African Prints

The trend of using prints is still here to stay. They always give a special touch to a duller item and they are so playful and perfect for combining bold colors. For quite some time they have been around and last year we saw a lot of Aztec inspiration. This year, thanks to Burberry, we are seeing all over, African inspirational prints. They have gone global and there’s no slowing down for this trend. Other high street fashion retailers such as H&M, Topshop, have a collection of African-inspired dresses and Aldo has a shoe collection.

Tribal prints in bold colors ruled the runways for Spring 2012, ushering in a feast of color and texture for the eyes. The rules of the runway? Mix and match, have fun with color, and play with texture.

• How to pull off this trend without going-over-the-top?

• Powerful prints make such an impact, jewelry is pretty much unnecessary;
• Pay attention to fabric and cut - try to keep away from shiny fabric;
• Try to pick one statement printed piece (skirt, pants or blouse) and combine with other neutral, minimalistic items;
• Large prints make a big statement, to balance the effect, pick a conservative cut dress;
• Combine understated extras, simple and sleek to complement busy prints - thin belts, platform pumps, ballerinas, black booties, gold cuffs, solid color blazer, polished handbag...
• Remember proportions: small prints make you look wider, big prints can help you look slimmer;
• Keep hair and makeup natural

Examples of two different situations where the bottom piece is printed and the rest is neutral and solid colors, ready for a casual or work day. Highlight your outfit with a fun item and no way you´ll go unnoticed.

Casual day:

MARKUS LUPFER Pleated Stripe Hem striped sweater, Easton Pearson Syriam flag-print silk-crepe cropped pants, black booties, Burberry Prorsum Beaded textured-leather wristlet clutch, Asos Gold Sequin Collar.

Work day:

Fine wool cardigan, Burberry Prorsum Printed silk and cotton-blend skirt, H&M ballet flats, Valentino Rock Stud Flap Bag in Red, nOir neckalce.

[You can also check this post at iOnline] Pin It

DIY Scalloped-hem shorts

If you didn’t get one of the hottest item for this season, so maybe it’s time during this summer’s sale OR why not just make them???

Show some legs for this summer in a cute, romantic way with the adorable scalloped shorts. Not only they go with anything but they also give your outfit more of a girly edge.

If you are tired of looking at the same old boring shorts or if you have some pants that you don’t wear them anymore, go through these DIY tutorials that you can find around the web, and give a nice and total new look to your left aside items! It’s always good to keep some clothes because you never know when they come in handy again! You can alter them in ways that will make them modern and trendy.

It adds a soft, feminine and vintagy touch to your spring-summer wardrobe. Check out these great DIY links:

• Ombre Scalloped shorts by Pixie in Pumps
  
• No-sew scalloped shorts by candimandi
  
• and a vid.

Some inspiration: Pin It

Chunky heel loafers

The eternal loafer... will never go out of fashion. A pure classic of style and comfort and now with a new twist: heels. And this is menswear made feminine.

Never again your 9 to 5 shoes will look the same or if you want to give an update to your casual chic outfit, these super high heeled loafers are better than ever.

They have been breezing past us for some time now, especially back in 2008/9 and at the time I even got ones. In 2010, Balenciaga and Prada were all about them with amazing heels and embelishments, but certainly this fall they will make a statement. 

(Pink Tartan fall2011 | Tommy Hillfiger fall 2011)

If you want to take advantage of the sales around the stores, always invest on pieces that will surely continue to prevail in the future. Get some high heel loafers for sure!!

How to wear them:

• Pair a loose fit white shirt with a pair of blue distressed jeans
• Glamorous versions in a sexy stiletto you can pair up with a fabulous evening gown
• Bright tights or a simple pant suit
• Chunky sweater and a floppy hat to re-create your favorite 70's inspired look
• Short or knee-high skirt
• Worn with woolen tights, or with ankle or knee socks

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Espadrille me pretty!

Do you want to skip the flip flop and still feel comfortable?

Do you want to jump from the beach to a barbeque without worrying about to change?

So the espadrilles are the answer for this summer and they are chic, comfy, fun and stylish. Plus super cute and there are no secrets about how to wear them. They go with anything especially with sundresses and jeans!!

The original flat espadrille is made of canvas sewn on a jute sole, with or without ties wrapped around the ankle. The sole is made of braided jute and this organic fiber allows the foot to breath and makes this classic shoe a must for summer indoor and outdoor wear.

Since they have a rustic look, they are definitely oriented for a more casual outfit; out to the beach, a walk, or a barbecue and it combines perfectly with organic fabrics, loose pieces (short or long) and fun prints.

The espadrille has been around for centuries. The espadrille, also known as alpargata or espardenya, is believed to originate from the Basque country in Spain. Originally it was worn by men and it was during the 19th century that the production of these shoes truly spread. Espadrilles were worn by everyone from peasants to military soldiers to priests. Around 1950, fashion evolved and this forced alpargata makers to reinvent the shoe with a more sophisticated design that was better suited to the times. Yves St-Laurent in the 1960's asked for an espadrille with a heel, which had never been done before. It was a success!!

Espadrilles have been worn by many artists such as Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali, and helped make the shoes very popular. Later on, because of celebrities like Grace Kelly, Jacqueline Kennedy, Catherine Deneuve, Caroline de Monaco, Jack Nicholson, Michael Douglas, Sophia Loren, Her Majesty Sophia, Queen of Spain and even Jean-Paul II that the espadrilles’ popularity continued to grow.

These straw styles are the ultimate summer shoes. You’ll be effortlessly prepared for endless summer.

There are also a number of styles for men to sport this summer season. Men can add effortless style to their outfits by just slipping on pair.

 (2 photos right credits The Sartorialist)

Some of this season's espadrilles!! 

a. Toms UNIVERSITY ESPADRILLE RED CANVAS

b. Missoni Woven canvas espadrille flats

c. Ras Women's RA29-657SU1Y Ballet Flat Espadrille

d. H&M striped espadrille

e. Marisa metallic canvas espadrilles

f. kate spade new york 'lido' espadrille flat

g. Missoni Flat Espadrille in Fabric Rope

h. Tabitha Simmons Striped Silk Espadrille Sneaker

(Some information of the espadrille history came from here).

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Tie the knot

... On your button down shirt!
This summer trend has made a comeback and you see a lot of fashion bloggers and celebrities rocking this style in a very cool way.
The button down shirt can be so more versatile than you'd ever imagine. It can go from classic sophisticated to casual chic in a snap and all you need to do is tie your blouse and it'll look good with anything!

This look is so easy to accomplish. Tie the blouse over a maxi dress or skirt and if you're not afraid to show a little midriff, tie it higher and show some skin.

The point is to be playful yet casual.

• Choose a button down shirt that you feel comfortable in - Denim, crisp white...
• Play with prints if you go neutral on top. Use it with a printed long maxi or short skirt. 
• Wear it over a tank, dress or shirt.
• Go 70's with some flare wide pants.
• High-waisted shorts or pants
• Roll up the sleeves for a more casual sexy look.

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The Boyfriend White Shirt

The white button-down shirt is one of the most classic and versatile items of clothing that every fashionista should own! You can style it in various ways from dress pants to jeans, shorts or skirts. Casual or chic...
Challenge yourself to go beyond the conventional of wearing it in a classic tucked-in into a pencil skirt. Lately, this white button-down shirt has gone very boyfriend inspired, in a loose laid-back style.

The white shirt is just not for work!

The boyfriend shirt inspiration gives it a simple, effortless but sexy look.
How to wear it:

• It should be long enough to wear it as a dress or tunic with bare legs, shorts or tights but that still fits reasonably well around the shoulders;
• With the looser, lighter fabric shirt, it's often best to roll up the sleeves to show off the feminine body-parts of arms and wrists to balance the masculinity of the shirt. 
• Tuck it in denim shorts and use lots of accessories.
• For a sophisticated look, use it with a pencil skirt in a chic fabric.
• When accessorizing, a belt makes a difference. It can completely change the look giving a more feminine touch and accentuating more curves. Trey some layered bangles on the wrist mixed with a big watch and a scarf.

A men-inspired style can be hard to fit to female proportions sometimes and not always should we follow the fashion trends if the style doesn't flatter or suit you perfectly.
For a timeless and classic investment piece, we should pick a good fitted and crisp shirt. Classic tops that get you through almost any situation.
>> Next week, check out the post for the best button-down shirt for your body type!

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Kitten Heels

Do you think it´s Yay or Nay?

This trend seems to be rising lately and I think it´s a timeless style, feminine, a little bit more conservative, but depending on the occasion and style it works out perfectly!

It´s a trend that works in favor of your feet. They sure are a lot more comfy and you can style in heels all day long without getting the pain! They look great in almost every outfit and it´s a great option for a work outfit and better than flats when it comes to looking more dressed up.

They´ll look great with:

• a full skirted 50´s dress
• straight on the knee skirt
• capri pants
• work suit

Note* Kitten heels, are better suited to straight, skinny figures just because of proportion. Heavy legs and ankles, should avoid at all costs: it merely looks as if you are about to fall over, or sink into the floor.

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Royalty day...

Today is certainly an important mark of history even though you think it's going way over the reasonable but we all love fairy tales. I was surprised to see all the coverage of the wedding that was made here in the US.

I could have watched the rerun of the wedding at more decent hours, but no, I had to wake up at 4am to see everything live.

But let's talk about fashion!!

The wedding dress was simple but elegant and suitable for Kate's personality and figure! (Did you see that wasp waist??). The hair? Well, it's her trade mark but with all that lace around her neck, she should have picked a different hairstyle so it wouldn't get caught and tangled in the lace.

And those headpieces from the guests, called hats? I would prefer calling them pieces of art because they are so remarkable and unique. Two that caught my attention in a curious way, were from the sisters, Princess Eugenie and Beatrice. Wow...what was that?

But here are some that sticked out:

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The mysterious dress

Will be revealed tomorrow! 

Is anyone excited to watch the wedding? Who is going to wake up early? Any clues on how the gown will look like? Who wants to bet?

Honestly, I think she will be in total command of the design or she will pick a relatively unknown designer. What if Issa (if she's ever into this type) will be the chosen one? Kate has gone right every time she wears one of her designs. Who knows.... Guess I will have to wake up at 4am to check it out or go to the oficial page to see the photos and the revealed name of the designer. The only thing I ask for is a huge, dramatic, princess-a-like dress!!


- InStyle asked American designers to sketch a dress:

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Floppy hat

A must have accessory for this spring. Wide brim floppy hats in straw are ideal for a summer day at the beach, providing all the protection from the sun and giving you a ultimate chic look. It can also cover a bad hair day or just throw it on in any casual look for a chic twist.

Many of this seasons, are vintage inspired, and the 70's emerge again.

 ( 2 pics on left: Tracy Reese SS2011 | 2 pics on the right: Just Cavalli SS2011)

• Celebs wear it too:

Just keep in mind:

• the hat has to be large with a gently swaying soft brim that falls on cheeks (if you are petite, this might not be your choice. Opt for smaller hat and go with a mini-dress or shorts);
• since it's a 70's inspiration, pair it with long maxi-dresses, long waist shorts or pants;
• use it as a pop of color in a more mono-chromatic casual look. Prints are a good choice too.

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HOH 1960

House of Harlow 1960 is a jewelry line of Nicole Richie. I love it and I think it's so elegant and chic and has that cross of tribal/ethnic in a sophisticated way.

It will stand out paired with a solid color dress and I chose the gorgeous cobalt blue ASOS 70's Pleat Sleeve Kaftan Dress. It has an amazing color and blue combined with black - in this case, hints of color from the jewelry - is a hot trend this season.

You can get some of the items of HOH at shopbob.

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Stripes, stripes...

... are everywhere! It's a great piece to overlay your look on those breezy cool days of spring.

An over-sized, loose sweater looks cute paired with shorts and bright yellow ballet flats. You can never go wrong with a smart effortless style. 

Celebs love the stripes and so do I. A lot of these stripey pieces will be found around in almost any brand.

(Sweater - Denim shorts - Ballet flats - Raffia tote)

*Note: Wider stripes won't make you look bigger. Big details help you to slim down instead of small detailed points of focus.

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Hot trend: Super round sunglasses.

Sunglasses are essential for any stylish look. They always make you mysteriously chic and it's a must have in accessory!

Celebrities have been using it and no doubt that Mary-Kate Olsen has helped a lot putting out this trend in the runways. This style has been rocking for a while, but this year seems to step out!

Check it out and celeb yourself with this new twist of accessory!

 ( 02. Victoria Beckham at Net-a-porter, 03. SW Round Style #82, 04. ASOS Mint Round sunglasses)

*Note: Round shades look best on square and oblong-shaped faces

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