Pretty in Pink

Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake got married a couple of weeks ago, and the biggest buzz about their wedding hasn't been the flowers, the location, or the even guests, but the bride's dress.

The stunning brunette walked down the aisle to her husband in a pink and white watercolored dress custom designed by Giambattista Valli and and a long traditional veil. The pictures are being published exclusively by People Magazine, but a few sneak peeks are floating across the internet, showing off the blushing bride in her particular shade of pink:

Mrs. Timberlake isn't the first celebrity bride to don the girlish, nontraditional hue. Singer Gwen Stefani rocked it with a dip-dyed dress ten years ago, Reese Witherspoon channeled Elle Woods in a blush-colored gown for her second wedding, and basketball wife Jennifer Williams donned not one, but two pale pink dresses to marry her sporty husband.

Via: Gwen, Reese, & Jennifer

Clearly, there's a trend here. So we weren't entirely surprised when we spotted a bride in a bubble-gum pink dress posing for photos on the lawn of the Texas capital building this weekend.

Okay, we were a little surprised. Because a bubble-gum pink ballgown is a far cry from the subtle blush number Reese is wearing.

The truth is, we're not sold on this trend. And we like pink. A lot.

Mostly, we're just not sold on Mrs. Timberlake's dress. There's just something about it that we don't love, but that's where we'll leave it, because you may have your own ideas.

And really, on your wedding day, your opinion is the one that matters. Because it's your wedding day. So if you do decide to step out in pink, here are a few dresses that we do love to start you seeing the world in shades of rose:

Jasmine Couture

Kitty Chen Couture

Ivy & Aster

Lazaro

Maggie Sottero

Wtoo

Claire Pettibone

Lux Luv,
XOXO

Wonder Woman does it. So should you.

Some women are superheroes.

You know who I'm talking about. Maybe you are who I'm talking about.

Either way, you know her - the woman who gets up before the sun every morning, and spends her days running meetings, running a business, running after a two-year-old. By night, she throws a dinner party, a fundraiser, a tea party for her little girl. She cooks, she cleans, she wipe away tears and sniffles and spilled drinks. Her calendar is filled from end to end, but she always has time for friends, for family, for last-minute deadlines. And on top of it all, she looks like she stepped from the pages of Vogue: fierce, fashion-forward, and just plain FABULOUS - every single day.

Every superhero has a weakness, though, and for many women, breast cancer is the kryptonite to their superhuman powers. Each year, thousands of women, each of them extraordinary in their own right, are stopped by the cruel reality of this disease.

That's why this breast cancer awareness campaign is so captivating:

Produced by an ad agency in Mozambique for the organizationAssociação da Luta Contra o Cancer (Association for the Fight Against Cancer), each ad's text reads:

When we talk about breast cancer, there's no women or superwomen. Everybody has to do the self-examination monthly. Fight with us against the enemy and, when in doubt, talk with your doctor.

The message is clear: if Catwoman, She-Hulk, Storm, and Wonder Woman are vulnerable to breast cancer, so are you. And if they can take a few minutes from fighting their nemesis each month to do a breast examination, so can you.

Self-examinations are key to early detection, and the earlier you can begin fighting breast cancer, the better your chances are for survival.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. provides a great how-to guide for a thorough self-examination. If you've never done it, start now. Put it in your calendar for every month, and don't miss a single date.

Trust us, this appointment is more important than anything at the salon. It's more important even than that big meeting with your boss (and you can tell her we said so). This is your life we're talking about, and we want to see you live a long, happy, healthy one.

After all, nobody likes to see a superhero lose. So fight, even before the battle begins.

Luxe Luv,

XOXO

Finding Your Best Look with Color Theory

Color. Designers love it. We love it. We all have a favorite. And while we'd love to wear every color under the rainbow, there are certain hues better suited for some individuals than others. Color, whether in the clothes you wear or the eye shadow you carefully apply, has a remarkable affect on your look.

The right colors can enhance your natural beauty, minimize imperfections, and give you that radiant glow we're all looking for. Choosing the wrong colors leaves us sickly, washed out, with every imperfection on full display. Gross.

The question is, how do you choose? There are thousands - even millions - of colors available, with all their subtle nuances and shades; how do you pick the hues that best suit your complexion?

Bring in Reachel Bagley, fashion consultant and author of the blog Cardigan Empire. Realizing that this is a problem for a LOT of women, Reachel created a basic chart to get you started:

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To choose your look-good color palette, you have to first take a good, hard look at the colors you look best in. This isn't about what colors you like. It's about the colors that make your eyes pop, that make your skin glow, and that make your face look bright and fresh.

Starting with her four basic colors, stand in front of a mirror and compare what effects each shade has on your look (you might need a few honest friends and a glass of champagne to help*). Does brown make you light up while gray actually diminishes your beauty? Follow the track on the right. Does blue pull out the color in your eyes and make them dance like an Irish jig? Follow the track on the left. 

After you get over that first challenge. Reachel's chart shows that you'll fall into one of four color complexion categories: Cool & Delicate, Cool & Brilliant, Warm & Fresh, and Warm & Rich. You've probably heard about these before, but named by the seasons: Summer, Winter, Spring, and Autumn, respectively.

Luckily for us, Reachel also put together these charts, which explain each of the color families in more detail. So if you couldn't figure out your category using the chart, you may find it here.

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Finding your colors isn't easy. And every change to your appearance - whether a visit to the salon or a weekend outdoors, can affect it.

But once you've nailed it down (or at least become adept at identifying it) - you'll have a veritable palette of look-good colors to enhance the natural beauty we already know you are. Now you can walk into a store or up to a makeup counter with confidence, not feeling overwhelmed by the selection, but knowing exactly who you are on the color wheel, and knowing exactly what will make those gorgeous eyes of yours pop and twinkle.

For more on Reachel's color theory, check out her blog at www.cardiganempire.com!


*We're not really sure how champagne helps the process. But it sounds wonderful. And what's better than a girly night, deciphering colors with your besties and sharing a bottle of bubbly? Case closed.