Yeah you might need a pair of shades at all times, around this summer’s coolest dresses, but sometimes it’s all worth it. For fashion sake you know. It’s like the ’80′s all over again – kitsch, brightness, chaotic wild mix of colors and prints,  and the infamous NEON. Impossible to miss, it’s right there next to you on some dress in the bus, walking past you on those gorgeous shoes, of fiddling next to you on that must-have-it-bag. 2013 Summer may be all black & white meets the ’60′s but it still leaves enough room for fun funky styles. Ah… the NEON trend is just one of those styles that’s so daring and challenging if you only had the guts to try it. Gotta say… though I simply adore it on others, I have yet to try it myself. 2013 Neon Trend takes you right out of anonymity, so forget getting lost in the crowd with this one, as it makes you stand out in the most fashionable funky way possible. And I think the key to pulling off a neon look is confidence & loads of fun. Never take yourself too seriously, and don whatever neon shade you love, with a fab smile. Shades of fuchsia, green, yellows, limes, pinks, blues, or a mix of all the above are invading us on dresses, blazers, trousers, tops aaaand accessories (shoes, bracelets, bags), which actually makes it a lot easier for those of us who are a little late on trying on this trend. If jumping on the neon dress wagon is way too much for now, go for a pair of bright yellow, lime or pink classic pumps, or a gorgeous bag. Still shy? Bracelets!!! I adore those ones with a bit of neon pop of color in them. And d’you know what? A splash of brightness might hurt the eyes a bit, but it sure makes an outfit so much more trendy and fun. Anyway you know how I’m always up for a new fashion challenge, and go on about fucking all fashion rules, pushing boundaries and doing your own thing? Well… no exception here. Today we talk NEON Dresses for 2013 summer and why you need to step out of your comfort zone to rock these babies! Or if neon is already your thing, go on and tell us all about it! 

Samara fuchsia Forever Unique dress

Viper blue Forever Unique dress

NEON Dresses are a must have this summer: flirty, architectural, form fitting, maxi, day time, evening, beach dresses. The styles and designs are a dime a dozen, and the colors are absolutely stunning. There’s just something so tropical & luxurious in a very seaside Mediterranean sort of way about donning a Neon dress that I find it irresistible. Those with bold fashion personalities can even mix and play with more neon shades on the same dress, or just accessorize it with a neon belt, shoes or bag. All is permitted this summer and the only rule is having fun splurging on brightness. Best part about neon dresses is that they’re effortless, so mustn’t fuss a lot about the rest of your outfit when rocking one, just because it’s enough of a statement. Neon Dresses Styles

One of my favorite styles are the maxi dresses and the form fitting ones, in wild prints and knee length. As shades I love everything from yellows to greens (lime shades) and I adore the contrast neon makes with a brown skin tone. It’s absolutely fantastic. Forever Unique has got some great styles in case you want to browse or shop for the neon dresses look. Cocktail, party, edgy meets simplicity sort of way styles will have you sigh. And the neon printed mini dress… that one is to die for.

Forever Unique dress

Ginny lime Forever Unique dress

Neon implies strong colors but there’s also an array of shades a bit toned down for those of us who find neaon too much out of our comfort zone. So let’s have a look at all NEON shades dresses and styles and let ourselves get inspired.

Neon Dresses  - Yellow/Lime Neon Dresses – Pinks/Fuchsia Neon Dresses – Prints/Mix Ah… enough already! My eyes are hurting, but aside from this,  NEON dresses are most definitely a statement of 2013 summer and so easy to pull of in the hot season when everything is about holiday, tropical getaways and fun in the sun. So what do you think, are you taking on this NEON dresses challenge?

Get the look here: Forever Unique 

Ye’ah. Apparently the odd 60′s trend is making quite a splash in the pretty little world of all the la creme de la creme of fashion. Quite a paradox isn’t it? Ditching their expensive furs, silks and whatever rich attire for one of the cheapest most pretentious material, just comes to show you how screwed up we all are when it comes to fashion. What if wearing a 16th century armor was hot, would we don that? See? Point is… life in plastic is pretty fantastic if you limit to shoes, bags and perhaps the so necessary rain-coat, or umbrella. From designers, to celebs, to street style un-famous fashion icons – everyone is doing plastic. What do you think? Too crazy or bring it on? Truth is… fashion is about having fun so why not enjoy its little style gimmick. Besides the retro trend is back (hence the plastic spotlight d’ohhh) so what the hell.

Let’s have a look at some sets I’ve put together for you on “HOW TO WEAR PLASTIC” and leave you to comment away on what you think about this Plastic Trend… 

I’m quite on board with this plastic trend to be honest, and will do a trend report & street style post on it next week. Just curious what you think so far? xoxo

After what seems to have been too long since I’ve posted, I’m genuinely so happy to be back and share with you the happiest moment of my life so far. It took place over the weekend, and took over my schedule entirely last week, hence my absence – I got married. To the best man ever. My best friend. It was all as I had pictured it. Perfect. Ah… (I can do a post on the whole event, dress, bridesmaids etc, if you’d like). Anyway, today it’s business as usual so let’s dig in the fashion dirt dolls. In 2013 summer nothing will ever beat the T-shirt looks. Laid back & extremely versatile these staples can dress you up or down, making it all super chic & sophisticated. The key to a T-shirt look is balance and remembering that it’s all bout clashing styles. A T shirt is a sports attire, too laid back, simple & quite androgynous, so wearing it with the opposite attires usually translates in uber trendy styles that scream sophistication. So with this T shirt invasion that’s upon us, what do we pick? Errr… apparently the latest fad in town is looking like those billionaire laid back ballers. Or their girlfriends who just woke up in their basketball t-shirts. The Varsity Shirt or the Basketball T-shirt look is one trend that’s getting more and more followers. So is there a way around this men inspired style? Can we look feminine and posh in an oversized boyfriend’s sports T-shirt? That we’re obsessed with stealing our men’s clothes and tying them into our own styles (they do look so much better) is of no news. I mean don’t get me started on the BF jeans, blazers, shirts or loafers. Ah well… who can blame us if we make it rock. So now we’ve got the Varsity T-shirts to obsess about. It’s sort of a stretch of the fall/winter trend of the Varsity Jacket. Following the same rules this trend is a niche look of the Sports Luxe obsession, so in order to nail it you have to keep in mind a few tips:

• balance the look with lots of fun bling jewelry (golden rings, bangles and earrings look amazing clashed against the basketball shirt)
• wear sexy shoes, hot heels to elongate legs and turn you into a urban chic sophisticated gal
• don a baseball cap for some hipster vibe, but keep the rest as girly as you can
• paint your nails or wear bold lips for an extra feminine touch, and don a Varsity mini dress with hot heels for a night out. It’s loose, laid back yet uber trendy. Think Rihanna or Miley Cyrus.

OK, so donning the baller look is fine for going out, laid back styles, but what about work? Can we do the baller look at the office? Really? Yes. The key this time is keeping it simple jewelry wise. So a statement necklace or statement earrings are enough. Th t-shirt has to be rather understated itself, tucked in a pencil skirt or tapered trousers and paired with a business style blazer. Classic pumps, bag, and a hint of lipstick for a touch of femininity and off you go. It’s very sophisticated without the slightest effort. Think front row editors at Fashion Week. Then of course it’s the all sporty look: varsity shirt & cutoffs, tennis shoes. But even so you can keep your girly persona intact by adding a bit of bling or lipstick.  Aaaand one of my favorite looks is the Varsity t-shirt/dress Style. I love it. It’s so style-confusing and edgy in a very funky way that I find it irresistible. It probably won’t make it past this summer, but who gives a crap, it’s hot while it lasts. You can wear it with those single strap sandals I was telling you about last week, or even sneakers for a more relaxed style. My tip on this one is to pile on jewelry, wear bold lips, cool shades and a posh bag. I swear, 2013 summer belongs to the T-shirts and I really do feel as if we’ve just barely scratched the surface on the t-shirts looks for this season. With the risk of being redundant I might just keep on covering the T-shirts trend this week… but until next post, let’s debate on this one: YES or NO to the basketball shirt trend?

Well, maybe not. But with the structured trend making baby steps into our quiet little fashion lives (I suspect it’ll be huge by fall, so buckle up), 2 things pop into my mind, the 1st being its inherent architectural trait (a bit stretched out to assume we’ve all taken upon this craft), and the 2nd kinda resonating with the mess in my generation’s life, when it’s work hard, party hardER, refuse to grow up, thus having to put up with those dayum-girl-you-need-some-structure-in-your-life-looks. No need to keep on bitching then – we’ve got more than structure in our lives, we’re wearing it, so talk to the hand girlfriend! Designers have been fascinated by straight lines and rigid forms, strong shapes and architectural designs in clothes – so no wonder the structured trend caught on. Especially in haute-couture. Remember all those carpet events when celebrities donned super structured dresses? Yeah… there was a reason for that. The trend that’s upon us. But is it safe to say it’s quite limited to the red carpet and when discussing it we’re basically just discussing Structured Elegance in Evening Dresses? Or did it stretch out to the streets as well? Aaaand most importantly, is it making justice to the body or is it just a fad? All these questions and doubts are not meant to confuse me/us even more, but I honestly do not know where to stand on this one. While on some evening dresses some structure looks fabulous, on others it’s too much, so it probably must be a case of balance as well. Yet… I’ll give you this: structure looks brilliantly dramatic. It looks high couture, super glamorous in a very inaccessible way. And the best part is, it adds shape and creates volume where nature hasn’t blessed us. Abrupt straight lined peplum is a fantastic trick for hiding big hips, or creating some where there’s less. It accentuates the waist and adds tons of royal femininity. Such an evening dress requires you to play up on all the drama, so don’t be scarce on beads or lace. For extra umpf go for black structured evening dresses, such as the ones from Forever Unique. Highly glamorous yet not too hard to pull off, should the occasion require, the long black peplum dress is one made for the red carpet, so work it girl.

Structured Evening Dress – Forever Unique

Red carpet aside, structured clothes may be less visible on the streets but that could just be a case of the past. The structured little thang that’s about to change the world of architectural clothes and bring them to the daylight – is the mini cocktail/princess daytime dress, such as the one below from Forever Unique.

Structured Dress Forever Unique

Structured Dress Forever Unique

This shape is very flattering on most body types and depending on the fabric it can definitely work for both day and evening. You don’t believe me? Just have a look at these front row faces from Fashion Week or the non-VIP fashionistats gracing the street style pics on blogs. Ah-mazing! Structured clothes may be hard to digest, but once you find your lines and shapes I guess you’re hooked. Truth is there is something very posh and crispy about a structured dress, and depending on your shoes (heels or flats) it can make quite the fashion statement. I love how they look with dramatic jewelry like a statement necklace or earrings. One of the most accessible structure in clothes has got to be the bold sharp shoulders on tops/jackets/blazers. They look super poised, dramatic and give the illusion of a tiny waist. They don’t call this trend Structured Elegance for nothing. It is quite reminiscent of the 40′s and 50′s if we’re looking at the harsh shaped dresses or skirts. But at the same time it’s got a futuristic side to it, new shapes, weird lines that push your imagination and are somewhat of a fashion risque. A combo of the 2 is ideal though! Though I’m not sold completely on structured clothes for daytime… I will however say that these street style pics are giving me second thoughts and Forever Unique’s short structured dress, with those luxurious embroideries is one piece that has me hooked on that shape. All in all it’s a trend, so we’ll probably rock it for fashion’s sake at least once, so let’s get inspired and comment away on the YES or NO behind it. 

Get the look here:

Forever Unique shop | Facebook | Twitter 

As I’m literally melting down right now, this topic seems a little too early… but honestly in a few weeks time we’ll all have to cross over to autumn. So instead of having to wrap our heads around what transition pieces to focus on, in the midst of a rainy-sunny-hot-cold-windy-weather, I thought we could have a little Monday fun and debate on best summer-fall transition staples, how to style them, how to stick to the good-ol’-classic-look, or dare to go edgy. Even Fashion Week predicts fashion 6 months in advance, right? And some online publications and blogs are already making fall-must-have lists, and though I hate being just another voice/face in a crowd of followers… to hell with it on this one. Who are we kidding? We love abundant lists of styles, we adore any fashion related gossip or trend, so let’s get down with dirt dolls and chat about our favorite summer-to-autumn-transitional pieces. From favorite staples to favorite fabrics we’ve all got our little guilty pleasures, go-to-items or favorite brands we just can’t get enough of. What I’m curious though is - do you keep it classic with a twist or do you go for quirky pieces and funky looks? Now you know me, how I always go on about ”do your own thang, be different, have fun, be edgy and all that”, but I was wondering, isn’t too much of something just enough to kill the buzz? And shouldn’t we stick to balance in style, at least for work? Hell no. Only for work actually. Be that as it may, I’m still all for doing your own thing and having fun with clothes, experimenting and enjoying it all, while staying true to yourself. What the fuck, you might wonder? All this philosophy and rambling on a Monday? Seriously? Well… this weekend I came across a brand that might just be my fashion crush for autumn - Pure Collection it’s called – and it’s not all crazy cuts and wacky clothes, au contraire. It’s classy. Super elegant, hence timeless. So my sudden coup de foudre got me thinking: can we look like a million dollar professional woman from 9-5, Mon-Fry, and then,  wearing the same clothes, can we channel say Olivia Palermo or even edgy Rihanna on weekends? Hmm. And if so… how can we pull off 2 completely different looks, while still being ourselves, keeping warm during crispy mornings and cool at noon? Can we transition from summer to autumn in several styles? 

Pure Collection cashmere look

Of course we can, the key is to go for quality, that’s what’s gonna keep you warm/cool, and that’s what’s gonna give your clothes a loooong life ahead. With Pure Collection I rediscovered cashmere! And I’ll be honest with you, I’ve always seen it as that 80′s luxury, high maintenance fabric in dated sweaters and too boring cuts, but man how far off could I have been. For some time now, the posh faces at Fashion Week are going for super luxe fabrics and textures, so cashmere is making quite a comeback. Sure they’re all mixing it up with quirky cuts or designs, but that makes it even more coveted. An expert in cashmere, Pure Collection is packed with classic high quality super affordable pieces that can translate into tons of looks. A classic cashmere sweater may be the right thing for your mom, but it can be so trendy on a 20 year old gal with a soft spot for fashion. Long gone are the days when silky tops or blazers are just for 40 year old professional women. Today, the same women can go for a white plain tee and red lips, or do a corporate look. And it’ll be from that corporate look that a 20 year old girl gets inspired and twists her blazer or too serious-silky top into a fab style on her blog. The same versatile story applies for Pure Collection trousers, they are actually my favorite pieces of the brand: capri style cuts, tuxedo black trousers (that I would absolutely style with a white t shirt) tapered trousers, or wide leg styles that can be both office appropriate or boho-chic on a weekend stroll. Transition Pieces for Summer-To-Autumn

• blazers
• knitwear
• trousers
• silky tops

In indecisive weather it’s all about layers so a blazer still does it. It actually is the piece to have in late summer, early autumn. For a classic style wear your blazer with suit trousers, classic pumps & a blouse underneath, but please keep in mind there are millions of ways to don a blazer and it goes with anything: cutoffs, boots, heels, jeans, capri trousers, shorts, skirts, dresses, classy sassy looks or grunge and rocknroll. And it’s not even about the style of the blazer it’s how you mix it up with your clothes. Relaxed blazers are perfect for a laid back style, colored ones are so funky, classic ones balance quirky looks and the leather & CHANEL boucle jackets are super versatile, so don them with courage regardless of your style. Get the look with Pure Collection here: Ah… my first love ever since I can remember was wearing knitwear/sweaters with heels and mixing the autumn look into a summer outfit. I always thought it was so weird it was irresistible. There’s something so cozy and sweet about a tiny little cashmere top, cardigan or chunky turtle neck knitwear and hot heels, that, it don’t get no better. I love how a slouchy cashmere top looks with ripped jeans and classic pumps. Or a tiny cardigan or sweater with cutoffs and statement earrings… Get the look here: What’s that one piece you can wear anywhere? Ta-daaaa! Trousers: skinny, capri, shorts, boot-cut, wide leg… you can wear them for office, diners out, parties, holidays… just have fun with tops and shoes, and you’ll be transitioning from one look and one season to another in no time. Pure Collection look below: The easiest and most common way to spice up a look when buying clothes is switching TOPS. You can never have too many. You know my silky tops obsession, so I am actually looking forward to late summer/early fall on this one. Ah… can’t wait to wrap myself in silky trendy classy sassy tops, that I can either tuck in classic trousers or pencil skirts or rock them with my BF jeans and hot heels. Messy hair pulled back and a pair of statement earrings are my fave accessories. Pure Collection silky tops: Are you already thinking about your Fall looks, or is it too early? Are you a fan of cashmere? What are your in between-seasons staples? Ah… I’m dying to know, so let’s chat and share dolls.  :)

Get the look here:

Pure Collection Shop | Facebook | Twitter 

One day Miss Fashion had a thought: ‘‘Let’s play a game – How to look like hobos, it’s called.” And so the Wide Leg Trousers Look was born. Now I know most of you will be like what the hell is wrong with her, but in all honesty the hobo look was always the 1st thing to pop in my mind when seeing wide leg trousers. With the passing of time and my fashion maturity reaching a posh level (bitch please) I am now (sort of) reconsidering my impulses and can somewhat spot, beyond the shapeless look, a sophisticated style, super haute couture resembling and very chic I might add. When done right. But how to do it right? Now that is the question. Before proceeding to styling tips and figuring out which look fits who best, let’s get one thing straight: wide leg trousers are a thing of the 70′s, so that may be the reason why it’s not everyone’s cup of tea (gulp). ABBA outfits anyone? Still, as always, there are 2 sides of the story, so while wide leg pants are borderline silly (sorry couldn’t help it) and homeless chic, they can also do some fashion tricks that might just leave you ashamed for flipping the bird on them, in the first place. They elongate legs, make a tiny waist, correct body types and proportions… But the plot thickens and if you think this look is pfff so easy, think again sister! Wide leg trousers may be just that: trousers with wideER legs, but how wide? What fabric? Type of waist? My favorite ones are the chiffon flowy styles in one color. I love the all-white or all-black looks. Cropped top and a clutch to go please. Ah… I think we need a debate on all this WIDE LEG TROUSERS Look… How to nail the WIDE LEG look?

Everyone’s free to go their own way, d’ohh, but I’ve noticed there are 2 looks that make true justice to the wide leg trousers.

• cropped tops & high waisted wide leg trousers
• tucked in tops in high waisted wide leg trousers

In both cases you can wear heels, wedges or even flat shoes if height is not an issue for you. The fitted/structured look of the top is in perfect balance with the wide elongated bottom, so it’s all about your figure architecture, and visuals. For crispy mornings, or for autumn (since it is around the corner) don a blazer or cropped jacket on top. It will look super chic. For a more polished look, wide leg silky trousers look amazing with a silky blouse or shirt. It’s a very posh-office-style. Think rich editor-in-chief going to lunch. If you keep it monochromatic it will add so much drama and sophistication it’s irresistible. Classic pumps and a statement necklace look best with this style. Another plus on the Wide Leg trousers look (my my… I’m getting the face slap with these pluses, and again stand corrected. Ha! that’s what having fashion preconceptions can cause you, so there you go) – is its versatility. From autumn to summer, from morning to evening. Which brings me to a Wide Leg trouser look I can never resist: all-black outfit, silky wide leg trousers, and a black bare back top. For a cocktail party. Golden jewelry and red lips. It don’t get no better. Another look I can work with… is the summer look of the wide leg trousers: printed chiffon fabrics, low or high waist, flat sandals, retro sunglasses. Think chic beach style in Capri, Italy. I know… let’s sigh… Back to reality! BANG! This trousers style is after all 70′s inspired so the Charlie’s Angles look (think office) is kinda cool. Structured, long, suit style wide leg high waisted trousers in solid yet muted colors (browns, greens, purples) that are super fitted on the waist and bum, and then fall straight along the leg, as if they’re made of a super heavy fabric. To channel your inner 70′s DIVA, always go for platforms, and accessories. For a casual style don simple t-shirts tucked in, and for work, or more polished looks go for pussy-bow inspired tops. And then there’s the hobo look. Super wide leg trousers, a bit too short, bulky shoes, and slouchy tops. Add a massive coat or blazer and you’ll definitely be channeling a homeless. Well not really, cause probably all those street style pics of models off duty in these looks, are courtesy of high end brands. And when your work is about looking polished and put together at all times, I guess they just don’t give a fuck how they look in between shows or off duty, so kudos for the attitude. All in all it is a look that keeps coming and going from the spotlight, but if you love it, rock it! xoxo

Transitioning from summer to fall may give us a few fashion headaches but apparently 2 extremes a slight fall transition make. With the street styles swirling around shorts and anything with a long sleeve, with the weather changing its moods like a confused little brat, and our stubbornness to remaining hipster cool whatever should happen – I wonder, is it safe to assume cutoffs (actually any shorts) and long sleeve tops are the latest late summer look? And why not? I always said as long as I have a jacket on, I can rock bare legs in blizzard cold, and I refuse to believe I’m alone in my madness. Truth is, before I moved to London, where let’s be honest, weather wise, you can’t top the indecision, I never got those all-4-seasons-into-one-outfit-looks, and, pardon my ignorance and skepticism I always thought the girls rocking boots and super short shorts with a jacket on were fashion victims suffering of cold or sweating their asses off for the sake of looking hipster. Now, years later… I get it. Unless you live in an all year round same weather country it’s the best style gimmick ever. So I’ll risk being hasty on this one and pass it off as a TREND. Though I do realize it’s been a look girls resort to for temperature-comfort measures & impeccable style, for ages. I’ve been doing this look for the past month like a crazy brat myself and still can’t get enough of. Thank God, once the chill settles in, we’ve got the tights to resort to, so our cutoffs looks can remain intact. But is there a hidden ‘why’ behind it all? I’m sure the Sweaters & Sweatshirt Craze has nothing to do with it. Riiiiight. Or the obsession for cutoffs that’s courtesy of again those 90′s comeback in fashion. The streets basically refused to give these 2 items up for the past year. Top that with designers collections for SS 2013 and what you get is a massive fashion craze for 2-seasons-in-one look. I mean we’ve taken on much more fucked up trends for the sake of fashion (read plastic clothes, bags, mismatched prints, creepers et all) so why not these 2 perfectly OK items that together make any woman look like an off duty model in between shows, and mirror an effortless style that usually takes ages to nail. Do I still need to bring up the versatility trait? I thought so, but for the sake of chatting style tips let’s do this: buckle up and let you’re fashion imagination loose. These 2 extremes can adapt to ANY look and style from posh & polished to grunge and boho chic in an instant. The ‘where’ in all all this is checked as well: for office don knee-length shorts and a blouse or blazer, and for the rest of your time, play up the shorts length. But let’s be honest here… it’s always the shoes that make or break an outfit and take it to work, picnic, beach, or out for drinks.

Having said that let’s do this… Grunge Looks in Long x Short

• cutoffs
• sweatshirts
• sweaters (for a more Nirvana/Kurt Cobain look)
• boots (motorcycle or even cowboy styles can do the trick)
• hat (optional)
• leather jacket
• black loose blazer
• backpack
• wayfarer shades
• flanel Boho Chic Look in Long x Short

• shorts (cutoffs or whatev)
• slouchy sweaters
• nude brown shades
• floral prints
• hats
• 70s style sunnies
• boots
• flat gladiator sandals
• chunky sandals
• tons of jewelry Polished Looks in Long x Short 

• heels (usually strappy sandals or pumps)
• cutoffs/lace shorts/floral shorts
• long sleeve silky blouses
• blazer
• leather jackets
• big boxy bags
• clutches
• aviator/wayfarer sunglasses
• usually golden accessories
• red lips Bloggers/Hipsters Look in Long x Short

• boyfriend cutoffs & more fitted sweatshirts
• boyfriend sweatshirts & fitted cutoffs
• sweatshirts with beads, sequins, statement texts, wild prints
• super glam shoes (heels usually from stilettos to chunky styles)
• baseball caps
• red lips
• funky sunglasses
• basically an eclectic uber cool mix of all the styles you can carry. Attitude and confidence help to pull it all off.

Still not convinced? Or maybe we need some more pics for fashion inspo… So what do you say girls: is this the latest trend or is it a look you’ve been doing for ages?

No shotguns involved. Just pure soldier-combat inspired fashion. This is what’s taking over 2013 autumn street styles, retail chains and magazine spreads, all courtesy of designers like Prabal Gurung, Michael Kors, Christopher Kane or Rebecca Minkoff‘s collections we fell so head over heels with at Fashion Week. As restrictive as a Camo Trend may appear to be, designers have proved us the contrary with an infinite play of colors, patters and cuts, so if green & khaki are not your thing, rest assured because the Military Look can be done in any color as long as the army vibe is in there somewhere. Does this mean the military trend just became more versatile? Or is it just the same old autumn look we’ve been doing for ages? What this post triggered in me (aside from my shopping impulse to buy an army-inspired jacket asap) is the ever present question in my mind, which btw I still cannot shake off: are we, in 2013, at a Trend Loss? Sure, today’s greatest asset rests in us freeing our little fashionista personas, and piling up on all that looks both good and bad, in the most fantastic eclectic way possible. Because all is in, nothing is out, and if you feel like wearing heels with a baseball cap you’ll probably end up being called a hipster rather than a non-savvy fashionista. And that is pretty darn great. But isn’t this the last measure we have to resort to when being bombarded with the same trends for the past 2 decades? In our quest for novelty and armed with the desire to quench the fashion-forward thirst, we do what we can. That Punk is having a huge comeback this cold season is not a secret anymore. We’ve been warned on this with the 90′s Grunge comeback, which by the way is still in, so a dip into the Military Look comes as no surprise. Is there anything different in 2013 Autumn’s Military Trend from its early age sisters, though? And if so, what is it? It seems to be different, yet, with the risk of sounding off right now, I’ll just say it. It’s not. And how could it be, if we’ve been barking at the same door for ages. There’s only so much you can reinvent, right? Or maybe not. What seems new though, and to some unimaginative extent it is, is the mixture of all the Punk-Grunge-again-40s-50s-and-70s fashions. So you can pull off a military look in a 40′s-army-inspired-dress (think green or khaki with buckles and belts), or stick to your 70′s boho style by donning a green combat-print top, or an army jacket over a flirty long dress and boots. If you’re still stuck in the 90′s grunge (gulp) then it’s easy peasy: think Kurt Cobain. Motorcycle boots, vintage looking jeans, oversized sweaters and a military jacket. If you can’t decide between Punk & Grunge mix them: skinny jeans, leggings, heavy looking boots, all-black ensemble and some inspired army attire (coat, jacket, shirt, gloves). Today’s beauty fashion wise rests in the millions of styles we can choose from and mix, with the ever pleasing result of nailing a trendy 2013 look. Which is what you may ask? The extreme or more niche looks from above aside, today’s Military Trend is very much nipped and tucked courtesy of fashion bloggers (style posts). It’s us/you who found the perfect style balance between a girly/feminine and rather polished look & the edginess, underground and beautiful ugliness of a more masculine dirty style. While I love the classic punk and rock looks, I can’t stay away from the challenge of an eclectic punk glam outfit. Feminine dresses made of white lace or ruffles, paired with some sexy classic heeled pumps is probably a style to don for a 1st date or a special dinner. Well not if you add a military jacket, slightly old looking and oversized, because it just looks so much better clashing styles and moods. The ways to wear such a look are infinite by switching shoes: flat ballet pumps, boots, heels, sneakers… so looking like a hipster (if that’s your aim) may be less of a fuss than you might’ve thought. What if you’re slightly passed the age of fashion experimenting, you might ask? First of all, there’s no such thing, and second, if however these styles are not your thing, and you’re a little bit too in love with your classic polished look, good news. You can still do the Military Trend by simply going for posh pieces that are army inspired: tailored trousers in green with a belt, silky tops with gold studs on shoulders or collars, a leather sleeve army printed coat or autumn trench coat (think Burberry). Don’t limit this trend to the grunge look. Instead think of how put together and elegantly immaculate those army generals looked. That’s the preciseness you need to nail and the mood you have to bring to your outfit. And last, but certainly not least, is the importance of accessorizing when doing the Military Trend. I suppose it all comes from the desire to balance the masculine look, so pile away on the wildest blings girls, cause in this case, I think it’s fine to get a little carried away. An army jacket over a black outfit looks so much better with statement earrings, some arm-candy jewelry or a huge statement necklace. What’s your stand on this trend? Are you bored already or do you love it?

Stuck in the Punk-Rock era, are we? Apparently so. And brace yourselves girls cause we’re just getting started. With the Punk Trend being huge this season, we’re actually bound to see tons of reinvented looks and styles reminiscent of that era, which is fantastic cause who doesn’t want an autumn in cool rocknroll boots that look edgy but are comfy? Or maybe we’re just too sick of channeling our glamour puss personas and are hungry for some effortless looks, Tom-boy’ish styles and living it up without the slightest fashion concern. Besides, Fashion Weeks are basically at our fingertips and those off-duty-models’ looks had better rub off on us, right? Remember the post on Summer Boots I did a while ago, in the midst of that summer-in-the-city-sweat we get every year courtesy of seasons’ changing? OK. So maybe we love them a bit too much. Last fall & winter they were pushing through without the slightest shame, and since waiting for the cold season meant us having to ditch them for 3 months, when we were suppose to stick to bare feet – we chose to keep our motorcycle boots on instead. In dead hot summer. And we rocked them. Now, with Fall almost here… let me just say D’Ohhh! of course we’re still keeping the on. What we basically have to keep in mind is that for the next 3 months at least we can fiddle with whatever trends we like as long as we give it that Rocknroll Chic vibe. Just a few days ago I was spilling the beans on the Military Trend, which is not at all a far cry for the Motorcycle Boots Style. Well, actually they tend to go hand in hand if you’re into the all-the-way-head-to-toe-extreme-hard-core-Grunge-Look. If not… but you’re a fan of the edgy but feminine style… read on. It’s possible. The great thing about the heavy looking dusted old grunge boots is that they go with almost anything, and the variety of styles they come in makes it impossible to not find you’re favorite and work them in your everyday looks. The classic Motorcycle Boot is the one without laces, ankle high, black, vintage looking, a bit loose around your ankles with or without the studs or buckles.. These ones you can wear with a long or short skirt or dress, usually chiffon, flirty, nipped with a studded belt at the waist, and topped with a short leather jacket. You can adapt the look for those freezing days, with a parka, a coat, tights, or even a slouchy oversized sweater or sweatshirt. It’s the winter version of the summer boot look. For a complete Rocknroll Chic style don them with leather trousers and shirts, band T-shirts or jumpers and the same array of outwear. To keep the Tom-boy/Feminine balance intact you can resort to accessories of all sorts, to polished bags, red lips or nails… If however you feel the Motorcycle Boot look is a bit too heavy for your 9 to 5 schedule, let me just say, we’ve got the polished boots styles waiting for us. Still a version of the motorcycle shoe, the clean version of these is just that. A more tamed version of the original, can even be patent if you like, just below your ankles, not too heavy looking, perfect for leggings, trousers or a more office-appropriate dress. A blazer will dress up this style. And then there are the lace ups (which we’ll talk about more in another post). They’re the punk version of the motorcycle boot and are tighter around the feet, usually looking better with the whole grunge style (skinny jeans, short flirty dresses and leather jackets). Overall the Motorcycle Boots, however you choose to wear them, make us all look effortlessly chic and sophisticated in a very nonchalant-rock-way, if that’s possible. They remind me of the 90′s videos, of teenage dreams, or young careless girls having fun, of those lazy fashion days when nothing looks good and your old boots are your best friends, always making you look as if you’re a rockstar or  an off-duty model… I know it looks as if we’re all discussing and doing the same things, fashion wise, over and over again, but as long as we look great and feel comfy I see no problem whatsoever. It does all tend to look a bit gloomy this fall with all the black-punk-studs-leather-thing happening, but as I said I think it’s our response to the too polished groomed looks we were doing for too long. We’re the generation that works hard and parties hard, that loves its music festivals, that loves one too many beers every now and then, that needs to let the steam out and act immature, take up no responsibilities, because who really wants to grow up, right? We’ve got our shit together at work, pursing our art-oriented dreams, but when the going gets tough I guess we’d rather have our Motorcycle Boots on than our heels. It’s a phase (trend) so we might as well enjoy it while it lasts.

Hats, caps, beanies. Coolest fashion gimmicks evaaaa! Last winter there was a mass obsession with the beanie. Baseball caps took over for a while and now it’s Fedora‘s time to shine! Ah… hats off to this trend. Figuratively speaking, of course. We wouldn’t want to ruin this head-fashion heaven. Yes ladies, while the more sporty & grunge head-cover pieces (beanies and caps) are still in, The Hats are taking the front seat this fall, with the fedora style as the star, but plenty of room left for the floppy hats, all in any color, texture or print. Now you may be slightly puzzled as to what the hell have hats in common with punk’s ubiquity, cause we may not all be the highest sartorial connoisseurs, but don’t beanies fit fall’s trend better? We know that much. This fun predicament just brings me the incredible joy of again stressing the un-importance of taking trends too literal. I did say however, at some point the 40′s and 50′s inspired designers a lot for 2013-2014 autumn and winter, and these decades do come with the ever classic women’s fashion staples: hats & gloves. So… it’s not that far off after all. It’s a mix. And we love mixes. And style clashing. Sure nothing’s new about the hats, it’s just cool and reassuring to get the ”OK, go for it” pass from fashion’s Gods (not that we needed any). So starting off with this weekend we girls need to make a fashion pledge to keep our hats on this season no matter what. Or, if like me, you’ve never really done this look, or feel kinda silly wearing a hat, say it with me: “This season, I promise to give the Hats Look a try. Not only in front of the mirror. No. I will take my hat out for drinks, for work. And that’s a promise.” Oh, shit. I’m already feeling panic, but we need to step out of our comfort zones! Especially when the Hats Look is so fantastic. I mean it looks great on others, so I should just get over myself and rock it already. Oh, and stop feeling as if I’m donning a huge bird on my head (yeah. I’m crazy, I know, but that’s how I feel).

This weekend is then as good a time as any to do the hats trend. Come rain, come sunshine, I think it’s safe to say a hat will come in handy, especially if we’re having a bad hair-day (read more like weekend). Plus, the hats don’t give a crap about your style, they’re your best friends, they adapt, making you look super sophisticated and chic. So no styling tips here, cause we don’t need them. What we basically need to do is to just throw a hat on this weekend regardless of our outfits. Sunglasses will make the look cooler. A whole lot cooler. Fedora hats have a bohemian artist vibe to them, with plenty of that carefree-don’t-care-how-I-look-but-I-look-great thing going on, and floppy hats are soooo 70′s. Incredibly feminine and sophisticated, retro with that rich spoiled celeb-emulating vibe nailed down to its very core. Enough said, let’s get inspired with some of my favorite street style looks. Enjoy  Have a great weekend my lovelies! xoxo

Why another men post, you might ask. Well… apart from a few requests from my male friends, I thought it’s also a great way for us girls to get fashion inspired for the men in our lives. Maybe we have a visceral urge to play stylists, maybe we just can’t help shopping for our men. Or maybe… just maybe, they ask us for help. And then, we’d want to be prepaired & help them change or perfect their looks, spice up their styles, polish them up. How to do this? Easy. Nothing a little street style inspo can’t fix. With an eye on the Men Trends for Fall 2013 and an eye on our beloved boys I think we got this shit handled. For the sake of argument though, let’s see what the big fuss is all about: What Are Autumn 2013 Trends for Men? Since fashion is, well… fashion, regardless of gender, it’s safe to assume that most of autumn’s trends apply for men too. Here we go then…  

• Punk, Rock, Grunge Styles are huge, so everything black, grey, leather jackets, boots, caps, hats are IN.
• Military Trend is perfect for the lads: green combat jackets or shirts, combat boots, trousers.
• Coats: from short to long styles. Tall men can wear them as long as they want, while shorter men should stick to more fitted, shorter styles.
• Sports jackets/bomber jackets are great for the morning chill.
• Trench coats for those boho-chic lads.
• Sweaters, cardigans, shirts, denim jackets, vests – all are IN.
• Business Styles or smart casual looks for work (they do have to make a quid or 2 and are not all famous rich rockstars, as much as they channel them): blazers, cardigans, suits, ties.

Styling Tips & How to Wear All the Above?

• boots: with rolled up jeans or trousers. TIP. Roll up your trousers regardless of your shoes, it’ll look cooler!
• layers: T-shirt + Denim Shirt + sweater/cardigan + leather jacket + coat… OMG! Layer as much as 100 pieces if you want to, or just stick to the classic T-shirt, shirt and coat or leather jacket. Remember the layering tip in ‘Crazy Stupid Love‘? That’s the one. Do it!
• scarves. They’re not feminine, they’re cool. Don them.
• colored socks
• sporty vests over business blazer & tie
• brown shoes with a grey or black suit
• leather gloves
• bags or backpacks 
• sweaters over shirts. Don’t tuck in.

Enough already! Just have fun and you’ll nail it! Here are some street style pics for inspiration… Enjoy

Coats Looks & Styles Layering jacketsLeather Jackets Smart casual & Business Looks Trench Coats Military Styles & Denim Sporty Chic  Ha, I’m starting to get the hang of this! Next week we’ll talk Men haircuts & hairstyles

I guess Mark Ronson, Queen & Syd Barrett saw the Bike Trend coming long before it became a fashion craze among all fashionistas & bloggers. What they didn’t know though is that not only cool looking blokes or Tom-boy ladies can ride the oldest, healthiest and most environmental friendly means of transportation. Hell no. Lately every high class, rich, once-spoiled socialite or polished manager is seen ditching their BMWs or Mercedes for a ride in the saddle. Now I wonder why? Is it really because a bike can get you to your destination so much faster while enjoying a great weather and workout, or is it because those posh ladies are so enamored with fashion trends, they just had to literally embark on the Cycle Chic one as well? The days of those hideous biking outfits are dead, what we now have is an array of Bike Styles and Bike Fashions that, we, as people with a penchant for all sartorial things, just can’t ignore. Let alone sit aside. Whoever said you have to change your style to ride a bike, couldn’t have been more further from the truth. Actually you can not only stick to your style, but spice it up. From bikes styles to your own looks it’s a heaven I swear. Makes me want to get a new bike every month, as if I’m buying the latest shoe trend. Is it then safe to assume the Riding Your Bike In Style Trend is the latest street fashion phenomenon? Would anyone start judging if I said I’d want one just to look cool? Cause here’s how it is: you can ride it to work, in weekends going out for lunch or even for dinners or dates. People ride it to make it to job interviews, to get from A to B regardless of the dressing code and circumstance, and most importantly in the same clothes as if they’re driving or taking the tube. Sure heels may be a bit tricky, but just until you get the hang of it. Practice does make perfection. And I think we all agree it’s easier to ride a bike in heels than to walk in heels 2 km, right? What I think we’re most self conscious about is what people are saying, when they see you struggling to pedal in your brand new Louboutins. It wouldn’t be the 1st time a few faces were appalled and shocked upon the birth of a fashion/social new craze, so eff those. Can we ride the bike in style? 

Damn right we can. Sure the easiest way to paddle the saddle is to stick to skinny jeans, or shorts, tennis shoes, ballet flats or motorcycle boots, but what if we don’t want to give up our High Heels persona? Nor our skirts or dresses. The trick is to avoid for starters longer than knees dresses as hey might get tangled in the bike, and avoid pencil skirts (unless they have a slit or a zipper), cause it makes your legs’ movement more difficult. But not impossible. A-line & pleated skirts and dresses, knee length or above are so pfff… easy to pull off in the saddle. It’s all about tucking. Tuck it under your bum and you’ll be fine. Or wear bicycle shorts. Now with winter just around the corner you can wear opaque tights or leggings to avoid flashing in public. Heels? Well… I think they’re just another pair of shoes. After all it’s your legs who do all the work not your feet. So yes. Bottom line is, in my opinion riding a bike does not mean you have to change anything in your outfits. The bag issue may be the biggest, as it would really be a pain in the ass to try and keep it on your shoulder while switching between lanes and giving laser looks to those drivers who almost ran you over. So get a goddamn basket. Put all your bags, books, groceries in there and you’ll be riding careless and free. While looking uber cool.

Here are some street style bike looks to get us inspired… Did I say how amazing bikes alone look? Or how you can paint and style yours into your best accessory? I’m hooked on this trend. I’ll have this bike please  Have a greet weekend lovelies, riding your bikes in style!  ;) xoxo

When Pucci showed their 2013/2014 Fall Winter collection, packed with hot heeled thigh high boots I was head over heels (and thigh) with this boot trend. But I can’t help and wonder if, ladies can we pull off the thigh high look on a daily basis? And if so, is there a limit (besides the over-the-knee) to this sometimes-too-sexy borderline BDSM look? First thing’s first though, when it comes to 2013 Boots Trend the high boots are getting a whole lot of attention (next to the motorcycle, cut-out boots, kitten heels, chunky heels, wedges, ankle boots, printed boots etc.), yet this sexed up look is not at all a new thing in our little fashion world. It’s been done before, almost every season, and it keeps coming back as if to just feed our sexy shoes obsession and keep us channeling our inner hotness.

What is different though about the 2013 Thigh High Boots? I’d say the edginess and versatility, cause if in the early 2000′s this style had a somewhat porn vibe to it, today, these boots come in chunky high or average heels, flat, slouchy, fitted, colored, printed, tube styles, knee high or super high thigh. And of course the everclassic stiletto heel. So all is in, right? Then how come they look much more wearable, cool & not at all too much? Cause with the black, grunge, punk or leather trends invading us this season, I didn’t think we’d manage to pull it off so brilliantly. But we did. When wearing thigh high boots, the key to getting it right is in the outfit and the overall style, rather than in the boot’s design itself. How to wear Thigh High Boots this fall?

Balance and mix. They look better with dresses, skirts and shorts, with or without tights or over the knee socks (they give you a grunge or boho chic vibe), especially if the length of your bottoms is just a few inches above the boot or even covers it a little bit, giving the impression as if you’re wearing endless suede or leather trousers. For example a longer skirt or dress, with a side or middle slit looks fabulous over a pair of fitted black leather thigh high boots. In other words, it’s about covering up and leaving a lot to the imagination. For a more girly look, cutoffs, leather shorts, flirty dresses, sweater dresses and an oversized coat or jacket do the trick. For a laid back style opt for flat boots, wedges or even chunky heels with a rather slouchier or tube style design. Basically it’s about keeping your outfit as toned down in terms of hotness as possible, keep it masculine, preppy, slouchy, oversized, grunge or even sporty chic, avoiding super fitted, body hugging clothes that are seriously so late 90′s. In terms of trousers… see what best works for you, though I think skinny jeans and a long & large top best go with thigh high boots. It’s a more accessible look, easy to do, pull off, but already too common. Have fun with accessories and cool jumpers A thigh high boot look that will never fail is the all black style: black tights, black dress/skirt/shorts, a black chiffon shirt or sweater/jumper, T-shirt and a black coat/jacket/blazer. But let’s face it girls, whatever happens, one of our great loves will remain the stiletto. So can we do it with a thigh high boot? I say it’s all in the attitude. And clashing styles. An oversized parka may be best to wear with boyfriend shoes, but it looks beyond amazing with stiletto thigh high boots. An oversized sweater dress does the trick too, so do boyfriend shorts. Think masculine meets feminine and you’re safe. Or… go all the way, it’s all in the right attitude after all. And now let’s get inspired… So, are you a fan of thigh high or not?

Beige, black, fitted, loose, crumpled or not, over time the Trench Coat has been all the above and so much more, while remaining a staple. With autumn settling in and the weather turning to its inconsistencies: warm, cold, windy, cloudy, rainy and sunshine (sometimes all in one day), we’re left in a tiny fashion predicament: What To Wear? And look good? The Trench Coat. D’ohh. Literally the best fashion invention and mixture of trendy & comfy – the gabardine Audrey Hepburn’ish piece will forever be our go-to transition coat. And the best part about it is that, while designers such as Burberry have given us reinvention after reinvention, you don’t need to go break the bank or do the trench coat statement if you don’t want to. The classic beige, belted, knee-length trench coat is still IN. 

Why we love it? Seriously? Cause it’s probably the most versatile piece and there’s no wrong style rules when it comes to picking one. Well… maybe there are a few, but overall the truth is, the Trench Coat pulls together any style, mixes into any look and goes with any outfit. Take ballet pumps – a classic nude or even black knee length trench coat will have you looking like Audrey Hepburn, or those French chic girls in post cards. Boots? Ankle styles for a more urban vibe, high boots for ultra sophistication, motorcycle for grunge approach. Heels? Now you’re talking girlfriend! I mean no look will ever top a classic beige trench coat, knee length, buttoned up (or not), somewhat fitted with classic pumps. I’ve always thought of this look as the ultimate sexy and polished style. So all is simple and forever in with the trench coat, but there are so many styles these days, that if we should want to get one, we are faced with the much loved and hated question: What Style Trench Coat Should I Buy? If you’ve already got a classic one, then just go for a more statement piece: leather, lace, colored, shorter, flared, printed. If, however you’re buying your 1st Trench Coat I think a classic style in beige or black is definitely the answer. What Is The Trench Coat Trend For 2013? Aside from the crazy funky amazingly looking Burberry trench coats in strong holographic shiny colors, super fitted, knee length, waist belted, leather sleeves, 2 tones, or the leather or lace styles, one trend that’s making a huge comeback, I think is the 80′s style trench coat. I know, not the best fashion decade, nor the most flattering trench ever, right? Still I’m seeing more and more fashionistats going for the relaxed crumpled trenches in camel, beige, nude et all, super long (think knee or over-the-knee-lengths), rolled up sleeves, as if we’re all channeling Melanie Griffith in some 80′s journalist/CEO/detective film story. Or a hobo. I’ve been a bit wtf? at first, but you know what? It’s a actually a very refreshing comeback of  the 80′s style. It may look less chic and more bohemian, less sexy and more je m’en fiche – but that’s the beauty of it. Not to mention how amazing it looks with high heels and jeans. Have a look… So, how about those Statement Trench Coats? Recap: I need a black trench coat, a beige one, a fitted one, an 80s style one, and then, can I get the shiny Burberry one please? Thank you. Length wise, they say the best hem is the one around the knees, because the shorter one tends to shorten you. Double breasted styles tend to widen, patterns or crazy textures to create more volume. What do you think? Longer or shorter? Leather Sleeves Trench Coats? They are huge this season, and perfectly mix the rough or grunge obsession with the classic styles. Ha! And just when I thought this Trench Coat thing was a no-brainer. So many ‘versus’… Think I’m gonna settle for a classic black one. And a beige one. Oh, here we go again.

Well, I don’t know about that, but with the band T-shirts Trend being so HUGE, we sure come across as obsessed fans. OK, so we established the non-per se factor of the groupie urban definition, but why do we persist in this misleading direction? For sartorial purposes. D’ohhh. The music band T-shirts Trend was massive in the 90′s (OMG, this 90s comeback is starting to sound redundant), and with the decade’s fashion revival still hot, no wonder we’re channeling those Seattle grunge fans with a penchant for Nirvana rather than style. So this trend was born a while ago, but why is it crawling back in our polished little closets? Fashion Obsession!

How can we say NO to an Iron Maiden or Ramones tee when it looks so cool against tons of feminine statement blings, high heels and pencil skirts or skinny trousers? It’s sophistication to the core baby. Sure we can do the band T-shirt Trend as it once was: ripped jeans, cutoffs, motorcycle boots, flannel shirts over or tied at the waist, round frame sunnies, middle part long hair, BUT 2013 comes with a break of fashion boundaries. Posh pencil skirts (leather’s on my mind), classic heeled pumps, band T-shirt tucked in, rolled up sleeves, colored big necklaces or statement earrings, funky big bag or clutch, a blazer, leather/bomber jacket or coat hanging off the shoulders – and it’s the ultimate style. What’s up with this post? tees & autumn. Hello! Before you dis it, think about the tones of summer things we wear way into winter. Riiiiiight. T-shirts are just that. Best item to layer over in autumn, so we’re likely to stick to this summer trend quite a lot in this cold season. Oh… and I forgot to write about it summer.

Summer. Autumn. Winter. Pffff. What’s a season when we talk fashion? Especially when we’ve got the layering waiting for us. So yeah I’ll keep wearing T-shirts underneath an office black blazer or mom-cardigan, and I’ll make it band tee goddammit. Throw in some bling and red lips and it don’t get more luxe grunge/rockenroll than this. Who’s T-shirted? (read immortalized on your trendy top) You’d think after over 15 years we’d come up with new band ideas for display, but classics are still in and the biggest bands trends tees remain those who actually started this trend in the 1st place back in the day: Iron Maiden, Guns’n Roses, Nirvana, Ramones, Pink Floyd… and so on. Oh NO!!!! No Justin Bieber?!!! Just kidding.

Enough talk. Let’s just see how it’s done & how it looks. Street Style Inspo from sporty luxe, to glam, to grunge, to anything you want. The sky’s the limit. Have a great weekend girls xoxo

What happens when you take two massive trends like Leather & Black and you mix them? You end up, again, on the grunge road, with infinite trends awaiting to be nailed. So don’t be surprised if 2013 – 2014 autumn & winter will give us leather everything in the most adored non color of all times. Black. The leather jackets we’ve done. Still can’t get enough of. Same goes for leather trousers. Which leaves leather tops (a future post) and… LEATHER SKIRTS. They’ve been having their moment for a while now, with bloggers and fashionistats wearing them like crazy in summer, but the trend is spreading on to the cold season big time. And the best part about it is that ALL leather skirts are in: skater, pencil, mini, A-line, in all colors. Today, though, we’ll be discussing the BLACK MINI FITTED LEATHER SKIRT.

For 2013 Fall, the leather skirt is the staple to have, if not for its inherent trend feature, then for its style versatility: from grunge, to glam, to girly, to preppy, to smart, to sporty luxe or rock glam, this black little thang can transform itself like crazy. Buying one, will probably pay off big time as you can wear it from work to weekends with just a few fashion tricks up your sleeve. Really? Is styling a black mini leather skirt so easy? And are there no ”Don’ts’‘ to this trend? The biggest DON’T when it comes to leather skirts is those super short, painted-on latex styles, that’ll have us looking cheap & desperate. Also avoid pairing them with a same-texture tiny leather jacket and thigh high heeled black leather boots. We would’t want to come across like we’re channeling some street corner prostitute.  BUT… yes, there is a ‘but’ even here, donning an all leather look (read skirt & jacket) can still be achieved and look uber cool, with an extra care to details: masculine shoes, big bag, toned down makeup, natural hair. (this girl, for example, is doing the all-leather-thigh-high-boots Look and pulls it off amazingly! It’s about her looking effortless, girly and confident with natural hair and minimal makeup.) Balance The best leather skirt look for autumn remains the glam grunge meets sophisticated woman look. How to do it? 

• knitted jumpers
• cable knit oversized sweaters
• tucked in for more waist definition
• covering the skirt for a more grunge or boho chic style
• ankle boots (all styles work)
• oxford shoes
• sneakers
• wedges
• blazers look amazing for office styles
• trench-coats, parkas or coats are super chic
• tights for cold days
• T-shirts for a grunge style
• cardigans for a more cosy vibe

But can we wear leather skirts to work? How? The key is balance and making it all look feminine and chic. Think editors at fashion week.

• silty tops
• T-shirts
• shirts
• blouses
• all topped with crispy blazers or those CHANEL little jackets
• ankle boots
• classic pumps (avoid those stripper platform heels. too much!)

Probably the best look for autumn, and a definite getting-it-right would be sticking to a simple cable knit sweater or going all black. As long as you’re wearing one of the boots styles that are huge this season (ankle, tick heeled, flat, cut-out, motorcycle, lace ups, wedges) and keep your outfit simple, allowing the skirt to take all the attention, you’ll look fantastic. If however we want to go more on the glam sophisticated side, it’s all in the bling (statement necklaces & rings) and textures. Mix fabrics: leather, lace, sheer, silk,  cashmere, beads, sequins. Keep one thing in mind though, when going all the way, you need to keep at least one thing toned down: face, hair or shoes. My fave leather skirt look remains the ankle boots, motorcycle boots or wedges with a black T-shirt or jersey style top, statement necklace and a black boyfriend blazer on top. Massive bag and some wayfarers. Everything in matte textures. When buying your leather fitted skirt make sure it has a high waist. Quilted and zipper ones look fabulous. So do the ones with asymmetric cuts or pockets. If this will be your statement piece for the cold season, go wild on its style. You’ll be wearing the crap out of it I promise. (more on the leather skirt here: Bloggersmag)

Key Word for leather skirt looks: BALANCE.

With fashion, one day it’s all black and grungy and then BAM! it does a 180 on you, and just when you got the hang of some crazy thing, you find yourself ditching it for its opposite. The WHITE Trend for 2013 – 2014 Fall/Winter is huge. At least that’s what designers want, and can we blame them? I mean there’s only so much black you can wear (don’t know about that). Let’s not get hasty though and assume that with this white trend comes just pure clean looks. While that may be partially true, wearing white this fall and winter is somehow still part of the whole grungy thing we’re obsessing about. What? How can we wear pretty little white coats and trousers and still look like 90s kids? Details. Details. Bold makeup, disheveled hair, statement jewelry, dark short nails. When models walked the runway last season in head-to-toe white, we all got the same feeling – wow they look so edgy! NOTE: this parallel is just for the sake of reassurance. Apparently wearing white can get you a long way, exploring all styles, from the aforementioned one to the clean cut proneness and purity this non color holds. White in winter though? And in gloomy grey rainy fall? Really? OK. Let’s see why we might love it & hate it. First of all it’s a fashion fact that white confers an ultimate luxury and elegance to a look. If accessorized with posh gold pieces it actually screams rich, as if we’re all channeling some million dollar socialite on her way to a meeting, obscure date or lazying on some vacation resort. An all white look bares something extremely classy and sophisticated, very feminine, fragile yet so bold. Which brings me to my 2nd of all. It takes quite the balls, to say the least, to wear an all white something in the cold season. Give me summer and white any day and I’ll do it (though even that can be hard to pull off if you’ve lived in dark clothes for years. Trust me). Besides, we’ve believed all the style doctrines to NOT do light shades in cold season, and though we can all just screw those, the truth is they’re more stuck with us than we’d like to admit. It all hits you when you practice what you preach: wearing white on a cloudy rainy day. You feel exposed. Stared at with the constant need to give a piece of your mind to every single person giving you the eye:

”I know. I know. To you mortals this is a fashion faux pas. But this autumn it’s NOT. No, really. White is the new black. Hello! Wipe that smirk off your face you fashion ignorant.”

And then… you flip the bird in your mind, as the day just becomes worse. And there you were thinking white will brighten up everyone’s day, when in fact you were left looking like a lost exposed child on dirty streets while waiting for the bus. And wishing the earth would just open up and swallow you. OK, this might be a bit exaggerated, but not completely untrue. Bottom line is you need to have all the confidence you can get to shake this ‘what if’ fear off your mind. All white please!

Why all this inner white torment? Because the truth is an all-white-outfit looks fantastic! Rich, expensive, luxurious with the occasional edge or grunge if you feel like it. So what should we wear then? White coats, white leather jackets, white skinnies or suit trousers, dresses or skirts. White shirts, white T-shirts. Ah… so much white! Go for black shoes. I think they break the monotony and make it all look less as if you’ve fallen in the snow and more sophisticated. Red lips look amazing as they pop against the cleanness. Dark nails give a bit of edge and piling on jewelry gives more drama.  I’ll have just a little white, please! 

Though I love it on others, it’ll take me a while (forever) to do this. If you’re in the same boat as me I think we can still do some white in winter and get away with nailing it. Remember the black & white trend? D’ohhh. How did I not think about this? I’ll just wear ONE white item with an all black ensemble. Easier said than done, cause you see… a white coat is pretty much the same shit. I’ll just console myself with the thought that I’m donning a black-rest. Hmmm… actually a white fake fur coat looks kinda cool & very, very rocknroll. So there you have it. Who knows by next week I might be draped in white. Or not. 

Or… ‘We’re All In The Jungle’. Or… ‘Animal Print Chic.’ Or… ‘The Animal Instinct’. You get it. It’s the ANIMAL PRINT Trend again making a hot mess out of our 2013 – 2014 fall/winter sartorial choices. Whether you like it or not, is not even important (sorry girls), what matters is the daunting question: has animal print fashion ever been out of style? It seems to me as if it’s that one thing some people with a penchant for quirkiness and extravagance in clothes adore to wear, while for some it will always be a no-no. So OK the question after all may be, which lot do your belong to? It is too loud for you or you’re more like bring the animals to the zoo. Errr I mean on the clothes. In prints. No need to alert Peta on this one. And speaking of the zoo, when discussing 2013 animal print trend, it’s a zoo & a jungle alright. From the classic leopard print to snake, cows, crocodiles, lizards, and what not, the wild life rests magnificently on your clothes.

• coats of all sorts (structured, fake fur, short, long, slouchy) come in tons of such prints in any color. Sure a leopard is a yellow/brown/black kinda massive cat, but in coats it can be blue, because printed clothes are the unicorns of wild life.
• tops
• jackets
• trousers
• skirts
• dresses

Too much, but still don’t want to sit aside. Ding! Ding! Accessories!

• animal print shoes (ankle boots and classic pumps are fantastic)
• bags
• clutches
• scarves
• gloves… it’s a heaven. I mean a jungle.

Despite its exoticism and sort of classic feature (given by time if not by the prints per se), not everyone’s as excited as me when it comes to this printed chaos. Out of my lot of friends I’m actually the only one loving and wearing this shit. They all think its dated, borderline matronly and well… something a posh grandma would wear. Really? Well, yeah! If you dress like a grandma. Cause you see when doing animal prints there are 2 ways you can go: super cool & trendy, mixing them up with boots, black, ripped jeans, boyfriend T-shirts. Or you can go all rich glam on it: precious jewelry, posh bags, high heels, red lips. 

However you put it, animal prints will always look their best with an all-black or even all-white outfit. A pop of color in nails, lips or bags, or shoes, will definitely make it more sophisticated. RED looks fabulous! For an uber cool look, don denim, from head to toe and an animal print coat. That urban denim vibe against the matronly classic extravagant print is amazing. Leather is so daring and hot, so mix it up, cause it definitely screams hotness. And don’t even get me started on those summer maxi animal print dresses. Thank God it’s autumn. Did I mention those fake fur animal print coats?  

Aaaand it’s official. The world has gone mad, and I with it. Once upon a time mixing sporty with smart was by far the worst thing a true fashionista could do. Fashion faux-pas doesn’t begin to cover it. Hell, you didn’t even need to be a fashion savvy to not mix your sneakers with your skirts or… your sweatpants with your heels. WTF? Right? Which brings me to today’s post: SWEATPANTS & HEELS. Is this look a trend or more of a fad? How did we get here? I swear we live in a time of style anarchy. All rules are broken, all faux pas are getting the effing, and we’re all doing the opposite of what our moms or fashion books (what?) taught us over the years. And we’re so good at it. But as any movement has it, this too bares some resistance. Take me, as a child/teen/or even early 20s sad face. Had you told me then I’d dig the sweatpants and heels look I would have probably punched you right in your face, for assuming I know so little about fashion. Comes to show how fabulous this world is. Some might call it shallow, with loving one thing today and hating it the next without the slightest remorse. Chillax, it’s just fashion, and at the end of the day, it’s art and a form of expression. Here I go again, rambling, as if to prove to myself how cool this look is. gulp.

Seriously now, if sneakers and sequins go together why wouldn’t sweatpants and heels? It’s the same style clashing I’m preaching about, and I really think it combines the laid back (sans the sweat) look with the poshness of some uber sexy shoes. It’s slouchy, but hot. It’s trendy, but effortless. Yet, all is not so easy and pink in sweatpants & heels universe, cause mastering this look comes with a few styling tips that we’d better obey, otherwise we’ll end up looking like hobos.

• sweatpants’ color must be a classic: grey, black or white with or without side stripes. No prints, no patters. Well OK I guess solid colors might work as well, green, red, blue et all.
• heels must be feminine, stiletto style, never ever do chunky. Stick to one strap sandals, or classic pumps. Ankle boots, wedges, platforms tend to look hideous.
• keep it simple. don’t over do it with jewelry or makeup as it’s all about those gym pants and your heels. It’s enough of a statement.

Who’s to blame for this? Designers? Celebs? (Rihanna). Or some cool hungover chick who could not be bothered about the ‘don’ts’ of fashion and ended up starting a trend much to her own surprise. I have yet to do this look, but I’m more then willing to give it a try, cause I think it looks beyond fantastic. It screams I can’t be bothered but it looks so cool.

Or maybe it’s all a conspiracy started by commuters with 2 outfits in posh bags. Or a sleep-over-mess turned chic. Walk of shame anyone?

A quick glance over any online fashion mag, or retail chain will only confirm the latter. Not once has there been so much diversity in fashion as it is for the past 1 or 2 years. This applies for sweaters as for anything else actually. Sure, some looks make it to the Trend Reports but we mostly witness a case of “I wanna have it all, and I will.” So, if every single item you can think of is in, what’s the outcome? We might just be witnessing the victory of style over price tag and fashion per se.  Just think about it, in terms of SWEATERS styles for 2013 – 2014 autumn/winter I see nothing’s changed from last year’s reports (click here) aside from fashion’s free pass to all the sweaters in history, from your grandma’s to your mom’s, dad’s, boyfriend – girl, you need to steal one from each of them. And buy some brand new styles (cropped, cable knitted). Or just go though your 90′s wardrobe. What’s NEW though in terms of SWEATERS? Their styling and how we’ve got a free pass at donning every single jumper, cable knitted or boyfriend sweater with the plainest or craziest bottoms, for any occasion, any given time of day and night. Hell, in early fall the coolest thing to do is to ditch your jacket for an oversized thick sweater. It looks so boho chic and effortlessly French sophisticated it’s irresistible. Today we wear even the slouchiest and oldest sweaters with posh heels and pencil skirts for office, or adapt them to weekends grungy styles or glam outfits for nights out. Statement necklaces & red lips give these looks extra chicness.

The most daring fashionistas can opt for statement sweaters this fall and winter, with quirky cuts, prints, bold colors and who knows what appliques. They are the resistance piece of any casual or work outfit: suit trousers, skirts, shorts, even over dresses or worn as mini dresses, they look fab with literally any shoes. It’s all about personal style. The cropped looks are still in. So what if temperatures are low, bare midriffs are still cool. Well, perhaps we can cheat on this one, with an underneath silky shirt, blouse or tank top. Layers girls! Still the hottest thing of cold season. Remember when a few years ago everyone was mocking those horrible Christmas cable knitted sweaters with the most idiotic prints? Well joke’s on them, cause today it don’t get better than this. Pushing the envelope big time on this one, we’re actually mixing these with feminine skirts or cutoffs for god knows what latest looks. Classics are still in, which is a relief and no brainer as well. I mean with a free pass for all styles, what did you expect. Cozy jumpers look fab with a crispy shirt underneath and your fave pair of jeans. Slouchy styles in see-through knits, simple or with leather inserts or appliques are a hit this season. More street styles…  Yeah… no need to stress it out more: ALL is IN and it’s a comfort to know comfort is in and we can spice it up, mix it and mismatch it with anything. Who needs a jacket over that top, when we’ve got the coolest sweaters to keep us warm?