Written by: Monique Niccole
Natalie Portman in Jason Wu @ the Brothers movie premiere
Natalie Portman is a great role model for how ethical fashion choices can still be chic. Her shoe line with a now defunct Te Casan introduced vegan shoes to high-fashion, but in 2008 became another victim of the Great Recession. Still, the actress sticks to a vegan-friendly personal style and favors accessible, young designers like Zac Posen and Marc Jacobs.
At the NYC premiere of her new movie, Brothers, Portman blossomed in a cobalt blue dress and marigold clutch. She kept the jewelry minimal and stuck to simple, pulled back hair and a smoky eye that let her bold color choices be the focus.
I love the way the clutch pops against the Jason Wu dress, but I’m less enthusiastic about the mismatched teal belt and purple shoes. Contrasting jewel tones are a glam way to do color but this may have been one too many off-kilter color choices.
Dress: Jason Wu
Shoes: Aldo
Clutch: Christian Louboutin
November 24th, 2009
Written by: Monique Niccole

Heidi Klum walks the runway @ the 2009 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
The Victoria’s Secret fashion show is the lingerie fashion show to look forward to every year. Yes, it’s completely over-the-top and employs more glitter, feathers and double-stick tape than a gaggle of Vegas showgirls; but it’s fun and campy and the looks are a delicious fantasy.
Heidi Klum was all set to host this year’s Victoria’s Secret fashion show, but just weeks after having baby number four, surprised everyone by walking the runway and opening the show.
Supermodels Chanel Iman, Doutzen Kroes and Alessandra Ambrosio strutted in feathers and angel wings, but model Marisa Miller had the honor of wearing the $3 million dollar Harlequin bra designed by Damiani, set with 2,350 diamonds and accentuated with a 16-carat heart-shaped pendant.
The Victoria’s Secret fashion show airs December 1st on CBS.
November 23rd, 2009
Written by: Monique Niccole

Kevan Hall Spring/Summer 2010 at LA Fashion Week
Kevan Hall has become my favorite show of LA Fashion Week. Whether he’s taking you on an exuberant trip to Africa or giving you a night at the most elegant event in town, his show is always that of a consummate professional who delivers beautiful clothes that you see on red carpets, not just runways.
For his Spring/Summer 2010 collection, Kevan Hall went back to old Hollywood to give us glamour, glamour, and glam-more.
These looks were a nod to a more elegant time, with high-swept up-dos, demure day dresses and screen siren-worthy evening wear. He updated long gowns with belts and beading and gave us rich shots of color in the perfect red dress, a coral gown, and even the more muted shades of periwinkle and gray seemed to have a little extra pop.
October 19th, 2009
Written by: Monique Niccole

It will be a very nude season in Valentino-land. This is the second ready-to-wear collection designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli for Valentino since taking the reigns from Alessandra Facchinetti and the duo seems to be finding their legs and asserting their own vision on the house.
What does that mean? No red dresses.
The designers took the sheer trend and ran with it with a muted color palette of grey, cream, khaki and ecru. Flirtatious cocktail dresses swirled above the knee and revealed glimpses of skin underneath floating organza. Even seemingly demure floor-length gowns got a little scandalous with sheer lace to show off bits that normally go covered.
But the absolute best part of this show were the shoes created by Philip Treacy which were like sculptures for your feet. Lace at the toe revealed just a hint of sexy toe cleavage and lace dripped around the ankles or winged out from the back, creating a delicious confection of a shoe.
It was all very soft and pretty, but a little too oatmeal-y for my tastes.
October 9th, 2009
Written by: Monique Niccole

Do not wear your presiden’t face on your dress.
He won the election. Let’s move on.
September 21st, 2009