The 2010 Fashion Oscars

Did you watch the Oscars last night?  You know that I did.  It has even come to a point where I jot down notes in a notebook about which looks I love/don’t love so that I can find photos and information on it after.  I also write down my initial thoughts and impressions, as they make excellent fodder for a post like this one.  So, now that I’ve told you all of my secrets – here is a quick rundown of what I loved in my very own version of the Oscars – Fashion-style.

THE NOMINEES FOR THE 2010 CHIC SHOPPER CHICK FASHION OSCARS ARE:

I loved both of these looks – Queen Latifah has never looked better in an elegant lavender Marchesa gown with a sparkly twist, and Sandra Bullock was simply glowing in this golden confection of a dress (also by Marchesa).  I especially loved Sandra’s pink pouty lips and old Hollywood glamour style hair.

Two more nominees that made it solidly onto the “Best Dressed” list?  Markiska Hargitay in a sweeping Vera Wang dress, and Demi Moore in a blush-colored tiered Atelier Versace.  Both of them were simply stunning.

Rounding up the nominee list we have Rachel McAdams, for her sweeping, delicate Elie Saab Couture dress that just screamed spring.  I am especially fond of the sweetheart neckline, and that she chose to leave her collarbone bare.  And then, of course, we have Kate Winslet, who played it safe, but still looked stunning in this sleek YSL number that she accessorized with a 2.5 million dollar yellow diamond from Tiffany and Co.

Without further ado, the runner up for the 2010 Chic Shopper Chick Fashion Oscar is…

…A red-lipped Cameron Diaz in a billowing Oscar de la Renta gown that can only be described as show-stopping.  Diaz dropped her usual easy-going beach style in favor of something much more couture, and I, for one, was thrilled to see it.

Well, here we go.

It’s time.

Ladies and … well, ladies.  The moment we’ve all been waiting for.  The  2010 Fashion Oscar goes to…

Anna Kendrick who was nominated for her role in “Up In The Air”.  She stole the show in this delicate chiffon gown by Elie Saab – I especially loved that the gown was off-the-shoulders and not just strapless.  A perfect choice for her petite frame and age – this dress wins my 2010 Fashion Oscar.  Nice pick Anna!  Call me so that I can get you your award!

What were your favorites?

Grade the Look: Audrina Patridge in Rock and Republic

Spotted: Audrina Patridge and boyfriend Ryan Cabrera.

Where:  The grand opening of The Delphine Eatery and Bar in Hollywood, California on February 11, 2010.

Wearing: Patridge wore a Rock and Republic “Leland” fitted denim dress in Transmission Blue for the event.  She paired the dress with a rocker-chic leather jacket, but softened the look with a pair of Yves Saint Laurent Tribtoo Platform Slingbacks.

Grade:  A.

How would you grade Audrina’s look?  Share your thoughts in the comments!

The Clean Start Challenge and My New BFF Crystal

If you read my site or the Beauty and Style Section of Lifetime Moms on a regular basis, you might know a few things about me – like my unfailing love for the Tory Burch Reva and David Yurman jewelry.  You know these things because it’s what I usually write about here on this site, and because it’s my job.  So, it’s pretty cool that I’m able to be involved with something a little different, starting today, as a mentor and cheerleader for my new friend Crystal who is participating in the SC Johnson Clean Start Challenge.

Crystal is one of four finalists aiming to make a “clean start” in her life.  She is a striking young woman and a new mom who wants to learn how to cook and finally be able to get out of those mommy jeans!  It seems that Crystal was fortunate enough to marry a man who cooks for her – and all I can say is that if I ever meet her in person I will be giving her all sorts of high-fives!  She is also a former teacher and a Louisiana transplant – we have all sorts of things in common!  She will be posting weekly progress videos on MyLifetime.com so that you can follow along, but she’s also trying to win your votes! The winner of the SC Johnson Clean Start Challenge will receive $10,000!

We’ve talked about things that you know about me, but what you likely don’t know is that this challenge, and Crystal’s ideas about a clean start especially, are near and dear to my heart.  After I had my daughter, Audrey Grace, I really struggled to lose the baby weight.  The first bit came off fast, but I lost the last 25 pounds through a whole heck of a lot of determination and hard work.  This New Orleans native LOVES to eat!  So, Crystal’s desire to feel confident in her hot mom-ness (because she is already beautiful, but it’s all about confidence, right?) is one that I can truly relate to.  I’ll be chatting with Crystal throughout the next three months, sharing motivation, tips for cooking healthy meals, and tricks on how she can achieve her goal.  I hope that she can lean on me for ideas and support – and of course if you have any ideas or suggestions for her, you can always leave them here in the comments!

So you, my friends?  I’ve just signed you up for Team Crystal!  Welcome on board!  Don’t worry, to sweeten the pot, there will be 3 opportunities for you to vote for Crystal (or your favorite finalist, but c’mon, we already know who we’re voting for, right?) and be entered to win $1,000 and a SCJ gift basket that is filled with some very cool products.

So, as they say at the races: on your marks, get set…Go Crystal!

Fashion For Haiti

Hello fashion darlings.  I’m sorry I’ve been MIA but I’m so thankful that you’ve had our resident stylist Jennifer to keep you company.  Isn’t she doing an amazing job??? (Check out her article all about Spring Fashion!)  I have been on a whirlwind traveling tour lately, I’m not sure I’ve slept in my own bed but 1 night in the past 2.5 weeks.  Currently I’m in NYC covering Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week for Lifetime – a fashionista’s haven!

More on my coverage of this week in a bit, as well as my amazing trip to Disney with the Hanes Comfort Crew – but for now I wanted to quickly share something that caught my eye yesterday – all about what designers and the fashion industry are doing to provide help to Haiti.  This video explains it all:

I love that the designers are all wearing their t-shirt in their own unique way in the video.  The cool part is that you can buy one of these very fashionable t-shirts AND do something great at the same time.  The t-shirt will be on sale at Zappos beginning February 16th for only $25, with $16 of every purchase donated to the Haiti Relief Fund!

Designers and celebs are also doing their part – Kenneth Cole has donated a Westside Holiday billboard promoting the shirt and Beyonce is the official face of the Fashion for Haiti initiative.  What will you do?

Spring 2010 Trends: Must Haves Under $100

Hello my fashion darlings!! I am so excited to be the new girl here and to talk with you weekly about my favorite topics, fashion and style.  Check back each Wednesday for a new fashion related article.  I would love any input about what you would like to see each week.  I plan to do a monthly fashion Q & A, where your fashion and styling questions are answered along with other styling articles.  Please email me your comments and questions. Feel free to stop by and visit me during the week at my site, Red Sole Diary…I love visitors.

Q:  What is the must have article of clothing (not shoes) for spring under $100?

A:  There were a lot of trends that came down the Spring 2010 runways. Below are just a few to incorporate into your closet this spring.

Various versions of the jumpsuit were seen walking down the spring runways, from the relaxed glamour at Lanvin to loose and flowy at Roberto Cavalli.  Be sure to check out ASOS’ ruffled, one-shoulder jumpsuit ($34) to create a new spin on evening-wear. You’ll be stylishly chic at your next cocktail party.  For a more casual look, try Victoria’s Secret floral printed silk jumpsuit ($88) as floral prints are a must this season. Add a great pair of gold flat sandals and you are pool-party ready.

While we saw a lot of wide-legged pants on the spring runways, skinny-legged pants are still hot. Denim leggings are the cool girl’s jean of choice this season. Pair Ann Taylor’s denim leggings in dark wash ($88) with a white “boyfriend” t-shirt and your fitted blazer from last season to be the most stylish mom running errands.  To mimic Balmain’s military-inspired spring runway looks, pair Blank black denim stretch jeans ($78) with an Aqua military jacket ($88). It will truly be the look for less.

Shorts are the new pants this season. From quilted leather shorts seen in Alexander Wang’s show to the gold lamé harem shorts on Phillip Lim’s runway there is something for everyone. Add a pair of Victoria’s Secret belted linen shorts ($34.50) to your wardrobe this season. Pair with a lingerie inspired camisole, which is another hot trend for spring, and finally complete the look with last season’s boyfriend blazer.

Q:  What is a must have accessory under $50?

A:  Bold statement necklaces continue to be popular for the upcoming spring season. We saw everything from a full bib necklace at Vera Wang to bold pendants at Bottega Veneta. Color was everywhere on the spring runways so have fun with your accessories. Add Anthropologie’s double torsade necklace ($28) for a fresh look this season.  If you are looking for a bit more edge, check out Express’ bib necklace in a bold citrine color ($39.50).

See you next week!

Game Time! Game On!

My daughter turns 3 on Tuesday.  Oh, how it pains me to say that.  When we were deciding on a date for her birthday party, we decided on Sunday January 31st.  Why?  Well, because February 7th, the week after her birthday, had a slight conflict.  We didn’t dare place it during that weekend – just in case.

Our little football team – the boys in Black in Gold – are going to be taking on Peyton Manning and the Colts on February 7th.  Maybe you’ve heard?

It took 21 years before the New Orleans Saints had a winning season.  Both of my grandparents attended the very first Saints game on September 17th, 1967.  My family raised me to be a longtime, die-hard Saints fan.  There have been moments over the years where the relationship went more in the direction of hate than love – but as it always is with things you are loyal to – I can talk bad about my own football team, though no one else is allowed to.

This year, we made it.  Finally.  Who cares if we win or not, the Saints are GOING TO MIAMI.

I’m throwing a party.  Duh.

WalMart came to me, as one of the Eleven Moms, with the opportunity to share about their Game Time deals – you can join me and throw an awesome Game Day party of your own.  For $44 you can get:

One package of Oscar Mayer Meat Hot Dogs (8 ct.)
One package of Johnsonville® Bratwursts (6 ct.)
Two packages of Great Value™ Hot Dog Buns
Two bags of T.G.I. Friday’s™ Frozen Appetizers
One Hormel™ Supreme Party Tray
12” Chocolate Chunk Cookie
Two boxes of Nabisco Wheat Thins or Triscuit Crackers (8 to 10 oz. box)

For more information, check out WalMart’s Game Time site.  Oh, and WHO DAT?!?!?!?!?!

* Disclosure: Walmart provided me with two $50 Walmart gift cards for my participation in this program.

More Bubbles and Bubbly Fun

So remember how, back in October, Wisk HE brought me to my second home, New York City, for a little bubbles and bubbly shindig?  I had a blast with some amazing people and learned all about bubbles- when you need them, when you don’t.

So, today I’m on Google, searching for pictures of myself and my friend Katja for this way cool NYC Tweetup that we’re hosting on January 13th at the Roger Smith Hotel, and I come across this photo!

And I’m all … awwww … what a CUTE photo!

But then…then I came across this video.  And I’m giggling like a madwoman because here I am, looking like a total goober throughout the entire thing, and I didn’t even know it existed.

And, because I love you, my readers, I thought I would share my gooberness with you.  I’m especially fond of the 14 second mark, where I make a quick appearance just to drawl “bubbles”.  Tee hee!

By the way – my dress is from one of my favorite online stores – ModCloth, and the shoes are Steve Madden.  The crazy mad scientist lab coat was courtesy of Wisk HE.  I especially love that Nichelle from StyleMom immediately cinched hers up with a belt.  Only someone that fashionable could make a lab coat look good.  I’m just sayin’.

2009 Holiday Guide: iH15 Color Changing iPod Dock {A Giveaway}

If you haven’t already checked out my 2009 gift suggestions for the tech-savvy crowd, then you’re totally missing out.  Not only are there a lot of great gift suggestions over there, but you can read all about how I have this really cool iPod dock that plays really awesome sounding music, but all I get to listen to are the Imagination Movers.  Don’t get me wrong, I am very much an Imagination Movers fan, but there is a limit to the amount of times that I can hear “Where are you Puppy Dog” before I go a little nutso.  Oh, fine.  I already am a little nutso.

My friends, meet the iH15.  The sweetest, color-changing, bee-bopping iPod/iPhone dock that there ever was.  This would make a great gift for a teenager, especially, though mine looks kinda adorable in my kitchen.  The best part is while I’m rockin’ out to the Movers, my iPhone is working up a charge.  Sweet.

Wanna win one?  The folks at iHome have given me one to give away!

To enter, pop on over to the iHome website and peruse the rest of the awesome products they have there.  Then come back here and leave a comment on this post telling me which product BESIDES this one you love.  For bonus entries you may follow me on Twitter, Tweet about this giveaway (use the little button at the top of the page), subscribe to this site by email (box at the top right hand side of the page),  or write a 500 word essay on the French Revolution.  Ok, not the last one.  Just checking to see if you were paying attention.

Good luck and Happy Holidays!  Oh, don’t forget to check out our LogMeIn iPhone App Giveaway, and our Mophie Juice Pack Air Giveaway as well!

Fine Print:  Giveaway ends December 20th, 2009 at 11:59pm CST.  Winner to be chosen at random.  Please leave a vaild email address in the appropriate box so that we may contact you should you win.

Get The Look: Vampire Diaries

As if I needed one more television show on the CW to be obsessed with – I started watching Vampire Diaries this week when someone told me about the show – and I have been downloading all of the episodes from iTunes.  I’m starting to realize no show on the CW is complete without incredible fashion (à la Gossip Girl and last season’s Privileged) because I’ve been drooling over the clothing on the characters since the very first episode.

What really caught my attention was this fantastic three-quarter length sleeve leather jacket that Elena was sporting in the first episode – and then in the second episode I noticed what I thought was the same jacket in cream.  While I figured it wasn’t the same jacket, I was still inspired to do some research.  Turns out, it’s not the same one, but both are equally drool-worthy.

It seems that Elena’s parents left her some serious money when they died, because she is sporting a KRMA Jade Leather Jacket on the left that has been seen on tons of celebs such as Fergie, Audrina Partridge, Pink, and Mena Suvari.  I can’t help but go gaga for the gathered sleeves – even if the $600 price tag did erase some of those stars in my eyes.  The cream colored jacket on the left (which would match my new Foxcrow handbag quite nicely) is a Candela Leather Bomber Jacket with long sleeves – I was just fooled a bit because Elena (played by Nina Dobrev) wears it with the sleeves pushed up.

Fancast is FANtastic

I enjoy unwinding by reading a book, watching TV, etc. but my biggest problem is always that there is nothing on TV that I am interested in watching at the time when I can actually watch it.  You know, like….at 3 am.  Usually I’m lucky to catch an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (Can you sing all of the words to the opening song?  I can!) or maybe an episode of Friends.  That’s if I’m lucky.  Otherwise, I’m stuck with infomercials…which are neither entertaining or relaxing.

That’s where Fancast comes in.  It debuted in January 2008 and now has more than 10,000 hours of online video programming; with more than 60,000 videos available, including over 13,000 full-length shows.  That translates into “Erika can watch episodes of Glee at 3 am anytime she wants to.”  Squee!!  Also of note – tons of behind the scenes stuff, gossip, news on what shows are on the brink of cancellation, etc. I enjoy that stuff almost as much as I enjoy watching the shows themselves!

So, if you are looking for a place to catch an episode of one of your favorite shows, or if you are looking for something new to watch – check out Fancast!  Now, if you’ll excuse me…the cast of Glee is singing my name.

See? I’m not the only one…

I swear, this is the last in my series of ohmygoshihavenoideawhattopacktothisconference posts.  I’m here.  I’ve worn jeans both days of the conference so far, and as Reem and I briefly discuss in this video (this was the 2nd take, my macbook ate the first one) – being comfortable enough to wear jeans?  Well, we kinda feel like we’re cool.  Oh, that and that we get to hang out in the special speaker lounge where we can do goofy things like make video.

Oh yeah, so I moderated this panel today on the Ethics of Mommyblogging with Colleen Padilla, Lindsay Lebresco, and Ted Murphy.  It was really cool, and tons of fun.  We didn’t have cupcakes like Shama – but let’s just say that we’ve learned our lesson for next year!  It went really well, so a huge thank you to all of them!

Speaking of cool – check out these two cool, yet exceedingly silly chicks. 

Wakin’ Up In Vegas {Video}

Don’t forget that you can win an iPod Shuffle for commenting on any posts during the month of October.  See the bottom of this post for details!

Yay!  Thanks to Collective Bias, I’ll be on a plane flying to Las Vegas for Blog World Expo in less than 10 hours!  Why am I not sleeping, you ask?  (By the way, that’s so sweet of you to be so concerned about me!)  Well, because I’m vlogging.  And also, because I’m a procrastinator.  Will I regret this in the morning?  Yes.

Ohh, but look!  I made you a video!

Now you can probably figure out why, after 6 days, I’m still not packed.

PS — Feel the urge to comment yet? How about some motivation? All comments left on my site for the month of October will be entered to win an iPod shuffle! To enter to win, just leave some sort of comment on any post from the month of October. You may enter as many times as there are posts, and get extra entries for tweeting. Comments that had a bit of thought put into them are greatly appreciated. Good luck, contest ends October 31st and 11:59 pm CST.

Crazy About Harry {A Giveaway!}

I’m not sure how it works in other cities across the United States and other parts of the world, but here in New Orleans we feel a fierce loyalty to our city.  That loyalty, by all means, extends to well-respected local individuals who have found considerable amounts of success in larger markets.  That’s basically a lot of fancy words to say that we adore the celebrities that were born in our city (and even the ones who have adopted us, like Brad Pitt).  We like to claim them all, but we are especially proud of the musicians that are from our city.  What can I say; we’ve got a thing for talent!

Everyone here has a story about how they know a local celebrity.  They sat on a plane next to Robin Roberts, or shopped alongside of Jamie-Lynn Spears in Walmart.  (Please, she counts, ok?)  My story is that my 3rd grade teacher was Harry Connick Jr.’s godmother.  Heck, my best friend Emily from elementary school even dated her son and got to meet him on several occasions, if my 3rd grade memory serves me correctly.

See, the thing is…I don’t really get that excited about Ms. Spears in Walmart, but I’m pretty crazy about Harry.  See how I did that, there?  The whole calling him by his first name thing?  Yeah, that’s how I roll.  I’m sure it wouldn’t creep him out at ALL.

I love him in movies and on TV, but my favorite thing that he does, by far, is make music.  Flat-out incredibly amazing music, if it’s even possible to use that many descriptive thingies in a sentence.

Told ya I was crazy about the guy…I mean, ahem, his music.

Harry (more first name basisness) has just released his newest album, Your Songs, which is a) one of the best collections of familiar songs that I’ve heard in a while and b) really, really good.  I just caught a segment of him on the local news, and he seemed to think this was his 24th album to be released.  TWENTY-FOURTH, PEOPLE.  How many other modern musicians are this prolific?  Not only does the guy sing the most amazing Christmas music that you’ve ever heard (sorry, Bing, it’s nothing personal) but with this album he proves that he sings the classics just as well!

Anyone from New Orleans will immediately hear the influence of the city on the CD, even in these very classic songs.  My favorite track on Your Songs is “Your Song” coincidentally, enough – though “And I Love Her”, “And The Way You Look Tonight” also make me swoon.  Aw heck, the entire album makes me swoon.

If you’re not crazy about Harry, you should be!  Thanks to One 2 One Network I had the opportunity to get a first listen of this album, and now you can too!  One lucky Chic Shopper Chick reader will win a copy of his new album, Your Songs.  To be entered to win, leave a comment below letting me know why you are or want to be crazy about Harry!  You may also tweet about this contest for an additional entry (by clicking the little button at the top of this page!)

PS – Already crazy about Harry?  Then go check out some of the behind the scenes stuff that led up to making this album!

Contest ends October 15th, 2009 at 11:59 pm CST.  Winner will be chosen at random and notified via email.

Next Page »