This Season's Most Famous Sweater

Givenchy 
Bambi Print Sweater
Fall/Winter 2013

Who knew that a long forgotten cartoon character could cause a worldwide fashion frenzy? I certainly didn't. But Givenchy certainly did when they placed a beloved Disney character as the focal feature of their Fall/Winter 2013 collection. Bambi has stylishly sauntered his way from a 1942 animated movie to the catwalks of Paris. The endearing little deer has been superimposed on a vintage female figure to form this season's trendy new style emblem. From the creative mind of Riccardo Tisci to magazines and celebrity closets everywhere, this strangely adorable sweatshirt has claimed its title as this season's hottest commodity.

The highly popularized Bambi print comes in several editions; a black neoprene sweatshirt, a T-shirt, a lace-sleeved version seen on the runway and a sleeveless tank top.

The Runway

It took these two looks from Givenchy's Fall/Winter 2013 runway to spark a craze that compelled the fashion world into Bambi mania.

The Editorials

This fashion fad has found itself a favourite with stylists and fashion editors across the planet. American model Lindsey Wixon wears hers with a printed Givenchy skirt. Spanish belle Dalianah Arekion poses in black in white for V Magazine. Brit model Sam Rollinson features in I-D Magazine. Russian model Anne Vyalitsyna stands tall in the deer printed sweatshirt, with sheer spotted pencil skirt and ankle boots, all by Givenchy. Australia's Clare Byrne dons the cartoon patterned top for Interview Germany and Estonian beauty Alexandra Tikerpuu sweaters up for Stylist Magazine.

The Covers

Fei Fei Sun went from the Givenchy runway to the cover of Vogue China in the Disney inspired sweater. Elle Fanning brought out the softer side of this somewhat grunge piece on the cover of Miss Vogue Australia. Isabeli Fontana is striking on the cover of Telva Spain. Russian beauty Daria Strokous fronts Vogue Japan in the chic sweatshirt. Alexa Chung gets the opportunity to don this season's most wanted sweater on Madame France Magazine.

The Fashion Editors

Even the expert stylists have jumped on board the Bambi train. Vogue Japans's Anna Dello Russo and French fashion royalty Carine Roitfeld were both pictured in the famous sweater. Anna clinched hers in with a black belt and walked in imposing reptilian striped leather ankle boots, also by Givenchy. Carine wore the lace-sleeved sweater on two separate occasions. First she styled the in-demand jumper with a black pencil skirt and ankle strap sandals. Second, she wore it with a sheer spotted Givenchy maxi at the 2013 Met Gala. 

The Media Campaigns

The superimposed sweater has been a favored celebrity choice for media appearances and campaigns. Miranda Kerr modeled the look for Net-a-Porter's web magazine. Rising starlet Hailee Steinfeld picked a tank top in the memorable motif, prettified by a floral print midi skirt. Amanda Seyfried fronts Givenchy's FW13 campaign in the coveted piece, with a matching Bambi-stamped clutch. Miroslava Duma Instagrammed her doe-eyed look, styled with a belt and black and white tulip skirt. Beyonce wears the tank edition with denim shorts and South Korean actress Son Dam Bi wore hers with a leather skater skirt.

The Street Stylistas

Lala Anthony, singers Rochelle Humes and Monica all paired their Givenchy Bambi jumpers with leather leggings. Taiwanese actress Tiffany Hsu opted for a sheer black maxi skirt and Lily Collins daringly went without pants, along with Givenchy ankle wrap sandals. 

You can buy the original Givenchy Bambi print sweater for a whopping $1,375 from Net-a-Porter.com. Or you could settle for the generic version made by Primark for just €12 ($16).

Do you think Givenchy's Bambi print sweatshirt is worth the hype? Yay or Nay?
Judging by it being sold out on almost every online luxury boutique, it just might be.

Poca & Poca Fall/Winter 2013

We all need a fairy tale moment in the middle of an ordinary day, and if we can't have the diamond tiaras, high tea's and lavish palaces, the least we can have are a few pieces from the Poca & Poca FW13 collection. My favourite Polish brand never fails to deliver on the princess appeal, and this season they do just so with savoir faire and a hint of magic.

What I love about Poca & Poca is that they stick to what they are best at, regardless of runway trends - this means whimsical and interestingly crafted silhouettes with volumized skirts, floaty butterfly sleeves, delicate peplums and sumptuous silk and satin blouses. 

This season, ladylike skirts are in midi lengths with gauzy layers of viscose and tulle. Pockets and shoulders are exaggerated by pretty ruffles, and pants are ruched with high waists and cropped hems. The jumpsuit appears in its daintiest form, accented by organza frills. Amidst the white capes, dusty blue dresses, pink skirts and peach pants, we are also delighted with bronzed metallics, tangy orange and emerald green outfits.

This is a view into Poca & Poca's sublime Fall/Winter 2013 collection.


Set 1

Set 2

Set 3

Set 4

Set 5

Set 6

Set 7

Set 8

All these enchanting looks can be shopped online at Poca & Poca.com. My favourite is the white satin top and crystal studded pink peplum tulle skirt, pictured first in Set 8. 
Which is yours?

Looks of the Week - 16/11/13

The weekly roundup of celebrity style, on and off the red carpet.

Trip to the Tropics

Nicole Richie delighted in this tribal-like Alberta Ferretti look, featuring a royal blue & orange striped skirt & cropped white tank with dainty floral appliqués embedded on the shoulders.
Nikki Reed stepped out in a plaid pair of shorts, vivified by a tangerine silk crepe Rebecca Minkoff blazer, white tee and Casadei pumps.
Kiernan Shipka looked adorably chic in digi-print Preen tank with zig-zag hemmed skirt and two-tone ankle-strap sandals.
Nina Dobrev takes us on a tropical trip in this jazzy printed mini by Naeem Khan. Her look was styled with inky blue strappy sandals and clutch bag.

Party Frocks

Zendaya Coleman looked pretty in this floaty red sheer embossed Dolce & Gabbana dress with voluminous sleeves and Tabitha Simmons ankle boots.
Alexa Chung wears a modern version of the little black dress in this perforated broderie anglaise Carven look, worn with Charlotte Olympia kitty flats.
Taylor Swift sparkled in a floral sequined Zuhair Murad mini dress with long-sleeves and ankle-strap peep-toe heels.
It's almost impossible to keep Rosie Huntington-Whiteley off this list each week when her style is just this good. Here she wears a raspberry fully ruffled one-shouldered Isabel Marant frock with twinkly Louboutin pumps.


Isabel Marant x H&M

Shay Mitchell wears an embroidered cotton twill jacket with a white tee, burgundy waxed denim ankle-cropped pants and black slingbacks.
Sienna Miller cozies up in an oversized melange wool cardigan, styled with a beige top, skinny jeans and tan suede ankle boots.
Milla Jovovich went for a more glam IM for H&M look in this gold silk chiffon box-pleated dress with metal threads. Black tights and metal beaded pumps complete her outfit.
Nicole Hilton mixes it up in a boho printed blouse, black fur gilet and leather leggings, accessorized with studded ankle boots and bag, as well as a fedora.
Chiara Ferragni wears the key beaded embroidered jacket from the Isabel Marant x H&M collection, along with a white tee, lace-up leather pants and tasseled suede boots.


Highly Refined

Allison Williams makes a chic impression in this white oversized shirt and sheer silk organza paneled midi skirt by Mishaa Nonoo. Her embellished heels are by Christian Louboutin.
Jessica Biel showcases the unique proportions of this Giambattista Valli dress with sheer winged sleeves & a draped slitted skirt. Emerald green Valli heels complete her look.
Zoe Saldana exuded elegance in an off-white block pleated Calvin Klein dress with a cliched in metallic belted waist and glittering Louboutin pumps.


Autumn Romance

Suki Waterhouse was pastel pretty in an ice pink Emilia Wickstead gown with high neckline, high-low hemline and delicate pearl embellishings.
Blake Lively charmed in this romantic antique floral off-the-shoulder Oscar de la Renta frock, which was complemented by bright pink jewellery.
Elizabeth Banks looked stunning in this exquisitely made Elie Saab Couture corset gown that drips in metallic ombre beadwork.

In Black & Bright

Jessica Alba was ravishing in a strapless fluorescent pink Reem Acra ballgown.
Jennifer Lawrence does justice to the Fall goth trend in this alluring Dior Couture tea-length dress with sheer paneled bodice and fully pleated skirt, accented with a deep berry lip.
Hilary Rhoda dons a cerise pink Rachel Roy gown with plunge neck and cut-out sides.
Victoria Beckham gives us her usual dose of sophistication in this impeccably fit sable v-neck dress, from her own collection. Emerald earrings add a dash of colour & sparkle.

Who is your favourite 'Look of the Week'?

Friday Frills

15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy

1. Give up your need to always be right
2. Give up your need for control
3. Give up on blame
4. Give up your self-defeating self-talk
5. Give up your limiting beliefs
6. Give up complaining
7. Give up the luxury of criticism
8. Give up your need to impress others
9. Give up your resistance to change
10. Give up labels
11. Give up on your fears
12. Give up your excuses
13. Give up the past
14. Give up attachment
15. Give up living your life to other people’s expectations

Which will you give up today?

Written by Luminita Saviuc

Image via weheartit.com

Models & Makeup - Bette Franke

Bette Franke
Makeup Inspiration

Possibly one of the best parts about being a model is having the opportunity to change your look at the blink of a smokey eye. Dutch beauty Bette Franke rates as one of my favourite runway models, for her captivating natural beauty, and her ability to wear any type of elaborate make up look with poise and femininity. The fact that she has the most striking blue eyes and glossy brown tresses is probably every hair and makeup artists' dream to work with. These are some of Bette's most recent and interesting runway makeup looks.

Flushing Pink

 Bette beautifully portrays a coy maiden with rosy flushed cheeks, a dewy complexion and subtle pink-tinged lips. This romantic type of mien requires a good skin-smoothing base or BB/CC cream, neutral eye-shadow, a multi-tonal pink blush, matte rose lipstick and a white highlighter applied on the bridge of the nose, forehead and the highest point of your cheeks.

Smouldering

 Bette is instantly transformed from a blushing belle to bombshell with just a flash of mascara, smudgy black kohl and bold eye-liner. Anna Sui presented an extended cat-eye, whilst at Emilio Pucci, Bette is pictured in a retro 60's doll-look. Both Lanvin and Versace accented the lower eye-lids with smokey charcoal. Anthony Vaccarello exaggerated the eye paint to below the brow bone and Gucci piled on fake separated lashes with layers of mascara.

Bronzed Beauty

All it takes to achieve that senational sun-kissed glow (without going on an island holiday) is a good bronzer or self-tanner. Brush a matte bronzing powder 2-3 shades lighter than your skin tone from your hairline (the point at the mid-section of your ear) downwards in an angle, to attain the illusion of more defined cheekbones. Don't forget to sweep some shimmering blush over your temples, chin and forehead as well. Keep the rest of your makeup palette - including eye shadow and lip stick - in warm brown to bronze tones for overall radiance.

Lip Sync

Bette is lucky enough to have those perfect pucker-me-up lips without the collagen. She wears bright high-gloss cherry red lipstick at Marc by Marc Jacobs and Barbara Bui, rich ruby at Dolce & Gabbana and unlined wine stained lips at Marni. At Oscar de la Renta, lips were berry-kissed with porcelain skin. Bette is pictured last in a hot pink opaque ombre look at Dior.

Fresh Faced

As stunning as she looks with defined eyes and bright lipstick, Bette's true beauty can be seen when she is styled with the least amount of makeup. Her luminous skin can be recreated with a tinted foundation and some concealer under the eyes. A nude eye-shadow, soft, peachy blush and clear lip balm is all is takes to create this engaging, fresh-faced look.

Eye of the Storm

Turning up the colour volume, Bette's stunningly blue eyes is highlighted by a blend of multi-hued pigments in exciting tones. A metallic theme at Ferré combined silver, pewter, black and gold for dramatic effect. Donna Karan went for a generous brush of magenta across the eyelids, whilst Jason Wu lined the models' eyes in an intense indigo. Green and blue glittery jewels decorated the eye-line at Christian Dior. I am currently obsessed with the gold dusted eye lashes at Dries van Noten, which would be easy to translate into real life. 

Which of these makeup looks best suit Bette Franke? 

Would you try any of them out?

Fairy Tale Footwear Fall 2013

Charlotte Olympia
'Once Upon A Time' Shoe Collection
Fall/Winter 2013

We all know how the stories go, tales told to us when we were little about bears and girls with golden locks, frogs that turn into princes and white rabbits that are always late. Gingerbread houses, red hooded capes, cats that wear boots, sleeping beauties and damsels in distress. 

Now take everything you know about these age-old fairy tales and forget about them. This is the grown up girl's Bedtime Story by Charlotte Olympia, who relates a tall, whimsical tale of enchanted forests daintily painted onto pumps, organza floral decked heels and luscious suede and velvet stilettos. Tiny enamel teddy bears and frog prince motifs are quirkily perched onto shoe fronts, and gold braiding that depicts a trapped-in-a-tower princess with long blonde hair.

The design brand spins it's web of inspiration from a Grimm Brother's classic, 'Once Upon a Time', crafting feminine and captivating shoes that allows the wearers to relive the fantasy in real life, and high style. Named after memorable fairytale characters and ancient fabled adages, these extravagant shoes are made to narrate it's own fashionable story. And just what story is that? One that ends 'Happily Ever After', of course.

This is a view into the charming Charlotte Olympia Fall/Winter 2013 footwear range.

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Are you also enchanted by Charlotte Olympia's fairytale shoe range?


*All images found via charlotteolympia.com

A Kate Spade Fall 2013

What's so great about Kate Spade is that you could go into one of their stores and come out with a complete and full new outfit from the hat to the heels, a coat, dress and everything in between. It's a one-stop shop that allows us to live out our whimsicalities, be carefree with our fashion choices and puts the 'fun' into 'fun'ctional clothing. 

This Fall, the brand takes to the Big Apple for inspiration, with a retro girly twist. Start your day at the office in a polished leopard print look or pick something sweet like a donut stamped sweater or lipstick printed shift. Take a black and yellow New York taxicab dress to your afternoon event, then step out in 70's disco style, wearing a flashy gold skater skirt and shaggy fur shrug. Electric 80's shades diminish dull winter days with their vibrancy and quirkiness, whilst glamourous evening wear will have you perfectly dressed for an Upper East Side affair.  The sky's the limit when styling this leisurely range - there is a matching set of accessories to compliment every outfit and beautiful coats to wear over much pretty anything.

These are my selections from the enthralling Kate Spade Fall/Winter 2013 collection. 


Taxi Cab

    
Urban Jungle

    
Flirting with Fuchsia 

   
Wall Street

   
Candyland

   
Gold Rush

   
Manhattan Mode

  
Blush Boudoir

  
Uptown Girl

Which of these Kate Spade sets would you be most likely to wear?

*All images found via katespade.com

Looks of the Week - 09/11/13

The weekly roundup of celebrity style, on and off the red carpet.


The Art of Simplicity

Mandy Moore pencils up in a black leather skirt, worn with a pale blue sweater and suave white pointy-toe ankle boots, all by Topshop.
Ashley Madekwe is trendy in this navy and red tartan top and trousers by Topshop, along with with white Jimmy Choo pumps. 
Brooklyn Decker kits up in a classically chic grey pencil skirt & bright red Express jumper.


Walk On By

Alessandra Ambrosio steps out in a modish pair of ankle-grazing leather pants, styled (only as a supermodel can) with a cropped houndstooth printed jersey, furry black vest, Bottega Veneta bow pumps and a Michael Kors bag.
Olivia Palermo teams up two types of stripes in this Tibi peplum jacket and breton striped tee, worn with a pair of skinny jeans, black Oxfords and a red Louis Vuitton bag.
Miranda Kerr throws an oversized Givenchy coat over her white tee, denim skirt and Dior blazer, wrapped up by a studded Valentino bag and Barbara Bui buckled ankle boots.


Little White Dresses

The beautiful Pia Miller wears my favourite look of the week, a quirky and fun little white Johanna Johnson dress with feathered skirt, romantically styled with a chain-headband.
Alexa Chung takes the formal route in a white high-neck tweed Chanel dress with button-up front and panel sleeve detail. Grey pumps & a quilted black Chanel box bag complete her look.
Fellow style icon Poppy Delevingne looked pretty in this enchanting tiered white J'Aton Couture dress with laser-cut embroidery. Flashy gold sandals and a regal jewel encrusted Dolce & Gabbana crown compliment her outfit.


Glamour Gowns

Taylor Swift stole all stares at the CMA Awards in this ravishing scarlet red Elie Saab gown with sweeping skirt and beaded embellishing.  
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley picked this intriguing black chiffon Gucci drop-waist gown with plunging V-neckline and glittering purple beadwork.
Country singer Jana Kramer gives us a demure moment with this delightful floral watercolor printed silk skirt and slinky-fit black long-sleeved top by Theia.


Day at the Races

Beauty queen Jennifer Hawkins showed off two elegant outfits whilst attending an Australian Derby. The former Miss Universe first wore a ladylike red lace one-shouldered dress by Yeojin Bae, with matching heels & fascinator. Second she went for a softer pastel look in this beautiful rose pink Manning Cartell dress with lace skirt, black waistband & Jimmy Choo shoes.
Pageant star Rachael Finch defined refinement in this sleek black number by Aurelio Costarello, styled to perfection with a monochrome clutch, black ankle strap sandals and a beaded head piece.
Laura Dundovic (yet another former Miss Australia), highlighted her tan in this vivid tangerine Aurelio Costarello draped cocktail dress, topped off with an elaborate Kerrie Stanley headpiece and sexy metallic sandals.


Pale in Comparison

Jennifer Nettles was stunning in an ivory Naeem Khan gown with ornate mirrored mosaics. 
Salma Hayek represented Gucci in her finest form, wearing an ice grey asymmetrical gown with ornamented waistband and scattered beadwork.
Candice Swanepoel looked statuesque in this glorious fully embellished gold mermaid halter dress by Zuhair Murad.
Kate Hudson put her abs on display in this blush pink & silver cut-out Gucci dress.
Lucy Hale brings an air of bohemia to the red carpet in this tonal champagne and grey Julien MacDonald dress with high-low hemline and decorative neckline, worn with Ruthie Davis heels.


Who is your favourite 'Look of the Week'?