DreaminLace

STYLE + BEAUTY + AMBITION OF THE MODERN WOMAN

Fashion, TV Fashion

Mad Men Fashion Recap : The Monolith (Episode 7×04)

Happy News was announced yesterday for Mad Men fans everywhere: after 8 years, Jon Hamm will finally grace the cover of Vanity Fair, and boy is it a beaut! I’ve really been reconsidering my subscription to Vanity Fair as of late, but leave it them to reel me in at the final hour 😉

So before we get into the fashion of Sunday’s episode, let’s all take a moment to enjoy this gorgeous cover:

To those of you who don’t care about Mad Men, this is lost on you. But with each passing final episode etching away a piece of my heart, I need to just ‘recognize’, okay? 😉

It is the best period drama of all time (yet, anyway) and is a definite part of the television revolution we lived through. Can you feel it? The end of shows like Mad Men, Breaking Bad, etc. that cultivated a change in the marketplace of television…bringing big ideas to the small screen, not just leaving them for the movies. Shows like Mad Men have truly revolutionized the television programs we consume. And so, while the fashion of the show is definitely a high point, (hello!) I think as a spectator of pop culture we should recognize this significant change in our cultural history. Alas, it’s the end of an era! And Vanity Fair astutely asks, what will life after Don Draper be like?

But please, only take that as a rhetorical question to ponder for later. Since we have more episodes to comes I think it’s best to just get to the point at hand: this week we met a cult!

Yes, a real life cult. (Or at least as Mona calls them. I’ve never actually seen a cult so I don’t have a solid point of reference.) As soon as the word cult came out of her mouth I was praying we’d get to meet them…and meet them we did. Yes, so so we did.

So wipe the drool off your face from Hamm’s cover, because we’re about to get into some backyard hippies; and you’re gonna need both eyes open!

I must say, this episode was thoroughly entertaining. The Fashion Recap is to stay most spoiler free as possible, but Don’s story right now is really intriguing. I’m always happy when Pete’s around, and he received a bit of news that I hope will bring Trudy back, if only for an episode. A little Allison Brie never hurts! But so far from a fashion standpoint, I say second to Joan (who is always fabulous), the hippie cult are my favorite fashionistas of the season yet! 😉

Designer Fashion, Fashion, Red Carpet Fashion

Hot or Not : Lupita Nyong’o in Prada the 2014 Met Gala

As if you need me to remind you, but last night was the Met Gala Costume Institute Ball and Lupita Nyong’o threw us a curve ball in this fashion forward/questionable Prada.

While live-tweeting the event, my entire Twitter feed was flooded when a photo of her leaving her hotel was released. People were crazed and completely aghast that the gorgeous, flawless and elegant Lupita would take such a bold risk on fashion’s biggest night of the year. Some joked that she looked like something caught in a fishing net. Others declared this completely genius. I have to say, whether it’s great or not – I do love and respect her decision to throw out something so polarizing while people are obsessing over her style with such vigor.

Yes, I totally get the fishing net joke. But then, I also see this as a cool fusion of tribal meets Gatsby. It’s like the Native American Daisy Buchanan. To boot, the green is energetic, lively and looks really great with her skintone. One thing is for sure though, the headband and makeup are completely perfect. As for the dress, I think it’s a draw, falling somewhere in the middle. I didn’t put Lupita on my Best or Worst Dressed because it doesn’t feel like it earns enough points to fall in either direction. But I’m curious, what do you think?

So I’m bringing back the vote! Which is quite fitting as here in the US it is also Spring Election Day!

Hit or Miss: Lupita Nyong’o in Prada?
  
pollcode.com free polls 

One thing is for sure, Lupita has the whole world wrapped around her finger and dying to see what she’ll wear right now. As for the rest of the red carpet, check out my Best Dressed and Worst Dressed lists!



Designer Fashion, Fashion, Red Carpet Fashion

Worst Dressed: MET Gala Costume Institute Ball 2014

met gala 2014 costume institute ball, worst dressed, celebrity fashion

The MET Gala Costume Institute Ball, aka: the biggest night in fashion, was held last night in New York City. And in MET Gala style, celebrities, models and designers flocked down the red carpet and up the red carpet stairs in their best, and worst, attempts at getting seen. What’s so particularly fantastic about this event, is people are really proving their style. Who has it and who doesn’t have it. Unlike the Academy Awards, where people often play it safe, we see people really go for it! And of course, when you go for it and take fashion risks…sometimes you miss the mark completely.

This is quite a worst dressed list, as in it’s longer than any of mine through awards season. But at least take pride in knowing no one can call these gals ‘safe’. And that is really what it’s all about it.

*drum roll* And the worst dressed are….

alexa chung, met gala 2014 worst dressed, nina ricci
 Alexa Chung in Nina Ricci
Talk about a turn of events! Fashion ‘it girl’ in a dress by one of my favorites falls on the worst dressed list?! Even I would never have guessed it. I think this looks so similar to a silver fish that I can’t help but want to squirm away. 
hayden panettiere fashion, dennis basso, met gala 2014 worst dressed
Hayden Panettiere in Dennis Basso
Someone really needs to help Hayden out! She seems like such a nice sweet girl. I mean, look at her! She is so proud of the gown she ripped off a twelve year old…or pastel Barbie?                                   
kate upton fashion, dolce gabbana, met gala 2014 worst dressed
Kate Upton in Dolce and Gabbana
One star I do not feel bad putting on the list is Kate Upton. I do, however, feel bad whenever DG misses the mark. They can be so polarizing though. As in, when they get it right they get it right – and when they get it wrong they get it wrong. I wish I could say I expect more from Kate Upton in the same way though, but I think she’s pretty much resigned herself in being nothing more than a pin up girl and so playing the part in a saloon gown seems quite astute. 
ugly marchesa, katie holmes, met gala 2014 worst dressed
Katie Holmes in Marchesa
HA! And we thought Katie Holmes was the sane one…
kirsten dunst, rodarte star wars, met gala 2014 worst dressed
Kirsten Dunst in Rodarte
I like Kirsten Dunst enough that I was reasoning this off the Worst Dressed list. But, I’m sorry, I don’t care who you are…Star Wars fashion is not a good thing outside of a convention. (
lea michele fashion, altuzarra, met gala 2014 worst dressed
Lea Michele in Altuzarra
I keep hoping Lea Michele will stop trying so hard on the red carpet, but she continues to be getting in her own way to greatness. She’s so misguided when it comes to fashion. As a beautiful, talented girl…there’s no reason she should be trying this hard. (Doesn’t she look like JLaw ala American Hustle?)
nicole richie fashion, donna karan atelier, met gala 2014 worst dressed
Nicole Richie in Donna Karan AtelierPoor Nicole Richie! She was shipwrecked on her way to the MET Ball! Talk about a trooper for still managing to show up on time.
rachel mcadams fashion, ralph lauren, met gala 2014 worst dressed
Rachel McAdams in Ralph Lauren
Forgive me Rachel, but showing up at the biggest fashion event of the year in blush knock off of Lupita Nyong’o’s famous Golden Globes dress with ghastly tan lines feels like a slap in the Anna Wintour’s face. I mean, come on girl! The First Lady came out for this thing! Please try harder. Try at all.
rita ora, donna karan, met gala 2014 worst dressed
Rita Ora in Donna Karan Atelier
Apparently it wasn’t just Nicole Richie’s high fashion reputation Donna Karan wanted to spit in the face of last night. Rita Ora was next on her victim’s table.
sandra lee semi-homemade, met gala worst dressed 2014
Sandra Lee in Nameless Designer
The designer of this dress shall remain nameless. Aren’t we really most surprised not that Sandra Lee wore this, but that she garnered an invitation to the biggest fashion event of the year in the first place? And with that, I have to give her props…for finding away to go from just another nameless face in the background to on the top of everyone’s Worst Dressed list. Get it girl!
maggie gyllenhaal fashion, maison valentino, met gala 2014 worst dressed
Maggie Gyllenhaul in Maison Valentino
Maggie Gyllenhaul looks like a cheap walking promo for this season of Mad Men. Proof that even Valentino makes mistakes…
tabitha simmon fashion, dolce and gabbana, met gala 2014 worst dressed
Tabitha Simmon in Dolce and Gabbana
Again, more apologies to Dolce and Gabbana. I love fairytales as much as the next girl but this seems like a really sloppy version of a tulle masterpiece. I mean, it looks a bad craft project brought down by supplies plucked from the clearance bin at Michael’s.
zoe saldana fashion, michael kors, met gala 2014 worst dressed
Zoe Saldana in Michael Kors
I was happy that Zoe opted against a Prabal Gurung for the evening. I wasn’t happy that she opted to wear a bean bag instead. I mean, it’s a lovely patterned bean bag. But, a bean bag nonetheless. 

What did you think of last night’s fashion and who topped your worst dressed list? Spill!

Next up, in case you missed it, check out my lengthy Best Dressed list – with some looks so great they even surprised ME!

Beauty, Makeup

Yay or Nay Monday : Wet n Wild Megalast Nail Polish

wet n' wild megalast nail color, wet n' wild nail polish

I’ve seen a lot of people say positive things about the Wet n’ Wild Megalast Salon Nail Color, and so when I was able to work a deal and get 3 for $3, I of course had to jump on it. And I’ve got to say, immediately I was sucked in by the gorgeousness of these vivid, bright colors for spring and the quality of the packaging really blew me away. I mean, this is Wet n Wild…not exactly known for their spectacular packaging…no offense or anything. In fact, usually with Wet n Wild the packaging totally sucks but the product itself is miraculously great! They do some really quality eyeshadow and blush products. Their lip products are somewhat drying but also really kind of awesome.

With an extensive list of ‘Dos’, I went into this with high hopes that I finally found a cheap nail polish that I liked. And at application, I was pretty impressed. The formula is quite thick and creamy, and very nicely pigmented. Although I did find that things could veer into the ‘streaky’ direction, which seemed allowable given that I paid only a buck for these bad boys.

Wear wise though?

I was extremely disappointed.

Look, I like to paint my nails, I really do. However, I don’t like it so much that I want to be doing it every day. I like to get 4-7 days out of a polish before I’m ready to mix it up again. This polish though I was like desperately needing to redo my nails after day 2. I wouldn’t say they ‘chip’ either, as the formula doesn’t really flake off into chips. But somehow, it just completely vanishes and you’re left having to conceal your nails at a work function because you really don’t want to be that girl who is at a nice professional event wearing bald patches all over her fingernails. No, these polishes are definitely not going to earn you any brownie points in the work department.

So, alas, I have to give these a big nay. And even though they’re Wet n Wild and extremely cheap, I’m left really disappointed because I’ve come to expect to be pleasantly surprised from the cheap corner of the drugstore.

Have you tried the Wet n Wild Megalast polishes? What was your experience like?


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Beauty, Makeup, Monthly Beauty Favorites

My April Beauty Favorites

april beaut favorites, makeup favorites, beauty favorites, drugstore makeup, six feet under

Alas we have made it to May, which means it’s time for my April Beauty Favorites! April contained as many intangible favorites as it did tangible products. Yet, while I can’t photograph sunshine and warm temperatures (just pretend they’re here), I can take pictures of lipstick and mascara…which obviously are monthly favorites. I mean, DUH! Don’t you know me at all? 😉

Seriously though, the longer sunny days and warmer weather brought me immense joy all month long! There’s something so beautiful about arriving home from work while it’s still light out – taking a long walk, enjoying a yoga session and even hitting the kitchen while it remains sunny! Daylight definitely boosts my mood. So does being able to step outside without fear of freezing my butt off, even with a heavy coat on and pre-warming my car for a half hour in the morning. Yes, while I enjoy the seasons to an extent – I also really appreciate life above 50 degrees!

Weekends in the sun are another favorite. If you follow me on Instagram you will notice a recurring theme of me ‘poolside’ in the sun. Cannot wait till I’m actually poolside! But enough raving about the weather, here are my physical favorites:

stila stay all day liner, mac dreaming dahlia, loreal butterfly mascara, april beauty favorites, six feet under

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner
This isn’t so much of a monthly favorite as it is a lifetime favorite. I picked this up I think back in February and have been loving it ever since! It’s always those daytime favorites that sometimes I forget because they become some ingrained in my routine that it’s second nature. But this is hands down the best felt-tip liquid liner I have ever used. Period. What is it about Stila that always hits it out of the park? Awesome!

L’Oreal Lash Out Butterfly Mascara
If you read my full review on this mascara, you know I’m very taken by it. It’s really one of my favorite drugstore mascaras! So so good at fanning out your lashes for volume and that gorgeous ‘fluttering’ effect. If you’ve yet to try this, I highly recommend it!

MAC Cosmetics ‘Dreaming Dahlia’ Lipstick
Dreaming Dahlia of the Fantasy of Flowers Collection has received a lot of ‘airtime’ on Dream in Lace, and with good reason. It appeared in my Nordstrom Haul and in my 5 Must-Haves for Spring! It’s such a gorgeous shade of orange, and more subtle than say Morange as it is of the Lustre range – so is beautifully sheer. Here’s a picture of me modeling it.

Six Feet Under
When it comes to television series, Six Feet Under is a huge favorite of mine. It’s one of those shows that was sort of a game-changer for me. As in, it managed to really etch out a new way of looking at life. In April I pulled out my box-set which has been creating dust for a while, and totally rediscovered my love for all things Fisher & Sons. Beautiful show!

clinique pink chocolate eyeshadow, opi live.love.carnaval brazil nail lacquer, lancome visionnaire, maybelline dream bouncy blush

Clinique ‘Pink Chocolate’ Eyeshadow Quad
I mistakenly thought that I had written a full review of this quad, but apparently it only appeared in this haul (includes swatches). So, allow me to state here that I LOVE this quad. Mostly I skip over the pink shade in favor or the beautiful matte browns for a quick basic look, but it’s also nice to have the pink shade to pop in for a mix-up or an interesting highlight. I’ve never used Clinique eyeshadow before and this has me wanting to pick up more quads from them because without question, products like this make getting ready in a snap possible!

OPI ‘Live.Love.Carnaval’ Nail Lacquer
I am so into nail polishes that it’s pretty rare that I wear the same shade more than once in a month. OPI‘s Live.Love.Carnaval, however, has not only been worn repeatedly…but I currently have this both on my fingernails and my toes! If that’s not a testimony for greatness what is? The formula is incredible! Super pigmented and creamy, but also incredibly long-lasting. Definitely snatch this up while it’s still out there because it’s the perfect orange/pink for summer! (Here’s a picture of it on my nails.)

Lancome Visionnaire Advanced Skin Corrector
After months of lusting after Visionnaire in high fashion magazines, I finally bit the bullet and picked up the Spring set. And I’ve been loving it! I have an obsessive hate of the pores around my nose. People tell me I’m being too hard on myself and they’re not that bad, but they nag at me endlessly. Since using this, I can’t say they’ve completely disappeared, but I have noticed they’ve diminished. I’ve also noticed the dark circles and redness I usually wake up with in the morning aren’t as bad/are now nonexistent.

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in ‘Peach Satin’
We all get a bit more ‘blushy’ in the spring, and while I’ve been loving several – this ones my current favorite. It’s a gorgeous peach/coral and when stippled lightly on the cheeks, is quite lovely for daytime. It’s subtle, yet also eyecatching. The Dream Bouncy blushes in general are always good, but this one stands out because it’s the perfect peach!

The Neighbourhood ‘I Love You’

I think this is the first music favorite I’ve ever shared, but like for real I’m obsessed with this album. It’s probably the only full album I heard in the month of April as I could not stop listening to it! Every single track is so, sooooo good! This is a must get!

And there we have it. The beauty and life-things I was loving through April! As always, if you are also a Beauty Blogger please share your April favorites with me. They’re my favorite posts to read!

What things were you loving this month?