How to Pick Out Timeless Fashion Pieces: Everyday Spring Wardrobe

By Elma B.

With spring upon us and summer being right around the corner, I wanted to share with you some style tips on how to pick out everyday pieces for these warm seasons. As I have mentioned many times, I have become reluctant to make purchases unless I know I can get a lot of milage out of a fashion item. So, how do you pick out those timeless pieces? Here are a few style tips...

How to Pick Out Timeless Fashion Pieces: Everyday Spring Wardrobe

Firstly, I would suggest steering away from man-made materials (synthetics like nylon, polyester, rayon, etc.), and always picking out natural materials (cotton, silk, knits, etc.) that feel soft and good on your skin. I have found throughout the years that about 100% of the time those itchy man-made pieces I ended-up throwing away after a few short seasons. Hence, check the tags when purchasing an item to make sure the material is quality and will not cause itchiness or irritation to your skin. 

Secondly, if paying a hefty price on a fashion item, I suggest picking out classic pieces. Think of the '60s and of the Old Hollywood style icons like Audrey Hepburn, Lauren Bacall and Grace Kelly when thinking of timeless fashion. Thus, keep the cuts simple and colors toned down. I suggest sticking to whites, light army greens and camel browns for the spring and summer colors. Those colors, you can wear over and over again without bringing too much attention to any one item. My look below was inspired by the everyday earthy colors and the classic '80s (hence, the long blazer).

Lastly, every season feel free to pick out a few trendy pieces to mix and match them with your timeless wardrobe. With that said, word of caution: do not spend too much on those trendy items. Instead, go to a high-street shop (e.g. H&M, Zara or TopShop), where a purchase will not burn a whole in your pocket and you won't feel guilty over that $30 piece that you will throw away after that season. 

There you have it fashionistas, some tips on how to pick out a timeless spring and summer wardrobe. What are your favorite timeless fashion pieces? Leave me a comment, I love hearing from you! (My outfit details: sunglasses from Urban Outfitters, sandals by Jimmy Choo, bag by Bally, and dress-blazer from H&M.) Until next time, xoxo from New York City! 

How to Get the Look: Old Hollywood Glamour

By Elma B.

Recently, I saw Kiss Them for Me (1957) featuring the ever so dashing Cary Grant and the iconic blond bombshell Jayne Mansfield. The film showed breathtaking views of San Francisco  as it was in the late '50s and the impeccable style of Old Hollywood. I would definitely recommend the film for its charm, wit and humor. 

My outfit below was inspired by Old Hollywood, the synched waist, midi skirt, and cat-eye sunglasses, as I am a huge fan of the era and its elegance. What era inspires your everyday style? Leave me a comment below, I love hearing from you! Until next time, xoxo from New York City! (Outfit details: top and skirt from H&M, stilettos from Zara, bow-clutch by Salvatore Ferragamo, and sunglasses from Urban Outfitters.)

Timeless Fashion Looks: Stripes

By Elma B.

As you know by now, I am a big fan of timeless fashion--the style that no matter what the decade, you can sport the look and always seem chic and debonair. One such pattern that has caught my eye are the stripes--from the cultural icons like James Dean in the '50s and Brigitte Bardot in the beaches of the French Riviera in the '60s to 2015, stripes have withstood the test of time. 

There are countless ways to style stripes; my personal favorite is with red or orange but for this look (see below).

I choose to keep the entire ensemble classic, black and white. To add a bit of a '70s flare, I added chunky peep-toe booties by Viktor and Rolf. There you have it fashionistas, a timeless look you can never go wrong with--stripes.  (Outfit details: vest from BCBG Max Azria; striped dress from Zara; bag, Chanel, and peep-toe booties by Viktor and Rolf.)

Maxi Lace Dress

By Amra B.

One of my favorite types of dresses for the spring and summer is the maxi; they are easy to wear and always look flattering. Additionally, a maxi is great for dressing up or down with just a change of accessories; I wear my maxi dress to the beach with a simple flat sandal or flip-flops, and dress it up in the evening with high heel sandals and statement jewelry. 

One fresh alternative to a traditional maxi dress is the lace maxi that I recently purchased on sale while looking for some summer party dresses. I like the idea of a summer dress that reveals (just) the right amount of skin and is comfortable to wear on warm summer days and nights. Also, I like to have versatile pieces that I can take with me to vacation and combine them with existing items in my wardrobe for multiple looks. 

I styled my lace maxi dress with some boho silver accessories and simple strappy black sandals. Instead of a purse, I opted for a small hand clutch that allowed me to store my bare essentials and keep dancing all night long. 

Wish you a wonderful day! 

Outfit: Dress Alice + Olivia, shoes Chloe, clutch Louis Vuitton, necklace Givenchy, bracelet Intermix, rings H&M and vintage 

 

Spring 2015 Fashion Trends

Elma B.

Now that spring has officially arrived, I am more than excited to shed the winter layers and show you my fresh spring looks. In this post, I wanted to share with you some of the latest Spring 2015 fashion trends and provide you with some style tips for this season.

Spring 2015: What's Trending in Fashion

1. Crop tops: Yes, '90s crop tops are still the hype for the Spring/Summer 2015 seasons. I suggest wearing a high waisted bottom when wearing a crop top to make the look less revealing. Below, you can see I opted for a white sheer long skirt to balance out the pieces.

2. '70s hippie. The '70s are stronger than ever this season. You will see the '70s ensembles showcased all over high street shops with any luxury brands. You can see here how I channeled my '70s hippie while recently vacationing on the Caribbean.

3. Minimalism. To reflect the economy, minimalism has completely taken over the fashion world. Authentic/vintage and clean looks are all the hype. Out with anything that looks over the top and stick with the basics. Here are style tips on how to pull off the French chic minimalist look. 

4. White framed sunnies. These are my personal favorites because they complement well a colorful spring wardrobe, and are especially complementary with sun-kissed skin. 

5. White cottons. Recently, I have noticed that my skin does not take well to any synthetic (made made) material. I either break out or my skin becomes irritated and itchy to the polyester. Hence, I would always recommend sticking with natural materials (cotton, linen or silk). Likewise, a timeless classic, with which you can never go wrong, are white cotton pieces for the spring and summer. They are easy to pair and look clean and feel refreshing. 

There you have it fashionistas, these are some of the top Spring 2015 fashion trends and my own style tips for this season. What is your favorite trend this season? Leave me a comment below, I love hearing from you! Until next time, xoxo from New York! (Outfit details: top and skirt from Zara, sandals from Tod's; tiny vintage purse by Giorgio Armani; and white sunnies by Prada.)

Your Style Guide on How to Match Colors for SS15

By Elma B.

Fairly recently, I have been paying attention the color coordinations in various fashion shops like Intermix, Bergdorf Goodman, and Bloomingdales to better understand how to match colors. I noticed that in Intermix (on the Upper East Side in New York City), there was a flow to the colors that were paired together; it was playful, fun and even artistic. Thus, I wanted to share with you how to stylishly match colors this spring and summer.

Your Style Guide on How to Match Colors for SS15:

Firstly, if wearing yellow, an amazing color to match it is navy blue. You can never go wrong with this color match because navy is timeless and yellow is the perfect color for those warm spring and summer days. Take a look below to see how I matched the two. 

Secondly, one of my other favorite spring and summer combinations is pastel pink with camel brown and light army green. I saw this color match in Intermix and instantly fell in love with it. In fact, the store had dedicated two rows to this color combination. 

Lastly, the third top color combination for the spring and summer is red/orange and sailor stripes. This color combination will remain timeless: from Brigitte Bardot in the groovy '60s on the French Riviera to Blair Waldorf on the shores of the Hamptons in the 21st century, we have seen red/orange and sailor stripes withstand the tests of time. 

There you have it fashionistas, some of my style tips on how to mix and match colors this spring and summer seasons. What is your favorite spring and summer style color combination? Leave me a comment, love hearing from you, xoxo! (Wearing: long vest from Zara, navy blue dress from Zara, Louis Vuitton tote, Miu Miu denim sandals, and Urban Outfitter sunglasses.)

Golden Strappy Sandals

By Amra B. 

With the summer around the corner, and spring already here, I have been on the hunt for the perfect flat strappy sandals. I wanted something that is comfortable, practical to carry in the bag and change into while out and about, and classically stylish enough that it can be combined with almost anything in my wardrobe. I found the answer in my new golden Bessie sandals; they are the kind of shoes I don’t want to take off despite the early chilly spring temperatures in New York. 

Golden sandals have been my fresh alternative to the black and brown I always wear; they are super easy to combine with other colors and make my feet sparkle in the sun. Although I have not yet worked on my tan, I love to wear golden color in spring and summer as it stands out really well against darker skin.

I combined my new sandals with a maxi dress and a jean jacket for a casual look while taking a walk around Central Park. Tip* In order to avoid early spring blisters while transitioning from boots to sandals, choose sandals that are made from the highest quality soft materials; they will last longer and keep your feet healthy and happy all spring and summer long. 

Wishing you a great day! 

Outfit: La Paire Golden Bessie sandals, H&M dress and jacket, Bally purse, Intermix and vintage jewelry, Topshop sunglasses

Studded Sandals

Amra B. 

To commemorate the first warm day of this spring, I reached out from my studded sandals I had stored away last fall. Although, the weather was still not nearly as warm as it should have been, I thought that visiting the MET (Metropolitan Art Museum) would be the perfect occasion to wear some pretty footwear. I had missed the feeling of dresses with bare legs, and having the “fancy footwear” made me feel just like one of the characters from Gossip Girl; who could forget the daily school lunches on the steps of MET while deciding who was the ultimate school “queen?”

I combined my sandals with a little black dress and a purple coat. I added a pop of color with a blue purse and stuck with the black basic accessories (Audrey glasses and waist belt.) I walked around the Greek and Roman sculptures section, and when my feet finally gave out, I retired with a coffee in the MET café that overlooks the beautiful Central Park. 

Wishing you loads of wonderful spring weather! 

Outfit: Coat French Connection, Dress H&M, purse Gucci, sandals Balenciaga, sunglasses Dolce & Gabbana

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (the MET)

On the famous MET steps where many of the Gossip Girl scenes were filmed 

View of the 5TH Avenue and Upper East Side