American music awards virtual red carpet outfit

You can take the girl out of Hollywood, but you can’t take Hollywood out of the on-camera reporter who has covered the entertainment industry in Los Angeles for years!

After reporting on film, music, fashion and celebrities at publications like E! News, Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, and ABC7 LA, I have become a connoisseur of this news genre. That’s why all the way in Kern County as an on-camera reporter for 23ABC (almost four months—man does time go quickly) I’ve still managed to cover The Emmys, preview a film with Kate Bosworth and Edward James Olmos and now The American Music Awards. Somehow I’ve pulled this off in addition to my daily duties of reporting hard and feature news locally and nationally.

It was like a homecoming in a way—while of course doing the coverage from my home (we’re still in a pandemic, after all!). I covered the American Music Awards for the first time last year for Entertainment Weekly. In 2019, I was on the red carpet and in the photo room, face-to-face interviewing Lil Nas X, Shania Twain Daniel Levy, Dan + Shay and many others. Well, this year, I was sitting in my reading corner on a Zoom call with dozens of reporters and stars. On the screen, thirty of us correspondents watched as the likes of Bebe Rexha, Doja Cat and Dan + Shay took their red carpet photos on a step and repeat and answered some of our questions, press conference style (yes, it was a super weird format but hey we were still at the AMAs, even if virtually!). Given the fact that I was representing the only local news outlet and everyone else was from a national outlet based in Los Angeles or New York, I had quite the challenge ahead of me: to get my question in and somehow connect the subject matter back to Bakersfield.

For those that know me well, I always strive to rise to and excel at a challenge set before me. When I ask my interviewee a question, I also make it my personal goal to ask them something they haven’t been asked a million times in the hopes of seeing their faces light up with that storytelling magic that connects all of humanity together, no matter how different our experiences are from one another. I had conducted extensive research on every nominated AMAs artist and managed to discover a unique connection two 2020 AMAs winners had to Bakersfield…huzzah!

Last year Billboard reported that Dan + Shay dethroned Bakersfield Sound (one of the most iconic genres of country music) founding father, Buck Owens for having the second longest streak of the top first and second spots on the Hot Country Song chart. When I asked Dan + Shay about how Buck Owens and the forefathers of country music paved the way for them as country stars, they grinned from ear-to-ear and paid homage to Bakersfield and Buck Owens (watch the full story here) in a way even I wasn’t expecting!

Suffice to say, it was a successful day of covering the AMAs, and even though I didn’t get to walk the red carpet myself, I dressed in what I would have worn if I was at the ceremony in person. So, the award for taking forever to post this story on the blog goes to…me! I’ve been meaning to get around to entering these editorials into my style diary, but man does a job as on-camera journalist take up one’s time and energy (in the best way, of course!).

The American Music Awards are fan-voted, and this indigo dress has been a crowd pleaser for my fellow chicsters since I first introduced it on Instagram. It only seemed appropriate to grace the Zoom screen and our viewers’ televisions with this strong-shouldered showstopper! There are so many elements that make this number special, from the sheer sleeves, to the rainbow bejeweled belt, to the shoulder pads and the unique hue. I kept with the vintage theme and opted for these layered gold hoops I consigned from a boutique in downtown Bakersfield. I slicked my hair back to keep the look sharp and keep the attention on my winsome wear. This dress was from another favorite haute haunt of mine—my mother’s closet from the ‘80s and ‘90s. She wore this pinafore when my father asked for her hand in marriage, so I think it’s filled with some serious magic!

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Who has been your favorite music artist this year?

Keeping it Krischic,

Kristin Vartan

Also Check Me Out On: 23ABC, ABC7 LA, Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, E! News, Darling Magazine, Pepperdine Graphic, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok!

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The patchwork coat – the chic list

Dolly Parton once wrote song about a “coat of many colors.” Well today, I have composed for you an ode to a coat of many patterns. This is my tribute to the patchwork coat, a conversation piece that feels and looks like a bedspread when you put it on but is totally acceptable to strut outside your home.  

This is not your grandmother’s quilting, but it may conjure up such nostalgia. This topper has character, and that’s why it’s taken the social media catwalk by storm this November. During this pandemic, it’s clear that people are looking to surround themselves with creature comforts, and for many style savants that means finding pieces that are equally cozy as they are stylish. Simply put (but it isn’t simple whatsoever), times are tough, and winter isn’t just bleak from the weather. And while it won’t solve all the woes of our world, a coat like this is like an embrace in the form of outerwear while we weather the storm.

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I’ve had this piece in my closet for over a year now but for the longest time couldn’t put my finger on how to style it. With some of my pointers, you won’t need to hit a “rough patch” with your patchwork like I did.

Stick to Neutrals:

This coat has every pattern on it under the sun: zig zags, florals, stars, chevron, you name it. That’s why I left it unbuttoned and kept my top and bottoms neutral. A white turtleneck is one of the best bases for any look, especially if your outerwear already makes a statement. In most cases, there’s only room for one attention-seeking garment in an outfit (there are some exceptions). Just because you stick to neutrals though, doesn’t mean every other piece of clothing has to be a bore! This beige knit Calvin Klein skirt picks up on the chevron in the coat while the satin waist belt adds shimmer while still staying muted. The rhinestones on the belt add some extra, but subtle shine.

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Create Shape: Depending on the patchwork/quilt coat you choose, it may fit slightly bulky—or plush (because, get it? It’s a quilt?). The next best way to balance out the overwhelming pattern or size is to make sure the rest of your pieces are form-fitting. A skin-tight turtleneck and pencil skirt are just the stuff! Pro-tip for extra warmth: wear a thermal under the turtleneck, and none will be the wiser! Cinching the waist with a belt also adds back the shape to your body you may lose from the coat.

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    Photo inspired by my trendy friend, Mari Makatsaria

Elongate, Elongate, Elongate:

I folded the band of my textured skirt a couple times so it would fit high waisted and turn into a mini skirt. This trick along with the pointed-toe kitten heels further elongated my already long legs, but what really sealed the deal on this trick? Pantyhose. There’s a reason The Royals wear nylons, and it’s not just because they’re proper and polished. They further tighten up your legs as any workout would and make them appear lengthier. You’re welcome!

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What is a statement piece this winter you’re tempted to try, but are unsure how to style? Comment down below and I may just feature it in my next blog post!

Keeping it Krischic,

Kristin Vartan

Also Check Me Out On: 23ABC, ABC7 LA, Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, E! News, Darling Magazine, Pepperdine Graphic, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok!

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fall fashion for on-camera journalists

My office is all over town, and my cubicle, is a rectangular TV or iPhone screen belonging to our various audience members. That’s because I’m an on-camera reporter, which if you’ve been following me on Instagram, you probably know by now. As far as I’m concerned, there are a few components that make my live shot stand out: the lights, the camera and the fashion! Since my first live hit is at 4:30 in the morning and it’s cold, I’ve mastered the art of layering while still serving up a memorable look. Here are some of my favorites over the last month.

Garments in Grape

This is one of my favorite looks from my Halloween stories on-air!  Don’t be ‘spooked’ about mixing texture and colors as a reporter this fall season! Turn your fear into a force of fashion by getting out of your comfort zone. The key to a successful mix n’ match is to select pieces from the same color palette, or complementary colors (look up the color wheel on your favorite search engine. The colors across from each other are complementary).   

As I’m a repeat offender when it comes pigmented pairings, I was comfortable practicing this method of dress during one of my Halloween stories. I combined this plum ruffle shirt with a velvet pomegranate skirt with Japanese blossoms, because these tones both live in the purple family. They bring a splash of warm color to an autumn ensemble without overwhelming the eye. By the way, marigold orange, burnt orange and burgundy also mesh merrily together—as you will see in the next outfit. It’s all about picking a hue and building on it.

Pumpkin Pairings

Fall means pumpkin-flavored everything, but what about sprinkling some pumpkin flavor into your wardrobe? Celebrities have been doing it for years, because they know that the ombre of this gourd shade splashes in photos. Since I am a gal of both high and pop culture, I still study star-studded street style clippings and took a page from them with this ensemble. The base of this outfit: the burnt orange culottes and sleeveless marigold turtleneck. On their own, the pairing would make for a super cute mod look in the summertime, but it’s not enough when the temperatures drop. To be as warm as a pumpkin spice latte, I hid a thermal long sleeve top under my tweed blazer and added some pointed toe nude pumps for extra elongation.

Yellow Leaves

This Edwardian top is a vintage girl’s dream: the puffy sleeves, the tortoise shell buttons and the double lining that accentuates my hourglass torso. It’s the type of romantic top that make me feel like I’m in a period film but modernized enough not to look out-of-place on television. I paired it with a floor-length twee skirt that also looks like it’s from the early twentieth century, with its tight fit and bell-like flare at the bottom. With a pair of tights and ankle boots to finish it off, I was warm and whimsical at the same time!

Which look is your favorite? If you’d like to see more on-camera style blog posts, share this post with a friend or leave a comment.

Keeping it Krischic,

Kristin Vartan

Also Check Me Out On: 23ABC, ABC7 LA, Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, E! News, Darling Magazine, Pepperdine Graphic, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok!

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give me all the Toile – The chic list

I love clothing that tells a story. Toile to me is a type of hieroglyphic—the blue clothing dye on this dress depicts pastoral scenes of a French couple in the countryside sitting under a flourishing tree while staring into each other’s eyes. Their expressions are brimming with life, as their romance seems to bloom as beautifully as the foliage they find themselves resting under.

That is why I have fallen so hard for toile. The intricate pattern which emanated from 18th century Ireland was iconized by Chistophe-Philipe at the Jouy-en-Josas factory (why its full title is toile de Juoy) in 1760, according to Masterclass—eventually becoming a fashion statement across Europe. Designers began to print toile on wallpaper, china and clothing, each piece depicting a serene scene of the country. The design is old-world elegance and simplicity at its finest. The fantastical elements of this fabric have led to me buying toile pillows for my bedroom, plastering toile wallpaper on the backdrop all my Instagram stories, and yes buying this Lucy Paris sundress with puffy sleeves and a mask from Etsy to match. ‘Krischic’ is synonymous mainly with two antique elements: a wax seal (my logo) and toile (my pattern of choice), both motifs of timeless narrative.

When wearing this dress in the tower of Pasadena City Hall, a haven of historic architecture, I felt completely in my element. Pasadena is one of those few jewels in California where oak trees stencil the sun’s light on your car as you drive on by, an arcadian paradise with large, manicured houses. While I can’t time travel, a two-hour car ride can project such a scene embodied on my toile—peaceful, charming and brimming with possibility. And let me tell you, during a pandemic, it was just the socially-distanced outing with a dear friend that I needed, in just the right dress.

What’s your favorite fabric? Polka dots? Stripes? Toile? Let me know in the comments and why it fits your personality.

Keeping it Krischic,

Kristin Vartan

Also Check Me Out On: 23ABC, ABC7 LA, Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, E! News, Darling Magazine, Pepperdine Graphic, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok!

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Pasadena city hall: why it’s one of my happy places

I find serenity in my surroundings—whether that’s the setting, the sounds, the people—what I’m clothed in. That’s why Pasadena City Hall was the ultimate sanctuary for me a couple weekends ago.

Surely, it’s no plot twist that my sister in style, Mari Makatsaria accompanied me on this venture. The marvel of columns crowned with a burnt orange dome was brought to life by John Bakewell and Arthur brown almost a century ago. According to the Pasadena city website, it was the work of Italian Renaissance, Andrea Palladio that inspired their aesthetic. It’s an archaic gem in the midst of modern California. It’s a forward thinker with a vintage soul’s promised land. 

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    Kristin

You see, I grew up on fairytales. I’m convinced that God inspires man to fashion architecture with so much character, spirit and magic to remind us all that eventually grow up not to lose wonder for the world. Why is it that adults allow the doom and gloom of the universe to cast out our faith in humankind, in a higher power looking out for us? As I’ve continued the path of my twenties and begun to stand on my own two feet—whether they be functional flats or trendy see-through stilettos….I’ve found myself balance the tight rope between the young girl who is the best kind of optimist: a dreamer and the cynic that the discouraging and sometime despairing obstacles tempt me to be. But I’ve vowed to never be that cynic. I recently read Nikita Gill’s Fierce Fairytales (shout out to my friend, Taylor for the rec), and resonated with two passages: “but the universe never promised you this would be easy. After all, you are the hero here,” and “you are half fairytale, half girl.” Let this be a reminder for you as well, dear reader. We are all the heroes of our own story, aren’t we? Thus, if the two passages work in tandem, then I manifest here and now that the story will end well. The in between will be a pattern of highs and lows, but if it wasn’t so, the tale would be a snoozer.

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So, I’m contented to step through the nave with Grecian statues above my head, wearing a bewitching blue dress equal parts mermaid and Cinderella, a modern take on glass slippers to match. In our snazzy shoes Mari and I make our way up the stairs to the tower where you can see the manicured city of Pasadena stretch out before you, the white buildings as it does so appearing like teeth in its smile. The city seems to say, “you are welcome to seek solace here.” The whimsical tune of Nat King Cole’s “Stardust” echoes through my mind as the sun cast its rose-gold light onto the historic buildings. And whenever I face my dragons, I will conjure up this castle in my mind and trust God’s plan.

Keeping it Krischic,

Kristin Vartan

Also Check Me Out On: 23ABC, ABC7 LA, Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, E! News, Darling Magazine, Pepperdine Graphic, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok!

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in honor of emily in paris, here’s our carrie bradshaw dress recreation

What is it about Darren Star’s storylines that have that sort of, je ne sais quoi? Well, I think I’ve managed to put my finger on it!

It’s the allure of leading a creative life in a living and breathing city, in New York or Paris. It’s the fantasy that you can be a columnist, a leader of a trendy publishing imprint or a marketing maven while dripping in Chanel, Manolo Blahniks and Ganni. That on your lunch breaks you have enough time to dine at trendy cafes or French bistros while enjoying a pan du chocolat and discuss your work woes and love life with equally talented, successful, cultured besties.

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I have loved every Starr production I’ve seen so far: Sex and the City, Younger, and Emily in Paris is no different (the only one I haven’t seen is Beverly Hills 90210, but I 9021-know that I’ll love it, so it’s on my list now!). The show is a delectable confection that is more feel-good than guilty pleasure. The characters are all delightful, the lavish French scenes of cafes, industry parties (including Paris fashion week) provide much needed escapism during this pandemic, and ooh la la, the fashion! I’m still drooling over every beret-topped ensemble Emily has worn on the show. Leave it up to Patricia Field (who has done the styling on Sex and the City and Younger as well) to put pieces together that you would never think of, but somehow become a tasteful, unforgettable medley. But most of all, I am a huge fan of the gal who wears those coveted outfits, Emily Cooper. She is positive, has a ton of moxie, and is totally relatable—even if I’m having a hard time believing she can afford all that Chanel and Dior on her marketing salary (my only complaint!).  

I’ve admired the actress that brings Emily to life, Lily Collins for a long time too: From her fashion sense that is Audrey Hepburn meets rocker chic to her artistic film projects that are a mix of good fun and heart. I even adore her mother, Jill Collins who I spent a few hours with for a story about her antique store… she is the one who told me to start watching Schitt’s Creek, which I also binged this past week as a chaser to Emily in Paris. But before I even knew who Lily Collins was, my parents played her father Phil Collins’ music in my nursery. Needless to say, that Star and Collins combined, I’ve been ready for this show since it announced pre-production. I’m talking about back when I was still working Hollywood Reporter, so over a year ago of earnest anticipation, and it did not disappoint.

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Let’s take things back for a second: last summer when Lily Collins announced via Instagram that she would be starring in Darren Star’s next project, Emily in Paris, I DM’ed my blogger bestie, Mari Makatsaria the announcement. Both being dedicated Sex and the City fans (I mean, hello we’re both journalists who can appreciate a designer shoe like the next fashion girl), we were counting down the days and months until this show would air so that we could recreate Carrie Bradshaw’s iconic newspaper dress look for a photo shoot. For a whole year, I’d been scouring the internet for a more affordable version of the one-of-a-kind Dior dress by John Galliano that Carrie strutted on the cult TV show.

At long last, I discovered this one from Australian online boutique, Peppermayo and bought it within minutes! Much to our dismay, the dress sold out of Mari’s size the second she wanted to get one for us to match. By the grace of God, the dress came back in stock weeks later, made it through customs to her door just in time for our photo shoot. As you can see, Mari and I styled our looks slightly different: she opted for gold jewelry and white strappy sandals while I went for silver hoops and black shoes with a snakeskin heel. We are indeed two parts of the same newspaper, hehe. We had a good laugh achieving these highly stylized photos, especially in between shots Mari’s Instagram fiancé Anton took of us, where he told us to stop looking too pose-y, and we saw exactly why he was telling us not to do certain poses=! In one I straight up looked like I was lunging.  

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After a successful photo shoot with outfit changes around Pasadena, we capped the night with four different flavors of pizza and binged the first half of Emily in Paris together. I was fueled to write this post after finishing the second half of the season the following day, accompanied by a wine and a baked ziti dinner!

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What show are you bingeing right now? Comment down below!

Keeping it Krischic,

Kristin Vartan

Also Check Me Out On: 23ABC, ABC7 LA, Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, E! News, Darling Magazine, Pepperdine Graphic, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok!

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Gucci osteria de massimo Bottura makes the ‘the chic list’

Feast your eyes…and your stomach on the Gucci Osteria de Massimo Bottura, where your boutique-sized Italian cuisine is served with a large helping of fashion. Bon appetit, indeed!

But before, I get into the Gucci goods, I must take you to the very beginning…

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On another mundane morning, breakfast and the promise of coffee immediately get me out of bed in the morning. But last Sunday, I languorously slipped out of my white lace duvet, emerging from the cocoon in a matching cloud-colored nightgown with similar trimmings. I felt like Audrey Hepburn in Paris When it Sizzles, especially whilst dusting makeup on my face before my metallic gold vanity. I wasn’t dragging my feet to get to the reservation my blogger bestie Mari Makatsaria made for us a month in advance (well, I was dreading a 100-mile drive, to what was once my backyard—I used to live in Beverly Hills). No, I was savoring the getting-ready process, making it a ritual rather than a rush, while listening to Dean Martin and Ella Fitzgerald.

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My life has been run by tight deadlines since I began my first job as an on-camera reporter at 23ABC…That Sunday, I wanted to rewind, and slow-mo the vintage film I always imagine my life to be… one with classical music playing in the backdrop, a one-of-a-kind wardrobe, flawless makeup that prioritizes winged-tip eyeliner and bold eyebrows and luxurious settings.

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Once I slipped into my satin lime dress with puff sleeves and slits in all the right places on, I mounted my steed (those that have been following me for a while know that my white Mercedes has been christened Maximus, after the horse in Tangled), placed my jacquard strappy heels onto the gas pedal and cantered across the freeway with inexplicable excitement.

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Suffice to say I made it to Rodeo Drive only a couple minutes late, but fashionably! My dress swished back and forth [hopefully] glamorously as I power walked to the mint argyle Gucci flagship storefront and to the vibrant floral hostess area to check in. After checking my temperature (a reminder that we’re still in a pandemic), I rode the lift up to the open-air dining area on the rooftop.

Let me just say that if I wasn’t wearing a mask, the waiters and their tables would have witnessed my job dropping to the wooden and Persian-rugged floor. Yes, I had scoured through a myriad of pictures of the LA-based Gucci restaurant, but this oasis exceeded my wildest dreams:

After becoming accustomed to the four white walls of my home and now my new apartment during the pandemic, I felt the world open up before me within the pastel Japanese wallpapered and marble walls of the osteria. The ornate mirrors were something right out of Marie Antoinette’s bedroom. To sit in California cool wicker chairs while awaiting our meal was a study in contrasts that somehow worked. And the same goes for Chef Massimo Bottura’s menu, which is a marriage between California and Italian cuisine. You can bet that Mari and I, two fashion-forward foodies, were ready to devour the boutique-sized, but piquant affair! We started with a refreshing V&T cocktail, rose spritzer with a splash of lemon puree. The appertif paired harmoniously with our assortment of fresh-baked bread and butter: one garnished with bee pollen and a whipped butter with fresh ground better. “Even the food and cutlery is beautiful,” I told Mari. “I haven’t been this in awe of a restaurant’s china since tea at Fortnum and Mason!” The flora and fauna dishes reflect the fabrics of a men’s Gucci suit fresh off the runway. The main attraction was the pasta, but my absolute favorite part of the meal was the desert: “Oops, I Dropped the Meringue.” The cracked meringue twinned with the plate it came on, and the raspberry desert tasted as heavenly as it looked.  

I needed this dining experience more than I could say. For a couple hours, the “new normal” of the last year seemed to fall away, save for the osteria’s immaculate dedication to following CDC guidelines—mask wearing, social distancing, temperature checking, the world health works.

What new restaurant are you excited to try?

Keeping it Krischic,

Kristin Vartan

Also Check Me Out On: 23ABC, ABC7 LA, Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, E! News, Darling Magazine, Pepperdine Graphic, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok!

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How a maxi dress can take you from summer to fall seamlessly

We have reached that point in the month where September is beginning to flirt subtly with October. The point where slight breezes here and there tease those of us in Southern California with the promise of cooler air, the troth of fall. The plight of the mosquitos checking out of Bakersfield along with the heat.

But alas, the first day of autumn was a few days, ago and it still feels like summer. I have come to find myself sipping on homemade pumpkin spiced iced lattes before leaving my home in a sleeveless dress, only to sweat incessantly before my live hit on 23ABC. But when one of my best friends, Mari and her man Anton came into town a weekend ago, and I pulled out my black floral dress that almost skirted the floor, something dawned on me. I came to the realization that the best way to satisfy the craving of fall dressing in hundred-degree heat is to sport a maxi dress.

Yes, it seems oh so simple, but it is that happy medium that makes it oh so genius. What I love most about this dress is that it exudes elements of flora and fauna that contain whispers of summer, but they seem to lay in a field of night on the backsplash of the fabric that makes it easily transitional to fall and winter. If I wore this in a chillier climate, all that I would need is a slouchy white cardigan. There was no need of that last weekend, with sun warming my skin to a slight tan as Mari and I walked the streets of downtown Bakersfield, lined with historic buildings that nod to the city’s 19th century beginnings and early 20th century boom in arts and culture.

I let my then-long raven locks fall freely like a curtain on my back and walked in go to strapped mules with a snakeskin heel. One can never go wrong with a statement shoe and a pop of a red pedicure. Again, once the whether cools down, I could switch these heeled open toe shoes for some suede heeled boots. The changing of the seasons cannot limit this frilled dress!

What are you most looking forward to this fall?

Keeping it Krischic,

Kristin Vartan

Also Check Me Out On: 23ABC, ABC7 LA, Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, E! News, Darling Magazine, Pepperdine Graphic, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok!

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a walking emmys golden statuette for the primetime emmy awards

If you’re wondering why I’m dressed like a golden statuette, it’s because the Emmy Awards were yesterday, and I had the absolute privilege to interview a 72nd Annual Primetime Emmy award winner who hails from Bakersfield! You can go here to watch my on-camera story for 23ABC. But here on the fashion blog, we’re going to talk fashion.

This gilded satin jumpsuit was the first article of clothing from my closet that came to mind when deciding what to wear for my Emmys coverage. It just screams Old Hollywood, with its halter top and cowl neck. I love how a halter top an accentuate the shoulders and make me look—statuesque. After a matching belt that cinches at the waist, the one-piece billows into a wide leg trouser, emphasizing my hourglass shape. When it comes to on-camera looks especially, I tend to pick pieces that are form-fitting to the body but sit at appropriate lengths to still keep it classy.

Anyone with experience dressing for the camera will tell you that accessories are everything. These gold coin earrings from Uncommon James have an ancient motif that appears almost, cinematic. They also draw attention the face, since when I’m actually doing a live shot or a stand up on air, you’re only seeing the top half of my look! The red lipstick was an intentional and symbolic, an ode to the red carpet that was not to be with a virtual Emmys ceremony. Plus, it matches the 23ABC logo on my mic flag—which is practically an extension of my arm five days a week.

Watching and covering the Emmys virtually made me miss traditional award show season, but it’s also a testament that the show can indeed go on, thanks to technology mixed with the resilience of an industry. Covering my first award show with 23ABC was an honor, and I hope other entertainment events can similarly adapt in the age of COVID-19.

What Emmy win brought you the most joy and why?

Keeping it Krischic,

Kristin Vartan

Also Check Me Out On: 23ABC, ABC7 LA, Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, E! News, Darling Magazine, Pepperdine Graphic, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok!

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A FLATTERING ON-CAMERA DRESS THAT IS STILL WORK-APPROPRIATE

*Come back for new posts every ‘Forward-Thinker-with-a-Vintage-Soul Friday!

Mastering reporter-ready style looks different in cable-only era than it does in the social media age. There’s a whole community of journalists who share their looks via Instagram, with only one accessory in common: a mic. It’s refreshing, because as a fashion blogger, I worried that there would be this dichotomy between the fashion girl and the news girl in me. I’ve come to find that in wearing looks that are true to who I am, my news-gathering and delivery are way stronger, and my fashion sense sets me apart.

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I’ll be that young lady on your television (or computer or phone screen) with a lion’s mane, a bold lipstick and some vintage-inspired dress! Since many of you have been enjoying my #ootd’s while in the field, I thought it would be fun to have a blog post segment just for my on-camera style.

Without further ado, here’s my ode to a flattering dress onscreen that is still work-appropriate:

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Without even realizing it, I paid homage to Elizabeth Taylor with this entire ensemble. Many knew Taylor by her form-fitting frocks with a sweetheart neckline. I too found myself onscreen for this look but wanted to opt for a collar with less of a dip due to the fact that I was reporting the news rather than in a movie. What makes this dress still work for well…work is that it’s ultra-flattering without showing too much skin. The neckline stops just at the right place, the sleeves are thicker than a spaghetti strap and it accentuates my hourglass figure, even with its more conservative hemline (it goes down to my ankle). I love the chocolate brown color of the dress too. It’s chic and serious at the same time.

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While reporting in the Golden Empire, I’m quite dedicated to consistently embodying the Golden Age of Hollywood. The makeup had to match the vintage feel of the dress, of course! So did the accessories. My cherry-red lip is a mixture of a Maybelline liquid lipstick that smells like strawberries and a burnt red ColourPop lipstick. I went for a chocolate and beige cut-crease with a subtle cat eye, totally reminiscent of the ‘60s. The softly tousled curls further sealed my Old Hollywood aura.

This gold chain necklace from Uncommon James paired well with my trademark gold hoop earrings. Let’s be real about the shoes: I tend to stay in sandals or flats since I’m running around town all day carrying extremely heavy camera equipment for my stories. Why do you think my arms are more sculpted than usual?

Who is the next Old Hollywood Star I should embody on-camera?

Keeping it Krischic,

Kristin Vartan

Also Check Me Out On: 23ABC, ABC7 LA, Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, E! News, Darling Magazine, Pepperdine Graphic, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok!

Follow Me on BlogLovin