Pasty Winter White? Work It To Your Advantage!

Hi Gals, I was inspired to write this post on this seasons colour trends after seeing Torie Jaynes striking Christmas confectionary - bird cage and houses all pretty in aqua and rose pastels. If your a sucker for romance like me, you have to canoodle with pastels this S/S season! Plus they really work for pasty winter faces so that's obviously a big bonus, that being said they look great against black skin tones too.

 Marc Jacobs managed to make his show for Louis Vuitton look pretty without looking sickly sweet, largely due to his famed use of modern fabrics, mainly plastics, ouch! As in Torie Jaynes Christmas display here, the trick is, if you do decide to mix pastels pieces together, is to be super stingy with using pinks and focus more on yellow, blues and fresh aqua tones, for baby soft pefection use soft greys along side your pastels, for freshness lots of textured whites and for edge shards of black to add a pretty punk feel.I had to share this photo with you from the Louis Vuitton S/S 2012 show, of Marc passionately kissing what looks like a very bored looking Kate Moss!!  

Sign up to My Passport To Style by email top right of this blog and win the Right Royal Handbag giveaway this January 2012, complete with red satchel, 3 pairs of leather folding Redfoot pumps, a cute vintage iphone case from Cloth Magpie and lots of other items for having a glam spring outing! x

Festival Chic | I get A Makeover Courtesy Of Dita Von Teese



Van Mildert By Vivienne Westwood




With Ben and Jerry's Sundae festival coming up soon, like many of us, I'm contemplating what I might wear to rock out at a festval, franky the rock chic look as much as I understand its longevity at festivals is wearing a little thin and to be honest in my opinion really works best for boyish frames. I also have a series case of the boho blues with regard to festival wear. So right now I'm looking to a rather unusual muse for the occasion, non other than Dita Von Teese whoes interpretation of styling down her look for a recent festival she attended was to wear this rather natty rope belt! What better way is there to keep your hair from flying in your face while you rock out to your favourite beats than wearing it in a sweet net at the nape of your neck?




Dita Von Teese - Festival Chic



 My version of Dita Festival chic has to be teaming this stunning hand painted African print dress from online company Van Mildert in a flattering cut by Vivienne Westwood with a pair of these vintage style, red, Marilyn Monroe spat ankle wellingtons (yes this is what they are called! Dita would approve!) from the Welly Shop (no tights needed) a lightweight fitted raincoat in grey or lilac (check out Dita Von Teese artfully carrying her raincoat slung over the back of her satchel) or I could opt for these rather sleek black moc croc, (the Welly company also) the contrast of pattern and texture would look so festive and yet so chic!

Marylin Monroe red spats - Welly Shop





Black moc croc wedge welly - Welly Shop

 Choosing the right bag can often be a dilemma so I'm keeping it simple and emulating vintage hollywood cruise style and opting for this sweet but ample vintage camera case bag in white and tan to carry my camera, lipstick and money in, from online company Rokit in London you may fear for my welbeing, carrying such a small bag, however a small bag will not dominate your style and exudes inner confidence.

Good news regarding the final part of my festival chic over story, if you want to recreate Dita Von Teeses hair style but its just that bit too time consuming for you, the frizz factor is having a moment and with this stunning tribal print dress by Van Mildert you can unleash your fluff factor and still be the talk of the beer tent!  



Frizzy Up Do









                                   Sharon x

Proenza Schouler Exclusive Beach Accessory Launch | Gives New Meaning To Towelling!

 Hi Gals, I get butterflys about clothing label's that know how to combine great tailoring, contempory style and texture masterfully, dynamic duo Proenza Schouler understand the magic of combining all three of these elements in their striking women wear  collection's. Tomorow they launch this ravishingly sophisticated beach bucket bag and aztec print towel in rich colours. In my opinion talented fashion designers such as Proenza and Schouler set themselves apart by their abilty to funnel their vast repertoire of design vision and ethics into a simple garment or accessory, so that it is instantly recognisable on the crowded sandy beach for which it is was intended, genius!! Could there be however a teeny tiny problem to spoil this moment? I think so, couples everywhere will fight to the death to decide who gets to take this handsome pairing out first!! 

     

                                                                                  

                                                                             

                                       Sharon x

Traffic Stopping Brights From New York Style Magazine!

Hi Gals,

hope your having fun, traffic stopping bright's make me feel invincible, did you noticed the boxer short brightly coloured turban's atop of these glamazons? A stroke of sheer genius, if ever so slightly funny! (image credit- New York Style magazine)

                                          Sharon x x

Move Up A Grade With Haute School Style

shoe-supply.com

Remember the buzz of a brand new shiny pencil case and book bag? Your secret delight of the squeak of newness in those shoes that you had convinced mum were more than sensible enough, all easing the pain of the first day back to school after the long summer break. How about injecting a little of that nostalgia into your work wear wardrobe? The new preppy, is long and cool like a mint julep. Office boys beware, we squeak!    

eco laptop bag by Helen Riegle

                                       Sharon x

Spool 72 Discount And New Drop

  

Hi Gals, thought you might like to know Spool72.com are offering a nice discount, if your looking to become a dancing queen this summer I can think of no one that does 70s retro with a twist better than here. I'm loving these pieces below, straight from their new collection that have warm balmy summer nights running right the way through them. Do you have a favourite piece I would love to know, do tell?

                                      Sharon x x

Brights Versus Stripes, What Will You Be Wearing This Spring??

Which side of the fashionable fence are you? Either way you will be sitting pretty. 

                               Sharon x x

Mulberrys Spinningfields Party Opens To Ooohs And Aahs!

For those of you that are avid Mulberry fans or are new to the brand and curious to know more, from bags to clothing you are in for a right royal treat as I discovered at a really grand opening of their new store in Spinningfields Manchester.

The opening party put a smile on every guests lips including mine, as it managed to masterfully distil the heady mix of its spring/summer 2011 show - inspired by one of my favourite books, The Secret Garden, cabbage sized hot pink roses were used to frame a secret walled catwalk down which strode copper headed models wearing clothing that gently celebrated their every curve, whilst the simple use of detailing on clothing and bags was like a breath of fresh air. Earthy and ethereal tones played a part in this delicous tale, from rich chestnuts, burnished plum, warm apricot, rose pink, cornflower and washed out blues. I particularly like the use of the humble D-ring detailing which Mulberry have used to great effect in their entire range of shoes for the season and the Polly Push Locket Belt, which I felt worked beautifully to accent the waist on Mulberry's chestnut cotton trench.

Cold it might have been outside but once inside Mulberry's new Spinningfields store you truly felt spring had sprung, after being treated to strawberry cocktail with delicate rose petals and a tiny teeny Victoria sandwich cake in a pretty floral box, the fun beats of the ever stylish guest DJ Daisy Lowe got everyone in the mood to party. Rather fitting that the guest DJ for Mulberry's Spinningfield opening party was Daisy don't you thing?!

Buttery soft bags like the Mila in electric blue were displayed in large glass boxes like captivating bright butterflies. Favourites like the Alexa, Tilly and Bayswater had all been given a touch of the secret garden magic, teaming unexpected colours and textures with utility styling and playful proportions. I loved the way that the creative treatment of the shop walls and floors, combined both textures and colours which reflected urban and natural world influences. Mulberry manages to very cleverly harness this fusion throughout their brand.

After an uplifting performance from Sunday Girl, guests were treated to a surprise performance by Ellie Goulding, both acts were the perfect ending to a great evening. Thoughtfully designed cotton goody bags embellished with the fun design of a white rabbit poking its head out of a Mulberry Satchel and a packet of carrot seeds as a swing tag, full of goodies were distributed by our lovely Spinningfields host's, along with shiny gold Bayswater balloons to light our path back home, it was a magical evening.

Tribal Trio!

Sorry it's been a longer than usual since my last post , been election time in the UK, big stuff, as I am sure your are all aware! Anyway my round up of some of my  favourite tribal pieces, particularly loving the soft tribal look above! Thank-you for all your recent lovely comment's and for following me, you are the best!

                                                Sharon x

Everyones A Winner!

Question what trend, is utterly flirty and feminine, feels delicous against the skin, with any luck allows your skin to breath in even the hottest weather, doesn't add unwanted inches, can be worn day, evening and when the trend is over even double up as night wear?

 

 Answer,You guessed it! The trend for wearing underwear as outer wear! I'm loving it! You can be as subtle or as daring as you feel, from a peep of lace at the bottom of your favourite A-line skirt (clashing nude lace with a hot colour's works well!) to a sexy nude corsett worn with satin nude culottes and peep toe leather sporty wedges for added urban edge. I'm loving this banana yellow, silk ruffle cami   and dusky pink lace trim cami and nude skirt, all from Warehouse. What do you think? So if you think about it, it really is a win, win situation buying into this scorching trend this season!

Delighted that Warehouse have introduced this Fair Trade piece to their spring collection!

I was editing my wardrobe for this spring, when I found this little beauty tucked away for safe keeping in tissue paper, a layer of gold net, with these beautiful beaded flowers all over it and a silk underskirt, perfect for this seasons new under wear as outer wear look. Don't you just love it when that happens!

Anyway I got a little carried away and spent half an hour indulging in boudoir chic, partly due to the fact  a friend of mine recently gave me this adorable vintage dressing table set, including vanity mirror, hair brush and clothes brush for my birthday as well as a sweet blue, heart shaped locket watch. So those items including my soft ruffled spring shawl had to feature together in my last picture below!

                                                               Ok, drum roll please, the winner of the Spellbound hair accessory giveaway is Babalisme, she has a lovely creative blog, please visit her and the winner of the Sex in the City tours tickets is Emily from Cream Coloured Ponies And Crisp Rhubarb Strudels, such an inspiring blog, well worth a visit, congratulations to them both!

Thank-you all for your entrie's. I promise there will be more exciting giveaway's over here soon. Wishing you all a lovely week. Looking forward to visiting you and reading your post's.

Sharon x

Tame Those Drapes And Ride Those Ruffles! - With My 3rd Style Dispensary Session On Texture

This is the final part in my series of 3 Style posts offering up to the minuite Style advice on colour, pattern and shape.With the tribal, cowgirl and the very femine all set to be strong trends for 2010, it really is no surprise and some may say a bit of relief given the starkness of the utillity trend that ruffles and draping have a huge impact on clothing this spring /summer 2010!

Texture reigns supreme and adds volume, movement and real style Kudos!Here's some inspiration. Which will be followed by my hot tips on working this trend. p.s give yourself a head start and get in on the texture trend by entering the Topshop scarf giveaway details top right of my sidebar!

 

Keeping things sheer, means that even the tiniest ladies can wear this trend, loving the vertical take on the ruffle, so flattering.

Whoa fabulous, but shimmer and supersized  ruffles on us mere mortals? I think not!

Anne Hathaway, wears the trend beautifully, need to look extra glam? Look to your ruffles, love the juxta postioning between the cutway edge and the waterfall of ruffles sooo elegant and very flattering to the legs.

Fringing in hot colours adds real decadence as well as keying into both tribal and cowgirl trends, so double the value for money!

Swirly rosette ruffles, brides rejoice it's your season, to be over the top romantic!

The tribal look has influenced texturised hot colours, which can be a little hard to pull off unless you are very tall!

I adore this ruffles and stripes top drama pared down

And this mushroom satin shift top, looks sooo elegant with its collar of ruffles and pintuck centre

Kimono draping, can be very flattering for women wanting to soften angular lines on their body, great for evening and special occasion wear. Look at her fairy tale boots, she must have flown here specially!

Some times simple is best, let the fabric do the talking designer style

Grey is so under rated!

Hot  Tips For Wearing Texture This s/s

1. Understand your frame, do you have strong angle i.e, hip bones that need softening then go for draping/ruffles in your skirt. Sporty builds steer clear of rigid ruffles and look for fluid items that move and create curve.

2.Don't mix pattern and texture neutrals tones work best, or sheer colours, mix materials of the same weight, to prevent you looking like your about to attend a wedding! Let shoes and makeup add a pop of colour.

3. Don't wear ruffles from head to foot, it will take away from your height and make you look to try hard.

4.Wear hot textures in small amounts, for a playful addition to your wardrobe.

5. Unlike the trend for mixing pattern which looks fabulous don't make the mistake of mixing textures it looks to try hard and you can end up looking more of a clown than a diva!

6.Have fun, with the trend, there will be a piece to suit every bodyshape, you just need to hunt it down.

Up Next Your Personal Style Dilemmas/questions  in These 3 Areas Answered, Watch Out For It, We Are Gonna Have Fun!

Sharon x

Madame, these ruched sleeves, elevate your look and balance your body, tres bon!