Spa Time... How To DIY At Home

Hola,

Well hello there my fellow fashionistas. How's life treating you these days? If you're reading this post, I hope all is good and fabulous. If it's not, my wish for you is that this post will brighten your day even if it's just a little.

So did you all read my one year anniversary post? You know the one where I listed my fifteen top favorite designers - "The Best Of The Best... Favorite Designers." If you haven't already done so, please visit that post after you read this one of course, and let me know what you think of my choices. I cannot believe it's already been a whole year since I started this blog. It's been fun which is exactly what I was looking for when I started on this adventure. I hope you continue to follow and converse with me, and if it's not too much to ask, please look over to your right, you may have to scroll down just a little bit and click on the blue button that says "join this site." If you have a Google, Twitter, Yahoo or even an Aim account, you can enter your info and tadaa... you'd now be a loyal follower. I promise you will not get any emails from me unless you subscribe to this blog which is a whole different deal. Come on gals and guys, let's make this adventure official. :)

Tonight I decided to switch from a fashion post to a "beauty" post and give you some really cool recipes on how to have your very own spa day or night at home. I mean who doesn't love to pamper themselves and I know it's not the same as having someone pamper you, but sometimes the budget calls for a "do it yourself" kind of moment or maybe you'd like to have a girls spa night. How fun would that be... hmmm! (note to my girls *hint hint*). Or... maybe it's just you and your man. If he would indulge in this kind of pampering, you can try it with him and who knows where the night will lead... hmmm! *wink wink*.

So a number of years ago I bought this wonderful book called "Natural Beauty at Home" by Janice Cox. Turns out it was the best $12 I've ever spent (well one of the best for sure). The book contains over 200 recipes for body, bath and hair. Now I'm certainly not going to list all 200 but just a few of my favorites which I'm sure Janice won't mind my sharing. I've also made up a few of my own along the way so I hope you'll try them as well. The majority of the ingredients in these recipes can be found in your kitchen or you can buy them at your local drugstore or supermarket. I chose the easiest so that you'll have no problems finding the ingredients you'll need. Shall we begin? Get your notebooks out or your cell phones, whichever is more accommodating so you can take notes...

"DIY" HOME SPA RECIPES

Recipes from the book "Natural Beauty at Home" by Janice Cox:

CLEANSERS AND SCRUBS

SUGAR SCRUB
1 teaspoon sugar
soap and water
juice of 1/2 lemon

While washing your face with soap, add a teaspoon of sugar to the lather and massage gently into your skin. Rinse your skin with a mixture of equal parts lemon juice and water. Then rinse with clear, cool water and pat dry.

Sugar makes a good abrasive skin scrub and is a popular treatment in many health spas and beauty salons. I love this scrub. I have very sensitive skin and this does not irritate at all. Make sure to use the equal parts lemon juice and water or else your skin will stay a bit sticky.

ALL-PURPOSE HONEY CLEANSER
2 tablespoons liquid soap
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup rosewater (or distilled water works)

Stir all ingredients. Make sure not to beat as this will cause the soap to foam. Pour mixture into a container. To use: Pour a small amount in your palm and massage gently into your skin. Rinse thoroughly. You can use this on your face and body. I usually use this as a body cleanser as it leaves you soft all over.

FACIAL TREATMENTS

SWISS MILKMAID MASK
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup powdered milk or powdered buttermilk

Mix both ingredients to form a smooth paste and spread an even layer over your face and neck. Leave the mask on until dry (for about 15 to 20 minutes). Rinse off with cool water. You can store leftovers in the refrigerator.

This is one of my favorite masks. Not only does it leave your skin smooth and glowing but it also lightens any dark spots on your skin. I try to do it at least twice a month or more if  possible.

COUNTRY GARDEN MASK

1/4 cup grated carrots
1 1/2 teaspoons mayonnaise

Mix ingredients and spread on your face. Leave on for 15-20 minutes then rinse with tepid water. Note: this mask will remain moist on your face so don't worry about waiting for it to dry.

This mask is awesome because it hydrates the skin and helps clear away dead skin cells.


BEAUTY QUEEN MASK
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon almond oil
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil

Place all ingredients in a bowl and stir until smooth. Spread on your face and leave on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

This mask is luxurious. I love it! It moisturizes your skin leaving it so soft and glowing. It's great if you have dry, flaky skin. Also, honey has natural antiseptic properties that can help regenerate damaged skin tissues. All in all, this mask does wonders for your skin. Try it and let me know how you like it...

So the above recipes are just a few of my favorites by Janice Cox. I'm sure you can purchase the book online and find many more. The book has recipes for lotions, fragrances, aromatherapy, lip and nail treatments. It's just full of fabulous information for having fun at home.

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Next I'm going to list a few of my own personal regiments that I feel are fantastic for beautiful skin...

A bunch of years ago, I started getting acne on my forehead and my cheeks. I don't know what caused it but all I knew was that I had to get rid of it pronto! I tried many products and found one that worked for me called AcneFree. However, my skin still looked damaged and with some dark spots. I knew that clay powder could help restore the skin but had never tried it. Well... I went on a mission to find some. I couldn't find any at my local stores so I found this place online www.mountainroseherbs.com that sells fresh organic herbs and hit the jackpot. They sell everything from organic herbs and spices, teas, aromatherapy and essential oils, butters, clay, cosmetic salts (ahem, dead sea salt anyone?), bath and body care, home and garden, health care products (elixirs, capsules, herbal oils, salves). You name it, they've got it and all their products are fresh and natural. So I jumped on board and purchased two clay products and instantly became a fan. Check them out:

FACIAL TREATMENTS

FRENCH GREEN CLAY - This is the clay that cured my skin woes. This clay, per the description on Mountain Rose Herbs' site, has enormous absorbent powers. It literally drinks oils, toxic substances, and impurities from  your skin. It's toning action stimulates the skin by bringing fresh blood to damaged skin cells, revitalizing the complexion and tightening pores. French Green Clay is marvelous for helping to clear problem skin... Bingo! I started using this mask on a weekly basis and saw results by week three. My skin started clearing up and looking healthy. I had never been happier. My skin has been clear for years now but til this day, I still love using this mask just because.

HOW TO USE: Pour some powder into a bowl and mix with warm distilled water until you make a smooth paste. Apply to your face and let it dry for about 20 minutes. Rinse with  warm water then with cold to close your pores. Apply moisturizer afterward.


RHASSOUL CLAY - I also purchased this clay just because the description sounded delightful and it did not disappoint. Mountain Rose Herbs describes this clay as a truly exquisite spa quality clay. It is a mineral rich clay and blends well with water for a smooth application. The best spas across the globe utilize the toning and enriching benefits offered by Rhassoul. It is rich in silica, magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium and sodium content making it one of the finest treasures for pampering your skin.

Well then... How could I NOT try this. The description is 100% accurate. I adore this clay for the simple fact that when I rinse my face, you can instantly tell that all the impurities have been lifted from your skin and it is left glowing and looking fresh and clean. You should definitely try this one.

HOW TO USE: Pour some powder into a bowl and mix with warm distilled water until you make a smooth paste. Apply to your face and let it dry for about 20 minutes. Rinse with  warm water then with cold to close your pores. Apply moisturizer afterward.

BATH AND BODY

I'm one of those that take forever in the shower. My mom always tells me that I should've been a fish. I think long showers are marvelous. I also think exfoliating your body at least twice a month is a must. Below is my DIY recipe for when my budget does not allow me to splurge on the more expensive products:

BODY EXFOLIATOR:
1 cup of sugar
johnson's baby oil

Pour some baby oil over the sugar. Not too much just enough to lightly saturate the sugar. Scrub this mix all over your body in a circular motion then rinse. You can lather up after to remove excess oil.

You will thank me! This will leave your entire body softer than a baby's butt and smelling wonderful. You don't even have to moisturize after because the baby oil will have already taken care of that.


DE-TOX BATH:
48 oz hydrogen peroxide
1 cup epsom salt
2 tablespoons ground ginger

Fill your tub with hot water, only as hot as you can take it. Add all the ingredients above. Soak in this bath for 20-30 minutes.

I actually found this recipe on Pinterest one night and I've already tried it twice. It works wonders. This is excellent for when you feel yourself catching a cold or you just want to detox your body. From the moment you get into your tub, you will begin sweating out toxins. Needless to say if you can stay in for 30 minutes, it would be great. Once I got out, I showered and was still sweating... When I left the bathroom, I was STILL sweating... LOL, this bath is no joke but you can feel the difference. I ended up taking a long nap after I tried it the first time and woke up feeling great. Plus, that cold that was trying to catch me, was blown away. Haa So there!


MOISTURIZER - If for whatever reason you ever run out of lotion, after you shower, do not dry your skin. Instead rub baby oil over your wet skin and tadaa... instant moisturizer. Again, this will leave your skin super smooth.

My last recipe is a simple at home lip softener:

LIP SOFTENER - Spread vaseline or any type of oil (vitamin E or coconut oil are my favorites), take a soft hand towel and wetting with hot water, lightly rub the vaseline or oil into your lips with the wet towel in circular motions. This will soften your lips and remove and dry skin. If your lips are cracked, do not try this. Instead just dab vitamin E oil over your lips and repeat until they heal. I also like to dab coconut oil on my lips at bedtime. When you wake up, your lips will be soft as butter and will not get dry throughout the day.

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So there you go my loves. I hope you will schedule a fun night on your own, with your girls or even with your significant other and try out these recipes. Don't forget to lay back, relax, close your eyes and let these recipes do their job. Spas are all about helping you relax, find your calm and refresh. I mean if you're going to do it at home, you might as well do it all the way. Get those fluffy bathrobes out and prepare for a wonderful, relaxing time. It can be a very fun night and perhaps you can add your own personal touches to these recipes to make them your own.

Please note that I've tried out these recipes myself. I have very sensitive skin and allergies and I have to say that none of these recipes caused any problems. I would ask that you first test these out on a small spot to see of you don't react to them before applying to your entire skin. Everyone is different and you may have allergies to eggs, dairy products, etc so please be aware of these issues before using.

For those of you who do try them out, please come back and share your experiences and let us all know how your at home spa day or night worked out for you. I would love to hear your stories. Also, if you have any DIY recipes that you'd like to share, please feel free to do so. I just may do a "part two" post with more fun ideas and I will certainly give you a shout out. We should all support and help each other to be and look as fabulous as possible. Don't forget to click on the Mountain Rose Herbs link to check out that awesome site. So you all know the drill, come back and comment below and let us know the outcome of this adventure. I look forward to reading your comments. Go! #engage

Until next time...

Gracias,
AnnaCris <3

The Best Of The Best... Favorite Designers

Hola,

Well hello there fashionistas! So today marks my one year anniversary of when I started this blog. Yes, March 7, 2013 was the beginning of this adventure and I do not regret it. I'd like to thank those that have stopped by, those that took the time to comment and follow, and most especially to those that have supported me and encouraged me to continue writing. A special shout out to the sweetest lady I know, Janice Cilento, for pushing me to write my first post and continuing to push me when I would slack. I love you and thank you. To everyone, you are all deeply cherished and my appreciation cannot be measured. Thank you all! Love and hugs to everyone. <3

So my last post was all about the Oscars, but before that it had been a while since I posted anything new. I've been busy with several things plus I did some wonderful travel for work to Colorado. I had an awesome time, and that state is absolutely gorgeous! I took fabulous pictures to prove it. I was traveling during New York Fashion Week so I missed the shows entirely which bummed me out. I have some catching up to do so I can see what loveliness my favorite designers showed and what will be trending for fall 2014.

On that note, since I missed my favorite time of the year and since this is my one year anniversary date, I figured I'd write a post about who my favorite fashion designers are and why. It's fitting to write this today because you can all get some insight as to who inspires me and why. It's like a tribute to those who have created beautiful things and made someone like me love all things fashion and to want to get into this industry. It was really hard to narrow the list down because there are so many great ones with different styles, but I brought the list down to my fifteen favorites. So here goes:

- MY FAVORITES -

#15 - Carlos Miele. I discovered Carlos a few years ago while watching the fashion shows late at night. I was captivated by the flowy and form fitted dresses coming down the runway. By the use of lots of bright, gorgeous colors along with beautiful printed fabric. Designs that look like water flowing, fire burning, palm trees swaying, water lilies in a pond... It was stunning. Watching his runway show was so mesmerizing. Carlos manages to take nature's elements and incorporate them into fabric and make them into beautiful clothing. I love his designs. He also has a ready to wear line called "Miele" which offers a more casual look and less expensive. He also has a denim line which I must try. I mean, he's from Brazil so I would imagine that these jeans make for something super sexy!

#14 - Tom Ford. Although I love his beautiful women's wear collection, when I hear Tom Ford's name, aside from thinking he's gorgeous, I instantly think of the well dressed man. Tom has a way with suits that capture my attention. The man dresses impeccably (see photo below) and he designs for the man who wants to dress this way. The cut of his suits are so on point. The details, the perfect fit make any man look the part. Add the tie, the vest if you want to go all out and the ever sexy pocket square and you have one of the best dressed men you'll ever see. Seriously, what woman does not swoon over a man in a suit, looking dashing and charming? I think he adds the sexy to the male wardrobe!

#13 - Emilio Pucci (Current Creative Director: Peter Dundas). Emilio was an Italian designer who was born into a noble family in Florence, Italy. He was, and the Emilio Pucci house still is well known for the geometric designs in a multitude of colors. I first became interested in him when I saw photos of his designs online one night while surfing the internet. When Instagram hit the web, I started following the designer and was instantly hooked. So much color mixed together in prints with a variety of shapes that make for a beautiful silhouette. Emilio Pucci knows how to mix printed fabrics and shapes to make the female body look spectacular.

Peter Dundas is now the Creative Director of the Pucci house and I am happy to see that he has not completely strayed from the originality of what Emilio started. Peter has added an extra flair with a youthful edge to the kaleidoscope of color that is the Emilio Pucci brand. I truly am a fan.

#12 - Valentino. Pure elegance and glamour... Those are the words that come to mind when I hear Valentino. He is pretty much the king of Italian couture and well deserved. With customers like Jacqueline Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren and Grace Kelly to name a few, Valentino became a presence to be reckoned with in the fashion world and still is despite his retirement. He has a very specific kind of taste, very strict in his ways and a penchant for every piece that has his name on it to be 100% perfect and they are. Valentino's designs without a doubt, will forever be timeless, elegant and glamorous.

#11 - Michael Kors. Michael is best known for his wonderful ready to wear collection that's classified as "sporty." However, there is nothing sporty about anything he does. His collections are sophisticated, classy and chic. Whenever I see a Michael Kors ad, I can't help but picture a private jet, with a glass of champagne ready to head out to Monte Carlo for the weekend. His accessories are to die for. From handbags to jewelry to his fabulous over-sized watches... He's able to cater to all the needs of today's woman. 

#10 - Zuhair Murad. I first became aware of Zuhair Murad when Jennifer Lopez wore that gorgeous nude dress with lacing to the 2013 Golden Globe Awards. I quickly googled him and became a fan from that moment on. Zuhair is of Lebanese decent and made his first appearance on the catwalks of Rome. His dresses are cut to perfection to make your body stand out and call attention. They make you feel glamorous and confident that you own the room. With a beautiful choice of bright and dark colors, he brings much variety to his shows to the point that it makes it hard for you to pick just one piece.  The man has a way of making every woman look sexy, curvaceous and stunning in any of his creations. 

#9 - Betsey Johnson. I first fell in love with Betsey as a teenager reading Seventeen Magazine. Back then I thought her designs were adorable, cute and exciting. Fast forward to today and I can now describe them as girly, sexy, feminine and just downright fun. Betsey is not afraid to try anything out of the ordinary and most of the time her designs lean to the "over the top" category. Regardless of this, I still love her work. Her cute summer dresses are to die for, her colorful shoes are simply delicious in a vast array of styles and colors. Let's not forget her runway shows... From sexy girls smiling, prancing, grooving down the catwalk, the music jamming, the "anything can happen" feel and her cartwheel at the end, it makes for one of the most fun fashion shows out there.

#8 - Roberto Cavalli. This man is forever catching my attention with everything he designs. The best way I can describe his work is "exotic." The majority of his collections leans to the exotic, sexy and sensual. His use of prints from animal to brocade, fringe, suede, his use of printed leather and denim have caught my attention and the attention of the industry for years. His spring 2014 show last year was stunning and by far one of my favorites. Roberto Cavalli knows how to mix prints to make any woman look flawless and beyond sexy. 

#7 - Isabel Marant. She is my go to for something casual. However, there really is nothing casual about her clothing. They are girly, a little bohemian chic, sexy and wearable everyday. You can mix and match to create a super cool outfit right down to her shoes. She created the wedge sneaker, which I personally was not a fan as I am not a fan of the wedge (umm, I do have a pair or two), but the wedge sneaker was definitely a hit especially with celebrities. Her new line with the store H&M was not surprisingly, a huge hit. I truly love her.

#6 - Marc Jacobs. My man Marc! What can I not say about him. He's gorgeous to begin with. He's a creative genius with an eye for the unordinary. He's not afraid to try things that nobody else has. I'm sure you all know he was the creative director of Louis Vuitton... He decide to leave Louis Vuitton to focus on his own line in 2014. I adore his creations. They can go from being fun to obscure, from classy to grunge, from flirty to serious... You just never know what you're going to get with Marc in any given season. I always look forward to his shows which are always outta this world. He's even creative in presenting his work on the runway! <3

#5 - Carolina Herrera. What can I say? This woman is the definition of style, grace, class and elegance. She dresses the way she designs. She has impeccable taste and shows it in every garment she creates. She's dressed the likes of Jacqueline Kennedy to Michelle Obama to several A-list celebrities. Rarely do I see something of hers that I do not like. Her show is one that I always look forward to watching because everything from dresses, suits, skirts, pants, outerwear, accessories and yes, wedding dresses are all visions of pure beauty. I love her style, her work ethic, love for family (her daughters have joined her company) and simply her taste for fashion.

#4 - Zac Posen. I adore Zac! I seriously want to be besties with him. He's so cool and fabulous, and seems like a fun person to hang out with. As for his designing, he's amazing. His dresses scream glamour, beauty, elegance. He goes to extremes with ruffles or pleats for example, and it continuously works. He is now starting a wedding dress line with David's Bridal and from the photos he's posted on Instagram, the dresses are going to be dazzling. I love him as a judge on Project Runway as well. He gives such good insight and advice to the aspiring designers and you can just see his passion for the profession. I love following him on Instagram because he includes his "Cooking With Zac" photos of all the delicious meals he personally creates. His presentation is also flawless with beautiful china and decorative pieces. Oh how I would love to have a conversation with him...

#3 - Diane Von Furstenberg. Oh the loveliness of this woman. The woman behind the infamous "wrap dress." The woman behind so many classic creations that I can't even begin to list. Diane is the epitomy of style. She's another woman with impeccable style. She dresses to impress and designs exactly the same way for the women of the world. Who does not love a DVF creation? That little wrap dress is synonymous of Diane. This year marked the 40th anniversary of the wrap dress and she dedicated her fashion show to just that. I love the messages she writes on the boards for her models before every runway show. So positive and inspiring. She also does a lot of philanthropy work for non-profits and in support of women. I adore her!

#2 - Ralph Lauren. The awesomeness of this man is beyond any words that I can say. For years I've loved his style. The simplicity of his creations which in the end, are not simple in the least. They are gorgeous, beautiful, chic, modern and wearable. I'm such a fan of his fall collections because the way he mixes sweaters, pants, coats with scarves, hats, gloves and accessories is just wow. His dresses fit a woman's body to perfection. His menswear is high up on the list of musts. Ralph is extraordinary. When interviewed, there's a humbleness to him that is so endearing. Since I can remember, Ralph has been one of the many reason why I'd sit at home and sketch hoping to one day make it in this business. He is in my opinion, an icon in the fashion industry and his creations will forever be timeless pieces of joy. Adore!

...And my all time favorite fashion designer is...

#1 - Oscar de la Renta. Without a doubt this man has been my inspiration since the moment I decided I loved fashion. Oscar de la Renta is the embodiment of classy, stylish, elegance, sophistication... I can go on and on. If I could choose a designer as my mentor, it would be him. I once saw a short clip of Oscar in the workroom and it was like magic. His concentration, how he cut, draped and changed things until it was just right fascinated me. He creates his clothing with the hope of making every woman feel beautiful and confident and he's been successful thus far. He knows exactly what he wants and hits the mark every time. His fashion shows are a delight to watch. He uses color, prints, textures, and his accessories are just everything. He's done it all from clothing, children's clothing, fragances, to home collections and everything he creates is golden. Oscar was one of the first designers I'd heard about. I mean he is from the Dominican Republic, my country, so of course he was a household name there. One look and I was hooked.

Thank you Oscar for inspiring me, for having that effect on me that made me decide that this was what I wanted to do. To have the ability to create wonderful pieces that make women feel confident and beautiful. I hope to one day have that privilege and have someone say the same things about me. To someday do what I've known in my heart that I've always wanted to do. Reading your history and accomplishments always makes me see that I can also do it if I work hard enough. You are and will forever be my fashion idol. I adore you to pieces! <3

That's a wrap... There you have it my sweets. My top fifteen designers. For those who know me personally, you already knew who my number one was, but I'm sure you had no idea how diverse my tastes were as far as the other designers on the list. For those who are just stopping by, I hope I gave you a sense of  what I gravitate to when it comes to fashion. I'm more of a traditional, classic kind of gal. I love the glamour, the evening dresses, the feminity of a summer dress but also something for a casual day that is stylish and sexy. I've always felt that a great pair of jeans coupled with a sexy top and heels is fabulous, it's that casual chic kind of thing.

For the men, I love a man in a well tailored suit and I die for the pocket square. I feel like that is the finishing touch to that look. That is why I love Tom Ford. He knows what makes a man look dashing. That's not to say that I don't love a man in jeans and a t-shirt... I do as long as they're are well put together, and they carry themselves with confidence. It's all in the way you carry yourself.

So, what do you think? Are you a fan of any of my choices? Who are your favorite designers and why? Everyone has different tastes and I definitely love more designers than were on this list. Trust me, it was so hard to narrow it down to just fifteen. That being said, you all know the drill. Comment below and let me know if you love my choices and who your favorites are and why? Let's see if we have some in common. Once again, thank you all for supporting me during my first year as a blogger. Go! #engage

Until next time...

Gracias,

AnnaCris <3

The 2014 Oscars...

Hola,

What's going on my lovely fashionistas? How is everyone doing after one of the best nights in fashion? I must say that I am a bit bummed that the award shows are over because that brings to an end the gorgeous and not so gorgeous parades of beautiful clothing.

I thought the 2014 Oscars were the most fun ever. Ellen DeGeneres was marvelous, but did anyone doubt she would be though? She was flawless, hilarious and so relaxed. She was funny without offending and kept the pace going to the point where I didn't want the show to end. From the epic selfie, to ordering and serving pizza to using Pharrell Williams' hat to collect a tip for the pizza delivery guy, I just cannot pick what was my favorite moment of her hosting. Two Thumbs up for her.

Best Selfie Ever!! They Broke Twitter!

Ellen Is Such A Gracious Host... Pizza Anyone?

Pharrell's Hat Was Perfect To Collect A Tip For The Pizza Guy.

Oh but wait... Let's not forget her fashion. I thought all her wardrobe changes were fabulous right down to her dressing up as Glenda the good witch from The Wizard of Oz. She looked absolutely beautiful the entire night.

Ellen's Opening Ceremony Outfit Was Fabulous!

She Looked Fantastic Even As Glenda The Good Witch!

So yes the host was fantastic and again, the show was the most fun I've ever watched. I vote for Ellen to host the Oscars for several consecutive years. I can just imagine what she will do if she is asked to host next year. Well done, Ellen... Well done!

Now... Let's get into the wonderful world of fashion on the red carpet. This year there were so many fabulous, gorgeous, delightful dresses that I was blown away. There were beautiful colors from bright to dark to soft nudes. Oh my goodness I was in fashion heaven. Even the men were impeccably dressed and left the usual, ordinary black tux at home and chose whites, blues and burgundies. Of course, there were a few misses, but thankfully not too many in my opinion. So enough chit chat, let's get started. I changed it up a little bit and added a few extra categories:

CUTEST COUPLE ON THE RED CARPET:

Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis. The cutest couple on the carpet. They complemented each other beautifully, and the best moment was when Jason stepped away and was caught taking a cell phone photo of his gorgeous wife! LOVE! <3

BEST DRESSED MALE:

#3 - Jared Leto in YSL. I loved the white blazer and black pants. I think the red bow tie was a good touch to his "rocker" side. He looked great. Can I just say that his eyes are ridiculously gorgeous. 

#2 - Ryan Seacrest in Burberry. Yes, I know he was a commentator but let's admit that he brought it. He looked so dashing while interviewing the stars. 

#1 - Leo DeCaprio in Giorgio Armani. LOVE!! ADORE!! GORGEOUS!! Okay maybe I just cannot be partial to my love, but nobody can argue with me that he did not look incredible in this navy blue tux! Leo baby, you won the Oscar in my heart. :)

BEST DRESSED FEMALE:

#7 - Camila Alves in Gabriela Cadena. I thought this dress was beautiful and it fit her like a glove. The extra cape like a waterfall on the side was just the right touch. I love that she put her hair up to show off the dress. The color was wonderful with her skin tone. Stunning!

#6 - Olivia Wilde in Valentino. THIS... is how every pregnant woman should dress. When I first saw Olivia, all I could say was WOW. She looked splendid, radiant and just glowing. Her hair and make-up were perfect. The peek-a-boo white in the back of the dress just did it for me. Gorgeous!

#5 - Cate Blanchett in Armani Prive. She does no wrong in my eyes. I admit when I first saw her, I was like ehhh, but then watching her walk the carpet and seeing how the dress flowed, I fell in love. The way she carries herself never stops amazing me. She is the definition of elegance from hair, make-up right down to the jewelry. Timeless!

#4 - Kate Hudson in Atelier Versace. While I am not a fan of Ms. Hudson, I have to say that this dress is spectacular. I had to get a photo with all the angles so that you can see just how marvelous this dress was. The fit, the draping, the way it hugged her body was just incredible. I love that she swept her hair to the side to let the back of the dress have its glory. Complete glamour!

#3 - Sandra Bullock in Alexander McQueen. My girl! I seriously want to be Sandra's BFF! I think she is one of the classiest, funniest and most adorable women in Hollywood. When I saw her yesterday, I squealed with delight. She looked beyond gorgeous in this dress. The fall of the draping in the front, the fit (front and back) and her side swept hair... I was swooning! So in love and so happy that she brought her game to the Oscars' red carpet. Marvelous!

#2 - Lupita Nyong'o in Prada. My other girl! OMG I am so obsessed with Lupita that I ran home yesterday just so that I wouldn't miss her on the red carpet. I was never so excited to see what anyone would wear than I was with her. I've been in love with her style from the moment she came on the scene and she did not disappoint. I was hell bent on making her my number one best dressed no matter what, but I have to be fair. There was someone else who I liked just a tiny bit more... Nevertheless, I loved Lupita's dress. I'm so happy that she went with the "fairy tale princess" look for her moment. The "Nairobi Blue" dress was delicious. The way the gown flowed with every move, the way the color complimented her skin tone, the gold jewelry and her make-up were simply stunning. I adored everything about this look! Exquisite!

#1 - Charlize Theron in Dior. OH. EM. GEE! This dress is to die for. I'm just going to say one word to describe... PERFECTION!

WORST DRESSED:

#5 - Angelina Jolie in Elie Saab. While some thought Angelina looked gorgeous, I was not impressed. I feel like the dress did not do justice to her figure. There was something about the fit around her waist that I did not like. Also, I feel like the color of the dress washed her out.

#4 - Anne Hathaway in Gucci. The words that came to mind when I saw her were "suit of armor"... While the dress itself fit her great, I was not a fan of all the embellishments.

#3 - Chrissy Tiegen in Monique Lhuiller. Not feeling anything about the dress, the overall look with the hair and make-up did not do it for me.

#2 - Anna Kendrick in J. Mendel. Too much going on here... The slit is too low just above the knee which takes away any sexiness the slit may have added, the red around the waist was not necessary, the crossing up top with the sheer and the pleating in the front of the skirt was all just TOO MUCH.

#1 - Pharrell Williams in Lanvin. SERIOUSLY DUDE?!?! ... It's the Oscars. You wear a complete pair of pants period! For the first time ever a man was dressed worse than any woman at the Oscars! WOW! On the plus side, I loved his performance of the song "Happy." :)

So there you have it my dears. My picks for this year's best and worst dressed of the Oscars. This brings an end to awards season. For those of us who love fashion it brings on a kind of sadness because we now have to wait until next year to do this all over again. It was a great season though. So many stars got it right especially Lupita Nyong'o! Can you tell I'm obsessed with her? She is one that I will be following from here on. Her sense of style has so far been dead on. I just adore that she goes for all the bright colors. LOL you all know how I love them. Stay tuned for a post dedicated to just her style in the next few days.

On that note, do you agree or disagree with my choices? Was there someone I left out in any category that you would have added? Let's compare. I mean there were so many good ones on the carpet this year that it was really hard to narrow it down. I'm flexible so you know the drill... please feel free to comment below and we'll chat. Go! #engage

Until next time...

Gracias,

AnnaCris <3