Thoroughly modern millennial

Author: Ria

  • Oscars 2014 | Red Carpet Fashion Round Up – Part 1

    Oscars14-Lupita N'yong'o
    Best Cinderella Moment Award | Lupita N’yong’o 
    Arriving off the back of what has been an impressively stylish award show season, there was much anticipation for the moment Lupita would walk the red carpet and she did not disappoint! Looking like a modern day Disney princess, Lupita wore a powder blue custom Prada gown with a dramatic plunging neckline and adorned with modest golden jewelry and headband, all of which looked simply breathtaking. And the best accessory she carried? Her well deserved Best Supporting Actress statuette!
    Oscars14-Jennifer Lawrence
    The One More ‘Dior’ For The Road Award | Jennifer Lawrence 
    The Oscars will be the last outing for JLaw for while so I was ready and waiting for something big. In a sea of navy, black and nude gowns, Jennifer shone out like a bold red beacon in this strapless peplum gown. Once again this is Dior (though I do believe she wore Tom Ford for the after parties!) but it’s definitely more in line with the sleek minimalist style she’s been channeling this season. Do I wish she wore a something more dramatic like last year’s look? Perhaps, but at least she didn’t fall quite as hard in this one (and that was probably more due to her sky-high Brian Atwood heels than the gown this time!).
    Oscars14-Kristen Bell Idina Menzel
    The ‘Are you sure you’re not Elsa & Anna?’ Award | Idina Menzel + Kristen Bell 
    The stars of Frozen, Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell walked the red carpet in outfits that could’ve looked at home on their animated counterparts. Idina went for a rich green strapless Vera Wang gown, with poker straight hair and some serious pout. Kristen wore a lighter and delicately embroidered Roberto Cavalli, with a glossy updo and pretty pink make up. Both ladies went for choker style necklaces and both looked stunning!
    Oscars14-Lady Gaga
    The D.I.V.A (The Daring In Versace Award) | Lady Gaga 
    I’m not sure why Mama Monster was at the Oscars, but who the hell cares? Lady Gaga kept it surprisingly low key (well as low key as you can get if you’re Lady Gaga) in this figure hugging Versace gown. With a silky soft pink scarf thrown casually over her neck and off the back of her shoulders, Gaga walked the red carpet with confidence and her head held high!
    Oscars14-Kristin Chenoweth
    Best Oscar Statuette Impression Award | Kristin Chenoweth 
    Mini singing superstar Kristin Chenoweth seemed to draw her inspiration from the little golden statuettes, in this strapless Roberto Cavalli number. I definitely in love with the structured bodice and her neat little bob hairdo she’s working at the moment. A bright and bubbly, just like her!
    Oscars14-Kate Hudson
    Most Statuesque Look | Kate Hudson
    Giving Gaga a run for her money at the ceremony Kate Hudson sauntered onto the red carpet in this magnificent Versace gown. With it’s mini cape and plunging neckline this gown is pretty much perfect on the very poised looking Kate.
    Oscars14-Sandra Bullock
    The Velveteen McQueen | Sandra Bullock 
     Sandra looked effortlessly glamorous in a navy blue Alexander McQueen gown, styled with side swept curls and simple metallic accessories. The draping of the gown gives the effect of cascading of velvet and looks oh so classy.
    Oscars14-Anna Kendrick
    Best Pops of Colour Award | Anna Kendrick 
    Anna was – literally – pulling out her best Angelina Jolie impression with this J Mendel gown. Though everyone else seemed to be concentrated on the thigh high split, I was checking out the little pops of red that surrounded the look. From the embroidered beading on the bodice to her matching red lips and of course her silky clutch, these small touches kept this from being just another black Oscar gown.
    Oscars14-Amy Adams
    The ‘Deja-Vu, But Still A Beaut’ Award | Amy Adams 
    I commented on Twitter about how similar Amy’s look for the Oscars was to her Golden Globes ensemble. Nonetheless, this sleek and minimalist Gucci gown looks wonderful on Amy and I love the subtle hint of coral that’s coming through in her make up and jewelry.
    Keep an eye out for Part 2 coming soon!
    R.xoxo
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    *all images via Zimbio

  • Wishlist | Sephora Beauty Bits

    Sephora Wishlist
    Rejoice British beauty fans! Cult beauty store Sephora.com now ships their lust-worthy products out to the UK! Though I’m still not quite able to afford the shipping costs, that hasn’t stopped me from putting items I’ve been craving to try out into the shopping basket, y’know just in case I do find an extra couple of quid in my bank account to buy it all.
    I’ve picked out some of my favourites I’d love to get my hands on above. The number one brand on there being Tarte (which I’m desperate to try out since watching Essiebutton‘s numerous videos/posts featuring them) and their brow mousse and CC primer. The CC primer in particular definitely looks like something I’ve never seen here in the UK, with its all-in-one colour corrector and foundation!
    I also obviously want to try Sephora‘s own brand products, their eyeshadow palettes are to die for and I’ve heard some great stuff about their translucent setting powder (which would come in handy during the – hopefully – warmer Summer months!).  
    Bite Beauty is already available in the UK but I’m all for trying out their nourishing lip tint whilst I’m browsing the Sephora site too!
    The final product is the Marc Jacobs Eye-con palette, which isn’t available in the UK yet – any tips on British stockists are welcome! The ‘Tease’ palette is especially pretty with it’s luxurious purple hues.
    What about you guys? What are you lusting over from Sephora?
    R.xoxo
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    *disclaimer: Not a sponsored post (ha I wish!), all views expressed are out of my love for the brand. 

  • February | In Books

    2 Feb in books
    Hey ho! Another quick update on what I’ve read this month, let’s go…
    Crazy Rich Asians | Kevin Kwan
    I could wax poetic about how much I enjoyed this, luckily I reviewed this on Blogger’s Bookshelf already so you don’t have to put up with me and my ramblings ;). 
    If you’re after a novel with a Gossip Girl-esque twist, but with a bit of character development weight behind it, this one’s definitely for you. Not to mention the focus on the lives of the rich and 
    fabulous South East Asian elite is so refreshing.
    On The Road | Jack Kerouac 
    This one was on my books I vow to read list and I was keen to get onto it after hearing about it’s reputation as one of the best pieces of American literature. The novel chronicles the sights and sounds of 1950’s America in the full swing of the jazz age through the eyes of it’s protagonist Sal Paradise. 
    I’m reserving a full review for Blogger’s Bookshelf tomorrow, but in short I just couldn’t get behind it. I’m pretty sure it’s the pacing of the book but for such a classic it was disappointingly underwhelming.
    The Elites | Natasha Ngan
    This was another one I’d heard so much about, especially as I’ve been reading Natasha’s fashion blog for a while. Unlike On The Road this one definitely lived up to expectations. 
    Set in the far distant future civilisation as we know it has risen from the ashes of the destruction of the Earth’s natural resources, leaving one city standing: Neo-Babel. Rich in diversity but fraught in racial divide, this is where we meet our protagonist, Silver. 
    Silver is an Elite, chosen as a guardian of the city thanks to her superior DNA. She’s just been given her first big assignment, overseeing a city wide celebration and protecting Neo-Babel’s president as he delivers a speech to the masses. But the president is assassinated on her watch, setting of a chain of events that with push Silver to her most extreme limits and have her leave behind the walled city she loves. 
    The Elites was a fantastic take on the dystopian genre, the characters are as diverse as Neo-Babel itself and the story is action packed and page-turning twists. My only complaint is that this currently a standalone! I’d love to know more about the rich world Natasha’s built!  

    Also, side note! Blogger’s Bookshelf are running our own Literary Awards ceremony for our March group post. Make sure you vote for your favourites by the 12th March and check back at the end of the month to find out who wins :)