Mixed Fashion Design: inspiration

Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts

Monday, November 22, 2010

And it was all yellow

photos courtesy elleuk.com, hanneli.com, streethearts.com,

waynetippets.com, style.com, glamcanyon.blogspot.com

Looking at the photos above, I realize that I don't have nearly enough yellow in my life. All the shades on the yellow spectrum, whether buttery, lemon-y or mustard-y, are absolutely fantabulous in my book.

Yellow tends to be a colour associated with summer as it best reflects the warmth and cheerful mood of that season. In colder seasons dominated by the darkest, most dreary colours, a bit of yellow is always a surprising yet most welcome addition.

Below are some of my picks of stylish yellow pieces to brighten up a winter wardrobe.

ASOS Textured Cotton Pea Mac

Price: UK£70.00 (US$120.68)

Chunky Knit Snood Scarf
Price: US$7.80

Drawstring Pencil Skirt
Price: US$28.99

Cotton Cable V-Neck Sweater

Price: US$29.00

Etienne Aigner Tuscon Tote
Price: US$63.99

See by Chloé Cropped Cotton-blend Pants
Price: US$81.00

Alfani Sweater

Price: US$29.99

UO Suede Pump

Price: US$49.00

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Get the look: Plus Size Edition

Being a curvy size 18 myself, I can understand the frustration many women over size 12 feel when it comes to finding plus-size outfit ideas that perfectly fits both our style and our bodies.

Runways, magazines and even the majority of blogs are inundated with images of impossibly thin women in the miniest of minis or second-skin trousers, looking effortlessly stylish, and as much as we love what she's wearing, it can be difficult to imagine it on ourselves. I can't tell you how to get her body (I assume you're happy with yours anyway!) but I can help you figure out how to get a plus-size version of her style.

First, you need to know that not every outfit can be successfully translated into plus-size but there quite a few that can and it just takes a bit of careful analysis to figure out which. In order to know if an outfit can work for your body, you need to first understand what your body shape is. Here is a very informative visual guide that can help you figure out exactly what shape you are.

Once you know what your shape is, the next thing you need to do is examine the silhouette of the outfit. Particularly for larger-sized bodies, it's important to have balance when it comes to clothing. If you have wide hips, wearing a spaghetti strap top with a harem trousers is only going to make them look wider. Similarly, if you have a large bust, wearing a frilly high-neck top with pencil skirt will definitely place more emphasis on that area. And while those baggy, shapeless tops definitely cover those mid-section lumps and bumps, they often make us look equally baggy and shapeless.

When analyzing an outfit, ask yourself questions such as:

Which areas are being downplayed and which are being highlighted?
Does it nip in at the waist to create a more balanced, hourglass silhouette?
How does colour/pattern work to attract or detract from certain areas?

Generally, the easiest looks to translate to plus-size are the ones with somewhat basic, layered items with one or two statement pieces thrown in that take it to the next level.

I've selected three street style insiration outfits below and found some very stylish items to help you create the plus-size version of each look.

LOOK 1

photo courtesy cosmopolitan.hr

PLUS SIZE VERSION

Simple Sparkle Stripe Tank

Price: US$7.79

Long Sleeve Lightweight Cardigan
Price: US$59.50

Moroccan Market Scarf
Price: US$24.99

ASOS CURVE Chino Trousers
Price: UK£28.00 (US$48.27)

LOOK 2

photo courtesy refinery29.com

PLUS SIZE VERSION

Black Shrunken Rolled-Sleeve Blazer
Price: US$52.00

Frill Neck Dress
Price: US$58.00

Black Wedge Ankle Boots

Price: UK£35.00 (US$55.55)

LOOK 3

photo courtesy carolinesmode.com/stockholmstreetstyle

PLUS SIZE VERSION

Reversible Gilet

Price: UK£39.50 (US$62.74)

Garden Dance Blouse

Price: US$20.99

Torrid Roxanne Bootcut Denim Jean

Price: US$38.00

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Fashion Inspiration - Business Chic

When it comes to working in fashion, it can been a bit of a challenge sometimes trying to figure out what to wear during the interview stage and even after you've got the job.

If there's a uniform or specific dress code guidelines (for one job, I was required to wear all black everyday), it can be restricting and boring but it certainly makes picking out work wear much less time consuming.

However, if no dress code has been identified, it can be an intimidating task trying to pick out the right look.

I've asked a few fashion insiders what is the key to a great fashion interview outfit and they have all said, "Be yourself and show your personality". It's great advice because the truth is, if you don't feel like yourself, you won't be yourself.

Personality is such an important part of making a good impression in a fashion job but it can be tricky to find the right balance of personality and professionalism.

What you wear can say a whole lot about who you are and what you're about before you even open your mouth so you don't want it to say the wrong thing. If your outfit is dull and frumpy, they may assume that you lack personality, creativity and you're the type to always play it safe. However, depending on the job, if your outfit is too casual or too crazy, it may give the impression that you're a flaky type who isn't really serious about working.

A good way to keep the outfit looking business smart is to include a structured piece of some sort, for example, a sharp blazer or tailored trousers and personality can be shown through interesting prints, colours, accessories and more.

Doing research on the company should give you a good idea of their style aesthetic and you can find a way to incorporate an element that reflects this into your outfits instead of sacrificing your own style.

Below are some fantastic business chic inspirations, both simple and adventurous, that strike the right balance of professional and personal style.

photos courtesy style.com, luckymag.com, waynetippets.com,
facehunter.blogspot.com, vanessajackman.blogspot.com,
stockholmstreetstyle.feber.se, altamiranyc.blogspot.com,
thesartorialist.blogspot.com, nitrolicious.com,

(Please let me know of any sources that I've left out and I will add them asap)

Monday, June 29, 2009

Fashion Inspiration - Michael Jackson

During his lifetime, Michael Jackson was a man of many extraordinary talents. People around the world grew up listening to his music on the radio, and marvelling at his videos on television; now that he has passed, many feel like they have lost a beloved lifelong friend.

For 39 years, his music was there when they celebrated special occasions and helped to comfort them during difficult times. In turn, they witnessed both his accomplishments and his controversies; his strengths and his weaknesses. He was an enigmatic public figure who influenced the world in many ways, especially through his music, dancing and style.

above photo courtesy music.aol.com

Since this is a fashion blog, I think the best way for me to pay tribute to Michael Jackson is to dedicate this post to his style which was just as creative, fearless and iconic as his music and dancing.

above photo courtesy enjoyfrance.com

above photo courtesy mirror.co.uk

It is clear to see that over the years, MJ's unique, unforgettable style has had a big influence on both menswear and womenswear. His clothing choices - particularly during the '80s and '90s - usually included heavy embellishments (sequins, beads, military-inspired decorations), metallic fabrics and hardware, bold prints and colour combinations (black, white and red were preferred colours), dark aviator sunglasses and a snazzy fedora hat.

Though he was only 50 when he died, Michael Jackson managed to achieve an astounding entertainment career and his legacy as the 'King of Pop' will continue to live on in our hearts and minds.

Below are some thrilling yet affordable MJ-inspired clothing and accessories.