• IndiePunkGodess: Beauty Dupe: 5 New Ways To Use Your Favorite Products
• Keily’s Fashion Picks: Fall 2013 Fashion Week
• Kelly Dillon: Ladylike
• Miss Hepburn Presents: Another Time, Another Place: Spring 2013 Fashion Trends
• Monadot: Clear Clutch
• Nothing To Wear: Wear Your Heart on Your Sole
• Purple Bananas & Fudgeballs: Shoe Feveeeeer
• Rebecca Marin: Business Cards
• Secret Style File: NYFW Fashionistas
• Sophistication and Sparkles: The Issue with the Leg Gap Trend
• Style Sizzle: NYFW Hair Tutorial: Regal Fishtail Braid
• The Stylist: Street Style Icons Before Fashion Week Paparazzi
• Under a veil: Styling Tips By SoVain
• Whiskey-Ginger: Stripes & Sequins
• Youth Savage: The Circus of Fashion: A Response
• Zerxza’s Fashion Wonderland: Average Meets Perfect

in the name of Fashion,
Chi Chi Bella

something for the both of you

Up and coming New England designer Erin Cormier, revolutionizes the average boxer, for both men and women, through her hip loungewear company Paxton 1345. Not only do these stylish boxers feature an ultra-flattering cut and luxurious Egyptian cotton fabrics, but they come in a wide range of patterns and bright colors. Erin's adoration of comfy, practical sleeping shorts, led her to create Paxton 1345 for all of those who share her love for men's boxers, but want a cuter pair. Choosing to name the styles after popular vacation destinations and Northern hotspots, the collection features Boston, East Hampton, and Vineyard boxers, among others. With a distinct fold-over waistband for the gals, and their tailored fit, Paxton 1345's essential wearables promise "haute bottoms, luxe boxers." Be sure to look out for the release of the Spring/Summer "Collegiate Collection," featuring exciting new patterns and colors of select Southern Universities. Despite solely featuring boxers, Erin's passion and creative intellect proves that Paxton 1345's variety of merchandise will only expand in the coming seasons. Check out her website www.paxton1345.com for more information, updates, and of course to order a fabulous pair for yourself (because I know I will be)...

look for a witty quote sewn into each pair

unique buttons adorn the front

contrasting waistbands add flair to each pair

p.s. major plus' include adorable packaging, and best of all, ask about monogramming...

in the name of Fashion,
chi chi bella

black on black on black

the best way to spend valentine's day was with my favorite fashionable crushes during the final day of ny fashion week. 12 fabulous runway shows are better than a dozen roses any day. however, despite the veil of red that usually splatters across cities on this "romantic" day, black stole the show. as we look back on several of the collections that premiered this week, it is obvious that we will see lots of black on the shelves come fall 2013. who's not to say they don't love a little black in their wardrobe? from the mélange of pattern on the j.crew runway, to the simplicity of oscar de la renta, designers worked to incorporate this monochrome color into their key pieces, adding the occasional splash of color and neutral tone. in my opinion, they were stunningly successful. while black can be perceived as boring, and often times the easy way out to an outfit, most designers added it into their collections knowing it is a realistic color to get dressed in each morning. through their pieces, they coupled black with simple risks that even the simplest of dressers can take to feel confident and fashion savvy. so, as you stare at the bright red roses sitting on the kitchen counter, think about all of the black you will be experimenting with come fall! happy valentine's day...

catherine malandrino

michael kors

ralph lauren

j.crew

misha nonoo

misha nonoo

oscar de la renta

in the name of Fashion,

chi chi bella

a personal favorite not to be missed

the extremely talented misha nonoo is a personal favorite of chi chi bella's. february 12th she will be featured on the nyc fashion week runway with what we assume will be another fabulous collection. however, in the mean time we figured we would post a few favorites from her pre-fall 2013 collection - we are counting down the weeks till its release. the young designer's use of warm blues, pure whites, and simple textures, makes each of her unique pieces timeless. misha's collections are directed towards women looking for sensible, yet alluring additions to their wardrobes. as you're purchasing pieces from her spring 2013 collection, and waiting for pre-fall 2013 to be released, take a look at the last image for a preview of what's to come for fall/winter 2013. this is not a show to miss..

fall/winter 2013 sketch

in the name of Fashion,
chi chi bella

images courtesy of style.com and examiner.com

the show must go on...

despite our friend nemo slamming the northeast this weekend, nyc fashion week hunkered down. with extra tenting over Lincoln Center and a high heating bill, most of the shows went on. the aftermath of the storm left us with some of our most favorite looks of the week. of course, a full report of nyc fashion week will follow...

notice the textural leather arms of the coat courtesy of rebecca taylor

mara hoffman excites us with her mix of vibrant colors and patterns

a simple yet fabulous wool coat by marissa webb

a classic yet edgy color combination by marissa webb

the elegance of this feminine dress and the simplicity of the coat by marissa webb

an attendee featured on elle looking perfect in her fur coat and oversized clutch

all bundled for the storm with a chunky black wrap (courtesy of elle)

in the name of Fashion,
chi chi bella