Fashion Review: The Swift-Kelce Wedding

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got married last weekend, and naturally the guest list was filled with A-list celebrities (musicians, movie stars, and athletes) who knew how to dress for the black-tie dress code. Let's see who looked good and who missed the mark!

Karlie Kloss wore a shimmery gold strapless Grecian-inspired Tove sheath with a rear slit and matching gold strappy sandals. Elegant, memorable, but not spotlight-stealing, as it should be. 

Erin Andrews wore a black Gucci halter gown with a hint of shimmer, while husband Jarrett Stoll opted for a navy tuxedo. The bare shoulders and slightly open sides are sexy but not inappropriately so. 

Dakota Johnson wore a similar black halter gown; hers was a Valentino design with a crushed collar band, trailing scarf at the back of the neck, and an angled, thigh-high slit. 

Singer Camila Cabello looked more appropriate for the red carpet than a wedding in a voluminous off-the-shoulder red lace Zimmerman design with a bloused top featuring a deep keyhole opening, a built-in cape, and a full, sheer skirt. It was pretty, but a bit much for the occasion. 

Selena Gomez absolutely understood the assignment in an understated but glamorous heavily-beaded, champagne-colored Oscar de la Renta sheath. 

Gigi Hadid went Barbiecore in a form-fitting bubblegum pink beaded Wiederhoeft gown with tiny straps and a draped bodice. Simple design plus eye-catching fabric = excellent choice. 

Jennifer Lopez opted for a high-low hemline in this Bach Mai gown, which featured a black velvet sleeveless bodice with a deep scoop neckline that was fitted to mid-hip, and a metallic black full skirt. It had a bit of an '80s feel, but it fit the occasion. 

Dita Von Teese veered into "is it a wedding gown?" territory in a champagne and ivory lace vintage gown with a sheer yoke and a bunch of giant rosettes on one shoulder. Pretty, but not very appropriate for a wedding. 

Jessica Alba, on the arm of boyfriend Danny Ramirez, wore a two-toned Prada gown with a metallic, paillette-covered column skirt and a plunging-to-the-waist black halter bodice. Definitely black tie, but again, a bit much for a wedding. 

Lena Dunham's sartorial choices can be questionable, but I wholeheartedly approve of her Christian Cowan flared skirt and hot pink satin blouse with super-flared bell sleeves and plunging surplice neckline. The giant lavender flower was a bit over the top, but I'll give it a pass. 

Joey King wore a lovely design by Leo Lin for Myteresa: a black halter gown wrapped with lavender morning glories and green vines that combined black-tie formal with a light, summery floral motif. I would wear this look. Husband Steven Piet dressed up his black tux with a gold brooch. 

Kimberly Williams-Paisley wore a black Theia gown with a similar lavender morning glory on black motif. Her off-the shoulder gown featured 3-D flowers on the shoulders and a slightly flared skirt. (I'd wear this one, too.) Husband Brad Paisley wore a three-piece black tux with a dress shirt and long black necktie. 

Brittany Mahomes wore a shimmery ice-blue Marmar Halim column with a subtle sweetheart neckline that darkened just a tiny bit toward the hem and featured a back slit, accessorized with a stunning diamond necklace. The dress was simple, but those subtle details brought it up a notch. Husband Patrick Mahomes wore a navy Tom Ford tuxedo with an elegantly hand-tied bow tie.  

Sydney Silverman wore a sleeveless, round-necked semi-sheer Rachel Gilbert gold sheath encrusted with metallic gold leaves and sparkly gems. It was a great combination of glamour and restraint. Escort Drew Kirsch accessorized his black tuxedo with a hand-tied black bow tie and a white pocket square. 

Kristin Juszczyk paired a tightly-fitted slate blue satin BALYKINA strapless hip-length corset bodice with a black taffeta high-low skirt by Aknvas. I found the hip detail to be less than flattering, but on the whole it wasn't a bad look. Husband Kyle Juszczyk wore a black tuxedo with an unbuttoned collar and no tie. (Not a fan of that for a black tie wedding.)

Claire Kittle wore an ice blue silk sheath with a super-scooped neckline of illusion fabric, filled in with multiple strands of crystal and blue gemstone necklaces. It was a lovely look except for her ribs showing through the fabric. Husband George Kittle wore a dark navy tuxedo that featured textured stripes and multiple flap pockets, both of which added a lot of style to his look.

Charissa Thompson wore a heavily-beaded art deco style champagne gown with an extremely sheer skirt (although it appeared less sheer without the bright backlighting in this photo). A lovely gown but a reminder to check your look under multiple lighting conditions before leaving the house! Partner Steven Cundari wore a slim-fit double-breasted black tuxedo with a black shirt for a sleek, chic look.

Kelly Stafford wore a sleeveless sage green satin ruched gown with a thigh-high slit. Another elegant and sexy but not overdone look Husband Matthew Stafford wore a coordinating dark green tuxedo with a black bow tie. 

Abigail Wolfe wore a sleeveless, one-shouldered burgundy halter with a large triangular cutout at the waist, accessorized with matching opera gloves and a large marabou boa. Another look best left for the red carpet, not a wedding. Husband Derek Wolfe wore a black tuxedo with burgundy piping to match her dress and, somewhat inexplicably, a blue dress shirt. 
 

Elizabeth Banks wore a cobalt blue vintage Versace halter gown with black and silver floral detailing, with what seems to be a thigh-length skirt but floor-length front and back panels. It's different and intriguing without being weird. I approve. 

Gracie Hunt wore a sleeveless sparkly seafoam green Roberto Cavalli gown that was gathered into a silver starburst at the hip. It had fabulous lines and a great silhouette. 

Simone Biles wore a burgundy Do Long halter gown made of rings and leather patches, with a small diagonal slit at one hip that exploded into a frothy and voluminous tulle side train. Either the leather or the tulle would have worked, but the combination was too haute couture for a wedding. But bonus points to husband Jonathan Owens for his gorgeous coordinating burgundy velvet tuxedo jacket. 

Fancy Cocktails without Fancy Ingredients

I love discovering interesting new cocktail recipes, so I'm continually browsing Pinterest and other sites for combinations I haven't tried before. One of my frustrations is seeing a delicious-looking cocktail and then discovering that it calls for three or four exotic, unusual, and/or expensive ingredients that I'd never use for anything else. But every now and then I stumble across something a bit different that's made mainly from ingredients that I have on hand plus one thing that's a little unusual. Here are some of my favorite "fancy" cocktails that don't require a major investment in unusual ingredients! There are four recipes for each ingredient so you have more options to use it. 

Cheers!

The "Fancy" Ingredients: Egg, orgeat, St. Germain, blue curacao, pear juice/puree, rosemary simple syrup, champagne, Tuaca

Standard Ingredients:
Gin
Vodka
Bourbon
Cognac/brandy
Rum
Whiskey
Tequila
Red wine
Triple sec (or other orange liqueur)
Chambord (or other raspberry liqueur)
Dry vermouth
Club soda
Plain or lemon seltzer
Apple juice
Cranberry juice
Half and half
Lemonade
Simple syrup
Maple syrup 
Lemon juice
Lime juice
Angostura bitters
Orange bitters

Optional Garnishes:
Lemon 
Lime
Orange
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
Whole almonds
Fresh thyme
Fresh mint
Fresh rosemary
Fresh raspberries
Fresh cranberries
Maraschino cherries
Coarse salt
Sanding sugar

The Ingredient: Egg (whole, white, or yolk)

Royal Clover Club

Ingredients: Gin, lemon juice, Chambord, egg yolk

Place the egg yolk in a cocktail shaker without ice. Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds. Open the shaker and add 1-1/2 oz gin, 1-1/2 Tbsp lemon juice, and 1 Tbsp Chambord. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 15-20 more seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass and garnish with a twist of lemon and/or a fresh raspberry or two. 

Brandy Flip

Ingredients: Brandy, concentrated simple syrup (2 parts sugar to 1 part water), and an egg

In a cocktail shaker of ice, combine 2 oz cognac, 1/2 oz concentrated simple syrup, and and egg, and shake long and hard to emulsify egg. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a shake of nutmeg.  

 

New York Sour

Ingredients: Bourbon, lemon juice, egg white, maple or simple syrup, red wine

In a cocktail shaker without ice, add 2 oz bourbon, 1 oz lemon juice, an egg white, and 3/4 oz syrup and shake for 20 seconds. Add ice and shake for an additional 30 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Gently pour the red wine over the back of a spoon to float it on the top of the bourbon. 

Sidecar Fizz

Ingredients: Cognac, triple sec, lemon juice, simple syrup, egg white, club soda

In a cocktail shaker without ice, combine egg white and 3/4 oz lemon juice and shake vigorously 20-30 times. Add 1-1/2 oz cognac, 3/4 oz triple sec, and 1/2 oz simple syrup; fill with ice and shake another 20 times. Strain into a coupe or martini glass, top with a splash of club soda, and garnish with a lemon twist. 

The Ingredient: Orgeat (almond syrup with a hint of orange blossom)

Harmony

Ingredients: Cognac, apple juice, lime juice, orgeat

In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine 50 ml cognac, 70 ml apple juice, 10 ml lime juice, and 5 ml orgeat. Shake until chilled then strain into a highball or martini glass. Leave ungarnished or add a twist of lime or lemon or an apple slice. 

Army & Navy

Ingredients: Gin, lemon juice, orgeat, Angostura bitters

In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine 2 oz gin, 3/4 oz lemon juice, 1/2 oz orgeat, and a dash of bitters. Shake until chilled, then strain into a coupe or martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist. 

Natural

Ingredients: Light rum, cognac, lemon juice, orgeat

In a cocktail shaker of ice, combine 1-1/2 parts rum, 1/2 part cognac, 2 dashes lemon juice, and 2 dashes orgeat. Shake and strain into a wine glass of ice cubes. 

Almondtini

Ingredients: Vodka, apple juice, lemon juice, and orgeat

In a cocktail shaker of ice, combine 1-1/2 parts vodka, 3/4 part apple juice, 1/2 part lemon juice, and 1/2 part orgeat. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a whole almond, if desired. 

The Ingredient: St. Germain (elderflower liqueur)

Elderflower Gimlet

Ingredients: Gin, St. Germain, lime juice, simple syrup

In a cocktail shaker of ice, combine 2 oz gin, 3/4 oz St. Germain, 1/2 oz lime juice, and 1/2 oz simple syrup and shake well. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass. 


Bowery Orchard

Ingredients: Whiskey, apple juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, St. Germain, bitters

In a cocktail shaker of ice, combine 1-1/2 oz whiskey, 1 oz apple juice, 1/2 oz lemon juice, 1/2 oz simple syrup, 1/4 oz St. Germain, and a dash of bitters. Shake until well chilled and strain into a rocks glass with a large ice cube or sphere. Garnish with an apple slice or a twist of lemon. 


Elderflower Margarita

Ingredients: Tequila, St. Germain, lime juice

Rub a slice of lime around the rim of a rocks glass and dip in coarse salt. Chill. In a cocktail shaker of ice, combine 2 oz tequila, 2 oz St. Germain, and 1-1/2 oz lime juice. Shake until well chilled and strain into prepared glass. Garnish with a lime wedge. 

St. Germain and Cranberry

Ingredients: Vodka, cranberry juice, St. Germain, lemon juice, simple (or maple) syrup

In a cocktail shaker of ice, combine 1 oz vodka, 1 oz cranberry juice, 1/2 oz St. Germain, 1/2 oz. lemon juice, and 1 tsp syrup. Shake until chilled, then strain into a rocks glass and garnish with a lemon wheel. 

The Ingredient: Blue Curacao (orange liqueur)

Blue Russian

Ingredients: Vodka, blue curacao, half and half

Add a small amount of crushed ice to a chilled martini glass. Pour 2 oz blue curacao over the ice, then gently pour 2 oz vodka over that. Top with 1 oz half and half. 

Patriotic Passion

Ingredients: Vodka, blue curacao, apple juice, lime juice

In a cocktail shaker of ice, combine 1-1/2 oz vodka, 1/2 oz blue curacao, 1-3/4 oz apple juice, 3/4 oz lime juice and shake until chilled. Strain into a tall glass of fresh ice and garnish with a skewer of fresh raspberries. (This photo includes a garnish of stars cut out of jicama, but that's way too much work for me.)

Yale

Ingredients: Gin, dry vermouth, blue curacao, orange bitters

In a cocktail shaker of ice, combine 2-1/2 oz gin, 1-1/2 tsp dry vermouth, 1-1/2 tsp blue curacao, and a dash of orange bitters and shake until well chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass or a lowball glass with a large ice cube or sphere. 

Blue Lagoon

Ingredients: Vodka, blue curacao, lemonade

To a cocktail shaker of ice, add 1-1/2 oz vodka, 1-/2 oz blue curacao, and 6 oz lemonade. Shake until well chilled, then strain into a hurricane or other tall glass of fresh ice. Garnish with an orange wedge and a maraschino cherry. 

The Ingredient: Pear Juice/Pear Puree (buy bottled or make your owned by mashing or blending a peeled and cored ripe pear)

Blissful Pear

Ingredients: Vodka (plain or pear), pear juice, lemon juice, plain or lemon seltzer

Moisten the edge of a martini glass with lemon juice and dip in sugar, then chill. In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine 2 oz vodka, 4 oz pear juice, and a splash of lemon juice. Shake well and strain into prepared glass. Top with seltzer and garnish with pear zest or a slice of pear. 

Pear Collins

Ingredients: Gin, pear puree, club soda

In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine 2 oz gin and 2 oz pear puree. Shake until chilled then strain into a highball glass of fresh ice. Top with club soda and garnish with a pear slice and a few sprigs of fresh thyme. 

Pear Cosmo

Ingredients: Vodka, triple sec, pear juice

In a cocktail shaker of ice, combine 2 oz vodka, 1/2 oz triple sec, and 1 oz pear juice. Shake until very cold, then strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass. Garnish with a floating slice of pear. 

Pear Bourbon Smash

Ingredients: Bourbon, pear juice, maple syrup, lemon juice, lemon seltzer

In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine 2 oz bourbon, 2 oz pear juice, 1 teaspoon maple syrup, and a splash of lemon juice. Shake vigorously and strain into a cocktail glass. Top with seltzer and garnish with a slice of pear and/or a twist of lemon. 


The Ingredient: Rosemary Simple Syrup (make your own)

To make the syrup: In a small saucepan, stir together 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar, Bring to a boil and add 4 large sprigs of rosemary. Simmer over low heat for 3 minutes without stirring. Remove from heat and allow to steep for 10 minutes, then discard the rosemary and strain the syrup. Keep refrigerated.

Rosemary Gin Fizz

Ingredients: Gin, lemon juice, rosemary simple syrup, club soda

In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine 2 oz gin, 1 oz lemon juice, and 1/2 oz rosemary simple syrup. Shake until well chilled, then strain into a cocktail glass with ice. Top with club soda and garnish with a lemon slice and a sprig of rosemary. 

Bourbon Lemon Rosemary

Ingredients: Bourbon, lemon juice, rosemary simple syrup

In a shaker of ice, combine 2 oz bourbon, 1 oz lemon juice, and 1 oz rosemary syrup. Shake until well chilled, then strain into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary. 

Rosemary Lemon Drop

Ingredients: Vodka, lemon juice, rosemary simple syrup

Moisten the rim of a martini glass with lemon juice and dip in sugar (optional: mix finely chopped rosemary with the sugar). In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine 2 oz vodka, 1 oz lemon juice, and 1 oz rosemary syrup and shake until cold. Strain into the prepared glass and garnish with a floating sprig of rosemary. 


Rosemary Gimlet

Ingredients: Gin (or vodka), rosemary simple syrup, lime juice

In a cocktail shaker of ice, combine 1-1/2 oz gin, 1-1/2 oz rosemary syrup, and 2 oz lime juice. Shake until well chilled and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a lime wedge and/or a sprig of rosemary. 


The Ingredient: Champagne (or Prosecco, cava, or other sparkling wine)

Champagne Margarita

Ingredients: Tequila, triple sec, lime juice*, simple syrup*, champagne  

Moisten the rim of a champagne flute with lime juice and dip in sugar. In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine 1 oz tequila, 1 oz triple sec, 2-1/2 Tbsp lime juice, and 1 tsp simple syrup (*you can also use Rose's Sweetened lime juice and omit the simple syrup). Shake well and strain into the prepared glass, then top with 3 oz champagne and garnish with a lime wedge. 

French 75

Ingredients: Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, champagne

In a cocktail shake with ice, combine 1-1/2 oz gin, 3/4 oz lemon juice, and 1/2 oz simple syrup. Shake until well chilled, then strain into a champagne flute and top with champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist. 

Classic Champagne Cocktail

Ingredients: Cognac, champagne, Angostura bitters, sugar

Place 1/2 tsp sugar (or a sugar cube) in the bottom of a champagne flute or coupe glass and add 2 dashes of bitters, then 1 Tbsp cognac. Fill with chilled champagne. 

Kir Imperial

Ingredients: Chambord, champagne

Pour 3/4 oz Chambord into a champagne flute, then top with chilled champagne. Garnish with a fresh raspberry. 


The Ingredient: Tuaca (spiced brandy-based vanilla liqueur)

Ruth's Chris Sidecar

Ingredients: Cognac, lemon juice, triple sec, Tuaca

Moisten the rim of a coupe or martini glass with lemon juice and dip in sugar. In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine 1 oz cognac, 3/4 oz lemon juice, 3/4 oz triple sec, and 1/2 oz Tuaca. Shake and strain into prepared glass. Garnish with a lemon twist. 


Apple Crumble

Ingredients: Tuaca, lemon juice, apple juice

In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine 2 oz Tuaca, 1/2 oz lemon juice, and 1-1/2 oz apple juice. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini or coupe glass. Garnish with a shake of cinnamon. 

Detroit Irish

Ingredients: Bourbon, Tuaca, triple sec

In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine 1-1/2 oz bourbon, 2 oz Tuaca, and 1/2 oz triple sec and swirl (do not shake), then strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a sprig of mint. 

Tuaca Daquiri

Ingredients: Rum, Tuaca, lime juice, simple syrup

In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine 1 oz rum, 3/4 oz Tuaca, 3/4 oz lime juice, and 1/2 oz simple syrup. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with orange peel. 

Cheers!