Best & Worst Dressed 2012!

Today is the last day of 2012, and to finish off the year I am going to share with you who I think were the best and worst dressed of the year, as well as the breakout fashionistas and most avantgarde!

I hope that no matter what you are doing this evening to celebrate the arrival of 2013, you have fun, that you are with your loved ones, that you stay safe, and that the new year brings you whatever it is you are hoping for.

With that said, please read on for my hit & misses of 2012...

My 'most improved' in the fashion stakes goes to Miley Cyrus.  She has evolved into an attractive and fashionable young woman, finally ridding herself of the 'Hannah Montana' girly-image that she had for so long.  She has changed her hair to a short, platinum blonde, edgy short crop, and her body is rocking!  Well done Miley for the best transformation this year!




My pick for most avantgarde celebrity has to go to Florence Welch.  Love her or hate her, you cannot deny that she has her own ecclectic, and sometmes eccentric style, and she completely owns it!  She is renowned for wearing floral or big prints, as well as being famous for wearing the infamous McQueen dress at this year's Met Gala.  I like her style, despite the fact it's something I wouldn't necessarily choose myself, I admire her confidence and ability to pull off these great and sometimes wacky looks!



There were several what I like to call 'breakout fashionistas' in 2012, but I'm going to choose two of my favorites.  The first is Elle Fanning (sister of Dakota).  At the tender age of 14, she has proved herself to be quite the little fashionista, taking risks with her fashion choices and not being afraid to try new things.  I love the fact that she has such a knowledge for high fashion at such a young age.



My second pick is the hugely talented Jennifer Lawrence.  Another young girl to evolve into a stylish fashionista, she has also proved to be unafraid to take a risk when it comes to fashion and is willing to try new things and experiment.  Watch out for this young actress - I think she has a lot more to show us in the coming year and I have a feeling we'll be hearing her name a lot more!



And now for my pick for worst dressed of 2012.  I hate to do this (especially as she's a local girl), but Christina Aguillera wins this hands-down!  She has looked a hot mess all year!  This has nothing to do with her weight gain, I couldn't care less about that!  But if you do gain a few pounds, don't be letting everything hang out for all to see!  Her clothes are always way too tight, way too skimpy, and trashy looking. She needs to ditch the platinum blonde hair, the heavy makeup, and colored hair extensions. She's not a teenager anymore, she's a mother, and her whole look just screams trashy!  So I hope to see a new and more refined Christina in 2013 - but somehow I doubt it!!

How to Dress for the Holidays without looking like a Christmas Ornament!

As it's the holiday season, you will probably be spending at least one family dinner where pictures will be taken and shared for years to come.  Keep reading to hear my recommendations for what to wear this year so that you won't regret it by the time next Christmas rolls around!

How many times have you heard the rules about horizontal stripes, black as a slimming color, and the dangers of shiny fabrics?  Well these tips exist for a reason!   If you're sure to get photographed, make sure you pick a pattern and fabric that is complementary to your body type and skin tone.

Make a statement!  Choose a vibrant necklace, pair of earrings, or embellished top (but not all three!) to bring the holiday cheer this year.  You don't want to look overdone, or worse, like that aunt who arrives wearing every piece of jewelry she owns!

Be appropriately festive!  Yes, Christmas means lots of red, green, and metallics, but don't mix too many of these colors and patterns together or you will look like a multi-colored, sparkly mess!  Choose a subtle way to embrace the colors of the season and you will appear a lot more sophisticated.

Stay comfortable!  Even if your family has a semi-formal affair, you don't want your outfit to be constricting.  It shouldn't get in the way of cooking with your family or joining in on post-dinner party games.  It's important to put on your Christmas best, but remember that the whole point of the day is catching up with family and friends.

On this Christmas Eve I say to all of you out there, enjoy the time with your family and loved ones.  Enjoy this time and remember what is important in life.  For many, Christmas is a difficult time, so I urge you to take a moment to think of those struggling through the holidays, and to stop for a while and appreciate the blessings you have in your life.

As for me, I shall be spending a quiet day at home with my loved one, and even though my family and many friends are many miles away, I still feel grateful for the blessings I have in my life, and I shall take the time to be thankful again tomorrow.

Hairstyles for the Oblong Face Shape

To wrap up my posts on different hairstyles for different face shapes, I want to talk about those of you with a long, or oblong, face shape.

If you have this face shape there are hairstyles that look good and hairstyles that look bad on you.  So here are some rules when considering a hairstyle for your particular face shape.

*If you have straight hair, you can create more width with bangs.  Bangs make your face appear shorter because they cover up a particularly large forehead.  You can wear anything from blunt bangs to long, side-swept bangs.

*Chin-length bobs and cuts are also ideal for you because they create the illusion of width.

*Long, straight hair is typically a no-no on a long face shape because it drags the face down.  However, you can break this "no long hair" rule if you have waves or curls.  A lot of body adds width to the sides of the face.

*Consider the uber-trendy long bob, which is very flattering on a long face.  Ask your stylist for an "A-line long bob" where the back is about 1.5 inches shorter than the front.

*If you like short hair, avoid short layers that add volume on top.