Happy New Year!

Okay, so this post is a day late, but I'm on Day 8 of working eight days in a row. Can you blame me for neglecting Bella Vogue for a little bit?

How was everyone's New Year's Eve? I ended up going to a house party with some close friends. Have you ever tried peach tea-flavored vodka? Oh my goodness, ladies and gents, it is to die for! Mix it with some lemonade, and I swear, you'll be hooked!

Anyway. Enough about my alcoholic tendencies. I wanted to share a few things from 2011 that I thoroughly enjoyed, from a fashion standpoint.

First, I am going to start with Beyonce's video for her single "Countdown". The pop art influenced video channels Fame with Audrey Hepburn, mixes mod culture with 1950s musicals, and never skips a beat.

So it's fitting that the next thing I was into throughout 2011 was Bold Color. Shown in a limitless mode, the vibrant hues of 2011 dominated the Spring 2011 trends, in both apparel and jewelry. Citrus shades and sunset tones offered a refreshing outlook of cheerfulness and playfulness to fashion.

Spring 2011 Looks From the Runway: Calvin Klein, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Prabal Gurung, and Michael Kors. 

Another favorite from this past year was lace. Lace was sprinkled throughout the spring, and became stronger through the fall season. I especially like sheer lace blouses, as you can always play it up by placing a bold color top underneath. 

Miss Me, Marc Jacobs, and Louis Vuitton all made a case for lace.

In 2011, the decade of the 1970s came back in a BIG way. Through prints, hairstyles, one-shoulder tops, velvet pantsuits, and all-around attitudes, designers went back to a time where Studio 54 was all the rage.

Looks from the Runway: Diane von Furstenberg, Gucci, Tory Burch, and Marc by Marc Jacobs.

So now that you know what I was into in 2011, what is it that I am looking forward to? Well, to sum it up: I am excited for all of the fun prints and patterns, the new take on the Tribe Vibe trend, the 1920s silhouettes, and sport couture. Also, Pantone's color of the year is Tangerine Tango. How fun is that?! 

I'll be dreaming of prints & silhouettes in 2012: Peter Som, Oscar de la Renta, Rachel Zoe, and Altuzarra. 

What trends are y'all looking forward to? What did you like (or hate) about fashion in 2011? I wish all of my readers the best in the new year!

Photo Credit: Style.com and Harper's BAZAAR.

An Education: 1960's London fashion on film.

During the Golden Globes last night, I was reminded of the great little coming-of-age film An Education, which I saw at the theatre several months ago (it had a very limited release). Based on the memoirs of British journalist Lynn Barber, the movie is about Jenny (Golden Globe nominee Carey Mulligan), a London schoolgirl who falls in love with an older man. Although the story sounds like a page from Nabakov's Lolita and the title may conjure up the Natalie Portman film The Professional, I was taken aback at how surprisingly honest and sensual the film was.

Mulligan as Jenny.

The characters, even the smaller roles, were believable. The film did a great job with casting a good ensemble: Peter Sarsgaard, who plays David and steals little Jenny's heart, may be best remembered in Garden State as Mark, the insensitive but hilarious friend; Alfred Molina plays Jenny's father and was the Bishop in The Da Vinci Code; Rosemary Cross, who plays a schoolteacher, played the female lead in 1998's Rushmore (which, if you're from Texas, was filmed in Houston by UT alum Wes Anderson); and Emma Thompson plays the headmistress.

I really could go on and on about the cast alone.

Basically, the movie is fantastic to watch because of its cast.

Set in 1961 (before the Beatles had Ringo Starr on drums), the film demonstrates the difference in its characters--both economical and maturation--with clothing. Jenny, as a school girl, is dressed plainly, with her hair simple.

On her first date with David, she meets David's friends, Danny and Helen (Dominic Cooper and Rosamund Pike, respectively). Jenny is intrigued by Helen, and literally pets Helen's fur shawl. Helen invites her shopping, which Jenny declines due to money, only to find out that David will take her shopping.

Talk about wardrobe upgrade for the remaining duration! The rest of the film takes us through Jenny's departure from childhood, emotionally and fashionably.

Almost makes me want to find a sugar daddy. Almost. If you have not seen the film, enjoy these stills until its DVD release, courtesy of Yahoo.

You can view the trailer of An Education and learn about the awards Mulligan, who is reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn, has won for her role here (don't bother reading the synopsis, though; it might as well be called "major spoiler"). Special thanks to Sony Pictures Classics and BBC Films.

The Oughts: a decade of fashion in retrospect.

After reading a slew of "best-of" lists for this memorable decade, everything from Best Album to Best Song and Best Television Show, I've been wondering where the Most Memorable Fashions are. Because I feel like that although this decade did not have anything as glamorous as the flappers of the Roaring 20's, beautiful as Dior's New Look (1940's), groovy as the Hippie Revolution in the 1960's, or even as disco-ball shaking as the 70's, there was an impact made through its enormous display of sex. The following is a short overview of famous outfits and trends throughout the past decade.

Cartoons, sugary sweets, classic looks from the past inspired the Oughts.

The Oughts Decade's fashions started with a bang. Jennifer Lopez showed up to the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards in a sheer Versace dress with a neckline that reached below her naval. This left many questions in peoples' minds: first, how did she get that dress to stay put? (Boob tape works wonders, my dears) Then the next question was, how much more revealing can one get?

Jenny from The Block in Versace.

Well, thank God we have Britney Spears to answer that question. In the following September on national television, no less, Britney shimmied her way out of a tuxedo while singing Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction" to reveal a sparkly, nude get-up which left little to the imagination.

Pre-rehab Britney showing us how to back that thing up.

Apparently, as far as celebrities were concerned, we were living in Fashion Hell, and didn't quite know it until the 2001 Oscars when Bjork showed up in a white swan dress. Designed by Marjan Pejoski, the dress has since been sold on E-Bay for charity. The garment made the argument that if a dress is too absurd to never be in or out of style, can it be worn forever? Please, for the love of cygnets everywhere, no.

Bjork in the infamous Swan Dress.

In 2002, we began to see the appearance of trucker hats on the red carpet. Matched with showing your underwear and baring your midriff while wearing your name tag on your belt (ala Gwen Stefani), this look had trailer-park royalty written all over it. Unfortunately, this look didn't disappear until about 2004.

J.T. and Ashton Kutcher: truckers in a past life?

Taking a style tip right out of the Jackie O. handbook, oversized sunglasses became all the rage in 2003 and still are stylish. I actually never wore sunglasses until 2006. I've always hated seeing my eyebrows while wearing sunglasses, so my eyes were very thankful for this trend. Having not found a suitable pair in Montana, I finally found a pair of black, oversized sunglasses for $3 at a hotel gift-shop in Hawaii. Since then, I've jumped around from lavender to blue, along with brown, pink, and white.

As glasses grow, Mary-Kate and Ashley shrink.Myself sporting blue sunglasses from Wet Seal

Now a true shopaholic/fashionista couldn't be caught-dead in oversized sunglasses without her oversized, monogrammed Louis Vuitton bag. I swear, I've seen these bags everywhere from Austin to San Francisco, across the way to New York City and (oddly) Montana. I'll admit that I have one Louis Vuitton purse, but it's a gold tube bag, so it doesn't really scream "Louis Vuitton."

It just screams "gaudy" so I only take it out on rare occasions, especially since I broke one of the leather straps. Currently I also have a pink makeup-pouch that I use for coins, along with a black monogrammed wallet. My Louis Vuitton collection is made up from various gifts through the years, gifts I didn't ask for (kinda like the Barbie Dream House when I was 10 and had blown-up my Barbies the previous 4th of July). With that said, the most money I have ever paid for a purse is $20, and I have no desire to continue my LV collection.

Skinny jeans have taken over the planet the past couple years. They look best on those that are thin, but the curvy-set can wear them too--I'm living proof of this. The best tip is to make sure they actually fit--if they feel tight, get the next size. There are three types of skinny jeans: the cigarette jean, or straight leg, doesn't cling to your leg as much as other cuts, and are universally flattering. The "skinny jean" skinny jeans are tapered and stretchy, barely hugging the ankle. Super-skinny jeans give a sprayed-on look and are tight, form-fitting, and have the highest percentage of stretch fiber. When wearing skinny jeans, it's best to wear a long top that at least goes to your hip. For those with wide-hips, an empire-waistline is best. Skinny jeans look great with flats, heels, and tucked into boots.

Victoria Beckham in destroyed super-skinnys.

Just when you thought people were going to cover up, the no-pants trend popped up. Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Beyonce, Sienna Miller...I haven't witnessed anyone that was not a celeb try out this look. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I never do.

Lady Gaga: No Pants Day, every day.

Honorable Mentions: Liquid Leggings, Bedazzled Graphic Tees (aka Ed Hardy), Manolo Blahniks/Louboutins/Jimmy Choos, Destroyed Jeans, Sex Hair, Taking Your Dog Hostage in Your Purse, Tattooed Chest Piece and Sleeves, and Uggs.

Photos from Photobucket.com

A Swift Evolution in Style.

Taylor Swift on the cover of New York Times' T Magazine

A few months back, I less-than-approved of Taylor Swift being on People's Best Dressed List due to the title of "Best Sparkle." I've always felt Taylor Swift's fashions were total girl-next-door (GND for the acronym-obsessed), especially with how she's known to wear boots with dresses. Sometimes I think Taylor, who is turning 20 on the 13th, is reusing old prom dresses, as she never fails to look the part of a fairy-tale princess. I may be coming around and jumping on the Taylor Swift Style Bandwagon, however, especially if she keeps dressing as she did for The New York Times. Just a scoop of maturity, a dash of supermodel, and a pinch of Alice in Wonderland creates the gorgeous photos of Taylor as you've never seen her before with straight-as-a-pin hair. Here is a photo timeline of Taylor Swift's personal style (2006-present), including the December 3rd T Magazine spread:

2006 Promotional Photo.
November 2006: CMA Awards. May 2007: ACM Awards.May 2007: Straddling the thin line
between "cool boots" and "white trash" while in Las Vegas.
(I'm sorry, but having your name
on you anywhere requires a call-out.)
June 2007: getting her moneys' worth with those boots.
(Liberty Boots are handmade leather, fetching up to $2,000 a pair)October 2007: show in Great Falls, MT.
November 2007: accepting the Horizon Award at the 2007 CMAs.April 2008: after a show in San Antonio with a bandmate.June 2008: in NYC for TRL.
July 2008: at a gig in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
August 2009: performing in Sydney, Australia.September 2009: right before Kanye stole her thunder at the VMAs.November 2009: at the CMA Awards in Nashville.

And now...December 2009:
T Magazine shoot.

(Photo Credit: CMT.com, New York Times, and T Magazine.
2007 October photo belongs to myself...see, I am a fan!)

People's 10 Best Dressed.

The infamous annual list was revealed today, with the First Lady Michelle Obama leading the Best Dressed List (Best Accessible Glamour). Others included in the 10 Best Dressed List were Kate Winslet (Best Red Carpet), Nicole Richie (Best Maternity), Reese Witherspoon (Best Short Dresses), Cameron Diaz (Best Jeans), Kim Kardashian (Best Bikini), Taylor Swift (Best Sparkle), Beyonce (Best Street Chic), Freida Pinto (Best Use of Color), and Vanessa Hudgens (Best Boho Style).

I am not at all impressed with the list. I feel as it if is uninspired. Seeing Michelle, Kate, and Freida on the list does make me happy; however, I would never associate Kim Kardashian with Best Anything, except perhaps "Best Example of How Not to Act on TV." Taylor Swift is all right, and could definitely use a boost of self-esteem after Kanye West's childish behavior, but Best Sparkle? She looks like she rolled in silver glitter. Perhaps she felt she had to glam it up a bit, as people did slam her for always wearing cowboy boots before. I do have to give props to Nicole Richie for turning around her style. Anyone remember how awful she first appeared when The Simple Life began? Also, the second photo of Vanessa Hudgens cannot be classified as boho. I think Olivia Wilde much betters embody the boho-chic look, especially since I feel it is also a part of her lifestyle.

Do you have any thoughts on the list?

Who did you think should have been included (or discluded)?

Photo Credit: People.com