Black + White + Lace= Darling!
July 10, 2010
Lace is darling on its own, but somehow when you bring in the black and white combination it takes on a different level. This is my latest cocktail dress from yesstyle.com. When I saw it online I thought it was cute, but then when it arrived in person I thought it was even better! I love this little dress.. so simple but just so darling!
SLEEVELESS LACE LAYERED DRESS from TOKYO FASHION
I wanted a cocktail dress that I could also wear during the day pretty casually. A lot of times when we think cocktail dress we think pairing our little black dresses with darker shades of make up and shoes, but with neutral tones being so in I thought I would run with it. So instead of the red or burgundy lips, smokey eye, and black pumps…
…how about a nude to soft pink lip, soft beige shadow on the eye, and illuminating touch of pink on the cheeks? Keep your shoes nude or white and suddenly you have a great day look! It translates into the evening beautifully, too. Gotta love black and white. Make it youthful and darling or make it vamp and sexy- your hair, make up, and heels will complete the stage for you.
I was playing around with my hair this morning, ha. The look I ended up going with I forgot to get a photo of, but it is essentially the same you see hear with the braid from the bottom back wrapped around the top of my head acting like a headband. Kind of a dressed up ballerina bun.
There’s so many opportunities with a piece like this. The decor is so detailed and feminine, which is beautiful and soft on its own but can be paired with some rocking boots and accessories for a sharp contrast feel. A cropped jacket would also work lovely. My mind is definitely working and getting lots of inspiration from this piece. I love it. And of course, the fact that it is super comfortable makes it all even easier.
What would you wear with a dress like this? How would you complete the look for your own style?
Loving The Fashion World: Make Up Inspirations
April 27, 2010
This past week has been nonstop and filled with fashion shoots, shows, and great cigar events. I only have a few photos I was able to sneak in, but as soon as the professional shots are sent to me I’ll be certain to update you with them.
These photos are of the make up done for an AVEDA hair show. (I didn’t even get to see the hair, they took the updo down right after the show and I didn’t get to look at the details. I can share a picture of the hair from a practice run through weeks previously. It was pretty great!). Sergio was my make up artist and wow is he amazing. I am in love with these lashes by the way, how wicked are they?
I love the eyebrows here, too- mine are covered so they cannot be seen, and then drawn in. Each girl for the show had a slight variation on the brow- whether a strait line going slightly up, longer line, and so on.
The red extensions placed in my hair went all the way down to my heels- it was heavy and haute! Loved it.
These eyes may be a bit crazy for a day to day look (you know I went to dinner with this make up afterward, lol), but there is definitely a lot of inspiration here. I love the tones of gold and purple used here, and the eyeliner isn’t too much of an exaggeration. There are definitely some possibilities here.
I know I will be playing around with some ideas, and I would love to see yours as well! Doll-like make up is my personal favorite!
A Walk In Wonderland
April 17, 2010
There are some things I simply cannot resist, like channeling my childhood love of fashion! Alice in Wonderland is a favorite of mine and I adore anything that resembles something of the story or makes me think of it. It is an inspirational source for me.
So when I spotted this dress on yesstyle.com it was an absolute must. Sometimes you just have to have fun and go for it. It makes me feel ready for a tea party where the dormouse might show up (it even inspired me to bring out an old toy from childhood, ha).
THE DRESS:
JESSICA BROOKE: Ruffle Bib Pleated Dress
Available on YESSTYLE.com
Okay, it isn’t your everyday casual dress, but so what. Sometimes you have to do something just because you want to and it makes you smile. This dress could also be worn in an editorial style with a nice elegant updo, but I wanted to keep it young and fresh. The ruffles are adorable and the fit is feminine but fun. It is also available in black which is a more gothic look, but also opens plenty of opportunities for fun styling.
For me, this dress is a reward to my childhood love and bringing in with fashion. What are some of your childhood loves and how do you incorporate them into your style?
If an outfit is too daring, there is always the subtle but still fun approach of accessories (just like this one: darling bunny and flower earrings that are simply adorable).
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.
Floral Dreams Of A Fashion Wonderland
December 20, 2009
I love the soft, delicate, and feminine charm of a floral theme especially when it comes to fashion. I think accessories have a lot of room for creativity and playfulness here. I know the first time I saw the incredibly gorgeous floral rings from Dior that this would be a theme I would keep close to.
Anything that resembles the thoughts of Wonderland holds a special place in my heart and within my style. Take for instance here with this beautiful bracelet from a boutique shop called “Nonno.”
A pearl, crystals, gold, pink shades, and a dainty chain all come together here for a lovely look. And the lady bug is bonus feature. Floral designs within the accessory world is not an uncommon theme. Though it may be winter now, spring is soon to follow with many new welcoming designs.
After a winter of many dark, rich, and decadent colors the softer pastel shades are soon to return. And with them, the many joys of spring as well.
Designs and inspirations are everywhere. And accessories are becoming more and more creative! I cannot wait to see what the new year brings. But for now, I’ll be enjoying the pieces I already have, the ones I have just recently been given (such as the ring above given to me by an amazing friend), and the floral designs of shoes, dresses, lace, and even household decor.
Yes, floral designs are everywhere. Even in our earrings as seen below, a favorite of mine from a set I found on YESSTYLE.com. They always have great styles and inspiring ideas for your wardrobe there. You can see more of these earrings, including the other mismatched piece to the set, which really makes me think of Alice In Wonderland here:
You’ll also find more inspirations of the floral fashion theme in the post listed above. It is a favorite of mine since there are so many ways to reinvent and style such looks. And the feel alone always brings a smile to my face.
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.
Bigger Bows For An Adorable Updo
November 13, 2009
When it comes to accessories I love items that are bigger than life. Oversized sunglasses, handbags (to a certain limit of course), watches, rings, and bows. Something about the contrast appeals to me, and I love a challenge when incorporating them into my wardrobe.
The instant I saw this bow I knew it was mine- how I would wear it I did not know.
So this morning when I was putting my hair into a side swept updo, something felt missing. There was a bit more space than I had intended on having, and the updo seemed to tight and clean. Not neccessarily a bad thing, just not the look I was going for. Enter the bow. What a perfect finish- it is whimsical, adorable, black and elegant. The cute factor with the heart, designs, and enormous size fit in perfectly. I love it.
One side is very smooth and clear while the other is a collection of soft textures wraped in place by the giant bow. The silhouette it creates is a unique one with lots of character. I love the angles and feminine cute feel that comes from it.
It’s hard not to feel adorable when you have a bow this big in your hair. Even though one side is light and clear and the other is heavy and textured, the balance remains as each side gives a glimpse into the other. It plays of each other just right creating a uniformed look.
I think I’ll be incorporating this ridiculously large bow into more of my updos, giving elegance a playful and cute twist.
A Night At The Circus: Fashion Show
November 9, 2009
Last night was an amazing night with a style show fit for the circus! Stylists from Visible Changes competed in a circus themed hair fashion show for awards and lovely prizes. Everything was to be completed by each team on their own- from concept, application, styling, makeup, and even costume. Over 100 teams were competing and the competition was intense.
My team of stylists, Mel and Bel, are absolutely amazing. They began working on this project far in advance, looking over all the details until the results met their goals completely. They even brought the sewing kit out to design a unique and pretty costume to compliment the hair for a complete and vivid look.
Texture, color, and incredible talent with imagination combined to get them to third place last night. I was honored to be a part of the team and rock the fantastic look they gave me. The circus character I portrayed was of a tight rope balancing girl, complete with rope all throughout my hair. Love it!
How Do You Wear Your Stripes?
November 3, 2009
Stripes can be tricky to wear as they can make a very bold statement. They can also very quickly go overboard! It is important to keep your colors and patterns in balance so that they compliment your overall look rather than make you look like the battlefield.
This is a cute dress from dodostyle that has a connected striped long sleeved top. It is all one complete piece- and well thought out at that. The sleeves have a slight bell shape at the end with some extra length to really add a nice balancing contrast. Horizontal stripes can make things appear wider, so the extra length goes a long way here to keep that from occurring. Same is true of the volume at the end, that shape adds a very pleasing contrast.
The shoes in this case are a subtle touch to balance out the top with the bottom. I normally don’t think of these straps as stripes, but when put into perspective with a piece like this, it works together very nicely.
The solid color of the black looks beautiful and whimsical against the vivid stripes. The shape of the black portion of this dress is very clean and simple with feminine lines. The bottom bubbles out in the same manner of the sleeves, making them look like they belong. It adds another dynamic into the volume- from fitted to bubbled, in a very complimentary style.
And did I mention cozy? I love sleeves that are longer than me, something about them makes me feel like a child all cuddled up. All of my dresses from Dodostyle are cozy like that. Not necessarily from the sleeves, but from the material. They all have very nice fits and make me feel like I’m wrapped in a blanket. Also, their styles are incredibly adorable! Yet another beauty from YES STYLE, every item I have ordered from them demands attention anywhere I go. It is how I wear my style, and in this piece, my stripes.
How do you wear your stripes?
