Texas Summer Essentials

Texas Summer Essentials by aromnayr featuring top sider shoes

Independence Day

Independence Day by aromnayr featuring a retro swimwear

(click collage to enlarge)

The 4th of July is a HUGE deal in the town where I'm from, Friendswood, TX.  Every year I go home to watch the parade and the fireworks and always see family, lots of old friends - and I'm always reminded how lucky I am to have not only grown up in America, but in MY town!  It's a day booming with tradition, pride, and community spirit and I'm so excited to head back down in just a couple days to share once again in celebrating our nation's Independence Day.

Suits in Which to Play

Suits in Which to Play by aromnayr featuring printed tops

Easter Parade

In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it,

You'll be the grandest lady at the Easter Parade.

I'll be all in clover, and when they look you over,

I'll be the proudest fellow in the Easter Parade.

On the avenue, fifth avenue, the photographers will snap us,

And you'll find that you're in the rotogravure.

Oh I could write a sonnet about your Easter bonnet,

And of the girl I'm taking to the Easter parade.

 

Easter Sunday by aromnayr featuring patent leather high heels

My Polyvore Debut

As if I didn't have enough places to fool around online, especially with Pinterest having become by daily obsession...I've given into another site after a long battle of resistance.  Time to conquer Polyvore!

Here's my debut outfit created with Polyvore:

It all started with this great Jil Sander sequined shirt, then the brown leather pants, suede YSL tribute sandals and green Celine bag followed.  I would wear this any day of the week!

Sunday Brunch by aromnayr featuring summer bags

Bridesmaid Inspiration

I've always been a proponent for mix and match bridesmaid dresses and I just found these super-cute ones from Anthropologie that would be adorable at a farm or garden springtime wedding.

OSCAR Red Carpet Best Dressed

So here are my Top 5 picks for Best Dressed on the 2012 Oscar red carpet:

5. Milla Jovovich in Ellie Saab

4. Meryl Streep in Lanvin



3. Angelina Jolie in Versace

2. Glenn Close in Zac Posen

1. Gwenyth Paltrow in Tom Ford

Honorable Mentions:

Cameron Diaz in Gucci

Sandra Bullock in Marchesa

Rooney Mara in Givenchy

Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji





Best of GG - Pt. 1

I have decided to compile for you some of my favorite looks from the fabulous characters of Gossip Girl.  There are WAY too many, so this is a two-parter, and a generous one at that!  I haven't caught up on the latest season yet, so no one spoil it for me... so for now let's just feast upon pretty things.

    

(Mary Kartrantzou Spring/Summer 2011, Marchesa Fringed Bow Dress, Henri Bendel Sweater Dress)

   

(Marchesa Fall 2010 Pink Suede Dress, Buberry Prorsum Pre-Fall 2011 Trench, Oscar de la Renta Spring 2008 White Dress)

  

( Collette Dinnigan Resort 2008 Bubble Hem Dress, Barney's Tartan Dress $539 w/Diane von Furstenburg Abbe Sweater Jacket, J. MendeCitron Abstract Print Gown)

 

( J.Mendel Fall  2009, J. Mendel Spring 2009, Zair Murad Fall 2010 RTW)

  

(Haute Hippie Short Beaded Jacket $95/ Mad Marcus Spark Top $305/ Rachel Antonoff Sarah Tap Shorts, Reem Acra Pre-Fall 2010 Gown, Oscar de la Renta Pre-Fall 2010 Vermillion Gown $8,990)

   

(Suno Wide Leg Pants $420, Emilio Pucci Spring 2010 Metallic Jacket/Tibi Spring 2010 Blue Pants/Brian Atwood Loca Studded Pumps $640, George Chakra Spring 2010 Couture Swarovski Cage Corset Dress)

(all photos courtesy of GossipGirlFashion.net)

Fashion Flimed

Recently I've been on a bit of a fashion documentary kick, starting with the fascinating film, Bill Cunningham New York.  It follows New York Times fashion photographer Bill Cunningham through his history and routine photographing the street styles and social lives of women in New York City. 



He's has such a delightful attitude towards life and style, he's really an incredibly eccentric and lovable subject for documentary - I thoroughly enjoyed this peek into his process and life.

I especially liked the bit about one of his regular subjects, former U.N. official from Nepal, Shail Upadhya - who has the most insane collections of printed suits EVER.  Such an unexpected character!

Next I was on to Vidal Sassoon: The Movie.  Vidal rocked the world with his innovative creations in 60s London that at once were inspired by and fueled the incredible fashion of that time.

I loved learning more about his artistic path and overall genius, and it reminded me once again just how much I am personally in great need of a haircut!  Come on over, Vidal - I'm free tomorrow.

Then I was onto the wonderful and heartbreaking, L'Amour Fou - documenting Yves Saint Laurent and his 50-year relationship (and the subsequent art collection amassed there from) with Pierre Bergé who was absolutely the epitome of "the man behind the man".  I have read about the life and times of Yves in the brilliant book, The Beautiful Fall and have always been mesmerized by his life of excesses and his tortured creativity. 

This film showed the life of Yves through Pierre's eyes and even though they absolutely had their ups and downs, I found myself looking into one of the truly great partnerships of the 20th century. 



Then of course after all that I just had to go back and watch one of my favorites, The September Issue, because apparently I just haven't seen it enough.

On a related note, next Friday, October 28th The Texas Theatre in Dallas will host the regional premier of DRESSED, a new documentary about self-taught designer, Nary Manivong, who overcame childhood homelessness to miraculously show his collection at NYFW.  There will be a special Q&A with Manivong himself as well as Ally Hilfiger (yes, the designer's daughter) and the film's director and executive producer.  I encourage all you Dallas-ites to attend, it looks to be a great opportunity!  Click HERE for more information.

Elie Saab Spring RTW Color Explosion

Fantasy Bachelorette Pad - Part 1

I'll start off with the first in a series I'm calling "Fantasy Bachelorette Pad".  In every installment I'll cover a different room of the house, today I'm going with one of the most important rooms in a bachelorette's house and a collection of good 'ol fashioned closet porn...

Of course I couldn't leave out Carrie Bradshaw's closet...

Some of my favorite blogger's closets, Jane Aldrige from Sea of Shoes (above), and The Glamourai, Kelly Framel (below)

This Chanel-inspired dressing room/closet is absolutely real from a quite outlandish piece of real estate in my north Texas neck-o-the-woods.

Now that you're all wishing you could get dressed in one of these beauties, I leave you all to your fabulous day!

-Ryan