Accessorizing tips for Autumn/Winter 2013/14

Every fashionista knows that accessories have become a huge part of the fashion industry. Fashion trends change from season to season, accessories  trends change as well. There are hot styles in every season of bags, shoes and jewelry. Summer is almost over.   Here are the must have accessories for fall/winter 2013/2014. 

Black and white clutch bag

Opposite colored accessories will be a big trend this upcoming season, especially those in black and white. Clutches are still very popular among bags so why not get a black & white clutch bag! I have recently bought a fringed velvet clutch bag from Suite Blanco.  I use it for the office also.  It is very versatile.  The time when we used clutches only for special occasions and a more elegant look are long gone.  Today we use clutches whenever we want cause there are so much styles and sizes that we can find one for every look 

Accessorize

Accessorize

Zara

Hunt

Velvet Shoes

My sister and I through this blog had  already informed that velvet was one of the favorite material for the designer on the Fall/Winter 2013/2014 fashion weeks. Same goes with accessories, especially shoes. With velvet shoes you can add a feminine, elegant touch to every look. Look for pumps in crimson, emerald green, indigo blue or purple velvet. If you are daring,  go for an animal print velvet shoes.   Another total hit for this fall  bejeweled block heels. Look fabulous on velvet shoes.

Charlotte Russe

Charlotte Russe

Gold Necklace

The golden necklace gets a new dimension this season. Statement making golden necklaces are present in every accessories collection for the upcoming fall. Buy chunky gold necklaces. Go for  one with medieval look embellished with gemstones. Another trend that I observed on the runways statement making necklaces showing words like love, peace and even mommy.

ASOS

ASOS

Thigh High Boots

Thigh high boots are such a hit for the upcoming season that designers even found a way to make a false thigh high boots look to make the trend more wearable. They paired leather leggings with ankle boots.  I would not purchase such boots but my alternative is going for boots that are at least a little above the knees.

DSW

Topshop

Fur Bag

This winter you must have at least one bag accessories made of fur, or a mix of leather and fur.  It is wearable in the morning and in the evenings.

Furla

RiverIsland

RiverIsland

RiverIsland

RiverIsland

Chandelier Earrings

Chandelier earrings were designers’ favorite at the fashion weeks. Balmain and Ralph Lauren used classical chandelier earrings with big crystal elements, while Dolce&Gabbana stayed true to the medieval look and choose earrings with Byzantines crosses. Whatever style you choose or prefer you must have at least one pair of chandelier earrings.  River Island has such accessories.

ASOS

NewLook

RiverIsland

Boy Shoes

Men’s wear is a big trend for women in the upcoming season and  men shoes are another popular choice for fall 2013. Look for a pair of high heeled or flat shoes with laces that have that masculine look, and wear it with more feminine clothes like dresses for example.

Topshop

Zara

Zara

Grey Ankle Boots

It must be the popularity of the novel 50 shades of grey, and  it was noticed also on nearly all over the runways at this year’s fall/winter fashion weeks. As ankle boots are another popular trend in the accessories department. They are trendy and go well with everything.

Topshop

ASOS

H&M

High Fashion Backpack

Well, believe it or not – backpacks have gone high fashion! It seems like every designer has them in their collection. And we use them 24/7. Seriously, backpack is the IT accessory for the upcoming fall/winter 2013 and you should start looking for the perfect one. I got mine from Suite Blanco and I very well recall and reported about it in my Cavalli blog that Roberto Cavalli has them also  in his collection.

Furla

RiverIsland

Finding the Right Perfume

There are two things that I am not willing to spend money on, which are underwear and perfumes. As much as I love perfumes, surprisingly I am very thrifty when coming to buy a bottle. I prefer to get perfume as a gift rather than buying it myself, as it would mean money saved. Buying expensive perfumes does not necessarily ensure one will prefer the scent over that of lower priced fragrances. However some costly perfumes offer exotic ingredients. I am sure that the quality of some expensive perfumes may also be better than that of cheap colognes. Do not get me wrong I love perfumes and I always leave home dosed in scent. It gives me a heady sense of freshness and cleanliness. I love those types of perfumes which smell like freshly washed laundry, with a classy distinctive scent, and last but not least long-lasting. So I always end weighing carefully the decision of whether to spend a lot of money on expensive perfumes

For certain individuals it is worth spending more money for expensive perfumes, if the user is sensitive to certain ingredients. Some of the high-cost fragrances are made with natural or organic oils, making them less likely to cause irritation. Synthetic ingredients found in some cheap fragrances may cause skin rashes or other reactions. For someone who has sensitivity issues, buying expensive perfume may be worth the cost. Luckily I do not have such problems.

It is always wise to weigh the pros and cons of purchasing expensive perfumes. Some experts confirm that wearing expensive fragrances is a waste of money, as the concentrated formula simply does not create the desired effect. Many of the high-priced perfumes are created by mixing fragrant oils together. The fusion of several scents may be overbearing to some. Others believe, however, this helps define the essence of human pheromones. (Pheromones are any chemical signal used to communicate between the members of a species). 

These factors may not be relevant to everyone who prefers expensive perfume. Some people buy expensive perfumes simply for the decorative bottles they come in, or because they are the latest on the market. Buying expensive designer fragrances, or designer clothing and accessories, may be a hobby for some. Some people enjoy collecting expensive perfumes, just as others collect porcelain. For collectors of exotic fragrances, it is worth the price, although once opened or exposed to sunlight the scent fades away.

Coming to my side of the story, my bottle of perfume was at the bottom, (by the way I always buy one at a time I rarely have two bottles of perfumes). Married and very busy with two children, and a budget of 40 euros it was not that I was spoiled for choice. But at the end I did get a Nina Ricci eau de toilette 50 ml bottle. I tell you it is value for money. The scent is flowery but not too heavy and lasts for hours. 

Websites that offer tips on how to select the right fragrance/perfume for you:

• sheknows
• designmom
• collegefashion

Would love to hear also your comments/suggestions about you favorite perfumes and what you mostly love about them.

XOXO 

CA

Scarlett Johansson in Private & Public

First thing in the morning I think I look just like a little boy. It's only the boobs that give me away. My sister says that when I wake up I look exactly the way I did when I was 10. I'm all puffy, clean and morningy until I put a face on. I've worn make-up every day since I was 12. If I don't have mascara on, then that means I really don't expect to be seen and I'm planning a day vegging out on the sofa. I regret only one phase of my make-up life - a period when I always wore the brown "Spice" lip liner and tan lipstick look in the late 90s. Very Drew Barrymore. Or so I thought.

Scarlett Johansson says that she cannot go without a bra, and she just cannot understand why full chested women are comfortable to do just that.  Wearing a bra is so crucial to wear as they give structure under clothes.  She does not sleep in one, and she cannot wait to throw it off at the end of the day. 

She confessed that she had gone through so many stages since high school, from wearing anything that would help her fit in, to giant hide-your-body sweaters, and then the stage where she wore only black. At the age of 14 she thought that by wearing black was all it took to look sophisticated.  I do love black myself, so much so that I wore it often during the week, and at times I am stopped by people and asked if I am in mourning.  My reply would be that it is my love for the colour.  In fact I remember that when I was on vacation in New York no one wore anything else.  Scarlett says that when you are a teenager it lends itself to wear black, as one is so full of uncertainties, despair and anguish.  It was a dull period of her life, as she thanks the Lord that she is out of it, and she does not want to be 14 again. 

She always envisaged what she wanted to look like, but it all changed with age.  Nowadays she is aware of everything she wears to be functional, at times exceedingly feminine, and most often totally androgynous.  When she goes out at night, not to a big event, she goes completely androgynous.  She has always loved Marlene Dietrich, and she grew up admiring David Bowie.  He was a huge style influence on her, besides Lauren Bacall, and Faye Dunaway. 

Scarlet in Lanvin

Scarlett says that unless she is all dressed up she does not think about how she looks, and people don't comment to her on how she  looks any more than the average person. She admits to live such a low-key lifestyle that it would be bizarre to hear "You're beautiful!" constantly. She says that the way you look in film is not always about beauty but it is all about projecting a personality.  In movies there is not as much pressure to be beautiful as there would be if she were in the fashion world. She thinks that it's nice to be told by your husband that you look beautiful, but day to day it's not something she thinks about.

Scarlett with Domenico Dolce & Stefano Gabbana 

Scarlett in Roland Mouret

Regarding her movie career, Scarlett says that costumes are an integral part of getting into character, because you  leave yourself and literally slip into someone else's clothes. Talking about the The Other Boleyn Girl, half of getting into the character was squeezing herself into those restrictive costumes. She could feel every muscle contracting, which really worked for the character. She has a particular way that she  likes to dress, which isn't inspired by the costumes she has worn. She owns that she has been in a lot of period costumes, and though she loves 40s fashions and think those dresses suit her body, they rarely influence her real wardrobe. Her favourite designers are Roland Mouret, Yves Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana, Lanvin and Chloé.

Scarlett in Dolce&Gabbana

Scarlett reveals that she loves crafts. She has always liked to make jewellery, and always had ideas for designs. She does not draw very well, but she enjoyed working with Reebok to create a collection, so much so that she has dwelled on the idea how nice it would be to do a cocktail attire line.  Scarlett says that the Marchesa girls are great to design classic clothes.   It was great when the Marchesa girls started, because that look is all about the classic fashion wear, as some men can't design for a woman's body. There are instances when one sees a dress that makes you ask who on earth is going to wear this as it will only fit a woman who weighs 120lb.

Scarlett in Valentino

Scarlett is considered to be the epitome of glamour.  In fact she is said to the heir of Maryln Monroe.  Scarlett says that she does not have a fixed idea of what glamour is. She says that she has friends who can't help but look really chic in jeans, completely effortless.  It is all about being confident and comfortable.  Scarlett says that she  has a  black velvet 30s cape that always makes her feel glamorous. She wears a lot of vintage because she loves the hunt, and you can really discover your own look in a vintage store. When she was a kid she did wear only vintage, and the smell of the old clothes didn't put her off.  She did not bother what she smelled like when she was just 10 years of age, that would come later.   

Scarlett - Dolce & Gabbana makeup launch @ Selfridges

If you want to have Scarlett Johansson make up looks, Dolce & Gabbana make-up is available exclusively from Selfridges London and maybe at stockists in Malta of Dolce & Gabbana make up.

Jeans Trend for Fall 2013-2014

As everybody knows jeans are very convenient, youthful, dynamic and safe to wear.  By time it has become increasingly popular and also an indispensable clothing item in every woman’s and man’s wardrobe.  Good news for all,  it is as well, one of the favorite dresses in this fall winter. For me jeans wear, combines a mixture of femininity, masculinity, romanticism, brutality, elegance and casual.

The most popular styles in the new jeans collections for autumn winter 2013, are skinny jeans and narrow straight jeans.  Most  designers also offer jeans with cuffs and wide models of jeans.

Mango - different styles of jeans at reasonable prices

Materials such as  latex, smooth, lacquered and reptile skin are the most popular for jeans in this fall winter.  In addition jeans decorated with quilted leather insert are also in fashion. While rubber coating is the trendiest effect in this season, some designers still offer jeans with bleached pattern.

1- Zara 2,3,4 - River Island

Browsing through several collections of women’s jeans autumn winter 2013,  I noticed that black, dark blue and deep indigo are the most popular colours.  Jeans of dark khaki, gray, white, burgundy, beige colors and various shades of metallic are also in fashion.  More so most designers also used stripes and reptile prints in their creations. 

Leopard print jeans from Diesel

Jeans with different prints from Diesel

This coming season jeans are more refined with decorations.  The decorations in jeans are more fashionable, bright and noticeable with appliqués , rivets, lace, embroidery, and gird insert.  Artistic holes in the grunge style are still trendy.

Having said all this, one can easily take stock of his jeans wear, and try to apply rivets, do embroidery, and fix appliqués, that can be purchased from the open market stalls, or any other cheap shop, giving your old jeans a new look and a new life.  You can send us your pictures of these invented old jeans to share with us.

Whereas if you do not want to go through all this, and opt to go and shop, the fashionable jeans to look for are Diesel Black Gold, Miss Sixty, and Killah.  If you have money to booth go for Chanel, Hannah, Versace and Just  Cavalli.

Diesel Black Gold Jeans Collection

 

Our favs @ the MTV VMAs 2013

The one who nailed it this year is definitely Taylor Swift in Herve Leger. Absolutely love her finger curls hairstyle and simple makeup. This girl definitely has class. Nothing extravagant or over the top, just simple, elegant and chic.

Best dressed: Taylor Swift in Herve Leger by Max Azria

Ciara also turned heads at this year's VMAs. She flaunted her body in a glittery white and silver Givenchy gown.  I think the photo speaks for itself: fierce, sexy & beautiful. She definitely has the body to wear such a dress, it suited her perfectly. 

Ciara in Givenchy

Tell us what were your favorite best dressed at this year's VMAs ?