Prada!

Have you seen Prada's fall ready-to-wear show? Similar to Oscar de la Renta in that most everything was bejeweled. Add to fall shopping lists: broaches! Also, how much do you love that purple carpet? 

xo,

The Canary Diaries

Best Dressed: Academy Awards

Did you watch the Oscars? I didn't watch the whole thing (gasp! I know), but saw some fun highlights including Octavia Spencer winning Best Supporting Actress. An honor well deserved in my opinion. I am now even more determined than ever to see The Artist even if I have to drive 50 miles to find a theatre that is showing it.

But, we all know the most important part. The clothes!

My very best dressed has to be Jessica Chastain. I absolutely love her. She is so talented in The Help and The Debt, basically anything she does. I knew if I waited long enough she would wear something amazing and here it is:

Photo via Popsugar.com

Photo via People.com

She absolutely nailed it. I love this dress. It's Alexander McQueen and apparently the embroidery is made from real gold, which is kind of awesome. I love her hair, I love her jewelry--canary yellow diamonds I believe. She just looks phenomenal. And, I love the cute photo of her with Milla Jovovich, another best dressed in my opinion, in Elie Saab (full length photo below).

Photo via Popsugar.com

And, you knew it was coming: Gwyneth!!!!

Photo via Popsugar.com

Photo via People.com

 I think she looks just amazing and very much herself. Dressing (even for the red carpet) is at its core just a way to tell the world who you are. I find it very boring when people dress in a way they think they should and everyone starts to look like red carpet clones. Gwyneth Paltrow is wearing Tom Ford and I looooove the cape, personally. I also love that it is very much indicative of the coming season of fashion, the flip coin to all that embellishment, minimalism. Gwyneth has always been a minimalist and I love that she stayed true to her fashion roots with this look.

Speaking of non-conformists: Rooney Mara in Givenchy.

Photo via Popsugar.com

Photo via People.com

 I'm sure people will hate on this dress, but I am obsessed with it. The back of it is just amazing and I adore the dainty fishtail paired with the structured bust. It's just really unexpected and cool, much like the actress herself.

Next, the golden couple, literally.

Photo via People.com

Photo via Popsugar.com

Photo via People.com

Well done, Miss Keibler. Not only do you have the most coveted boyfriend in the free world, but you knocked it out of the park in this gilt Marchesa number. Also, completely love this sideswept hairstyle with the asymmetrical design of her dress. It just looks effortlessly chic and so completely glamorous. 

xo,

The Canary Diaries

Oscar Countdown!

So excited for the Academy Awards tonight! As a little inspiration, above, a classic Grace Kelly accepting the Best Actress award for The Country Girl in 1954.

All photos via Styleite.com

And, Michelle Williams' lovely canary yellow dress at the 2006 Academy Awards.

xo,

The Canary Diaries

Friday Pick

Erickson Beamon Razor's Edge Earrings from Shopbop

Because sometimes those demure studs need a little edge.

xo,

The Canary Diaries

Blondes in Furs...

...because there is no other continuity to this blog post.

Reese Witherspoon as Evelyn Williams in American Psycho

Her Serene Highness Princess Grace

Gwyneth Paltrow as Margot Tenenbaum in The Royal Tenenbaums

Michael Kors Fall 2012 runway look

xo,

The Canary Diaries

Pinky Swear

Pink hyacinth from my mom

Rosy denim from J.Brand

Marc Jacob's Oh Lola! perfume

Pale blush hair tie from DryBar

 Bright fuchsia J.Crew blouse I can't wait to wear

Due to spring-like environs, I've been peppering my life with a lot of pink lately. I run hot and cold with pink, sometimes it's my very favorite and sometimes it's just overwhelming. Sort of like Britney Spears. Right now our love affair is on. 

xo,

The Canary Diaries

Ebay, Baby, Yeah!

I'll admit I have always been extremely skeptical about eBay. It just seems a little sketchy. Prior to a few weeks ago the only thing I had ever bought on eBay was an extremely disappointing print of the movie poster for To Catch a Thief. I say disappointing because I envisioned it much, much bigger than what arrived. Wah Wah...

The To Catch a Thief print

Then, something magical happened. I started a new cross stitch project and needed a good machine on which to do a serge stitch. My sister's kiddie sewing machine would obviously not do. I heard tell of an out of production Singer Mini Serger. I found one on eBay for a total steal.

It's awesome, by the way, especially if you ever need to hem something quickly. But this purchase got me thinking....what else is on eBay. Well, let me just tell you.

This guy, tags still on, for $40 less than retail.

This, which I'm actually pretty sure is a fake Tory Burch, but I just really don't care because the color is awesome and it has a detachable strap and it was cheapy cheap, y'all.

This, which I'm fairly certain is not fake, just last year's color which I still dig so whatever. It was $19.99. No, I will not shut up!

This little pretty. Y'all this is from Chico's, but my momma didn't raise no snob so I purchased it for the incredibly reasonable price of $27. It still had the tags on it and retailed for more than twice that.

So, basically, eBay is my new addiction. Someone help me. 

xo,

The Canary Diaries

Benji Wednesday

Benji's a well-known fan of lounging. He's a tried and true lap dog. His new favorite way to lounge is with this fuzzy throw from Z Gallerie. He will seek it out while we watch TV and cozy up to whomever has the throw. How cute is that?

xo,

The Canary Diaries

Happy Mardi Gras!

Hope you are enjoying a very Creole evening. We made a low country boil pot using this recipe. Thank you to my dear friend Kalee for the subscription to Garden & Gun, it's awesome! If you haven't read it, I definitely recommend!

xo,

The Canary Diaries

Bachelor Recap: Week 8

Well, the hometown dates did not disappoint. Let's get to it!

Lindzi's hometown date was cute, but dang these people like horses. I mean, the entire date was about horses, her mom wore a horse bit necklace, they raced horses. It was intense. I'm kind of doubting she will give up her life of horsery/horsewomanship/horsing around for Ben, but you never know. Maybe you can run horses on a winery...

All photos via abc.com

Next, Kacie's hometown of Tennessee. I love that she came in to the date with a marching band. She's a cutie. And, how much do you love all of their accents? Amazing! Her family was so super Southern, very conservative and very sweet. Not big fans of the Bachelor "process," but what can you do?

After that, we went to Fort Worth, Texas (woot woot) for a date in the Stockyards. People from Texas are awesome, let's face it. Nicki and Ben promptly donned hats, boots and the whole kit and kaboodle to walk around the streets and get a drink at the White Elephant Saloon. Next some canoodling in the Botanic Gardens.

I have to say Nicki's pretty cute, y'all and I think Ben's into the whole Texas thing. What do you think?

And, it wasn't a nudist colony, but there was no shortage of crazy at Courtney's hometown visit to Scottsdale, Arizona. Her family seemed lovely and normal. But, then Courtney threw an impromptu wedding for herself and Ben. Complete with a preacher, vow writing and a bow tie. Let me say this: Ben, you're an excellent sport, but you're getting the message that she's a nut job, yes? Ben? I'm serious here.

In the end, my precious darling Kacie went home. I am pretty devastated, but I have to say I think she will have no trouble finding someone fabulous. She is a catch, people. How heartbreaking was her limo ride? Ugh, whatever, we're both over it. 

Next week, the gang's off to Switzerland. Dreamy! And, we get a sneak peek of new Bachelorette Emily and her first date with (as ABC promos suggest) Leonardo DiCaprio...or Celine Dion. Y'all, it could totally be Celine. OMG.

xo,

The Canary Diaries

Happy Monday!

Photo via Styleite

How was your weekend? Mine was fine, except that I did zero snapping. Not one photo was taken, but fun was had at a Mardi Gras shindig and a sip and see for a friend's precious little girl. Two very different party atmospheres there. 

Anyway, the photo above is from the Marni for H&M line set to come out March 8. I know what you're thinking, "Another designer collaboration? Really?" but I kind of love it. The accessories are awesome and the long dresses like the one above are really cool looking.

Looking forward to some Bachelor debauchery this evening. It's the hometown visit episode, so there's just really no telling what could happen. I can only speculate that we'll visit the nudist colony from whence Courtney came.

xo,

The Canary Diaries

Stylish Street Snaps

Photos via Refinery 29

xo,

The Canary Diaries

Birthday Wish...

I need these, right?

xo,

The Canary Diaries

Haute Headgear

How much do you love the headbands on all of the models at Oscar de la Renta's Fall 2012 show?!? OMG!

xo,

The Canary Diaries

Friday Pick

Um, remember those blue Manolo Blahniks from Wednesday? A little bird just informed me that come fall, you may be able to get a pair of those "BB" (or "Bebe") pumps in a limited-edition J.Crew capsule collection with Manolo Blahnik. So exciting! Per the Huffington Post these won't be less expensive per se ($500 versus the $595 regular retail), but will feature special J.Crew prints. Isn't that awesome? I love the pink ones above. Delightful!

xo,

The Canary Diaries

Goodies From London

My parents just got back from a short trip to London and brought me a bag full of amazingness...

Peppermint Tea from Harrods--do they have the best packaging ever or what?

Lemon Ginger Macaroons--My mom and I are big fan of Hail Merry macaroons, the Emmy's macaroons are yummy too, and come in all kinds of flavors. Try the chocolate with chili powder for some extra zing!

Champagne Truffles in a precious box

English Breakfast Tea from The Tower of London

Thanks Mom and Dad!

xo,

The Canary Diaries