The Gospel According to Coco Chanel

If you didnt know already, Chanel is my favorite designer. To me, words like "timeless" and "classic" are synonymous with Chanel.

While working a seasonal job at Anthropologie (great store by the way!), iCame across this book and HAD to have it!

Im on Chapter 3: On Fearlessness and Karen Karbo said EXACTLY what Im thinking everytime iVisit http://www.chanel.com/ :

"...What am I doing? What in the hell am I doing? Just because I adore Chanel, am in awe of her, wish to emulate her style, grit, spunk, and wit..., I have no business assuming I have the means to own any Chanel.
I am the average consumer: I have several credit cards in my wallet.  One of them magically summons forth a monthly magazine whose sole purpose is to remind me that there are stupendously expensive things to buy out there, luxury items that would have fallen off my radar had they ever been on it."

 LOL Good book so far. :-)

Remembering an Icon: Elizabeth Taylor

"Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011),often referred to as Liz Taylor, was an English-born American actress.Beginning as a child star then throughout her adulthood, she became known for her acting talent, glamour, beauty, and striking violet eyes;as well as a much publicized private life, which included eight marriages, several life-threatening illnesses, and decades spent as a social activist, championing the cause of AIDS awareness, research and cure. Taylor, a two-time winner of the Academy Award for Best Actress, is considered one of the great screen actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age. The American Film Institute named Taylor seventh on its Female Legends list."- Wikipedia.com

One quote of Elizabeth's that has stuck with me is:

"Follow your passion, follow your heart, and the things you need will come."

From: Kim Kardashian Talks With Elizabeth Taylor - Interview with Kim Kardashian and Elizabeth Taylor - Harper's BAZAAR

"iFly High. Im Blazin.."

iLove this chic. She's not afraid to break boundaries and be herself. These lyrics from "Fly" f/ Rihanna speak to me..or speak for me shall iSay:

‎"Everybody wanna try to box me in
suffocating everytime it locks me in. Paint they own pictures then they crop me in
but I will remain where the top begins
cause I am not a word, I am not a line
I am not a girl that can ever be defined"


Pink Friday is available now!

INSPIRATION :)

Yep, borrowed this too from ThisisNecole.com as well:

Today is a new day. A new opportunity to follow your dreams. Take advantage of this blessing. Take that leap. Whatever your dream is, you have to step towards it. The more steps you take the more the universe will conspire to assist you…
If you want to run a label, quit your job at the bank & intern at a label. If you want to be a doctor, apply to school today, etc. I wanted to act, so every week I go 2 acting school for 14 hours, study film & actors, read about projects, etc. Once I took steps, roles came.
A girl replied, how can I pay my bills if I quit my job 2 follow my dreams? - when following your dreams you will be temporarily inconvenienced.  Tyler Perry was HOMELESS years before becoming a MILLIONAIRE. Only you can determine the amount of sacrifice your dreams are worth.
Before 106 I had a job making 30k but I wasnt happy. I quit. Moved to NY, worked small jobs to get by, & lived on @FredWhit FLOOR 8 MONTHS!
I just meet so many people that want to reach their goals & then complain when it sounds hard! Go watch Pursuit of Happiness 
Everybody has a different story. U may have kids, mortgage, bills, etc. But God is powerful. There is always a way to follow your dreams - Terrence J 2011 via Twitter

ADMIRATION :)

borrowed this from Necole Bitchie's tumblr (thisisNecole.com)  ...very inspiring words...

I wanted to use my gift, to not only make us laugh but to make us think. I wanted to use film to not only entertain but to let us know that we don’t have to wait for somebody to green light our projects, we can create our own interceptions. I wanted to use my television show to not only make us laugh but to show us we don’t just have to act in the sitcom, we can own the show and the network. I wanted to use giving and philanthropy to show us that we don’t have to be at the end of the line waiting for a hand out, we can be at the front giving the hand up. And I wanted to own a studio to show us, we don’t have to wait for somebody to give us 40 acres and a mule, we can buy our own.
So I am grateful and I wanted to use my childhood to let everybody know that you can be born into a nightmare but God can usher you into a dream. - Tyler Perry 2010

Accessories go Tribal!!

As we all know iLoooooove statement pieces and the latest one for accessories is the tribal necklace. They're very similar to the bib like one Im wearing above (right side pic). The great thing about wearing them is you don't have to do much else w/ your ensemble. Keep silhouettes simple and hair pulled back. Let these statement pieces well...make a statement!

(Jessica Alba wearing Anndra Neeris Checkered Choker $575)

(Leighton Meester in a Chanel Necklace $4600)

(Olivia Palermo in Mawi's Sunray Tube Necklace $635)

Don't have the big bucks like these gorgeous women? That's ok. I don't either. Retailers such as Forever 21, Bebe and H&M usually have great pieces for a fraction of the price. The necklaces Im wearing in the two photos were #1: $15 from Forever21.com and #2: $10 from Charlotte Rousse. Charlotte Rousse always has a big accessory section.  Im sure these retailers will have tribal accessories this Spring as well. :-)

Ikram Goldman named SAIC "Legend of Fashion"

Most known as the wardrobe advisor for Michelle Obama, Ikram Goldman will be receiving the Legend of Fashion Award at  School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) on May 5th.  Each year at the school's student fashion show/fundraiser, someone is honored for their impact on 'the arts'.



Ikram Goldman in her Chicago boutique. She will soon be opening 10,000 sq. ft. sotre there as well.



Nick Cave, SAIC Fashion Design Dept. Chair, said, "Ikram is the perfect choice for this award. She is a visionary, not only within the world of fashion, but withing the world of art and culture.  A visionary doesn't function solely in the present, but sees into the future.  Ikram has that ability. She functions from a plact that is about growth and about one's life continuing to evolve, reform, and reshape itself."

Ikram keeps a low profile, but if you're ever in the Chicago area, be sure to visit Ikram Boutique. Congrats Ms. Goldman. :)

Michelle Obama on the go!

accompanied by husband/President Barack Obama at his inaugural ball

Looking glamorous at the 36th annual NAACP Image awards