SHOP MICHAEL JACKSON’S STYLE NOW!

Yesterday, people of all ages from around the world celebrated and mourned the tragic and unexpected passing of the King of Pop. Radio stations filled the airwaves with the familiar sounds of MJ’s famous beats. Everyone listened to their old favorites with a new ear and deeper appreciation for the genius behind the hits. A grief counselor called a radio station that I was listening to on the ride home from work. She was surprised at how much Michael Jackson’s passing was affecting her emotionally and was close to tears remembering the time she got to touch the hand of the most talented entertainer that ever graced a stage. For so many, Michael’s name is a household one, and his death had fans feeling as if they’d lost a close friend.

I will always admire Michael’s signature style and the way he could pull off such over-the-top-looks so effortlessly, as if a jacket, pants, glove, and shoes completely covered in sequins were as ordinary as a t-shirt and jeans. But what I envy most was his ability to establish these looks as his own. The glove, the hat, the armband, the jacket. That’s Michael. He will always be an inspiration to those aspiring to discover and establish their own personal style. As a tribute to the iconic celebrity’s innovative flair, I created a style guide of all things Michael, with some literal and some more modern takes on Michael’s trademark adornments, which represent the self-expression of a beloved pop legend. I love you, Michael!!

Tie-Dye still hasn’t gone out of style. This is probably due to the fact that it’s been given a complete makeover from its traditional rainbow swirls to chic, subtle designs on flattering garments  and sexy shoes. I went shopping online to find you the hot summer tie-dye looks and their affordable counterparts, so this summer, you can rock the look without breaking the bank! You can find all of these items in my Mad About Tie-Dye shopper’s list on Kazowie. Peace, Love, & Shopping!

Mad About Tie-Dye

Isla Fisher is always tre chic, and she didn’t let us down at the UK premiere of her guy (Sacha Baron Cohen)’s new movie, Bruno. This look matches, without going overboard: necklace and clutch are the same shade of grey, shoes and dress are both a lighter shade of the same color, and all this head-to-toe monochrome looks anything but dull when paired with Isla’s red hair and fire engine lips. The breastplate necklace is a major trend for this summer!

Lipstick: NARS Lipstick in Jungle Red
Clutch: Jessica McClintock Rectangle Fold Over Box Clutch
Shoes: Haru grey leather sandal by L.A.M.B.
Necklace: tuleste market Large Hammered Squares Choker
Dress: Ponte Pleated Tube by Silence & Noise

Check out my Isla Fisher Style Guide for more of the celeb’s red carpet look.

And don’t forget to keep checking back to my June Finds list for unique pieces that have been catching my eye this month!

Nautical is always in for summer, but plain stripes on plain tees get old fast. The key to rocking this look through summer 2009 and beyond is to seek out stripes on tees with unexpected fabrics and fun stylistic flourishes. My favorite picks from a whole flock of hot tops in Striped Tops With a Twist are below (L-R):

Eco-Ganik Stripe Pocket Tank, Splendid White Rugby Stripe T-Shirt, BGD Scoopneck Tee

A friend and I were recently discussing what types of outfits are worn by interviewees for a big time fashion magazine job in New York and how these clothes compare to “appropriate” interview attire on the West Coast (a.k.a. the Best Coast). The Miu Miu outfit Jessica Alba wore to the premiere of Sugar yesterday reminded me of office attire you could rock after you land the job (the HR manager might not appreciate the mini skirt, even with dark tights).  See Dress Like Jessica Alba at the Sugar Premiere to see my Alba Outfit look-alike choices, including where to buy the actual Miu Miu Suede Peep Toe Pumps and an exact CZ replica of J. Albs’ engagement ring for cheap!)

The pieces of this look translate to an overall classic appearance with a twist of modern trends (i.e. printed blouse, skinny belt). The end result is an outfit that looks great at any occasion, by day or by night. Very cute.

I’m really enjoying all the new fashion that’s coming off the runways and onto online shopping sites as of late. I found a newish trend to match each letter of the alphabet for my Fashion Alphabet buyer’s guide on Kazowie. My personal faves from off the catwalk are A for acidic colors, E for embellished boho, H for hooded, N for neutrals, and T for tough jewelry. I’ve read that there were a lot of 80’s inspired looks in many of the Spring ‘09 lines. I’m not too sure how I feel about this. While I like the holey nylons and square shoulder look, I’m not so sure I could pull it off without looking like I was headed to a themed frat party.

As always, my advice for following fashion trends is as follows: rock one trend at a time to avoid poser overload. And keep hair and makeup neutral to avoid the Halloween in Spring look. (Unless that’s what you’re going for, of course!)

I can’t believe I sat through an entire award show the other night. The 81^st Annual Academy Awards were on and I watched it from start to finish. Wow. I’m not really sure what kept me watching, because I haven’t seen half the movies that were nominated to receive awards, but I watched it nonetheless. And today, I chose three random Oscar looks to see if I couldn’t find more casual versions or adaptations of the stars’ styles for regular ol’ non-celeb chicks, like myself! I chose Angelina, Natalie, and Kate. This one was a challenge! Check it: 2009 Oscar-Inspired Style.