Catherine Nicole

Like a scene out of Gossip Girl, the internet and society columns have been on a week-long binge over the Costume Institute’s annual Met Gala that was held last night. Who’s going, who’s their date, and what will they’ll be wearing? Honestly, I was getting kind of sick of what’s referred to ad nauseum as Fashion’s Oscars (an odd title, considering that the Oscars are also Fashion’s Oscars), but I couldn’t skip Vogue’s big night out. So, here’s a look at where true glamour still fits into our modern and, apparently, avant-guard world.

From Stylelist
Anna Wintour in Prada

From PeopleStyleWatch
Jessica Biel in Prada with fiance Justin Timberlake.
Gisele Bündchen in Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci with husband Tom Brady.
Emily Blunt in a Calvin Klein gown and Christian Louboutin clutch with John Krasinski.

From Stylelist
Va va voom, Clare Danes in J. Mendel

From Mirror
Rooney Mara in Givenchy Couture

From Fashionista
Ivanka Trump in Peter Pilot
Amy Poehler (to the side) in Fotini

From FabSugar
Elizabeth Banks in a Mary Katranzou homage to her Hunger Games character, Effie Trinket. Yowza!

From Stylelist
Jessica Pare in L’Wren Scott. (Check out all the people behind her.)

From Fashionista
Carey Mulligan in Prada

From Stylelist
Greta Gerwig in Prabal Gurung

From Fashionista
Coco Rocha in vintage Givenchy, once owned by Elizabeth Taylor.

Now I know the theme was surrealism, but looking at these just makes me want to put on something flowy to lighten the mood.

Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Amy — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:45:36 +0000

I just love my mom. I love her for having daily tea parties with me, for watching me try on 15 prom dresses (only to pick the first one I put on), for being patient while teaching me to drive, and so much more. Above all, I love her for raising me to be a strong, driven, and confident woman. Here are some celebrity moms, but let’s be real… Our moms are the real rockstars.

Reese Witherspoon with Ava and Deacon, Huffington Post

Jennifer Garner with Violet, InStyle

Tina and Beyonce Knowles and Blue Ivy Carter, UsMagazine

Jessica Alba and Honor Marie, Day Old News

Tina Fey and Alice, Movies Pad

Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise, People

Gwen Stefani and Kingston Rossdale, Blogger

Michelle Williams and Matilda, Babble

Michelle Obama with Natasha and Malia, Babble

Mother’s Day is coming up on May 13, so let’s all send some love to our mothers for being totally awesome. I bet she’d love a gift, too.

Sasha Earrings $120

Natalie Bracelet $98

Eliza Necklace $130

Mani Mania

Amy — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 21:48:24 +0000

Pinners are going crazy for nail art! Entire Pinterest boards are dedicated to collections of funky manis, delicately painted designs, and irresistible new polish hues. I’ve gotten into the trend myself because I just love a cute mani, and it’s brought a whole new level to accessorizing. Add glitter, layer some gold leaf, or rock some ombre nails… Maybe even on the same hand. Totally acceptable.

From Cupcakes and Cashmere

From We Heart It

From Passion Nail Art

From Chloe’s Nails

From Oooh Shinies

From Birchbox

From PShiiit

From Make Up Savvy

From Fab Fit Fun

From Lynda the Merciless

From PShiiit

From Own Those Bones

From Project Nails

From OMNails

From We Heart It

From Gold Fish Kiss

From Pinterest

Shot of my own nails!

I know I just did my nails, but… it might be time for a new mani! How are you going to paint yours?

Silver and Rose Vintage Wedding

Marisa — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:04:43 +0000

A beautiful dusty rose colored dress with silver details for that non-traditional bride. So romantic and lovely….

Empowering Women and Girls Across the Globe

Marisa — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:52:06 +0000

For almost a year now we at Catherine Nicole have be running our Chicks Against Child Brides program, which gives $5 from every catherinenicole.com sale to BRAC, an international non-profit who believes that with the right tools, women can play a crucial role in bringing about changes within their families and their communities. This donation contributes to the effort of giving impoverished girls access to microloans to start their own businesses.

Through our relationship with BRAC, we get to hear the wonderful ways our contributions are making a difference. Here is one of their latest success stories that we wanted to share with you.

Meet Annet…

From BRAC

Annet and her parents struggled to survive on their meager income in the Kasakoso village in Uganda. She was forced to drop out of school in the 5th grade because her parents couldn’t afford the fees. She tried to help out by getting a waitressing job at a local restaurant, which paid about 50 cents a day. Frustrated with the situation, Annet became interested in energy saving charcoal stoves. “This clay stove consumes very little charcoal compared to the ordinary charcoal stove,” she explains. “With this stove, UGX 500 (25 cents) of charcoal can last for three days of cooking, which goes a long way to save both the trees and money for users.”

Annet joined one of BRAC’s clubs for adolescent girls, where one of our trained mentors provided her with life skills and financial literacy training that helped her build her business. She was given a loan to expand her business. Today, Annet employs four people who help her make more than 200 stoves a week.

“The BRAC adolescent program and loan have developed me financially,” says Annet. “I have become more responsible after gaining business and finance management skills.”

With a safe space, training, and a small loan, BRAC gave Annet the tools she needed to start a successful business that creates jobs and protects the environment.

From BRAC

My Boho Parisian Look

catherine — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:24:43 +0000

My Boho Parisian Look by catherinenicolejewelry featuring a crochet dress

Quiksilver crochet dress
$128 - quiksilver.com

Chloé suede boots
€504 - ekseption.es

Bracelet
$55 - catherinenicole.com

Mango aviator sunglasses
£18 - houseoffraser.co.uk

Vintage White and Gold Earrings
$38 - catherinenicole.com

Designer Wallpaper and the Revival of Kitsch Patterns

catherine — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 03:25:32 +0000

The re-emergence of wallpaper has been a long time in the making. Thanks to auto-cad and this century’s love for throw-back design, wallpaper is turning up on sites and stores everywhere. With a new shake on the standard toile pattern or a trippy homage to deco days, we certainly have more options today than the lonely Laura Ashley patterns that replaced vibrant 70s wallpaper colors with delicate flowers and ultimately fizzled into 80s nostalgia.

From Design Crisis

Removable Wallpaper from Apartment Therapy

From Debbie Davis Interior Design

From LaurenConrad.com

From Brooklyn Limestone