8:05 Pre Show

• Tim Gunn - Looks positively flawless and as handsome as ever.  I LOVE this man!  <3
• Kate Winslet - Love the black and the detailing.  She looks stunning!  I am
• Diane Lane - LOVE HER!  I actually served her a soda once when I was waiting tables!!  Love the basic black, strapless is always good.  I miss her hair longer.
• Amy Adams - Beautiful necklace, I like her simple hair - I am liking red on her!  The necklace doesn’t flow that easily into the dress, but I get it.
• Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick - LOVEEEEEEEE her dress - so ethereal and beautiful.  Having her hair down is a good balance for this, and I like the color.  I love the accent of a casual belt around such an elegant dress
• Taraji P Henson - Her figure looks amazing in this!  I love the color on her and the diamonds are beautiful.  Cute bob, as well!
• Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie - love her green earrings with the black dress.  I am loving green right now, so maybe I am biased ;]  Angelina looks flawless as usual, though I have yet to see the bottom of her dress.  Brad could lose the mustache but otherwise looks great.

>>  Tim is talking Valentino right now - this is not a surprise since Valentino produces some of the most timeless and perfect evening gowns I have ever seen.

• Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron - I hate Zac’s hair - blech.  Her dress is alright - not my favorite.  Her hair is beautiful, though
• Robert Downy Jr. - I like his tie as apposed to a bow tie.  Looks great!
• Viola Davis - I love gold on her - I would love it more if it was a shade or two lighter, but she looks beautiful.  I love the diamond bracelet as opposed to dramatic earrings.  Her hair was natural and gorgeous
• Miley Cyrus- Zohair Farad - I hate this dress - UGH.  She is young and can go more funky, but this is weird and I don’t like the scales or whatever they are.
• Anne Hathaway - She is gorgeous, as always.  Her Armani Prive gown is absolutely stunning and she looks statuesque. I am always impressed by her red carpet choices ;]  I have to find out how they got the fabric to look so much like liquid.
• Penelope Cruz - I love this dress!  A frothy vintage number - this is to die for!  The jewelry is perfect - understated so not to overshadow the dress.
• Marissa Tomei - Her hair is soft, which is nice.  It is a very architectural piece by Versace.  Architectural is hot right now- very hard dress to construct.  The color is okay - matches the theme.
• Seth Rogen - The sleeves on the jacket are too short, Seth!  The haircut and clean face look is nice - love the glasses!

8:30 - Show Opener

Hugh Jackman’s tux is great and fits him very well.  I need to find out who it is by.

Now that I can see the back of Kate Winslet’s dress, I am liking it even more.  The sheer fabric is beautiful!

Did Anne Hathaway pull a wardrobe change?  She is on stage performing with Hugh Jackman.  I like the concept of the dress but I would have preferred a different color other than gold.  Again we are seeing the sheer fabric on this dress.

Oooo - did you guys see Angie’s green ring?  I told you - green is hot!!  The pop of color with a simple, black dress is amazing!

The Oscars flashback reel is great - look at those dresses!  Some things are better off left in the past!

8:45

Goldie Hawn’s dress is definitely her - she goes for these colors often.  The bust is almost not there - you need a little more coverage, Goldie!!

Whoopi Goldbergs dress is a little off - I like the sillhouette but the print is a little weird for the Oscars.  She is a character, though!  ;]

Penelope just won for best actress in a supporting role!  Let me tell you - if I had found that dress before her, I would have worn it for my wedding!  I just want to feel the  frothy skirt and roll all in it!  hahah ;]

Tina Fey looks stunning and age appropriate in her gown.  I love the lines and the bodice on the dress.  Her hair is a good balance for the dress, and the gold is apprpriate for her personality.

9:00

Okay fashion lovers - I am leaving you to your own discussions for now.  I will probably post later in the show.  <33

I wasn’t sure where to get started, so I started with asking my fellow fashion lovers about their closets.  I was surprised to find out that almost everyone had my same problem at one time or another.  Many were still in the same position as me – their clothes and shoes got more use out of their room than they did.  After gathering tips from friends, family, and the internet, I set forth to conquer my security blanket of clutter.

Standing on my bed to get a better vantage point of it all, I was truly astounded by what I saw.  A maze of cardigans, trousers, shoes, belts, and more lay entangled with one another all around the room.  The only carpet I could see was a tiny path to the master bath and one leading out of the room.  Before I let the feel of defeat creep over me (it is important not to let this happen), I decided to start with what was actually still hanging in the closet.

My friend Ashley gave me the most basic tip of all:  color coordination.  I had always heard to do this, but listening to her simple explanation of how she organized her closet (in a one bedroom house, no less!) made me realized it just might work.  Make sure your neutrals are the easiest to access since you will wear them most often.  By organizing by color you are less likely to forget about items that may find their way to the bottom of the pile.  It also lets you really see what you have color wise, which is great for future shopping.  For example, my closet is full of FPU (fashion person’s uniform), which is black. Now I know that I need to look for shot of color to add to my wardrobe.

While you are placing your clothes by color, go ahead and organize them by style within the color bracket.  A good rule of thumb is to go by sleeve length for blouses and hem lengths for trousers/skirts/etc.  In my own closet I started with tops going from strapless, tanks, sleeveless, short sleeves, ¾ sleeves, long sleeves, to jackets. From there I placed skirts shortest to longest and the same with pants.  The only shorts I would hang are evening shorts made of satin and other crushable fabric.  Because of how large my jean collection is, I decided to fold as opposed to hang my jeans.  The only exception was my trouser jeans that require a crisp, streamlined look.  I organized my jeans by wash and how casual the pair was.  After folding I placed them into two high stacks on the shelf in my closet.  Dresses can be done by color or can have their own section, depending on how many you have.

Quick Closet Organization Tips:

• Large, bulky items like coats and formal dresses should be relocated to other closets or armoires if at all possible.
• Designate a “donation” box for all of your unwanted, unworn, and damaged clothing.  This will free up some much needed space!
• Casual, low-maintenance clothing like screen tees and denim shorts should be folded and moved to a shelf in the closet or a drawer.
• Don’t be afraid to bring in small storage solutions such as drawer units or baskets.

Tune in next post for Part Two of Closet Organization for the Fashionista.  We are going to tackle that beloved shoe collection, along with all of the other accessories running amuck in your home.

xoxo,

katie elise

xoxo,

katie elise

If you are hitting the club scene for New Year’s Eve, your theme is sexy with a side of sophistication. Sure, many girls take the word sexy to a grotesque level, but don’t worry. Because everyone else will be over doing it, it’s a perfect time to show off your best features. If you leave just enough to the imagination you are sure to stand out among the army of skanks and catch lots of attention. Think short, curve hugging dress with an interesting detail. A tiered dress is a fun way to show off your personality. Something sparkly around the neckline is also favorable because New Year’s Eve truly is a time to shine.  These same rules apply to most bars, as well.  The below dresses are from Express and Charlotte Russe, respectively.

The above dresses are good for almost any New Year’s Eve outing.  However, if you are going to be outside in the cold, think Times Square as the ball drops, it is important not to catch hypothermia.  Do not fret - dressing warm does not make you any less sexy.  So, please, I am begging you - wear a freaking coat!  Personally, I love coats.  I love the look a sophisticated coat can give a woman.  The right coat says sexy, sophisticated, and in charge.  The key in this outing is to layer, layer, layer!  Midnight is typically much cooler than 7 to 9 o’ clock at night, so you may not be able to guage just how cool it will get.  Plus, if you are going to a bar or party afterward, you still want to have something fabulous under the coat.

The first thing you should do is start with your dress.  As I stated before, the above dresses will work for this occasion as well.  It will be cold, so throw on some tights to keep your leg warms while you are outside.  If you are wearing a very plain dress, look into some of the new fun styles tights come in, such as prints and designs.  Next, pick out a killer coat, somewhere between hip length and knee length.  A wool trench coat will keep you cozy and look sexy with your heels.  If you prefer something shorter, try a fitted pea coat that shows off the bottom of your dress.  Next is warm accessories - scarves can keep anything from your neck, ears, chest, and even your hands warm.  The below coats are from Forever 21 and Express, respectively.

Oh, and ladies - please don’t disappoint me - wear some killer shoes, okay?  :]

xoxo,

katie elise

First and foremost, lets start with the “at home” gathering.  These little gatherings can range from a few people and wine to a hundred people and a keg.  Luckily, I have the answer to your fashion dilemma for both of those and in between.

The first question for you is are you the host or just a guest?  The hostess should always set the tone for the evening, hopefully as the best dressed person there.  If you are having just a few friends over and are going to watch the festivities over a glass of wine, you may want to stick with something that is cute yet comfortable.  I am a lover of dresses, and there are many comfortable dresses out there.  I suggest something like this fab dress from Express.  It is made of pima cotton and is soft to the touch.  With the right accessories, this could be the perfect New Year’s Eve dress for your small gathering with friends.

Now, to the adventurous girls out there, ready to take on the boys doing keg stands.  This is one of the few times I would say that something other than a dress on New Year’s Eve is appropriate.  Generally speaking, if you are going to find yourself upside down in front of all party guests for any reason, you can skip the dress. With that being said, there are lots of cute alternatives to look gorgeous and still have fun.  This is where our great friend Dark Denim comes in handy.  A true, fitted dark denim always looks chic, even while doing a keg stand!  If you have legs for days, try a skinny jean to accentuate your best assets.  For anyone else, a jean that is straight from your hip down is a sure way to go.  Pair the jeans with a sexy top and some killer accessories, and you are good to go.  This great top from Charlotte Russe would look great paired with dark jeans and killer shoes.

Look for the New Year’s Eve Fashion - Going Out edition coming very soon!

xoxo,

katie elise

Tell me what you think. 

xoxo,

katie elise

The show will include two fashion shows, both of which are designed by the students of Bauder College.  A large collaboration collection was put together by Monique Bynoe, Anthony McGhee, Liz , Clinthque Thornton, and yours truly.  The preshow is a collection of various pieces entered by students at Bauder College as well as a guest designer.   Bauder’s own runway guru Thomas is producing the show, so expect a killer show on the runway.

As for entertainment, local band Projector will be providing live entertainment throughout the show.  The band has been amazing at rehearsals and I know they are going to rock at the show!  There will also be a DJ and live poetry.  A local dance group is also set to perform a few numbers as well.  All of this adds up to one amazing time!  The event is on December 17th from 3:30 to 5:30 PM and we invite all of you to come enjoy the show and celebrate the holidays with us!  The admission is $1 or a new, unopened toy that can be donated to Toys for Tots.  All proceeds are going to benefit the Toys for Tots Foundation.

]]> http://www.katiecouture.com/the-christmas-project-bauder-college/feed/ http://www.katiecouture.com/dressing-in-thirds/ http://www.katiecouture.com/dressing-in-thirds/#comments Tue, 09 Dec 2008 23:53:10 +0000 admin http://www.katiecouture.com/?p=168

There are rules in fashion that are made to be broken, then there are rules in fashion that should always be followed. One of those rules that should always be followed is the idea of dressing your body in thirds. Dressing in thirds goes back to the concept of thinking of your body in a series of thirds. You may be familiar with this from Tim Gunn, who is a strong advocate for this rule.

If you are having trouble thinking of your body in thirds, check out the graphic above to get an idea.  Basically, the first third is from the shoulders to the waist.  This is upper torso area.  The next third is from the waist to right above the knees. The last third is from the knees to the feet.

The rules of thirds is all about proportion.  There are certain proportions that are more pleasing to the human eyes than others.  The proportion of dressing in thirds is the ideal proportion for presenting ourselves clothing wise.  One of the worst ways to present your body is by cutting it in half.  Cutting the body in half is very unflattering, even if it is trendy.  Some may argue that it is trendy to cut yourself in half with longer shirts and so on.  Trends do not always follow the rule of thirds, so be advised of this while shopping. Generally speaking, the rule of thirds should be followed almost always.

Do not confuse the rule of thirds with having to always wear three pieces.  The rule of thirds is to guide lengths of shirts, skirts, and dresses.  It also helps guide where garments should “cinch in.”  For example, skirts and dresses should hit right above, right at, or right below the knee for most people.  It is the most flattering length proportion wise and it goes back to the rule of thirds.  Another example is the empire waist.  It cinches in at the natural waist, hitting the bottom of the top third.  This creates the illusion of thirds as well.

Do you agree with the rule of thirds?  Why or why not?  Leave your comments!! 

xoxo,

katie elise

They are liars. Seriously. They stand there and deceive you with their inhuman measurements and rock hard bodies. Like, literally hard as a rock. The clothes lay so seamlessly and fluent on their bodies.  They look so good in fact, that you grab the exact outfit the mannequin has on, right down to the cute bag.  You frolick to the dressing room with high hopes of looking 6′ 1″ with legs for days.  You get the outfit on, and to your horror you look like a kid playing dress up compared to the mannequin.  The pants are a little long, and the color of the top is washing you out.  You are devastated.

That is how they get you.  Those sneaky mannequins have made you believe that you are not the beauty you really are.  The problem with this is that it is unfair and down right wrong to compare yourself to a mannequin in a store.  Yes, they are there as a guide to help you pick out a great new outfit for whatever the occasion.  They are not, however, a realistic representation of most women, if any at all.  This is why you must stop comparing yourself to the mannequin so you can move on to shopping bliss!

First of all, you should know that most clothes do not fit the mannequins at all.  Most clothes have to be altered to fit the mannequins oddly shaped body.  The outfitters use tools like safety pins and clothes clips.  Most shirts have to be gathered and pulled to create that smooth and seamless look you crave.  The same is usually true with trousers.  Dresses are always altered, especially styles that are difficult to fit.

The body of the mannequin is so stiff it gives a smooth and polished look to any garment.  Because the mannequins have no realistic human curves, clothes look seamless on the body.  The shape of the mannequin is overall very unrealistic.  The curves of the mannequin, such as its rear and breasts, are extremely hard, giving no realistic representation.  The body is oddly shaped and doesn’t resemble most if any human. 

With that being said, we all have to stop this ridiculous comparison of ourselves to these life-size dolls.  It is unhealthy and only brings down the joy of shopping.  Besides, would you want to be oddly shaped and have to have your clothes pinned to you?  I, for one, would not.  So the next time you are shopping and try on an outfit, don’t let the mannequins bring you down.  They’re all lying, anyway.

xoxo,

katie elise

I can see you now.  Why?  Because I have been there.  You are frantically searching your closet trying to find something to wear with your little black dress.  Sure, you could cop out and go for the black bag and shoes.  But I sure am glad you didn’t!  I am willing to bet based on your frantic search that you are NOT going to a funeral, therefore you shouldn’t depress the everyday people by looking like you are.  Nope, my guess is it is a night out with friends, family, or your special someone.  Even more reason not to look like Elvira’s Night Out.

So, now what?  Now you call in the accessories.  After all, an outfit is only a fabric swatch without the right accessories!  Since it is in the evening, it is best to set off your black dress with something bright and fun.  I am a strong advocate for a pop of color with black.  If you don’t want to go the bright color route, metallic accessories are for you.  Metallic accessories can bring just enough impact to make you dazzle without looking overdone.  Now that you know what type of accessory to wear, it is time to break it down so as not to look like a disco ball.

METALLIC BAGS:  Metallic bags are a wonderful way to incorporate metallic into your final look.  Be careful of the size of the bag for a night out.  Sure, metallic totes are cute, but pairing a large metallic bag with your little black dress may be overwhelming.  It can also take away from the simplicity of the complete look.  Grab a small to medium clutch (pictured above) to give just enough shine to make a statement.

METALLIC SHOES:  It’s no surprise that my favorite metallic is a metallic shoe.  Metallic shoes should have a metallic shine to them without reminding you of a disco ball.  Most metallic shoes will come in either a gold or silver tone.  Pairing them with your LBD will make a statement like no other.  Remember:  the shoe makes the outfit.

METALLIC BELTS:  Throwing a metallic belt around your little black dress is not only in style, it is also extremely flattering.  When you belt your waist you bring attention to the smallest part of your stomach area.  Though waistlines have dropped considerably, belt the smallest part of your waist, usually right under the bust.  If you are busty, be sure there is room between your breasts and the belt.  Otherwise, things look too crowded.  If you don’t want your waist o be too shiny, I suggest a studded belt (pictured below).  The belt itself is usually black, but the studs are metallic.  If this seems familiar, Carrie sported a studded belt in many scenes of the Sex and the City movie.

METALLIC JEWELRY:  Metallic jewelry is not hard to find.  Most of you probably already own gold and silver pieces.  The key with metallic jewelry is to not go overboard.  Yes, your LBD is probably pretty plain, but there is a such thing as excess.  If you are choosing one of the aforementioned pieces, be sure your jewelry is not competing with the main metallic piece you have chosen.

Metallic accessories are a fabulous way to dress up your little black dress for a night out.  The key is to be sure your pieces are not competing for the spotlight.  Choose one main metallic accessory and work around it.  Once you have it all together, have a fabulous night out!

If you have pictures of yourself in metallic accessories, please let me know!  I would love to post pictures of you in your shining glory!

xoxo,

katie elise