Archive for November 2014

I've been inspired by this style for so long and when a Sophisti"cat" look finally came along so that I could create write a feature about it, I was so happy! I thought about publishing a separate post right away when I saw the photo of Hollywood legend Lena Horne (2nd row on the left) from 1964. That photo sparked the idea for this post, it got me to start paying more attention to the green and orange combination and that's when I began to gather ideas on how to create a post about this very specific look. You know how once something becomes apart of your frame of reference you become hyperaware of it and begin to see it everywhere. That was how this style was for me. What I truly love about it is that there are so many different shades and varieties of each color, not to mention the design of the clothes, and miscellaneous fabrics, and when you factor in hairstyles and accessories, there are countless ways to wear this look. There are different meanings associated with the colors Green, and Orange but I just like the style together, there's something refreshing about the pairing of these two colors, reminds me of the beautifully natural arrangements that nature produces. Just imagine Fern Green & Tangelo Orange, Spring Green & Flame Orange, and Pistachio Green & Coral Orange, or continue reading to see the actual combinations and other pairings that I had to google in order to figure out what shades they are ;) Photos: Getty, Pacific Coast News, Axelle/Bauer-Griffin, Magnum Photos.

Jessica Chastain

Actress Jessica Chastain wore a mint green Nina Ricci dress, and a coral orange lip color to the the Critics Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California on January 18, 2014. Do y'all remember the Red Hair & Orange Lipstick post I published in August? Jessica perfectly embodies the style trifecta with this look; Red Hair // Orange Lips // Green Dress. Photos: Getty.

Caitlin Gerard

Actress Caitlin Gerard's top knot and red-orange lip on the 2013 MTV Movie Awards red carpet (Los Angeles, April 14, 2014) was gorgeous and the pairing of her dark green lace dress and Converse sneakers were a bit unconventional, but I don't really care, I like it. Similar Asos lace dress$24.64. Photos Getty.

Amber Rose

Model Amber Rose attended The Karma Foundation’s 6th Annual Kandyland Event held at The Playboy Mansion on Saturday, June 25, 2011 wearing a backless mini dress in a medium spring green color and an "international orange" lip colour. This dress is a great choice for any upcoming holiday parties. Similar Green Dresses: Lilly Pulitzer backless dress$268//Olivier Battino 3/4 sleeve dress$118-144//Liz Claiborne sweater dress (Curvy Girls)$70//Liz Claiborne shift dress (Curvy Girls)$19.96//Forever 21 velveteen dress$15.90//Wallis lace dress$56//Missguided velvet dress$37.98. **Singer Melody Thornton wore the same dress to the New Era Maxim Hot 100 party in May 2011.

Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys attended the 2013 MTV Europe Music Awards (November 11, 2012) in Frankfurt am Main, Germany in a sheer panel fern green dress by Stella McCartney. The musician accessorized with a Gaia Repossi for Alexander Wang Necklace, Gianvito Rossi Two-tone pumps, and a Tangelo orange lip color. Photos: Getty.

Brittany Snow

Actress Brittany Snow attended the 2013 Teen Choice Awards (August 11) in Universal City in a pistachio green Oliver Tolentino dress, and pulled her look together with Jimmy Choo wedge sandals, and an Oroton box clutch that matched her salmon lip color. Photos: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin.

Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson sat front row at Project Runway's Spring 2013 fashion show next to NINA GARCIA (Marie Claire's Creative Director) during Mercedes-Benz (New York) Fashion Week, September 7, 2012. The singer wore a blue undertone Malachite jumpsuit with a matching jacket and a flame orange pout to perform her guest judge duties as part of the show's season finale. Jennifer looks like a doll in these photos — compliment! Photos: Getty.

Olga Kurylenko

Actress/model Olga Kurylenko attended the Irish premiere of 'Oblivion' on April 3, 2013, in Dublin, Ireland wearing a dark spring green Roland Mouret cut-out dress, with a red-orange lip. Her clutch is Charlotte Olympia.

Jennifer Lopez

Actress/Singer/American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez wore a pine green Elie Saab dress, with a coral orange lip colour, and satin Ermanno Scervino sandals to the 2014 Teen Choice Awards on August 10 in Los Angeles. She continued the all green theme with a green satin box clutch, and five emerald rings(see here). Similar ModCloth emerald dress $124.99. Photos: Getty

Fan Bingbing

Actress Fan Bingbing attended the Cannes Film Festival premiere of 'Moonrise Kingdom' in a Chris Bu Kewen gown, May 17, 2012 . Her orange-red lip color, emerald Chopard earrings, and Elie Saab clutch brought out the green accents and embroidered details of the gown beautifully. I was so excited when I saw these photos. I wanted to save it so that I could publish it as a Glam look but couldn't wait. This is perfection, from the traditional hairstyle all the way down to the hem of that embroidered train. She shut that red carpet down! Photos: Pacific Coast News.

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Goddess Braids are mainly large cornrows. The "swide-swept goddess braids" also called the milkmaid braid consist of two cornrows parted off center around the sides of the head and down towards the nape, like a crown. The individual plaits are then twisted into a bun, plaited into a long Rapunzel or fishtail braid, curled into soft waves, worn as two plaits, or styled into whichever style you prefer. It's a beautiful style, really. It is also another great protective style — meaning when you're not manipulating your strands by combing or brushing, constantly braiding and twisting, running your fingers through it, and applyingchemicals from different hair products, or applying heat, you moisturize your hair, seal the ends and put it in a low maintenance style like this one a couple of days a week.

Protective Styling: Technically out of all the photos above Tracee Ellis Ross (left column, blue eyeshadow) who actually wears this style often, Tia Mowry-Hardrict (first row, second from right, purple lipstick), and Charlize Theron (far right, blonde braids) are the only ones who are wearing their goddess braids in a protective style. Their hair is secured together and the ends are tucked in, and aren't brushing along the fabric of their clothes, this friction causes your ends to dry out and break. Protective styles keep the moisture in your hair longer, which allows your strands to grow healthy.
Photos: Getty, WireImage, Pacific Coast News, Instagram.

A 360 degree look at Rihanna's 2011 Met Gala goddess braids from all sides. Her makeup and hair for that event was just stunning. Definitely one of her most memorable beauty looks. Photos: Getty.

Lucy Liu attended the 2013 Golden Globes Awards in Beverly Hills, California wearing a floral Carolina Herrera gown with her hair styled in goddess braids and a long fishtail side braid. She reminds me of a reigning queen, it's like she stepped off of her throne to grace the awards show with her presence for just a moment. Diane Kruger wore a Valentino lace gown and an Isabel Marant fur coat at the 2010 Golden Kamera Awards in Berlin, Germany. Her hair is styled in goddess braids in the front, with soft curls in the back. Diane always looks amazing on the red carpet and I love that she styled her hair in braids, and accessorized with gold hoops, and a fur coat. Braids have an ethereal aesthetic about them, they can be casual, and glamorous, but there's also something about them that insinuates luxury and that's why I love the pairing of braids with a braggadocios fashion piece like a fur coat. See Keri Hilson's 31st birthday party look for another take on braids & fur style. Photos: Getty.