Hello my dears! I'm posting a bit earlier than usual since I have some time to sit down and write. This week, I ventured into uncharted territory (at least for me). Menswear has always been something I admired but never talked about. Truthfully, I don't know much but I would like to try and give my honest review on a collection that I fell in love with: Michael Bastian's Fall 2016 line. Maybe you'll fall in love, too.

If I had to describe the general feel of the collection, I would say that it's quirky but also preppy? It's pleasing to the eye and actually very wearable as far as designer pieces go. I think it's also fun to look at menswear for inspiration! It can be nice to change your perspective from always scrolling through women's clothing to seeing what's hip and happening for the guys. There's one look in particular that I think would be stunning with heels (you'll see what I mean).

All of these looks can be found here: click me!

With that, please enjoy the review (and the handsome models).

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LOOK 3: I love the model's hairstyle. It's sleek but not overly done. The brown of the leather jacket and the blue of the button-up shirt makes it a very warm look. I think the contrast of the jacket and the unbuttoned shirt also gives it a fun, sexy flair. What really surprises me, however, is the grey pants! The cool tones work unexpectedly well with the warm tones.


LOOK 6: This outfit is great. I can see a lot of guys wearing this because it's pretty casual but there are a very elements that pull it all together. The jacket? Perfect. It's simple. There aren't a lot of unnecessary details or bright colors, which means that it will work with whatever you wear underneath. The pants? Awesome. The olive color can be a different neutral to add to the wardrobe and it's more versatile than you think! The boots? Amazing. I'd love to find the women's equivalent.


LOOK 8: I really like the plain black sunglasses. I think it toughens the outfit a bit. The blazer, turtleneck, and bottoms all look very soft and I don't mean just the texture. The whole look is very mild (compared to something hard like leather). This is the outfit I was talking about in the beginning! I think pairing a slouchy turtleneck with a soft blazer and skinny pants would be a really lovely outfit with heels. It's chic but just slightly masculine. Anyway, back to this. I do have mixed feelings about the pockets on the pants. I feel like it kind of ruins the outfit but maybe it's just me??


LOOK 9: The color of the beanie works well with the other colors here. It lightens up the darker tones like the gray sweats and navy top. Actually I really don't like sweatpants on guys because it can look sloppy but the fit of these aren't bad. It goes with the less structured jacket and beanie. Last but not least are the boots. I love brown boots. They're so down to earth and functional.


LOOK 15: I thought this was such a fun look because of all the layers! Turtleneck under a collared shirt isn't something I would have personally styled but it's pretty nice. Since they're all darker colors, it's also not that noticeable. The lighter grey vest? Probably my favorite piece from this outfit. It pops out against everything else... a very stylish item to have for Fall. But what is happening with the shoes??? No socks?! Seems a bit out of place, to be honest.


LOOK 19: I have nothing against bow ties! They're super cute and more playful than neckties but because this outfit seemed borderline school-uniform, it might have looked better with a sleek tie...without the sweater. But it's a pretty classic combo and I do think it's a versatile outfit for colder months. I think the designer made a good decision to pair with black pants and black boots because it looks more mature that way. I would have also considered pairing some kind of wool coat to brighten the ensemble but otherwise, it's a solid look.
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What did you guys think? Which look was your favorite?

As per request, I am thinking of styling outfits based on The Divergent Series: Allegiant for my next post so be on the lookout for it!

Hello lovelies, how has your weekend been so far? We're back to the third installment of the Runway to Real Life series where I style everyday, wearable outfits based on runway looks. This time, we're focusing on the Spring 2016 Couture collections, including Zuhair Murad, Valentino, Elie Saab, and Alexandre Vauthier. Leave it down below which designer is your favorite and I'll try to add it in the next Runway to Real Life post :)

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[ZM S2016 Look 1]


I styled three different outfits based on certain elements in this first look, like the floral detailing, lace-like texture, white base, structure, black belt, strappy shoes, and sparkly hair decorations. For outfit #1, the fitted lace top mimics the upper part of the designer's ensemble, with a looser interpretation of the skirt. To add a bit of black for contrast, I chose black strappy heels and then finished off with a lace clutch to dress it up. Outfit #2 is a more casual look, with a white denim skirt and flats. To make it more interesting, I included some flower earrings and a vintage leather crossbody bag. The last outfit is a bit in-between. The lace sweater tones down the dressy skirt and shoes while the emerald green flower earrings add a bit of color.


[V S2016 Look 59]


To recreate this look, I chose a lot of beige, salmon, pink, as well as greys and blacks. Although this look was very soft and flowy, I did pick some pieces with a more structured feel because they may be easier to find (like a fitted dress or blazer vest). On the far left, I have the most formal outfit, with the tie and sheer skirt as well as the long blazer vest. In the middle is my favorite outfit: a cropped turtleneck with long, wide pants to mimic the flow of the designer's piece. On the far right is a glammed up version of the look, with a bright colored dress and the softness of a fur vest. I added a light scarf to create a similar feel to the tie/bow feature in the designer look.


[ES S2016 Look 31]


This look has a distinctive princess and fairytale feel to it. I tried to implement that vibe into each of the outfits. With the first one being the most formal and the fanciest, I piled on the diamonds, layered a fitted tee under the sleeveless dress for a more covered look, and added sky high black heels. For the next look, I tried to tone it down with a pastel purple maxi and a casual striped crop top. This is a very fun outfit for Spring and you probably have something similar in your closet already! The last one is what I would call an urban princess. It's got the glitz and glam but with a down-to-earth element with the Nike sneakers. It is also the closest to the designer's piece in that it has a very cool tone bluish grey as the foundation.


[AV S2016 Look 1]


By far, this is my favorite set. All-black outfits are such a weakness of mine! I especially love how sexy each of these outfits are, with the addition of the black boots. It's a bit hard to see the details of each look but the one on the far left is the closest to the designer's look. It fully covers the belly and leaves just a hint of skin where the thighs are. To amp up the outfit, I chose leather thigh highs to match the leather cuffs on the sleeves of the blazer. The middle ensemble shows the most skin, with the mini tank, skort, and ankle boots. To add some roughness and to cover a bit of skin, I picked a black moto-style jacket. Finally, for a sweeter look, I paired a loose knit sweater with a black denim skirt and suede thigh highs. It's a fun mix of innocent and sexy and my personal fave styling.

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That's it for Part 3 of the Runway to Real Life series. Leave it below: Which outfit did you like the most? What designer would you like featured in the next post? Thanks again for stopping by :)

Hi everyone!

Today, we're gonna talk about the latest handbags and shoes from Dolce & Gabbana's shop. I've paired them together for your viewing pleasure (and also because I think it looks pretty and that's what it's all about, right?). Let me know which combo was your favorite. I personally love all of these because they're just really beautifully designed. Some are a bit ornate and some are a bit playful but they're all super gorgeous and I'd love to own them all (Santa, please let me win the lottery).

Okay but enough about my sad dreams. Let's look at these beauties.

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Left/Right

Left/Right

Left/Right

Left/Right

Left/Right

I hope you enjoyed this post. See you all in my next one~


Bye for now,
Jenn

We're back with the second part of the Runway to Real Life series. They're personally one of my favorite posts to do because it challenges my styling abilities, coming up with wearable outfits that still embody the trends. Let me know which one below is your favorite and how you would style things differently!

All of these are based on looks from Spring 2016 shows. I know it's only December but since the designs are out, I thought I'd give you guys a head start on freshening up your wardrobe for the upcoming year :) Enjoy!

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From left to right, I created a chic version of the runway design with the black leather jacket, denim midi skirt, and a fishnet white top, finished with strappy black heels to match the similar vibe of the shoes shown. Then I went with a more luxurious feel, using a velvet bomber jacket, beige turtleneck, and a tighter fitted skirt. Instead of a brown belt, I chose a watch with a brown leather strap. Finally, I decided to go with a sporty, laid-back look with a classic sport jacket, a shimmery T-shirt to offset the casual vibes, and a modern A-line denim skirt with sneaker wedges.





The key thing to remember is that these are all INSPIRATIONS! The fun part isn't replicating the look but recreating it to fit your own style. So here, I've taken elements like the pops of red, the sequins, and the white pants to develop 3 outfits: classy office, modern chill, and glam.





First up, we have a contemporary look, followed by a more feminine outfit. Finally, I added a bit of a twist to the last one, with a caged neckline rather than a lace-up and paired it with floral pants instead of a skirt. It's a bolder look, definitely more suitable for the club or a night out!





This is personally my favorite one. I've put together a look using similar colors but without the vest to keep it light for spring. Then I decided to create an outfit that appears the most similar to the designer's. Finally, I thought I'd include a look that is best worn when it's still a bit chilly outside. I think army green and light pink is such an unexpected combo but super pretty for spring!


There you have it! Which one was your fave?? Leave it down below!


Bye for now,
Jenn

Sometimes I look at the gorgeous pieces from the runway and think...it's beautiful but how am I supposed to find something like that without spending thousands of dollars? Let's be real. We know how inspired designers can be and the extent of their wacky creations...they're not always the most wearable trends.

Today, I'm going to share a couple of looks that I loved from the Fall 2015 shows. I'll take you through how to style pieces from your own closet to recreate these in a more practical way.

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Tip: Never take it literally! The Gucci look is a bright colored sweater with feminine but quirky embellishments paired with a lace skirt. Recreate this look with a semi cropped sweater, either a bold color or a patterned one, and match it with a easier silhouette like skater skirts in a lace material. Finish with a cute beret or go for a statement necklace instead.






From left to right, I have a retro look, a casual look, and a chic look...all incorporating stripes! You can really play around with a structured or totally loose dress. If you're planning on being out and about, try a two-piece outfit. Throw on a super cute headband on bad hair days and you've got yourself a simple but put-together ensemble.






It wouldn't be a Fall inspired styling without some darker colors. This runway look from Rodarte is perfect for colder weather and can be recreated for a cool office outfit. Take your must have white blouse and pair with a camel colored blazer with burgundy leather pants if you want exactly the same look. You can also mix it up by opting for a softer sweater with a similar color palette or choose a coat with a similar checkered pattern.






One of my favorite pieces from the Bouchra Jarrar show was the flowy, bluish lavender skirt. How gorgeous! Now I know not everyone is going to have a skirt in this exact shade. The solution is to incorporate the color in other ways like accessories. Pair a leather vest with a turtleneck for a cozy look and add a loose skirt...you will look so effortless! Finish with either some oxfords or sneakers to roam around town.


Those are my stylings for the Fall 2015 Runway. Tell me which one you liked the most!



Bye for now,
Jenn

Balmain
Pringle of Scotland
Versus
Calvin Klein
Tory Burch
Alexander Wang
Roberto Cavalli
Marni
Go ahead and click this if you'd like to check out the accessories in other seasons and collections!

Those were basically all my obsessions for Fall 2012 RTW...if I had money, I would absolutely splurge on several of those items but, alas, it'll probably remain as a dream for this broke college student. :/

Did you have any designer obsessions for this fall or are you the type of person to always lust after designer items anyway? Don't be shy! Let me know in the comments below.

~Jenn