Gold Is the New Black

I just picked up this vintage blouse and belt at Swift.  You know how it feels when you wear an outfit that really works?  It gave me special powers. Despite being super late to my dinner reservation, the host gave me the quintessential once-over and forgiveness was immediate.  I was seated before I could apologize, which I still did of course.

The hair was a bit of a mess because I didn't have proper time to blowdry, but a little morrocan oil and ratting comb action took it down a bedhead turn, which I'm really liking.

Shirt and belt from Swift Boutique in Burbank, shorts from F21, shoes from Bebe, OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark polish. Guest appearance by @hoverkitten

Banana Pudding

I made the Magnolia Bakery banana pudding this weekend!  Recipe here.

A few tips to know in advance.  You must chill the filling for 3-4 hours before preparing the rest of the dessert, so plan ahead.  I finished mine with a group of girlfriends over at my house, so they ate it fresh and it was delicicous, but it's even more tasty if you refrigerate it and let it set.

I recommend a few changes from the original recipe.  Make half of the cream filling, but include the full box of Nilla wafers and same amount of bananas.  The recipe makes way too much of the filling.  It will still make enough to easily serve eight people.

Emmys Recap: Gold Is the New Black

With Christina Hendricks gracing the cover of every entertainment website because of her... ahem... dress, let's start with what we fashionistas really wanna see...the hot leading men!

Sam Tremmell oozes charm. Alexander Skarsgard is smoking hot no matter what he's doing, Don Draper wears a tux better than any man alive (yes, that includes George Clooney) and I have to admit I still prefer Peter Facinelli as a blonde, pale vamp.

Now, to the fashion.

Standing ovation to Anna Paquin in Alexander McQueen. Brav to the O.  No one else came close.

The updo is chic with a touch of Bride of Frankenstein that's just killing me. Kristin Bauer's gorgeous lips are begging for character Pam's signature red lipstick.

Couldn't resist.

Lorena!

Now to the dress everyone seems to be hating on today.

January Jones is rocking this Versace like nobody's business.  It's kind of like JLo wearing that "up to there" green Versace at the Grammys, or Bjork wearing that swan dress - it's memorable.  Plus, I happen to love this dress, unlike the other ones.  The asymmetrical bob works for me too.

I could go on all day, but after live-tweeting the entire show yesterday, I'm beat!

Emmys 2010: Fashion Predictions

Okay, so the red carpet for the Emmys doesn't exactly compare to the Academy Awards or Golden Globes, but what the heck. We haven't had a decent awards show in months. Bring on the fashion!

I hear Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer may wear Alexander McQueen.

  

May her dress be as beautiful as (what's rumored to be) McQueen's final creation.  His longtime friend and muse Annabelle Neilson wore this to Elton John’s White Tie and Tiara Ball in June.  From the collar of silvered feathers to the impeccable draping, it's painfully romantic.  Stunning.

On the other hand, wouldn't Sookie look incredible holding this wicked McQueen clutch?  If she doesn't want it, I'll take it.  After all, she already has the most desirable accessory of the moment - that charming, gap-toothed grin.

Christina Hendricks, Claire Danes, Cheryl Hines and Olivia Munn are expected to wear Zac Posen.  He is making his first showing at Paris Fashion Week next month!  I couldn't resist posting this Zac Posen dress on Kitty Purry at the Grammys.  It is not working for me.  The gold flowers, the bindi, it's all too much.  But half of the fun is seeing the strike outs, no?

I keep hearing gold is the new black and I love Balmain's take.  It's heavy and rich, but a gal would melt in this body armor on the red carpet.  Better suited for night.

Kelly Osborne is expected to wear Bodyamr. Isn't she making her fashion police debut on E! with Joan Rivers today?  Love her.  The look below was presented at London Fashion Week from Bodymar's Autumn/Winter 2010 collection.  Kelly should wear something that pushes the limits.  After all, she's playing critic, so she gets to make the rules.

Happy Emmy day all.  Can't wait for everyone's critiques on le twitter.

Jet Set Joan

Christina Hendricks in British GQ.

Gorgeous, but they got photoshop-happy.

That's more like it.

Very Guy Bourdin.

Credit: GQ UK

A Paige of Inspiration: Corsets

I'm crazy for corsets!  They have been around sense the 1550's and are still very fashionable today.  Corsets aren’t always sold to make your waist into an extreme hourglass shape but they still help show off your form and improve posture. I love them in their many different and beautiful ways!

~ Paige

More inspiration at my blog: http://marksonapaige.tumblr.com/

Holding Out For a Hero

It's always stylish to help out a friend in need.  I happened to be out jogging this morning when I saw something moving in the bushes.  I looked back and saw four little feet kicking the air.  This big boy was on his back, so ipod and android went flying and I flipped him over.  Most of the yards in my neighborhood are terraced, so it appears he came too close to the edge and tipped right into a rose bush!

What just happened?

Every rose has its thorn

I heaved him up and waited to see him walk.  (What if he was hurt?! How I was going to get him back to my house? Wagon? Wheelbarrow? Passenger seat of my car?)  He started walking and even came to me when I started baby talking him.

That's the last time I stop and smell the roses.

Get a load of this.

Magnolia Bakery's Banana Pudding

Magnolia’s Famous Banana Pudding
from More From Magnolia by Allysa Torey

It's so humid and hot I feel like I'm back in the South.  On days like this, I crave cool sweets that take no effort to eat and just slide right down.  This would be perfect with an ice-cold glass of sun tea.

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups ice cold water
1 (3.4-ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix (preferably Jell-O brand)
3 cups heavy cream
1 (12-ounce) box Nabisco Nilla Wafers (no substitutions!)
4 cups sliced ripe bananas

In a small bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat together the sweetened condensed milk and water until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the pudding mix and beat well, about 2 minutes more. Cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight, before continuing. It is very important to allow the proper amount of time for the pudding mixture to set.

In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the pudding mixture into the whipped cream until well blended and no streaks of pudding remain.

To assemble the dessert, select a large, wide bowl (preferably glass) with a 4-5-quart capacity. Arrange one-third of the wafers to cover the bottom of the bowl, overlapping if necessary, then one-third of the bananas and one-third of the pudding. Repeat the layering twice more, garnishing with additional wafers or wafer crumbs on the top layer of the pudding. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours - or up to 8 hours, but no longer! - before serving.

Photo: http://yummyinthetummyblog.blogspot.com/

Watch Out

All my possessions for a moment of time. - Elizabeth I

Most people I know rely on their phone instead of a watch (including me), but it's high time we got back into the habit of the traditional timepiece.

These watches fit all of life's occasions.  A watch to fool everyone from afar, a sparkly dressy bracelet with a hidden timepiece, a big white chunky watch for jeans and t-shirt days, a hefty masculine watch when I'm feeling tough, and the Skagen really has an elegant, timeless quality about it.  Pun intended.

From top left (clockwise of course)

Faux Lex from Fred Flare - $30
Bagdley Mishka Crystal Embellished bow watch - $199
Juicy Couture Socialite watch - $97
Michael Kors Oversized PU Chronograph watch - $225
Skagen Square Case Mesh Strap Watch - $115

Of course, if money were no object...

I Kinda Always Knew I'd End Up Your Ex-Girlfriend...

A lyric from a No Doubt song and my inspiration for my role in this music video. You DON'T want to be my ex! I'll ruin all your stuff! That's according to my character in the video of course. I would never do such a thing...

Follow the band on twitter!  @PetreeOfficial

Sparkly Paiges

Glitter is this week’s inspiration. What girl doesn’t love glitter? I’m going to a friend's birthday party this weekend. I’ll be wearing a black dress with little hints of glitter and I'll probably add some glitter eyeshadow too!  ~Paige

p.s. visit my blog for more fun discoveries!

Summer Nights

I wish I could take us all to Maui .  We would jump into the ocean once we started to bake.  Wet hair and swimsuits would keep us cool while we waited for the sun to set.

Faux Real

Working out in the hot sun is wearing me out.  The weather needs to cool off so I can bring out the furs!  Faux of course.

Haberdashery

I love Chloe Sevigny. I love Los Angeles. Pretentious name-dropping, affected speech and fake accents make me smile.   To be fair to Chloe, check out one of my fave music videos starring the starlet.

Better Than Candy

I was strolling through Saks (okay, dashing with a smile through the perfume section, hoping to avoid a spritz of Angel) when a salesman handed me this bagful of perfume bon bons.  Isn't the packaging delicious?   As I unwrapped them I thought of little French candies filled with fruit jelly, even Brach's Royals.  My favorite flavor came in blue.  Was it vanilla?

Bond No. 9 New York fragrances are expensive, around $150 a bottle.  But you can buy 6 samples for $15 online.  They're all based on NYC neighborhoods.  Click here to explore New York by scent!