the top 6 of fw16

Fashionweek may be closing up in my Milan and overseas the trends it set for fall are far from over or weak, so here's the top 6 of 16:

Jewel tones:
Emerald was more than just "Oz"as greens, ruby, and shades of crimson ruled the runway. We aren't fans but your local malls will be. 

YSL embodies the lipstick color of the year deep deep red

We all predicted burnt orange lips and lavender lids, with pastel polishes to match this season. After all, these were the shades littering backstage Prada and Vuitton as Pat McGrath, makeup phenom worked her magic. And, these shades will be seen, but so will black. We know, who would have seen that one coming?

A traditionally cold color, we associate black with the winter months. Well now, thanks to Rihanna, Gaga, and Selena, it is going to dominate up until about May. You heard us, it isn't the catwalks or Miuccia Prada who set this standard. It was Tinseltown, who can't let go of this hue, literally. From OPI to Chanel, black is beautiful, especially when it comes to nails and eyes with the re-emergence of winged lids and heavily smoky eyes.

Luckily, NYC and Rimmel help us do both on a budget, as their nail polish and eyeliners run from a cool $.99-$9.99, and can be found at any local drugstore. Yet, there are other ways to rock your makeup and wardrobe this season with black, and we will discuss how you can make this shade of the year work for you at the moment.

Old Color, New Ways

The crimson attack is not limited to eyes or nails as we discussed above. No, this shade is in for spring clothing as well. This classic hue is back in new ways:

1. -Seventies flares This Spring, thanks to Alexander Wang's take on seventies Flares bold lips and colt blocking is back. From pant stripes to tote bags, like the ones we spotted at the Gap for $59.99 and TJ Maxx via Buena for $24.99, anyone can pull off this look.

2. Leopard print but dont overdo it accessorize it Specifically, brown is being paired against jewel shades. From your gym bag to your clutch you can do this too. Add some leopard colored laces to your Reeboks or hang a funky leopard  key-chain on your black tote and you are ready for the gym and bar.

3. Nails-Consider deep purple gold or a reverse mani

4.  Red Eyes-Line your lids with red and work out from there. Pair it with some metallic gold shadow on the outer-lids to avoid goth and stay in season.

5. Get Your Wings-Not by flying commercial, but rather picking up a liquid eyeliner from Rimmel or Maybelline, which are our favs, and follow your inner-lid line as straight as possible, curving the ends up and out like Cleopatra or Sophia Loren about .25 cm past your brow line.

6. Make it Nude-Just like Spring offers a breath of fresh air, so should your wardrobe. Liven up this shade by purchasing it in sequin or metallic form. For example, pair a nude sequin mini with a collared white blouse and perhaps even a mock bow-tie and heels.

Above all, however you rock these colors this season, and further this whole year, don't rock it literally. (In other words, don't take the black too far and become a stereotype. We have Gene Simmons and Van Halen for that.) So next time someone asks you why you are wearing black in the middle of May this year you can say, black is back in how many ways? Answer: All of the above.

xo,

chasing pumas

New Blog Logo: Check it Out

blog by levacasa featuring isabel marant sneakers

Alexander Wang crop top
$415 - kirnazabete.com

Burberry prorsum
€1.801 - luisaviaroma.com

Alexander Wang high waisted legging
$295 - yoox.com

Crafted
£10 - republic.co.uk

Envelope clutch
£175 - lkbennett.com

Engraved jewelry
€95 - jades24.com

Necklace
zazzle.com

Miu miu sunglasses
$390 - miumiu.com

Lily and Lionel blue shawl
£170 - harveynichols.com

Burberry Sport for Women Eau de Toilette
£40 - johnlewis.com

Oscars After Parties: Saving the Best for Last

The Party Never Ends and Neither Does the Fashion

Cameron makes another splash in orange

When it came to fashion this year at the Oscars, they may have saved the best for last. Last evening's Vanity Fair and Elton John parties showcased some of the best fashion we have seen all year. From Cameron's quick change into a simple cut hot orange gown(one of the "it" colors of the season) to Lily Collins fresh take on Monique Lullier, we have all the women that made the after party, well, worth it.

Miley Cyrus Rocking Roberto

Miley Cyrus rocked a greyish silver Roberto Cavalli gown at Elton's bash after the Oscars. Not only did we dig the shade with her tan, but the sleeves, open back, and figure-hugging cut helped her rival the red carpet arrivals.

Posh Looked Posh

Victoria Beckham simply looked, well, "posh" in her signature collection. Wearing a similar shade to Miley, the hot madre of four proved that she isn't the only lucky one in the relationship. David, watch out. This woman was on fire.

Lily Collins in Monique LullierSome people said this blue, embellished, puffy number was overwhleming for a post-Oscar affair, but the color paired with her red lips and slicked back hair, made it work and struck a high note with us.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Antonio Berardi

The model did not disappoint in a lace, red number by the fashion label.

Sofia Vergara in Cavalli

Vergara knocked it out of the park in this white strapless lace Cavalli gown at the Vanity Fair bash. While we would love to see her in somethin gother than strapless once in awhile, this look is still just like her, hot, hot, hot!

Selena in Dolce & Gabbana
Although at times the dress looked like it was changing colors on us between blue and grey, we loved it and the Disney darling at the Vanity Fair event.

Georgina Chapman in Her Own Design

The woman behind Stacy, Sandra, and many others on the red carpet hit a home run in her own white design at last night's Vanity Fair bash, and ties with Gwyneth for best dressed overall. Not only was she a knock-out in the color of the night: white, but she rocked a trend few others braved to that evening: the peplum.

Any other hot post Oscars looks we missed? Let us know.

Oscars 2012: A Night of Stars, Literally

A Red Carpet, White Gowns

Cameron in the trend of the night

From Stacy Kiebler in a striking gold Marchesa to Cameron Diaz in a blush tone Gucci and J. Lo in a striking ivory and sparkly Zuhair Murad, Oscars 2012 gave few disappoints. Instead, many of the predictions we made here at Chasing Pumas in our last post about white, metallics, and sparkle came true. This was the trend of the night, and almost everyone that followed it, deserved an Oscar themselves. Another trend we were surprised by was strapless. I guess you can't assume because a Duchess and the sleeve dominated the runway that it would dominate the carpet. However, while there were no actual mishaps or fashion wtf(fashion)? moments, we must admit there were a few close calls.

That Was A Close One!

Although it was a Giambattista design, first time Oscar attendee Emma Stone(pictured above) failed to do her homework, and therefore just misses our best dressed list. Unfortunately, Nicole Kidman wore a very similar red number, bow and all, to the same 2007 affairs, except hers was Balenciaga. Sorry Emma, close but no cigar.

Another actress that took home the gold literally winning her third Oscar and shocking quite a few, including myself, was Meryl Streep. Maybe she had an inkling she was going to win when she stepped out draped in an Oscar, wearing a tragic gold curtain cinched with a belt. We would love to see Meryl in something like Jane Fonda wore to the Emmys, but some things it seems, never change.

Finally, Sandra Bullock, who has had her own series of close calls before when it comes to fashion, (remember the liquid gold gown paired with too much red lipstick and powder makeup that aged her when she won recently?), had another close call when she stepped out in an ill-fitted black and white Marchesa. Our problem with the gown here was not the design so much as the tailoring and fit. Perhaps if the shoulders had been pulled in a bit more, it would have been better fitted and the back of the dress would have been a bit more of what it was meant to be...striking.

Aside from those few mishaps, and because we here at Chasing Pumas hate negativity, we found it difficult to assemble a worst dressed list. Also, since the Oscars only highlight winners, we thought we would follow suit. No losers only means our best dressed list for this year has grown, and we tried to whittle it down to a top 10, so here goes.

Our Top 10

10. Melissa McCarthy-Marina Rinaldi- This curvaceous comedian finally got it right in a one-of-a-kind Marina Rinaldi gown. From the cinched waist to the illusion sleeves and blush tone, she didn't make us laugh, but cry like a proud parent. Happy tears of course!
9. Octavia Spencer-Tadashi Shoji-This woman was a true winner in every sense of the word. She knows what works best for her and she always works it in another signature silver Tadashi Shoji gown with cap sleeves and a cinched waist. She may have worn the silver trend, but she walked away with the gold for best supporting actress.
8. Viola Davis-Vera Wang-This nominee offered a refreshing splash of color and break from the major flush-toned trend of the night with her gorgeous copper locks against a striking green Vera Wang. Her look and beauty inside and out were felt whether she won or not. She still made us green with envy, so she gets a gold star in our best dressed list.
7. Cameron Diaz-Gucci-Thanks to stylist Rachel Zoe, this girl always gets it right. Yet another strapless nude gown, the fit and cut on this one were what stood out on this fish-tail Gucci piece. It made Cameron stand out as well. Rachel Zoe strike again. All we can say is "amazeballs!"
6. Rooney Mara-Givenchy-She finally wore a color other than black! What struck onlookers more than her Snow White beauty was her snow white Givenchy gown. We just had to put her on this list for that alone, although she did look stunning.

And now, the specially photographed top 5...

5. Angelina Jolie-Versace-From the red lips to her cream skin and that slit, this woman never gets it wrong and proved so again in a color we didn't see a lot of this year: black. Additionally, the velour Versace number proved that this woman doesn't need to follow trends, like a true puma, she sets them.
Angie in her pose of the night


4. Berenice Berejo-Elie Saab- While many may call it too sophisticated or boring, we call it right on point. The French actress wowed us in the trend of the upcoming season, and was the only one to do so: pastels! Not only did she wear the it color: mint, but she wore long, embellished sleeves and we love someone who knows trends and spreads them. We thought she did so perfectly against her slightly braided(another trend) red-colored locks.
Berenice proves the French know fashion

3. Stacy Kiebler-Marchesa-He may not have won Gold, but George certainly took it home thanks to her. If it weren't for her tan and her height, this shade could have been overwhelming and a Meryl, but thanks to her beauty, Stacy wins the gold in Marchesa. George has got his gold on his arm

2. Gwyneth Paltrow-Tom Ford- Although she wasn't nominated this year, the former winner proved to be a best dressed contender in a white asymmetrical cut-out Tom Ford. From her blond locks to bronzed skin, this woman proves A-List all the way, even when it comes to fashion. This classic and simple look is one that fuss and frills can't beat. Classic Gwyneth in classic Tom Ford

Drum roll please....

And the Oscar goes to....

1. Giuliana Rancic in Tony Ward- Okay, Okay, I know what you are thinking. Giuliana Rancic, really? She wasn't nominated. Hey, you don't have to walk the red carpet to take home fashion gold, and she struck it rich in this couture white Tony Ward gown with sheer backing and feathered sleeves(trend). We were only disapointed to find the dress wasn't a McQueen. Against her tanned skin, sleek bun(another trend), and those red lips(major trend), she landed all the major trends, and landed them well. Most importantly, the breast cancer survivor wore a smile and her beauty and strength may just be what really landed her the top spot. a back view

That's our wrap-up, feel free to comment, agree, disagree, we love your feedback. Now, as Porky Pig would say, "That's all Folks!"

*all photos courtesy of google.com*

What's Old is New Again

Pumas on Pause

Due to other obligations, Chasing Pumas has quieted down in 2012 thus far. However, with some major events (Whitney Houston's passing) and a renewed interest, the giant has been awakened refreshed and faster than ever. While we were gone, unfortunately it seems, we have missed out on some awards fashion, including the Grammys, and the Emmys. Luckily, the Oscars and Fashion Week are right around the corner, and we still have time to predict the red carpet trends, which seem to be making the old new again.

The Color Wheel

From Katy Perry's baby blue gown at last night's Grammy Awards to Taylor Swift's gold gown(who both get our vote for best dressed), this season is all about exploring the color wheel and spinning it for all it's worth. While Fergie's hot orange gown tested the limits of that wheel, Rihanna's black jaw-dropper proved sometimes black is best. So far, the awards brought a lot of reds, black, and blush tones. So, what's next?

Perry in pastel at last night's Grammys(courtesy of justjared)

Going for the Gold

Expect the Oscars to bring out more blush tones and neutrals, however, also be prepared to see stars going for the gold in gold. If the 1920s vibe that littered the runway for Spring were any indication, the rich metallic and gold hues that dominated the Prohibition will dominate, while some stars like Viola Davis may go for the pale trend and pick a lighter color, which would suit her stunning chocolate skin.

The Future and the Past-el

While we feel there may be some pops of color, we would be thrilled if some stars followed the pastel route seen at D&G, who gave us another throwback with the retro 50s vibe of the show, and McQueen, and parade the top colors of the coming season: mint and baby blue. Chloe Moretz or Ashley Olsen would make these colors age appropriate. Unfortunately, we feel most stars who have stylists now-a-days, will go the safe route, as they have done at the awards so far, with simple cuts and hues.

But then again, just like Audrey Hepburn showed us in Givenchy(pictured above, courtesy of Google) at the 1954 Oscars, maybe simpler is better?

We would love to hear your thoughts and fashion predictions. So, as always feel free to comment!

2011: A Thing of Beauty?

"Beauty May Be Skin Deep, but Ugly is to the Bone."


I don't know who said it, but as I have gotten older, I find it rings more true. This December is known for being the month that celebrates the ultimate expression of beauty: art, in all its forms. From ELLE's December issue devoted to art ranging from architects, artists, fashion, and acting, to the BAFTA Awards earlier this month, the limits of art were paraded and strewn about at a time of year where beauty surfaces and itself is constantly being contested in terms of meaning.


"The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"


Kids jingle belling, carolers, and giving it seems have been replaced with parking lot fiascoes, rudeness, and anger. The most wonderful and what we associate as the most beautiful time of the year, the Christmas/Hanukkah season , seems to be getting uglier and uglier. It was only after reading Umberto Eco's just released On Ugliness, documenting the history of beauty and ugliness in art and society, did I myself begin to wonder about the term beauty, its level of subjectivity and what encompasses it.




When scientists try to 'truthify' beauty they place empirical borders on it such as symmetry and proportion. According to these standards Brad Pitt may be the most beautiful person in the world, and well, many probably wouldn't contest that. However, if we found out Brad Pitt beat Angelina, would that make him less beautiful, possibly even, dare I say, ugly?





"There is No Ugliness in Nature"


Then again, Marcus Aurelius contended that there was only beauty in nature because it was created in the image of its maker. That's an equalizer! I do believe there is no ugliness in nature, until humans intervene and try to play God. That is what happened to Adam and Eve and now why we find ourselves limited in brain capacity. We aren't meant to know all or be all, but many of us try to, this is where materialism and the ego go hungry and get fed, by money, greed, vanity, and well the rest of the deadly sins. This is what I see happening everyday as people compete for the biggest and best presents to give one another during the holiday season, and honestly, it's quite sad. However, this loathing and ugliness, which won Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now praise on Oprah, is not limited, but rather simply exacerbated by this time of year. The ego creates this ugliness that creeps into society and is displayed in the elements of the sensory eye: art, fashion, and therefore limits and at the same time obscures the meaning of beauty.

Perfection in the Imperfections

What Aurelius was really getting at when he said the thing about nature not being ugly, was that God was perfect, and since all of nature, including humanity was created in His image, it too was inherently perfect and as such, beautiful. We have come to associate perfection for beauty, and our computer-like minds always attempt to quantify everything, including these two synonymous terms.

Empirical research has yielded the mathematical formula that our perceptions seem to match. However, it can't account for the beauty we see with our hearts, like the perfect child who suffers from down syndrome or the child born without an arm. They are still perfect and beautiful not in the sense of the eye, but in the sense of the heart. And 2011 looking back was a year full of that kind of beauty, perhaps the truest form, and what God intended for us to see it with. Unfortunately, ego and vanity still got in the way of seeing the real inherent beauty and perfection in what is, and many kids were lost to suicides this year. Luckily, Gaga who fights for the LGBT community and wears gender bending garbs, alongside Adele whose voice is bigger than just her frame, have shown us that beauty starts within. Our hope for 2012 is that this trend continues and that 2012 yields more of these truly beautiful people. But what do we even mean by "truly beautiful?" We mean, people, untouched or airbrushed that do genuinely good and natural things because they want to and they want us to, too. We here at Chasing Pumas resolve this year to see beauty not with our eyes, but with the tool God intended it to be seen, our hearts and we hope you do too.

Happy New Year Pumas!

xoxo,
Pina and the chasing pumas family

The Nerd Heard

A Trend is Worn

Justin Bieber re-awakens a trend

Since Justin Bieber arrived on the scene, it seems haircuts have grown longer, pants have gone South, and even eye-wear has seen a shift. What was once considered social suicide has now replaced sunglasses as the fashion staple. Rather than throwing some shades on, Demi Moore and Selena Gomez alike have been spotted sporting black, thick-rimmed, eyeglasses. The idea started a year or so back, and since the 'Biebs' burst onto the scene, it has only spread like wildfire. Who would have ever thought boys would make passes at girls that wear glasses? Well, we decided to find out so we sent our chief blogger out on assignment to investigate this trend. After testing it out for about a month, we have compiled the pros and cons of this trend, and will reveal which outweighs the other.

*the following is GiusepPina, the chief blogger's, experience in her own words.

Geek C'Est Chic?

I already knew I was a nerd, and I embraced it. If my affinity for classics, poetry, or Calculus and engineering in college hadn't solidified that, my SAT scores and 4.7 gpa certainly could have. So when I first caught sight of the 'Biebs' and the clones his haircut and eye wear spawned, I, like any good nerd, asked first and foremost who was the Biebs, and why should I care? The truth was I didn't, and so I kept myself ingrained in my true passion: writing, reading, and a little bit of arithmetic, oh, and fashion. It was when the world of geek collided with the world of chic that I paid attention, and I must admit i thought we were headed for a fashion utopia. The Scors working it in his glasses

Thick-rimmed eyeglasses are nothing new. I mean the Scors (Martin Scorsese), sports them alongside some thick brows since he started decades ago. So why now? Why would these things once considered to mark a poverty level on the social status scale suddenly re-emerge as the symbol for first-class style? This was an assignment I willingly took on. In fact, I suggested it, and well, after picking my own brain and pair, I think I have some answers.

Getting My Glasses


I made my way into a local mall and headed straight for any teeny bopper trend store within a tenth of a mile radius. These included Hot Topic, H&M, and tween accessory heaven, Claire's, which ended up being where I made my first eye wear purchase. I must say I thought my first purchase would come from the optometrist's office, but Claire's would do (especially since I have had almost perfect 20/20 vision my whole life and never worn a pair before). Claire's was great because they offered a wide selection at affordable prices, and on top of that the lenses were all false.

Pina having fun trying on glasses

After trying on frame after frame, I finally found the square, black, thick-rimmed ones that fit my face and my mantra: geek c'est chic. I knew they were the ones because the instant I put them I didn't feel invisible. Sounds contradictory, right? Glasses are often the first marker of invisibility. Ho can you have a marker for invisibility anyway? Somehow society created one, and it includes braces, braids, and the holy grail: glasses. They are supposed to make features less noticeable and their patrons less attractive. I didn't feel that way though. I felt like Clark Kent right before he puts on the suit with the big "S." I was always smart, but now I felt more attractively intelligent. People would look at me differently, like they could trust in my opinion, seek my advice, and follow my wisdom, and guess what? They did.


The Perks of Being A Wallflower

Over the next few weeks, I received compliment after compliment not just from men, tweens, or old folks, but from attractive heterosexual men and women (or I could have been seeing things askew with the new glasses?), either way I got unsolicited feedback, and this time it was positive. People would not only stop to ask where I purchased them, but they were more polite, attentive, and empathetic towards me. They would open doors, ask me to watch their goods while they used the restroom, and tended to call me "sweetie," "honey," and "doll face" more than I think I have ever heard in my 22 years. I was getting attention, good attention, for doing absolutely nothing, but looking ridiculous. Between my Italian bushy brows lied two more bushy frames, and somehow people wanted to know me.

Without saying a word, I sat in Barnes and Noble typing this post, and at least 2 people approached me to ask if I were a stylist or fashion blogger. I had done this same task week after week, and the only thing I had ever heard prior was "Are you using this chair?" Oh, and occasionally, there was the, "Where did you purchase that notebook? It's so cute!" Now people automatically assumed I had knowledge or skill worth sharing. They wanted to try on my glasses, and find out more about the woman wearing them. (I think it helped that I look 16, too.) Yet, most astonishing to me was that I felt better about myself. How could something I and society had always associated negatively or as an invisibility cloak, have the opposite effect? I went from invisible to visible know-it-all. I have to say it felt good, and didn't look too shabby, either.

In addition to the attention, I also saw some facial pros. The shades acted as sunglasses that could be worn without the sun, and the thick rims masked my under-eye circles. They also gave me a more balanced profile, as they hid the bump on my nose I inherited from my Italian roots. I have to say the only con was that they didn't help my eyesight, but I didn't need it anyway, and if I did, I could have easily ordered them from the eye doctor.

All in all, It never felt so good or chic to be a nerd. Where as before I would have to whip out my College Board report to prove my knowledge, it was known. In a way, I guess Justin Bieber is partially to thank. So thank you Justin. I find myself no longer on assignment and still wanting to wear the glasses. They have become as necessary to me as underwear, and yes, I am still one of the few that still wear underwear (you heard that Britney?). And, if Tyra's recent Tweet, pictured above, sporting them is any indication, they won't be going anywhere soon. For the first time I can proudly say I am a member of the nerd herd, but this herd is now being both seen and heard.

Friend the Trend

If you think you have the face and wallet to pull these shades off, they can be purchased in your local mall at Claire's, Hot Topic, or Zumiez. You can also get prescription ones by Gucci, Prada, and Vuitton from your local optometrist. However, we warn you: they are going fast and many are on back-order. So, the only question left to be answered is by you. Will you join the trend or spell its end? If you can spell, that is ;) .

For now, happy hunting!

**Above photos courtesy of Twitter and Google**