Fashion Police

The 2016 Oscars were last night and of course the fashion was front and center. There were some looks that were breathtakingly beautiful and others that made us want to close our eyes and pretend we never saw them. Some celebs took risks while others stuck with what they know. Out of all of the looks to walk the red carpet, here are our picks for best dressed.

Liz's Pick: Jennifer Lawrence in Dior


Laura's Pick: Margot Robbie in Tom Ford


Amanda's Pick: Chrissy Teigen in Marchesa


Katherine's Pick: Brie Larson in Gucci


Ceana's Pick: Emily Blunt in Prada


Taylor's Pick: Olivia Munn in Stella McCartney




Oscars Survival Kit

The Oscars (also known as the best fashion night of the year) are this Sunday and we can’t wait to ooh and ahh over all of the beautiful gowns! Pale pinks, bold blues, sleek black and white, and glittering gold are just some of the things we are expecting to see this weekend.

Beautiful dresses, sky-high heels, hair and makeup, and of course diamonds all play an important role in any best-dressed look. But how do these gorgeous celebrities survive award season and party hopping while always looking flawless? We put together our own award season survival kit!



Makeup Bag
It is important to carry makeup with you in case you need a touchup, even if it is just powder and a lip-gloss! We love the cosmetic cases from LoloBag. Their cute designs come in a variety of colors and sizes. Put your makeup in, zip them up, and toss them in your tote!

Water Bottle
Hydration is key, especially when running from one event to another. We love the glass water bottles from bkr. The beautiful bottles come in three sizes and multiple colors. They are by far the most glamorous way to drink water.

Low Beams
Low Beams from Commando are perfect for dresses that you can’t wear a bra but still need a little extra coverage.

Hanky Panky
Your dress is so beautiful, why shouldn’t your under garments be beautiful too? We love the lace thongs from Hanky Panky. They come in many shades and colors including nude, which is great under a light-colored dress.

Scarf
Nights can get chilly, even in LA. A soft scarf is the perfect thing to toss in your bag. You can wear them around your neck or over your shoulders. Pick a color to compliment your dress!

Bracelet and Earrings
Could you imagine if your bracelet broke or one of the backs of your earrings fell off? To avoid an accessories catastrophe, throw extras in your bag!

Nail Polish
Over the past few years, the mani cam has given us the chance to see celebrities nails up close and personal but could you imagine if someone chipped a nail right before their fingers were supposed to walk the red carpet? Always carry an extra nail polish in your purse in case of an emergency. Our favorite is Essie.

Mints
A little too much garlic in the passed hor d’oeuvres? It’s always good to have a few mints with you!

Although most of us will not be attending the Oscars, our survival kit is perfect for any kind of party! Especially since wedding season is right around the corner!

All items in our survival kit are available at our ellelauri boutique. 
114 S 19th Street Philadelphia, PA 19103.

Pantone Color of the Year

Pantone's 2016 Color of the Year is Rose Quartz and Serenity. For the first time ever, the blending of these two shades make up the color of the year. 



Rose Quartz and Serenity symbolize a warm embrace and a soothing calmness. Fused together, these colors of compassion and relaxation are strong enough to challenge such a turbulent world yet soft enough to instill peace, which has always been the ultimate goal. 

Color has always been an important form of self expression, especially when it comes to fashion. These soft tones are welcoming and allow us to embrace the different perspectives of color usage.




Sundance Film Festival Park City, UT

Park City, UT

A few weeks ago I traveled to beautiful, snowy Park City for a bit of work and a lot of fun. Amidst the snow-capped mountains, my agenda included attending the Sundance Film Festival as well as other events. I loved taking part in all of the festivities as well as being surrounded by such beautiful, natural scenery.


The Canyons Resort covers nine mountain peaks with a maximum elevation of 9,990 feet.




We stayed at the gorgeous Sundial Resort at the base of The Canyons, a ski in/out resort.

Base of The Canyons






Our hotel was at the base of The Canyons, where the main ski lift let off. Live bands, an indoor and outdoor bar, as well as restaurants and shops made it such a fun atmosphere to be in.



View from the top of The Canyons 9,990 ft
Riding the gondolas to the top of the mountains



After skiing, we headed downtown to the heart of Park City to see a few movies, do some shopping and of course, eat and drink!


Sundance Film Festival 


The 2016 Sundance Film Festival took place from January 21st-31st. It is the largest independent film festival in the US and showcases new work from both American as well as international filmmakers. 


This little owl has appeared in many movies 



The Canada Goose tent 


We had a delicious dinner at Tupelo, a new restaurant on Main Street. They make globally inspired food which is artisanally sourced and stunningly prepared. 


Sea scallops


My favorite movie at the Sundance was The Hollars directed by and starring John Krasinski. He personally introduced the movie and then did a Q&A with the audience afterwards.






John Krasinski



While in Park City, we went to the Sundance Music Cafe on Main Street and heard some amazing musicians. My personal favorites were from The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley, and Josh Osborne are all extremely talented singer/songwriters who are responsible for numerous number one hits in country music. 


Packed house

Park City looked beautiful covered in snow. It is such a fun town to walk around and explore.

Main Street in the snow
High West Saloon is a famous whiskey distillery with a great restaurant and bar.








Fueling up for the day on food from Bridge Cafe and coffee from Atticus Coffee House

We had such an amazing trip!

Designer Spotlight: Joie DiGiovanni

Joie DiGiovianni is a local jewelry designer who creates hand-made pieces using semi-precious and precious gemstones. We sat down with Joie to talk about her new spring collection, what inspires her, and her tips for wearing multiple pieces at the same time.


ellelauri: How did you get started in the jewelry business?

Joie: I started by selling already made jewelry. After seeing the quality of the product that was already out there, I set out to elevate jewelry and decided to start my own line. I started with beaded bracelets, Buddha’s, infinity signs and love. I wanted my jewelry to be timeless so I started using fresh water pearls. I think the more you layer, the better it looks.

ellelauri: What inspired your spring/summer collection?

Joie: I wanted this collection to be really fun and take you from day to night. I used a lot of pale pinks and pale blues and turquoise because turquoise is always fun. Everything I do, I try to incorporate fresh water pearls because they are timeless. The leather is very versatile; it transitions perfectly from a day at the beach to a fun night out. The leather with the pearls has the ability to get wet and is finished with a slipknot closure. All of the pieces are meant to be layered. It’s a very boho-chic vibe.


ellelauri: What gemstones did you use?

Joie: I used tantalized turquoise, polymer clay pave beads, AA-quality fresh water pearls, mother of pearl, and howlite.

ellelauri: What is the significance of the Buddha?

Joie: The Buddha gives off positive vibes and I like to think my jewelry gives off good vibes too. I want girls to feel good when they wear my pieces.

ellelauri: How do you envision the girl who wears your jewelry?

Joie: Bohemian

ellelauri: If you could have any celebrity be photographed wearing your jewelry, who would it be and why?

Joie: Olivia Palermo. I love her style and I think she is really good at accessorizing and layering.

ellelauri: What is your favorite piece from this new collection?

Joie: I love the triple choker because it gives the effect of wearing multiple when you are only wearing one. I love the layering effect.

ellelauri: What is your favorite combination?

Joie: I love gold and silver together. It goes with everything and doesn’t limit people to just one or the other.

ellelauri: Do you have any tips on mixing jewelry?

Joie: The more you mix the more interesting it becomes. It gives an added dimension.


ellelauri: Is there anything else we should know about your jewelry?

Joie: Everything is made by hand. I drill every piece and hand knot everything.


To shop Joie’s new spring collection, come visit our Rittenhouse boutique!