Style Icon: Courtney Love

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I know what you're thinking. "Really, Jill? She's a train wreck !" 

A mess? Yes. But a smokin' hot mess.

Courtney's signature bleached blonde locks and dark, ruby lipstick are iconic to the grunge era and many 90's children like myself. I always grew up looking at her as someone not to be, but as I grow older, I have become more understanding of her image and some of her actions. Plus, her vocals rock and being the front woman of Hole is enough to gain some respect in and of itself.

And let's just face it, she's really gorgeous, even when she is a mess.

Courtney Love by Jill Cellini featuring Bena brooches

Items in this set:
Sanctuary Chloe Lace Top - Natural, $92
L.A.M.B. Zea Heel - Nude Leather, $355
BENA BOW SILVER MIRRORED PERSPEX JEWELLERY, 30 GBP
Heart-Shaped Necklace, $13
Nars Lipstick: Official Stockist HQhair.com, 17 GBP

Courtney is all about mixing feminine pieces (she is especially fond of lace) with a couple of updated/edgy ones and a bold pop of color somewhere in the mix. I know her signature lips are generally red, but I think that this fuchsia pink is 1.) Extremely playful and young 2.) Easier to wear than red, although it may be a little out of some people's comfort zones.

The thing about Courtney is, no matter what she is wearing she always exudes confidence and adds her own spice to the look to make it completely her own. I think all of us could use a little more Courtney in our wardrobe and life.

--Jill

Fashion Nerd

Though it has only been a week, it seems as if I haven't posted in ages compared to our every day maybe even twice or three times a day posting that went on last month. In this special post, I would like to share with you something I recently wrote for a school persuasive essay. It's not my best, but it's definitely relevant to this blog. I hope you enjoy it :)

xoxo Elise


"Fashion is [art]. It is a matter of proportions." -Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel once said, “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street; fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” She saw what fashion truly was beyond the high priced dresses and superficiality. She also noticed that fashion is integrated into everyone’s lives whether or not they believe it. So then, what exactly is fashion? Is it a representation of people? Is it meant to be a status symbol in society? Fashion is art. Just as people who study and purchase art see it as an outlet for emotions and an opportunity to learn aspects of other eras or cultures, fashion provides the opportunity to express oneself and to become a part of their own culture. And mind you, not just popular culture as is expressed in films, television, and magazines, which sometimes portray the industry negatively, and feature followers of fashion or members of the industry as girls who live off of their privilege. Like art, it is not merely meant to be flashy and ostentatious; it is meant to be appreciated and reflective of our values, our tastes, and our time.


The world of fashion, just as that of art, has changed throughout time by creating new movements, new ideas, reflecting personal feelings, and catering to the tastes of the people. In fact, fashion has quite the history of social activism. From the beginnings of time to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, fashion’s main purpose was to be a status symbol. As time went on and the feminist movement came about, women began to dress differently to open themselves to the new opportunities they would gain in their home lives and the work force.

They began wearing pantsuits and comfortable clothing as opposed to the traditional skirts, corseted dresses, and itchy, woolen fabrics that were characteristic of earlier times. Even now, we as society have changed our manners of dress to better suit our purposes whether it is a uniform for school, a modernized yet functional ensemble for breaking into the professional world, or a magnificent work of beaded, lace trimmed, and tulle-filled art for evening events.

Through the progression of clothing and changes in dress, designers, especially those involved in haute couture, such as Yves St. Laurent, Coco Chanel, Ralph Lauren, and Oleg Cassini, began to view people as more than consumers and walking status symbols. A person became a canvas, a means of displaying the designer’s skills and personal tastes. Designers, like artists, began sculpting beautiful curves and body shapes to flatter the silhouettes of men and women with fabric, as opposed to the artist’s clay, marble, or stone. It is truly remarkable to see how simple drapes of fabric and pin-tucks result in an amazing, flattering, and especially individual look, like a designer’s equivalent of an artist’s signature on a prized masterpiece.

Many people, though, do not see the push toward individualism that fashion makes. A majority of society believes that fashion is meant to create uniformity. What they do not quite understand is that if designers wanted to make everyone look the same or wanted to create a whole season’s collection over and over, they would have, and fashion would not have become the phenomenon it is today. We would not have sections of prestigious museums putting gowns and other famed fashion creations on display like the art that they are. We would not have magazines capturing gorgeous looks and designers’ newest creations in film for an international market. We would not have an industry at all.

Fashion, like art, is extremely special. It is reflective of the creator, and it contains a specific meaning to each person who looks at or dons the piece. Fashion and art are rich in history and in visual interest. Fashion is more than superficiality. Fashion is creative, fashion is individual, and fashion is art.

Friday Feature

For today's feature I want to present the Liberty of London for Target line. This line definitely shows that you can get great style at an equally fantastic price...there is nothing I hate more than not being able to afford a really unique or chic item. 


I particularly enjoy the girliness of this line. I love the floral prints, the pinks, I also love that the same cute dress, skirt, and accessories patterns translate to products for the entire home. This is the perfect way to ring in spring!

Unfortunately, my pictures are not uploading, but you can check out the line for yourself here!

Give Me Li-Body or Give Me Death

Please excuse my horrible pun for the time being. I just could not help myself.

Last week, I got my hair cut. Nothing drastic, just a trim, but my I asked my hair dresser, "What should I do about my flat hair syndrome?" She handed me a volumizing foam and told me never to blow dry my hair upside down ever again.

Instead of using mousse, which tends to weigh my hair down, the foam is light and gives my hair enough body to end my flat-head problem. It also makes it easier for me to tease (when needed) and calms down my fly aways immensely. I recommend Herbal Essences Body Envy Mousse for thicker hair and Suave Volumizing Foam for finer hair, like mine.

The other thing that she told me was that body comes from the top layer of your hair. So instead of blow drying your hair upside down (which makes the bottom layer of your hair have the body), dry your hair from the root up and out. You can use your fingers or a round brush, if you're going for a more curly style.

I hope this helps everyone with this awful problem.

--Jill 

Outfit Post

things i love by ess912 featuring Tory Burch shoes

Items in this set:
Pleated silk-georgette camisole, $290
Spring suit blazer black, 1.695 DKK
J Brand 12" Pencil Skinny Jeans - Ink, $160
Belen suede ankle boots, $325
Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Natasha, $330

I entitled this an outfit post as this outfit is very similar to what I'm wearing today minus the shoes and blazer, both of which I am looking for (in my price range, of course). I think it's pretty simple and super chic--great for a Saturday of shopping or relaxing!

What do you think?

xoxo Elise

Friday Feature

For today's Friday Feature, I have decided to post a few great examples of the most integral piece of any girl's wardrobe: Nude Shoes. Nude shoes are a must! They are great for pairing with any outfit. The best part is that they come in many shades to flatter most if not all skin tones! A perfect nude shoe elongates the leg and slims the whole silhouette.

Friday Feature: Nude Shoes by ess912 featuring Giuseppe Zanotti shoes

Items in this set:
GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI DESIGN E06081 CHAMPAGNE LEATHER 1857701, 690 GBP
ANCHOR, 140 GBP
ASOS | ASOS TURIN Suede Zip Shoe Boot at ASOS, 75 GBP

The shoes go from right to left in the brand listings.


Enjoy!


xoxo Elise

Just For the Record

So today, there was another fabulous episode of Oprah, about shoes and accessories. They had a lot of talk about ankle boots and when and how to wear them. For instance,they said to match your boots to your tights and other similar words of wisdom.

This reminded me of a time when I wore a pair of camel-colored boots with an outfit that included a black sweater. Someone asked me if that was ok. So, just for the record, it definitely is ok to match tans/browns with black. In fact, it is ok to match many neutral colors, even black and navy. A quick warning: it's only allowed if they go well with the way you structured your outfit, and as long as it flows with the accessories.

That question also gave me an idea for a new series. If you have any questions regarding clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, hair, skin, makeup, basically anything fashion or beauty related, we are here to help set the record straight. Leave a comment, shoot one of us an e-mail, ask via facebook, or even ask us in person, and either Jill or I will be happy to help and feature that question in a segment of "Just For the Record."

Can't wait to hear your questions, and have an amazing rest of the day!

xoxo Elise

Oscars: My Favorites !

The most fabulous night of the year for the movie crowd was yesterday, and as per usual, some of the celebs really turned it out, while others fell flat. I'm not going to be negative (just yet...) so I'd like to focus on the good that I saw on the glittering red carpet this awards. And hopefully those who didn't look so hot (they know who they are) will make better decisions next time around. 

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I'd like to start with the lovely Sandra Bullock, Best Actress winner for The Blind Side. The detail on this dress (Marchesa) is exquisite, as is the color. There was really nothing like it on the red carpet that night and she wore the dress with such grace that it made her winning moment even sweeter for me. Her simple hair and jewelry complimented the complexity of the dress and made for an overall great look, and for me, it was the best look of the night. 

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Hellooooo Iron Man and the Missus. This dynamic duo looked great last night in Lanvin. Yes, more beading and simple patterns with simple hair, makeup, and jewels. It was refreshing to see the large blue bow-tie and fashionably relaxed sneakers on Robert Downey Jr. while his wife was looking so classic in her gown. I love the color pattern on her dress and it was very flattering for her skin tone and figure. A++ from me.

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Funny girl Tina Fey really turned it up last night in Michael Kors. Generally, Tina looks great, but last night she looked especially fabulous. The a-symmetrical neckline, unusual beading pattern, and cinched waist make this look completely original and it looked great on Ms. Fey's figure. Again, simple hair and jewels so as not to overpower the bedazzle factor of the dress. Rock on, Tina. 

Those are my top three, but that doesn't mean that there weren't plenty of other awesome gowns gracing the runway last night. Cameron Diaz, Anna Kendrick, and Vera Farmiga all had very awesome (very different) gowns on that really showed off the broad spectrum of the modern fashion world. 

But I have to go, Kell on Earth is waiting for me!

--Jill

Warmth at Last!

With all of this warm, I have been the happiest girl of all time! And since I'm about to ditch my winter jacket, I'm in the market for a new spring jacket that's super cute. While perusing shopbop.com, I found this jacket, which is super adorable and super functional! I think it would even look cute with my uniform.

The zippers give it a cute edge, don't you think?
It's by AKA New York.













Also, the Oscars are tonight! I'm watching the red carpet show right now and I'm loving some of the dresses especially Maggie Gyllenhaal's (Dries van Noten?). Also, Elizabeth Banks looks stunning in Versace. But the greatness really comes into play with designer turned director Tom Ford. I just adore him! I can't wait to post updates on my faves! Stay tuned.

xoxo Elise

Late Friday Feature : OMG NAILS?!

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I know you all remember my last post on these babies, back in December. 

Well, they're back. And here is why: I actually found a site where you can purchase them for a reasonable price ! Yupp ! Kawaiinails.com sells these awesome sets of perfect nails. 

I cannot even contain my excitement. Still trying to figure out my nail measurements and stuff so that I can order myself a pair. 

My favorites right now are the ones above. They're sophisticated and pretty with lots of bling-age. 

I'll be ordering a pair as soon as I can get my hands on some extra cash. =)

-Jill

I AIM TO BE AN IDEAL THAT I CANNOT EVEN DEFINE

Today, on Oprah, the show's topic was centered around beauty accross the world and it taught me that Americans have three main things in common with other nations that constitute what makes a person beautiful.
1. The first is figure. We are obsessive over being thin and perfect. We see it in fashion, in celebrtities, everywhere. The "beautiful people" are thin. And, if they're not, they will go to any length to achieve it, including painful and dangerous surgeries.

2.Next, they have an undying obsession with perfect skin and skin color. Here, in the U.S. it's all about being dark and tan and glowing. Elsewhere, it's achieving the western standard of light, porcelain skin.

3.And finally, we  have an obsession with hair. Hair is every woman/teen/girl's prized posession. It's definitely something special to me. I, unlike many, don't have a good day if my hair isn't fixed nicely or isn't the right cut or texture.

But beyond that, it really did get me thinking about how beauty is percieved around the world. As much as we, as society, would like to think that there's a standard much like the ideals I presented above: do this, this, and this and you will be beautiful, or have this attribute, this color hair, this color skin, this style, dress this way, there really isn't one. People, though, as much as they have the tendency to sit and complain about how everyone wants to look one way, fail to see that they themselves not only set, but fuel the standards and ideals formulated by our imaginations. They shop all the time for clothes and shoes to fit in at work or at school. They look for beauty and hair products that will make them look like this model or this actress or this celebutante (who actually has no talent but is there to stir up envious feelings in others). I, myself, am guilty of this. I strive off of the skincare and beauty business (as I'm planning for something along those lines to fuel my future career), I buy every product I can possibly get my hands on, I aim to be an ideal that I cannot even define. And sadly, I don't even have a valid answer for why.

My Creation

Items in this set: 
Shadow Print Smocked Dress, $615
Metallic leather sandals, $610
VILLADOR - SMALL CAPRETTO BOW TOP HANDLE, 675 EUR
3.1 Phillip Lim Embellished moire hairband, $125
Snake Chain Knot Belt - Women's Clothing and Apparel - Chic Dresses,..., $20




I was thinking about how soon graduation is coming up! The year really has been slipping away! At graduation though, we are supposed to wear white dresses with our gowns. I don't often wear white dresses--in all honesty I don't think I've ever worn one, so I've been a bit wary. I went on Polyvore to try and get some inspiration. After I found the greatest white dress, I chose some accessories that would make it a bit more me and a bit more of the preppy chic look I tend to go for.


What do you think? Let me know!!!!!