biadabella

new direction

2011-10-10T21:50:00.000-07:00

To my sweet followers,

Each of you is so fabulous, I wish you all the best. My brand, biadabella, is headed in a new direction, so I will no longer be blogging here. Much love, and keep enjoying fashion!

If you enjoyed this blog, check out my new (updated) personal blog here.

xoxo
Lo

tumblr

2011-04-02T13:31:00.001-07:00

I caved...check out my tumblr at http://biadabella.tumblr.com

There are some pretty fabulous things on there, if I do say so myself (:

the ultimate cache giveaway

2011-03-31T12:59:00.000-07:00

Did you like my little play on words? For those of you who don't already know, I have been working with the incredible Carrie Purser to achieve my best hair and makeup look. She is so talented, she probably deserves a post on her own, but I'll save that for later. She suggested I check out Oakstream Photography, and they do some excellent work. There is a lot of new growth going on the in valley of Cache, and several generous vendors have volunteered to celebrate it! With a prize package valued at over $1500, every resident of the Utah/Idaho area should register to win. Head over to http://oakstreamphotography.com/blog/?p=5127 to enter.

But really, a CACHE giveaway? I thought it was hilarious.

a few of my favorite things

2011-03-13T00:53:00.000-08:00

This is a stream-of-consciousness list of things I love and things that make me happy right now.

Aggie basketball. Pictures in magazines, movie screens, mirrors, cameras, and beauty queens. Lady Gaga. Monster Ball in 6 days. Parlez vous OPI. Airplane flights. Europe and anything Italian. The thought of being someplace other than the Western United States. Driving for hours and seeing at least a dozen different cars with decals of my favorite sports teams. Yankees, Knicks, and Giants. My daddyo. My mumsy. Lovely older sister and her cute baby boys. Spontaneous thank you notes from seven-year-old dance students. Writing a paper and really loving it. Getting a good grade on said paper. Watching people get what they want, especially when I think they deserve it. Going to bed at 2 AM after driving for four hours and waking up for nine'o'clock church--especially because I know my church meetings will only make me feel even better (:

blue skies?

2011-02-27T22:43:00.000-08:00

You know when you have just "one of those days"? Well, I have thrown in the towel on days like that. Too many times people ask me how I am and I have to answer something like, "okay," or "average." I need spring to get here--that way I can really have nothing but blue skies.

Ahh, a quick glimpse at the DKNY Spring 2011 collection and I already feel closer to this.

Speaking of blue skies, meet Jaymay. I like her music a lot.

What do you do to get out of a funk, lovelies?

I'm off

2011-02-24T17:16:00.000-08:00

I was sitting at the bar with a bowl of cereal the other day when my cute roommate, Callie, asked me what I was up to. I looked up from the 4" screen that is my EVO (bless smart phones, they are so fantastic) when I realized other people couldn't see that I was obviously blog-stalking my friends.

"Well, Callie, I just got finished stalking your blog. Love your new post about Justin Bieber." Then Callie did something unusual*. She said something brilliant. "Lauren, you spend a lot of time reading other people's blogs, but you never, ever post." And she was dead right. So that's how we wound up here!

In between shifts studying at my computer, three things have made me cry. I must be super weepy or something, because seriously? Here they are:

My fiercey friend Stephanie posted this video of last year's Miss Cache Valley being crowned. These girls put everything they have into competing, so seeing someone win made me emotional, I guess. I love when people succeed! Steph is competing this year...in nine short days...and she has already made me so proud.

Secondly, I watched this super cute little girl perform Gaga's new single, and started crying again.

Tender, right? Later I opened my email and there was a message from one of my favorite missionaries. I love knowing people I love are serving the Lord so selflessly. Cue more tears.

I'll probably delete this post because I hate it. Lately I don't like anything I write. Maybe I'll just stick to blog-stalking.

*of course I'm joking, she says smart things all the time. Really though, go check out her blog and read some of her ingenuity for yourself.

marc

2011-01-14T21:42:00.000-08:00

This summer all of the Biada girls, (me, my mom, E, and K) went on a trip to Huntington Beach, CA. Beaching was amazing, plus I love every opportunity to check out real designer stores. Anyway, we were on the drive from the golden state to Utah when we needed to stop for gas/food/etc. Much to my delight there was a Neiman Marcus's Last Call at this random place and I had to go in. I wandered right into these two beautiful Marc by Marc Jacobs pieces and I was head. over. heels. I love leopard and I love pencil skirts and I need a good trench coat if I go to Utah State and these are a really INCREDIBLE deal. I wear the trench a lot lately. It's fun because the print is loud but the cut is so classic. Plus it's a great signature piece--no one ever forgets me (;

A Bountiful Kitchen

2011-01-01T19:27:00.000-08:00

For those of you who didn't already know...I have always been terrible in the kitchen. My mom was so worried that she nearly made me get a meal plan when I went off to college, but I assured her I would be fine. Crazy thing is, now I love cooking and baking. Like a lot? My absolute favorite resource is written by my dear friend Si- abountifulkitchen.com. Go check it out. She is fabulous and all of the recipes she posts are too. Definitely worth taking a gander (:

Ciao bellas!

lo

hello...I have a computer?

2011-01-01T18:43:00.000-08:00

Between 4 and 5% of the world's population owns a computer.

Approximately 76% of all American adults own a computer.

And I am officially part of both of those figures now (again) !

Living life without my laptop was hard. I don't even know how I did it. But, baby, I am back and ready to blog like no tomorrow. Especially what with this break and being full of boredom.

Major shoutout to my sister E who braved the idea of fixing a computer herself instead of just giving it to my dad to fix. You are practically a saint in my book.

ohmyFUN

2010-10-15T16:28:00.000-07:00

This post doesn't really have anything to do with my other posts, but I have just gotta say it.

There is too much excitement right now.

( I mean that in the best way)

I am honestly not sure if all of this joy can fit into my comparably small body.

Crummy things happen - you can take that to the bank. It's just that right now I am looking at so many opportunities it makes it next to impossible to look back.

School is great. Friends are great. Family is great. Work is great. Project Runway is great. Autumn is great. Goals are great. And life is even better than all of those combined.

God has blessed me in more ways than I could ever imagine. I thank each of the people in my life for acting as angels on his behalf.

LOVE YOU
lo

PS I realize I don't normally post like this on my blog, but I need this to be recorded in case I ever forget how awesome things are and how lucky I am (:

Get out your Tide-to-go pens..

2010-09-13T13:29:00.000-07:00

because New York has decided the color for spring is white. Here are some of my favorite white looks from NYFW so far

Look from everyone's favorite Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham

Max Azria did a long flowy weekend outfit

And finally, one of the looks from my new favorite collection DKNY Spring 2011. More on that later (;

Ciao bellas! Lo

epic

2010-09-13T13:13:00.000-07:00

"I don't care about fashion. I care about women."

9/12

2010-09-12T15:58:00.000-07:00

Nine years and one day ago our nation was changed. September 11, 2001 was a devastatingly sad day for America. However, on 9/12/2001 the USA became a new place. Flags were filed along the streets. Songs of American pride were abundant. And on that day it didn't matter what color your skin was or who you believe God is. Even if you didn't believe in God it was okay: We were all American.

Yesterday, NYFW-goers wore red, white, and blue in memory of the people who were lost. These photos are courtesy of style.com.

I love the blue crushed velvet against the iconic red Louboutin sole of these shoes. Plus, what's more American than denim?

This is my favorite picture of all of them. I love how she mixed patterns and prints, but it still looks polished and put together. She's wearing silver and gold and I really love it. This is one look I will definitely try to do myself (:

Today I ask that we all rekindle the flame inside ourselves that is patriotism. If you aren't registered to vote then go register tomorrow. Show some love to our troops who keep the United States safe. After all, it is the land of the free because of the free. Stop and say the pledge of allegiance when you see a flag. Let's make sure we aren't the oblivious America of 9/10/01. Help us not to be the terror-stricken country of 9/11/01. Let's return to being the united people we were on 9/12/01.

sorry.

2010-09-12T15:06:00.000-07:00

I wish I could say that I took some awesome hiatus to travel across Europe slash had been a personal stylist for Zoe Saldana slash other awesome stuff. Unfortunately, none of that is true!!

Things got going pretty crazy back in March, and then on April 29, 2010 my daddy died. Unexpectedly. So that kind of left me not caring about biadabella which makes me feel really bad. Here is a picture of Me and my daddy on my senior prom. I'm wearing the D&G dress that I bought in Mezzolombardo, Italia, where my cousin Silvia works. From the D&G pre-spring 2009 collection. This picture was taken six days before my dad died. I guess I'm happy that I didn't know he was going to die because I was really happy.

But, I'm baaack!! I'm a freshman up at Utah State University now and I love it. I have really fabulous roommates and a cute little fixer-upper apartment. There is so much walking up here that I swear every day is a fashion show.

and on a side note...

HAPPY NEW YORK FASHION WEEK

I will do my best to tell you what I love. And what I hate. And what quirky things I can't ignore.

cheers! lo

LBD

2010-09-12T14:46:00.000-07:00

Back in November I went to see Coco Before Chanel and loved it! In order to make a gown for a formal event, Coco goes to the local fabric store. The lady who works there proceeds to show her gaudy pink silks, white netting, and assorted candy colored taffetas. When Coco insisted that she wanted a plain black silk, everyone was really confused. Coco simply replied that black is the only color that brings out the eyes. And that is how the Little Black Dress came to pass.

I was speaking with my mom last night about how I am decidedly an individual. When it comes down to it, it's people who are different, for a reason, and stick with it 100% that society remembers (that's one reason I so adore Lady Gaga).

That was a mess! But now that I'm off my soap box, here is the fall 2010 collection of one of my favorite NY based designers and Project Runway winner/diva, Christian Siriano. I feel like this black looks so luxe and glamorous. Enjoy (:

BTW this was written in March. Ouch.

my favorite show from ny so far:

2010-02-18T20:37:00.000-08:00

Grey is one of my new favorite colors, so j'adore how Marc started the show.

I love the mix of textures in this look

This contrast of patterns makes me verrry happy.

okay-I love this nail polish. I have a pretty grey and a pretty taupe-but I'd need them to meet somewhere in the middle to get this look. Is that possible?

Notice the lacy springy dress flawlessly transferred into f/w territory.

I don't normally fall for an entire collection. But this was different. This collection is the ideal mixture of eclectic and wearable.

Hot leather gloves

I need this rain coat. So gorgeous.

And I would wear this look to a formal event. I'm willing to wager on the red carpetablity of this gown (:

Cheers!
lo

RIP

2010-02-11T11:14:00.000-08:00

Designer Alexander McQueen was found dead after committing suicide. I guess you could say he really was a tortured artist.

My heart goes out to his family and friends. Not to mention hope of furthering fashion.

brilliant or rogue

2010-02-10T20:31:00.000-08:00

Brogues are terribly on trend right now. The ideal blend of oxford and edgy. And I think they're the perfect way to add a little androgyny to your wardrobe. I also love how they tone down a really girly outfit. These are my picks from Free People

I love these teal suede ones. They're a beautiful color but they could also be a neutral winner.

Jeffrey Campbell makes some adorable brogues (see above and below). The gloss of patent leather on the nude color just seems so chic to me!
This cognac pair bring new meaning to the phrase "back to basics". Haha even my mom says they remind her of something she would have seen growing up!

Last and definitely not least, we have what I think are the most crushworthy pair of flat shoes I've seen in a looong while...

Aren't they divine? By Pour la Victoire, they're completely reminiscent of that Dolce&Gabbana collection with all of the metal...I'll have to remember which one that is by next post!

Yeah, I really want them. Okay, so you've heard my take on brogues, what do you think? I know a lot of people say they would never wear them, but these are the same people that told me I was nuts for wearing skinnies. Yeah, they pretty much live in skinny jeans now (: ohh living in Utah is sometimes like living in a literal fashion desert, but it's got its perks. Look for a post about some of them coming in the future!

xoxobiadabella

PS tomorrow marks the beginning of Mercedes-Benz fashion week. Are you as excited as I am!?

copycat

2010-02-09T21:58:00.000-08:00

I'm relatively obsessed with what goes down on the runways. Whether it's what I see on style.com, fashion spreads and ads in Harper's Bazaar, or on the red carpet. I feel like shoes really are the most cohesive form of fashion. They legitimately connect us to the world and serve a defined purpose.

With that said, it almost makes sense that I have a sort of mental catalogue of designer shoes. Like, I'm kind of stalkerish with them.

Anyway, I was clicking around karmaloop.com (which I happen to think is a pretty awesome new shopping concept) when I noticed a brand called Ziginy. I saw that they had a pair of shoes that, let's just say, was definitely more than inspired by rhinestone sandals in Blumarine's Fall 09 collection.

Here is a beautiful picture of the F/W camp ad for Blumarine. Isn't that model stunning?

And here's a closeup of the shoe.

Now here are the knock-offs.

So after I clicked on the Blumarine wannabes it suggested a sandal that was uncannily like the Giueseppe Zanotti for Balmain sandals by the same ziginy brand. Note: I believe these sandals caused more knockoffs than any shoes in a while. Bebe, Steve Madden, Jeffrey Campbell, Wet Seal, Aldo, and-honestly-countless others.

The S/S 09 campaign for Balmain

A close-up of the beauties

and the knockoffs in a different hue.

So tonight I have a question for you all...would you ever knowingly wear knockoff shoes? If so, would you wear either of the pairs in this post? Are there any designer kicks you wish had knockoffs for the purpose of wearing and affording them? Do you think this is an issue of ethics? Discuss (:

'tis the Week of Shoes

2010-02-08T20:55:00.000-08:00

I've transgressed...again. I totally let go of my blog! Last time I left you with an empty promise, so this time around I've decided to prove my devotion to a) fashion b)blog and c) you, by blogging about shoes all week long. Plus, after that, we'll have NY fashion week to entertain us (: so let the shoe posts begin!

Have you ever wished you were Christian Louboutin? Manohlo Blahnik? Giuseppe Zanotti? Well today (and just about every day after) is your lucky shoe-designing day. Meet Atelier Shoes. You can design your very own stilettos with this awesome tool. They offer tons of different materials and trims, so you can have plenty of fun just playing around with it. Looks like I'll be stuck with playing around for now since the shoes I designed ended up costing like $250...however, it might just be worth it to play shoe designer!

promise to keep up all shoe week long,
biadabella

cash giveaway

2010-01-18T19:00:00.000-08:00

What? $5000 cash. Plus monthly winners get $200
Where? LuShae Jewelry

So go on over and enter! Plus here are pictures of shoes I'm obsessed with right now.

This first one is gorgeous photography, no? I love the dark lip. What I love more is those purple suede shoes. If anyone can ID them then they are my new favorite! (edit: This photo was brought to my attention by one of the first fashion blogs I started 'blog-stalking' The Fitting. Head over there and check out her awesome perspective!)

This is a close up of the shoes at the Fendi S/S 2010 show. I love the contrast of the lush fabric and hard lucite. You must admit, those are some pretty sweet kicks!

photo credit: fashionserved.com and style.com (natch)

Love them. Love you!

biadabella

ps I still have an exciting post coming up. This just happened before I got around to the details of it.

Just like a celeb

2010-01-17T21:38:00.000-08:00

If you have ever dreamt of wearing designer frocks to dances and parties, but haven't wanted to drop the cash, then Rent the Runway is made for you. They offer direct from the runway looks starting at just $50. One great thing about RTR is that you can wear the dress for one night or so for a small fraction of the price of purchase. RTR also ensures you will have a dress that fits by sending 2 sizes - just in case. It's sort of like having your own fairy godmother to give you that great dress for the night. Plus, it's completely high school dance friendly (hello, how many of your dance dresses have you reused? And if you have reused them, tell me how!)

Anyway, here are a few of my favorite styles and how some of them were shown on the catwalk!

(btw my sister says it's confusing when I put the captions above the pictures, so I'm working on fixing that :)

Sherbet Cap-Sleeve Bandage Dress

Hervé Léger by Max Azria

Flutter Sleeve Belted Dress

Malandrino

Satin Envy Dress

Moschino Cheap & ChicIt's not uncommon that a watered-down version of a runway product will be sold. And that's exactly the case with this one! Plus I love the shoes on this..half sandal half shoe. pretty clever!

Chic Chemise

Tibi

Embellished Waist Dress

Tibi

If you're thinking this one looks familiar, you might be a Gossip Girl addict.

And yes, it was Queen Blair who wore it. Season 3?

Anyway, there are loads more great dresses at their website. If you're interested in a membership (which is completely free), I'd love for you to leave a comment! I'll invite you via email, so feel free to leave your email addy in the comment or email it to me at lbiada@live.com

photo credit: renttherunway.com, style.com, and stylecaster.com

Ciao! biadabella

Girl Crush

2010-01-15T13:17:00.000-08:00

I believe that's what you call it? Emma Watson is not only a fantastic actress (who happens to play one of my favorite fictional characters), but she is flat out gorgeous. So classy and gracious, I think she's a great role model! Here's a video behind the scenes of her shoot for the Burberry spring ad campaign.

I think I'm ready for Spring!!

Sorry for the lack of and general spacey nature of my posts lately. I promise I'll make it up to you with my next one. I promise you'll love me when you see what I've discovered (;

ciao! biadabella

Campus Quilts

2010-01-07T10:34:00.000-08:00

I just ran into this concept and I absolutely love it! Campus Quilts will make a quilt out of any memorable fabric you can come up with (t-shirts, socks, blankets, anything!). On mygiveawaytoday.com they are giving a $150 gift card to Campus Quilts if you enter! Make sure you go and leave your comment for a chance to win this awesome prize (:

xoxobiadabella

That boy is a MONSTER

2010-01-02T15:30:00.000-08:00

I'm currently gaga-obsessed, hence the title.

I went to see the movie Nine which is about an Italian film maker. I would definitely not recommend it. Despite the fact that it was directed by the same man who directed Chicago, it was just kind of weird. The cast was incredible, but the plot was just (here comes that word again) weird. But I have to admit that I loved the Italian details. One of the best lines in the film was in a song by an editor from Vogue America.

Dark handsome guys. Skinny black ties!

Yes please (:

And happy new year and new decade! Let's not only toast to our blessed country, but resolve to be involved as much as we can. Democratic Republics need the people in order to work right, or even at all. As my very wise father always reminds me, "Inspect what you expect."

Cheers!

PS I'm wearing a pair of turquoise earrings. Did you think I would lie to you little darlings? (;

website launch:

2009-12-28T13:57:00.001-08:00

My website ( biadabella.com ) was supposed to launch last week, but there have been some technical difficulties. ):

However, when the server decides to do its job and I finish the design, what features would my lovely readers like on the web page?

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and have a happy 2010.

and pardon my mistake on my last post (apparently fendi was fresh in my mind, that was the Proenza Schouler show)

Turquoise

2009-12-10T18:09:00.000-08:00

I've neglected my blog in a major way. But, it's official! Pantone has named turquoise the color for 2010. To get in the mood for it I referenced Proenza Schouler's fantastic Spring '10 collection to see how they used the color:

I love how they put turquoise in with blue and greeny-yellows.

Maybe invest in one turquoise piece that you can use all the time! A shirt dress is a great example. Dress it up, dress it down, or dress it warm for winter. winwinwin

If you're really devoted (and I mean really devoted) you could die your hair to match the happy color. By the way, I recently came off much way more hard than I meant to on a friends hair-color job. One not-so-fun way to learn that absolutely everything you think in your head shouldn't be spoken aloud. Especially if you're sleepy and can't even think of words.

Or you could go a bit purchase some small turquoise accesories and mix them in with everything. Blue is one of those colors that can get away with going with just about every other color.

photo credit: style.com

Cheers! Don't expect a post from me til next year. And yes, I will be wearing turquoise (;

Dancin' in the Moonlight

2009-11-13T18:50:00.000-08:00

I will admit when one of my cute readers asked for a post about high school formals, I was pretty excited. There are only a few more left for me, but I don't think I'll ever turn down helping someone else get ready for these dressy nights.

Seriously though, when you are in the awkward ages of high school, you don't have many opportunities to dress up. A lot of people take these opportunities to dress like princesses (which is fine, to each his own). However, I don't dream of being a princess when I grow up, I'd much rather be hitting the red carpets (: So...that's how I imagine dances-not to mention how I try to dress for them.

The biggest problem I ran into when shopping for dresses and gowns was the modesty factor. There are so many beautiful cocktail frocks sans sleeves. Some people give up. I'm here to say don't for any reason give up! It is not only important, but possible to keep covered and look super classy.

When asked where I got my most recent dresses (both adorned with cute cap sleeves) the answer seemed to surprise people. Nordstrom is a great place to get modest, pretty dresses for reasonable prices.

I'm not saying they're ridiculously cheap, but a unique dress from places like Modest by Design can easily be $250-450. And generally when promise you'll be the only one at your school wearing it, they're not 100% honest. Chances are someone else has the same design and cut of dress with just a different color scheme.

Anyway, now that I'm off my soap box, I'll share some of my favorite looks available online.

Suzi Chin Maggy Boutique Ruched Stretch Satin Dress in Midnight

I love the retro look of this dress. The half-sleeves make it super classy and the navy blue would be really fun to accessorize. Worn with an awesome pair of shoes, this could be fantastic

Suzi Chin Maggy Boutique Empire Silk Dress in Cranberry

This would be perfect for a Christmas formal. I adore the ruched details! The best thing about investing in dresses like these is that they you can re-wear them for church, weddings, graduation, banquets, etc.

Komarov Pleated Dress in Rose Dawn

This pretty-in-pink number has a beautiful sheen. It would look gorgeous on anyone, but especially on a beautiful fairskinned girl.

Donna Ricco Gathered Neck Sheath Dress in Garnet

Red dresses are a perfect way to get some well deserved attention (: This sheath has pretty details and I love the shoe they paired with it!

Adrianna Papell Lace Sheath Dress in Black

Last I'll share this beautiful black lace dress with you. The 3/4 length sleeves make this dress very appropriate. This would be beautiful with a colored shoe and accessories to match.

Believe it or not, I didn't list even half of the dresses I found. Plus I didn't cover floor length gowns. But since I'm the type to walk the talk, all of these dresses are under $200. As I was sitting here writing this, I thought of a couple other excellent ideas to share. Haha looks like I have a lot more formalish posts coming up.

xoxobiadabella

Making Outfits

2009-11-06T18:50:00.000-08:00

Awhile back I asked you ladies what kinds of posts you'd like to read, and two of my most loyal readers (Kalli and BFF Steph) asked for a post about making outfits. I've spent a lot of time thinking about how I could convey the thought process, but I'm totally drawing a blank! It's almost like choosing pieces and outfits is an organic process for me. So I've come up with a list of tips to help you look your cute and put together and also make people think you have WAY more clothes than you really do.

♥ Never, ever underestimate the power of old clothes. You can always do something with that plain old t-shirt or a uniquely patterned anything. If you utilize the great things you bought 3 years ago you'll look like you have an enormous wardrobe. Plus, it's totally earth-friendly to use old clothes!

♥ Don't be afraid to try new things. Just because you think you can only wear one pair of shoes with one outfit doesn't mean it's true! Host your own little dress up parties and put wacky things together. You might find that it can be a perfect sort of quirky. (Confession: Around the house, I wear all sorts of things that don't go together. Hoodies, patterned skirts, furry boots, jeans, and button ups. Sometimes wearing normal clothes in different ways is a good way to strike gold. And other times you just look like a fool :)

♥ Embrace sales and new purchases. When you're shopping and you see something you 'need', think about how you could use it. Avoid purchasing things that you won't ever wear. Sounds simple enough, but I've been victim to this trick enough times to know better.

♥ Buy a variety of things. Almost every store has a good return policy, so go ahead and splurge on one batch of clothes. Take them home and hold them up against the rest of your wardrobe. If you're following the last bit of advice, check to make sure it really goes. If you don't like it and can't figure out how to use it within 2 days, take it back!

♥ Challenge yourself. Sometimes we neglect fabulous items in our wardrobe. If you feel like you don't get enough use out of a particular item of clothing, make a challenge with yourself! Come up with as many different outfits as you can and wear them that week. As long as you are remixing your wardrobe, people don't notice repetition. And if you can wear it for a whole week, it's suddenly become a staple!

The only other thing I can think of is to document your outfits. My brain is such that I remember most outfits. However, if you aren't OCD in that manner, take pictures! Take a picture of every outfit you wear. Browse those photos, look for common elements, and put them together. More than anything, don't be afraid to try new things! You might feel a little silly in some of your newly-developed outfits, but the best accessory is confidence. Walk around knowing that you look bad-awesome. Convince people. Sell people. Before you know it, they will think you are a style goddess (:

L'amo!

biadabella

Real, Real Sweet

2009-11-03T14:11:00.000-08:00

This is a super random post, so I'm just going to make it a bulleted list

When I was at the mall (last monday, by myself) There was a very talented man singing and playing the guitar on the corner. I walked past him the first time without even looking. The second time, however, he was playing a very familiar song by the Indigo Girls called Closer to Fine. I simply couldn't resist throwing a dollar into his case and singing with him. I imagine the rest of the people at the mall thought I looked pretty ridiculous, but I could have cared less. I went over and harmonized with him for a good minute then walked back to my car singing the whole way. When I got to my car I realized-these are the kinds of things that truly make me happy. Frankly, I think sometimes we forget to be really happy, like the genuine kind of happy. So I challenge you to do something that makes you really happy this week (:

Halloween was so fun! I went to BFF Steph's party and I dressed up as Dora The Explorer. Couldn't help but laugh when I saw that Jessica Alba had the same costume idea as me. I felt pretty cool.

Notice Steph's Super cute tooth fairy costume (: Definitely a DO when it comes to recycling prom dresses!

I was obviously mid-laugh during this picture

Jessica Alba as Dora (Just Jared)

I'm relatively obsessed with Yoga lately. Just thought I'd throw that out there

Consider this a declaration of my love for the Yankees. I'm not involved with watching any sport besides baseball because I love watching them play. They're definitely part of my heritage since my dad grew up in New York playing baseball as a child. I agree with my sister that they just didn't want the year to end in Philadelphia. You will certainly be able to consider Yankee Stadium 100% christened when they win the world series there (:

Lastly, here is a song by Meiko. Ever since I discovered her last year I've loved her music. She seems like a totally chill person and her music is awesome. This song Real, Real Sweet is one of my favorites because of it's background and clever lyrics. Enjoy!

Love her. Love you!
biadabella

Mall on Monday

2009-10-26T18:24:00.000-07:00

Just to clarify, I'm still blasting Jaymay. Cannot get enough of her!

The weekend...so funny! I went on a group date where we did 10 minutes of tons of different things. No more, no less. (If you think you saw me hula-hooping in the round about Friday night, you probably did..)

Went to a Halloween dance on Saturday, it amazes me how many people stick to the Halloween costumes you get in the box. Are we seriously that ignorant? The purpose of dressing up in October is to dress unlike anybody else...hmmm...

School today was on a laughable note. I had to drive for forever to get a silly yearbook picture taken in rush hour traffic. So I had to find some therapy somewhere! This is when I dropped past the mall. It was like I was shopping by myself! Apparently the rest of the world doesn't find nearly as much joy in bargain hunting Monday evening as I do.

The point? Go to the mall on Monday! The stores were all clean and organized. It was the Sister Missionaries and I in a very clean Forever 21. Weird, I know.

My other strange mall habit? I haven't been to the mall with somebody in a very long time. It was either school shopping for my little sister or with BFF Q. Is that weird? My mom always seems to be surprised that I like going by myself, but I find I'm much more 'on task' that way.

So tell me, my darlings, what are your shopping habits? Are you an online junkie like my mom (love you mom) or do you go with your friends on the weekends? And if you're ever available for very short notice shopping, let me know!

I bought a beautiful headband from JMR Chalk Garden that matches my favorite pair of Naughty Monkeys purchased from the same place. Score! And a beautiful birthday present for Jessye (:

Standard Procedure

2009-10-18T14:34:00.000-07:00

Still stuck in bed. Not moving very well. But, here's what I have been doing with my time to keep me happy

♥Makeup work: not overly fun, but satisfying enough

♥Baseball. How about them Yankees everybody?! Second win over the Angels in the 'semi-finals' in the bottom of the 13th inning in terrible weather. Had me on my seat all 5 hours long.

♥Boyfriend T-shirts. I scored mine at good old Tar-jay for 8 bucks a piece. Comfy. Cute. Practical. Trendy. Cheap. If that's not love, I'm not sure what is!

(Don't worry-The heathered grey looks much nicer in person, and I got mine a size up. I guess you could say it looks better on me than the model haha. Must not be my humble day.)

♥Some old sweats from Costco

♥Italian Style Wedding soup. If you haven't had it before, drive to the grocery store and buy some! Or you could try making your own (once I can stand long enough I plan on coining my own recipe)

It's Simple:

Mini-Meatballs

Pastina or small pasta

Chicken Broth

Spinach

and, of course, garlic. (See a hilarious post about garlic at my sisters blog here)

And there has been a lot of picture loving that's kept me sane...my wrists don't want to move anymore. The fever pains are back (: More coming soon.

I'd love some feedback about what you guys would like to read. Whether it be outfit disasters that need sorting out, an answer about a trend, or anything else you can think of, let me know! This is the post to comment on for any requests.

XxOo biadabella

Hiney

2009-10-17T16:08:00.000-07:00

That's the way the cool kids pronounce 'H1N1'. And frankly, I think this stupid swine flu is much worse than any word I'm permitted to say, let alone hiney. Reason I'm the most upset? I'm missing Ingrid Michaelson tonight. The tickets to that concert have been hanging on my wall since August, and now I don't get to use them. Yesterday I was so ill I couldn't even dress myself. Luckily I'm better today, but still contagious.

My good friend McCally asked me to go shopping at Gateway with her this afternoon. Had to say no :( So, to remedy my situation, let's go pretend-shopping for vacations!

Right now I feel like Indonesia. I remember falling in love with it like it was yesterday...waterfalls, plants, beaches...mmm.
But back to reality, I wouldn't want to stay in a sketchy place there (I'm sure you wouldn't either.) Shall we pack our bags for the 5-Star Gangga Island Spa & Resort?

Beautiful private beach

Gorgeous sunset on the infinity pool

I think I could handle sleeping in a room like this, don't you?

PLUS they have tons of adventure options. From scuba diving to river rafting, you wouldn't be bored.

Would you rather get your gal pals together and head to Paris for some fantastic sightseeing, shopping, and luxurious food? (but there would be no creepy Taken situation.)

Maybe Marrakesh for something exotic and really warm. Can't help thinking of Absolutely Fabulous when I talk about Morocco. Here's a funny clip of their trip to Marrakesh and Edina raving about how it's thanks to Britain that Morocco is modernized at all. Sorry for my obsession...

I'll be honest, Lover, Italy sounds pretty good right now too. So beautiful, peaceful, and full of famiglia.

New York. Cancun. Fiji. London. Tokyo. Even good old-fashioned Disneyworld. We can go wherever you like today thanks to the Internet (:

So my dolls, tell me; Where do you feel like escaping to? If you could apparate, where would you find yourself?

L'amo

biadabella

Express

2009-10-12T15:59:00.000-07:00

So, lately I have felt like I'm in a bit of a rut. When this yucky cold Utah weather comes around, I always feel like I'm wearing the same thing as last year..and the year before..But, my current cravings have been cured thanks to Express!

It's no secret that I've loved this store since the first time I stepped in, but I do sometimes feel like they take the 'sexy' thing a little too far. Like, let's be honest, not EVERY piece of clothing we wear is sexy? Is it supposed to be?

Anyway, my last two trips have yielded delicious fruit. I got a pair of beautifully tailored satin finish black trouser pants for twenty and change. Plus I scored a beautiful over-the-knee high-waisted patterned...did I mention beautiful?..very loved pencil skirt. I've been crushing on it since I found it, but I pulled a Rebecca Bloomwood in that instance.

Do I need this. Do I need this? DO I NEED THIS?

At the time it was about as justified as those Gucci boots.
(PS if you haven't seen Confessions, go redbox it now!)

So Express gave me a coupon for $25 off of $50. I wasn't expecting I'd use it. I wasn't even sure why they gave me a coupon after I exploited their sale. Then all their outerwear went 30% off! I got this beautiful (minusthe)leather riding jacket for $46.23. And if you were wondering, their faux leather isn't like most of the other stuff. For what it's worth, I didn't notice it wasn't leather til I checked the tag. Plus it's PETA friendly, right?

It's been a crummy weekend. I've had some fluish mess, dealt with silly high school drama, and missed visiting my favorite oldest sister's house! But this coat has restored my faith in the human race.

Bonus Points:

I'm going to see Ingrid Michaelson this weekend with my BFF Steph. Couldn't be more pumped!

Alexander McQueen..holy kick awesome!

Chanel. Karl Lagerfeld has my nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize! And my heart.

Anyone who reads this deserves a special treat. I'll be on the lookout for something suitable for any stylish reader of mine (:

Ciao!

biadabella

Randomness that is my life

2009-10-02T21:06:00.000-07:00

First thing on my mind...fanny packs.

Are they practical? Are they attractive? Why are designers set upon bringing them back?

Roberto Cavalli

Marc Jacobs

D&G Dolce&Gabbana

For some reason, I just have a hard time considering them glamorous in the least. Maybe it's just me.

Next up, I had a fun time playing heavy metal for school the other day. Watches, bangles, bracelets-all in different shapes and shades of silver. I loved the final result, and plan to mix it up even more in the future.

The best part about this? It looks far more expensive than it really is. The jewelry is stuff I've picked up at local thrift stores, Forever 21, Target, and even Walmart. The watch is a beloved hand-me-down from BFF Steph who purchased it at Nordstrom. Quick way to add some wow factor to any outfit.

I have lots more to share with you, so stay tuned for new posts!

BiadaBella

PS Here's a picture of our home-grown mele for my readers in Italia

Wow.

2009-09-28T18:20:00.000-07:00

What a weekend it's been! I spent the days preceding the weekend hanging on to my seat between exclusive previews of the Dolce&Gabbana S/S 2010 show. No magazine editor or celebrity gets to see the collection beforehand, so I felt pretty important wondering what this fantastic duo was going to pull out next. One thing is for sure-you can always count on these Italianos to have a show unlike any previous. Needless to say, as soon as they began streaming the live footage of their show, I was awake and in position! The music and the lighting matched the clothing perfectly. Che bravo, no? Without further adieu: My favorites from the show!

Maybe it's the ballerina in me, but I adore the look of black on a fleshy-champagne pink. It was standard uniform for too many years not to love it. The lace and tulle made for chic shape. But let me draw your attention to the feet...did anyone else notice the sandals and socks thing? Opinions please (:

Those are some well mixed patterns, aren't they? Nothing says springtime like florals and I simply could not get enough. Not sure if these are bloomers or what, but they'd work with full length leggings.

Beautiful tailoring undoubtedly courtesy of Mr. Domenico Dolce, the Sicilian Tailor's son.

Happy to see I'm not the only one wearing jersey under strapless dresses. I think this is super classy and goes well with the rest of the collection because of the layering (and floral of course).

Those are just some delicious little bits of the show, go to style.com to check out the rest!

(Photo credit to style.com)

Ciao!

BiadaBella

Here's to the days..

2009-09-26T20:37:00.000-07:00

This is for the days when you just feel a little bit like Bubbles. Or maybe even a lot like that crazy-kooky AbFab girl. Laugh it off with these clips from my favorite British Comedy.

Bubbles on New Year's

Bubbles in an All-American Mood

Bubbles breaks out into Lion King song

Wow, I think I feel a bit more sane after watching those (:

Autumn Fallin'

2009-09-13T20:31:00.000-07:00

I've gathered some of my favorite fall styles - both designer and simpler inspirations. I have a big crush on Italian designers lately. Maybe I'm biased, but it is my heritage, after all. Hope you enjoy the eye candy as much as I do, and keep on the look out for high fashion-inspired deals. J. Crew, Gap, Nordstrom, Target, even Forever 21!

I'd like to start with the fuchsia floral trend that was all over the runway. I'm majorly crushing on this silk rosette tote by Valentino.

But I can't help but think to myself how awesome it would be to carry this beauty around while wearing these sassy pink floral peep-toe pumps by Moschino.

And to pull the whole theme together, how about this modern take on the classic blazer by Giorgio Armani?

This all seems pretty familiar to me. Anyone see the resemblance between these three pieces and this fantastic tee from J. Crew (which is now on sale) ?

Fascinating how fashion works like that, isn't it?

***

Now onto the sassier, sexier trends for fall. I adore the look of animal prints, I love black pencil skirts, and frankly, what can beat a beautifully made platform pump?

Impeccably detailed jacket by Italian fashion-house Blumarine.

Now, tell me that Dolce&Gabbana didn't do a fantastic job with these pumps. The covered heel with the cheetah print, red patent, and sassy insole is so fabulous. The perfect mix of urban, chic, classic, and a bit safari. The contrast of the leopard print with the jacket and the peek of cheetah with the shoe is part of what makes this fantastic. Fashion is fashion. Style is style. And boy, this is stylish!

All of these looks are available at Nordstrom, minus the J. Crew tee.

Also, check out this song by one of my favorite musicians, Jaymay. Her album Autumn Fallin' is not only the inspiration for the title of this post, but full of witty lines and as clean cut as the clothes I've shown you.

Ciao, and happy fashion week!

BiadaBella

Welcome

2009-08-24T21:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog, BiadaBella. I have been brainstorming names for years, and finally decided I'd rely on my Italian heritage to keep me on my game. I have a few posts coming up that I'm very excited for!

Crushin'-Showing some love to beautiful designer pieces for this fall. Emphasis on Italia, of course.

NY Fashion week-Expect some awesome coverage about American designers and their S/S collections.

High School Dances for the fashion inclined-How to avoid the Princessy, cheap, and just plain boring trends of HS dances.

But today, I'm giving props to one of my favorite blogs produced by ElizaMagazine. They have such incredible content. Needless to say, I've been hooked since my first issue arrived last spring. On their blog ( elizamagazine.com/blog ) there is an awesome giveaway! Make sure to check it out. They are giving away one 'Lauren' style clutch by Hobo. As if the name isn't enough to make you go out and buy one on your own, they use fine leather and make super functional pieces. Make sure to get your entry in pronto!

Ciao
BiadaBella