Katy Perry "Part of Me" Premiere and Concert

The Scene

On Monday, I worked until 10 pm.  

On Tuesday, my boss got me into Katy Perry's movie premiere. 

Working at Twitter has its pluses ;) 

Our team had tickets to the event because Pepsi was live streaming the concert before the premiere on Twitter.

I'm about to POP your corn! Start watching now! twitter.com/pepsi #KatyPerryNOW
— Katy Perry (@katyperry) June 27, 2012

I wrote the blog post about Twitter's cool new partnership with Pepsi centered around music last month, never thinking I'd get to go to one of the pop-up concerts. (p.s. If you aren't following @Pepsi and getting your free music downloads every week, you are missing out!) 

In 34 years, I'd never traipsed around on Hollywood Blvd when the it's shut down (well, other than the No on Prop 8 march waaaaay back in 2009.) Felt surreal. Only really happens for The Oscars, which I haven't been to...yet. :) 

The bar courtesy of Pepsi was a refreshing bonus on a hot summer day. Champers on Hollywood Blvd. = the height of decadence. Pays to work hard. Stay in school, kids.

Had fun getting to know some new colleagues at the event. Both men have little girls. Would have gladly given up my ticket to have one of their daughters there.  Would have guaranteed them coolest dad EVER status.

My other coworker, however, is an uber Katy Perry fan and they would have had to pry the VIP wristband off her dead, cold, adorable hand.

LOVED how her thirty-something excitement fit right in with all the little teenage Katy fans.

Also made (more age-appropriate) friends with some Pepsi folks. Thanked them for having us and spent quite a bit of time answering their questions about the mechanics of using Twitter. 

But all professional talk and decorum went out the door when Katy arrived just a few feet from us. The pop princess was wearing a red velvet confection by Dolce & Gabbana with matching pumps – very Hollywood prom queen. With the retro glam makeup and and big barrel curls tinged with purple, she looked like a character straight out of an anime comic book in a David Lynch movie. 

We all watched starstruck as she did the interview circuit in the hot LA sun. 

She shared how her grandmother had just arrived and pretended not to know who Katy was. Love.

After strolling the pink carpet, Katy quick changed artist into the perfect popcorn performance look before a movie premiere. 

I'm glad I didn't wear MY movie reel bra. That would have been embarrassing. 

The show was pure Katy: fun, energetic and an explosion of color and visual candy.

She performed six of her biggest hits and ended with my favorite, California Girls. 

Only thing missing was Snoop.

After the show, it was movie time. 

Loved the 3D glasses, loved the movie. 

The message is a powerful one for girls and girl-women alike: Be yourself...everyone else is taken.

The Outfit

L.A. Fashion District dress and necklace
H&M belt
Marc by Marc Jacobs bag
Dior sunglasses
Guisseppe Zanotti heels
Random bracelets

The Grade
B

The Commentary

I found out I had a golden ticket waiting for me about two hours before the concert/premiere started. Not ideal but undaunted, I hatched a polka-dotted plan.




 Which was confirmed when my coworker emailed me that she'd almost worn her polka dot dress and blue wig.

Also knew I wanted to wear the neon heels again since they were such a hit at Scissor Sisters. Knew they'd be the perfect amount of Katy-licious pop. But, I definitely hesitated – was worried they weren't work event appropriate. 

 Glad I ended up throwing caution to the wind.  My coworkers couldn't have cared less what was on my feet AND I matched the pink carpet. I win. 

 Carly Rae Jespen (i.e. the Call Me Maybe singer) was also feeling the neon heels look. She may have the SOS but I think I won this "Who wore it best?" 

The Nars Schiap lips were a good call too. Spotted a ferosh drag queen (see her in the back with a HUGE blond wig?) sporting a similar pout. 

As was the adorbs Selena Gomez! 

Pink was also the Biebs color of choice at the event. 

For an old lady, I'm still somehow plugged into the teeny bopper zeitgeist. 

But Kathy Griffin's really old ass is really plugged in (that sounds gross.)
She wins best pose of the night. Can't believe I didn't think of it. 

Best dressed at the event goes to all the little girls in tutus  

And punk-rock-hipster-in-the-making lace up sneakers.  Felt like the 80s everywhere I turned. 

LOVED all the grown up girls in color. 

This teal dress with yellow sandals was my favorite. Purrfect summer look.

Also liked this pink pants and turquoise combo. Sadly, her friend not so much. Was giving too much Hollywood Blvd. in the 80s (i.e. hookerville).

Not even these tweens should go that short and that tight. Kids nowadays... 

This was my fave mother-daughter duo. Almost wore my Pradas.
They just felt cartoony and Katy enough.

But my favorite accessory was this Louis Vuitton purse from the Sprouse graffiti collection. Pitch perfect for Katy.  Check out the neon yellow purse her daughter was wearing in the second image from the top of this post. I swear fashion is in the genes. 

My polka dots ended up being a good call too.  

Matched Katy's look at the after-party
when she hung out with Robert Pattinson at the Chateau Marmont.

What a teenage dream.

What to Wear to a Summer Wedding: Missouri Edition

The Scene

Last month, Mr. Diabolina and I found ourselves in Missouri for a wedding. Mr. D's cousin was marrying a really cool chick from the midwest (her three brothers and male bff from college were her attendants: LOVE!) It ended up being one of the most stunningly beautiful, achingly heart-felt and perfectly laid-back weddings I've had the honor of witnessing. I'll never forget it.

Truth be told, being L.A. born and bred kids, Mr. D and I didn't know quite what to expect from Missouri. But we were beyond pleasantly surprised. It was just so Americana; relaxing, eye-opening and gorgeous.

It was also surprisingly romantic. I think there's something about getting out of your comfort zone together...feeling completely out of your element with the person you love and trust most by your side... exploring unchartered territory hand in hand. A little like getting married, I guess.  

The Outfit
Forever 21 dress

The Accessories
Guisseppe Zanotti heels
Chanel sunnies

Louis Vuitton earrings
Fashion District bracelet and stud ring
Thrifted vintage clutch

The Grade
A

The Commentary

I'm a lover not a hater so I was positively RIVETED by the Royal Visit to North America last week. As an English major and first generation American, the mythology of British royalty completely fascinates me. The sense of obligation and pagentry and HISTORY is about as far away from my reality as you can get. I thrill in the escapism of it all.


 
Kate's fashion choices weren't just a mid-summer treat, they were practically a step-by-step user's guide to what to wear to a summer wedding. They were, first and formost, feminine. The details and the shapes were flirty and flattering but never fussy. The colors and prints were festive without screaming "LOOK AT ME!" The hemlines and necklines were always tasteful, showing off her figure (THAT WAIST!), without ever being revealing. The accessories were consistently chic and yet sensible and functional, never too TOO.
 


All those guidelines apply perfectly during wedding season---whether you're the future Queen of England or the current Lady Di :) In Missouri, I wanted to keep things simple. Chose a color that was bright and flattering but opted for a high neckline and knee-grazing hem. Added only a small bit of bling, by my standards. But the one thing I couldn't resist? TOO TOO shoes: GZ neon ankle wrap, ice pick heels to be exact. Needed to create a little bit of contrast and color blocking and LA-girl-in-Missouri WOW factor.

Mission accomplished: on my way to the wedding, a 60-something year old man beelined for me in the lobby of the hotel. He had a shock of white hair and a round tummy and his kind eyes looked giddy when he said to me, "Those are GREAT shoes!" There was not a hint of chester the molester in his voice. He was just utterly delighted by my neon shoes. LOVE!







Fast forward three hours and as Mr. Diabolina and I sat down for dinner at a table that was a mixture of family and strangers, there he was. My shoe grandpa. He practically clapped his hands with delight when he told his wife and daughter the story.

I was delighted when I peeped their Chanel clutches. Kindred spirits even in MO.

The Inspiration