Couch Critique: 2012 Oscars

I wasn't on the red carpet last night and watched from the comfort of my couch but I wanted to share my FAV looks. I'll leave it to Joan Rivers and friends point out the Fash-HOLEs on E! Fashion Police tonight.

Sadly there was only 1 Vintage gown last night, worn by actress Natalie Portman. A vintage Christian Dior gown in red with black polka-dots, circa 1954. I have to mention that it is not all about VINTAGE why I applaud Natalies choice. I personally am tired of the same generic gowns paraded down the red carpet courtesy of the celebrity stylists. Granted each starlit chooses the gown in the end of the day but based on options presented from stylists who are trying to be "on trend" or fashion houses sending their latest design. I wish that I would see the woman's personality more. An illustration of their uniqueness reflected in their style as they cast their net a little wider and opt for something 'else'. A dress never worn before on a Red Carpet, not necessarily Vintage (pre-1989) but even a pieces from a designer archive of looks from season's past. Trend's to me are part of the herd mentality as people strive to maintain the status quo by letting others lead the way.
Thankfully there are some true Style Mavens who dare to be different!

Other AMAZING Red Carpet Looks

Louise Roe in Black Halo

Rose Byrne Wearing Vivienne Westwood gown and CHANEL fine Jewelry ~ Total White Diamond ct is 40.77 white diamond total in variety of oval, cushion, pear, half moon, round, trillion cut diamonds.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford ~ Sleek & Simple Style (LOVE the CAPE)

Princess Charlene of Monaco in Akris ~ It is very plain but I'm mad about pleats!

Glen Close in Zac Posen - She looks FABULOUS! Age appropriate but totally current.

After the Carpet - My Party FAV's

Heidi Klum in Versace. The color, gold metal and textured material was a HIT for me. The length is perfect for a PARTY!

Modern Family's Julie Bowan in 2011 HALSTON - I love the draping & The Color! But I personally would have chosen a different shoe

Petra Nemcova ~ Love the dress w belt - not a fan of the makeup

Olivia Wilde in Gucci - Simple GLAMOUR! SO CHIC!

FAV Red Carpet Correspondent Looks:

Maria Menounos in Maria Lucia Hohan

Nancy O'Dell in Chagoury Couture - Love the dress but I don't care for the styling.

Honorable Mention:

Angelina Jolie looks AMAZING in Versace, however my issue is she wears Versace to EVERY event. I'm over it. She has access to ANYTHING in the ENTIRE WORLD and has the body for it too. I wish she would push her fashion boundaries more.

AFTER THOUGHT:
Is it just me or does JLO look BETTER at the After Party in Zuhair Murad?

JLO @ The Vanity Fair After Oscar Party

On the Red Carpet. This gown is beautiful and the sheer detailing devine .. except the arm slits. It would have been AMAZING and a best dressed for me if the sleeves were full.

There you have it folks, my digital 2 cents and Couch Critique ... Hope I can get a Vintage piece on a Starlet next year! Remember how CHIC Tori Spelling was in her EV Gown at last years Elton John's Oscar Party!
Make LIFE your RED CARPET! Got an Event and want something Unique? Evolution Vintage has you COVERED.

For a Red Carpet ...

Need something for the after party too?? SHOP: EVOLUTION VINTAGE DRESSES

Ariel & Joey's Story

I had the honor of meeting my two friends Ariel & Joey in the most amazing place; in line for a P!NK consert in San Jose, California. We hit it off right away when I fell in love with their T-shirts and then each of them for being so much fun, sweet and kind. We shared the front row at the show and have been friends ever since (Thanks P!NK).

I am so proud of who they are and what they stand for, most importantly Equality and LOVE.

They are now on one of their most important journeys in their lifetimes; The journey to become parents. The adoption process is a very difficult one on so many levels. They have made a commitment to each other, being one of the first same sex couples to be legally married in the State of California (San Fran City Hall 6/17/08).

They are now ready to make the same loving commitment to a child.

Read their "Dear Birthmother Letter"

After reading the information in their amazing I Heart Adoption Profile I had a chance to chat with Ariel & Joey about their journey.

LISA: What is your message to prospective birthmothers?

A&J: When we set out on the path to start our family, we had no doubt in our minds that open adoption was to be our route of choice. To us, adoption meant more than just bringing home a baby… it meant creating an environment that provided our little one the best opportunity to thrive. We want our child to grow up knowing who they are, knowing where they came from, and to be able to have a relationship with the courageous birthmother who made our dream of starting a family a reality. Open adoption makes all of that possible for us, with no secrets and no questions that can’t be answered. We fully believe that it takes an intense amount of courage, sacrifice, and above all LOVE, for a birthmother to make an adoption plan for their child. Though the process to come to that decision is no doubt a difficult one for any mother, we hope that our commitment to love our (collectively) child unconditionally, be a constant source of support and encouragement, and raise him/her to be open-minded and accepting of others makes the decision just a tad bit easier.

LISA: What do you feel are the most important things a prospective birthmother needs to know about each of you and you both as a couple?

A&J: Ariel is the eternal optimist. He searches for the silver lining in even the darkest of situations, and never lets anyone tell him he can’t do something. He is professional while at work, but isn’t afraid to let his comedic side come to the surface to help lighten the mood. He loves movies, music, and anything pop culture related, and is a big nerd-at-heart. Ariel is good-natured, generous, and a great listener. He will likely to be the one to mischievously sneak a piece of candy to our little one, while Joey watches disapprovingly from across the room, causing a giggle-fest.

Joey is the spontaneous one in the family. While reality (and Ariel) grounds him from time to time, it doesn’t hinder his ability to daydream about the next amazing thing that lies ahead. His love of theatre, music, and the arts will help enrich the life of our future child. He always sees the best in others, and works his hardest to be the best friend a person can have. Joey will likely be the rule enforcer, while Ariel and our son/daughter try to find the loopholes. He’ll provide loving advice and guidance, while encouraging independent thought and the ability to learn from mistakes, rather than never taking a risk.

Together, we make a great team. We finish each others’ sentences, and while we might approach things differently, we are usually on the same page about most everything. We both have amazingly supportive families who we are extremely close to, and have a small circle of friends who mean the world to us. Without a doubt, I can easily say that there is nothing that we’ve wanted more than to become dads. The adoption process has been a huge life lesson in patience, but it is also one of the many goals in life that we don’t have much control over. We know that there is an amazing birthmother out there looking for us just as hard as we are looking for her. We are hoping that by getting the word out about our journey, it might be just enough to help clear the path.

LISA: What are your goals as parents?

A&J: This is an easy one… for our child to grow up happy. Isn’t that what every parent wants?

Can you help Ariel and Joey find their baby? Take time to SHARE their Facebook Page

Are you a mother who wants the best for their child and has decided to send him/her to a loving home? Could Open Adoption be a possibility?

If so PLEASE contact Ariel & Joey Toll Free: 1-866-261-5338 or via Email: ajowensbarham@gmail.com

OR

Contact our counselor at the Independent Adoption Center: 1-800-877-6736 or visit their website

Want to learn more about these AMAZING Soon to be DAD's? Check out their I Heart Adoption Profile

As a mother of two I can honestly say that any child would be lucky to be raised in such a diverse, loving, positive and FUN environment with Ariel, Joey and their extended family and friends!

PLEASE Share this blog on your Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites. Let's work together to bring Ariel & Joey's baby HOME!

XO

The Legend of Zelda

June 20, 1916 ~ Feb 15, 2012

"New York’s oldest and most beloved night owl "

The venue where Zelda Kaplan took her last breath was a total shock to the Fashion community when she passed away in the front row of her friend Joanna Mastroianni's Fashion show during New York Fashion week.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Joanna Mastroianni
Zelda Kaplan at a Fashion Week show on Wednesday, shortly before she collapsed and died.

She died the way she lived, as a permanent fixture in the NY fashion scene, full of drama and completely in a unique way.

Evolution Revolution is a place where I like to share stories of inspirational people and Zelda was just that. She put her younger counterparts to shame as she danced till dawn in chic NYC clubs, sipped champagne, frequented fashion shows, travelled around the world for women's rights as she hunted for amazing fabrics for her one-of-a-kind looks.

I have been doing a lot of reading about her over the last few days and I am astonished at how multi-faceted and multi-phased her life was. She went from being a suburban housewife in her 30's (she married 3 times) to a New York Socialite, Party Girl and Fashion LOVER! She was also a world traveller and a crusader for women's rights abroad. She slept all day, danced all night, created her own signature looks complete with hand woven African/Tribal fabrics, Statement jewels and signature sunglasses. Age was just a state of mind to her and she did not let the number's define her or her life.

The Legend of Zelda in her own words (Quotes courtesy of the New York Times & New York Magazine)

ON AGING: "'I want to be an example for young people so they aren't afraid of growing old and a lesson to old people that you can be productive. You don't have to sit around and wait for death."

ON BEDTIME: "Anytime between midnight and 7 a.m."

ON HER LIFE: "I spent half my life relaxing and the other half crusading — I was a successful ballroom dancer and women's golf pro in Miami Beach in my 20s, a doctor's wife in New York in my 30s — and in my 60s and 70s I spent my time largely in Africa and Southeast Asia campaigning directly with local tribal government leaders for women's and children's rights."

ON DRINKING: "Shiraz"

ON DANCING: "I just love a slow fox trot ... To me, the dancing the young people do in the clubs is exercise. There's no skill involved."

ON FASHION: “I wish more people would have [clothes] made for them. But so many Americans want to look like everybody else [...] I hate to wear what everybody else is wearing [...] I don’t think people should be happy to be a clone.”

ON DATING: "Two young men did recently ask if they could make love to me ... But what do I want with a 36-year old?"

ON LEARNING: “Many people turn a certain age and “check out,” but that is not me. In my 90s, I am not able to travel as much, so I must read everything I can at home to remain aware of global change, which provides me great knowledge to empower people through daily conversations, and through my charitable efforts.”

ON BEING REMEMBERED: "I hope people remember me as an intelligent and respectful person who was interested in the world, and especially women’s human rights."


Let's all take a page from Zelda's book; life is meant for LIVING in a CUSTOM way that suits all your aspirations, dreams and desires. Why sit on the couch when you can dance all night and be FABULOUS? Zelda can rest now, knowing she did what she loved right up until the last moment of her earthly life.

A V-Day Idea: Last Minute LOVE

Last year I shared a meaningful DIY Valentine's day idea. This year my gift to my Valentine is also another DIY "Keep Sake", with a cost that is minimal, but a huge impact. I primarily used the most precious commodity in my life: Time. Time being an item I have very little of this gift needs to be put together .. FAST! A little bit of Last Minute LOVE. Anyone can head out to the store and pick up a gift, but my favourite gifts are created from the heart and for a guy who has everything (we have no more room for surfboards in our garage AND he is Vegan so no milk chocolate here) a hand made gift is ideal.

If you don't have your Valentine's gift yet, don't worry, there is still time to pull together a fabulous Memory book; a photographic recap of the last year. I have decided to pair mine with messages of love, gratitude and the occasional inspirational quotation.

No Valentine? No problem!! celebrate yourself and the past year with assembling a "look book" of your own. Include images, mementos, and/or fav sayings/quotes! It will be a nice gift to yourself and a tribute to your fabulous life over the last year. Down the line you can look back on it and LOVE how you celebrated yourself.

What you need:


Photo Album (any Size)

Photos (on a time crunch use your computer printer)

Scissors
Markers/Pens
Stickers (Optional)

Paper (Colored or Plain)

*Imagination/Creativity

Finished product?? Stay Tuned. Like I said this is last minute for me too and my book is still a work in progress. It's cupid crunch time for this multi-tasking MOMpreneur. Enjoy the process of creating your Memory Book. Enjoy memory lane while reviewing the photos from your last year, but make sure your walk is a quick one as V-day is 2 days away!!

Not into books or photos? Try my DIY Scavenger Hunt - All you need is cards and creativity!!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

~ L
XOXOX

Some STERN Words

I am always surprised by people and their reactions. This week there has been some controversy over JC Penny hiring Ellen DeGeneres to be their spokesperson. Apparently an organization called One Million Moms (who have only 42,644 FB Likes but anyway) have a problem with Ellen because she is gay. According to their website, One Million Moms "want our children to have the best chance possible of living in a moral society."

I wonder what their definition of "Moral" is? Is teaching their children to hate, segregate, judge and attack people because of their PERSONAL choices teaching them morals? if people of the same sex have a family (with our without children) how is their love not valid? or the same as heterosexual couples? These groups usually use religion or "God" as an excuse for their ignorant bigotry. I'm not a religious person but I am a spiritual one and from where I sit no matter what "god" you pray too they are all-loving and all-inclusive.

Ellen spoke out about her haters saying "my haters are my motivators" and had THIS message for them:


I am a mother of 2 and a step mother of 2. I feel it is imperative we teach our children tolerance, acceptance, inclusion and LOVE. We ALL have a RIGHT to be EQUAL -men and women, regardless of sexual preference, religious beliefs, skin color, or personal choices. This is not just a gay/lesbian issue but a HUMAN one. The only labels we should be placing on people is a label of LOVE and acceptance. Celebrating differences instead of promoting the generic herd mentality.


I was impressed that Howard Stern had a few STERN words for all of the anti-gay, haters out there. FINALLY he is ranting about something meaningful. LISTEN:


BRAVO to JC Penny for standing behind Ellen! Do you want to stand behind Ellen and all that she stands for?? LIKE This Facebook page: 1 Million People Support Ellen for JC Penny

Keep Moving ... FORWARD

I love how the Internet is a wealth of information. I love reading inspirational quotes and statements from those who have gone before me and 'made it happen'. There are also plenty of current references of inspiration on-line too, people really putting themselves out there and never giving up. It is one thing take "advice" of a friend who has never been there but it is quite another from a motivational perspective to take the advice that has been left behind by those who have really walked the walk.

This statement really resonated with me yesterday and as always I am compelled to share.

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” ~ President Calvin Coolidge (30th President of the USA) - Thanks to Women on The Fence for sharing this statement yesterday via FB.

Regardless of your current situation what really counts is that you KEEP MOVING FORWARD, never give up or quitting! Know that it is ok to take a break sometimes from the relentless pursuit of your dreams and visions to reevaluate, catch your breath or re-focus = but to STOP completely is never an option. You owe it to yourself to live the life you have always wanted.

To stay motivated and remain persistent is not an easy task, but it can be your daily CHOICE!

FACE IT: Marilyn's Look

Marilyn has the most ICONIC look in popular culture, but how did she achieve it? Behind every iconic beauty is a glam squad. Marilyn's was a one man show affectionately referred to as "Whitey" (Allan Snyder). He was also a confidant and friend to her until the end of her life.
Make-up artist Lisa Eldridge
gives you a guided tour of Marilyn's face with some Tips & Tricks that Whitey used to create the iconic face that we all know and love. I love Lisa's educational and informative DIY video.

WATCH Lisa's tutorial:






Prefer to have a step-by-step guide in book form? Check out the late, great Make-up master Kevyn Aucoin's BOOK: Making Faces


Kevyn & Lisa

He transformed Lisa Marie Presley into the Blond Bombshell



Get GLAM this Valentines Day! Give Marilyn's look a try!. Release YOUR inner Bombshell! I KNOW she's in there...