Jo’s Weekly Favorite Things . . .

Here’s a week’s roundup of my favorite things:

Favorite Book: The Secret Garden By Frances Hodgson Burnett

Favorite TV Show: SNL [with Taylor Swift]

Favorite New Top: FLANNEL SHIRTS! (From American Eagle)

Favorite New Color: Black

Favorite New Look: Sequins. . . lots of sequins!

Rihanna: Glamour Woman of the Year . . .

My Favorite Fashionista Moment of the Week:

Rihanna at the Glamour Magazine’s Women of the Year Awards (November 9) wearing a glamour-infused, architectural-detailed couture gown by Stephane Rolland .

Rihanna- 2009 Woman of the Year

[image from justjared]

Now – that – is how a Woman of the Year should dress like. Congrats Rihanna!

-jo

Fran Drescher’s “The Nanny:” TV Land’s Favorite Nanny . . .

Judging by my tweets, one can assume that I am obsessed with Fran Drescher’s “The Nanny.” Well – no need to assume – I am obsessed.

Fran Drescher as The Nanny

Having first aired in 1993 – the show ran for 6 seasons - ending in 1999 with 145 episodes. Nominated for 2 Golden Globes and countless awards, the show was a hit.  I remember watching a bit of the show when I was younger – and the thing I remembered the most was Fran’s high-nasal voice.  Yet no matter how annoying it sounds, it is iconic. You hear that voice, and you know its Fran.

Ten years after its last air date, I was re-acquainted with TV Land’s Favorite Nanny on Nick @ Nite over this past summer. Two episodes in – and I was hooked.  So much so that I ran out to the store and invested in Season 1 and 2.

What I love about the show is how it continues to stay relevant. The jokes, innuendos, themes and messages are still hilarious and important to today.  I also love the fashions of Fran Fine.  Her style from 1993 -1999 is what we see in the fashion magazines that are currently on newsstands.  Sequins, tights, menswear, blazers, over-the-knee boots, neon, studs, leather, fur and BIG HAIR = are all trends then and now.

Nanny Fine - Today

[image from polyvore]

I just recently watched the series finale, and it was bittersweet. The flashbacks, new beginnings and endings – were too much for me to handle.  Even though it ended ten years ago, I didn’t want it to end now (if that makes any sense.)  So imagine my excitement when I found out that there was A REUNION for “The Nanny” cast in 2004! (sidenote: Episodes continue to air on Nick @ Nite every night)

The Nanny Reunion - A Nosh to Remember

Here is part 1 – a perfect overview of the show:

Fran Drescher is still making waves – with her non-profit organization, Cancer Schmancer Movement, her official title as a U.S. Diplomat, Public Diplomacy Envoy for Women’s Health Issues, and now her ventures with a new beauty line: FranBrand for HSN. She is a powerful woman, who despite facing traumatic events, has kept her head high and continues to influence.

Honestly, watch The Nanny – there is so much learn, laugh and love.

-jo

Emma Watson for Elle Girl . . .

My favorite fashionista: Emma Watson.

Here is a photo from her outtakes of her photo shoot for the Russian Elle Girl thanks to Sassy! (I wish Elle Girl was still being published in the US)

[photos from Celebuzz- more HERE]

AND the shoes make the dress – a beautiful white constructed tutu dress, complete with gray glam Grecian-inspired heels.

-jo

Bad Romance Music Video . . .

“Ra-Ra-Ra” – is how I would describe Lady GaGa’s new music video for “Bad Romance.”

Sure the video is a little creepy . . . but I love-love-love the fashion  – I mean really, GaGa is the only one who can pull it off.

In one part of the video, she wears a full ensemble from Alexander McQueen’s Spring RTW Fashion Show:

Like this one. With the shoes and everything . . .

[photo from coutorture.com]

The shoes. are. insane.

GaGa has broken the barriers of fashion – and designers, like McQueen, are embracing this new creativity. Will we all go gaga and follow in Lady GaGa’s footsteps and become influenced and brave enough to wear . . .  well . . .  whatever she wears? I’m afraid I’ll have to pass, especially on the body-orbit get-up.

Nevertheless, I heart GaGa and her bravery, and I always will.

“Bad Romance” is the first single off her new album The Fame Monster (a re-release of her debut album, The Fame) – which I’m sure will be just as good as Fame.

Thoughts?

-jo

gaga oh lala . .

Twilight-Inspired Reprints of Classics . . .

I strode into my local Barnes and Noble today, in search of a much-needed inspiring book.  After I finally found my book (Ivanka Trump’s Trump Card: Playing to Win in Work and Life), I was making my way towards the magazine stands – when I came across something that made me:

A. Stop

B. Gasp

C. Cringe

Twilight-inspired reprints of the classics: Romeo and Juliet, Pride & Prejudice and Wuthering Heights.

Pride and Prejudice?

I stared in disbelief. My beloved classics – books I have read during my studies, books that I have savored for their timeless characters, plots and literary aesthetics – have been defaced to reach a “Twilight-hungered reader.”  The covers of these three books have been altered to resemble those of the Twilight Saga Series. Do not get me wrong, I am a fan of the series, but altering these classics? I cringe.

These books are now categorized in the Young Adult age range, and they are no where near the Classics/Fiction section of the bookstore. Sure, this is a great marketing plan – reaching a young reader base- by appealing to their interests [ie. Twilight,] and striving to gain their attention to the older classics. However, is it literally moral? How would Jane Austen feel if the book cover to her most accomplished love story was altered to match that of a teen romance?  Yes, the cover of  Pride & Prejudice isn’t the most “appealing,” but that’s what the whole point was: Elizabeth was written to be plain, as should the book cover.  Also, a book’s cover should reflect the story -isn’t that the point as well?

According to The American Crawl:

Everyone is different, everyone likes things and appreciates them differently. Meyer’s reprinting process is an act of embracing those wonderful novels that once inspired her. To others, like myself, it has become an act of defacing such wonderful novels that will remain fresh and great for years to come. I do not wish them to become sellouts.

There’s just one more question: Do we want our spectacular novels to be known as the books that inspired Stephenie Meyer? Or do we want them to be known for the writer’s who did anything and everything to put a good book in our bookshelves? [Defaced of Embraced?]

I could not agree more. By reprinting these classics with Twilight-inspired book covers, the works themselves will be seen as YA Literature popular “sellouts,” rather than true literary classics. What classics are next?

I love the Twilight Series, but don’t touch the classics.

What do you think of these new reprints?

-jo

American Eagle: Current Obsessions. . .

One may have overlooked American Eagle Outfitters as a respected retail store after High School – however – I have to say that AE apparel has come a long way from our high school days.  Keeping in tune with the current fashions, AE mixes current with tradition in this year’s Holiday season looks.

What am I obsessing over? Flannel, sequins, knits,  tights and jewerly. All of which can be found at AE at affordable prices. There is nothing like shopping recessionista style – while picking up trendy pieces at the same time.

Here are some of my favorites:

Shrunken Bonfire Flannel Shirt

Shrunken Bonfire Flannel Shirt

Cable Knit Cardigan Jacket

Sparkle Tank

Buffalo Check Sweetheart Dress

Brocade Strapless Dress (Featured in GLAMOUR's December Issue pg. 140)

Floral Fishnet Tights

Also, one should note how often AE is mentioned in fashion magazines, like Glamour, Marie Claire, Allure, Teen Vogue, Details, People Style Watch and more. [Sidenote: Jessica Simpson wore AE Jeans on her cover of Glamour September 2009 issue.]  If fashion’s leading magazines acknowledge AE as a leading fashion-conscious retail store, then so should we. Take advantage of AE’s affordable styles – like a true recessionista.

Stay recession happy!

-jo

Dakota Fanning covers Teen Vogue . . .

I’m really excited about Teen Vogue’s December 2009 issue with Dakota Fanning! I haven’t seen her on many magazine covers (her last appearance in Teen Vogue was when she was twelve!) – so its great to see her grace the pages of a fashion magazine again.

Taking on her latest role as a vampire in Twilight’s New Moon - Dakota captures the sinister vampire Jane whose angelic looks are merely a distraction from her evil.  She has said that her character in New Moon was a “fantastic” role, and I’m really looking forward to see how well she portrays Jane!

The 15 year-old was recently crowned as Homecoming Princess at her High School – she is also a Varsity cheerleader – which I think is pretty cool.  Not only is she a young Hollywood star – but she also cheers for her High School football team on the side.  In her interview with Teen Vogue, Dakota states, “I enjoy having a normal life.”  In reality, she’s  just your average teenager… who is also the youngest person ever to be nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award. Touche.

Yes, she is normal – with perks – and an adoring personality.

I love her photo spread for Teen Vogue - with the different prints and patterns – it carries an Old-Hollywood, vintage look.  I am obsessed with the platform shoes and high-waisted ruffle skirts – very playfully, yet chic.  She looks so adorable and, dare I say – grown up.

[Photos from justjared/Teen Vogue]

New Moon is coming out in . . . 11 days (November 20), and the media frenzy has already begun . . .

-jo

The 2010 Winter Olympics . . .

VISA commercials for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver have already aired – and my excitement for the Winter games is starting!

What am I looking forward to? The following picture should say it all:

Apolo Anton Ohno

Hello gorgeous.  Short-track speedskater, Apolo Anton Ohno is a five-time medalist and is tied with Eric Heiden for the most career medals in a single Winter Olympics game. I can’t wait to see him speed skate in February! (sidenote: He also won Dancing with the Stars in 2007 with Julianne Hough)

OH WAIT – I found a clip of his Paso Doble (LOL – this has no relevance but I couldn’t help myself)

Back to the Olympics . . .

I’m also excited for Women’s Figure Skating – my obsession with the sport all started during the 1998 Winter Games when Tara Lipinski took to the ice – and became the youngest [age 15] individual gold medalist in the history of the Olympic Games.

Here is a clip of the her Gold Medal Performance – I got a little choked up at the end…

In her short-program – she performed to Once Upon A December from Anastasia. This is probably one of my all-time favorite figure skating performances to date:

I’m pretty sure I wanted to be a figure skater back in my youth, pretty sure I made it to Basics 1. End of career.

Till the Games,

-jo

Taylor Swift on SNL . . .

Last night (November 7th), Taylor Swift hosted SNL, along with performing two of her songs. She opened up the show with her genius musical monologue- addressing her love for baking, sequins dresses and her tendencies to write songs about “douchebags.” Speaking of said “douchebags” – she addressed one of them in particular: Joe Jonas.

“You might think I’d bring up Joe (Jonas), that guy who broke up with me on the phone,but I’m not gonna mention him in my monologue. [ Hey Joe, I’m doing real well.] Tonight, I’m hosting SNL but I’m not gonna brag about that in my monologue. La la la. Ha ha ha. La la la.”

She also slyly commented on her assumed romance with the werewolf from Twilight, Taylor Lautner – by blowing him kisses and winking.  Lastly, she mentioned Kanye - but he didn’t interrupt, she had “security lining the stage.” Clever.

The rest of the night was followed by parodies – which poked fun at Kate Gosselin, Kristen Stewart with aka Firelight and Shakira. Watch clips from the show HERE.

In short, it was a hilarious show of SNL. What I also loved were the photo bumpers of Taylor Swift – Here are my favorites, aka all of them.

[images from justjared/NBC]

Taylor did a great job on the show – and I can honestly say it was the best SNL yet.

With that, I leave you with Taylor’s words:

“We have a great show. Kanye West is NOT here, so stick around. We’ll be right back.”

-jo