Best Dressed At The 2014 Kid's Choice Awards

The annual Kid's Choice Awards provides the platform for young artists and actors to shine and receive recognition. It is also the perfect platform for young artists and actors to showcase alike to showcase their creative style and show out on the orange carpet.

Held at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California, this year's KCA's showcased just that.

With the ceremony taking place during the current Spring season, current trends such as bright, bold colors and crisp cuts were current throughout celebs alike.

Check out the nominee's for best dressed below.

Actress/Singer Coco Jones looked bright and beautiful in a yellow neck bustier, blue floral pencil skirt and electric blue ankle-strap heels. Electric blue and bright yellow look complementary with one another, embody this look with a yellow jacket, electric blue heels and matching electric blue ballerina pumps.

Here we see Actress/Singer Kira Kosarin fully representing the electric blue theme once again in a futuristic, spacey-type cut dress and accent gold belt and accessories for extra shine.

Glee star, Lea Michel looked rosy-chic in this gorgeous soft pink, lace dress. Lea topped off her tickled pink look with an accent beige platform heel.

Up-and-coming songstress, Pia Mia opted for a more edgier look with a sea blue tube top, and rock star denim button up sleeveless jacket and baggy jeans. Her electric silver heels also add a touch of classy glam.

As for Best-Dressed, the winner is...Ariana Grande!

Without a doubt, Singer/Actress Ariana Grande perfectly embodied the essence of the KCA's with this show-stopping orange dress. The white platform heels and customized Nickelodeon character clutch balanced out her warm tones with cooler ones.

Want to steal Ariana's bold style?  Look below for fashion and make-up inspiration!

Pair your bold and bright burnt orange Spring dress with a makeup look that is simple yet girly. Draw attention to your face with gold and peach tones on your lips and cheeks and top it off with a seductive cat-eye, winged eye.

Who do you think was the best dressed at this year's KCA's? 

Get Spring-Ready Curls!

This Spring, straight is out and curls are in! 

Spring has brought along with it upbeat, colorful, bright vibes so allow your hair to bloom right along with the season with a lovely, new ethereal hairstyle.

Curls are a key asset to the perfect laid-back Spring look. Obtain the perfect waves with these 3 tricks:

Trick #1: Leave In Conditioner is you best friend! Upon going to sleep, apply generous amounts of leave-in conditioner to your hair strands and section your hair off in 4-6 sections. With each section, double-strand twist your hair then roll your hair around itself in a circle-type top knot. Secure with a bobby pin. In the morning, un-twist the sections, flip hair and go!

Trick #2: For quicker on-the-go curls, opt for a curling wand. Set your curling wand to a medium heat setting, wrap a section of your hair around the wand- holding the wand downwards instead of sideways and away from your face, and pull the wand slowly away from your hair downwards. Voila, easy, bouncy curls in an instant!

Trick #3: Make you curls last and go the distance by spraying it with a curling mist or holding spray. The moisture and oils in the products will help seal in moisture (what your curls strive on) for longer.

Throw in a cute, flower headband top off and perfect your curly look!

Ready to get your Spring-worthy curls, try these tips out and let me know what you think!

Top 3 Fashion Wish List: Betsey Johnson

I have been a fan of Betsey Johnson ever since my love for fashion bloomed. Her eclectic, inventive design style has drawn a large audience of like-minded, creative individuals rocking her bold fashion statement pieces.

On my wishlist today, I have some colorful statement spring must-haves that are sure to draw attention to you and make your outfit killer.

Check out my top 3 fashion wish list below!

 

 

 

Let me know what other statement Betsey Johnson pieces you absolutely love!

Men's Spring Street Style: Mr. Tuskegee

Spring is upon us and bright colors and classy cuts are abundant!

Men's spring fashion is becoming increasingly popular as we are starting to see all of the latest spring trends drawing inspiration from the incredibly successful men's fashion week.

Hailing from Alabama, USA, today's outfit of the day comes courtesy of Joshua Renfroe; Mr Tuskegee University 2014-2015 and founder of HBCU Fashion Social Media Blog. With a knack and impeccable sense of style and taste in clothing, Joshua is becoming an entrepreneur and fashionist-o in his own right.

Check his ensemble out below for spring chic inspiration.

Outfit 

Shirt- Ralph Lauren

Pants- JCPenney JCP collection

 Sweater- JCPenney Claiborne

 Shoes- Call it Spring

 Satchel- ASOS

 Glasses- ASOS

Follow Joshua on his blog here!

Steal Bruno Mars' Style for A Classic Unisex Look -(Paul Fredrick)

Soulful crooner, Bruno Mars has earned style icon status in his own right with a style that is distinctively his own. With fashion staples such as clean-cut blazers, oxford shoes and classic fedora, this singer not only impresses with his vocals but makes us swoon over his exuding, characteristic aura.

In partnership with Paul Fredrick, a leading smart style menswear line where you can find dress shirts, suits, and pants. An ode to Mr. Mars' effortless style and how you too can steal has been formulated just for you! Whether you are a male or female, this look works fluently well on both ends.

Check it out below!

Click here to explore Paul Fredrick's website for more men's fashion you are sure to love!

OOTD: Classic All Black

Get Smart.

Opted for a classic all black look with standard white flat sneakers today for a more put together vibe. 1980's Brooklyn style meets modern-day staples. Cool day, cool race-track background setting.

Outfit:
Top: H&M
Bottoms: ZARA
White Flat Sneakers: MP
Specs: Vintage

Blogger Spotlight: Monroe Steele (Fashion Steele NYC)

Chocolate Cashmere Closet strives to be the platform for all things up-and-coming relating to the fashion and beauty world. As a fashion blogger myself, I draw interest and admiration from a plethora of other fashion bloggers who are interested in the same works and ideas.

Every month, I will feature a fashion blogger from anywhere in the world in an interview, getting to know them and their sense of style better.

Monroe Steele is a fashion blogger, freelance stylist and all round fashionista hailing from New York City, and my very first "Blogger Of The Month".

Her blog is eclectic, elegant and modern and she has style for days and draws masses of over 30,000 people to her blog every month. Monroe has been featured with the likes of Vogue, Elle, Glamour and Marie Claire. This vintage store lover knows the in and outs of thrift stores in NYC and is always giving advice to her readers on the snagging the greatest buys!

Get to know her better in the interview below!

Where are you from? 

Monroe- I am from a little town in North Carolina. I am a southern girl at heart but I always dreamt of living in New York City. So when it was time for me to do my graduate studies I moved to New York City and have been here for about 6 years.

Favorite shops to shop at? 

Monroe- My favorite shops are definitely Zara and Loehmanns (a large USA department store). I also love doing a lot of thrift shopping and vintage shopping too.

Favorite fashion brands? 

Monroe- I have an undying love for Alexander Wang shoes. He makes some of the most daring, sexy and unique heels and I have to own them all.

Top 3 fashion staples? 

Monroe- A great tailored blazer, a pair of tall pointy toed black heels and red matte lipstick.

Describe a typical outfit that you would wear? .

Monroe- I love doing a skirt, white tee and blazer with a high heel. Its my definite go-to uniform for just about every occasion.

Fashion role models? 

Monroe- This is a tough question because I find inspiration everywhere. I really love how Tracee Ellis Ross pulls her outfits together. She also is a vintage lover like I am.

Favorite fashion era and why? 

Monroe- I would say the 50's. I love vintage A line skirts and dresses but also real heavy lace and crochet pieces.

How and when did your interest for fashion come about? 

Monroe- I've always loved fashion but the show Sex and the City definitely catapulted my love for fashion as well as New York City.

What are your current favorite spring fashion trends? 

Monroe- My favorite spring trend is denim. I am in love with cutoff shorts, denim overalls and denim jackets. Its so easy and also easy to dress it up (which is my favorite thing to do). Elle USA did s spread recently with Kerry Washington rocking very high end pieces with nothing else but denim. Its my approach as well. I love pairing heels with denim, or sequins with denim. It just works on so many levels.

Any advice for people looking to get into the fashion industry? 

Monroe- If you don't have any formal training a fashion blog is always a great way to start. It really can open a lot of doors to events as well as into fashion week. Be persistent and creative and most of all stay true to yourself.

Favorite fashion quote and why? 

Monroe- "There are no rules in fashion." I love this quote because everyone loves to have rules and guidelines. It makes life easier. But it also makes life rigid. I love that with fashion you can do whatever you want. Its self expression. People may hate it people may love it but they don't matter. What matters is how wearing what you are wearing makes you feel.

What trend that has disappeared that you wish people would bring back?  

Monroe- Trends always come back. Things that are old now will be new again next season.

Motto that you live by? 

Monroe- "Life is short, buy the shoes."

What is your ultimate fashion goal that you hope to achieve from your work in fashion? 

Monroe- To cover every fashion week (New York, Paris, Milan, London). So far I've done New York for 4 seasons.

Want more of Monroe? Head on over to her blog, fashionsteelenyc.com for style that your are sure to love!

 Check back next month to see a brand new "Blogger Of The Month"!

How To Match Moisutrizer To Your Skin Type: Collaboration With The Home Shopping Network

Spring is upon us! And our skin can finally breathe.

This transitioning period is crucial time as we look to restore moisture back to our faces after the effects of the bitter cold and prepare for the incoming season.

I was contacted by The Home Shopping Network, a great platform that provides quality products to the public, for a collaboration article on finding the right moisturizer for your fitting skin type.

Read on below for expert tips on from Lara Ramos from the HSN and myself on how to find your true match moisturizer.

Not sure if your existing moisturizer is the right one? It’s simple! Apply your moisturizer fresh out of the shower and let it sink in completely. Before you apply makeup, run your fingers (or even press a tissue) lightly over your face. If there is any residue or grease, your moisturizer is too heavy. Your skin should feel soft, smooth, and mostly matte if you’re using the correct balance of moisture in your daily skincare routine.

If you find that your current moisturizer just isn’t cutting it, here are a few tips on how to find the best one for your skin type.

If your skin is oily:

Lara Ramos: Opt for something oil-free and look for the words “non comedogenic” which means that it won’t clog your pores. I prefer water-based moisturizers and a gel or lotion texture. These feel extra light and refreshing, yet still hydrating.

My Tip: A CC cream is also great for coverage as it applies smoothly onto your skin and doesn't leave it skin feeling 'heavy'.

 

If your skin is dry:

Lara Ramos: Look for a thick cream that works to moisturize skin more intensely and I have found the effects to be more long-lasting than a water-based moisturizers. My skin tends to get very dry in the winter months and so I make sure to add a night cream (without SPF) or a hydrating overnight facial mask to my routine as well to keep things hydrated 24-7.

My Tip: 'Aqua-based' products are key when looking for a moisturizer that fully restore moisture to your dry skin. Avoid drying agents in products such as acids and sulphates as these leave your skin itchy and even drier.

If your skin is sensitive:

Lara Ramos: Look for things that are dye and fragrance-free. I also love the addition of aloe in a facial moisturizer, which feels soothing. Sensitive skins should also be extra careful to conduct a patch test to look for adverse reactions.

My Tip: A great skin care lines with moisturizers that tend to sensitive skin is the Simple skincare line. It's positive reputation is upholstered due to the no-dye, no-color, no-perfume agents in their moisturizers that care to even the most sensitive of skin types.

 

If you are looking to fight wrinkles:

Lara Ramos: Look for something that includes SPF. Protecting your skin daily from the sun’s rays leading to a much healthier appearance. Trust me, your skin will thank you!

My Tip: Keep your skin looking youthful by buying moisturizers with wrinkle-reducing agents such as Retinol, Vitamin C, tea and grape seed extracts in their formulas.

Lara Ramos: As a final rule of thumb, I am a firm believer in always testing new formulas on the back of my hand before I spread them all over my face. I can tell a lot by how quickly a moisturizer sinks in and how it feels on my skin. I look for that soft, smooth, matte feeling – and it almost never steers me wrong.

My Tip: Testing your moisturizer by checking the state of you skin after removing the moisturizer and washing your face with your routine face wash. If you notice redness, itchiness or any significant bumps, the moisturizer is most probably not for your skin type. Improvements such as suppleness and smoothness is a proven sign that the moisturizer working.

Let me know what you think of these tips and click here to go the Home Shopping Networks website for more!