NO DOUBT! ITS A REUNION!

Gwen and the boys are back for a summer reunion tour which hit the Gisbson amphitheater July 28th. Not only was I excited to hear 'Just a Girl' and 'Bathwater' again, I was eager to see what she was going to wear! When me and my two brothers with girlfreinds in tow, all showed up a half-hour early, we knew it was time to hit the bar and grab a couple ten dollar beers (yeesh!). Waiting for the show to start, we scoped out the crowd. True to the Southern Californian casual ethic, Mostly everyone was dressed in jeans, shorts, strappy tanks and t-shirts. Of course there were exceptions, Like the two girls walking around in skin-tight dresses, one black,one leopard print, and hair done in curls. I was disappointed that I did not see as many 'Gwen-abes' as I have at past ND shows. No girls with bleach blond hair, red lipstick and clothes trying to look like the rock group's frontwoman. Anyway, as the opening band Paramore wrapped up, and the show went on and No Doubt took the stage, we took our seats the crowd went wild! Gwen, Tony, Adrian and Tom rocked out dressed in white pants and tops with black trim and accessories. It was a sharp and polished take on classic rock basics such and Dr. Marten boots studded belts and suspenders. Gwen looked great and showed of her trademark abs in a super tiny white tank top. The show was great and they looked so happy to be back together playing for even happier crowds
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Britney @Staples Center- Costume Queen!

All eyes were definitely on Britney Spears when she took center stage as the 'Ring Leader' of her 2009 Circus Tour stop at Staples Center on Thursday. As you can see from the pictures, her costumes were elaborate and eye-catching and she changed outfits about every other song. She went from ring leader to burlesques dancer to magician's assistant to Indian dancer in harem pants and lastly to sexy policewoman to close out the show with her latest hit, 'Womanizer'. I sat far enough away to not be able to tell she was lip-syncing although any Britney fan will tell you it plainly obvious from the flawless sound and well, it's just common knowledge. Besides, i wasn't there to hear her sing. Seeing Britney is a package- You get to drink some beer, see some elaborate dance routines, great costumes and stage setup and in this particular tour, some amazing circus acts that entertained us while she changed outfits. Overall. the show was great! Although she did not play all her biggest hits, she put on an amazing show and left every person wanting more-too bad she ran off stage and left the crowd chanting for an encore that never came. Who wouldn't be tired after 90 minutes of dancing to the biggest pop hits of the past decade?

VIVA LAS VEGAS...Fifties Fashion and Vegas Action!

The annual gathering of all things Rockabilly happened this past Easter weekend and was appropriately named Viva Las Vegas. In its 12th year, the convention was held at off the strip at
The Orleans where music, vendors, artists, fashionistas and classic car enthusiasts all met to celebrate of of the greatest eras in American history, the fabulous fifties! After the four hour trek to sin city, the girls and I were ready for some glamor in retro style. We grabbed our best cocktail dresses and headed for the hotel bar, took some Jager shots and then it was straight to the vendors to see what goodies we could score. More importantly we scoped out the competition...For best dressed, of course! Everyone looked great dressed in retro prints and their hair pile high in curls. After catching some great tunes we called it a night to make sure we'd get to the car show. The car show was great and we got to see some awesome cars-as well as take some pictures. Then we hit the Orleans again for night two and it was time for some gamblin'! After losing enough money which I could have bought new shoes with, I called it quits and met back with the girls for more drinks and our fill of scoping out the fifties frocks and overall we had a blast! Time to start planning next year's trip!

Project Ethos @ Vanguard Hollywood

Project Ethos describes itself as the place where emerging artist, designers and musicians can showcase their work in a fun and exciting venue. Truly, though it is more than that. It is slowly becoming a powerhouse that the music, fashion and art industries will need to recognize. With more and more of the big-time designers cutting back on expensive fashion shows and more musicians and artist struggling to make it, what is better than this fun and exciting showcase that gives young, fresh talent a chance to shine and reach so many people. What is also so great about it is that it gives everyday people a chance to attend a real fashion show, with real talent( more on that later though). Ethos was March 27, 2009 and the night started an art show that went all night and as I entered the venue, the band, I believe it was Casxio, filled the warehouse venue with Depeche Mode like riffs: totally fun to rock out to as I sipped on my appletini and waited for the fashion show to start. Then I caught glimpse of an old friend of mine, Maria Peralta the designer of Devious Damzels, an amazing glam rock- inspired clothing line. BAM! She led me straight backstage to check out her stuff and mingle with some of the other designers and models. The Clothes! The designs were so unique and avant-garde I couldn't wait to see them on a model instead of hanging lifelessly on a garment rack. So after chatting it up with Maria for a while, it was time for the show to start. I congratulated her and made my way back into the audience. Showtime. As the lights focused on the runway and the typical electronica music blasted, the models stepped out in all sorts of designs from ultra feminine Marilyn Monroe styles with modern twists and hot summer hues to hip-hip inspired jackets made of faux croc. There was also many garments that very gothic, like something out of Hot Topic meets haute couture. In total there were eight designers each more amazing than the next. We are going to definitely hear more from these gifted young adults, so Keep an eye out for Devious Damzels, Cowgirl Heaven, LAVSH, The Other Duck, MidNightMare, Luxcher, Agape and Mimeki Handbags. Enough of me talking, just look at the pictures and I don't need to say another word.

Oscar's Dresses

This year's Academy Awards were, in my opinion, toned down in glitz and glamor compared to previous years. Having seen several of the films nominated,which I feel weren't all that great and therefore made it easy for Slumdog Millionaire to sweep the awards,feel this was reflected in the clothing the stars wore. Muted colors such as beiges, grays and black covered the red carpet and for these people beings 'stars', it seemed like many of them looked bland and unimpressive-Nicoles Kidman, Jennifer Aniston, Tina Fey and Evan Rachel Wood all looked like each other. Boring! Actually if I were to say All the stars were bland and unimpressive, I would be lying. There were a few gowns who stood out in my mind. Miley Cyrus (who knew?) wore a gorgeous age appropriate, yet attention grabbing gown. She wore a Zuhair Murad gown that was embellished with rhinestones to form sparkly scallops on her champagne colored gown Nods also go to Heidi Klum, who for whatever reason I don't consider myself a fan of, I always enjoy a person who like s to stand out like she did in her asymmetrical red dress. Overall, the red carpet fashions were toned down but then again so were the parties,supposedly. I don't think i would mind going to less than over-the-top Vanity Fair after party. Now how do i get a ticket for next year.....? :)

Welcome to Drinks and Dresses...fashion under the influence

For this, my first blog I have decided to make this a introduction to myself, what my background is and what my passions are.

Let's start at the beginning, my first fashion memory, playing in my big back yard with my siblings amongst Tonka trucks and mudslinging, my father pointed out what I was wearing. A champagne colored knit blouse, and burgundy sweats was my very glamorous outfit for romping around at 6 years old. He said he like the way I combined these colors and then told me to consider being a fashion designer. And that sent me on my way to where I am now. That was it. His love for art, design and color have since been infused in me and genuinely become a passions of my own.

Now I am twenty-four, in my senior year at Cal State Long Beach and consider myself one of the lucky people in this world who know what they want out of life and am trying to make my dreams come true. Although I have several fashion design courses under my belt, I have chosen to pursue my bachelor's in fashion merchandising in order to get into the industry sooner. Then I can take my time in finishing my design degree. In order to survive through what seems like forever in college, I bartend on the side( a job I am sure I will write more about later). I love bartending, it's fun, fast money and glamorous, but years of "Hey you have a great butt, hook me up with a drink!" start to take its toll, not to mention my battle to keep alcoholism at bay, is yet another reason to rush up my graduation.

Drinks and Dresses will be my way to connect the nightlife I live and love, and the canvas that is my life, with the artists know as Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano, and Karl Lagerfeld.