All Tied Up In Polka Dots
March 9, 2010
Polka dots add such a playful factor to fashion. In this case, the colors are of a classic black and white, but the texture and shape are what bring this lovely pattern to our attention. Just look at that puffed sleeve. The dots against the volume and shirred sleeve really pop out.
Here we have a blouse paired with a cinched waist skirt which then flares out, ready for dancing. Both items are from MISSRAINBOW of yesstyle.com. The looseness of this blouse is just asking for something to keep it together, whether it is a belt or high waist skirt as in this set.
Honestly, the front of the skirt is the tied portion you see pictured below, but I prefer to have the tied design in the back. The structure of the skirt gives you the flexibility to chose.
With the dots gaining so much of the attention, I thought the bow did best in the back as an extra detail. Now, perhaps pairing the skirt with another top it may be a different story. With a black fitted top the bow detail might be more fun in the front. It is all about flexibility of style and you definitely have that here.
When I look at the detail of this blouse and skirt combination it makes me think of a cupcake with sprinkles! Maybe it is just me but that is a fun little image I enjoy. The way the blouse gently swoops out and over the skirt is like the frosting. It really has a soft delicate texture to it as well.
The structure of both the blouse and the skirt individually offer a lot of variety on how you pair them. Add a black top (of any form) to this skirt and you have a classic little black dress look. And this top with its beautiful pattern looks whimsical with a skirt or even paired with some jeans or shorts. There are lots of ways to reinvent your wardrobe with a couple pieces like these.
Kimono Satin Sleeve Luxury
March 2, 2010
Those who know me well know that I love fashion that is bigger than life. The bigger the sunglasses, the bigger the watch- I love it and am there. And I love volume. All of course within a balance, but that is what makes fashion so great. So in this case with my latest find from designer Nabi on yesstyle.com- Gigantic sleeves? Oh, yes you better believe it.
Flower Print Kimono Sleeve Satin Dress From Nabi
The fabric flows feeling like silk against the skin and is covered in a bold black and white print. On such giant flowing sleeves such as these, you have an animated and bold look. This print with the volume of the sleeves gives a fresh style making you ready for any soiree. A belt has been designed to come through the middle without disrupting the sleeves, allowing them to move fully and show their gigantic form. The dress looks killer both with and without the belt; the belt just adds a slight bit more structure.
It is kinda like a mix between a kimono dress and butterfly wings, lol. I love this movement and the angles the sleeves form even when the dress is perfectly still. It is a statement piece that looks elegant on its own, ready for any event.
I also like how the length is kept short so you can really focus in on the sleeves. If it was long and full, the sleeves would just blend in unnoticed. Instead, this gives you a jagged edge on either side, which looks great when you are walking and the sleeves are in motion. Since they are thin they pick up the slightest breeze nicely, giving you animated volume in each step. Simply beautiful!
Nabi translates into “me” and “free” and is inspired by traditional and international fashion, bringing great new styles and welcoming prices. I like what has been done here with this dress as it is an instant statement piece. I have my eyes on a couple of other items from Nabi and look forward to seeing what else becomes available.
All About The Tulle Look
February 23, 2010
Tulle anybody? I am all about this look. This is a style purely focusing on the fabric; it moves, has natural layers which shift from smooth to ruffled, and is sheer with texture.
Very feminine in appearance alone, when this fabric is worn on its own in a manner like this tulle dress/skirt from FOXCiTY you can really see it take over. A belt will add a cinched waist to this look and give it a new feel, but honestly I like the fabric left alone to move on its own free will. It is gorgeous.
As usual, when something has an option to be worn as a dress or a skirt I tend to lean to the dress side of things first. I plan on wearing the item as a skirt hear in the near future (I even have a top picked out for it and everything) but for right now a dress it is!
Just look at how those layers from the slip underneath emphasize the tulle on top. It is sheer feminine beauty of a fabric!
On the top you can see some hints of ruffles which gives the tulle some extra layered movement. This design adds volume and texture while remaining very elegant and simple.
And because it is so feminine and dainty, I thought I would mix things up a bit and add some grunge factor with these boots from LA FRESHA.
A pair of dainty heels would make this dress ready for a nice party in an instant. But the rocker style boots give it more of an elegant, casual, and edgy factor that works well for regular things throughout the day. With the cool weather, add a coat and you have an elegant look with some attitude.
If you want to see more shoe styles from LA FRESHA you can click here to view them. I’m a fan of their style as well as comfort. They have some great heels to dress up any look.
I’m really liking the mix right now. With something so simple it truly is a classic. The black dress is all about form and how you chose to wear it. Whether it is fitted or voluminous it is a style of its own in how you decide to wear it.
Something like this could be worn differently and look like a completely different outfit each time. From a loose dress, to a long dainty skirt, to a dress with a fitted waist when accompanied by a belt. Enter in layers and accessories and your playing power increases even more. Not to mention the shoe factor.
Tulle is a lovely fabric with lots of opportunities. Are you all about the tulle look?
The Mystery Match
February 21, 2010
Ever have a couple items from the same designer and only later realize they really are from the same collection? As in matching exactly and you didn’t even realize it until the day you wore them together at a much later date from purchase.
Don’t laugh, I’ve had it happen to me in the past with accessories but never before like this with clothes. Usually if something unexpectedly matches it is in color or fabric, but never like this with a print. Some time ago during Jonathan Saunders designer collection for TARGET I had picked up a jacket, top, and a few dresses. The line was so classic with clean elegant lines and a dominant black classic theme. It didn’t occur to me that some of these selections matched more than just in color.
The connecting piece is the jacket. It is black, structured, and has a unique texture that feels like a scuba diver’s suit. The collar has sharp lines that give the jacket a bold sense of style. Somehow, I completely ignored the lining inside. It’s decor that is unseen when worn after all.
Anyway, the dress that apparently matches this jacket perfectly, is a sleeveless dress with a print design down the center and a drop waste with a pleated skirt. I had worn it during the warmer months and had saved the jacket for later. This is most likely why I never made the connection.
So time goes by and I started wearing longsleeve shirts and tights underneath my summer dresses to expand my wardrobe during the unexpected lengthening winter season. I am sure it was only a matter of time until these two items were worn together!
PS: A little note about Jonathan Saunders:
“Scottish born designer Jonathan Saunders puts a nontraditional spin on the modern, constructed silhouette. He brings eye-popping color, a meticulous attention to construction and a playful sense of style to everyday sophistication. Saunders creates a look for GO International that’s distinctly effortless and brilliantly avant-garde.”
I would really like to see more from him. So far out of all the designer collections done for TARGET, his and RODARTE are on my top list.
You can see more of the dress from when I wore it in the late summer here: Click here to view the post.
The Suit Jacket’s Daring Edgy Factor
February 5, 2010
We all know and love the classic suit jacket, with its fitted structure, collar, and buttons. But sometimes we want a more edgy look: something daring, bold, and exciting. Enter in the leggings!
Traditionally a suit-type jacket is worn with matching trousers or a pencil skirt and collared white blouse underneath. It is a classic look. But when you want more of an edgy factor, that same business style garment suddenly opens many more opportunities. This is also a great way to expand your style from the pieces you already have existing in your closet.
Take for instance what I have done here with my gray double-breasted long jacket from BLACK QUEEN and leggings from Peplum, both of which I found on YESSTYLE.com (check out more of their leggings here).
Just a simple classic jacket, great for any occasion paired with some edgy leggings for a daring look.
Rethink your wardrobe and see what creative mixes you can find. And think of your future fashion finds: what new item would reinvent nearly your entire closet, or maybe just some of your favorites? Leggings go a long way from pairing up with dresses, vests, t shirts, and jackets. They also make your shoes look like something new as well.
A traditional styled jacket is great for those classic looks on the formal side, worn with a pair of skinny jeans on the casual side, or worn here with some bold leggings for the edgy side. Remember, a new item doesn’t mean just a new outfit- it means many new possibilities for all of your existing outfits! Expand your style in volumes.
A Night Of Wonderland At The Theatre
January 22, 2010
I must first begin this entry by stating how lucky and grateful I am. My hunny is the most amazing man in the world, and always filled with surprises. Last night was not only a treat but also a complete surprise!
I had no idea of the plans he made. Only as we were leaving for a cigar event did he mention I should consider a nice dress since we “may have other places to be” this evening. Wow, I love this man. So without the slightest idea of what would be going on, I dressed up in a favorite of mine: a floral pink dress from BCBG. I paired the dress with my suede GIVENCHY shoes of the same color, put on some pearls and I was ready to go.
We attended a lovely cigar event, socialized and enjoyed our time until suddenly it was apparently time to leave. We left the event early and made our way into town. At this point I still didn’t have the slightest idea where we were going, and I loved that. I didn’t want to even try to guess, I was just enjoying the experience. There’s nothing like the feeling of siting back, relaxing, and just observing every moment as you make the journey to what you know will be a great and welcoming surprise. You know it will be good, you just don’t know what it will be.
Finally we parked and walked our way through downtown. Again, still at this point I haven’t an answer to our evening, just that it is a fabulous one. We make our way to the steps of the theatre and I see the banner posted above, “Wonderland.”
Now, if you know me by now you know that Alice In Wonderland is my all time favorite tale. I love the writings of Lewis Carroll, and I absolutely adore going out to the theatre. Ballets, operas, the symphony, plays, you name it I adore it. What a delightful surprise.
Now this isn’t the traditional story, more of a modern styled performance and take. I am very traditional but I can appreciate new perspectives and it was an entertaining night. The seats were wonderful, the performers were fantastic, and the costume design was gorgeous.
This is the first version of the production and I am very happy to have been able to see it so early. Changes are made as shows continue in later productions as they decide what works and what needs to be transformed. I didn’t even know there was a production of Wonderland being made or that it was being played in our city. My hunny made an amazing surprise for me with this, what a perfect evening! I am still tickled about it. Yay!
Best unbirthday present ever 
Lace Takes A Walk On The Wild Side
January 8, 2010
Lace can be such a delicate and dainty material that gives you a feminine attitude in your style. But then there’s the other side of lace’s personality: the wild one!
With a pair of patterned stirrups tights like the ones pictured above, the word that comes to mind is FIERCE. There is an animal print quality in this pattern that when combined with the texture of lace is absolutely stunning. There’s nothing dainty about this lace, it’s all about the bold killer style approach.
This particular pair is from designer MELISSA found on YESSTYLE.com and is the perfect element for creating a daring look. This is style that stands out from far away, absolutely lovely.
I’ve been getting into leggings and tights more than ever before since I’ve discovered so many interesting and unique styles. I think it is great how a strong design on the legs makes your existing shoe and dress collection take a whole new dimension. Everything is new again, and always exciting.
If you are looking for more creative styles to expand your closet with, do a search for “leggings” within YESSTYLE’s site and I think you will find some fun ideas and inspirations. A walk on the wild side never felt so fabulous!
Rodarte + Target: Lace In Love
January 7, 2010
The ever so lovely and fabulous designs of RODARTE have made an appearance as TARGET’s latest designer collection, and I think this one has been the best so far. The designs created for this collection truly feel as though they are a part of the main collection, looking rich and elegant.
Delicate fabrics with lots of beautiful texture in brilliant colors look as though they could melt in your arms, some being bright and bold and others being soft and light. The mixtures of lace, sheer designs, and ribbons galore create a feminine look truly worthy of the runway.
I was fortunate enough to find two looks available in my size. One of which I will share with you here now, and the other as soon as it warms up enough for me to enjoy wearing it (but I’ll give you a sneak peak at the end of this post).
This is a beautiful and classic black dress from RODARTE for TARGET:
Look at that beautiful lace on such a classic feminine design. The bow adds shine and brings the collar together in a very pretty manner. This dress is perfect. I love it!
I don’t know if the pictures show it enough, but the skirt portion of the dress has a great amount of volume that just subtly flairs out adding more texture and a more pronounced silhouette.
I’ve wanted to wear the dress out since I left the store, but where to go in such a beautiful design? I like to make my own occasions, so I decided I would get all dressed up for… dun dun dun, an afternoon out with burgers, coffee, and cigars! Ha ha ha, I love dressing up for the simple occasions in life. Somehow a burger is much more fun when you’re wearing RODARTE. It was a nom nom combination.
If you haven’t hit your local TARGET yet, I would highly recommend going soon if it isn’t already too late. These designer collections disappear quickly, and once they are gone that’s it.
Oh, and here is a super sneak peak of my other find! I’ll just give you the color and texture of it for now
The Little Black Dress Gets A Touch Of Gold
January 3, 2010
Oh the little black dress. It comes in a variety of shapes and silhouettes, always bringing instant elegance and femininity. For this winter season, I was fortunate to find a ‘little black dress’ that would keep me warm and stylish (not always the easiest combination!).
From designer brand “AliceGoHome” found on YESSTYLE.com, this fashion find is also a steal at only $22.50. This design brings a beautiful winter charm to the traditional little black dress. Want to see more? You can view it directly by clicking here. Love it!
Let me go ahead and state how rare it is that I will wear a turtleneck. With my long dark hair, the last thing I need is for my neck to vanish completely. But it is cool outside and this dress has such gorgeous lines it is impossible to resist. I do love a challenge, and so I dove into my jewelry box to search for something that would embellish this feature while keeping within the elegance of the look.
Wow, this just goes to show how much an accessory can change a piece of clothing. This golden plate of a necklace is very bold and glamorous, yet when paired with such a sleek and clean design it creates a beautiful balance. The shape around the neck enhances the lines that would have otherwise have been lost within my hair.
Now, if you have a lighter shade of hair or a short haircut- then this dress would look just as dynamic without the accessories. My best option outside of the accessory is to do an updo (which I certainly will), but with the cool weather right now I want my hair down to keep me warm. And I do love to accessorize so this became quite the treat!
Back to the dress, because truly this dress is the star. A nice solid color goes such a long way when the right lines are in play. Just look at this dress- beautiful clean lines, form fitted with long sleeves, a long neck, and a short ruffled lace finish to keep the balance right. When there is a lot going on up top, I like to keep it short and simple on the bottom. This is a great example of a combination of this thinking-
The top half has the most fabric, but with clean and smooth base (no designs, patterns, or rich textures). Because there is so much facbric up top, the bottom portion is short to balance it. Since it is smooth and clean up top, this allows room on the bottom portion for textures and volume.
This is one of my fashion rules. You never want too much all over- it looks like a mess. It is all about balance. The lines, porportions, colors, and textures must all be balanced just right.
I ♥ Lace: A Fashion Obsession, Part II
December 27, 2009
The beauty of lace is that there are so many ways to wear it: from accessories like hair decorations, gloves, purses and scarves to dresses and tights making an outfit truly stand out.
In my last lace obsessed post I was playing with the idea of lace tights to add more texture and style to your fashion. With the winter trend of thigh high boots, patten tights fit just right in creating a bold and sexy style.
Black is classic and elegant and works lovely with winter’s charm. Later on in the spring nude and white lace may add a soft but playful factor for us to look forward to. But back to the season at hand and how we can have fun with our style.
I have been experimenting with lace quite a lot lately- and not just how it can redesign shoes. Take for instance using lace as a layer and foundation for your existing wardrobe. A long sleeve laced top goes a long way when worn under the right dress or tank top. It is the perfect selection for updating your entire wardrobe, giving old pieces a new feel in an instant. If you want to take lace even further then consider a piece such as this lucky find: A Lace Trim Jumpsuit from TIAN MU.
What I like about this selection is that not only is it one-of-a-kind, it is also all once piece. Well, one piece save for the black tube top underneath. If you have a unique tank top you can play with the lines of the design even more. But this once piece with the casual shorts and lace collar, front, and sleeves creates a simple look that is not to be ignored.
Because it is a single piece it leaves plenty of room for accessories- from vests to belts to playful jewelry pieces. I like the outfit on its own honestly, but I also look forward to reinventing the look over and over again. I’ve been thinking of playing with belts, skinny to “wow” factor big, and different undergarments first. Maybe even a colorful long sleeve top underneath to add a new flair. There’s plenty of ideas available and this very unique outfit will have a different feel each time I wear it because of all these options.
TIAN MU has lots of other great styles which have caught my eye, many of them playing with lace in different ways, too. From baby doll dresses to leggings, there’s lots of great ideas and inspirations to be found.
Click Here to view more from Tian Mu and find some fashion inspirations (or obsessions!) of your own.
A Snowy White Fashion Look
December 5, 2009
With the crisp winter air now all around, I’ve been inspired to create a look that is soft, feminine, and a beautiful snowy white. After looking through my closet and making a couple of welcoming discoveries, I came up with just the right combination.
I first began by placing my hair in an elegant updo. I have many wraps within my wardrobe and knew I would be wearing one to protect my neck from the cold. Right now it is cool enough to be refreshing, and not the harsh bitter coolness that may come in the next day.
With my hair up I knew I wanted to wear a certain dress. This is a dress that was an unepected find. It was displayed at a window of a shop I had never seen while on the road traveling. The shop’s name I cannot recall, it just so happens to be one of those fate finding dresses for me. The material is a soft white and reminds me of a baby blanket, which is perfect for the cool temperatures.
With a white vintage fur wrapped around my neck, this soft blanket of a dress draped on I felt like a snow white princess of winter. I love the bright clean look of this brilliant white color, and all the mixes of textures involved.
Having a solid color all throughout on an outfit, and then multiple textures involved makes an outfit pop like nothing else. I love this style. Shape, volume, and texture when all in the same color is a beautiful fashion playground. Perhaps my absolute favorite one at that.
What is your favorite style to play with?
Anchors Aweigh! Sailing Fashion Hits Land
December 2, 2009
When I first found the accessories (<-visit part one of the post here), you may remember my excitement for this theme. But now the sailor theme has hit land and hit it hard. Just take a look at this fantastic find from Sechuna available on yesstyle.com. It’s like right out of a cartoon, the child within is ecstatic!
Check Out More Playful Fashion Themes From Sechuna
Right now it has been pretty wintery over here, so I have had to layer up while wearing this jacket. I’m not wearing my sailor accessories because I think it would be an overload, and the jacket does well on its own.
The accessories are just another means of extending the theme. I’ve already found some more sailor looks that are standing out, like this blouse pictured below also created by Sechuna:
I love everything about this outfit. They really have the details covered, much like with the jacket. A very classic theme that is playful yet wearable.
They have some other themes (like bunnies and kitties) that are subtle and fun as well. Those are some other ideas I will have to experiment with. But for now the Sailor theme is really playing nicely, and it reminds me of a movie I love- Anchors Aweigh! staring Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra (with a speacial guest of Jerry from the Tom & Jerry cartoons-a favorite of mine growing up)!
I love themes, and when they are as adorable as this it is impossible to resist. What are some of your favorite themes?
Speak with you soon. xx.
