SHOE PORN THURSDAY: Chloe Gosselin

Posted on September 29, 2016 by Trends & Tribulations

Chloe Gosselin is a newcomer on the design scene, and is sure to be a name you’ll be hearing more about in the coming months. After working as an internationally recognized model for almost a decade, she studied shoemaking at FIT in New York, along with Ars Sutoria in Milan. The French designer blends her heritage culture, along with influences throughout her travels, to create shoes that invoke feelings and thoughts; inspired by music, contemporary art, photography and vintage aesthetics.

Check out these Plumeria pumps by Chloe Gosselin below, adorned with emerald Orylag fur. Wear them with an A-line mini skirt and black tights for a fashionable fall look.

Chloe Gosselin Plumeria pumps, $1,100, via ChloeGosselin.com

What are your thoughts about these shoes? How would you wear them?

xo, lovelies

SHOE PORN THURSDAY: Gucci

Posted on September 22, 2016 by Trends & Tribulations

A pair of perfect black boots are basically quintessential to each winter. Gucci has made an extremely enviable pair this season, complete with their signature navy and red canvas panel and gold pearl embellishments. Wear them with cropped & flared culottes and a tied neck scarf for a perfectly polished, french-inspired look.

Gucci Carly leather boots, $1,250, via MatchesFashion

What do you think of these boots? How would you wear them?

xoxoxo

Something Borrowed, Something Blue: The Most Beautiful Wedding Dresses You’ve Ever Seen

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Trends & Tribulations

Wedding dress shopping is something a woman does only once (hopefully) in her lifetime, so finding the perfect dress is essential. Below, you’ll find the perfect compilation of wedding gowns to feast your hungry eyes upon, regardless of if you’re in the market for wedding season or not.

BERTA Plunging V-Neck Beaded Lace Dress (In Stores Only), $8,470.00, via Nordstrom

Berta Plunging V-Neck Beaded Lace Dress (In Stores Only), $8,470, via Nordstrom

See the rest after the jump: Continue reading →

Four Essential Items You Need to Wash Your Clothing With

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Trends & Tribulations

Four Essential Items You Need To Add To Your Laundry

Via Armelle Habib

( 1. )

Baking Soda

Baking soda is harmless to the environment and has mild alkali qualities that help it dissolve grease and dirt. Baking soda can be especially helpful in areas served by hard water: Adding baking soda to a washing machine’s rinse cycle will result in clothes that are better rinsed, softer and more stain resistant. Add 1/2 cup baking soda to top-loading machines or 1/4 cup for front-loading machines along with the usual amount of detergent to give the detergent a boost. Baking soda can help increase bleach’s whitening power so much that you’ll be able to use less bleach.

via Apartment Therapy

( 2. )

Vinegar

Like baking soda, vinegar can serve a lot of different purposes in the laundry room. When using vinegar in the laundry, use distilled white vinegar, which generally can be found in gallon jugs near the baking or laundry aisles in the grocery store. A mixture of half water and half vinegar makes a good stain pretreatment. Spray a little onto the stain a few minutes before washing and then wash as usual.

Vinegar can also add a kick to regular laundry detergents. To soften a standard load of wash, add 1/2 cup vinegar during your machine’s last rinse cycle. In addition to softening, vinegar added at this time will help reduce lint buildup, and it tends to help pet owners with hair buildup on their fabrics.

via HomeBunch

( 3. )

Salt

Adding salt to your laundry helps to restore and maintain bright colors in fabrics. Additionally, it can reduce yellowing in whites and is efficient in eliminating mildew in fabrics. Simply shake a little into your wash for softer and brighter laundry (think Purex Crystals, minus the potentially harmful chemicals). Just be sure to use regular old kosher salt (or sea salt), not Epsom salt. The latter is a composition of magnesium sulfate, which will create hard water (hard water is caused by the combination of the two minerals calcium and magnesium, so epsom salt essentially makes your hard water even harder, thus having the opposite effect on clothing).

Also, placing some sea salt in a sachet and washing & drying your laundry with it will help to eliminate static cling.

Via DecorPad

( 4. )

Lemon Juice

Adding 1/2 cup of lemon juice to a load of laundry will make the entire load smell fresher. Surprisingly, adding lemon juice to a load of whites will also whiten the load. It also works as a powerful stain remover when combined with cream of tartar, and is especially efficient at removing sweat stains from clothing (see the cheat cheat below!). Lemon juice is also a great air freshener. To make your own, combine equal parts lemon juice and water in a spray bottle, and use on your apparel, on your furniture, and around your home for odor control.

Via Buzzfeed

What are your favorite laundry hacks? Do you use any of these?

xo

SHOE PORN THURSDAY: Miu Miu

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Trends & Tribulations

Miu Miu’s glitter-emblazoned pumps made headlines after their retro-inspired runway debut for Fall/Winter 2015-16 at Paris Fashion Week. Their block heel is on-trend for this season, and the baby blue details and cartoon-sized button add the perfect eccentricity to what could very easily become blah. Pair these heels with a pair of flared, dark denim trousers & a fitted turtleneck, or with a shift dress and a contrasting, candy-colored jacket.

Miu Miu Glittered Patent-Leather Pumps, $755

What do you think of these glittery pumps?

xo, beauties

Trending Now: The Boho Look

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Trends & Tribulations

Boho chic is once again one of the leading fashion styles of the season. Drawing influences from unconventional bohemian lifestyle on the one hand, and hippie subculture on the other, this fabulous trend has to be your choice for this autumn. However, if you are not quite sure how to achieve this kind of look, we are here to help you. Here is an essential style guide with some useful tips concerning this fashion style.

Style Roots

Boho chic is once again one of the leading fashion styles of the season. Drawing influences from unconventional bohemian lifestyle on the one hand, and hippie subculture on the other, this fabulous trend has to be your choice for this autumn. However, if you are not quite sure how to achieve this kind of look, we are here to help you. Here is an essential style guide with some useful tips concerning this fashion style.

Fashion Inspirations

This amazing style is a throwback to the 1970’s, being an inspiring combination of characteristic shapes and fabrics embodied in flared jeans, bell sleeves, culottes, fringes, suede dresses and many others. Even though it was fairly popular back in the 70’s, it actually reached its peak in 2005. Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, and Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen largely contributed to the popularization of this specific style. They introduced oversized tunics and dresses, peasant blouses, maxi skirts, and fringed jackets, and we have those lovely ladies to thank for bringing this trend into the mainstream. This season, many designers recognized the beauty in this style, and chose to incorporate it into their collections. Stella McCartney’s larger than life flared pants, Alexander McQueen’s extraordinary boho floral dresses, Asian-influences at Marchesa, and Marc Jacobs’ woven hobo bags with fringes are true representatives of this free-spirited style.

Ethnic Influences

Wearing bohemian clothes means connecting with nature as well as with other cultures which influenced this style. It is present everywhere, from runway to high street fashion, which is why it became so trendy and available to everyone. The most prominent elements of this style are related to ethnicity, because designers are drawing their inspiration from the distant cultures of Africa and Asia. In this way, they are creating unique pieces of clothing that are indeed a form of art, but which can be combined with basics such as jeans or classic trousers. If ethnic wear is your cup of tea, the possibilities are infinite. There is a wonderful variety of Salwar suits for true fans of Indian ethnic wear. You can choose them in accordance with your favorite colors, and be sure that gorgeous embroidery will blow you away. Of course, jewelry is unavoidable when it comes to this style, and the rule is – go big or go home!

Layering jewelry is key to achieving a boho look. Image via Pinterest

How To Achieve the Boho Look?

Vintage accessories and flowy clothes are a basis for this look.

Beauty:

To achieve the look with your make-up, choose natural make-up and relaxed, beach waves for hair.

Clothing:

When it comes to fabrics, with the bohemian style, anything goes – there is everything from cotton, leather, suede, linen, and (faux) fur pieces. Make sure that you have chosen items in natural colors, such as beige or white, so you could pair them up with other patterned items.

Patterns & Prints:

A wide range of patterns is allowed, from floral to more abstract and ethnic-inspired ones. Lace dresses, as well as crocheted blouses and tops are an absolute must-have when it comes to boho look. Accessorize yourself with fringes and beads and you are halfway there.

Bohemian Color Palette:

via TheChicFashionista

Boho style is all about comfort, which is why it is characterized by oversized clothes, often worn in layers. A great option would be to try combining skinny jeans with a flowy, floral blouse and a fringed vest for a gorgeous & easy look.

As you can see, this fashion style is beyond inspirational and it allows for playful exploration with clothes and patterns. This is exactly why many people would agree that boho is a state of mind, and not just a trend in fashion that will pass sooner or later. No matter how you perceive it, boho chic is a style that is worthwhile, simply because it survived and remained popular throughout many decades of confronting with different trends in fashion.

About the Guest Blogger:

Peter is a fashion stylist and a writer for HighStyleLife magazine located in Brisbane, Australia. After graduating from Australian Institute Of Creative Design, he worked as a style assistant for many local fashion events. Combining all his skills and experience along with his complete love for fashion, he is planning to launch independent styling company.

xo, darlings

SHOE PORN THURSDAY: J. W. Anderson

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Trends & Tribulations

J. W. Anderson was nominated for the Womenswear & Menswear Designer of the Year by British Fashion Awards earlier this week, penning him against the likes of Victoria Beckham and Christopher Kane. He couldn’t be more deserving of this award, with his innovative and unique designs in both the men’s and women’s sector of fashion. Check out these loafers created with suede, leather, and a varnished, marbled effect on the heel.

J. W. Anderson Loafers, $1,310

Style ’em with cropped, frayed denim & a lacey blouse, and fringed cape for a full on 70’s boho chic look.

Would you wear these loafers? If so, what would you pair them with?

xo, lovelies

SHOE PORN THURSDAY: Tom Ford

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Trends & Tribulations

Tom Ford is, and always will be, the sexiest designer known to the fashion industry to date. He proves this time and time again, and honestly, the fact that he is able to make a pair of denim boots sultry is only further evidence. These patchwork denim and leather knee boots from his Fall 2015 runway collection are a perfect blend of bohemian and badass.

Tom Ford Patchwork denim and leather knee boots, $2,690

Pair them with a chambray button-down & slit maxi skirt, as seen in the photo below, or with a leather ensemble for a night out.

What do you think of these denim boots? How would you style them?

xo, loves

Runway Report: Everything You Need to Know from New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2016

Posted on September 21, 2015 by Trends & Tribulations

All of the Highlights From NYFW You’ll Want To Know About (Besides Strippers at Alexander Wang)

Karlie Kloss’ darling Barbie-looking wrap dress at DVF.

The model who tripped at Givenchy, and the two darling gentlemen that immediately helped her up….which made me notice all of the models shoes looked like they were untied…

The plethora of other Barbie-worthy dresses at Carolina Herrera.

The cringe-worthy idea that models should take selfie-sticks on the same runway…

The Always Gorgeous, Fairytale-kinda Beauty, Marchesa show.

The rainbow eyelids at Betsey Johnson.

That Dress at Givenchy. Yes, please.

At first I thought this dress was the dress to make all other black fur dresses obsolete….

But then I saw this one, and it made me question everything…. Sigh (#whitegirlproblems).

The gorgeous braids at Herve Leger.

The Awkward Nipple Dress at Idan Cohen.

And That Gorgeous Yellow & Pink Crop Top & Trousers Ensemble at Idan Cohen.

Marc Jacobs’ Indescribable Super-Hollywood Show at the Zeigfeld Theatre. Hence, the following video:

Shiny, Pretty Things! at Tory Burch.

Americana-Inspired Plaids & Red, Whites, & Blues at Victoria Beckham.

The white bikini at Herve Leger.

Legs for Days at Altuzarra.

Anna Sui’s Rockabilly Beach Party.

The Mohawk Headphones at Desigual.

Those Lace-Up Shoes at Derek Lam.

The Bucket Hats at BCBG.

What were your favorite highlights at New York Fashion Week? What shows did you like the best? Share in the comments section below!

stay lovely, xo

SHOE PORN THURSDAY: DSquared2

Posted on September 17, 2015 by Trends & Tribulations

DSquared2 is one of those super awesome labels that just exude a certain cool attitude, with a unique IDGAF kind of feel. And these skeleton heel ankle boots are totally in on it (and kind of perfect for the Halloween season…). The outsides of the boots have a shoelace-inspired lace-up closure that reminds me of equal parts Frankenstein and football, which isn’t an easy feat to pull off.