Tag Archives: natalie portman

Style Inspiration-Kate Young

One of my idols is stylist Kate Young. Earlier this year she ranked number one on The Hollywood Reporter’s list of the 25 most powerful stylists and for good reason. Young is responsible for styling Michelle Williams, who ruled the red carpet for her role in “My Week with Marilyn” and Natalie Portman, who ruled the red carpet the year before for her role in “Black Swan”. But Kate does more than style celebrities for red carpet events, she also styles runway shows and editorials. She got her start working for Anna Wintour at Vogue and eventually went freelance. What I love about Kate, besides her amazing talent, is her individual style. She has really cultivated a “signature” look. White hair, black wardrobe-this is one fashionable woman.

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Kate Young, the most powerful stylist 2012

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The many looks of Kate. I love her laid back, neutral wardrobe. It’s very versatile and chic.

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I need to get a pair of black leather leggings.

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She’s also an editor-at-large for Macy’s I.N.C. brand

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Nothing’s better than a fur-lined anorak in the winter

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I love the blonde hair against the fur-stunning

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Red lips and lots of sparkle

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Simply classic

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Kate at work-casual but still unique

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I’m a fan of layering a sweater and tank or tee and pairing them with leggings

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Michelle Williams and the orange dress, styled by Kate. It was risky but worth it. This is one of my favorite gowns of the season.

This really is Kate’s year, but I know we will continue to be amazed and inspired by her fashion, talent, and passion.

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The Little White Dress

We all know how important the “little black dress” is. It’s the one article of clothing that will get you through any social event on your calendar. But now that it’s summer, maybe we should switch things up and try a “little WHITE dress”. Yes, the old rules dictate you should only wear white Memorial Day through Labor Day (and we are now in that time frame), however, I do believe the white dress can be worn all year long with the right accessories and other pieces in your closet. White is classic, crisp, and chic, and looks fabulous with a tan. Here are some celebrities rocking the LWD.

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Jessica Stam is stunning in Marchesa

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Tali Lennox in this season’s hot trend-the shirtdress

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Gabrielle Union is perfection in this three-quarter number

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Caroline Sieber shines in an almost kimono-looking ensemble

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Cameron Diaz is chic in this white jumpsuit

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Vanessa Hudgens personifies glamour in this gown from Philosophy di Alberta Ferritti

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Ashley Madekwe in adorable in this shift from Zara

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Rachel Bilson opts for couture Chanel (love this one)

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Natalie Portman in a darling LWD

Every designer and retailer offers a LWD this time of year. Here are some of my favorites in stores now.

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From left to right:
Lucca Couture Chiffon Tie Top Baby Doll Dress $69 from Urban Outfitters
Warehouse Metallic Lace Shift $83.50 from ASOS
Johann Earl for Urban Renewal Surplice Dress $59 from Urban Outfitters

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Knit Lace Dress $98 from Banana Republic
Scallop Lace Tube Dress $98 from Arden B.
Amie Maxidress in whisper gauze $69.99 from J. Crew

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Sunny Repose Dress $98 from Anthropologie
Calvin Klein Sleeveless V-Neck $99.50 from Macy’s
Pleated Bodice Dress $79.90 from Express
JNBY Asymmetrical Hem Tshirt Dress $80.90 from Nordstrom

There are so many great options for the LWD. It is the perfect summer staple and will quickly become your go-to item for all occasions. Paired with flip flops or heels, this dress is sure to be a hit.

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And The Oscar Goes To…

The Oscars were last night and there was a lot of beauty and glamour on the red carpet. I will admit, no one “blew” me away, but still, there were some really amazing gowns. Here’s a look at my choices for “best dressed”.

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Anna Faris. I love the dramatic contrast between the color of her hair and the black of the gown. She sparkles!

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Rose Byrne in Vivienne Westwood. This dress fits her perfectly and the one shoulder is divine. I love the peep toe shoe-really compliments the dress.

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Sandra Bullock in Marchesa. No one does a gown like Marchesa and there is something about this dress that draws me in. She looks beautiful.

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Director Li Bingbing in Georges Chakra Couture. I adore the sheer see-through detail on this gown.

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Milla Jovovich in Elie Saab. Total Hollywood glamour. Everything about this look is flawless.

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Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji. This designer really gets her body and the fit is always amazing. She looks like an oscar winner!

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Rooney Mara in Givenchy Haute Couture. It was so nice to see her in something other than black. She still looks edgy, but feminine as well.

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Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford. This got a lot of attention and for good reason. The cape was a surprise, but fits her personality. She always gets it right.

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Kristen Wiig in J. Mendel. I love seeing her dressed up and she looks beautiful. She does stick to neutral colors, but they work for her.

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Kate Mara in Elie Saab. So feminine and ethereal. The detailing is elegant and the hair compliments the softness of the look.

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Viola Davis in Vera Wang. This gown emphasizes her amazing body and the color is lovely on her. I also love that she went with her natural hair. She looks like she’s having a great time.

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Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton. Orange is not a color you see often, but this is my favorite look of the night. The peplum is a huge trend for fall and the texture is scrumptous.

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Emma Stone in Giambattista Valli. She looks so grown up but not in an old way. Classy and elegant. The neckline is so wonderful.

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Natalie Portman in vintage Christian Dior circa 1954. I love that she went vintage. This gown flatters her figure and the pattern is very playful.

So, what did you all think about the Oscars? Who were your favorites? Hats off to the stylists! They work so hard to get it right and in my opinion, most of them succeeded.

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The Best Of The SAG Awards

The SAG Awards were Sunday night and the stars were out in full-force. I think this is my favorite awards show. Firstly, it’s only two hours. Secondly, there is no host, and thirdly, it’s just to honor actors. It seems more fast-paced and laid back, and that makes for much more enjoyable viewing. The ladies of the red carpet looked amazing (of course) and I had a lot of favorites. In my opinion, this show had the ladies looking better than ever!

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Kelly Osbourne in Badgley Mishka gown with Dena Kemp Palladium diamond bubble ring. She really looks great, and this dress really shows off the figure she’s worked so hard for.

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Julianna Margulies in a custom-made Calvin Klein Collection gown with Marcy Miller drop earrings. This dress is fabulous. She really just gets better and better.

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Kristen Wiig in a Balenciaga gown and clutch. I adore the simplicity of this gown. It’s a wonderful silhouette for her and the choker is a great touch.

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Tilda Swinton in a custom-made Lanvin goddess gown and Fred Leighton diamond bracelet. Wow! Usually she goes for a very androgynous look, but this evening she looked like a beautiful woman.

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Sarah Hyland in a vintage-inspired Temperley gown. She is always adorable, and I love how she stays age-appropriate. It’s going to be fun watching her grow into her womanhood.

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Octavia Spencer in a Tadashi Shoji gown with Irene Neuwirth jewelry. This dress really looks incredible on her body. It’s so fun to watch her-she’s having the time of her life.

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Michelle Williams in Valentino with Fred Leighton for Forevermark jewelry. She looks so amazing in red and this is fun yet sophisticated.

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Kyra Sedgwick in Pucci. She really does get better with age. She looks fabulous, sexy, and very comfortable with herself-something that definitely comes with more life experience.

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Natalie Portman in Giambattista Valli Couture gown with Harry Winston jewelry. She is just such a classic beauty. This color is so rich and elegant.

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Julie Bowen in Temperley London gown with Martin Katz jewelry and Judith Leiber clutch. This is an interesting choice. At first I didn’t really like it, but it grew on me. She’s taking some risks and you have to give her credit for that.

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Emily Blunt in Oscar de la Renta with Lorraine Schwartz jewels and a Swarovski clutch. I love this color on her and the cut is very glamorous.

And now for my favorite-it’s a tie. These two ladies blew me away. They both looked so elegant, so sophisticated and so absolutely stunning, I just can’t decide between them.

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Rose Byrne in an Elie Saab Couture Jumpsuit. Not many people can pull off a jumpsuit, especially on the red carpet. But paired with Chanel fine jewelry and a Lena Erziak clutch, she made it sparkle and shine. The hair and the makeup really complimented the jumpsuit. Simply fabulous!

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Zoe Saldana in Givenchy Couture drop-waist gown. They need a new word for how stunningly beautiful this dress is. I could die, it’s that good. The crystal embellishments on the sleeves and the neckline are spectacular. The hair and the makeup are divine. She is gorgeous.

For more looks and information on the fashion of the SAG awards, please visit fabsugar

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Golden Globes Stunners

In case you didn’t know, the Golden Globes were last night, and there was no shortage of style in the red carpet. I adore almost every choice, but there were some great standouts. Here are my choices for best dressed of the evening.

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Natalie Portman in Lanvin. The dress is very simple, but the color makes it divine.

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Emma Stone in Lanvin. This dress is amazing on her. The color is rich and elegant, the details give a “wow” factor, and her hair and makeup are very complimentary.

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Charlize Theron in Dior. Fabulous in every way. She is positively glowing. The headband is a great touch and her shoes do not steal the spotlight. It’s all about the dress!

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Busy Phillips. This Grecian style really works for her. She looks classy and grown up and very, very beautiful.

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Mila Kunis in Dior. This dress makes her look very sultry, and the makeup adds to that illusion. She is one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood.

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Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang. She is the modern day bombshell. This dress fits her perfectly, and while it is sexy, it’s also very glamorous.

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Michelle Williams in Jason Wu. Wearing a print like this can be a risk, but she makes it sweet and fabulous.

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Jessica Alba in Gucci. She really looks fantastic. The dress, the accessories, and the hair all work in unison. Old Hollywood glamour at it’s best.

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May J. Blige. She is a diva, but this is one lady who knows how to dress for the occasion. I love the sparkle with the feathers.

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Diana Agron in Giles Deacon. This dress is all about the details. Notice the cutouts at the neckline. And the color is absolutely perfect for her.

While watching the awards last night, I commented to my husband that the stylists really earned their paycheck. They all did a fabulous job.

For more photos of the Golden Globes, check out Pop Sugar

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Ballet Beautiful

I really dislike working out. Growing up, I was fortunate enough not to have too. My adult life has been spent standing on my feet and running around stores and malls so it was easy to maintain. I knew when I lost my job back in May I was going to have to start doing something. I was not going to be as active as I had been, and at my age, weight gain was inevitable.
I started the summer with good intentions. I was very committed to getting in shape and losing the “skinny fat girl” image I had in my head (a trainer in LA told me once that’s what I was and he was right). I went to yoga every morning, took Barre classes three times a week, spent an hour on my treadmill-I was doing it. And not seeing any results. Then, at the end of August, my grandfather passed away. Then I got a cold and allergies and cramps-you know how it is. Before I knew it, two months had passed with no exercise. Then I got on the scale yesterday and saw I had gained 7 pounds. Now, I’m not one to get hung up on a number, muscle weighs more than fat, ect. But none of my jeans fit and well, you just know when you’ve put on a little pudding. Time to get busy-again…
I don’t do high-impact. After spending the better part of two decades standing on cement floors, my joints often ache and I don’t want to add to that. I know myself well enough to know that sticking to a class schedule will not work-too easy not to go. I need to do something at home. I decided to turn to what I really love-Ballet Beautiful.
I discovered Ballet Beautiful after seeing “Black Swan”. I was curious as to how Natalie Portman got into dancer mode so I hit the internet. I learned she had trained with Mary Helen Bowers for a year and a half to prepare for her role. After further investigation, I learned that Mary Helen, a former New York City Ballet dancer, had her own company-Ballet Beautiful.

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Portman and Bowers

Ballet Beautiful provides the techniques to build and maintain the beauty, strength and highly specific aesthetic of a true ballerina’s form. And they do it three different ways.

The first is Ballet Beautiful Live. The first of it’s kind on-line studio offers real time ballet classes, live with Mary Helen, from anywhere in the world via the internet. You can take a group class or get private training. I haven’t done this yet. It uses Skype (I think) and while I have a Skype account, I’ve never used it and have no idea how to. There are class schedules and on-line registration. I love the idea of this though-a real class without leaving the house!

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Bowers, photo from Vogue

The second is streaming videos from your laptop, computer or iPad device. There are several toning videos to choose from and now two cardio videos as well. You can purchase which ones you want (very minimal, $8-$10. It is a one time fee.) and then do them whenever you have time. I did both cardio workouts this morning and they are not easy. Lots of leg work (tendu anyone?).

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Doing a private class. Photo from Vogue

The third are her workout DVDs. The first is a Blast. It’s made up of four 15 minute workouts that target specific areas. The second (and the one I have) is a 60 minute comprehensive workout. It is a killer!!! Both dvds are $21.99, but you can purchase them together for $38.99.

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Stretching. Photo from Vogue

The great thing about Mary Helen’s technique is that you do not need any prior ballet training to do her workouts. I’m not going to say they are easy-they are not-but she really does a great job walking you through each move and explaining the ballet terms. If you are looking for a workout that will tone and sculpt you, but not add the bulk, then try Ballet Beautiful. I’m committed to sticking with it and look forward to sharing the results with you.

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For more information, please visit Ballet Beautiful
DVDs also available at Amazon

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Doing my cardio streaming this morning (Lulumon Chasse Tights and Old Navy Tank)

Trailer for DVDs and streaming toning classes

Trailer for cardio series

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