Fabulous Event Etiquette

I originally wanted to publish this post before Christmas, but I then decided to push my blog launch into the New Year. However, this is an important topic, so I definitely want to make sure I talk about it with everyone, especially since the weekend is right around the corner.

When attending celebrations or events at someone’s house, you should always take a nice bottle of wine or alcohol with you as a gift. I learned this while attending Oprah’s School of Gifting (maybe this is not a real school, but I think I sound fabulous when I say it, at least I think so).

I was taught you never want to show up to someone’s house empty handed, but the person who came up with this concept had an ulterior motive. I believe the person went to the house of enough people where there was horrible alcohol, so they came up with this polite way to bring their own, and then it became proper etiquette.

Everyone has been in that awkward situation when you are at someone’s house and think to yourself, “Who bought all this cheap alcohol?” At times like this, you always are able to open what you brought. My biggest pet peeve is when people bring the cheap, I mean inexpensive alcohol and are the first to drink the good stuff. (Um-hmm, I see you with your faux fabulous self.)

No one judge me, but when I attend functions and throw my own, I always take notice of who brings the (I have a good phrase for it) “less than desirable” alcohol. I either will never invite you over again or I will make sure I fail to arrive at an event at the same time you do so I am not associated with your “less than desirable” gifting habits.  

Here is my rationale: being fabulous is a lifestyle, so do not come to an event wearing Gucci, but you brought Pearl vodka and are running for the Ciroc the second they open the bottle. I am not saying you have to gift top shelf alcohol, because I do not depending on the event and whose event it is, but a fabulous person would never give others alcohol they themselves would never drink. Plain and simple.

So when getting ready to attend your events this weekend, please keep this in mind because people will talk about you no matter what, so just make sure you give them something fabulous to talk about.

Because to be fabulous, you have to know what makes you fabulous!

Fabulous or Faux Fabulous: Golden Globes Edition

When it comes to awards shows, celebrities always try to make a statement on the red carpet. Sometimes the statement they try to make with their fashions is extremely bold, too muted, or just plain faux fabulous. So here are my Fabulous or Faux Fabulous picks for the 2012 Golden Globes which aired last night. Let me know what you think by commenting below.

Fabulous:

Charlize Theron in Dior Couture. She was definitely the best dressed of the evening. When I saw her in this gown, it simply took my breath away and made me pull out a brown paper bag because I started hyperventilating.

Angelina Jolie in Versace. I love the pop of color on the collar and then the repetition with her red clutch and lipstick. The day Angelina Jolie looks faux fabulous, it will be the end of the world.

Mary J. Blige in Michael Kors. Everything about this dress is perfect and it made her look so glamorous. I wonder which shoe she is wearing under there?

Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang. This strapless gown with the fishtail is fabulous in my book. It manages to show off her figure in a sophisticated manner.

Elle MacPherson in Zac Posen. She took my breath away with this nude colored gown and was one of the best wearing this color on the red carpet.

Evan Rachel Wood in a sequined and leather gown by Gucci. She was channeling Mystique from X-Men with this dress because she is giving part fish and part peacock, but it works for me and instantly caught my eye.

Emma Stone in Lanvin. She looks so good, I almost did not know it was her. The color of the gown and her plunging neck line make this look a hit.

Mila Kunis in Dior. It is true when they say you can never go wrong with a little black dress and she proves this statement to be true.

Kate Beckinsale in Roberto Cavalli. I just love this gown, but there is something about the top of it I am unable to get over. It helps define her shoulders and draws attention to her effervescent face.

Viola Davis in Pucci. I love the gown and she looks immaculate, but look at her face, it is just flawless and gives me true starlet! She is truly shinning.

Lea Michelle is stunning in this gown. It was by far the sexiest on the red carpet and I am sure it turned a lot of heads.

Kate Winslet in Jenny Packham. What is there to say about her except she always looks classic and sophisticated. 

Faux Fabulous:

Sarah Michelle Gellar in Monique Lhuillier. She said her two year old daughter picked this gown out. In the future, she should leave picking out gowns to a stylist with a little more experience than two years.

Amanda Peet in Marc Jacobs. This dress so reminded me of the doilies on the coffee table at my grandmother’s house. I hope she made it through the night without someone mistaking her dress as a coaster.

Piper Perabo. I wonder if she is smuggling someone into the show under her dress? I know what it is, this is the 2012 interpretation of the Strange commercial from the movie “Boomerang” with Grace Jones and she is about to reveal a new fragrance (click here to view what I am referencing). Okay, maybe not, but it definitely looks like it a little bit.

Heidi Klum makes the faux fabulous list because this basic dress was way to basic for me. She must have thought she was going to a PTA meeting instead of the Golden Globes.

Jodie Foster in this dress is an epic fail, nothing more to say.

Jessica Biel in Valentino. Something must have happened to her dress while she was on her way to the show, so she stopped by her grandmother’s dress to borrow this. This is the explaination I am able to give.

Tina Fey in Oscar de la Renta. There is something about this dress I am unable to put my finger on…wait, it is one of those horrid dresses brides make their bridesmaids wear. Maybe this is her way of trying to get casted for Bridemaids 2.

Jessica Alba in Gucci. I do not hate this gown, but it just does not do anything special for me.

Reese Whitherspoon in Zac Posen. This gave me a prom-queen-down-on-the-farm feel for some reason. I love Reese, but she missed the mark with this dress, especially since she was just not her usual polished self.

Michelle Williams in a textured leopard like print dress by Jason Wu. Now I know Jason Wu designs some outlandish clothes and I usually love them, but this just makes me want to call animal control because I think a pet from the zoo broke out somehow.

Zooey Deschanel in Prada. I love Prada, but this gown just gives me swap thing. Someone please send this photo to MythBusters and let them know there has been a sighting ASAP!

Ariel Winter in Dolce & Gabbana. The color and shape of this dress is just wrong for me. I think she may have borrowed this from one of those up-and-coming actresses who does reenactments at old historic mansions. I hope she does not get the person she borrowed it from in trouble if she gets a stain on it.

(All photos courtesy of Getty Images)

My Fabulous Inspirations!

Andre Leon Talley
and Anna Wintour

I will never forget as a child the day I was watching the Style Network (back when it was non-stop fashion) and there was this special they showed with Andre Leon Talley from Vogue. I instantly admired him because I had never seen an African-American, homosexual male on TV with a Gucci bag so big before.

In retrospect, I do not know if I admired him or his Gucci bag more, but this set the stage for my fabulous journey to get me where I am today. This one moment changed everything in my life. He served as my inspiration to become who I am today and allowed me to believe I am able to be just as fabulous as him, if not better.

One of the people who have recently inspired me is Diann Valentine because when I met her two months ago, she blew me away with her fabulousness, so much so I had to tweet about her. Here is the tweet:

Daryl J. and Diann Valentine

Even though she is one of the most fabulous people I have ever met, she is so humble and sincere, which made me like her more. She was so eager to take a picture with me which came as a surprise, but I am thankful she did. So please make sure you support her fabulous every week by watching her show “I Do Over” on WE TV.

What I love most about the picture is that even though neither of us has on a stitch of make-up, our fabulous radiates through the picture. It is because she owns her own business, has a TV show, and is fabulous beyond measure, she inspired me to start this blog and pursue my fabulous dreams as she herself has done. 

People are often not aware of it, but being fabulous is a process and the initial steps of the process require you to determine who inspires you in a fabulous manner and to emulate a part of them. It is true that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but being fabulous is more about taking bits & pieces from others while making sure you are not just a carbon copy of the original.

In high school when I was learning about writing style, I was taught you have to study the style of great writers (I used Zora Neale Hurston and Ralph Ellison as my writing inspirations) and merge the style of the writers who inspire you to create your own style. And honestly, being fabulous is no different. It is about taking what you find fabulous in others, combining it, and making it your own.

Trust me, it takes time to find your inner fabulous and there is nothing wrong with experimenting until you get it right. But when you finally determine what makes you fabulous, you will know without a doubt and others will begin to take notice.

Because to be fabulous, you have to know what makes you fabulous!