Jessica Simpson Launches Fine Jewelry Line for Zales

One of our favorite blond bombshells is at it again in the fashion world.  Jessica Simpson just announced that she will be launching her own jewelry collection for Zales this coming October. 

The fine jewelry line, cutely named “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” will cover all things glittering from pendants, rings, earrings, and bangles, ranging in price from $79 - $999 making it affordable to a broad range of spenders.

The adorable Jessica is definitely proving herself to be a fashion empire powerhouse, adding this new line to her already successful line of apparel, shoes, and handbags.

What’s next for the blond beauty, fashion world domination?

Posted by:  Spankie Valentine

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MTV VMA’s – What Everyone Wore!

I know that yesterday’s blog was dedicated to Beyonce’s revealing of her pregnancy on the MTV Video Music Awards, and that I showed snaps of what she wore.  But I wouldn’t be doing the event, which is as much about visual stimulation and fashion as it is music, justice without also blogging on some of the wardrobe highlights spotted on the black carpet.

Selena Gomez looked ravishing (and revealing) in a short-to-long (major trend alert) lace Julien MacDonald dress with an equally revealing back.  The simple updo really underscored the elegant high collar.

Britney arrived a little more understated than I expected in a Moschino romper, paired with black patent leather Gina booties.  The every curvy newlywed Kim K rocked the show in a floor length silver sequined Kaufman Franco frock.  Heads up, silver sequins are definitely the Fall trendy buzz words.

I thought Kelly Rowland was one of the highlights in a gold detailed dress with feathered skirt by Falguni & Shane Peacock.  She added spiked Christian Louboutin pumps to finish the look.  And Miley Cyrus looked pleasantly mature in a dress by one of my personal favs, Roberto Cavalli. 

And of course, Jo Calderone (aka Lady Gaga) made “his” televised debut suited and booted by Brooks Brothers.

Who were your favorites?

Posted by: Spankie

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Beyonce is Pregnant!

Well the cat is finally out of the bag!  There’s officially a bun in Beyonce’s oven, and she couldn’t have chosen a more grandiose way to make the announcement.  Last night on the MTV Video Music Awards Beyonce arrived on the red carpet looking absolutely stunning in a deep orange floor length frock, hands cupped over her growing belly to let the world know that she and Jay Z are expecting their first child.

Later, at the end of her retro styled performance (done in ultra high heels no less), Bey threw the microphone down, ripped open her glittering purple blazer and rubbed her tummy, Jay Z all smiles back stage. 

For a woman who’s virtually grown up in the public eye, enduring countless claims of pregnancy over the years any time she gained a pound (or an ounce really), I think she’s more than deserving of such a grand scale announcement platform.  The fame world was once obsessed by the idea, and now they can indulge in the reality.

So this just brings up one question…. Will she retire?  In a CNN interview back in June, Beyonce, who turns 30 in a week, intimated, "I always said I'd have a baby at 30. But I also said I'm going to retire at 30. ... Only God knows."

Either way, congratulations Bey! 

Posted by:  Spankie Valentine

(photos from Getty Images)

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Rachel Bilson Turns 30!

I’d like to take this opportunity to bellow out a very robust “Oh! Em! Gee!”  Rachel Bilson, one of the new generational style icons, just turned 30 years old, and I must say, the girl doesn’t look a day over 19! 

I don’t know if it’s here gorgeous skin, glowing hair, or impeccable style, but she’s rocking 30 like few women do, and I have loads of respect for that!

 

You may know her from her rise to fame on the O.C., or may have seen the ads for her new series “Hart of Dixie”, but regardless of the shows, Rachel Bilson has been turning heads and offering a shining beacon of hope to those less fashion fortunate on the red carpet.  She calls her approach to fashion ”no fuss, no muss” and the effortless way in which she glides the carpet is nothing short of visual inspiration.  

So let’s all join in a round of Happy B-Day for the lady!

Posted by:  Spankie Valentine

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DIY – How to Make Destroyed Denim Jeans and Cut Off Jean Shorts

For this week’s YouTube Thursday, I thought I’d do a video on how to make your own awesome destroyed denim jeans, and if you want, making them chic cut off jean shorts!  I think destroyed denim is the perfect partner to anything chic and edgy, and since it’s still Summer, cutting off the pants of an old pair of jeans is the perfect way to score a new look sans extra moolah!

There's a step by step video of what I’m doing below:

Here’s what you need:

1. Some old jeans
2. Sandpaper
3. Exacto Knife
4. Scissors
5. Cheese Grater (optional)

Rubbing your jeans down with sandpaper will create a nice faded look by removing some of the color in your jeans.  Gives them that $150 worn in look without spending a dime.

Using the exacto knife, scrape along the edges of your pockets, top edge of the waistline, and gouge out small holes exposing the under threads. 

Taking your scissors, measure out how long you want the shorts to be, and cut the legs about 2 inches longer, leaving you the ability to fold the cuffs up to add another fun style element.  You can then take your exacto knife and fray the bottom edges of the cuffs.

Also, when you wash the jeans, the frayed ends that you created will naturally unravel even more, and you’ll wind up with a totally custom, one of a kind, trendy piece!

Enjoy!

Posted by:  Spankie Valentine

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Missoni for Target

If you haven’t already heard the growing roar of a buzz that’s swirling the fashion markets, both couture and general consumer, you’re about to.  An epic merging of 2 companies, fashion line Missoni and Target are soon releasing a massive 400-piece collection.  Hitting stores September 13 (with an early pop up store arriving in New York September 8) and lasting only until October 22 (or until sold out) consumers will be able to get their hands on not only the trademark zig zagged patterns and woven knits of the fashion line, but don it in home décor and kitchenware as well!

The full lookbook for the line finally released August 16^th, and fashionistas across the country are already drooling and scheming of ways to be front and center when the line launches to buy up as much as possible.  And after thumbing through the lookbook, my guess is these pieces won’t last long.

What do you think of the collection?

Posted by:  Spankie Valentine

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Beauty Culture at the Annenberg Space for Photography

On the very rare occasion that I have some free time, I like to spend it delving further into the art world, and this past week I took the opportunity to visit the Annenberg Space for Photography to see the “Beauty CULTure” exhibit that they currently have on.

On display are the works of over 100 world renown beauty, fashion, and cultural fine arts photographers like Man Ray, Patrick Demarchelier, Terry Richardson, Guy Bourdin, Herb Ritts, my favorite David LaChapelle…. You get the idea. 

The intention behind the exhibit is to explore how beauty is truly defined in our culture, and how it has shifted and changed from the 20^th to the 21^st century.  Concepts like androdgeny, pageant beauty, the Marlyn Syndrome, and unconventional beauty are the themes the exhibit attempts to cover, though I’m not entirely convinced it was appropriately shown.

In one sense, the exhibit glorified the societies typical ideals of what “beauty” is, by lining the walls with familiar faces like Cindy Crawford, Kate Moss, Angelina Jolie, and Elizabeth Taylor.  There was a small section devoted to ethnic diversity around the world in beauty fashion, but the only models I saw featured in this were the Americanized standards of what “colored beauty” looks like, ie. Naomi Campbell and Iman.  I was definitely hoping to see photographs of ethnic women that more closely represented the beauty ideals of other world cultures, but instead was left with what I like to call the “safe and predictable.”

There was a pretty interesting 30 minute documentary film that played which delved more into the pressures of societal beauty and what is most often expected of models and women, namely extreme dieting, over tall, over thin, young, and conventionally safe.  I appreciated the commentary from some of the more “left of center” fashion artists, though overall when the likes of Anna Wintour and others spoke of celebrating the out of the box beauties, you could sense they’d never really be willing to part from the expected, unless of course it were some featured one-off article “celebrating” diverse appearance, drawing attention to the fact it was being showcased, rather than allowing it to blend in and just be.

All in all, I recommend if you’re in the area that you go check out the exhibit.  Say what you will on what they actually achieve in their message, the works of photographic art are truly stunning, and if you have any slight love for fashion, you’ll definitely love this remarkable collection of visual stimulation.  I know I did!

Exhibit runs through November 27, 2011
http://www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org/

Posted by: Spankie Valentine

Photographs (top to bottom) by:  Dior (cosmetics), Lauren Greenfield (botox), Miles Aldridge (glitter lips), Lauren Greenfield (girls at weigh in)

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