Groundhog Day Festivity!

Groundhog Day is a fabulous holiday to get excited for spring and teach little ones about nature.  Saturday is Groundhog Day and the perfect day to celebrate almost spring! According to folklore, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, then spring will come early; if it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly see its shadow and retreat back into its burrow, and the winter weather will continue for six more weeks. The largest Groundhog Day celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Groundhog Day, already a widely recognized and popular tradition received widespread attention as a result of the 1993 film Groundhog Day, which was set in Punxsutawney and portrayed Punxsutawney Phil. The hilarious 90's Bill Murray movie is also a darling way to spend the holiday with a loved one or friend.

What better way to rock the holiday then through fashion! Groundhog T-shirts are cute and fun for this weekend. You can wear a shirt with a simple animal on them or a fun slogan about the holiday! PXY is short for Punxsutawney which makes the shirt even more iconic. You can order these online or even make your own!

To celebrate with food, you can make any treat into a groundhog! Cupcakes are the simplest way to do this. You can create the shape of a groundhog face or you can make a rodent peek out of the cupcake. A Teddy Graham makes a perfect groundhog or a Milano works too. A pudding up makes the perfect dirt cup for a fun creature to come out of.

Be sure to get the kids in on the fun! If you have a small one of your own or a child you babysit for, you can create these fun projects to help kids get festive! Shadow puppets, a foot painting, a head piece or more fun shaped foods are all fun ways to celebrate this holiday. Whether he sees a shadow or not, spring is just around the corner!

Red Carpet Accessories

Accessories are just as much a part of a celebrities ensemble as the gown they wear. So which actresses accessorized best? We have some favorites ready for your viewing pleasure! As you can see, big rings were tres chic for the event this weekend and fingers made a statement on the red carpet. The huge blue Victorian style ring on Zuleikha Robinson's hand was stunning with her dress, the young Ariel Winter from Modern Family wore a ring fit for her fairy tale gown and finally, Jaimie Alexander wowed in her all black frock and diamond lilly pad.

BLING  was the name of the game for awards season this year! From shimmering bags to shimmering diamonds, the celebrities wanted to stand out and sparkle on the walk inside the show. The first clutch and bracelet featured on Maria Menousos are a match made in heaven. They are subtle yet make a statement. Katrina Bowden also wore a white shimmering bag and decided to downplay her bracelet to let the bag stand out on it's own. Amanda Seyfried adorned a long necklace to break up the monotony of the navy fabric in her dress and January Jones went all out with art deco diamond cuffs.

The best head and ear accessories were worn by Morena Baccarin from Homeland and Teyonah Parris from Mad Men. Both of these stunning women made use of the updo to their advantage. Baccarin's lizard hairpin and jade earrings were a fun and playful his with her black gown and give a subtle nod to her Brazilian background. Parris' earrings are stunning and she pulls of the chandelier look with no issue by not wearing other jewelry. Her hair is flawless as well.

In some fashion circles, emerald is considered the color of the year. These ladies post no argument to that. Emrald rings were also a hot ticket item at the SAG awards this weekend. Both Naomi Watts and Naya Rivers wore a stunning green gem to give their white and black ensembles a pop of color.

Structured clutches were a perfect purse item for the occasion. The harsh lines make these bags more evening appropriate and the designers were thrilled to make cell phone carriers for these women celebs. Kerri Washington looked perfect in all white and wanted a snake skin inspired clutch to add some flare and edge to her outfit. Jane Krakowski went 100% orange for the event and found a bag to match. The turquoise handle is darling and this bag can transition into an everyday bag with jeans and heels!

Finally, don't think we forgot about all the manicures that happened on the red carpet. Yes, many celebs went with plain or black nails, but some dared to mix it up. Anne Hathaway, winner for Les Miserables, wore tiny butterfly nails with her all black ensemble. How fun!? The surprising pink manicure belongs to Elisabeth Moss and really was the only color she had on all night. Lastly, Kelly Osborne showed off her spunky side by wearing heart tipped nails with her black accessories. For more accessory details check out BuzzFeed's coverage of the event!

2013 SAG Award's Fashion

What is better than Modern Family sweeping the Screen Actors Guild Awards and basically every comedy television award this year? The fashions! Awards season is here and we LOVE seeing the celebrities in their best dresses all glammed up. It may be chilly for everyone else this winter but the red carpet is sweltering hot. The cast was all gorgeously dressed and age appropriate for the littlest stars. Check out some of the trend below.

Long Black Dresses

The LBD or now Long Black Dresses were out and about on Sunday night as stars graced the red carpet at the Sag awards. Kelly Osborne has gone from fashion lame to fashion queen in her beautifully flattering gown. Funny gals Amy Poehler, Tina Fey and Jenna Fischer all wowed in their slimming black ensembles and glittering accessories. Black leather and sheer were the hottest black fashions for the Glee star and Modern family leading lady.

Navy Ladies

Navy was also a popular color this weekend at the SAG awards. Les Miserables star Amanda Seyfried looked stunning in her mermaid style gown and long necklace as did Silver Linings Playbook star Jennifer Lawrence. Nurse Jackie star mixed it up as well using navy lace in her gown.

Plunging Neckline

Julianne Moore, Julia Styles and Jane Krakowski all took the plunge this weekend. Their necklines were swinging low as they all adorned the deep V-neck dress line. Julianne Moore most typically wears plain colors to make her red hair pop while the other two are more wildcards for their color choices. The necklines all dip low but have differing styles: spaghetti strap, classic V, and a scoop neck make these dresses all very unique.

Peek-a-boo Leg

The necklines weren't the only statement worth discussing. The peek-a-boo leg is stunning for this occasion. Jenna Elfman, Nicole Kidman and Homeland's Morena Baccarin all look stunning with their exposed leg. This look allows these women to look sophisticated in a long gown but also shows some skin to break up the monotony of the fabric.

Best Dressed

The ladies above really nailed the SAG Awards fashion. These ladies wore the dresses flawlessly and with style and grace. The first looks are the best black and white ensembles. Kerry Washington had a stunning white dress. The structure complimented her slender and chiseled physique. Jaimie Alexander stunned in a pieced gown by Marc Bouwer and Mad Men Elisabeth Moss looked chic in a tiny black number. The best dressed ladies in color were Alexis Biedel in green, Nina Drobrev in a slimming coral number and Marion Cotillard in Dior with pockets! For best and worst dressed visit BuzzFeed for their take on SAG Fashion.

Finally, check out a full list of SAG Awards winners below:

Outstanding Ensemble in a Motion Picture: "Argo"
Outstanding Male Actor in a Leading Role: Daniel Day-Lewis, "Lincoln"
Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading Role: Jennifer Lawrence, "Silver Linings Playbook"
Outstanding Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Tommy Lee Jones, "Lincoln"
Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Anne Hathaway, "Les Miserables"

Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series: "Downton Abbey"
Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series: Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama Series: Claire Danes, "Homeland"

Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series: "Modern Family"
Outstanding Male Actor in a Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Tina Fey, "30 Rock"

Outstanding Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries: Kevin Costner, "Hatfields & McCoys"
Outstanding Female Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries: Julianne Moore, "Game Change"

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture: "Skyfall"
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a TV Series: "Game of Thrones"

Online Guide To Buying Everything

Who doesn’t love online shopping? Avoiding crowds and browsing virtual clearance racks from the comfort of your couch? Yes, please. From flash sales to great vintage finds, the web has so much more to offer than your local mall. The one thing that it doesn’t provide is the opportunity to try-on and see—and smell and feel—the items. All online shopping is a risk, but there are some things—perfume, glasses, shoes—that can be a tougher gamble than others.

One way to reduce that risk is to stick with brands you love already, looking at labels in your own closet and paying attention to sizes and styles that work on you. However, if you haven’t shopped a brand or a style before in-person, we do have some advice that will help you to avoid delivery day disappointment. Below, 6 tips for buying even the trickiest items online.

1. Test drive your perfume before you buy it – Fragrances are always a tough purchase—even in-store. You may fall in love at first whiff, only to realize later that, on you, the perfume smells a little like Grandma. Shopping for scents online may not allow you to spray the testers on a paper card, but it can do you one better. Many designers will offer free samples of their scents right on their site, so you can take the perfume for a spin before you commit. In addition, Sephora and some department stores will ship multiple samples of your choice to your door with any purchase. Once you’ve selected your new signature scent, head on over to discount sites like FragranceNet or Amazon to find it at a better price.

2. Take your time trying on glasses at home – Trying on eyeglasses at the store can be intimidating. You have sales clerks breathing down your neck and you probably don’t feel comfortable looking in the mirror for more than a few minutes. Now you can post up in front of your vanity (for hours if you’d like), thanks to eyeglass-makers Warby Parker. For no cost, the vintage-inspired online brand allows you to select up to 5 pairs of glasses to try on at home over 5 days. If you don’t like any of the styles, don’t worry. You can return (for free) and choose another 5 styles to test out.

3. Shop for shoes that will actually fit – We all have an idea of what our shoe size is, as it probably hasn’t changed much since you were in middle school. But sometimes outside factors—weight gain, aging, pregnancy, even Yoga—can actually change your feet. Before ordering shoes online, double-check your current shoe size by printing out a women’s foot sizing chart to stop on at home. Larger-footed ladies should check out sites like Bluefly and Zappos, which tend to keep larger sizes in stock. Even though J.Crew doesn’t always stock their size 11s and 12s in stores—they apparently “won’t fit on the shelves” —they do keep a selection of beautiful styles in stock online. And for larger-calved ladies:  sites like Piperlime and Duo tailor their tall boots for the curvier woman.

4. Ditto your bra – You can lie about your bra size all you want to lovers and friends, but you better be honest with yourself when it comes to ordering your next brassiere online. It can be tricky to know your best fit without the guidance of a store employee, but it’s completely do-able. Plus, anything to avoid some stranger fondling you in the neon lights of the fitting room. SHEfinds has an easy-to-follow sizing guide that will help you go into your next online bra purchase confidently. Back fat, be gone!

5. Shop the right hemline or inseam for your height – Sites like Forever21 and Nasty Gal tend to cater to a younger shopper with shorter hemlines on their skirts and dresses, making them great for petites. ASOS is also great for those under 5’3” as they carry a large number of styles in petite, as well as average sizes. Longer women over 5’9” can find great options in the tall sections of sites like Banana Republic—which is online-exclusive—and with leggy denim designers like Paige and 7 For All Mankind. Those that fall somewhere in the middle can still shop these sites and find dresses and pants that fit. To avoid a bad fit upon arrival, check the hemline and inseam measurement in the item description and use a measuring tape to see where the dress, skirt or pant leg will hit on you.

6. Stick to online retailers with good return policies - If all else fails, free returns will minimize most of your online shopping pains. Before you even start browsing merchandise, check out the retailer’s shipping fee and return policy. Many online stores will include a convenient shipping label for a free return if your item isn’t up to par. Simply slap on and send right back, no major time or cost lost. And the cheaper the shipping the better, as most stores will only refund the price of the item, not the shipping charge.

Finally, here is a helpful graphic for buying necklaces according to length! Happy online shopping!

ByElle® checking In! (Diary entry!)

As of Janaury 2013, I officially registered my cutsom accessory line, ByElle as a business! I'm often saying, "who knew creating bow-ties for my son would get me here?" I am so taken back by all of the support, sales and opportunities that have come forth! When I started making these for my son, I had NO intentions or expectations, #butGod. He is everything!

Even with creating this blog, this entire journey has been amazing! I'm doing so many things I'd only imagined, but never had the guts to dream! All of the things I'd wished for, but never had the confidence to live! I credit all of this to becoming a mommy! If it weren't for creating such a loveable, (and now) wild, rambunctious 2 year old- I would've still been hiding in fear!

Okay, enough with the sappy talk :-)

I went with ByElle (my name is LaShonda, the "L" from my first name= Elle spelled out in business name), opposed to BowsByElle (as I'd created when I first had steady sells), because I didn't want to limit myself to just bows! I'd learned that there was even more artsy ways inside of me and honestly, who knows what's to come!

When my sister/ cousin/ friend (who also writes for the blog now!) came and asked me if I'd make some bow-ties for an upcoming Stellar Awards performance, I literally had an anxiety attack! But she knows me quite well, and probably already figured I'd be super nervous! I of course couldn't and wouldn't say no, but it took so much in me to pull it together and get to creating!

 

It was an amazing opportunity and the more I watch the clip, I grow more emotional! Seeing them up on the stage was so surreal! I'd never imagined this for me! I always knew I wanted to do something in fashion, but I hate attention, so I dind't know how I'd be able to! I love being more behind the scenes, than "the scene" and this was perfect for me!

This was SUCH an amazing performance, and each time I watch it, I've been learning the choreography LOL!! AMAZING song!! S/O to Tye Tribbett for allowing me this opportunity!! AND for such an AMAZING song!!! It's FIRE!!!! Love it!!!! Can't wait until CD comes out, everyone who knows me knows I love to keep a great song on repeat!!

I've also created an Etsy page to showcase my work! It took me forever to do this as well! After much pushing and advice from my sis, I finally did it!

Check it out by clicking: http://www.etsy.com/shop/bowsbyelle

Some of my other recent  work/completed orders:

Handmade Infinity Muffler Scarves, made by Items. for ByElle! 100% custom to your preference of color (s)

 

I began making these Bow Belts for a friend, and loved them so much, I made a couple for myself as well :-)

Doggy Bow-ne! Bows for your favorite pet!!

Character ties! For boys and girls! Although adults have been requesting as well!!

Custom window covering!

Custom hairbows

Bow Bracelet

Bow-ties for mimes

Infinity Scarf with Bow

Team Bows (also available in headbands for women)

Bow-band, headbands!

Bow scarves and ear warmers!

Each item is custom and handmade by me :-) Contact: bowsbyelle@gmail.com

MCM

Hey Guys and Dolls!!! I have the privilege of sharing with all of you the history behind one of my favorite handbag designers of all time, yes yes yes,  The one and onlllyyyy

Honestly guys ever since I was a little girl I have been fascinated with this designer. I have to say A LOT of it had to do with my older sister Chicha! When she was coming up, in the 90's MCM was THHHHEEE thing, from clothes to hats to handbags to shoes, it was heavily seen and worn in Urban society. Looking back I know for sure that what made the brand ultimately "cool," was that MY "cool" older sister always had it on. It's common that most younger siblings admire what their older sibling does, says or wears, and they automatically get the stamp of "cool" ... Unless you hate them of course lol. Anyway, my sister just happened to be very stylish growing up, alot of my love for fashion was birthed out of being around her. S/O to my older/middle sister!!!

 I love you CHI!!

 

And there you have it, for those who wondered why I am SO obssessed with MCM- that was the quick history behind it! But, sisterly influence or not, it can not be denied that MCM is one of the most stylish, timeless, and classic brands EVER!!

So its time!!! MCM 101, coming RIGHT up!!

(Guess whose excited?? Me! lol)

BEHIND THE BRAND

Mode Creation Munich, often shortened to the brand name MCM, is an originally German luxury brand, founded by Michael Cromer in Munich in 1975; it is now based in South Korea. MCM is headed by chairwoman and CEO Sung-Joo Kim with Michael Michalsky as its main designer. The company has offices in eight countries with over seventy boutiques worldwide and has become most famous for its luxury handbag collection. Recently the company has found new life with its vintage briefcases and hats garnering attention. ( More info )

 

THE LOGO 

 

The logo's beribboned  laurel leaves pay homage to King Lugwig I's passion for all that was neoclassical, representing the Greek symbol for victory and achievemnt with honour. 

The MCM diamond symbolizes value, stregthen and durability with compromise in beauty. It was inspired by the diamonds of the Bavarian Flag entitled "Weiss Blauer Himmel". The diamond- laden flag symbolizes the legacy of Munich and the Bavarian states, the birth place of MCM. 

The Munich Lion emblem, sometimes accompanied with the MCM logo, symbolizes Henry the Lion, the father of its birth place, Munich

 ( More Info )

THE AMAZING CRAFTSMANSHIP

Every MCM product is personalized by a brass plate, like a treasured heirloom, this signature detail bears a number unique to each peice, connecting the owner directly with MCM's skilled artisans. On request, customers can have their own initials engraved on each plate. ( wow WHO knew!!?? ) 

 ( More info )

Good stuff I say!!!

One more quick facts!

• There are over 70 worldwide MCM boutiques around the world ( NICE!! ) 

CAUGHT OUT AND ABOUT, GUESS WHO??!! MCM annndddd....

Now how cool is this??

Chris is ALWAYS rockin MCM I love it!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO MEEE!!! I was sooo excited about my reversible Patricia Fields special edition MCM tote!!

Me, doing make up backstage while getting my hair done, just so happening to be with my Patricia Fields reversible tote

Me, in Vegas with another piece

Singer Diana Ross, in an undated photo, with MCM suitcases. 

 

( Kinds looks like MJ could be aome kin to her in this pic! They loved each other so how cute!! )

TWO OF MY FAVORITE PIECES THESE DAYS

( #mooksfavs )

I just cant seem to get enough of the new MCM bookbags or the Waist bags 

SWEET BABY JESUS PLLEEASSSEE CAN I HAVEEE!!!  :-)

And now for the waist bags! I wore mine PROUDLY one day and someone said OMG WOW I LOVE your bag, I had no idea they were back in style lol.. I chuckled! What does "back in style" mean? I don't follow trends I wear what I love! Set your OWN trends!!! Rock what YOU love!

I love waist bags because I travel often and it makes life eaiser for me, all the while, still lookin fly. Yep! my kinda life! lol 

Watch my fanny!!! 

 

 

Love it!

Another cool line MCM came out with was the colab with Patricia Fields! Check them out!

Real quick....Who is Patricia Fields??

^{I was always fascinated with Patricia Fields because i discovered she was responsible  for the clothing around the series Sex and the City ( one of my favorites)} 

Field met Sarah Jessica Parker during the filming of 1995's Miami Rhapsody. The actress became so enchanted with Field's collections that they became friends and continued working with her on the series Sex and the City. Before beginning the first season of the Sex and the City television series on HBO, Parker asked to have Field design some of the clothes that her character, Carrie Bradshaw, would wear. During Field's tenure as costume designer on Sex and the City, the show became famous for the fashions showcased. For her work on Sex and the City, Field was nominated for five Emmy Awards, with one win, and nominated for six Costume Designers Guild awards, with four wins. She is one out of six Honorees of the 2008 Reel Time Film Festival. She went on to return as Costume Designer for Sex and the City: the Movie (2008) and the sequel Sex and the City 2 (2010). She worked in the Asian market by creating the fashion behind the Chinese feature film "杜拉拉升职记" (Go Lala Go) (2010). Her most recent project is Taiwanese television series, The Material Queen.
Field has been in constant demand by some high society clientele ever since, and some of her designs have become well-known. Her television credits include Hope & Faith and Ugly Betty. She served as costume designer for the feature film The Devil Wears Prada, for which she was nominated for an Oscar for Best Costume Design, although in an extensive interview included as a bonus feature on the film's DVD release, she admits she dressed the cast by gathering garments from other designers' ready-to-wear collections rather than creating them herself. ^{More info}

In black

In Green

Queen B!!! WOOWHOO!!

Go Mrs. Feilds!! 

I'll leave you with a few more peices to feast your eyes on! Hope the New Year is treating you well, and even if it isn't be ENCOURAGED! IT will get better!

Classic!

I love the lime green! How yummy!!

Love always!

Blessings

- M. K. Ngenge #fineline