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Trend Alert: Moody Florals

FabSugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 05:00:22 PDT

It's a dark and cloudy day, but you don't want to reflect that in your wardrobe. Moody florals should do the trick. Dark floral patterns are the perfect way to incorporate darkness with color. Check out Nicky's fun flowers and Alexis's sharp contrast, and who can resist Fergie's Gucci confection? Note how all three ladies are working different looks but one thing remains constant: the moody motif.

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Richard Chai Love Fall 2012

Chi Diem Chau — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:29:44 PST

Inspired by the idea of "handsome femininity," Richard Chai showed a Fall collection that was simultaneously simple, yet statement-making. “I didn’t want to do anything that was tricky,” Chai told The New York Times. “I didn’t want to create looks that were just for the show. I wanted it to be approachable and believable, but also be really aspirational. At the end of the day, it’s pieces that I want people to wear.” Chai's boy-meets-girl vision was interpreted into gorgeous slim-fit striped trousers, structured oversized blazers and coats, cozy knits, blanket-stripe coats, and moody florals. The latter was cut into diaphanous sheer skirts, corduroy pants, and jackets, adding a feminine streak to his city-slicker style. Furthermore, his outerwear was something to contend with; Chai's selection of oversized structured jackets and coats were perfectly tailored and ideal for topping off just about any Fall look.

Trends: Menswear, painterly florals, blanket stripes, boxy blazers and coats.
Colors: Dark red, pinks, gray, black, navy blue, brown.
Key Piece: We loved the multi-colored blanket-stripe dress and trousers.
Accessories: Black ankle booties and lace-up boots.
Who Would Wear It: Downtown girls looking to add a menswear-inspired touch to their look, like Olivia Palermo.

Pretty, Purse-Perfect Solid Perfumes

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 06:00:13 PST

Solid perfume has been popular since at least ancient Egyptian times, and for good reason. It's eminently portable, won't leak, and the base makes for soft, skin-flattering scents that don't give bystanders a headache. Solid scents get a bad rap as literal one-note affairs, but the five following fragrances are as beautiful as the tins they come in. To see which scent you should be carrying around in your purse, learn more below.

Sprout Home Inspiration of the Week: White Bouquets

Stylelist Home — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:30:41 PST

I'm excited to present a post from one of my favorite sites, Stylelist Home.

One thing that I find beautiful about Winter is the calm that comes over me when I look at the fresh white snow blanketing the city, so regal, pure, and somewhat innocent. It changes the color palette of the world around you for a couple of months, which is bound to affect how you see things. Just like the seasonal weather change, my floral cravings can change accordingly. I get excited when an opportunity presents itself to create floral for a Winter wedding or a holiday arrangement where the juxtaposition of Winter whites can be explored and manipulated. I do not see it as a limited palette but instead a of study of form and texture with tonal contrast. You do not need an abundance of color to make a statement, sometimes less (color) is more. When you are creating your own floral piece or need to verbalize to a florist about what you are looking for, know that there are various shades of white. Remember the last time you painted something "white" and you were in awe of how many options there were for white? Some color chips might be completely void of pigment, but most have a hint of color, which can point to any direction in the color wheel. Selecting floral for your white bouquet can be a lot like selecting from those white paint chips. Keep in mind these hue differences when setting the tone for your arrangement.
Keep reading for more tips and gorgeous images of white bouquets!

Madonna Pays Homage to Her Mother With New Truth or Dare Fragrance

Jaime Richards — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:08:00 PDT

It's official: Madonna is launching her first perfume. Dubbed Truth or Dare ($39 to $68) by Madonna, the scent pays homage to her 1992 documentary, Madonna: Truth or Dare, but it also pays homage to her mom, who passed away when Madonna was just 5.

"My oldest memory of my mother is her perfume. I carry it with me everywhere. She always smelled like gardenias and tuberose, an intoxicating mixture [that was] feminine and mysterious. I wanted to re-create this scent, but with something fresh and new about it as well. Something honest and yet daring - hence the name Truth or Dare," Madonna told WWD. To see more, keep reading.

Halloween Costume Idea: Lady Gaga

Chi Diem Chau — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:46:11 PDT

Lady Gaga churns out the craziest looks year-round with her array of outrageously sky-high heels, daring ensembles, and bold makeup. This Halloween, we suggest you channel her wild style with this cool outfit. (Warning: This one is only for the brave.) All you need is a sexy corset, fishnet tights, and funky boots. Then, just finish off with a sleek turquoise wig, dark eyeliner, and bright red lip. Ready to go Gaga? Just shop our picks below.

Shop the look: Pleaser Boots ($24), Betsey Johnson Fishnet Tights ($20), Black Eye Lash Lace Strapless Floral Mesh Corset Set ($30)

Ben Affleck, Anne Hathaway, George Clooney, and More Take Hollywood Film Awards Stage

Allie Merriam — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 07:53:32 PDT

The Hollywood Film Awards took place last night at LA's Beverly Hilton Hotel, and once the famous guests like George Clooney and Stacy Keibler left the red carpet, the show began inside the ballroom. George was onstage to accept his Hollywood Actor Award from his Descendants costar, Beau Bridges, and humbly told the audience of his award, "I am very lucky. I'm a lucky man." My Week With Marilyn star Michelle Williams, meanwhile, won the female counterpart with the Hollywood Actress Award. Ben Affleck, sporting his long Argo locks, made a special appearance to honor Hollywood Cinematographer Award recipient Emmanuel Lubezki. The men worked together on Terrence Malick's still-untitled upcoming picture.

The many ladies of The Help, including Emma Stone, Allison Janney, Viola Davis, Cicely Tyson, Ahna O'Reilly, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Mary Steenburgen were together to accept the Hollywood Ensemble Award and to pose with their new statues backstage. Further nods went to Diablo Cody with the Hollywood Screenwriter Award, Moneyball's Bennett Miller with the Hollywood Director Award, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt with the Hollywood Breakthrough Actor Award. Joseph was handed his prize by his Dark Knight Rises costar Anne Hathaway, who was decked out in a floral Erdem dress.

A Guide to Fall-Friendly Dried Flowers

Diana Nguyen — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:14 PDT

With all of life's weddings, anniversaries and birthdays, a floral arrangement can carry sentimental value you're just not willing to compost. Instead, dry out your special flowers and turn them into lovely home accents. Dried flowers, although beautifully macabre, don't have to be a dark Halloween centerpiece or potpourri, there are many creative, yet Fall-friendly, ways to transform plant remnants into something everlasting. Check out my guide to drying, transforming, and reusing yesterday's flowers.

4 Ways to Dry Flowers

Air dry - Air drying is the most common and easiest way to dry florals. Tie a small bundle of flowers together with twine or ribbon. For the best results, one bundle should consist of one or similar-size flowers; large flowers work best when dried by each individual stem. Hang the bundle or stem upside down from hooks, rods, hangers, etc., in a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight. Tip: cutting off the leaves before you hang will expedite the process.

Water dry - It may seem counterproductive, but placing stems in a few inches of water and letting the flower absorb the water will eventually dry the plant to the point of your desired crispiness. This process works especially well with hydrangeas, hybrid delphiniums, and acacia.

Oven dry - I know it sounds weird, but flowers like marigolds and chrysanthemums dry well in well-ventilated convection ovens. Allow the stems to dangle between small slots on a rack, and just be sure to keep the temperature under 100 degrees. The process will take several hours, but keep a careful eye on the oven!

Microwave dry - The most tumultuous of all the techniques, heat those succulents up via your household microwave. Place them on a paper towel (and don't overlap) and nuke them up on medium high for one minute. If the flowers are still moist, change the paper towel, wait 10 minutes, and repeat the process. When cooled, store in a covered container.

For more tips on preserving your special memories,

Celebs Love Their Metallic Clutches - Shop the Look!

Chi Diem Chau — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 03:30:25 PDT

Just in time for the impending holiday season, we've taken note of the influx of metallic clutches on the red carpet. Case in point: Hollywood cuties Jenna Dewan, Camila Alves, and Nicole Richie were all recently spotted holding their own shimmery renditions at various red carpet events. Jenna matched her gold box clutch with an equally sparkly Edition by Georges Chakra at Elle magazine's 18th Annual Women in Hollywood tribute. Camila Alves took the vintage route and held a diminutive silver chain clutch paired with a cute polka-dot dress. Meanwhile, Nicole contrasted her metallic pewter leather clutch with a dark brown floral maxidress from Douglas Hannant. If you're looking to maximize your metallic clutch investment, we suggest you wear them with jeans, a tee, and a tweed blazer for a chic daytime look.

Sienna Miller and Pippa Middleton Get Glamorous For Charity

Lauren Turner — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:03:48 PDT

Sienna Miller chose a bright pink dress to attend a charity event in England today. She was joined by her pregnant sister, Savannah, Pippa Middleton, and Poppy Delevigne for the dinner, which was thrown by All Saints in support of the Too Many Women organization. Sienna and Savannah's mom, Jo, went along too on what was apparently her birthday! Savannah tweeted that Jo had a memorable run-in with Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood. She wrote, "Ronnie Wood just snogged mum happy birthday. Lifetime achievement award goes to. . . Mum hands down. She's grinning like a Cheshire cat!" It was a stylish evening with Pippa in a floral Project D dress from Danni Minogue's line. Danni also outfitted Pippa for a recent wedding with Kate and Prince William. Pippa made the appearance following a similarly glamorous outing to the Boodles Boxing Ball earlier this month alongside Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. Prince William's cousins weren't on hand for this event, but their mom, Sarah Ferguson, represented the family in a dark dress.

Kay Unger New York Chiffon Gown - Sold Out	Cora Skirt - Sold Out
Nanette Lepore Women's Pricilla Printed Corset Top - Sold Out	Michael Kors Brushstroke Floral Trapeze Dress - Sold Out
Victoria Dress Item#: 154564 - Sold Out	Sweet Pea red floral paisley mesh flutter top - Sold Out
BCBGMAXAZRIA pewter graphic floral jersey belted dress - Sold Out	Matthew Williamson Flower motif mini dress - Sold Out
Floral Print Shirt Dresses by Rebecca Taylor - Sold Out	Abstract Floral Woven Top - Sold Out
Hale Bob Inverted Floral Twist-Strap Dress - Sold Out	Elie Tahari black floral chiffon 'Lucille' blouse - Sold Out

Olga Clutch Soft Gold - $118.00	Dolce & Gabbana Metallic paillette-embellished clutch - Sold Out
ALEXANDER WANG Adriel Metallic Clutch - Sold Out	ASOS Metallic Portfolio Clutch - $35.81
Kotur Metallic Stingray Box Clutch - $550.00	Silver Shanghai Print Metal Box Bag - Sold Out
MICHAEL Michael Kors Sloan Metallic Clutch - Sold Out	Marc by Marc Jacobs METALLIC CLUTCH - Sold Out
Medium Metallic Leather Carry-All Pouch - $46.00	Halston Heritage Jenny Fold Clutch - Sold Out
Maison Martin Margiela Oversized padded metallic clutch - Sold Out	Paige Metallic Mini Bag - Sold Out