Amazing grace

Miley, Lindsay, Jon and Kate, Salahis, Balloon Boy, any Real Housewife, and of course the Cheatah-
Do all celebrities and pseudo celebrities believe their fame gives them carte blanche to break the rules, flaunt lewd behaviour, and generally behave horribly?

No not all of them. Not Jennifer Kate Hudson.  

She rose from obscurity to reach the heights of fame,winning an Academy award in her first screen role. Then the worst that could happen did happen. Her mother, brother, and nephew all murdered. Even in the year of Obama her tragedy stole the headlines here in Chicago and reverberated for months. So she disappeared and grieved in private.
And when she returned to sing at the Super Bowl she was strong, brave, beautiful, not bitter, and certainly not asking for our pity.
For being grace personified, remaining true to herself, and coming out the other side stronger then ever, Jennifer Hudson is my style icon for 2009.

RIP Brittany

Even if she had never made another picture after "Clueless" Brittany Murphy would have left her mark on both the fashion and film worlds. As sweet Tai Frasier, she plays a tragically unhip teen who is madeover and in the process gains confidence and a sense of style.

According to general consensus, Brittany Murphy was just as sweet in real life.

Who knows what caused her to go into cardiac arrest and die at 32? But we do know it was a life cut all too short made all the more tragic for her family coming just days before Christmas.

Trail blazer

This is it, THE must have blazer. One button, shoulder pads, and usually black. It's been popping up everywhere on everyone for good reason. You can get it with the slighter shoulder pads, befitting the less ostentatious lifestyle we've all been forced to adopt, or you can get all Grace Jones with it.
Either way, it's the blazer of the season.
And being so on trend, smart girl, will show everyone what a good head you have on your shoulder (pads).

Tears of a clown

"Well there's some sad things known to man, 

but there ain't too much sadder than the tears of a clown, 

when there's no one around."

To paraphrase Smokey, just substitute "pathetic" for "sad" and "sadder" in the above.

I'll be back with my usual fashion frivolity manana.

Champagne Supernova

Sofia Coppola first came to prominence when she was tragically miscast in her dad's third Godfather saga. Nineteen at the time, she earned scathing reviews for what many considered her “valley girl” performance as Mary Corleone.
Who would blame her if she slunk off into oblivion living off her family name like a Hilton or Kardashian?
But that's not this girl's style. And boy does she have style.
She was married to Spike Jonze, was at one time a muse to Marc Jacobs, and she has collaborated with Louis Vuitton on her own handbag and shoe collection.
She also has a sparkling wine named after her created by Coppola wineries.

And it is delicious.

And it comes in a can.
That's right, ”champagne“ in a can.

Sofia blanc de blancs is a subtly sweet sparkling wine that comes packaged in individual cans with a straw attached.  It's been called almost a fashion accessory, befitting the style icon it's named for.

By the way, Sofia Coppola did manage to do a little film work after her dubious debut.
In 2004 she became only the third woman ever to be nominated for a Best Director Academy Award, and the first ever American woman to receive this nomination.
Champagne Supernova indeed.

Sofia sparkling wine

Turn the Paige

Here are the Paige Melrose straight leg jeans. This is not a picture of the pair I own. If it were there would be numerous patches on the butt area, well worn knees, and as of today, a brand new rip just above the left knee. I have literally worn these jeans to shreds. There was a point when I wore them 5 out of the 7 days of the week. One of those days off was a Sunday as I'm still old school, no jeans to church. If you've ever owned a pair of Paige jeans then you know why mine are on their last legs. They are ridiculously comfortable and flattering. They make my butt look how it did pre-pregnancy. Hell they make my butt look how it did pre-thirties. And for this forty something birthday girl, that is something worth celebrating.

Click here to see all Paige styles.

Suzabelle of the ball

Suzabelle is a beautiful, elegant line based out of Seattle. Founded by Suzanne Jaberg in 2005, she was named "the Seattle Coat Queen" by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. I also consider her one of the hottest indie designers around.
I recently asked her what she loves in a holiday outfit.

 ”I like late 50's to early 60's silhouettes.

I like a high-waisted fitted dress with a pencil skirt
in a stretch wool suiting.

For events, I'd love to see longer dresses in black,
burgundy or dark emerald green matte silks.“ 

 

 

For spring, Suzanne says,

”Day dresses will be everywhere,

in bright colours like scarlet, fuchsia and turquoise.

Scarf-neck tops and dresses in loose flowing fabrics

as well as fitted secretary-style dresses.“

 

And you may be wondering where are the pictures of coats by the ”Seattle Coat Queen“?

Click here to see Suzabelle's fabulous coats along with all her wonderful collections

Unique Chic

I cannot rave enough about Milda Sedra's jewelry lines; Emunique and Simplemunique.
She handcrafts amazingly beautiful pieces using gold filled and silver wire, semi- precious gemstones, and fresh water pearls.

What's best about her jewelry though is she has several different lines at various price points.

So if you are a recessionista like myself or still want to spend like it's 2006, you'll find the piece that works for you.

                           THRIFT                                                                              

Round Stone Earrings $42

                           
                            SPENDTHRIFT         

Aqua and Smoky Quartz Earrings $145

                                    

                            THRIFT

 Tower Pendant $62

                                          SPENDTHRIFT

Royal Purple Necklace $180

                            THRIFT

Blue Bracelet $40

                             SPENDTHRIFT

 Blueberry Bracelet $150 

Emunique Jewelry

Word of the Day

Who says Bravo rots your brain?

Watching Andy Cohen last night I learned a new word,

“Farkakte”

Feel free to mosey on over to Yinglish to learn for yourself what it means but I can save you the trouble just by showing you the following:

Here is the Queen of Soul at Rockefeller Center for the lighting of the Christmas tree. Me thinks the Queen should be dethroned for this outfit.

As if the full length fur wasn't bad enough, the mink head bandage/head band was overkill.

(pun intended)

I love you Aretha, but on the freeway of love this outfit is just plain roadkill.

BTW, PETA's not unknown to the meaning of farkakte either.

Carry on my wayward mom

Some might say Lewis and Clark carried more on their expedition than I do carting the twins around. If so, then I run a close second. I typically haul snacks, sippies, pullups, wipes, keys, books, calendar, phone, ipod, yadda yadda yadda, ad nauseam. In fact my purse got so heavy I made the ultimate sacrifice and removed the item I never left home without, my makeup bag.

So when I saw this bag online at less than $150 I knew it was perfect for channeling my inner sherpa.

 

It's quilted grey suede with an inner cell phone pocket. At 19 in high and 22 in wide, it's the perfect bag to remain functional yet fashionable. And isn't that a discovery we're all hoping to make?

quilted grey suede leather bag