red carpet rainbow.

 {photo sources: Jennifer Lawrence + Emma Watson - Jordan Strauss | Lupita Nyong'o - Steve Granitz}

My grandmother instilled in me a love of award shows. Perhaps it is because her brother was a talented designer, but whatever it was: she loved watching the stars walk the red carpet. It almost feels like she comes back to me every year on Oscars Sunday.

Every year, I take note of the color walking the carpet. The dresses above illustrate the colors which stood out to me during this year's show. My "surprise" favorite hue was worn by Lupita Nyong'o. I normally overlook this "duck egg" blue, but I couldn't stop staring at her gorgeous gown. I loved the subtle sparkle and two-tone nature of Emma Watson's dress. Last but not least, I couldn't go without mentioning Jennifer Lawrence. The simplicity of her look made it absolutely timeless. As a random sidenote: I heard an interesting fact while watching the carpet coverage on E!. This graphic confirmed it: no woman has won the best actress award while in red.

Which looks were your favorite this year? Were you surprised at all by the "muted" red carpet rainbow this year? Beyond those above, I adored Julia Roberts' lacy number and Kate Hudson's sparkles {sans blazer}. I can't wait to hear your picks! xoxo {av}

the hart of it all.

With the new fall TV line-up, I have added a few shows to my rotation. It may be because it follows up Gossip Girl {one of my perennial favorites} or because it's a show set somewhere outside of a city, but Hart of Dixie has definitely found its place in my DVR schedule. With Rachel Bilson playing Zoe Hart, it doesn't hurt that one of my all-time favorite fashion crushes is the lead. {I was also thrilled to see Jason Street, I mean, Scott Porter, back on TV!}

{top row: left - middle - right | bottom row: left - right}

I adore her easy, breezy sense of style in her everyday life and on Hart of Dixie, where she plays a New Yorker transplanted in the South. Some of the drama on the show may be a bit played out, but I love the change of scenery and the snippets of country music. The small town girl in me really can't get enough!

 I'll stay tuned to see where this plot goes...and for a little weekly dose of fashion inspiration ;)

Though I'm always a Blair Waldorf fan, it is nice to have another crush in the mix.

I can't wait to hear whose closet you'd pick, be it a fictitious character or a real-life celebrity. I have

another sweet installment in the {distance makes the heart grow fonder} series for you tomorrow!

getting red carpet ready.

Magically, I looked at the calendar this morning and realized it was Thursday...

which means today is my Friday {insert happy squeals!} and 

it's almost time for another {very special} round of Friday's Fancies!

Today, I'm giving you a sneak peek into what's inspiring my look for tomorrow,

be it the perennial plunging backs of the red carpet gowns or the big bling

that Hollywood's finest get to sport.

sources: plunging back | red carpet red | glitz + glam | long + wavy | up + away | bright pout | big bling

Want to create your own red carpet look?  Link up with Friday's Fancies!

When money is no object, you really can create your dream red carpet look...

and let's be honest, who hasn't dreamed of dressing up like a movie star

and getting out of the limo with some arm candy?

{Not so down with the red carpet thing...don't worry! 

You can create your what-I'd-be-wearing-if-money-grew-on-trees

outfit for whatever occasion you like. Click here to see some previous posts!}

The link-up begins Friday at midnight, so start dreaming!

This week, you'll have the added bonus of participating in a

fantastic blog crawl if you play along!

{Don't forget to stop by ashley nicole catherine for today's blog crawl post!}

Can't wait to see all your Friday's Fancies :)

xoxo {av}

P.S. Many of you have been asking what program to use to build your 

Friday's Fancies...when I started this series, I used Picasa. 

Now, I use Photoshop and Illustrator. The good news is that most people use Polyvore 

and it works like a charm...just watch out, you might get addicted!

lifetime of curls.

During one of my long treadmill runs this weekend, I was transported back to 2001...when the movie Princess Diaries hit theaters. Cue me--{av}--an awkward high school junior who only recently discovered the glories of leave-in conditioner and mousse. 

Anne Hathaway's transformation in the Princess Diaries {and over the last decade} is nothing short of spectacular. It also made me realize something: she is my celebrity hair icon. There. I said it. I think Anne Hathaway is an absolute curl goddess!

{photo credits: left from the Princess Diaries | right from Love and Other Drugs}

In the last ten years, she's managed to rock my curly-girl world on a number of occasions, most recently in Love and Other Drugs. As that gawky girl with frizzy hair {from ages 5 to 15...eeks}, I am entirely jealous of the team of stylists she must have to manage her locks. If the Golden Globes were any indication, she can even manage to pull off straight hair--and do it beautifully. 

{Remember this image from yesterday? sigh.}

Photo by Steve Granitz of WireImage via InStyle

I'm sure that if I had somehow managed to make it as a movie star I'd have my own team to tackle my tresses. In lieu of such treatment, I found my miracle makers back in 2001, the same year I saw the Princess Diaries:

 Pantene Curl Defining Mousse + Pantene Curly Hair Light Conditioning Detangler

 

{Image via Soap.com}

{Image via Soap.com}

For less than $8 a month, I have the curls I dreamed of in my early teens. Sure, they're not Anne Hathaway's immaculate locks, but they're manageable--and I've come to love them. My morning hair routine takes all of three minutes, which means I can get on with my day. I don't even know how to use a blow dryer or a straightener, though I'd love to learn just for the benefit of any daughters {cv} and I might produce. One of my biggest fears is that Pantene would discontinue these products...they've changed packaging over the years and thankfully I've always been able to track down my favorites!

So, I'll continue to admire Ms. Hathaway's curls from afar. I know I have a lifetime of curls ahead of me, but my 25-year-old self likes that prospect much more than my 16-year-old self did ;) 

This discussion begs the following questions:

Who is your celebrity hair icon?  And what are your miracle makers?

Can't wait to hear your answers! I hope you don't think I'm crazy woman with a secret passion for Anne Hathaway's hair {though that may be true!}. 

Have a great night, all! We're almost to Thursday! YAY! xoxo {av}

P.S. Proof I've rocked the curls from the early days on...

little {av} in 1987 on the beaches of Hilton Head

red carpet recap #1.

Unless you live under a rock in the blogosphere, you know the Golden Globes were handed out on Sunday. As always, I loved all the excitement on the red carpet. {My Nana, Rosemarie, and I watched many a red carpet back in the day.} I know I'm a day behind most of you, but with the exciting delivery from my postwoman this past weekend, I couldn't help but share that news with you yesterday. I have to admit that I wasn't super impressed with the gowns in this first round of red carpets. I'll cross my fingers that the impending Oscars will be better! There were a few standouts, so here's my take...

My overall favorite of the night had to be Heather Morris. She sported this champagne dazzler from Lorena Sarbu, paired with understated but beautiful drop earrings from Diamond In The Rough. Her sideswept hair was the perfect complement to the whole look.

Photo by Frazer Harrison of Getty Images via InStyle

Next on my list was Anne Hathaway's hair. Yes, I said her hair. {I loved the back of her dress, but I wasn't a huge fan of the color.} I think her stylist, Adir Abergel from Fekkai, rocked. it. out. Her makeup was spot on too.

Photo by Steve Granitz of WireImage via InStyle

Amber Riley, another of my favorites from Glee, looked like a knockout in this metallic Oliver Tolentino number. I loved the texture of the dress! I wasn't impressed by her hair, but I thought her makeup was gorg.

Getty Images via InStyle

When I first spotted Emma Stone, it took me a minute to realize who she was without her red hair. I liked her dress, but I didn't love it. What I did love was her makeup...her whole look is somewhat monotone, but it worked in harmony!

Photo by Kyle Rover of Startraks via InStyle

I managed to miss Olivia Wilde on the red carpet {bathroom break, maybe?} but I saw her sparkle in the crowd. This Marchesa gown was a masterpiece, though parts of me found it a little prom-ish. I especially loved that her hair didn't compete with the dress.

 Getty Images via InStyle

A few sidenotes... a) I barely recognized Glee's Ms. Pillsbury {aka Jayma Mays}. Skinny Minnie!

b) Natalie Portman was much more pregnant than I expected! I liked the pops of red, but I couldn't quite get over the pink silk explosion. This was definitely not her best look, in my book at least.

Photo by Frazer Harrison of Getty Images via InStyle

Photo by Frazer Harrison of Getty Images via InStyle

c) Upon first spotting Claire Danes, I only saw her from the waist up...and when I did, I loved the hot pink hue and the open back of her dress from Calvin Klein! When I saw the whole get-up, I was sorely disappointed. The look was way too simple!

Photo by Steve Granitz of WireImage via InStyle

What was your take on the fashion from Sunday night? I want your honesty--and no, I won't be offended if you disagree with me! What stood out to you from this red carpet? How did you feel about that emerald green? As a May baby, I didn't mind it. I  just wasn't in love with the styles on those ladies clad in green, like Mila or Angelina.

Can't wait to hear what you think--hope you had a drier Tuesday than we did here in New England! I'm just thankful we're not being buried in snow ;) 

Have a great night! xoxo {av}