Oscar Fashion 2014

Red Carpet fashion at the Oscars is always a visual treat.  The anticipation of "what will they wear" never gets old!  So let's take a look at some of the most buzzworthy looks of the evening.  Be sure and tune-in to Nashville's News Channel 2 WKRN in the morning to hear some of my comments on the looks of the evening.  

Jared Leto: Several men rocked the white jacket this year, and my favorite was definitely the always-stylish Jared Leto. He took it a step further by adding the red silk bowtie and shimmering buttons, subtle but a very nice touch. 

Lupita Nyong'o: All eyes were on Lupita Nyong'o after her recent fashion hits, particularly the caped red Ralph Lauren dress.  For the Oscars, a gorgeous blue Prada gown was made for her and it was effortlessly glamorous with a nod to old Hollywood with the pleats and simple lines.

Charlize Theron: This black Christian Dior dress is a great look. The interesting lines at the bust and the element of sheer on the lower half are both gorgeous details.

Sandra Bullock: The gathering on this Alexander McQueen gown is perfection, complementing Sandra's body perfectly and the deep color works very well with her hair and makeup, making those eyes really pop. It was a stunning gown without being overpowering.

Kristin Chenoweth: The deco-inspired gold Cavalli dress was a perfect choice, sparkly and patterned all over with a very structured top. You could tell she enjoyed wearing it and it matched her dazzling personality very well.

My least favorite was Amy Adams' tuxedo-inspired Gucci. In truth, it is a wonderful dress, but I expected more for this red carpet from her. The Oscars is a great place to go big and to take risks. It felt very safe and too simple, especially for someone with a body and personality as great as Amy. Making a bigger statement with hair or jewelry would have helped elevate this look.

Spring Wardrobe Strategy

I had the pleasure of speaking with Lauren Murphy from Nashville's News 2 WKRN this morning about wardrobe strategy and closet organization for Spring!  On this first day of Spring, we met to discuss ways to put your best foot forward this season.  

Here are a few tips:

Screen for Quality and Fit

It's important to make sure all of your essentials are up to par. Throughout the year, if your favorite heels have gotten a little too worn for example- now's the time to fix or replace them. Making sure your favorite items are in good condition is important to secure a firm foundation from which your wardrobe can be expanded. 

In addition to quality, this is the perfect time to scan for fit. If you've been working out getting ready for swimsuit season, now is the time to have that shirt tailored a little bit to make sure the lines are most flattering for your figure.

Identify Lonely Pieces

Next I would recommend looking into an often overlooked area- identifying what I call lonely pieces. Throughout the year we all pick up a top, a skirt, a fun pair of pants that we say "I'll find something to go with this" and then it ends up hanging in our closet forever. Spring is the time to pull out those unique pieces and figure out what to do with them. 

One major trend now for example is to pair bright bold patterns or colors with softer more subtle neutrals. So take that fun hot pink peplum top and mix it with a great camel colored skirt or bag.

One In, One Out

This concept focuses on closet maintenance from a quantity perspective.  As you introduce a new item into your life, my suggestion is to remove an item that you love less. Eventually you'll end up with a closet full of things that make you happy, and you'll be less cluttered along the way. 

The key here is coming to the realization that you can live without it. Believe it or not, the world of fashion will always produce fabulous new things that can replace the pieces you need to let go of. You just have to enjoy the search and seek out the pieces that best work for you!