New Site

These Paper Dolls has moved. You can now see my fine fashion at:

avenav.blogspot.com

also for more info on my boutique venture see:

merryshop.blogspot.com

Lucky Us!

Hi Guys! Sorry I haven't been keeping my blog up to date, but here's a little summer reading for you... Zooey Deschanel is featured in the July 2008 Lucky!

Book It... Posh Style!

Well gang... my hold finally came in at the wonderful Seattle Public Library. I am now the proud borrower of one of the most coveted books (in my house):

That Extra Half an Inch by Victoria Beckham.





I've already read the first section on jeans and trousers and paused to tell you I'm hooked! She's no Shakespeare, but this mama knows her way around a pair of jeans (and a whole lot more I'm willing to wager)! Her cute writing style reads like how a person would speak, so its easy to tear through the pages. Filled with sketches, hot pics of VB, clothes and accessories, and little sections for notes, this book is one girls homage to her love for fashion (not to mention hair, makeup, jewelry, etc.). This will be the new staple in your fashion library ladies....

Oh, Oscar! Best Dresses of the 2008 Academy Awards

Let's start with the honorable mention:





I don't know who this girl is, but she looked FIERCE!
Adrienne Frantz





If only I could take this dress off her and move it on to someone who cared about their appearance!
Renee Zellweger in Carolina Herrera





Miley Cyrus in Valentino







This would have made my top 5 except she didn't walk the red carpet in it... pitty. Kristen Chenoweth







Cam looks great all the time, and while I loved her Oscar look, I felt there were others who were stronger this year.
Cameron Diaz in Christian Dior





Just plain beautiful.
Katherine Heigl in Escada







And of course... Stacey London


Now My TOP 5!





Heidi walked the red carpet looking like a queen.
5) Heidi Klum in John Galliano







I loved the hair!
4) Jessica Alba (in all her pregnant glory) in Marchesa







The wild child!
3) Diablo Cody in Cristian Dior







Helen rocks my world for a second year in a row! Is there a dress she doesn't look phenomenal in, or does she just have phenomenal taste?
2) Helen Mirren in Georges Chakra










The usually not so gorgeous Jennifer Garner pulls a Cinderella for the 2008 Academy Awards. Her dress was stunning, her makeup was flawless, and her hair... oh her hair! I wish I had that hair!
1) Jennifer Garner in Oscar De La Renta

The Benefit of a Lovely Holiday

Happy Valentine's Day you lovers you...

In celebration, today only, receive free shipping from benefitcosmetics.com when you enter code BEMINE08 at checkout. Yay cupid!

And Away I Go!

Well fellow fashion addicts, I'm off to fabulous Las Vegas for a trade show. While I'm gone your homework is to pick up the new Lucky Magazine with our favorite little fashionista cover girl: Rachel Bilson. Have a nice week!

Whatever it Takes

Whatever it Takes is a charity artwork project that collects original designs from leaders in several fields such as royalty, film, music, nobel peace laureates, sports, literature etc.

These artworks are being used to create products, initially charity wristbands, clothing, tableware, ethical cosmetics and stationary released on the 21CL label. The goal of 21st Century Leaders' charitable brand is to sell 'merchandise with a meaning'. All products are manufactured under fair working conditions and are sold to raise funds for charitable causes chosen by each contributing leader.

100% of net profits are donated to charity. The aim is to raise a minimum of $3 million over three years to fund charitable projects in developing countries, contribute to the protection of the environment and other charitable causes.

Check out: whateverittakes.org

designed by Stella McCartney

Protect Your Pits!

Okay, maybe not the best title but it really is a problem! You invest in a nice white shirt and within months it's calico! I discovered these little babies and have been dying to check them out ever since!

Garment Guard
Disposable Underarm Shields

Protect your white shirts from stains with these discreet, disposable underarm shields. Made from 100% breathable, comfortable cotton.

5-12 pairs per pk ranging from $10.95 - $22.95

colors: black or beige

also comes in Grand size for you men out there!

available at drugstore.com

I'm Back!

Ok, ok, ok...

So I took a little bit of an extended winter break. But I'm back temporarily (leaving for LV at the end of the week so there will be a slight pause next week) but I'm gearing up for an exciting new year of blogging. I feel like we just broke into 2007, I haven't even made up any resolutions yet, and here we are days away from lent and now I'm supposed to give up something too?! Man, I am behind!

So anyway, sorry about the delay and here are some hot fashions for the cool (or in Seattle's case cold) weather:

Look of The Week: Kate Bosworth

New Fall 2007 Hair Color Ideas

Hangbag.com has given us 10 ideas for new hues for our dos.
It's time for a change people!


Strawberry Blonde*




Blonde (with darker tones)




Plumb Streaks




Violet Slices




Paprika




Carrot Top



Plumb-Toned Brunette




Copper Top




Platinum




Honey Blonde

*This is my pic... What's yours?

Fall Trend Report!

What's in stores and, hopefully, your closet!



Fabrics/Prints
Patent Leather
Animal Print
Bold & Patterns
Metallics
Sequins




Accessories
Black Belts
Nylons
Boots: Small and Tall
Clutches
Peep-toe Pumps




Looks
Wide Leg Pants
High Waisted Bottoms
Dresses
Capes
Chunky Sweaters
Cropped Jackets
Peacoats
Flattering (hourglass) Shapes
Sweater Dresses
Tailored Menswear
Belted Tunics




Colors
Gray
Purple
Blue
Green
Jeweltones

Get Penelope's Look!

DRESS


On Sale! ASOS $22.15



Anthropologie $168



ASOS $84.19



On Sale! Frankies $247


ACCESSORIES


Target $14.99



Steve Madden $99.95

Look of the Week: Penelope Cruz - Tangerine Dream!

The How To Guide for LIFE!

Hi gang! I recently discovered a website that I just had to share. Its called
videojug.com!

They have all kinds of instructional videos from real estate to pole dancing!
I've been prowling the beauty & style section and have been picking up some really great tips like perfecting the smokey eye, how to effectively use rollers, etc (the how to walk in heels is pretty hilarious).

Plus, they use everyday gals as their models and the soothing British voice-overs are easy on the ears.

Check 'em out!

Let's Book It!

Next up on my Library queue...

The Star Machine
by Jeanine Basinger



A study of Extreme makeovers, golden age of Hollywood edition.

"Gossip mags like Us Weekly like to pretend stars are just like you and me, but, of course, they're not. They may pump gas in flip-flops or hold a pumpkin latte in one hand while precariously balancing their baby in the other, but even that is a performance. Plus, if stars didn't exist, someone would have to invent them. Which is exactly what they did in the 1930s and '40s.

According to Jeanine Basinger's history of Hollywood's golden age, The Star Machine, studios used to be alchemists, spinning ordinary men and women into silver-screen gods. They were given fake noses, fake teeth, fake bios, and fake names. Almost nothing about them was real, which was exactly the point: Hollywood was peddling fantasy. Basinger describes how dowdy Brooklynite Constance Ockelman was remodeled into platinum sexpot Veronica Lake and how feminine-sounding Marion Morrison became butch John Wayne. She dishes how Rita Hayworth (née Margarita Cansino) dyed her hair and electrolyzed her hairline to look less Latin, and how Clark Gable lacked his onscreen wit. (Ava Gardner once quipped, ''If you say 'Hi ya Clark,' he's stuck for an answer.'')

If there's a bone to pick with Basinger, it's that she claims the star-minting machine is now as dead as Dietrich. I don't buy it for a second. Not as long as Disney confections like Hannah Montana and Zac and Vanessa are rolling off the assembly line like shiny new Buicks."


-Chris Nashawaty
Entertainment Weekly




Veronica Lake

Get Liv Tyler's Look!

TOP


Gap $44.5



On Sale! Gap $29.99


SKIRT


Forever 21 $19.80



Gap $39.50


NECKLACE


Wet Seal $7



Forever 21 $6.80


SHOES


Zappos $89.95



Steve Madden $99.95



On Sale! Nine West $39.99

Look of the Week: Liv Tyler

Tomorrow: Get Her Look!

What IS Victoria's Secret? THE Must Have Bra!

Victoria's Secret 100-Way Convertible Bra

(I ordered one for myself for Christmas!)



The bra you wear 100 ways.

Wear it as a plunge, two-strap, one-shoulder, racerback, cross-back, boatneck, crisscross front, halter - it's convertibility for total versatility (instructions included). Comes with three sets of straps: regular, halter and a low-back converter strap to wear beneath backless styles. Adjustable straps and back closure.






Sold Out in stores. Order yours at VictoriasSecret.com!

JEANS! How Do You Wear 'Em?

Like Kate...



...Ellen...



...Victoria...



...Katie...



...Courtney...



...or Rachel?!

Get Eva Longoria's Look!

Sweater

Anthropologie $148



Forever 21 $34.80


Bag

On Sale! Overstock.com $69.99



On Sale! Overstock.com $46.99



Alternative Outfitters $66
(and it's Vegan!)



On Sale! Target $17.99


Shoes

Zappos.com $72.95




Urban Outfitters $78

Look of the Week: Eva Longoria

I took a short break from the blog last week, but now I'm back!
Look of the Week: Eva Longoria

Tomorow, Get Her Look!!

Look of the Week: The White Stuff

These Ladies aren't afraid to wear white after Labor Day!



Angelina Jolie



Kyra Sedgwick



Eve



Kate Walsh



Lucy Liu

Green With Envy!

All the magazines are pushing cobalt, purple, and pink on us but I'm seeing green... and so are these ladies!


Ali Larter - Seafoam



Jennifer Lopez - Mint



Jennifer Garner - Kelly



Victoria Beckham - Emerald



Mary Louise Parker - Forest

Gwen Stefani, What Happened?

Is Gwen Stefani trying to fill the void left by Anna Nicole Smith? Congratulations!
Gwen Stefani, what happened??... Seriously.

Get Marcia Cross's Look!

TOP

American Apparel $21



JEANS

AG $150



Levis $40


BAG

Urban Outfitters $48



Urban Outfitters $58



Urban Outfitters $58


SHOES


Target $12.99

Look of the Week: Marcia Cross

I love this day look. It's easy yet completely sophisticated.

Tomorrow: Get Her Look!

Spoiler Alert! Sex and the City MOVIE PICS!!!

Sex and the City has begun filming!
Hooray!

Me, A Model?

Hi Guys! This isn't super fashion related... but is fun related! Head over to H&M online and you can make a virtual model of yourself and try on (a limited selection of) clothes! Ok, the clothes part isn't that exciting but it's always fun to make a mini you!


Creepy, huh?

Shop's Tops!

So I've been doing a lot of shopping lately (my credit card bill has reached "don't ask, don't tell" territory). Two of my finds, I must say, were so phenomenal that I felt it necessary to share.

1. Best Jeans Ever! You too can have these perfect jeans. They fit great, they look great, just do yourself a favor and try them on! I almost bought a pair of J Brand jeans that don't fit as well as these Gap jeans, and they were almost $200! I'm glad I waited!

$69.50 at Gap




2. Diane Von Furstenburg Dress on the cheap! You may have a little difficulty duplicating this score. I actually found this amazing DVF dress at Nordstrom Rack! Yes, this is the dress I wrote about just a few months ago, raving about how cute Tina Fey looked in a similar version.




Happy Shopping!