Trend Alert. All Lined Up.

Hello trend-watchers,

Another day - another trend. Today I wanted to share with you what I thought would be an overarching styling detail for Fall 2013. Seen on dresses and shirts before, contrasting collars and plackets are evolving into sharper style lines. For upcoming seasons, designers are turning these emphatic lines into trimming and piping details accentuating pockets, armholes, necklines, hems and seams.

This trend is not reserved for dress shirts solely. Dresses are being styled in a similarly sharp way:

Coincidentally, yours truly just came back from Holt Renfrew where I spotted this dress by Michael Kors:

As you can see, the trend is on and it's high time to make a sharply lined number for yourself. A self-made alternative to this trend can be easily found in a Vogue patterns collection.

V8855

And if you are interested in making a dress with contrasting style lines, you do not even need a special pattern. All you need to do is simply cut a bunch of really long bias strips and apply them over top of any seams or edges you wish to accentuate. Here, you are the designer!

Happy designing!

Image source: http://www.style.com/,
                      http://www.mccall.com/home.html

Outfit Idea #4. Tribal Print.

If you have not yet noticed - you will after this post! - I absolutely fell in love with the concept of light weight over-sized tops. Wide necklines, ruffles, fun prints, enough skin concealed, enough revealed are the features that make it such a versatile item in your wardrobe. More importantly, however, they are so easy to wear and style! 

The inspiration for my new creation came from the fabric which had been patiently waiting for its perfect garment in my stash for about a year. I fell in love with this bright magenta tribal print! It's got layers of different prints on it, which breaks up the pattern and does not let the fabric look boring. Thank you, Digital Age!

Since the print is pretty busy and does most of the performance, I knew the silhouette needed to be rather simple. So my choice fell on the McCall's pattern 5666. 

For a sunny day 

For a summer day of fun I styled the top with crisp white shorts and belt. In the summer, I cannot live without my open-toed, cuffed, cream sandals.

For an urban night

For a city look, I wore this top with my black skinnies. Instead of tucking it in my jeans I left it out and cinched it with the black faux leather belt. This makes the top more expressive and gives you that 'just-in' peplum look. I completed the look with black peep toe 'shooties' and a sleek black purse. A silver cuff and earrings will make you club- or lounge-ready!

One awesome print, one simple silhouette - two awesome looks! 

Happy Styling!

Outfit Idea #3. Floral Blouse.

I would like to share the new creation of mine - the floral top which I made from McCall's Pattern 6437. Luckily, there was no deficit of florals in our wardrobes this past summer. It would seem that such a bold print is hard to mix and match with other pieces in your closet but I believe that having a loose silky floral top  makes your wardrobe so much more versatile. What I love about florals is that you can pick up on any colour of the print from which to build the rest of your outfit. Here is my take on it.

Take it for a walk

My top has a wide neckline and loose bell sleeves gathered at the wrist. I love how it looks chic without constraining. For a casual/day-about-town/dinner-with-girlfriends look I paired the top with beige flared dress pants and nude sandals. I added matching camel coloured belt and purse. As an accessory you can flaunt your turquoise earrings skipping other jewelry as the neckline and the sleeve have enough pretty detail and do not require extra adornment.

Take it to work

Yes, you can wear this bold print to the office. Just combine it with your grey or navy pencil skirt and matching jacket. Such business attire subdues the bright print and keeps it professional yet in the spirit of the summer. Your sleek black purse and matching black sandals complete the polished professional look which still reads  feminine.

Beach it out!

You can even wear your floral top to the beach by combining it with white cut off shorts, jeweled flip-flops and a wide brimmed sun hat (you are right, I cannot get enough of those!). And there! You've got three looks out of one top! 

Thought of the day: Interchangeability is the key to a functional wardrobe!

Happy Mix-and-Matching!