i'm so excited, and i just can't hide it

Hi dolls! I am so excited to tell all of you that I was nominated, along with four other fabby bloggers, for Lucky Magazine's Best Fashion Voice Award at this September's FABB (Fashion & Beauty Blogging) Conference. I am so beyond honored to have been chosen - Lucky Magazine has supported DRG and helped it to blossom in so many ways that I cannot thank them enough. 
I am so excited to go to the conference because so many women (and a few boys too!) who I admire will be there: Diane von Furstenberg, Coco Rocha, Kelly Framel of the Glamourai, designer extraordinaire Rebecca Minkoff, Rodger Berman, and Kim, Kourtney and Khloé Kardashian, just to name a few. I fully intend to stalk down the Kardashian sisters - I think they must know the well-established fact that I am a 'Kim' and that my mother contends she is the 'Khloé' of our family. 
With the conference less than a week away, I am left with a bunch of butterflies in my stomach that I can hardly concentrate on anything - homework, emails, even this post! 
Because I am a jumble of nervous energy, I call on all you dolls to help me with this all important question: what do I wear? I have narrowed down my choices to either Annie Hall menswear chic or a Brigitte Bardot-inspired wiggle dress. I simply cannot decide between the two (maybe I'll do like those obnoxious teens on My Super Sweet Sixteen did and have multiple outfit changes throughout the day). 
More importantly, are there any other bloggers out there who will be attending the conference - and perhaps want to hang out with little ole me? 

get a dose of her in jackboots and kilt, she's killer-diller when she's dressed to the hilt

I consider Yoko Ono to be an unwitting fashion icon. Known professionally as an avant-garde artist - nay artiste - and personally as a key figure in the Lennon legend, the idea of becoming a fashion vixen probably never crossed Miss Ono's mind. But with her penchant for short shorts to show off those long lean gams of hers, as well as her rotation of sharp blazers, mini dresses, printed blouses, and sunnies so big she could give Jackie O a run for her money, it's hard to deny that Yoko is a fashionable presence. Being a fan of the monochrome myself, I love that Yoko turns so faithfully to black and white in her wardrobe - whether in her all-white wedding outfit (including white miniskirt, go-go boots, and full floppy hat) or black tailored tux with white satin top hat at the Grammy's (love her standing next to Beyonce!). Forty years and more in the public, and she's rarely missed on a look.

Title: from "Polythene Pam" (The Beatles)

why am i always messin' with the big guns?

Being from Texas, I have a natural attraction to guns. You see, I am a real badass (as evidenced by the photo in the top right). Real guns scare me though, so I explore my arms interest through fashion. Pistol necklaces, bullet earrings, and this Betsey Johnson sweater fill my gun need (a blue version of the sweater is available on eBay). I paired my BJ sweater with a pair of my favorite black Hue jeggings and Steve Madden 'Pasport' boots. I love all black outfits - it's my color of choice because, after all, once you go black you never go back.  

Title: from "The Big Guns" (Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins)

you know my motivation given my reputation

I've long adored Bianca Jagger - her style is beyond impeccable and her humanitarian efforts are commendable. Not too long ago I had a Facebook discussion with a friend of mine consisting of how excellent Bianca is, with photographic evidence to back up our claims. This conversation showed me something - two people as different in style as my friend and I are both saw something aspirational in Bianca. There is a reason she is a fashion icon - her worldly look is idolized the world over. Her style, though unpredictable and constantly cutting edge, has some key components we can all learn and adapt into our lives. Here are my tips on how to dress like Bianca Jagger.

Keys to Bianca's look:
1. Adopt a quirky accessory and make it your signature - whether it was a turban, dove feathers in her hair, strange headpieces, or a walking stick, Bianca always hit the clubs and concerts with an item of interest. These items kept her look constantly edgy and kept her adoring public waiting for what wacky accessory she would adopt next.
2. Go to the max - most of think of short little numbers as our go-to going out outfits, but Bianca opted for loose-fitting maxidresses with either spaghetti straps or an off-the-shoulder look. Her long and loose dresses were sexier than most all of the other skimpy 70s looks that have appeared in the photos of Studio 54.
3. Channel your inner dude - Bianca wasn't afraid to trying menswear trends, and she usually rocked them more than Mick! When you think of androgynous chic done right, often your mind goes right to Bianca in one of her many pantsuits. The pieces don't have to be YSL, but right-fitting classic pieces - like a fitted blazer, slouchy trousers, and a tuxedo blouse - are style signatures that can look like a million dollars, no matter the real cost.
4. Understand there's no such thing as too much of a good thing - too many necklaces, beads, bracelets, or boys? There was no such thing in Bianca's world! Remember that more is more!

Title: from "Tonight" (Enrique Iglesias) ... I know, I'm kinda ashamed

if you wanted the moon i would try to make a start, but i would rather you let me give my heart, to sir with love

I love the swinging style of the 1967 film To Sir, With Love. Of course I adore Sidney Poitier, but surprisingly my attention wasn't stuck on him - it was on the fab fashions of Lulu, Judy Geeson, and co.

The film is basically about a group of rowdy, unruly high school students who are inspired to change their lives by their hep cat of a teacher, Mark Thackeray (played by Sidney, the king of all cool in my book). Could you imagine going in to school everyday in coordinated minis and teased hair? Only in my wildest dreams would I have the effort to do that everyday! 

The film is known for its uplifting storyline, which has inspired many other do-gooder teacher films in the passing decades, as well as the chart topping hit by Lulu inspired by the film.  

Title: from "To Sir, With Love" (Lulu)

somebody help me, my neck hurt, my chain heavy

Partially inspired by Melanie Griffith in Something Wild, featured in my recent Louise Brooks post, but mostly inspired by my insane love affair with accessories, I celebrate the 'statement necklace' - the loud, large, heavy pieces that dominate any look. The louder, larger and heavier, the better. 

I love anything turquoise, but I adore Raquel Welch's Native American-inspired stone necklace

Even while on the run, Faye Dunaway's Bonnie never abandons style with this gold coin necklace

Anita Pallenberg has a fabulous array of baubles

Not to be outdone by anyone, Kanye West rocks a few awesome chains

Carmen Miranda never says no to strands of beads

Twiggy incorporates her dress into a necklace into watches into magical-ness

Edie Sedgwick is never less than the ultimate It-Girl with her signature style of gamine clothes and a heavy beaded necklace

Elizabeth Taylor, the queen of jewels, has some amazing pieces on display 

Judy Collins shows how strands of small beads can be made into a statement-making look

My style hero Iris Apfel

Keith Richards rocks the pirate-rocker-hot god thing really well

La pièce de résistance - Maria Felix's crocodile necklace

Title: from "Heavy" (Gucci Mane)

piano keys

The green strapless dress is actually a chiffon maxiskirt from American Apparel, belted with a linen Catherine Malandrino belt for more structure. The blazer is a really lightweight boyfriend style by the Gap, worn previously in this post. Shoes are Sam Edelman Kasi wedges in Mineral (available here). My necklace is a piece that I purchased in South Africa a few years ago. It's such a statement piece that I can only wear it with certain outfits, but I love it so much - it reminds me of piano keys. My nail polish color is 'Hot Pepper' by Face Stockholm, available at J.Crew. My lip color is 'Coral' Mango Butter Lipstick by Korres. 

The Lovin' Linkful

Great advice on how to find your style trademark and why we all need one - yes, you too! (College Fashion)

If you're like me and can't get enough Adele, check out this makeup tutorial inspired by Miss Rolling in the Deep. (BreBeauty) 

This article promises (and delivers!) clothes that will make you look like a 70s-era Ali MacGraw. (The Gloss)

How to wear skinny jeans if you have big thighs. Yes I have already bookmarked this. Twice. (The Budget Fashionista) 

Explore yoga-lover and goddess of mindfulness Kimberly Wilson's podcasts, site, and blog to find your inner tranquilista. (Tranquility du jour) 

If you're in a funky funk like I am and are looking for a fresh start, check out The Happiness Project and start your own today! (The Happiness Project)  

The best recipe how to make adorable little pies. (Not Martha)  

Finally! The secrets of good - nay, great - skin. (Doe Deere)

And if the above tips aren't enough, here are tips and tricks from Hollywood's top dermatologists and facialists. (Allure)  

Is Emily Post still the be-all, end-all of etiquette? This article delves into this issue in a funny, charming way. (LemonDrop)

A fabby flapper dictionary. (How About We) 

"16 and Well-Adjusted." Genius, genius, genius. (Crushable) 

The Marianne Chronicles

What can be said about Marianne Faithfull? A lot, actually. She’s been known as Miss X, the girl on a motorcycle, the goddess of proto-goth punk, a convent girl, the angel with big tits (to charmingly quote Andrew Loog Oldham), the girl in the fur rug, homeless junkie in Ossie Clark, a vamp with a whiskey-soaked voice to match, the daughter of an Austro-Hungarian baroness, descendent of Leopold Baron von Sacher Masoch. She's been known by many names and many labels. She's been written about and then written off more times than half of Hollywood. 

I've been working for a while on a follow-up to the Pattie Chronicles centered around Marianne, and I feel confident enough to begin sharing some of what I've gathered about the enigmatic Miss Faithfull. Hopefully it won't disappoint. 

"I’ve always known who I was. Whether I could achieve to express that to everyone else was another matter. I am who I am. I’m confident enough now to show myself. Perhaps it took this long – I’ve thought of it before – it’s as if I’ve been staying undercover. You know, how animals keep to the trees and bushes, if they might get killed. I often think that’s what I was doing until very recently." - MF