Prints

This particular print has been in the running for the most popular print this year giving florals a run for it's money. Personally, i think this one's cooler and edgier!!
It's the Aztec/tribal print which has been all over everything, dresses, pants, jewellry, bags....This one I'm not tired of as yet!!

Pixie Lott, Coachella and California Dreaming

If you’ve ever visited the ASOS shopping site then you are definitely familiar with the UK brand Lipsy… they churn out a steady stream of bang-on-trend apparel to trendy accessories!
After performing at Coachella, singer Pixie Lott’s apparently so smitten by the trend-spotting there that she is collaborating with Lipsy to create two collections for them- Pixie Party and California Dreaming.

California Dreaming inspired by all the different looks spotted at the music festival looks like a collection which is a revival of the 70s….wispy fabrics, vintage lace, florals and playsuits. For the party collection, she is going the Gucci way with bright color blocking.

Her webisode which is pretty interesting, documents her inspiration and bringing the designs to life…



The collection was recently launched at the Swarovski Crystalized Lounge in Oxford Circus.. and the designer was spotted in one of her own!

Matthew Williamson for Macy's Impulse

It was H&M and now it's Macy's who is having a designer do-over....

They've now roped in Matthew Williamson to do a line for Impulse. Williamson's designs are all about jet-setting, glamazon luxury...and this line is no different.
He's ticked off all the check boxes in the 0-11 trend list: Brights, animal print, tribal prints, shoulder detailing...though the first thing that struck me about this ad campaign is how similar the Yellow one-shoulder dress is to the coveted Lanvin for H&M dress.
Seeing how popular and sought after that particular piece was.....guess Macy's took a page out of the H&M design book.

Kim K and Belle Noel

After her stint with Bebe, Kim K decided to go the Nicole Richie way…jewelry. So she teamed up with jewelry designer Pascal Mouwad to create a line of statement jewelry that reflects her personal style and is inspired by the likes of Sophia Loren, Vivian Leigh and Lauren Hutton.

The line, which is called Belle Noel, has a very eastern influence but has some edgy pieces…it’s pretty cool.

Wishlist

Wearing metallic sequined outfits doesn't always have to be over-whelming...you can tone it down with a neutral hued top like J Lo so that it doesn't seem that all the sun’s brightness is emanating from your outfit. Both Bilson and Bosworth know that all it takes to brighten up a seemingly casual outfit….is a pop of color !
I love Lo Bosworth's Balenciaga City bag for it's scrumptious color
Jennifer Lopez's entire ensemble…. including those signature Loubs and Rachel Bilson's jacket and wedges!! ♥♥♥

Mixology

Most of us shy away from straying toward the unconventional, mostly because we like to play it safe or maybe it’s just the notion of “standing out” that doesn’t appeal to us.
So, we take the safe route and when it comes to mixing prints…we just go with the usual plains + prints mix…its staid, solid and a no-brainer.

But prints when harmonized well can be a visual Wow!! rather than visual over-load!

I think the key to mixing prints is to either have a common element that kind of binds the two prints or keep the prints starkly contrasting, the caveat being not to let the prints on the top and bottom fight for attention. Say if you are going to mix stripes and florals… you don’t want a thick nautical striped top/vest battling a deluge of over-sized roses on the skirt!! If you can carry it off .…go for it! But if you are a little cautious and are just testing the waters… here are few more interesting mixes you might want to try, like military and floral, which falls in into the ‘stark contrast’ group.
The juxtaposition of the military ruggedness with feminine florals makes for an interesting mix. The easiest way to wear this look is to pair a military style vest/jacket with floral skirts/shorts or vice-versa. If you want to go one step ahead you can try camouflage with a floral print.

The animal and graphic print duo is a sure shot attention grabber, lending an edgier feel to your look. If you think that this is too heavy for you, tone down the look with mixing a graphic/animal print accessory with the contrasting print.
Now that you have the ‘how-tos’ step out from your comfort zone and mix it up!

Anyone who loves to experiment with style knows that there are no hard and fast rules…it’s about how you style it, carry it and add an element of ‘YOU’ to it!

Ikat

I’m so accustomed to rolling my eyes at the use of Ikat in home décor because I’ve seen so much of it since I was little and it didn’t seem like a fun print! So it comes as no surprise that I never bothered to appreciate the effect or beauty of the print! All that changed until quite recently I spotted a pastel Ikat skirt. Before I knew it, like weeds (the pretty ones) the print started popping its head up on ballerina flats to clutches and of course more stylized bed linen (this time, I like this variety). Even inspiring the likes of Proenza Schouler and March Jacobs!

I always thought that Ikat originated in India, since it’s available in abundance here, but apparently its origins trace back to South-East Asia, especially Indonesia. It’s also been commonly used in South America, Central Asia and loads of other countries. Depending on the country it’s being used in, the weave differs.
I’m now changing my stance on how I feel about Ikat and think the print is perfect for a breezy summery feel!

Trending: Obi Belt

It's amazing how fashion can take a piece from a traditional attire and magic-wand it into a chic and stylish trend.... like the Obi belt.

'Obi' which translates into 'sash' is used in traditional Japanese martial art attire and the more commonly known kimonos. The concept of the 'obi' has been around for centuries and comes in various shapes, sizes and colors, depending on the wearer.

The trendier version or rather the version that's made it's way to fashion stores is not a novel discovery and was actually spotted in abundance at the LV S/S 09 show... the recent DKNY S/S 11 show had the models sporting modified versions of the belt. That being said..haven't spotted it much around here. I think I'm going to get me an Obi belt...a tan one!!