Wear Purple Tomorrow: Take a Stand Against Bullying

Long time blog readers know I am all about the color purple but tomorrow there’s a special reason to sport one of my favorite colors. Over 1 million people have pledged on Facebook to Wear Purple on October 20 to take a stand against homophobic bullying. I hope you'll join us.

The Wear Purple campaign was inspired by the recent spate of suicides by US teens, who were bullied and ostracized because of their sexual orientation. Given my family's experience with suicide and my dedication to the Trevor Project, the deaths of these babies has WRECKED me.

Luckily I've had an outlet to do something about it. In early July, along with my dear friend and coworker Lashes and 20 other Trevor Project supporters, I helped create The L.A. Trevor Young Professionals Collective. Our group opted to focus on an awareness/fundraising campaign aimed at giving kids all over the country hope.

We decided to root the campaign in the high school experience and kick off with a homecoming event in the fall and end with a prom in the spring. During the year, we planned to pull together a kind of virtual yearbook of personal videos and images from the LGBTQ community that any child with a computer can access when they need to find strength.


Our first event, TYPC Homecoming 2010, was this last Friday at Capitol City in Hollywood. And it was everything we had hoped for and frankly, more.  We had photo booths, cupcakes, marching bands, cheerleaders, reindeer games, prizes, balloon arches, half time shows, cocktails, a homecoming court and one of the most enthusiastic, fun group of attendees I've ever seen. We hosted over 250 beautiful gays and their straight allies.  And best of all, we raised $5,900 to help save young lives.

In the end, our goal was to reclaim a time in life that was challenging for most of us---straight and gay alike. We wanted to create an affirming event for the LA community and use photos from that event to prove to kids all over that it gets better (love Dan Savage!)

We wanted to show them they can find a community. They can belong. They can have fabulously wonderful adulthoods. They just have to get through this moment.

So this Wednesday, October 20, I ask you to do your part. Wear your purple with pride.  Let bullied teens know they’re not alone. Take a stand against homophobia, discrimination and hate.

And if you can, make a contribution to The Trevor Project.
Do it in the name of a child you love.

What to Wear to a Summer Wedding

Can you believe it's June and another wedding season is upon us? My old unmarried ass certainly can't ;)

I've been wanting to whip up a little post on how to be the best dressed guest at any wedding FOR EVA. And getting a Shopbop email with summer wedding dress picks, was just the reminder I needed.
  

When getting dressed for a wedding - and really any major event - I have only one tip:  do your homework.  I INVARIABLY take into careful consideration all the nuanced event details - the setting, the weather, the time of day, how formal it will be, the guest list, the itinerary.

This might seem like a trivial, yeah-duh point but I don't think enough people really take the time to think about choosing the best outfit for each particular set of circumstances. Sadly, most people aren't Type A fashionistas like me.

Before any important event (read: one where your outfit will be photographed and immortalized excessively), I suggest you not make any last minute decisions.  Well in advance of the event, ask yourself some key questions.   Like: Will I be inside or outside most of the wedding? Will my  former boss or my ex boyfriend be there? How much dancing versus sitting will be happening?  Just how much imbibing will I be doing?

The answers to these questions can affect everything from your outerwear to your hem and neckline to your heel height to your shapewear.  They can mean the difference between being the Debbie Downer complaining about sinking into the grass in Louboutins or being the Belle of the Ball dancing by the ocean all nite wrapped in a warm pashimina. I've been both at weddings and believe me the Belle of the Ball is betta.

So my top tip for surviving wedding season: be a fashion McGwyver. Be fearless, resourceful and prepared for anything.

Por ejemplo, back in February, I attended the sublimely charming wedding of my former coworker Rocket Man to his MChu at St. Vibiana's (they were featured on Martha Stewart Weddings just last week!!!),  I chose a BCBG strapless dress in a rich jewel tone with an asymmetrical hemline. Very sweet but also sexy in the city.  After all, it was to be a fancified, mostly traditional affair in the heart of LA with a bunch of my favorite twentysomething boozehounds.

The wedding was right around the Golden Globes and I wasn't shocked by how many similar dresses walked the red carpet.  The color and shape make the dress an instant classic.  Plus it's flattering on almost any coloring, shape or age.

I stepped things up by getting creative and pairing the dress with contrasting Manolo, Marc and Me&Ro accessories in complimentary shades of turquoise and purple. Amazingsymphony of bold colors  - perfect for standing out at a winter wedding.

Love how the look worked equally well for mingling with my favorite former boss

and hitting the dance floor with Mr. D.

Some other great wedding wear options: a chic LBD or an on trend maxi or a classic black and white print.

A+ to all my girls for bringing it!

And A++ to the DJ for bringing it.  Best wedding dance party EVER.

 I was seriously on fire all night. REDIC.

Only one gorgeous single lady had me beat.  This baby girl had moves I had NEVER seen before.  She was my shero of the nite.

That is until this lady came around with a tray of bacon wrapped hot doggs around midnight.

The USC girl in me couldn't refuse.

Plus I make pigging look gooood ;)

Here are my current favorite BCBG options for summer weddings.  Squint your eyes and they are a mix of  Alexander McQueen, DVF, Pucci and Missoni references.  Some are even 30 percent off right now!

Pondering getting one for Mr. D's sister's wedding.  Which one gets your vote for a late summer Maine wedding?