In Bloom

Florals for spring? Not exactly original, I know. Nevertheless, I'm a person less about cutting edge and more about wearing what is pretty and what feels right~ and that absolutely includes prints laden with blooms as we head into the months that bring us such loveliness sprouting from the ground and dripping from the trees.

Wearing flowers is to be dressed in the best nature has to offer and I, for one, have loved it since my British grandmother introduced me to Liberty prints as a little girl. What can I say? I love finding inspiration in the small, daily things and this above photograph makes me want to dress for a walk in an English country garden or an outdoor picnic. This spring I'm on the hunt for printed dresses, a sexy skirt and accessories that are literal blooms.

These make a very good start, I think.

J.Crew's long pale pink and nude rose trellis gown would be stunning at an evening wedding.

Hand painted cherry blossom bangles would be gorgeous on any girl's wrist. This would be wearing a true work of art! Bracelet by Amy, via Silver Blue.

I adore the bold print on this pencil skirt. Forever 21 is laden with pretty florals this season.

I saw this delicately printed bustier dress in the window at Guess this week and was immediately drawn inside. It's now on my To Buy list and I'll juxtapose its sweetness with a shrunken leather jacket to wear at night.

J.Crew's amazing evening bag is literally comprised of gorgeous shredded silk and chiffon blossoms. Every girl would envy the one who carried this to the party.

Anthropologie is always the source for perfectly feminine pieces and this watercolour floral strapless dress (called Cooling Magma!) is both whimsical and beautiful. The shape is flattering to many body types and it would be perfect for date night or for a dinner with the girls.

You choose!

Oscar's Golden Girls

Here are my Oscar favourites only a few hours after these beautiful women walked the red carpet. The night undoubtedly belonged to Sandra (okay, okay~ after Kathryn Bigelow of course!). Bullock has been touted to win the Best Actress award for weeks and besides that, this weekend she actually turned up to collect her two wins for the "Razzies" (the worst of the worst acting awards, for which she "won" for All About Steve). Who could not love a woman who doesn't take herself at all seriously?

I love her and am so thrilled she won tonight for The Blind Side.

Sandra's speech for Best Actress tonight was everything the very best of acceptance speeches always are~ unrehearsed, witty, tender and touching (without being hysterical). There were tears pouring down my cheeks for two reasons: 1) When she choked up mentioning her late mother and how she had supported her no matter what she wanted to do, and 2) The obvious adoration she has for her husband, Jesse James, displays to me what I believe a true, forever kind of love to look like. Plus, her references to her competition with Meryl Streep were laugh out loud hilarious. Hands down my favourite part of the evening!

Sandra's dress was absolutely one of my favourites. Her metallic and lace Marchesa gown looked so vintage to me and it was lovely on her. Her sideswept hair and gutsy bright pink lipstick were also beautiful. Oscar's golden girl looked perfectly the part this evening.

My absolute favourite dress of the night, however, definitely belonged to presenter Cameron Diaz. Her gold beaded, strapless Oscar de la Renta gown was the stuff of dreams, as was her ridiculously gorgeous hair and red lips. I worshipped everything about this look and I can't say enough enthusiastic things about it. This now belongs in my All Star roster!

Second on my list was the always incredible Rachel McAdams. Her watercolour-esque Elie Saab gown was original and daring and I feel like her brave choice paid off. Painterly prints are still very hot, even after being so popular last spring and summer. I hate to label this look as trendy. Hopefully it will stick around for seasons to come as it's just so feminine and artistic and inspiring. To me, Rachel looks like a goddess. Everyone else may not love it but I think it's drop dead gorgeous. This is how Canadian girls can rock it!

I adore Elizabeth Banks (you would too if you caught her episode of Modern Family a few weeks back) and she looked like a vision in this grey blue Atelier Versace gown tonight. Calling to mind for me Penelope Cruz's Versace in 2007, it is comprised of a lot of ruffles. A lot. I would never wear this many ruffles in a million years, but it's the Academy Awards for crying out loud! If you can't strut around in something this unabashedly girly on Oscar night when the heck can you? I don't adore this angle but the girl looked genuinely amazing on that huge stage and she has the Grace Kelly-like, blond, patrician good looks to pull off so big a dress. Not my number one choice, but one I surprisingly adored.

I hope you had fun watching tonight and feel free to share with me your favourite moments and gowns! I suppose I should see The Hurt Locker now...!!

Oscar Love

Photo of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly backstage at The 28th Annual Academy Awards, March 21, 1956

This weekend is one of my favourites of the entire year~ it's Oscar time, friends! I'm so excited to watch the ceremony on Sunday with my family! We can get pretty competitive, betting on the outcomes of every category... for money, of course! I haven't seen too many of the films up for consideration this year but, nevertheless,

I better win this Oscar pool!

My favourite part of the evening (after the speeches that always make me teary eyed) is the fashion! This is the best night of the year for drop dead, fantasy fashion~ plus jewelry, shoes, hair and makeup! All the over the top gorgeousness makes my heart quicken! Here are a few of my absolute favourite dresses over the past few years...

My all time favourite Oscar dress is Renee Zellweger in vintage Jean Desses from Lily et Cie. I became obsessed with owning a yellow dress after this. It's a bold colour choice but the silhouette is so perfectly subtle and feminine. Years later I still love it just as much.

I adored Gwyneth Paltrow in this pale pink Stella McCartney gown. The structured, corset-like bodice and full skirt are unfathomably romantic, her diamonds were crazy beautiful and I loved the simplicity of her long, wavy hair. Perfection.

Angelina Jolie was impeccable in the above white, Greek goddess gown by Marc Bouwer. So simple, so glamourous, so hot! This woman makes anything look amazing!

I'm not one for wearing red personally, but Anne Hathaway was lovely in this ruby red Marchesa gown with floral detail. The draping is so beautiful and I adored her perfectly, curled ponytail as well. A ponytail to the Oscars! Love!

Nicole Kidman has worn more famous gowns to the Academy Awards, but my favourite is this pale blue Chanel gown with its irreverent feathered skirt. The pale shade suits her to perfection and I thought she was at her most ice queen loveliness in this. Plus, her upswept hair and diamond collar are incredible. Coco would be proud.

While Tom Ford was still designing for the house, Julianne Moore wore this emerald green strapless gown by Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche. Redheads are often perfect in green and this is no exception. Julianne looked sexy and confident in this ruffled number and it proves that bold colour certainly works on the red carpet. Sigh.

I miss you, Tom Ford!

Last but not least, Kate Hudson looked simply enchanting in this nude lace Versace gown. What is not to love here? Romantic lace, cap sleeves, full skirt, gorgeous hair, copious diamonds... everything is flawless on this golden girl. This is consistently voted the best Oscar look of all time and I am hard pressed to not choose this as my number 2. This is everything that Oscar fashion should be~ timeless, elegant, romantic, fashionable, feminine. Perfect.

Have fun watching! I'll share my favourites from this year on Monday! I can't WAIT for Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin as presenters. And I better win that darn Oscar pool!

14th

Hmmmm.... February. The month of the groundhog (boo to 6 more weeks of winter!) and the most loved/hated holiday of the year. Oh, Valentine's Day. You are half sweet and you half gross me out. This year I am going to bake cupcakes for my girlfriends, treat myself to something super pretty and will spend the night at my new work (this I will actually enjoy!). If I were into VDay then this saccharine sweet mini dress from BCBG would fit the bill. An entire dress covered in tiny, fluttery red hearts? I think I feel a toothache coming on....

sweet, sweet, sweet.

Green With Envy

A stunning redhead in emerald Gucci. Need I say more?

I. Want. It.

(Photos via Style Me Pretty)

City Hall Celebration

I have friends who had their formal wedding in Mexico but will legally tie the knot at City Hall here in Vancouver next month. Just because it's City Hall certainly doesn't mean you can't go all out, like this adorable civil ceremony in San Francisco. I adore the fact that these two made their simple wedding so chic and sweet, like the bride's stylish white cocktail dress and vibrant bouquet. Plus, that is one gorgeous City Hall!

(Photos via Once Wed)

Easter Egg Dresses

Nah, I'm not seriously dreaming of spring... whatever would make you say that? Just because I am longing to break out my sunglasses again, throw a light jacket over my shoulders and spend my days in thin, gauzy frocks in Easter egg colours doesn't mean that I'm dying for spring. Le sigh. Okay, okay. You got me. J.Crew's lovely dresses have given me the itch and as much as I am a sweater and boots kind of girl, I have a serious yen for prettiness and femininity again instead of heavy layers and utilitarian warmth! Bring on the sun!

(ps- We have had the mildest winter here in Vancouver, seriously. This is hugely ironic as the Winter Olympic Games are set to start here in two weeks!)

Seeing Double

While I absolutely loved Diane Kruger on the red carpet at Saturday's SAG Awards and she was undoubtedly my fashion favourite, I couldn't help but feel this look had been done before. From her pulled back blond knot to her red lips to the incredibly distinctive shade of her marigold yellow gown, Diane could be a double for Michelle Williams in Vera Wang at the 2006 Academy Awards. No matter. Fashion is nothing if not cyclical and both look equally breathtaking.

Rainbow Bright

Now this is what I like to see! There was a wealth of vibrant colour on the red carpet at Saturday night's SAG Awards and I absolutely loved it! My absolute favourites? Diane Kruger's marigold Jason Wu gown (especially with her red lips) and Glee's Lea Michele in emerald Catherine Malandrino. Even though it's still January it makes me feel like spring is in the air!

Golden Globe Favourites

The Golden Globes were last night and sadly I missed the telecast because I was at work. However, the first thing I did when I got home was pounce onto People and Us Weekly online to see what the beautiful people of Hollywood were wearing. A rare rain in Los Angeles gave the red carpet a twist, as many of the actors were photographed under umbrellas, which I thought was charming. Hey, even the stars have to worry about humidity ruining their hair (the bane of my very existence)! The fashion itself was not as spectacular as I had hoped~ lots of black and did everyone call each other before the show to agree on wearing one shouldered gowns?! There was a shocking lot of them (Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon here, not to mention Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, Drew Barrymore and Anna Kendrick). 

I am giddy in anticipation of the Academy Awards. Oscar night is one of my favourites of the entire year! My family gets together at my parent's house, we eat dinner and bet on every category! We still laugh at my brother for the year he lost every category because he kept betting on Ratatouille! I won (naturally!) 

Here are my favourite three dresses from last night...

Reese Witherspoon (above) presented in a simple and elegant inky navy blue column. I love that she wore blue over the more obvious choice of black. Her hair is sexy, tousled perfection and the girl seriously glows (as usual). Poor, poor Jake Gyllenhaal (I'll take him)! 

I'm a girly girl so Best Actress nominee Emily Blunt's pale pink Dolce & Gabbana is dreamy perfection to me. I think she looks angelic and subtly sexy. She is going to make one beautiful bride. She's ridiculously talented and she gets to marry my dream man (John Krasinski and no, I don't like him from The Office. More along the lines of It's Complicated)! Lucky girl! 

I've been watching a lot of Friends reruns lately and I'm loving Jennifer Aniston again. Rachel! I often find her boring on the red carpet (come on, Jen, would it kill you to do your hair a little differently once in awhile?!) but last night she looked A-mazing! Her black Valentino is a more obvious sexy (hello, cut up to there slit!) but she majorly owns it. I love her wavy hair and her skin literally gleams. All I can say is... wow!  

Dress Perfection

Sarah Seven still manages to astound me with her beautiful couture cocktail dresses and gowns on Etsy. Though she still sells the designs 

I profiled before here, these two new designs took my breath away. The ivory cocktail dress, Tea For Two, is ethereal perfection, both innocent and flirtatious, sweet and subtly sexy. The navy and red gown, Midnight Stroll, is incredibly dramatic and would catch any eye in a sea of black dresses. This young designer's talent continues to grow and flourish and I can't wait to see what her future holds. 

I pray for one of her designs for myself someday! 

(Photos via etsy)

This Much I Know For Sure

This much I know for sure.... surgery bites. I've been through it before and I'll go through it again but the one this week was yet another health blip. I'll spare you the details but I will say that the imposed rest has been good for both body and soul and my head is feeling clearer than ever.... despite the drowsy haze leveled on me by painkillers. Despite all the unknowns in my life at the moment, this much I know for sure...

1. Lulu is the best medicine. Lulu and morphine.

2. The hospital is an awesome place to meet gorgeous, young doctors. I met three. On the downside, when they are examining you in a kick ass, super stylin' hospital gown all romantic potential is sort of a no go.

3. Cheesy TV a la 90210, Melrose Place and The Ghost Whisperer is good for the soul (in a guilty pleasure sort of way). On the other hand, The Vampire Diaries is dangerously good and addictive. 

4. I have the best nurse in the world. I call her mom. 

This much I also know for sure...

This tiny, adorable fawn bud vase is one of the sweetest things I've seen in ages. Perfect for just a single flower or seasonal sprig. I would place mine on my bedside table to admire its cuteness. Also a perfect gift for your girlfriend who has everything. One of the many things I have my heart set on right now from The Cross. 

My new guilty pleasure is the beautiful website and blog Once Wed. I'm seriously nowhere near getting married (duh) but this site is a candy store for the eyes. I absolutely adore this photo~ especially the amazingly lovely colour combination of the aqua bridesmaids dresses paired with yellow shoes and pink flowers. Heaven. 

This confection of a dress is high on my wish list right now. The rosette bedecked shift is heartbreakingly romantic and sweet but can be styled, as above, to be edgier. I've just discovered the fabulous website ModCloth and they have no less than half a dozen dresses I'm yearning for at unbelievable prices. This one tops the list. 

I heart this chair, as seen on Bliss. I love the modern shape and the whimsical printed fabric and I love it paired with the rustic, twig side table. I would like two of these in my living room please. 

Remember my post on this wallpaper in my friend Sarah's lovely home? Here it is again, seen on This is Glamorous. I love it more than ever. Wallpaper is like jewelry. It immediately dresses up any room to perfection. It's so worth the risk. Also see Chloe's post on more gorgeous wallpaper on My Favourite Things. 

I love funny things for the kitchen (I have scissors in the shape of a woodpecker that make me laugh every time I use them). These Easter Island inspired ice cube trays are fantastic for cocktail hour! Well worth the $10 to see the smiles on everyone's faces! They also sell this line at Front on Main Street. 

I dream of this dress from BCBG. It makes my heart pitter patter. Is there anything to say other than hubba hubba? I worship the drama of this backless number, not to mention the simply gorgeous violet colour and its stunning asymmetry. This one is so special I don't think I can pass it up. It would be perfection for an upcoming Christmas party. 

This much I know for sure.... the internet is a great distraction and I will get better soon. Thank you to all my wonderful friends and my family for their hugely appreciated support and love. xo