They also have my favorite wine, Catawba. With all their bottles in the $13-$20 price range, they seriously can not be beat. You can also enjoy 3 complimentary tastings before your meal so that you know what to order. Next time you’re in the North Hills area, I highly recommend stopping by for a bottle or a bite. Or both!

- Katrina Oscarson
http://JellyJars.net

Without ever having a runway show, Duro Olowu was dubbed Best New Designer of the Year by the British Fashion Council in 2005. Born to Nigerian and Jamaican parents, Olowu started off his professional life as a lawyer before pursuing a career in design. Olowu’s work defines tribal chic, and the inspiration for his pieces is almost always pulled from ethnic sources. Although many of his bold prints appear to be made from African fabrics, they are not. Olowu designs all of the patterns himself, although they always seem to have the afro-chic aesthetic attached to them.

Recently Olowu’s bold prints have been brought to the masses thanks to a designer collaboration with JCP.  The look book can be viewed here. Everything is being sold at an affordable price- under $100. The collection has a few great key pieces that could be a bold addition to any spring/summer wardrobe when styled correctly. My personal favorite piece is the trench coat seen above. I hate to say it, but I’m disappointed. There is no denying that Duro Olowu is a fabulous designer, but the JCP pieces seem to be lacking in comparison to his runway work. I understand that the collection needed to be presented in a more wearable fashion for marketing purposes, but I just wish that some of the pieces would have resembled his previous work.

If I happen to find myself in a JCP sometime within the next month, I might bother to pick something up, but unfortunately, this collection falls short for me.

Will you be snagging any of these pieces?

- Caitlin

One of these days and hopefully soon spring will begin to take shape. Not only is it important for your wardrobe to reflect the change in season but you also should make sure that your makeup looks are spring appropriate. Color is a key trend with your outfits so make sure you match up accordingly, when in doubt go with subtly. During fashion weeks we saw lovely shades of blue and green on the eyes at Stella McCartney and Versus. If your up for it you can opt to add a few sparkles around your eyes for extra glamour! For your lips you can’t go wrong with some pink or neutral and of course red lipstick is essential. Just be sure your shades match up to your outfit as best as you can. If your dress has some darker red in it see if you can find a dark red lipstick that is a close resemblance, perhaps one that has some shimmer to it. If you want to give your lips a bigger and fuller look than you should outline the outermost part of your lips with a lip pencil. The cat-eye trend is still very popular with eyeliner and a favorite look of mine. Full lashes are in for spring such as this mascara from Dior Beuaty and a bold, strong-looking brow. A tip I read for your brows is to brush them before filling them in by using short feathery strokes. Glowing skin is going to be big   so stick with light colors and sweep across your cheekbones ever so soft.  An interesting tip I read was to wear a light-reflecting primer worn underneath makeup. What to do for your nails… bright colored polishes, cream, or you can go daring in dark and don’t forget your metallics of gold, silver and copper. This can be done on all of your nails, only a few nails or even simply the tips of your nails, all are acceptable and it’s your call how daring you want to be.  Why not treat yourself to a two-tone manicure instead of the usual french manicure. I have all the trends for you in the gallery below. All looks are for your own interpretation of course, experiment and see what looks best on you!

Justin Bieber has been taken to a London area hospital after collapsing on stage at London’s O2 Arena.

The dedicated pop star (who has been having an admittedly awful week) insisted on finishing the show for his Beliebers but experienced trouble breathing and received oxygen on site  before being taken for further evaluation.

Also, Kelly Osbourne fainted during a filming of Fashion Police today, and suffered a seizure. She was taken to a Los Angeles area hospital and at this time doctors are  uncertain of what caused the episode.

Sending both stars “get well” wishes from Glitzburgh!

Ruffles here, ruffles there I see ruffles everywhere trending for spring 2013. Ruffles are back in fashion and the are strategically placed and styled many ways.  This year the take on ruffles has a more “sculptural” look vs. a “princessy” which have been the trend.  You will find them on sleeves, necklines, skirt hemlines, big ruffles, little ruffles which is going to make it a difficult look. Tread lightly so that you aren’t picking an item that is overboard on the ruffles, if you have any doubts choose a blouse or skirt that has a simple ruffle in a key place on the garment. Another route is to go would be a spring jacket for those days when mother nature requires us to sport one. I have seen so many stunning looks and some that were overboard.  A cute little number would be a frilly top paired with a black pencil skirt or black pant. Taking this route leaves you stylish and not being one big hot ruffled mess.

Creator Dawn Lily had a specific vision in mind when creating her makeup and skincare line; treat yourself while benefiting the lives of others.

Charity by Dawn Lilly, LLC is a direct consumer exclusive makeup and skin care line. For every product that is sold, $1 is donated to a different selected charity each month. Awesome concept, right? Charity by Dawn Lily is dedicated to not only feeling and looking good, but giving back to the world around us. The company is much more than cosmetics and skin care. In addition to giving back, these products are healthy, paraben free, allergy tested, and not tested on animals.

A message from founder, Dawn Lily:

"Women buy make up and skin care. It’s important to many of us to look
and feel great. You can use our products, and our passion for
charitable giving as your big excuse to treat yourself to quality
products while benefiting the lives of others! You are able to give
back simply by purchasing our products with no additional cost.
Products many of us would buy anyway, therefore making it a win/win.
Let us help you become a part of our mission to give back while
enhancing your image with products of extraordinary quality! There are
so many great causes and organizations out there that play a very
important role; we could never pick just one. Each month, $1 from
every product sold will be donated to a different charity or cause!"

I hope that you will all take a chance to check out this new line. I can’t wait to see what else the brand has to offer in the future!

For more information visit: www.charitybydawnlilly.com www.charitymakeup.com

Awards season has been underway and with it has come many a fashion triumph! Sometimes, though, it’s hard to find those diamonds in the rough and find the true fashion gems amidst all of the blunders.

Things to consider when dressing for an event — in this case, superstar-filled awards shows — are:

• Fit: One of the worst fashion mistakes you can make is wearing a garment that is not flattering or properly tailored.
• Season: Bear in mind the season and try to keep your look consistent with what time of year it is.
• Occasion: Consider the occasion for which you are dressing. Celebrities, for example, can have more fun with fashion at awards shows like the People’s Choice versus the Oscars or Golden Globes which require the creme de la creme of fashion. The more formal the show, the less risks are usually taken…and that is okay. You must be respectful to the event and the occasion.
• Fabric choice: Remember, some fabrics look fierce in person but do NOT photograph well. For a camera-filled event, be mindful of looking fab for the photogs.
• Wardrobe malfunctions: Be prepared for anything and everything to go wrong! Wardrobe malfunctions can strike any time, any place. Be ready for rips, tears, snags, buttons popping off, zippers getting stuck, sweat stains, wine stains, and more.
• Duplicity:  Imitation may be the highest form of flattery, but you do NOT want to end up on a segment of E! Fashion Police’s “Bitch Stole My Look,” and, for those of us who aren’t in the limelight, it still isn’t a great feeling to spend weeks planning an ensemble only to see our best friend show up in the same thing.
• Accessorize: Make sure to accessorize your look appropriately. Don’t overdo it. Sometimes, less is more, particularly if your dress has a high or embellished neckline, or is a particularly flashy dress.
• Hair & Makeup: Be mindful of your hair and makeup. Does it age you? Is it appropriate? Does it add to your look? Sometimes, mixing hard and soft results in a stunning look. For example, a romantic gown with smoky eyes to edge it up, or, strappy shoes and spiky jewelry or messy hair to complement an overly girlish floral print. But – if you’re going to commit to a look, do it. Go all out! If you are going to go with straight, sleek hair or a high pony, make sure that it is ON POINT! If you are going to go for a whimsical, girlie ballerina look or a 1920′s screen siren look, own it!

Here are some favorite looks for awards’ shows this season.

It seems that Ms. Taylor Swift has “won” awards season with her continually fabulous looks! Either she has an amazing stylist and glam squad, or, simply exquisite taste…but my guess is that it’s a combination of the two!

Whose style is your favorite? What do you think the absolute best look has been, so far? Who are you most excited to see at the Oscars? We cannot wait to see who knocks it out of the park! The Oscar awards air this Sunday… we’ll be live-tweeting the event, and E! will have all of your red carpet TV coverage at the Oscars! 

Please join Pretty Living PR on February 23, 2013 at 7:30pm OR February 24, 2013 at 2:00pm, at the New Hazlett Theater to explore the art of dance and choreography by Duquesne University’s esteemed dance company, the Exhalations Dance Theatre.

“The Choreography Project” showcases the talents of the Exhalations Dance Theatre, and will offer an exclusive look at Pittsburgh’s finest upcoming choreographers and dancers. According to the press release, it is positioned to be an exciting “celebration of the human body in motion.”

Exhalations Dance Theatre is a dance organization at Duquesne University that celebrates all styles of dance. Founded in 2009 it now has over 80 members which include Duquesne students, alumni, and faculty. For Press Passes, Interviews, or Additional Inquiries please contact Pretty Living PR at prettylivingpr@gmail.com.

It wasn’t very long ago that no one could pronounce his name, and Prabal Gurung has come a long way since he launched his first collection four years ago. His designs have been worn by Michelle Obama and Kate Middleton among other prominent women. Since his debut, the message has remained the same. Prabal has been quoted saying  ”I’m not worried about trends. The new cool is clothes that fit and function.”

If you take a moment to watch an interview with Prabal, or read a press release you’ll find that he’s undeniably charming and genuinely grateful for his success. You begin to feel his success and his passion when you hear him speak about his work, and you can feel the overwhelming sense of pride that he takes in his designs. He has a passionate love of women that is reflected in his work- and now,that work is going to be available to a larger group of women.

I’ll admit to having harped on Target’s designer collections in the past. Quality is always an issue, and the collections always seem to be a down play for the brand. The recent Neiman Marcus collection was a flop, and I like to pretend that the Mulberry collaboration never happened (For Mulberry’s sake). When I laid eyes on the Prabal Gurung for Target look book, I was pleasantly surprised. The collection features 80 pieces that Prabal designed with the idea of love, wether its having it, wanting it, pining for it, or losing it.

I adore the collection, the idea, the look book and the commercial just as much as I adore Prabal himself. Flowing, feminine pieces are slightly structured to pack a bit of toughness, and I love the interplay of harsh dark lines among the flirty patterns. Classic black and white pieces are mixed with bold floral patterns that are reminiscent of 90′s swimwear.  The minimalistic footwear in this collection particularly speaks to me, I only hope that the quality is there.

In short, I’m in love. Which is perhaps precisely what Prabal had intended. The collection launches this Sunday, February 10th. If there is anything that catches your eye, I suggest that you make a trip to your Target early in the day since this collection has been hyped up quite a bit….and well, we all remember Missoni.

After you check out the look book, be sure to let me know what pieces that you will be picking up from this collection and how you plan on styling them. I hope that you can fall in love with Prabal just as I did.

xo Caitlin
@Chrysanthemumz

First Lady Michelle Obama has made quite the fashion hoopla since her husband first took office in the White House.

Like her or not, she’s become a trendsetter and a fashion plate in her own right.

Here are some of her fearless fashion looks for the 2013 Inaugural events including edgy new bangs.

Which look resonates most with you? What is your favorite First Lady style? Do you like her new hairstyle?