An ongoing love affaire with all things fashionable, tasty and fun

Posts tagged “Kayture

New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Street Style & Front Row Fashion

This is the final – finally – post on the Spring 2013 New York Fashion Week collections. During the first three posts we reviewed the NYFW institutions, the affordable “real women” lines, and the newbies to Fashion Week. Today’s post is all about the editors, actresses, bloggers, models, and fashion industry insiders during New York Fashion Week – What they wore to view the collections, running between the shows, and to the parties, store openings & celebration dinners.

{I absolutely adore this look. It’s chic and utterly put together, but still fun and youthful rather than being stiff and boring. Well done Miss Belle!}

{Low-key and casual, perfect for a muggy NYC day and comfortable enough to make it through the day without foot pain, fashion emergencies, or faux pas.}

{Quite the well put together outfit – I love the blouse, it suits her really well, and I’m a sucker for a great day clutch so this studded beauty really caught my eye.}

{So. Cute. I can’t imagine a more adorable or flatteringly age-appropriate little outfit for this young lady.}

{I kind of love Kelly’s look here. I’m not a huge fan of her recent hair color choices, but the bright colorblocking of this frock is lovely and that black & white checkered clutch was a brilliant choice.}

{I love the fresh, colorful prints she picked here, as well as the unique midi length hem. There’s something to be said for mixing & matching, no one else will ever show up in the same outfit!}

{LOVE! It’s fun and one-of-a-kind, totally Brad!}

{Great colors. Fabulous length. Utterly flattering silhouettes. Well done ladies, well done.}

Bloggers:

Bloggers do it better! 🙂 The ladies who represented the blogger contingent in New York City did a fabulous job in brights, florals, prints, and eye-catching accessories.

{Such a gorgeous dress! Dark florals are one of my favorite ways to bridge the Summer-to-Fall gap and this is a great example of how to transition them. And Zara booties never hurt an outfit!}

{One way to make sure that you stand out in a crowd of bloggers, celebrities, and editors is to: (1) Look stunning (2) Wear stand-out hues that suit you to perfection & (3) Pile on the gorgeous statement jewelry}

{Great print & colors – And those double ankle strap heels are killer}

{Liz from Late Afternoon (left) and Laura from OnTheRacks (right) make quite the pretty picture in a fun, colorful array of separates paired with perfectly chosen, eye-catching accessories.}

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{Do blondes have more fun? Ask Shea {Cheyenne Meets Chanel}, Chiara {The Blonde Salad}, and Kristina {Kayture}. These lovely ladies all added some Summer white to their chic ensembles – from blazers & cropped leather jackets to pants & handbags.}
Models:
Can’t forget to include the great looks that are put together but the stunning ladies who strut their stuff on catwalks all over the world during Fashion Month!

{Sylish and chic! I love this look but I have NO IDEA how she was wearing a black blazer during NYFW, maybe she took it off after the pictures were taken?}

{This is a great laid back look. I adore the printed pants paired with the leopard print pieces, and the plain white tee paired with the dramatic statement necklace is another great choice.}

{LOVE THIS. It’s wild & crazy & fun – Just what fashion week is supposed to be all about!}

{I always look forward to shots of Karlie – I adore her street style, her runway walk, and how her personality always manages to shine through in a picture. Here’s yet another great example of her personal style from Mr. Newton!}

{How fabulous is this shot? I love her bike, her handbag, her helmet, and her low-key but chic style – Skinnies & a tank – perfect for a humid Summer day in New York.}

Constance Jablonski, Ginta Lapina and Karlina Caune Off Duty 

{This is a great shot showing models doing something that they do best – Mixing & matching! These ladies are doing a great job of combining interesting and fun pieces to put together unique, fashionable looks.}

And last but hardly least, my favorite look from New York Fashion Week…

{I mean seriously? Can you imagine a more chic and stylish looking woman? She probably made half the women at this show cry and give up on fashion. Head-to-toe this is an amazing look – The red is striking and the gloves & pearls are such chic touches. J’adore!}

{Click on the images above to be taken to the original source}

Previous NYFW Collections: New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part I, New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part II, New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part IIINew York Fashion Week Fall 2012, Pre-Fall 2012 Part I, Part II, Part III, and NYFW Spring 2012 Round-Up.

Addition reviews, photographs, shows, and videos: WhoWhatWear’s What They Wore – NY Fashion Week, Style.com’s Get the Look: Tilda Lindstam, New York Fashion Week Spring 2013: Parties & Front Row from Harper’s BAZAAR & Modelinia’s Top Twitpics from Spring 2013 New York Fashion Week.

Photo by andie_arthur

Now we’re off to London – See you there! ❤


Looks of the Week

Welcome back to another Looks of the Week Monday! I hope that everyone had a great weekend and is wringing every drop of Summer fun out of these August days as they can. Let’s start our week out right with some fabulous fashionistas showing off everything from statement jewelry to mixing prints to bright colors.

Enjoy!

Nothing says Summer as effortlessly or stylishly as a white dress. And while this drapping, asymmetrical white dress is stunning it’s Kristina’s accessories that make this look stand out so well. The studded red Zara shoulder bag and killer gold spiked collar from H&M are both incredibly striking & eye-catching, they really bring this look to a whole other level.

This is a low-key but striking and sassy combination that should really motivate you to spice things up before walking out the door. Colorblocking is a great way to make a look really POP.

A sweater can be tough for men to make work for them, but this is a great example of how to put together a clean-cut, stylish look using one. Navy pants + white button down + a sweater with a flattering pattern and cut. Bonus for the killer accessories – Retro shades, white watch strap, and fabulous bag.

Love love love! This is a fabulous look from head to toe. The Versace for H&M studded top pairs beautifully with this nude, pleated leather skirt. And to top it all off, I couldn’t have picked a better clutch or more fabulous booties to add to this outfit.

This is an interesting and really eye-catching look despite the fact that there’s not a lot of color. The sequined stripes are great and I love that she chose a looser, more relaxed top to mix with the dramatic midi-length skirt. Well done!

The art of wearing lady pants is something every woman really should master. Finding the right cut and silhouette to suit your figure can take years of trial and error. If you’ve ever felt like giving up, you’ll enjoy this shot of the perfect pink pants. And those are definitely three words I never thought I’d write. 🙂

High-Low hemlines aren’t always my favorite style but I couldn’t take my eyes off of this look. The colors, the prints, and the textures are so eye-catching and deliciously Summery that I couldn’t tear myself away from the screen. Nothing short of fabulous!

Neutrals don’t have to be boring as this look proves. Stunning Victoria’s Secret Angel Candice Swanepoel shows us how to put together a relaxed, but fashionable Summertime look with this nude pleated mini, a basic white t-shirt, and cute braided sandals. 

Why not make your shopping trip or errand run a bit more fun with some bold color or printed separates? This basic shorts & tank look is fun and stylish with the addition of a killer handbag, flattering green shorts, and animal print flats.

This makes me miss Fall SO MUCH. I love a great coat and this corset belted olive-green military coat is killer. Her accessorizing – bowler hat & high boots – make it even more eye-catching and cold weather-appropriate.

Chic! I love a great Summer dress and this is a phenomenal color on her. And after finding a great color & style, she personalized it and made it more “her” with the tooled leather Rebecca Minkoff bag and fabulous 3.1 Phillip Lim gladiator sandals.

And just in case you missed the fabulousness that was the Team Supermodel walk during last night’s Closing Ceremonies in London, here are some pictures and great commentary to console you – Team Supermodel Strikes Gold In London!

{Click on images above to visit the original source}

Which picture is your favorite of the shots above? Does seeing fun new looks put together by stylish people motivate and inspire you to mix things up when you’re planning your own outfits?


Summary Saturday

I’m going to take a page out of the fabulous Fashion On Top‘s book blog and make today’s post a summary of what’s happened over the last week on the blog and the other various social media outlets that I post on.

New Blog Posts:

Are you subscribed to the blog and receiving an email when a new post is published? If not, click the SUBSCRIBE ME button on the right hand side of the screen.

Instagram:

Food – While I don’t photograph all of my food or even all of the new recipes that I try, sometimes a meal is just too tasty or too fun to pass up a photo-op. Here are a couple shots that passed the test this week.

SERIOUS munching over here! #Shakti #indianfood #vegan #glutenfree

Snacking. #rawrevolution #synergy #healthysnacks

#cantstopeating #vegan #glutenfree

Fashion – When I can remember I’ll snap a picture of my accessories, handbag, or even my outfit for the day. Most of my Instagram updates are my jewelry though, since its the easiest to capture solo.

Wearing a new dress always makes my day! #sanfrancisco @Zara

Hello lover! @ninewest #fashion #sanfrancisco

Time to switch wallets! @CHANEL @Longchamp_US @HenriBendel #Fendi #Goyard @veneta_bottega

Misc – What I’m best at capturing are all of the random things that happen throughout the day. The frustrations that everyone can relate to as well as the little “I love my life” moments. From outing in San Francisco & weekends away to shopping adventures & meals out on the town to my crazy cats & amazing friends, family, and boyfriend.

“@project_zen SO glad that I moved a block from this spa!!! #massage #spoilingmyself

I ❤ crazy busy days & To Do lists! #stayorganized #busyday #ilovemylife

Sooo helpful!

You can follow me on instagram @moicontrelavie.

Twitter:
 
Here are some of the quotes, articles, pictures, and other fun things that I shared during the past week via Twitter
 
 
You can follow me on Twitter @moicontrelavie.
 
Pinterest:
 
I have 10 boards on Pinterest, each with a different title and theme, here are a few of the pins that made the cut this week.
 
* New Pinterest board created 6/12/2012 – MCLV Style
 
Models Being Models:
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Reading Materials:
 
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Inspiration!!!
 
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La Mode:
 
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Belle Maison:
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Yummy:
 
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Moi:
 
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J’Adore:
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I Use Therefore I Am:
 
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You can follow my Pinterest boards here.
 
FacebookYou can LIKE my Facebook page here.

Lookbook You can see my Lookbook looks here, you can FAN me to get an email update when I post a new look, or you can HYPE my looks if you like them!

I really like the idea of this kind of post since I know a number of my blog readers don’t use Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest regularly, so this gives them a chance to take a look at those outlets. What do you think? Do you like having a weekly summary? Should this be a recurring series?

Looks of the Week

How’s everyone’s week going? Between the 2012 Kentucky Derby and the fashion Olympics – otherwise known as the Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute Gala – earlier this week, I’m more than ready to enjoy some casual street style looks.

I love everything about this look! I adore the ornate sleeves of the boxy cropped jacket, I like that she wore  powder blue pants rather than standard jeans, and the necklace is gorgeous. Oh, and that bag. Wow.

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This is the perfect example of a transition outfit. It’s starting to get warmer but you can’t quite run around in shorts and a tank yet, so add tights and pair your adorable shorts with a pretty printed blouse.

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LOVE his suit. The patterns and mixture of colors are parfait! Yes, Miss Emma looks adorable here too, but as he should, Mr. Blasberg is the standout at his book fete!

Hey there sexy lady! I guess you know if you’re going to do Gucci from head-to-toe you’ll end up with a dramatic, eye-catching look.

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I love the laid back but chic style of this look. The flowy, hippie-inspired shirt paired with cropped boyfriend jeans is a great combination, and those cobalt blue pumps are divine.

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Such a great, relaxed Summer look. The tooled leather fanny pack is an interesting choice and I like the end result.

Are you fan of chambray? Check out Eatbreathfashion.com‘s tribute.

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I love it when guys give a little effort on the RC. Something interesting. Something different. The cookie-cutter black suit is a no-no as far as I’m concerned. This? This however is perfect. Well played Harry!

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Street Style @ Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia 2012:

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Just wow. Great color combination, great proportions, great mixture of fabrics and textures.

Not sure how to wear Summer White? This picture is practically a How-To. Gorgeous, head to toe!

Do you have a cute printed blouse that you love? You can keep wearing it all summer, just tuck it into a mini skirt or shorts!

I love how she took really basic pieces and put together a stand-out look. White cotton shorts & a T with a gorgeous bag and beautiful printed robe. J’adore!

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This is an interesting, dramatic look. The basic black on the bottom is overpowered (in a good way) by the brightly colored shirt with the asymmetrical hem and the too cute leather jacket & Mulberry bag combo. Well done!

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It takes serious sartorial skills to wear floral pants or to mix patterns, and Perventina does a great job on both accounts. At the same time. Wow.

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Let’s finish up with some red carpet glamour.

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This is basically a tutorial on how to rock a chic mini on your next night out on the town. Courtesy of our fashion fairy godmothers Gwyneth, Coco, Diane, and Kate.

Perfection! Flattering fit. Flattering color.

Love love love! She did a great job styling this, I love the mix n’ match polka dots with the striped clutch. Too cute.

Chic, sleek, sexy. What more do you need for a night out?

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Dramatic & eye-catching. As a model Coco really knows how to make a look work for her.

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Have a great night!


If You Like Stripes & You Know It Clap Your Hands – Clap Clap

As this Spring has progressed I’ve found myself pining over and adding more and more outfits containing striped pieces to my Looks of the Week posts.

I have to make a confession, I love stripes. Love.

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Without a doubt, stripes are my favorite pattern. They’re my go-to when basic black is out of the question. I love adding a striped piece or two to an outfit to make it standout or to make it more distinctly me. And luckily, they’re always “in” during this season.

Whether you go nautical, classic, or dramatic and eye-catching, work some stripes into your wardrobe this Spring and Summer.

Dresses & Skirts:

Wearing a striped dress or skirt gives you a great starting place for your outfit, from there you can pile on layers of solids or even other stripes. You can make your look all black & white, you can add some color, you can keep it traditional and demure. The sky is the limit.

I really like how this dress mixes directionally different black & white stripes, it gives the dress an interesting and eye-catching quality that basic stripes wouldn’t have. I also love that she paired a cargo pocket Anorak with a chic work-style dress. It’s a great juxtaposition.

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A flowy maxi dress is a relaxed but chic way to stay cool. This particular dress is especially cute since it incorporates the trends of brights and pleats for Spring.

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A striped maxi skirt is a great option and I like the business style double-breasted blazer and the white Oxfords she paired with this, it’s a unique one-of-a-kind look.

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A knit dress is perfect for warmer weather, as are the flats, sunnies & day clutch she added to her look. Cute & comfortable, what more could a girl ask for?

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Jackets & Coats:

I really love striped outerwear, for both men and women. It’s a stylish way to top off an outfit and give it that great final touch, or you could even wear a fabulous striped coat as a dress!

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Amazing! I love love love this coat. If you click on source below you can see some other looks that Atlantic-Pacific put together using this gorgeous J.Crew coat. This is the perfect standout piece, everyone should have a great statement coat like this in their repertoire.

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This is a great striped jacket & shorts suit, absolutely to die for. And I love that she paired the black & white stripes with red & white polka dot platforms. Great finishing touch!

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Truth be told, when I saw this Tinley Road blazer I immediately went online and ordered one for myself. 🙂 Enough said.

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I seriously can’t get over these coats, they’re all so cute, so chic. I want one of each please!

Basics:

Adding a single striped piece to your look – for example a basic sweater or a pair of pants – is another great option. For those of you who are pattern-phobic wearing a single striped tank under your jacket or a cute pair of striped short-shorts with your T is going to be easier than wearing stripes head-to-toe. It gives you a chance to ease into it gradually.

This is the perfect type of blouse for summer, the fabric is lightweight and the fit is relaxed. You could easily pair this with shorts, jeans, or even a mini skirt, and stay cool all Summer long.

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Seriously chic! I loved these pants from the moment that I saw them. They’re eye-catching and dramatic, but the look is still somehow relaxed and laid-back.

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I also raved about Taylor Tomasi-Hill’s personal style here, during Milan Fashion Week Fall 2012.

Such a great, chic look. A basic striped sweated styled with great accessories that make the look anything but basic. The Glamourai doesn’t let the fact that she’s wearing stripes keep her from experimenting with other fabrics, textures, and prints.

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This is a great look if you’re more of a tomboy than a girlie-girl. Its well put together and fashionable, without being over the top. You could easily switch out her mini satchel for a messenger bag or cross-body bag too, which would make it even more laid-back.

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Brights:

In the mood for something colorful this season? Brightly colored stripes are a great way to add a splash to your outfits. Whether it’s a sweater or a scarf or a bag, fun striped pieces are a good way to make a look wholly your own.

Not only is she rocking that striped sweater like no body’s business, she’s right on trend with her bright red cropped pants. Too cute!

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This adorable striped top showcases the versatility of stripes. Stripes & florals? No problem!

You can see more great looks from Miss Jones here, I raved about her fresh new style a few months ago when she was making the red carpet rounds.

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I like that she didn’t try to match her jacket to her stripes here – The contrasting colors are bold and fun.

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You can even pull stripes in with your accessories – A pice like this amazing neon necklace will add a much-needed shot of color to your looks for Spring.

DIY Neon Tassel NecklaceSource

And if you’re in the City by the Bay with me you’ll probably get a kick out of this piece from Refinery 29 on stripy San Francisco blogger fashion!

how to wear stripeshow to wear stripes

6 Girls, 1 Look: S.F.’s Blogger Babes Show Us How To Rock Stripes!

So tell me the truth, are you ready to rock some stripes?


The Little Black Dress

“You can never be over – or underdressed in a Little Black Dress.” – Karl Lagerfeld

As far as I’m concerned, truer words have never been spoken. When Coco Chanel invented the Little Black Dress (aka LBD) in the 1920’s she had no idea what she was opening the fashion world up to. And with that brilliant idea the color of mourning was transformed into the chicest color of them all and the cocktail dress became the epitome of style and elegance.

In the years since its origination the LBD has come in many guises – formal, informal, short, midi, strapless, long sleeves, cotton, velvet, silk, lace, satin…

Evening-Appropriate:

The original LBD was intended for an evening out on the town and that tradition definitely lives on in this day in age.

Short, sassy, chic.

Perfection! It's fun and sexy and one-of-a-kind. What more could you ask for in a cocktail dress?

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Kristin's look is everything you want from a LBD - Fun and eye-catching. The fabric makes it unusual and catches your attention when she walks by and her accessories perfectly add that needed zing to the look. Also, the tights make it warm enough to wear year-around.

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This is the perfect example of showing some skin in a LBD but keeping the look chic rather than tacky. She looks sexy as hell, but classy and tasteful.

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And of course, we’ve got to discuss the 2012 red carpet It Girl who wore LBDs almost exclusively for her Girl With The Dragon Tattoo appearances and premieres…

If you want to up the drama for evening try cut outs, lace, or panels of sheer fabric. They give the illusion of showing more skin than you really are and give a dress a unique and one-of-a-kind feel. I love that despite the modernity of this Prabal Gurung dress, she still looks like Audrey Hepburn!

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The quickest & easiest way to make a dress evening-ready is to add jewelry and killer heels! Just keep them in your day bag and pull then out when cocktail hour arrives.

Work-Appropriate:

Wearing a LBD for work is all about length and appropriateness. You’ll want to stick with a drama-free dress, something sleek and approaching knee-length would be ideal.

A slinky sheath dress is the ultimate LBD for the office. The clean lines and chic silhouette are perfect for work and depending on the neckline and sleeves all you may need is a blazer to be meeting-ready.

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Obviously Cara's boots aren't the perfect office shoes, but this is a really cute dress that could easily fit into a business-casual office with the addition of tights and a pair of basic pumps in either black or a fun color.

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A wrap or criss-cross front dress is a great option for the office. Depending on the formality of your dress code you may need to add a blazer, cardigan, or closed-toe shoes to this beautiful Bottega Veneta dress.

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A LBD with sleeves is an easy choice if you're heading into work, virtually any hemline below mini skirt level will balance out with sleeves. And a dramatic shoulder like this gorgeous velvet Nina Ricci dress will make it stand out all the more!

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And the best part of wearing a LBD to work? Take off your blazer or tights and switch up your shoes and you’re ready for a night out on the town!

Day-Appropriate:

Wearing a LBD during the day is a breeze, it’s all about picking one that suits your plans since they come in all shapes, sizes, and styles these days. Brunch, sight-seeing in a new city, traveling – You can easily add a little class to these activities with the perfect frock, dressed up or down.

You'll stand out in a crowd in a dress like this one! This type of dress could easily go from day to-night and she did a great job of keeping things casual by adding low-key accessories. Great platform t-straps and I like her decision to add the faux fur and leather jacket to stay warm. And that purse! 🙂

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You can easily add a boho feel to your LBD with a cardigan or duster and layers and layers of funky jewelry. These boots are a great, unexpected way to finish this look off.

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Adding brightly colored or patterned tights to a LBD is a great way to spice it up and make your look wholly original. I love love love the little white Peter Pan Collar on this Asos dress, it's definitely something I would wear with ballet flats!

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Such a cute dress! The oversized pockets show you how little details can set a LBD apart from other dresses. And those shoes! Too cute - A fun, interesting alternative to ballet flats.

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In my Real Girls Need Real Closets post I discussed the basics that a well-rounded wardrobe should contain – including the LBD. Similarly you can check out My Ten Essential Closet Pieces from Wendy’s Lookbook.

So what do you think? Are you ready to try adding a Little Black Dress to another part of your life?

Have a great weekend, I’ll be back from sunny Sea Ranch on Sunday with some great vacation clothes shots! If you’re interested in real-time updates, photos, and reading links that I’m loving, follow me on Twitter or Facebook.


Looks of the Week

Welcome back! Hopefully if you spent all day Monday missing the weekend like I did – Ode To The Weekend – Tuesday was a little easier to face. Let’s get our week started stylishly with some great looks – I’ve got everything from movie premieres to men’s fashion to blogger street style on the docket for today, so enjoy!

Such a relaxed, chic look. Not only do I love the casual striped top paired with leopard print heels, cropped pants are one of my favorite things about Spring!

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Purple & black is a great color combination, it makes this look dramatic while the cut of the dress keeps it demure. How do you feel about the heels with visible socks trend? I think that it's incredibly cute...

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The black petal shorts with tights and pale shoes is a very sweet, girly combination, really great for Spring. My favorite part is definitely the silver collar necklace worn visibly over the pale blouse.

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The edgy, rock n' roll vibe is what made me stop at this look. I love the studded belt, stacked bracelets and leather extras mixed with the moody fabric of the mini dress. This is a great nighttime look!

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Garance Dore captures a look here that's perfect for Spring. I love the un-matching brights, they're eye-catching and fun.

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Natalie Portman looked adorable in a chic head-to-toe Christian Dior ensemble. (I'm not jealous, I swear.) Love the demure dress, the classic trench, and the ooh-la-la shoes. Anyone else ready to run away to Paris for Springtime fashion with me?

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I love love love shift dresses, but what initially caught my eye here was the gorgeous combination of colors and textures. I just wanted to reach out and touch it! And again with the adorable socks & heels combo...

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If you're excited to throw on some brights for Spring but need to work your way up to a more all over look, this is the perfect segue for you. Add a single gorgeous, colorful piece and go with neutrals, black, or another dark hue for the rest of your outfit. Baby steps!

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This is a gorgeous, dramatic, eye-catching gown - Just what Zac Posen does best. Sometimes its fun to see the runway version versus the "real life" outcome. Miss Lily looks stunning, as does Hilary Rhoda. Well done ladies!

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Who knew layering cable knits could be so chic? The slightly contrasting greys add a depth to this look while the knits have a really great texture. And somehow his popped collar manages to look anything but pretentious.

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A white suit can be incredibly chic (so long as you don't spill...) and I especially like the polka dot pussy bow blouse Bruna paired with it. Those T-Straps are pretty killer too!

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And last but hardly least…

Neiman Marcus did a great piece recently that featured Chriselle Lim from The Chriselle Factor, LA’s Marie Hindkaer Anderson from Blame It On Fashion, actress Ashley Madekwe of Ring My Bell, Annabelle Fleur from Viva Luxury, Liz Cherkasova of Late Afternoon fame, and Nini Nguyen of Nini’s Style, called Bloggers Wear: Daytime Clutches.

As much as I love red carpet fashion and scoping out what my favorite A-list fashionistas like Diane Kruger and Zoe Saldana are wearing on the street, I also love to see what real people are wearing in their real lives, and bloggers give us some great looks to aspire to. Oh, and I LOVE day clutches.

Have a great rest of the day, back tomorrow with more!


Versatile Blogger Award

I’m delighted to announce that Style Connect Au has done me the honor of including Moi Contre La Vie in her Versatile Blogger Award list. It’s such a compliment to be included and I’m thrilled to participate in nominating some others for this award so that I can share a handful of the blogs that I’ve recently discovered with you.

 

The guidelines for this game are as follows:

  • Thank the person that nominated you with a link back
  • Share 7 facts about yourself
  • Pass this on to 10 newly discovered blogs and let them know they’ve received the award

 

Here are 7 things you may not know about me:

  1. I’ve lived in six cities: Los Gatos, Morristown, Sacramento, Berkeley, Rome & San Francisco.
  2. I was a springboard diver in high school and college.
  3. Over the years I’ve studied Spanish, Italian, French, Greek, and Latin.
  4. My first exposure to fashion was when I lived in Rome, I was a tomboy when I moved to Italy and came back with perfume, high heels, purses, and a brand new suitcase big enough for a person to fit in it, stuffed full of clothes. I still have some of them!
  5. When I left Berkeley I wanted to go straight to graduate school to get my PhD but my mom talked me into giving the working world a try, and my little detour has lasted 6 years. So far.
  6. I’ve always wanted to be a writer and I’ve started dozens of novels since I was a teenager.
  7. I’m hopeless, and I mean hopeless, when it comes to technology. Computers turn off when they see me coming & phones run away screaming. I’m still in awe that I’ve somehow managed to start a blog. 🙂

 

And in true chain-email style I’m nominating the following 10 fashion blogs for my Versatile Blogger award:

[1.] Altamira: Models Off Duty is one of the best resources for street style photographs of models that I’ve ever found. Photographer Craig Arend always gets the best pictures – everything from the girls rushing from show-to-show during Fashion Week to candid backstage shots to random encounters on the street. 

[2.]  Cristina’s Blog (formerly known as My Dress, My High Heels, My Style) – If you want beautiful, up-to-date pictures of celebs on the red carpet and fashion trends this is the site for you. It has a clean, user-friendly layout and is updated frequently. No muss, no fuss.

[3.] Who Do I Wear? Is a Tumblr-style blog full of street style snaps from all different kinds of blogs. It’s a truly great collection of pictures and I’m inspired to up my game style-wise whenever I take a peak at the site.

[4.] I follow Liz Cherkasova from Late Afternoon on Twitter as well as subscribe to her blog. Not only does she post gorgeous daily outfits that inspire me to get out of my comfort zone, she also shares gorgeous photos of Southern California, floral arrangements she puts together, and fun events, photo shoots, store openings, dinners and line launches that she attends.

[5.] I recently discovered Sincerely Jules and was blown away by her originality. From her ombre hair to her funky, fun mix n’ match outfits to her quirky and covetable accessories, she’s truly one of a kind in the blogging world.

[6.] Swiss blogger Kristina Bazan’s site Kayture is where she shares her daily looks, photographed by her boyfriend. Her personal style is fun and well-put together, and has a great international flavor to it.

[7.] Photographer Vanessa Jackman has a great eponymous-titled street style blog where she shares pictures that she’s taken all over the world. I loved her coverage of the Fall 2012 fashion weeks, she did a wonderful job capturing models, editors, and bloggers in New York and Paris.

[8.] Ring My Bell is where actress & fashion  blogger Ashley Madekwe shares shots of the colorful and fun outfits that she puts together, usually a couple of times a month.

[9.] LA-based Marie Hindkær Andersen’s personal style, as shown on her blog Blame It On Fashion, really shows off her Scandinavian roots. I love the fresh prints, clean lines, and gorgeous colors that she’s able to work into her outfits. She also has a envy-inducing collection of accessories, from jewelry and handbags, to shoes and belts.  

[10.] Andy from Style Scrapbook is a Mexican-born fashion lover and stylist who has moved to Amsterdam and is documenting her fashion choices, videos, adventures, and one-of-a-kind experiences. Her looks are bold, accessible, and real. She reminds me of the cooler big sister that you always looked up to and tried to emulate.

 

Thank you again to Style Connect AU for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger Award, I’m excited to have had a chance to give you guys some new blogs to check out, enjoy! 🙂


Looks of the Week

Welcome to another Looks of the Week post. I have to confess that I really love this series, not only does it give me an excuse a chance to scan blog after blog looking for great outfits, it provides me with much-needed inspiration for my own daily looks each week.

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From great uses of jewelry to inspired styling to new handbags to interesting new ways to pair things… These looks have it all!

A white dress (LWD) is a must this Spring and Kayture blogger Kristina shows us how the pros do it here. Her Topshop shirt dress is simple but the look is anything but with the dramatic silver choker, bright pink clutch, and adorable polka dot Zara platforms.

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I really like the muted plaid of this double-breasted coat as well as her adorable low ankle boots. I love boots but since I walk everywhere so flat or low-heeled boots are great options, and these are a lovely choice!

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I'm not going to lie, these shoes kind of freak me out. What drew me to this picture was actually the mixing of the black & white stripy print with polka dots and a splash of pink. Great styling!

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Despite that fact that she's wearing cheetah print pants, this look still manages to be low-key. Low-key and fabulous to be sure, but low-key nonetheless. And that's what I like about it. A standout printed piece paired with a basic button down and sandals. The accessories are top-notch as well, LOVE the stacked bracelets.

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A great neutral look that isn't boring can be hard to put together and what I especially like about this look is the layering and the flashy gold shoes.

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No one does hippie-chic quite like Kate Moss. This gold & black embroidered tunic and gorgeous gold over-the-shoulder bag are right on trend. Call it boho, hippie, or gypsy, the truth is that she's just plain stylish.

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Brooklyn Decker looked fresh & chic in Theyskens Theory & Isabel Marant. Pairing the fun, ornate jacket with a basic but stylish dress was brilliant, and I love love love her shoe choice.

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While this dress is cute and a great color for her, what this look really shows you is the power of tailoring. This dress fits her perfectly and that really makes the look!

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These bold stripes are right on trend for Spring. I love the unexpected color combination and the subtle sheen of the fabric. And that Stella McCartney bag is TO DIE FOR.

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0% Country, 100% fabulous - Taylor Swift looked STUNNING on the red carpet at the 2012 Academy Of Country Music Awards this weekend. From tween to award show goddess - well done Tay!

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The maxi season is upon us! Lily Collins looks adorable in this brightly colored Peter Som maxi, it's a fun, standout look.

Source Has anyone seen Mirror Mirror yet? It’s on my To Do List for this weekend… My love for fairytale-based movies is second only to my love for comic book movies.


10 Day Style Challenge – Part IV

This is the 4th of the five posts that I’m going to publish relating to the Freckles in April Winter Style Challenge. By way of background, the purpose of this little exercise is to challenge myself to try new styles, put together interesting clothing combinations that I haven’t tried before and learn to look outside the box when it comes to my personal approach to fashion.

If you’d like to catch up on what you missed so far, here are the previous installments: Part I, Part IIPart III.

Freckles in April

 

Day 7: Bright Colors

Winter tends to be a time of blacks, grays and browns. My trips into public places have been awash in people clad in dark neutrals. It fits the weather and, sometimes, our moods, but bright colors have their place in winter too! For tomorrow I want you to add bright color to your winter wardrobe. It can be all over color or a small splash- whatever works for you.

Rather than do an all-over color or even a single neon piece, I wanted to simply do a splash of color to brighten up an otherwise traditional look. Luckily I found some great inspiration on three fashion blogs that I like to frequent on occasion.


Source, Source & Source

What I liked about each of these looks – and what I hoped to achieve with the outfit that I was putting together for myself – was to use the color as a way to highlight and emphasize. A way to draw the eye to certain pieces that I wanted to show off. In this case my accessories – gloves, scarf and gorgeous faux leather planner.

Bags - Vintage & Longchamp, Coat - bought in Rome yeeears ago, Scarf - from Manila market, Dress - Max Studio, Ballet Flats - Lucky, Jewelry - Vintage & Gloves - A gift from my mother

I absolutely love this coat and I was thrilled to be able to make it part of my look after rescuing it from the depths of my closet. Which I have to admit was half the reason that I wanted to do this challenge in the first place, rediscovering buried treasure!

Day 8: Dress Up A Coat

Coats in and of themselves tend to be icing. I think just about everyone who lives in a cooler climate has a decent, good-looking coat that adds instant polish or style to their outfit. The idea of dressing up a coat hadn’t really occurred to me (possibly just because I live in AZ which doesn’t have a real winter) until I saw this post from Elsie at A Beautiful Mess.

Want to know what went through my head when I read this prompt?

THIS IS MINE!!! MIIINE!!! (Insert evil laugh here)

And why, you ask? Because right behind ‘purse addiction’ on the list of reasons why my friends and family will one day send me to rehab is ‘coat fetish.’ I kid. You. Not.

Clearly my issue was going to be narrowing it down. Then I had a moment of blind panic when I realized that I had already worn my two favorite coats. OH. MY. G*D. 

P.S. I refuse to apologize for the fact that clothes, my closets and getting dressed make me so emotional – it’s just who I am. 🙂

The next step was to find some direction and then pick which coat would become the foundation of my look. Similar to the great post that Kayla found on A Beautiful Mess, I found a fab Do It Yourself style post that included one of my favorite things in the world – PEARLS. The Beaded Collar Blouse post that Moda, Moda published was a simple-to-follow How To on spicing up a standard blouse with extras like studs, beads or pearls.

Perfect! And while I’m determined to try this out on one of my blouses in the very near future, I didn’t want to do anything quite this drastic to my chosen coat yet so I used this as inspiration and went a slightly different route…

Rather than glue individual pearls to my coat lapels, I deconstructed a couple of costume jewelry pearl necklaces and sewed the strands on either side, under the adorable Peter Pan collar of my cropped coat. As a finishing touch I pinned some cute vintage heart charms to one of the strands of pearls, to give it a retro-feel.

Stay tuned for the final Challenge post next week!


Looks of the Week

Welcome back to Moi Contre La Vie for a handful of beautiful shots from the last week. From celebrities to bloggers to editorials, these are some of my favorite photographs from the last week.

Enjoy!

 

I love love love the art of mixing high and low and what better than a well-loved sweatshirt paired with a cute sequined miniskirt? Such a great look!

Miranda Kerr looking supermodel chic in leather pants and a simple white button down in NYC.

Emmy Rossum looked great in multi-colored tweed Carolina Herrera on Live With Kelly. I like that its ladylike but still fun and has a youthful feeling.

 

Swedish blogger Kayture is Spring-ready in a belted daffodil-colored lace dress and boyfriend blazer. I especially like the two toned shoes & similarly colored bag. Too cute.

 

These striped trousers are great and could probably make an outfit all on their own, but Flavia from Lookbook.nu wisely paired them with a fitted blazer, stacked bracelets and a ridiculously cute skull embossed clutch.

 

Zara's not just for the ladies, believe me! Alexander's stunning gray blazer is from Zara but what I'm really pining for is his bag. Tres chic!

 

Kate Beckinsale brought her A-game to the Underworld: Awakening premiere in Madrid. The scarlet Michael Kors dress was a striking color and flattering silhouette. Different shoes would have been even better though I think...

 
 

Streetstyle photographer Jane Keltner de Valle stands out in the crowd in this seriously cute blue shift dress with white Peter Pan collar.

And who is Jane's photographer mentor? The stylish and gorgeous Hanneli Mustaparta of course. Jealous much? Ya - Me too.

See their story in the very cute Teen Vogue article here.
 

Not sure how to pair your two-toned blouse? You can't go wrong with jeans. Her accessories are absolutely amazing, I want that necklace!

I DIE!

 
 
Back later today with Spring 2012 Couture Streetstyle and Front Row Fashion. Didn’t get a chance to check out the runway shows? You can see my reviews here or you can get a preview of the AMAZING streetstyle from Tommy Ton here.