Alice and Olivia Trunk Show at Tootsies May 29 - 31

Starting today through May 31st, one of my favorite brands Alice + Olivia will be debuting their summer trunk show at Tootsies in the Preston Center. The collection features everything from sheer hi-lo silhouettes to the increasingly popular nude palettes for this spring and summer. My favorites are definitely the maxi print dresses bursting in either bold orange and yellow florals to basic black and whites--all a slated must-have for your wardrobe as seen on the runways in New York for the Spring/Summer presentations for Fashion Week!

Noted as one of my favorite brands available at Tootsies, this summer trunk show will be available through May 31st. Click here for a quick look at what's in store as well as some of my faves from the collection below. Happy shopping!

Two-Toned Dress

Paint Splatter Dress

"All I Ever Wanted" boxy tank with Arthur Pant sans cuff

Stace face tank and two-tone mini

Flamingo pattern top and Khaki mini

All images used courtesy of Tootsies and Alice + Olivia through francisco+co

Del Frisco's Grille Uptown Burger Recipe

In honor of National Burger Month, Del Frisco's Grille locations in Dallas, Southlake and Fort Worth had their chefs create specially curated burgers in order to celebrate the special occasion.  I'm definitely a burger kind of gal, so I ventured out to the Uptown location of Del Frisco's Grille to see what all the fuss was about.

"Uptowner" burger / Photo Credit: Leah Frazier

Executive Chef Antonio Zamora created the "Uptowner" burger in honor of National Burger Month. Zamora touts, "We take two prime beef patties, herb roasted wild shiitake, portabella, oyster and crimini mushrooms, and top it with local creamy brazos Brie cheese, crunchy pepper arugula tossed in truffle vinaigrette and finish it with a sweet basil aioli on an Empire bakery brioche bun."

This burger was so mouthwatering and tasty--the brie cheese is what truly makes this burger. I paired this burger with both the seasoned Frites and adult milkshake for a total burger tasting experience.

Adult Milkshake / Photo Credit: Leah Frazier

For those of you who want to try your chef hats at recreating this beauty, here's the recipe for this foodie creation straight from Del Frisco's--or you could just venture down to the Uptown location to try it out. If you do decide to try out this recipe, leave a comment and let me know how it turns out:

Photo Credit: Used Courtesy of Endicott PR for Del Frisco's Grille

Preparation Time: 8 Minutes

Ingredients

2 prime beef patties

1 Brioche Hamburger Bun

1.5 oz. Local Brazos Brie Cheese

1.5 oz. Herb roasted Mushrooms

.5 oz. Organic Arugula

1 tbsp. Truffle Chive Vinaigrette

2 tbsp. Basil Mayo

1. Season both patties evenly on both sides with salt and pepper.

2. Place on Griddle and cook for two minutes.

3. Flip over and immediately place mushrooms on top of patties and the Brie over the mushrooms and cover till heated.

4. Butter the buns and toast on griddle until they are golden brown.

5. Spread basil mayo on both the top and bottom bun.

6. Toss arugula in a small bowl with truffle chive vinaigrette and set on the bottom half of the bun.

7. Place cooked patties on arugula and cover with the top bun.

This Chic is Bananas, No Really She Is: Shirin Askari Spring Summer Collection Tee

I was first introduced to Dallas designer and previous Project Runway Season 6 contestant Shirin Askari as I toured the different showrooms during Market Week at Dallas Market Center. Shirin showed us her new Spring/Summer 2014 collection which included a ton of colorful prints and patterns and then I saw this shirt "This Chic is Bananas"...which stuck out like a sore thumb but I loved it! When you're at the showroom, it's typically for buyers or retailers to purchase apparel..not just regular ole Joe Shmoe's like you and me to go in and buy.  So I left the showroom with this shirt on my mind.

Yes, I'm sitting on a teddy bear in the middle of the park..straight randomness! / T-shirt, Shirin Askari / Skirt, H&M / Studded Heels, Nine West (old)

  Fast forward to several weeks ago, when Front Door Fashion announced that Shirin was going to have a trunk show at their showroom. SCORE! I already knew I was buying this shirt. It totally explains me to a "T". All of my friends know that I am completely cray...or bananas as either Rachel Zoe or the shirt would explain it.

So I bought the shirt and while it was a splurge for a basic tee, you really can't beat the quality and the softness of this t-shirt.  It's not 100% cotton so I don't have to worry about it shrinking and only getting one use out of it.  Also--I probably should have gotten the tee in a size smaller...it's super roomy, but hey...just in case I fatkid it up and gain weight, I have room, right?

It's easily paired with jeans or with a leather studded skirt like I have on.  Put on a colorful bauble necklace to add color and you're good to go!

Anyways, check the Shirin Askari collection out and let me know if you're feeling the newest addition to my t-shirt collection.

*All images taken by Thomas Garza for Thomas Garza Photography*

Super Soft and Sexy Foot Soak

It's that time of the year ladies, yep...that time of the year where we need to pay extra special attention to our feet and to chip away at everything that has built up over the colder months. What woman doesn't want super soft and sexy feet but wants it all the time and not just those one or two times out of the month when she goes get a pedicure?

I've tried everything from shea butter foot products to cocoa butter but I'm not getting that baby bottom softness that I want. Every time I go in to get a pedicure, I always think of that Martin episode when She-nae-nae gives a pedicure to a customer and she whips out eye goggles and a machine grinder/drill to grind the woman's toenails and get the dead skin off!!! LOL  I always imagine that's how it is for the folks at the nail shop! My poor pedicure people...from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of all women who can't seem to get dry feet under control....I'm sorry!

I die crying everytime I see this episode!  Her feet must have been rough!!!

Anyways, so here's what I've been doing once a week--the dead skin literally just wipes off, my feet end up smelling fresh and they are left soft for days! I saw this on Pinterest (Hello Beautiful Face entry) but added some of my favorite Dr. Teal's products to give me the at-home spa-like experience that I like.

My feet in the foot soak...don't judge!

So here's what I do...in a bowl or tub big enough to rest your feet combine:

• 1/4 Cup Listerine (The blue kind...this will have your feet smelling wintry fresh!)
• 1/4 Cup Vinegar
• Warm Water (Enough to cover the bottoms of your feet...not too much ...you don't want to dilute the mixture)
• 1/4 Cup Dr. Teal's Epsom Salt Soaking Solution
• 4-5 drops of Dr. Teal's Olive Oil Treatment

I hope you like my do-it-yourself, foot soak.  After soaking your feet for 15 minutes, the dead skin should rub off on your towel. Rub hard to get the dead skin off.  I've found by placing the olive oil mixture in the soak, that I don't need to run and apply lotion to my feet right away.

I'm curious to see how this works for you!  Let me know!

Diane von Furstenberg Journey of a Dress Exhibit in Los Angeles

While I was visiting Los Angeles last month, I was able to visit Diane von Furstenberg's "Journey of a Dress" exhibit at the LACMA with one of my very best friends. The exhibit was set to end on May 1, 2014 so I knew that no matter what, I was going to make it to the exhibition. For over 40 years, the DVF brand has perfected the iconic wrap dress--a dress that has withstood the test of time and will still be in style for many more years to come. I had already covered the wrap dress' 40th year anniversary for DFW Style Daily (read the article here), so to be able to see the exhibit in person was a dream fulfilled.

As a woman who is not only tall but curvy, there's something comforting in knowing that there is one dress that will fit my body type like a glove...and that's the DVF wrap dress.  Many designers and brands have copy-catted off of the design, but none have that jersey silk finish like the DVF dress.

                                     

As I walked up and down the halls of the exhibit I truly came to admire the woman that Diane von Furstenberg is and was. She literally turned a suitcase full of dresses 40 years ago into a multi-million dollar business.  If that's not inspiring then I don't know what is.

When I finished walking the exhibit, I ran into a couple on the way out...the woman was proudly wearing her DVF dress that she had in her closet for years and her boyfriend was just there for the ride. She was an older woman and probably had more of a history with the DVF brand than me...but that's what it's all about.  The DVF label has a way of affecting women of all ages and connecting us through fashion. I'm excited for the next chapter for Diane...and you should be too.

All images except for the last taken by Leah Frazier, the last image credit goes to Tyra Hughley Smith.

(Mmm)onochromatic Looks & Wendy’s® #NewSaladCollection

(Mmm)onochromatic Looks & Wendy’s® #NewSaladCollection by beautyforeashes featuring logo sunglasses

Miss Selfridge cami shirt
missselfridge.com

Jane Norman elastic waist pencil skirt
$42 - janenorman.co.uk

Casadei red heel pumps
$890 - thecorner.com

Fendi leather shoulder handbag
forzieri.com

ABS by Allen Schwartz baguette jewelry
saksfifthavenue.com

Aldo necklace
aldoshoes.com

Tom Ford logo sunglasses
neimanmarcus.com

Topshop felt floppy hat
topshop.com

Win $1K and a 411 Call from Molly Sims through Wendy's New Salad Collection Contest

Actress and noted fashion icon, Molly Sims, has teamed up with Wendy's to create a cool, creative contest that incorporates one of my favorite style board sites, Polyvore.com and inspiration from their New Salad Collection.

To get started, head over to Polyvore.com/Wendys and create a monochromatic style board using inspiration from one of Wendy's new premium salads--the Asian Cashew Chicken salad or the BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad. From fire-roasted edamame to sweet corn ingredients, get inspired to translate these items into fashion on Polyvore.

You have until midnight on May 18, 2014 to create a Polyvore board to win. The boards will be judged by Molly Sims herself with the winner receiving a one-on-one call by the actress and $1,000 grand prize.

*For the first three readers to create a board and email me the link to beautyforashes27@gmail.com, you'll receive a gift card to Wendy's!  Enter to win today!*

Suburbia Music Festival: Where Dallas Fashion and Festival Style Collided

Suburbia Music Festival took over Oak Point Nature Preserve in Plano, Texas from May 3 - 4, 2014. Line-ups included my personal friend and local musician, Larry g(EE), all the way to mega artists J. Cole and the awesomely talented David Guetta.  

This was my first festival experience and I must say that I had the time of my life. Suburbia was like the Dallas form of Coachella so everyone came out in floral prints, flower headbands, crop tops and everything to channel their inner boho style.  As for me, I knew it was going to be hot as heck, so instead of going naked, I just threw on some cut-off shorts, a bandeau top and a sheer floral print hi-lo tank for comfort.

When I wasn't sipping on Dos Equis and completely rocking out, I was able to capture some really cool and stylish Dallas folks reppin' their festival chic attire.  Check it out!

Festival Hair - Amber LaFrance of Culture-Hype PR

High-waisted shorts, crop top and booties...it's a "yes"!

For festival-goers Christie and Megan, it was all about crop tops, maxi dresses and prints!

Singer Larry g(EE) flanked by festival goers showing their crop tops, high-waisted shorts and let's not forget..fabulous accessories!

Tall girls rock! Dallas fashion bloggers Leah Frazier and Madison Hunnicutt

It's all about comfort when it's 90 degrees out and you're standing on your feet all day!

What?  You're not sick of us yet?  Me and my girl Amber posing one last time for ya'll!

Color Collision: Latino Fashion Week at Sisu Uptown Resort

I was honored to be attending and covering Latino Fashion Week on May 1, 2014 at Sisu Uptown Resort in Dallas. So what do you wear to an event that is outdoors, coined "fashion week" and surrounded by a swank and posh pool?  Well here's what I came up with.  I wanted to be colorful, vibrant and cool. I engaged in a little peek a boo action with my bra peeking through my sheer blouse--but all is fair in love and fashion right? Fashion is fun, fearless and all about taking risks. I topped my look off with this colorful and flirty bauble necklace by Prima Donna and I was just one big explosion of color--but they all ended up complimenting each other nicely.  I recommend trying these types of blends out if you tend to be timid with colors...you might just surprise yourself.

Studded Blouse: Daniel Rainn - Nordstrom Rack, Belt - The Limited (old), Floral Cream Skirt - The Limited, Peep Toe Pumps - Fergie Footwear from DSW, Bauble Necklace by Prima Donna, Earrings by Shop Jami / Photo Credit: Thomas Garza Photography

A closer look at my Prima Donna bauble necklace! / Photo Credit: Thomas Garza Photography

Left: Cesar Rolon, Co-Founder of Latino Fashion Week and me / Photo Credit: Thomas Garza Photography