NYLON Scannin'

So I was super excited when I found the March '08 issue of NYLON Magazine in my mailbox, but I instantly became ecstatic when I realized Rachel Bilson was on the cover! While NYLON generally focuses on a wide spectrum of topics, including pop culture, beauty, fashion, music, and travel, this month, the quirky hipsteresque magazine went all out for a special fashion issue. NYLON claims it's their biggest issue ever and my favorite fashionista, Rachel Bilson, is among the 200+ pages of "show stopping spring style". I just had to scan some of its Bilson contents for you to enjoy. I couldn't help myself! I'm especially loving the sparkle top by Derek Lam and the black satin platforms with the neutral ankle strap by Marni.

*Photographs by Hilary Walsh

top by prada,green skirt by omo norma --- top by derek lam, tank by chloe sevigny

kamali, white skirt by 3.1 phillip lim, ------- for opening ceremony, shorts by

bracelet by marquis & camus, shoes ------ house of holland, necklace and bracelets

by marni ---------- by cartier, belt by biba

top and skirt by mui mui, bracelets by ---- cape by sonia rykiel, tank by etro,

cartier, bet by etro, shoes by guess by ------ necklace by jewelry by veronique

marciano -------

jacket and leggings by ralph lauren, ------ dress by luella, shoes by marc fisher,

hat by patricia underwood for ralph ---------- parasol by brelli, earrings by van cleef

lauren ------- & arpels

Check out this video by NYLON TV which features behind-the-scenes clips of Rachel's photo shoot!

Nina Ricci Helps Keri Russell Define Elegance

The Nina Ricci fashion house continues to create designs that are the epitome of soft, feminine, and romantic. Devout fan of the 76-year-old fashion label and frequent Academy Awards attendee, Reese Witherspoon, was absent this year; leaving the latest Nina Ricci designs up for grabs. Sweet-faced actress, Keri Russell, was in luck! She graced the 80th Annual Academy Awards red carpet with a Nina Ricci fresh flowing organza gown with a structured strapless bodice. The delicate champagne fabric was adorned by a three tiered 46-carat vintage floral diamond necklace by H. Stern. Stunning!

Here are some photos of Keri on the red carpet, backstage, and at the podium.

Bonus! Previous Nina Ricci designs on Reese Witherspoon..

(click to enlarge thumbnail)

Weekend Cuties! (for real)

In need of some advice to stay healthy? These cuties got it!

Ooo Pretty!

While I'm not one to splurge on jewelry, I did come across some unique gems that truly caught my eye. we dream in colour is a jewelry collection designed by artist, Jade Gedeon, whose unique creativity and expansive imagination is drawn from her many travels from Denmark to Trinidad to Australia.

Since 2002, Jade has created an assortment of earrings, necklaces, pins, and bracelets that offer a mixed sense of quirkiness and elegance. Metals are weathered and rustic, while crystals and beads are polished and refined. Her many designs include vintage copper with verdigris coating, hand cut smoked crystals, rare vintage Jadeite glass beads, vintage glass and lucite scarabs, and rare hand carved mother of pearl counters from mid-1700's China.

With this display of such extraordinary craftsmanship, it is surprising how affordable and accessible these pieces really are. Depending on the type of material used, these beauties range in price from $22 to $325. Popular designs, including vintage copper with verdigris coating and etched mother of pearl, are available at your local Urban Outfitters. All designs can be viewed at the we dream in colour website.

Here are just a few of Jade's alluring designs....

Just Cause I Wanna Report it Before Perez Does

Jennifer Lopez just gave birth to twinsiees! She's been checked in at Long Island's North Shore University Hospital since this Tuesday. Today, just after midnight, the set of fraternal twins (one boy, one girl) was welcomed by the happy couple. At 12:12 am, their newborn daughter was born, weighing 5 lbs 7oz., followed by her twin brother 11 minutes after, weighing 6 lbs 0oz. We'll be waiting for the release of the babies' names, but in the meantime, congrats to Jennifer and Marc Anthony!

Maintain that Mane! - Style Tip

Is your hair length below your shoulders? If so, you may be a bit familiar with those pesky tangles that seem to be completely inescapable. While tangles might appear harmless, the typical means of attacking them can cause some serious damage. Tangles develop when the hair becomes wet because friction builds up and the hair strands begin to swell. Your hair is very vulnerable to breaks and tears when it's in this state. Most tend to grab a brush and battle through the knots, but will find split-ends and brittle hair at the end of the road. Yikes! There is a solution and it's actually quite simple and inexpensive.

Believe it or not, you don't need to splurge on the latest designer deep-conditioning balm. Go for the kids detangling spray on the shelves of your local drugstore. Yup, those bright bottles with the fun little shapes printed on the outside. They're incredibly gentle on your hair and seriously do the trick! Spray it on your hair right after the shower, but lose that bristle brush! Use a wide-tooth comb to distribute the product throughout your hair. A wide-tooth comb won't pull at your hair and cause damage. Ooo! An added bonus: your hair will smell delicious!

Dana Power, actress and Ford Model, agrees! As a representative for leading designers such as Calvin Klein and Coach, she opts for Suave for Kids Awesome Apple Detangler Spray. Check out this video brought to you by Ford Models for more of Dana's beauty tips!

Here are some quick picks!

Suave Kids - Johnson & Johnson Kids - Loreal Kids

Oh stop, I'm blushing!

Photos: Walter Chin Still Photos: Keate

Are you tired of powder blush's inability to blend naturally into those cheekbones? When I apply powder blush, I'm looking for that freshly pinched look, but instead, I'm often left with a visible layer of rouged powder sitting flat above my concealer. The solution? tarte cheek stain!

This push-pop styled applicator is made with a unique stay-put gel formula. The water-based stain sinks into your skin and perfectly highlights that bone structure of yours. No left over residue. No brush needed. It's great for an on-the-go touch up! tarte cheek stain has been voted the best gel blush for the past 4 years and has earned countless cheeky fans. tarte cheek stain is available in 10 different shades for $28.00 each at Sephora.

:Blushing Bride :Sunkissed

:Bronze Goddess:Flush

:Cloud 9 :Natural Beauty

:Doll Face :Tickled

:Full Blossom :Tipsy

Weekend Cutie

Baby Beatles fan singing "Hey Jude" on his baby microphone.

O Happy Day of Love

I'm feeling very lovey dovey today, but I know this holiday can receive some negative responses. When Valentine's Day finally sneaks up on us, some bear upsetting memories of lost love or bitter feelings of jealousy. While most of us tend to view this holiday as the celebration of loving your significant other, I see it as a celebration of loving all sincere relationships around you, whether it is your family, friends, or that special guy/gal. To celebrate my take on Valentine's Day, I bring you this incredibly sweet video clip from one of my favorite movies, Love Actually. If you haven't seen it yet, it might be a bit of a spoiler! I most definitely suggest renting it tonight!

Rachel Bilson = Style Perfection

I have a constant desire to raid Rachel Bilson's closet. Whether she's on the red carpet or walking her shaggy pup, Thurman Murman, her style remains up-to-date and absolutely adorable. In celebration of her new movie, Jumper, I decided to have a Rachel Bilson mega picture post. The first few pictures were taken yesterday at the Jumper premiere. Looks like Rachel snagged the draped metallic dress that walked down runway in Monique Lhuillier's collection during New York Fashion Week a couple days ago. The one-shoulder number can also be viewed on my previous Birds of a Feather post. Enjoy with envy!

Favorite Grammy Look of the Night

Carrie Underwood's dress was, by far, my favorite. Although some of you may have heard Giuliana Ransik report during the red carpet show that it was a Bagley Mischka dress, she was incorrect. The dress is from Zuhair Murad's Spring/Summer collection for 2008. This red carpet knockout chose a flirty and ultra-fem design. With an oversized embellished waistband, halter neckline, and effervescent floral print, this dress certainly made fashionistas eager to slip into some springtime attire. Congrats to Carrie's song, "Before He Cheats", for winning Best Song of the Year and Best Female Country Vocal Performance.

Here are some extra photos of Carrie from the Grammys '08:

Zuhair Murad's Spring/Summer '08 designs, including Carrie's Grammy dress, can be viewed on the video below or under the Pret-a-Porter tab on Zuhair Murad's website.

Spring '08 Color Report via Nail Polish Bottle

It's always exciting to see what the Pantone Color Institute®, the world-renowned authority on color, comes up with for their latest color report. The Spring 2008 color palette is designed to be playful and creative with its refreshingly bright hues that punctuate classic neutrals.

“The spring ‘08 color palette perfectly reflects the cheerfulness of the season,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Stabilizing neutrals combined with pops of brighter colors to create unique, distinctive looks are the basis for a great spring and summer wardrobe.”

Staying true to Spring 2008's playful color report, I thought it would be fun to bring you the palette in the form of nail polish colors. Lacquered nails are a quick and easy way to add some flair to your outfit. Every season, there are even greater options. Literally every color is out there on the market, so you choose which color on Pantone's color report is going to be your signature splash of color this coming season.

"Great Expectations" "Aruba Blue" "Megawatt?!" "Cantaloupe" "Creamy"

"Naturally Rich" "Hi Lily,Hi Lo" "Jungle Red" "It's Now or Never" "Giga Babe"

Weekend Cuties!

A Sweet Scented Must-Have

Fragrance ads are pretty much useless. As if a black & white commercial of a happy couple frolicking through a grassy meadow will truly capture the scent of a designer perfume. If you want to be truly satisfied with your purchase, you’ve got to send your nose into sniffing overload in the fragrance section. An easy way to narrow your search is to identify your ideal type. Fruity, floral, fresh, woodsy, and oriental are among the most popular categories. I, personally, enjoy the youthfulness of floral and fruity scents. While in search of a new signature scent of my very own, I stumbled upon DAISY by Marc Jacobs at Sephora. Not only did this one please my senses with its playful, yet sophisticated aroma, but it’s also listed as a Best Seller item on Sephora! The Beauty Authority sums DAISY up as:

Sophisticated, with a touch of whimsy, violet captures the
eclectic, vintage flavor of Marc Jacobs' feminine, edgy designs. Always elegant,
always enchanting - but not too serious - Daisy is a sparkling floral bouquet,
spirited and fresh, wrapped in comfort and warmth.

This adorable bottle bears a mixture of: Strawberry, Violet Leaves, Ruby Red Grapefruit, Gardenia, Violet Petals, Jasmine Petals, Musk, Vanilla, White Woods. It's a definite must-have!

Go behind the scenes of the DAISY by Marc Jacobs campaign....

Birds of a Feather

I'm absolutely loving this movement towards feather embellishments. Today, the Fall 2008 collection that truly embodied this elegant trend was Monique Lhuillier. She has quickly become a popular wedding dress designer among celebrities, but has successfully translated her glamorous styling into ready-to-wear pieces. Lhuillier's latest collection beared looks that were bold and vibrant as well as fresh and ethereal. While free flowing ostrich feathers accompanied light organza and draped silk, necklines and bodices were encrusted in oversized cabochons and fabrics cried out in pistachio, butterscotch, and sapphire. I'm in love!

More captivating Monique Lhuillier pieces can be viewed on this video courtesy of ELLE.

Style Find!

This chilly weather is relentless! Keep cozy in style. Tolani scarves have become the most popular winter accessory among celebrity fashionistas. Each scarf is handmade by skilled artisans out of 100% viscose and can add a spash of color to any outfit. Rachel Bilson, Mary-Kate Olsen, and Jessica Alba are among those who are modeling the various Tolani designs. Order yours now at SHOPINTUITION for $85.00!

Tolani “Zig Zag” Scarf

Seen on Rachel Bilson:

Tolani “Honeycomb” Scarf

Seen on Jessica Alba:

Tolani “Mist” Scarf

Seen on Mary-Kate Olsen:

A Song for Your Mind

With a bit of Australian flavor leftover from posting about Sass & Bide’s latest collection at New York Fashion Week, I bring you Sia Furler, singer and songwriter from South Australia. With light swaying piano notes, delicate beats on the xylophone, and Sia’s bona fide vocals, you’re sure to fall in love with “Breathe Me”.

Super Super Sunday for New York

Not only did New York claim the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Trophy this Sunday, but it also hosted some awe-inspiring designer collections. From Diane Von Furstenberg to Tracy Reese, this city was set out to impress.

The collection that truly caught my eye this day was Hervé Léger by Max Azria. The fashion house, which was founded in 1985 by Hervé L. Leroux, was acquired by Azria in 1998. For the Hervé Léger Fall 2008 collection, Azria revived Léger's wrapped bands of fabric and curve-hugging concepts.

Dye-dipped bands of fabric were wrapped skin tight, embellished in beads and layered feathers. Asymmetrical shoulder straps added a divine flair. Teal, sangria, and amethyst stood boldly against a classic black. Azria achieved a heavenly balance between Léger concepts and his own signature styling.