Image: Zuma Press

1. Fergie – There’s something about this dress that I love.  The fit is great on the Duchess and the beaded(?) textured of the gown gives it an edgy vibe.

Image: Zuma Press

2. Carrie Underwood – She reminds me of a golden Barbie doll, in a good way! I really like the colour of her dress and those shoes go really well with the whole outfit.

Image: Zuma Press

3. Selena Gomez – I don’t know very much about this young Disney starlet but she looked very nice last night. A a sequined dress can either be a huge miss or a big hit and this is a hit. I like that it’s short but not too short. The only thing I would change? Her shoes.

Image: Zuma Press

4. Leona Lewis -  What I love about this look? The lack of accessories. She knew (or her stylist knew) that adding a pair of huge earrings or necklace wouldn’t be a good idea with a dress this elaborate. The overall look is simple with an edge.

And honorable mentions go to Alicia Keys, Kristen Bell, Kelly Clarkson, Toni Braxton (where has she been?!) and Keri Hilson.

Who were your favourites from last night? Tell us below!

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Last night, I watched the 2009 American Music Awards which was held in the Nokia Center in Los Angeles and was shocked and awed at all the fashions. I thought it would be fun to make a list of the top 5 fashion misses at the 2009 AMAs.

Image: Zuma Press

1.  Paula Abdul – Can this mermaid dress be any tighter? She was the first presenter and she had a lot of trouble walking over to the mic. It’s a beautiful dress but it was way too tight and way too much for her small frame.

Image: Zuma Press

2. Shakira – She’s fabulous, no doubt but this outfit was just a total miss for me. I love how she took a risk with the bright yellow colour but she could have a chosen a more age-appropriate style. And the shoes! There’s just way too much going on.

Image: Zuma Press

3. Rihanna – Stunning gal and equally stunning Marchesa dress but somehow they don’t look quite right together. I think it’s the shoes? Maybe something open toe would have been a better choice. Whatever the case, this dress was way over the top.

Image: Zuma Press

4. Chani Christie (singer/daughter of NBA player Doug Christie) – Too short, too tight! Did I mention she’s only 16? Not a good look on such a pretty girl.

Do agree with the list above? Shall we have to agree to disagree? Who are some of the celebrities on your fashion miss list for the 2009 American Music Awards?  Stay tuned for my fashion hit list from the awards show!

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Image: Zales

Here are some little known facts about black diamonds.

1. Black diamonds are also called Carbonado. A name coined by Portuguese because of the diamonds resemblance to porous charcoal.

2. They are found in the Central Afric and Brazil, with Brazil being the major source.

3. The natural colour of a black diamond ranges from black to dark greys.

4. Black diamonds are the rarest among all diamonds.

5. Black diamonds originated on earth 3.5 billion years ago – that’s a mighty long time!

6. Translucent or semi-transparent black diamonds are very rare and naturally they command a very high price.

7. In ancient Italy, black diamonds were thought to represent reconciliation. They believed by touching a black diamond misunderstandings and quarrels can be patched up. However, in India they believe black diamonds were the sign of bad luck, even death!

8. Famous black diamonds include; the Pear Shaped Amsterdam Diamond weighing in at 55.85 carats. Then there’s the unpolished and rugged Black Diamond of Bahia which is 350 carats. But the most famous of them all is the Black Star of Africa which is the largest coloured diamond in the world weighing in at 202 carats and valued at 1.2 million US dollars. Whew!

9. Unlike the traditional diamonds, black diamonds are made up of carbon atoms and small amounts of hydrogen. This has led some people to believe black diamonds were formed in intersteller space! They theorize that there was an steller supernova explosion and an asteroid crashed into earth about 2.8 million years ago.

Now that you know all the fact, perhaps you’ll add a pair of black diamond earrings, like the 1 cttw studs pictured above, to your wish list this year?

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Coco Chanel (Image: Zuma Press)

“Fashions fade, style is eternal.” — Yves Saint Laurent

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” — Coco Chanel

“The only rule is don’t be boring and dress cute wherever you go. Life is too short to blend in.” — Paris Hilton (Yes, Paris Hilton! )

“The difference between style and fashion is quality.” — Giorgio Armani

“I don’t do fashion, I am fashion.” — Coco Chanel (How right she was!)

“Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.” — Plato

“Delete the negative; accentuate the positive!” — Donna Karan

“Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way to live.” — Gianni Versace

“The most important thing to remember is that you can wear all the greatest clothes and all the greatest shoes, but you’ve got to have a good spirit on the inside. That’s what’s really going to make you look like you’re ready to rock the world.” — Alicia Keys

And lastly, my favourite fashion quote of all time…

“Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess.” — Edna Woolman Chase

Don’t you feel inspired, now? I know I do! These quotes and sayings have inspired me numerous times and they apply to just about about any fashion situation.

What are some of your favourite fashion and style quotes? Do you have your own fashion mantras and quotes you live by? Share it with us by commenting below!

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I was browsing through Nordstrom and found 4 little black dresses under $100 that I think would look quite chic this holiday season.

Images: Nordstrom

Maggy London Lace Bodice Mesh Dress ($98)

Teeze Me Tiered Mesh Dress ($68)

Images: Nordstrom

Teeze Me Rhinestone Bow Strapless Dress ($78)

JS Collections Sweetheart Neck Mesh Dress ($93.90)

I love the first and last dresses. The first one is elegant but sexy. The empire waist is figure flattering as is the v-neck.  The second dress is demure and sophisticated but the sweetheart necklace is a sexy classic.

Honestly, any of these little black dresses would make terrific choices for a fun night out with friends and loved ones.  The fact that they’re all under $100 makes it that much sweeter. So, which one would you choose?

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I was browsing through Forever 21 earlier today and noticed they have quite a few fabulous ankle boot styles to chose from so I thought I’d show you 5 stylish and affordable ankle booties that I definitely wouldn’t mind wearing this season!

Images: Forever 21

Segment Bootie ($25.80)

Zipper Trim Slit Pumps ($22.80)

Cutout Leatherette Bootie ($25.80)

Images: Forever 21

Basket Ankle Boot ($25.80)

Urban Studded Bootie ($26.80)

Don’t you love how all of these are under $30? At that price point you can get several pairs!   Sure, you can drop the big bucks on the latest designer styles but for something this trendy I would definitely go the more budget friendly route.

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One of my other friends scored her wedding dress at JCrew and I went over to the website today to check out their selection and was quite impressed.  If you want a gown that’s simple and elegant, below are six wedding gowns I definitely wouldn’t mind wearing when the husband and I renew our wedding vows.

Images: JCrew

1. Silk Taffeta Tatum Gown ($1100)

2. Silk Dupioni Gwendolyn Gown ($695)

Images: JCrew

3. Metallic Rose Madison Gown ($1000)

4. Limited Edition Confetti Dress ($995)

Images: JCrew

5. Heirloom Organza Banded Gown ($2800)

6. Dominique Gown ($2850)

Aren’t they lovely? I especially love the Confetti dress! The cut is simple, sexy but the embellishments make it fun and elegant too. If you know of a talented seamstress you can also purchase these gowns and add your own touches to them too.  If you love these, there are other styles available on the JCrew website!

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Image: Glamour Magazine

Without further ado, Glamour magazine’s 2009 Women of the Year are…

1. Dr. Maya Angelou – A memoirist, poet, educator and civil rights activist.

2. Dr. Jane Aronson – A pediatrician who created Worldwide Orphans Foundation which has provided life-altering support to more than 20,000 orphans around the world.

3. Laura Ling & Euna Lee – These two journalists were arrested and imprisoned while reporting on the plight of North Korean women who cross into China to escape starvation.

4. Marissa Mayer – Helped Google become the number-one search engine.

5. Stella McCartney – One of the world’s most influential fashion designers and animal activists.

6. One Million Signatures Campaign – A group started in 2006 by a group of Iranian women to end gender inequality.

7. Amy Poehler – A talented and fearless comedienne.

8. Susan Rice – The first female African American U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

9. Rihanna – A talented and widely popular music artist who started the Believe Foundation which provides educational and medical supplies to needy children

10. Maria Shriver – The first lady of California has redefined her role to inspire and shed light on women’s roles at work and home.

11. Serena Williams – This tennis wonder has won more career prize money than any female athlete in history. And her foundation, Serena Williams Foundation, gives grants to college students.

Glamour has also given special recognition to the First Lady, Michelle Obama for her efforts to mentor the youth to achieve their goals.

What do you think of the list? Do you agree with the choices?

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If you’re a shoe addict and a bargain shopper, here’s a list of 4 websites for affordable and stylish shoes you might not have heard of.

Love My Shoes

Cutesy Girl

Urban Original

Gotham City Online

All of these websites cater to the bargain shopping fashionista in all of us. They carry an assortment of shoes from super trendy to your basic flip flops. This are the site you should definitely check it if you want to try out a trend but don’t want to spend a lot of money.

What I love and what I don’t like (sometimes) about these sites are their turn around rates. Sometimes you’ll fall in love with a shoe and then it’s gone or they’re out of stock or they no longer have your size. It’s a little frustrating to say the least. My only advice is to check out their sales (because they have them often!) and if you see a pair you really, really want, get them because someone might just beat you to it!

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Image: Newscom

Below are my top favourite fashionable TV shows – maybe we’ll share the same ones?

Gossip Girl
My guilty pleasure! I love Serena’s boho style and Blair is always channeling Audrey Hepburn. I can even appreciate Jenny’s edgy outfits. GG has helped me discover and fall in love with new handbag designers (Rebecca Minkoff, Be&D etc.) too and the music selection is always inspiring.

Glee
I personally love Rachel Berry’s (played by Broadway star Lea Michele) prep-school style on the show. Who can forget that fabulous green and black Marc Jacobs houndstooth skirt she wore on the first episode?! And Emma Pillsbury (played by Jayma Mays) prim and proper lady-like style. The whole show is simply amazing, this is what “high school musical” should have been. Are you a Gleek?

Project Runway
Heidi Klum is a total doll and I adore Tim Gunn, together they make this show. I enjoy watching the designers compete to be the best and it’s nice to see all the hard work that goes into designing and creating a piece of clothing (no matter how beautiful or ugly!)

America’s Next Top Model
I honestly can’t stand Tyra but I love all the fun and fabulous photo shoots and creativity that goes into the model’s make, hair and clothing. Plus, I love Miss J’s antics on the show and the interaction, friendships and drama the models have with each other.

The Rachel Zoe Project
Who doesn’t love Rachel and her associates, Taylor and especially Brad? Whether they’re styling celebrities, pulling outfits and accessories or just bickering and hanging out, this show is a fantastic peek of what really goes into putting a look together.

That’s it! It’s a short list I know, but those are my favourites. What shows do you love because of the fashion? Let us know below!

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