Stylesetter Trends to Try Now!

It feels good to be writing this post down. Though I have been occupied lately I can assure you I have not been negligent and with this long overdue post I bring to you my list of the top 5 style trends that are a sure shot way to upgrade your wardrobe for the upcoming season :)

Choose one or embrace all, its all about what suits you best!

  

Bright bags

Embrace the hottest bag trend gracing the shoulders of style connoisseurs! Every colour from the rainbow and beyond these bags have arrived on the scene with a bang! Available in various styles, structures and textures, these bags are a guaranteed way to refresh any outfit and transcend nicely from summer to winter hues.

Animal print

To be frank I am not a fan of this trend but the facts cannot be denied; animal prints are here to make a mark. From clothes to shoes and bags this print implores upon one to embrace the animal within and rock this trend with style.

Small cross body bags

YES we can finally dispose of our big totes and lay them to rest because one of the season’s biggest bag trends is the small cross body bag!  It is a practical, easy, and effortless piece that comes in range of styles to suit the tastes of all!

Coloured pants

This season is about solid colors and for once it is not restricted to the tops!  We all have adopted the trend of wearing black or white tights with our basic shirts but wearing colored tights or pants with a white or black top looks super stylishly chic!

Violet eyeliner

I can imagine most of you cringing at this suggestion but you have to believe it this one piece is the best thing to carry around in your make up bag! From deep plums to bright violets pick a shade that you are most comfortable with and apply to the upper as well as the lower rims of your eyes to create a burst of color and lasting sparkle in your eyes. 

Mint Green Perfection!

Could it get any hotter? I ask myself everyday and yet again the next day reminds me that it can! With the temperatures scorching to unbearable degrees we are all feeling like the life is drained out of us and despite the obvious brightness everything is drab and dull.

It is one such day today and I want to write about something that is fresh and perky and the one color that comes to my mind is: Mint green

Mint green, with its calmness and coolness is a color to live by this season. Incorporate this in any form to your wardrobe essentials and beat the heat with style.

Much to my delight many lawn collections this season had mint green prints.  The color pairs nicely with white and silver and stitched stylishly it is sure to become your favorite outfit of the season.

Other than complete suits this color can be used to add the breezy factor to your outfit in the form of shoes, handbags and other accessories also.

So what are you waiting for? :)

Color Me Beautiful

The heat wave is back with vengeance and it’s not even summer yet, it’s still spring..or it is? Here in Pakistan it’s hard to tell even if you have a spring season.

 A blog post has been long overdue. For the past two months I wanted to vent out my frustration about the countless lawn exhibitions that have been cropping all over Karachi..I see names I have never seen before and the most annoying part is how everyone is thanking the customers for the over whelming response! Is that even possible that every lawn gets sold out immediately???

Wait .. I just realized I am venting again and that is not the plan for this post. This post is about my recent OBSESSION with nail colors! 

Though I always enjoyed painting my nails I used to use very conservative colors like nudes, grays, dull silvers and glossy whites. I used to believe that the brighter tones would make my hands dark and ugly. Now that I look back I can’t believe how wrong I was!

For those out there who think twice before putting on shades like sea green, yellow, orange, purple and blue my advice is GO FOR IT! Nail polish is a fresh way to update your look and rainbow colored nail colors are all the rage this summers.

For those who want to wear yellow nail color make sure your dress is in the shades of greens, browns and beige. For darker skin tones choose a shade that’s brighter, like lemon yellow. For those with fairer hands a deeper yellow is recommended, something like an egg yolk color.

Hot pink looks best with a classic all black or an all white outfit. It is best to avoid busy and bright floral prints. For this color the rule is reversed for darker skin tone go for a deeper shade of pink and for fairer tone go for a brighter pink like fuchsia or rose pink.

Orange is the hottest nail color for this season. It is also a very tricky color to carry. Neon orange shade has been very popular with the celebrities on and off the red carpet. I believe to carry this color the outfit needs to be of a single solid color. It can be grey, black, white, dark blue, beige, and even a dull yellow. Orange has no rule! Try as many shades as possible and go for the one that looks the best!

Blue nail color looks uber glam! I love how dark and deep midnight blue looks good on every skin tone and can be paired with various colored outfits. Other shades to try include a lighter powder blue, another color popular with celebs. However powder blue is best for fairer skin tones. For a darker skin color darker shades like electric blue with a touch of shimmer would look amazing.

Coco Chanel said 'the best color in the world is the one that looks good on you!' so make sure that this season you not only find the perfect outfit and accessories but also the perfect shade of nail color to make your outfit pop =D

Color of 2011 is....Honeysuckle!

'Pink is the color of romance and a friend tells me that the girl with the pink dress at the party is the one who is selected for each dance'

–Alfred Carl Hottes

Each year the color gurus at Pantone pair up with top fashion designers to determine the hot colors of the year. This year, they have announced Honeysuckle as the color that would be most dominantly seen on the runways and collections of major designers.

                      

                                               

Many people shy away from shades of pink because they fear it would come across as girly and immature or worse off it wouldn’t suit their skin tone but I think that couldn't be further from the truth. Talking about Honeysuckle in particular this shade has the depth and tone that would look good on all skin types from fair to olive to browns.                   

                                

                                                                                

           

Shades of Honeysuckle can be used for an entire outfit from head to toe or used in smaller doses as eye catching accessories. For those hesitant about an entire pink outfit I suggest going for the shaded effect like the outfit in the picture below. By mixing it with white and the softer shades of pink the boldness of Honeysuckle is subdued and the end result is trendy and beautiful.

                             

                                                

  

When it comes to accessories a bag or a pair of shoes in this bright hue can instantly lift an outfit. It pairs extremely well with blacks and grey so be sure to explore this possibility out.

                           

                                                             

                        

                               

                   

However accessories arent only limited to bag and shoes. Honeysuckle can easily be incorporated in an outfit through jewellery, watches and even nail color!

                              

   “In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. 

Hence the time has come to paint the world pink ladies! :)

                

Let Your Shoes Do The Talking

 At a Dholki last night I met a pair of purple Ninewest pumps that did all the talking and had me entertained the entire time. I tried and tried to find that shoe online but to no avail. I did however find a very similar looking pair and I have put a picture of that below so you can relate to my excitement.

Long gone are the days when women believed in a practical pair of black shoes that went with everything you owned in your closest. Shoes are now available in every style, color, print and texture and complement the outfit like never before.

What does a pair of shoe mean for lady? The words of the famous designer shoemaker Manolo Blahnik ‘You put high heels on and you change’ answers that question for us. Shoes are undeniably an integral part of your outfit and a reflection of your personality.

Keeping this in mind I did a little research and found that the shoe style that is predominant in your collection represents certain aspects of your personality.  So in this post I would highlight the different styles of shoes and the aspect of your personality they represent 

Ballet Flats

Wearers of these are soft spoken, feminine and comfortable in their skins.  Other character traits include an active personality and some one that can adjust to all circumstances. Fashionable and confident ballet flats represent a combination of trendiness with comfort.

Flip flops

Energetic, youthful, casual and carefree are the dominant personality traits. These people are fun and laidback, and take life as it comes.

Sneakers

Wearer of these is cool headed, relaxed and practical. They represent a sporty personality combined with a spontaneous attitude.

Flats

Flats make you look trendy. It depicts that you are energetic and open minded. They also represent independent decision making ability and the desire to give importance to comfort while being fashionable at the same time. 

Wedges

These people are stylish and trendy.  Because wedge is a style that comes and go, the wearers of these are those that keep up with the trends as they arrive and are fashion conscious.

Stilettos

Those who love wearing Stilettos have a personality of one that likes being center of attraction all the time. It says that you have an outgoing personality. Feminine and sexy these shoes ooze confidence with every step.

 So which shoe represents your personality best? :)

Winter Must Haves

As the cold weather descends on us in chilly waves we are all having a bit of wardrobe crisis everyday trying to decide what is the coolest ( no pun intended) way to keep warm! Normally deep, dark colours and woolly woven items are recommended. However in this post I am here to tell you of ways that you can stand OUT in the sea of all those greys and blacks!

Go Pastel

Pretty pastels like powder blue, peach, pink and lavenders are the perfect cheerful colours that can make you stand out and act as an instant mood lifter!

Go for a Shawl Collared Sweater

These ultra feminine cosy sweaters are a MUST have for this season! The best thing about them is that they are made of this light weight material that adds to the style without the bulk. Wear them in bright blues or baby pinks ..this versatile style is made for everyone!

Belt It Well

The belt trend has been around for awhile and it doesn't look like its going anywhere any time soon! I would recommend you to be careful with your choice of belt keeping your shape in mind. For the skinny, petite girls out there a wider belt would look great and for those roundish figures a thinner, sleeker belt is recommended.

Go Victorian!

The noticeable trend for cloaks and capes came around the Victorian era. It has been in and out since then but this year its back for sure! Call it capes or ponchos..the end result is uber chic.

Multiple layers and multiple chains

No look is complete without proper accessories. As you add on the layers make sure you don't forget to pack some chains around your neck. Be it pearls, stones, simple silver or gold chains add up the layers in all lengths and sizes to completer the look. 

Happy Winters to all :)

Trend Alert- What we can learn from the Karachi Fashion Week

The second PFDC Karachi Fashion Week took place at a local club from 10 to 13 November. The four day event gave opportunity to 24 designers to show case their spring/ Summer 2011 Prêt-à-Porter collections. The designers got together for a charitable initiative ‘Fashion Gives Back’ in which some designers had their clothes sold at 40% discount to gather funds for the flood refugees.

The collection of almost every designer was a wonderful composition of international style trends aligning with the local. Here I have collected a list of the most dominant trends from the fashion week that would be easy to adopt by all the fashionably conscious females out there!

Trend # 1:

Jeweled Necklines

 It was amazing to see how designers brought sparkle and the oomph factor on the ramp by incorporating embellishments like pearls, gold chains, Swarovski Crystals and stones that made the neckline look like gorgeous necklaces!

Trend # 2

Lots of volume!

Just when the speculation had started that the structured shirts are going to make a fast come back we see volume and flow in almost every collection! Use of materials like chiffon, light silks, cottons and georgettes was predominant. Volumes of fabric used gave the clothes a sophisticated yet sensual feel.

Trend # 3

3 Ps- Panels, Pleats and Poise

It is time to delve deep in feminine and fluid cuts. Light weight materials ideal for summer can be used to make elegant paneled shirts in subtle hues. Detailing done with bright and rich tones of fabric can make any outfit stand out. If you want to stand out in your simplicity, use of pleats can create an effortless look.

Trend # 4

Sheer fabric and printed lining

This is something I just noticed in Asifa and Nabeel’s collection but I am seriously hoping this trend which has been predominant in India for quite some time catches on here too! Dark tones with lighter shades of printed lining and vice versa are extremely contemporary and very chic.

Trend # 5

Bring back the Folk”.

 From Kamiar Roknis collection ‘Folkistan’ to Akif Mahmoods  ‘Kolors of Kafiristan’  we saw many designers seek inspiration from Pakistan’s various folk crafts and cultural influences. Local fabrics with traditional checks and stripes in cotton, khaadi and sussi and were embellished in thread work inspired by folk appliqués of regional materials. The overall effect was a perfect blend of rural art with a contemporary twist.

Trend # 6

Grey and Teal are the new Black

We saw many designers play with these colors many of us shy away from! Majority of the people believe the drabness of grey would be a downer; little do they know that this color infused with a punch of silver and white would be anything but dull. For those still not convinced; teal in all shades would be a perfect option. It a fresh color to brighten up your wardrobe!