Pick of the DaY

Spring fever with Australia's FOREVER NEW

While browsing through sites and looking for new brands and eye catching collections (as I often do) I came across the ICE CREAM PARLOUR collection by the Australian brand 'Forever New'. And since spring is just round the corner for South African and Australian fashionistas, there is a refreshing feel to this collection. A long time back I had featured a few sets for spring based on the colors from my favourite ice cream flavors and this particular collection reminds me of the same, with a more soft, almost dream-like feel to the whole range.
All the images taken are from the Forever New site here: www.forevernew.com.au

My favorites by far are the polka dots strapless dress with mustard yellow/ sunny yellow necklace and the crochet/ net powder blue dress. The milky hues and the soft pastels are such a delight and with all the essential must haves of this summer (read: peplums, pleats and vintage inspirations) this collection sure has me drooling all over it. Also to be found are fun color blocked and pastel toned accessories to match the outfits.

I am also loving the colorful belts and the cute little phone cases they have got in the accessories category. Also not to be missed will be the lovely shoes and the precious little charm bracelets, earrings and necklaces.

Okay frankly, I hadn't heard of this brand before and I only new Forever 21, but I am very glad that I found them just in time to squeeze into some ice cream-ed frock while licking a real one in my hand. xx

P.S. saw the brand initially on ifashion website, then googled for it. check it out here: http://www.ifashion.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4648:forever-spring&catid=7&Itemid=116

All pics from http://www.forevernew.com.au/Collections/Ice-Cream-Parlour.aspx?cl1015

I’m in MIAMI bitch

So, I was just browsing through the Internet, something I often do these days in the light of my unemployment… I came across H&M, was just checking their website to look for cheap summer wardrobe essentials and well….new clothes to buy for under 20-30$ that I could frankly afford without feeling guilty. Suddenly I came across the dressing room- it’s an online’ try the outfit to see how it looks on a person’ kind of app, which has a pretty model with many of their current and staple styles, now obviously I had to try it. In the middle of it I realized, how much the current Spring Summer trends resemble the look of one of my favorite actress in a movie. Yup, the present season could well be described as the wardrobe of ‘Jennifer Lopez’ in ‘Monster in Law’.

Remember that movie guys? In which Jane Fonda makes it her personal mission to see that her rich handsome son does not marry the middle class dog walker Jlo. This movie was one of my all time favorite and a big style inspiration for many of my outfits through the years. Jlo’s character was a lively soul with an earthiness to her dressing. She would wear wrap dresses over jeans (LAYERING), A-line skirts with crochet or cut out borders (BOTH BIG TRENDS FOR SS2012), have flowers and all sorts of gypsy hair accessories (FLORAL HEADBANDS), wear big and colorful floral prints (NEED I SAY ANYTHING HERE?), and have this carefree and positive attitude towards life.

Well, check out a few pictures I downloaded off the Internet on the Jlo look from that movie and then look out for my creations on the ‘dressing room’ at the H&M site. It was a lot of fun and I blew off some real steam, letting my wild, gypsy creativity flow thereJ. Almost all the looks are within CAD100, if you add a lot of accessories then they shoot up but still within CAD150. I guess it was a real mood setter, for next time I walk into H&M I know exactly what I will be looking for. The main attractions for me were the floral trousers, color blocking, the harem pants and ….well! Let me take you through the looks one at a time…

The Jlo reminisces...

Now, look what I did at the Online dressing room, my latest most favored time pass ;-)
First, a few picks from the latest collections...

These awesome floral trousers are for CAD39.95 only, something totally within my reach. I can literally see myself wearing these at thousand different occasions in zillion different styles, they scream Marc Jacobs and Christopher Kane to me!!luv luv

DRESS CAD39.95
This is like that little piece of sunshine every girl should own this summer, it's the perfect yellow in pastel hue, something we have seen so much across the runways (remember Derek Lam/ DVF?). It will flatter any body shape and will elongate and slim you down while enhancing the curves (V-neckline, flare, belt)

 Okay this is the cutest little number you could find anywhere for CAD34.95

 THIS FLORAL summer love for CAD39.95 reminds me of the fabulous works of Kundalini Arts, of Christopher Kane and of Prabal Gurung. So much love ...so much summer..such a beauty!

And now, my little doodles online, also I should tell, while putting those looks together, I imagined a young blogger, in her late 20's off for a vacation at Miami. She is carefree, casual and comfortable at all times, loves fashion, vintage inspirations and is totally inspired by the character Jlo plays in Monster in Law...

She is big on layering, hence a dress with a jacket and a shirt underneath, a floral trouser/ legging along- think evening chills at the beach and a blogging event to cover, lots of running around and the layers keep peeling off like an onion through the night, giving her a new look every time.

Or, find her strolling the streets in a comfy dress with a pastel trouser, a scarf,a handy sling bag and eye popping bright footwear. Meet her for coffee in a color blocked look, green skirt with pink shoes and shades of the sea.

She is meeting someone for a night around town in a simple knit dress- striped (do I hear Marc Jacobs? nah...that's still H&M). Suddenly she is interviewing a famous music icon by the beach (where else?) in her shorty shorts (denim), her silver shimmering jacket that glistens with the sun and the sea and her super chic flat sandals.

Casual and ready for the evening in harem pants and bright cardigan or a day by the surfer's bay in a printed flowing maxi dress. A sun dress with a scarf and some flowers in her hair or  a little polka number with a bright green skirt flashing underneath like an over sized petticoat, it's all a game and life's a fun ride for her.

A little crochet number with flowing harem pants, a plaid or Scottish checks trouser with braces or a fun romper to just jump around the sand...



What do you think of my latest H&M fascination? Do you also feel like a whole summer wardrobe can come of it within a $1000 budget without compromising on the fashion or style, or are you a brand name girl who would wear nothing short of a real Marc or Kane outfit. Let me know how you feel about the little Miami vacation I created for my fake online model... love it or hate it?

Pictures: Jlo from the internet- google
                rest from H&M online store

Power Play-Powder Play

Powder Play

SS'12 by stylescribbles featuring a mini skirt

Miss Selfridge dress
$74 - missselfridge.com

Oasis leather mini skirt
$170 - oasis-stores.com

Proenza Schouler short skirt
$475 - kirnazabete.com

Sandro mini skirt
$195 - stylebop.com

Giuseppe Zanotti stiletto high heels
$885 - stylebop.com

KG Kurt Geiger high heels
£140 - johnlewis.com

Chloé zippered tote bag
$2,695 - barneys.com

Proenza Schouler leather tote
£1,340 - net-a-porter.com

Astley Clarke enamel ring
$75 - astleyclarke.com

81 Hours cotton scarve
€29 - styleserver.de

So, just one week left before I fly out, by tomorrow onwards, you all will probably start hearing about the few clothes that I am carrying with me, most I am going to give away. The weather in Toronto is still full of chills so probably will carry most of my woolens but I am still not sure what to do with the loads and loads of shoes I don’t want to part with. Well, as I continue to contemplate my luggage issues, I also on the side am looking at what’s in trend and what in my budget to get me the new wardrobe. Here are a few things I am currently crazy about from SS2012 ‘in trend list’…

One can never go wrong with the one trend hitting every aspect of fashion, from high end to budget buys, shoes to handbags and more, the COLOR BLOCK look. Totally loving the lemony yellow green in the Proenza Shouler handbag, just saw Dakota Fenning sporting one of these on the web the other day. Also, while talking of handbags, remember, the FRONT FLAP look is very much in trend this year, need to have one of those in my wardrobe (at all costs ;-)). Oh! And did you also reminisce about the Christian Laubotin spiked heel, looking at the beautiful number in tan and blue? Love the lime green heels!

Another thing everybody wants in their wardrobe this year is a well structured SKIRT. It can be pleated- knife pleats are BIG this season, or it can be a full flare knee length or maxi. Also variations of pencil and tulip skirts seem to be floating around everywhere. Make it an all over floral printed number for the best look this season (saw some really cool ones at Zara and Abercrombie, you can also check out FCUK and Scotch and Soda for shirts)….

P.S. This is an old post, that was lying in my drafts for over 3 weeks, just thought of publishing it anyway.. The writing isn't complete yet, but will finish it soon. Meanwhile, check out my favorite trends this season and have a lovely weekend fashionistas. Much luv and bliss. xx

Brief review of what's IN TREND:

Pastels
Sea green/ aqua
Front flap bags& totes
Pleats/ pleated skirts
Color blocking
Matched sets- skirt/top, accessories, wallet&carrybag, more...

Spring Summer 2012: WIFW

A late post...
Some more of my fav designers from the India Fashion Week....it's been a while that I wanted to post these pics up but for some reason, this folder just kept sitting on my desktop...So, here it is...my favorite! designer Malini Ramani, Kavita Bhartiya and a name that has deeply impacted me since my college years and the show truly rocked..designer Rajesh Pratap Singh.
First up: Malini Ramani, my fav designer since. I guess, I was in school... yeah! her SS2012 collection was a fun filled show with a lot of Indian crafts and techniques seen in the garments. Block prints, mirror work, fringes, studs, sequins, lehariya and appliqué work embellished the garments. There was a happy summer spirit that ruled the stage.

'Dip dyed jumpsuits, walnut pleated necklace tunic, shaded red fuschia strapless dresses were just some of the highlights of the Kavita Bhartia Show. By the name of Kaleido 'scape', the collection used special tie and dye techniques, inspired by tribal Ikats, vibrant and modern tropical prints.' text via willslifestyle page on facebook.com

 

Rajesh Pratap Singh show focused on the importance/ the rich heritage of handloom and handmade in the country. The garments were a fabulous mix of hand embellished and handmade with wonderful handloom fabrics. The pieces that truly rocked were (many) specially, the red (handloom fabric) menswear blazer, the butterfly print, sequined in bold colors on jackets, the red draped dress and the silver leggings. It was a beautiful show focusing on the Indian heritage and all in all another successful experimentation by the designer. Loved it!

All photos via wills lifestyle on facebook.com.