Designer Danielle.Cicero

This week I decided to highlight a designer that has inspired me regarding fashion and life. Danielle Cicero (maiden name Martin) was born in Hartford, CT and currently resides in Hartford, CT with her husband (Marcus Cicero) and daughter (Natliya Cicero).
At a young age Danielle began recreating catalogs that her mother would receive in the mail, she later began her own designs and in high school she was apart of fashion shows given by the school's sewing courses. After high school Danielle moved to Long Beach California where she went to school (where she received her degree in fashion design from Brooks College). Danielle states Byron Lars as a inspiration for her fashion design.
Danielle is always innovative and using various mediums to inspire her. For example, an earlier collection was inspired by the late singer Aaliyah in which she combined Asian inspirations to create a unique, hip and sexy look. Soon after she moved back to the East and began working for Jordache, A.B.S and a slew of designers. Danielle is currently a freelance designer.
These current looks being featured are from Danielle's casual formal/bridal wear line. Danielle's rich fabric selection, attention to detail and overall comfort (I should know I wore them) ensures any woman can feel beautiful on that special occasion.
Credits:
Designs: Danielle.Cicero
Styling: Danielle.Cicero and Kecia Holden
Makeup: Kecia Holden http://www.purposebydesignmua.blogspot.com/
Photography: Danielle Cicero
Set styling: Natalie Parham
For Danielle's blog:
www.dezinediva.blogspot.com

To smoke or not to smoke, that is the question.

For a few years I've been obsessed with smokey eyes. Season after season I see designers, stylists etc. making a bold statement with this look. So for this installation I decided to venture into the smokey eye category. I bought a baked black eyeshadow from Sally Beauty Supply along with my Rimmel eye shadow set and decided to go to town one night.
My inspiration for this interpretation of the smokey eyes comes from 2 sources, 1) The Revlon ad featuring Jessica Biel and 2) The back album cover of Nancy Wilson's greatest hits album. I wanted to get the same dramatic beauty both of these women give. I believe Nancy Wilson has a similar skin color to mine, so I found it useful to see how they mixed the colors on her. The Jessica Biel campaign was great because I loved the mixture of the colors and how they placed a lighter yet rich color on top of the black.
The black shadow I used, as you see, has a shimmer to it. I liked the contrast of the purple to my skin and the rest of my face, I am becoming obsessed with blush!
How do you think I did, was it a major FAILURE or was it an accomplishment?

Dress of dreams

This week I decided to post a dress that I love, I found it on Forever21.com. I have heard about all of the legal issues Forever 21 is going through regarding their blatant plagiarism of designers clothing. Tsk tsk Forever 21, tsk tsk. However, I do admit that I love their stuff and their Twelve by Twelve line is great. The designers are in LA and put couture-esque flair on the looks. This week I discuss a dress I am in love with while looking through their website.

This is the "Contrast Ribbon Sweater Dress" under their French Revolution section; they are selling it for $29.00, I don't think it is being sold in every store but I will begin the hunt. I love this dress because the colors contrast so beautifully, it gives shape to someone like myself who is not curvy and lacks a bust. I like the length, since I consider my legs one of my best assets.

Overall, I designate this a "Pam dress" that needs to be in my wardrobe.

A Handbag dream...

I have fallen in love with 2 bags by Marc Jacobs from his Marc line Fall/Winter 2009. The first is the Petal to the Metal Sasha Hobo Bag and the other is the Classic Q Hillier Hobo. These bags are amazing. Big beautiful and come in grape! Who wouldn't want these bags. So the Petal to the Metal is SOLD OUT, yes, SOLD OUT! It is ridiculous. I wanted that bag so much but alas there are non left, unless you want to be overcharged on Ebay. The Hillier Hobo is available so now I am saving in order to purchase it before that one is sold out also. The Hillier Hobo is shown in gray and the Petal to the Metal is shown in black.

New Year, New Project

The initial intent of my blogging adventure rendered a large FAIL. However, I have decided to proceed with new ways to blog that I feel will make this a more enjoyable experience for all involved. After seeing a plethora of blogs that present one's daily look to bags, shoes and items of clothing that they have, want or need I have decided to create a hybrid of these blogging adventures. I begin by posting my look of the week. I wore it today.


I have on Michael by Michael Kors Carney boots ($150 at TJ Maxx), Forever 21 Skinny Jeans in gray ($12.90), H&M black sheer top (free from sister), Gap black spaghetti strap tank ($10), Have open front cardigan ($7.99 at Ross), Vintage necklace from Mom, small gold hoop earrings ($12.99 at Ross) and brown crystal ring inherited from Grandmother.