I never thought I’d see the day when Gossip Girl would become boring or irrelevant. But, I think I just did. As New York City’s #1 Aspiring Socialite, I must now give up living vicariously through the fictional Serena van der Woodsen in favor of the real life Blake Lively. Aside from being the new face of CHANEL, Blake Lively is currently among one of the most sought after (and Googled) celebrities of our time.
Maybe it is her smile or her long elegant locks (there is no harm in extensions when they are expertly done) that account for this, but anyone aspiring to fame and fortune has a lot to learn from Miss Lively. Fashion designers have actually been know to pay her to sit in the front row of their shows. To me, that sounds like an excellent career prospect. Today, this 23-year-old Mademoiselle sits at the front line of CHANEL’s latest handbag campaign as a taller and more sober version of Kate Moss. This high fashion mirror shot was taken by none other than Karl Lagerfeld. I can’t believe how many perks there are to being Blake Lively. I hope she got to keep the bag because it’s super cute.
Acclaimed fashion designer Vivienne Westwood has always been known to have a global nature as the fabric of her appeal. As seen in Women’s Wear Daily, she referred to her fall collection as World Wide Woman. To me, however, this collection of brilliant evening gowns worn by masked models, is elegantly reminiscent of none other than the film Black Swan. Perhaps, the great Vivienne Westwood was inspired by the madness and the duality of the award winning film. However, this collection also bears a resemblance to the masquerade scene in The Phantom of the Opera. Whatever the inspiration I absolutely love this darkly elegant collection. Good going Viv! A socialite is always a woman of the world.
After this crazy winter full of snow and ice, New York desperately needs a touch of Miami. With the arrival of March, I could not be more excited to trade in my UGGs and leggings for a mini skirt and bright platform heels. However, as a fashionista with flat feet and a bad back, I have experienced the distain of high-end bouncers everywhere by showing up at trendy clubs in flats or flip flops. I always get in anyway, but I would really like to someday wear heels for a long period of time.
Thankfully, breakout shoe designer, Xiomara Lisette has finally found a solution to my never-ending fashion crisis. As the wife of a Miami Heat player, Xiomara Lisette, created her own line of shoes to give her height, comfort, and most of all hot Miami style. As a sizzling Latina, much of Xiomara’s inspiration comes from Latin culture and her world travels. Her line premiered in New York recently at the Empire Hotel during Fashion Week where women came in from the cold and took off their clunky winter boots to try on these brightly colored shoes. As the days get longer with the approach of summer I look forward to seeing Xiomara Lisette’s line of sexy shoes expand from South Beach to Sag Harbor.
I would like to thank the Academy for a fabulous night of fashion. In spite of a few blunders; the dresses this year were fabulous Hollywood looks. To celebrate my love for film and red carpet style, I have compiled a list of Socialite Superlatives highlighting the best (and worst) looks of the 83rd Annual Academy Awards.
Best Dressed: Mila Kunis looked like a goddess in a lavender chiffon gown by Elie Saab Haute Couture. It is looks like this that the Oscars are truly about. I tend to wear a lot of purple, but the glamour in this dress is unlike anything I have ever seen.
Worst Dressed: Cate Blanchett’s Givenchy gown with the unsightly circle in the front looked like it is was inspired by Lady Gaga arriving in an egg at the Grammy Awards. Though it may have gotten good reviews from some style commentators, I thought it was by far the worst look on the red carpet.
Cutest: Hailee Steinfeld, nominated for her role in True Grit, took no cues from Miley Cyrus when she walked out on the red carpet in a one-of-a-kind Marchesa gown that she designed herself. Not only did she look fabulous, she looked her age.
Best Hair: Reese Witherspoon looked stunning in a black and white Giorgio Armani Prive gown.When it comes to an evening look, I have always been a huge fan of black and white. However, her hair was the best I have seen in a while on the red carpet. I am in adoration of this ponytail.
Most Balanced: Amy Adams sparkled on the red carpet in L’Wren Scott and $1.5 Million worth of Cartier jewels. What I loved about this dress is that while the slit showed a lot of leg, a well-covered top complimented it. When choosing the perfect evening look, it is always good to show one or the other.
Most Daring: Helena Bonham Carter should always wear black. She looked fabulously normal in a dress designed by costume designer, Colleen Atwood. Though she looked much more put together than she normally does during awards season, the dress was still very much her style.
Prettiest: Best Actress winner, Natalie Portman, looked ballerina pretty in a purple Rodarte floor-length gown. The dress was the perfect design for any expectant mother. She was absolutely glowing. Black Swan may have taken away Best Actress, but purple was the color of choice this year on the red carpet. It seems like Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis shared more than a make out scene this year in film when they both sported the signature color at the 2011 Oscars.
Best Pattern: Scarlett Johansson’s Dolce & Gabbana Oscar gown may have gotten mixed reviews, but I really liked it. Both the pattern and cut really worked for her. You can’t have a red carpet without lace.
Most Star Studded: Gwyneth Paltrow rocked the red carpet in a sparkling Calvin Klein. She embodied the excess and celebration that is the Oscars while looking like a couture glass of champagne.
Most Memorable: Jennifer Hudson looked red hot on the red carpet in an orange-red Versace. Not only did she have a couture gown to show off, she also had a sexy new body to strut down the red carpet.
Once upon a time, I was an Abercrombie & Fitch wearing teenager who spent all of her babysitting money on A & F polos bearing the moose emblem. I did so all in the name of preppiness. This was a precursor of the Aspiring Socialite journey I would embark on as a young adult in New York City. Over the years, I have found preppy style to be as timeless as a tennis foursome. Preppy fashion is not a requirement of being a socialite, it is an inevitability of the high life. These looks are as classic and versatile as men’s suits or the little black dress.
Popularized by the Kennedys, America’s Royal Family, preppy fashion with its iconic collars, plaids, and argyles is as distinctive as the East Coast Ivys where it originated. Even if you have never played tennis or golf, you have probably worn the clothes or at least an inspired style. These virtually unchanging looks give us a much-needed element of dressy casual. If it were up to me, we would all participate in athletics photo ready with a color coordinated collared shirt and matching bottoms? If there is anything I have learned in my 24 years on this Earth, it is that it is always better to be overdressed than under dressed. What separates a true prep from the rest of society is that a true prep is never under dressed no matter what the circumstances may be.
For a photo tutorial on how preppiness has stood the test of time check out Take Ivy:
