Looks of the Week - 26/04/14

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


Ray of Sunshine

Mollie King gives us new colour inspiration, wearing a daffodil yellow cropped Zara jacket with a white textured Oasis top and burnt caramel pleated skirt.
Jennifer Lopez mixes metals in this burnished bronze lamé Lanvin shirt and plum glazed Vivienne Westwood mini skirt. Her perfectly matched pair of caged sandals are by Brian Atwood.
Laura Whitmore looked delightfully summery in a lime and white striped Jasper Conran skirt and top, paired with a sheer vintage blouse, Accessorize clutch and nude Armani peep-toe shoes.
Lucy Mecklenburgh prettily poses in a shell pink, white and lemon pleated chiffon A-line midi dress, along with gold strap sandals. 
Solange Knowles makes a bright appearance in this sunny oversized panel-striped yellow sweater and metallic pleated skirt by Christopher Kane. Her whimsical lemon sequined slice bag is by Kate Spade and she wears silver shoes by Acne.


Urban Outlook

Gisele Bundchen is fierce in a pair of bold leopard print Tripp trousers, given a rock chic spin with a leather biker jacket, sneakers and a black Rebecca Minkoff bag.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley never fails to impress with her impeccable street style. She is pictured in a voguish black Isabel Marant jumpsuit and printed sandals, caped by a classic khaki trench coat and bottle green Givenchy tote.
Olivia Munn is casually elegant in a black spaghetti strap slim-fitting maxi dress and sandals.
Miranda Kerr stylishly dashes out in a ruffled Givenchy skirt and pale blue shirt. Her look is given an edge with thigh-high suede Balmain boots and leopard print ALC bag.


Floral Fever

Jenna Dewan-Tatum gives her army green Madewell jacket an outing, paired with a white shirt, floral printed pants by Peter Som for Kohls, tan Iro ankle-cuff IRO sandals and an ivory Celine bag.
Lauren Pope upstyles her pair of Oasis floral patterned pants with a white cropped Missguided top and boxy black jacket by French Connection.
Fearne Cotton keeps her cool street look sporty with a floral biker jacket worn over a white buttoned shirt, distressed denim jeans and a pair of bright blue sneakers.
Nicole Richie is debonair in a rose printed Givenchy blazer, teamed with a grey top, leather J Brand jeans and black pointy-toe pumps.


Light of Day

Camilla Belle does ladylike sophistication in a crisp white shirt tucked into a rose pink printed Carolina Herrera pencil skirt, along with a pair of nude studded Christian Louboutin pumps.
Sofia Vergara is beautifully dressed in a white Zuhair Murad cocktail dress with sheer lace embroidery, and gold ankle-strap sandals.
Harley Viera Newton represents Chanel in a petal pink and white iconic tweed button-front dress, styled with a glittered pink Chanel sling bag and white pumps.
Maggie Grace polishes up in a pristine white coat and shirt dress by KaufmanFranco, adding a pop of yellow via a narrow belt and pointy-toe shoes.


Style-Blazing

Poppy Delevingne rocks a cropped black suede fringed jacket and tee with her distressed denim boyfriend jeans. Her black caged sandals and sling bag are both by Jimmy Choo.
Jamie Chung does power dressing in a vibrant red Reese + Riley blazer, worn over a slinky white tank & mesh printed pencil skirt by Elizabeth & James, all tied in by snazzy red and black heels.
Olivia Palermo displayed her chic style in a black fur trimmed Emporio Armani blazer, net printed Tibi sweater & finely checked pants. A feathered clutch & Aquazzura pumps accessorize her outfit.
Emmy Rossum elegantly places a navy and black blazer over her structured shimmering taupe mini dress with gold belt motif, which is by KaufmanFranco. Metallic glossed Jimmy Choo shoes and box clutch complete her look.


Effortless Evenings 

Lily Aldridge looked stunning in a black sequined bodice Chanel gown with sheer chiffon skirt and silver clutch.
Emma Stone was at her finest in a creamy beige Prada gown with geometric gunmetal trimmed bodice and cut-out sides.
Suki Waterhouse displayed the allure of this lacy black Burberry cocktail gown with sheer lace panels and low V-neck.

Who is Your Favourite 'Look of the Week'?

Friday Frills

Each day we can wake up and choose to see life as a gift and to be fully present in that day. 

We cannot always control the outcome, but we can control our reactions.

Each day we can bring all that we have to that day, choosing to live it fully, 

Seeing it as a great gift.

Each day we can train our mind not to obsess about regret, 

Nor to worry for tomorrow, but instead to be in this present moment.

Each day we can be grateful for what has happened that day. 

And we can choose not to judge our lives from moment to moment 

(am I happy, successful, unhappy, a failure, good, bad)

But simply just to live our life.

There are five secrets in achieving the best life has to offer...

Be true to yourself.

Leave no regrets.

Become love.

Live in the moment.

Give more than you take.

Quote by John Izzo

Paule Ka Spring/Summer 2014

Bringing forth a combination of timeless design with modern finesse, the Paule Ka Spring/Summer 2014 collection has given me a new sense of reverence for the brand. It is more often than not that the most interesting and desirable collections are the ones with the simplest of lines and cleaner-cut looks, like these proffered by the brand's creative director, Serge Cajfinger. 

Flattering black, beige and white belted shirt dresses, cropped V tops and cut-out bodycon frocks lay down a sophisticated foundation for Paule Ka's Spring 2014 range. Spiced red and rose pink provide a more romantic tone to the seemingly utilitarian collection with pretty cocktail dresses in classic silhouettes. The label's signature bow detail makes an appearance upon sexy snipped-off shoulders and light summer jackets.

To set the solids apart, we are presented with graphic ceramic prints that are inspired by the French commune, Vallauris. Electric shades in digital watercolors are patterned upon slim-fitting pants, retro mini dresses and prim buttoned shirts. Paule Ka gives the wearer a timeless variety of proportions to suit any figure, from sleek pencil skirts to midi circle skirts, loosely sewn coats, figure-hugging mini's and an outstanding voluminous cerise pink gown.

Here is a view into the elegant and relatable Paule Ka Spring/Summer 2014 collection.

Set 1

Set 2

  
Set 3

 Set 4

Set 5

Set 6

  
Set 7

Set 8

Set 9

I love the first red midi dress in Set 8 and the combination of a crisp white shirt and khaki flaired maxi skirt in Set 6. 

Which of these Paule Ka looks could you see yourself wearing?

Images found via Pauleka.com

Easter Wishes

May you have a healthy body, 

To move around freely and roam wherever you desire to go. 

May you have good vision, 

To enjoy all the beauty the universe has to offer you. 

May you have good listening skills, 

To hear all the mighty tales and incredible stories that make up life. 

May you have a good sense of smell, 

To inhale in all the rich aromas and fragrances floating in the air. 

May you have a warm sense of touch, 

To give out loving hugs and comforting pats on the shoulder. 

May you speak with kindness from your heart, 

To soothe someone's hurt and to uplift someone's mood. 

May you have lots of laughter, 

To brighten up someone's day and make a difference. 

May you have lots of courage, 

To go after your dreams and turn them into reality. 

May you have lots of love, 

To spread around and leave this world a better place. 

May you have enough to feel blessed, 

And to share your gift of blessings with others too. 

Quote by Fion Lim

Happy Easter Holidays!

*We celebrate Easter long weekend here in South Africa, so I will be away until next Wednesday. I'll chat back to you then.

Coachella Dreaming

Sun, Style, Desert Sand, Sweet Euphonics and Melodic Memories...The music festival season begins with the most popular and trendy, Coachella. Whilst most people attend for the entertainment, celebrities and fashionistas go out of their way to dress for the occasion in 'free spirited, hippie chic, anything goes, festival-appropriate clothes'. These looks are seeped in bohemian tones with floaty printed dresses, edged with fringing, crochet and lace, and topped off with fedoras, cowboy boots and Daisy Dukes. I have personally never dabbled in festival wear, but with some editing and fine tuning, I think boho doesn't necessarily have to look hobo. This is my style inspiration guide on dressing (elegantly) for Coachella, or any other music festival.

 Coachella Celebrity Style

Emmy Rossum and Nina Dobrev attended the festival in printed maxi looks, whilst Vanessa Hudgens opted for a paisley printed romper with leather ankle boots. Selena Gomez went sheer in a white crochet dress.

Free People Festival Wear

These are some fantastic festival worthy looks I found via Free People

These celebrities bring black and white to life with a bohemian chic spin.

H&M Festival Wardrobe

These are my Coachella inspired picks from H&M

Denim cut-off shorts are the ultimate music festival must, seen on Camilla Belle, Hannah Simone & Julianne Hough.

Nasty Gal Festival Looks

Nasty Gal have a wondrous range of bohemian pieces to inspire your entire summer wardrobe. I love the kimonos, lace dresses and patterned jumpsuits. You can shop these looks here. Click the image for a larger view.

ASOS Festival Hair Styles

No festival outfit would be complete without a complimentary hairstyle and ASOS feature some beautiful hairbands, hats, clips, floral crowns and fascinators to put the finishing touches to your Coachella look. 

Are You Inspired to Try Coachella Style This Summer?

Who Wore H&M Conscious Collection Better?

Who Wore It Better?
H&M Conscious Collection Dress

If you live anywhere near an H&M store, you would have been witness to the exciting launch of their 2014 Conscious Collection, where sustainable materials are key in creating exquisite designs that are within a reasonable price range. This light beige lace dress is one of the most popular looks from the collection, boasting femininity and grace for all ages and shapes. 

It is plain to see why this dress and the complimenting shoulder embellishment are currently sold out online and in many of the H&M stores - it looks designer made, it is decadently pretty and seems far more expensive than it actually is. 

Five different celebrities were already spotted out wearing this luxurious lace look.

1. Jennifer Lopez wore the dainty cream dress for an appearance on American Idol last week. The Latina star kept her styling simple with gold bangles and Ivy Kirzhner cream and gold platform pumps. JLo's hair was combed in a half-up, half-down do.
2. Sophia Bush wore the same H&M Conscious Collection dress almost a month earlier in March 2014. The brunette actress paired her high-neck dress with a rhinestone studded shoulder decoration, also from the brand. Nude shoes, a silver grey clutch and girly curls style her outfit.
3. German model Franziska Knuppe pulled her hair up in a ballet bun to highlight the elaborate beaded neckpiece attached to this delicate ivory A-line dress. She accessorized with tan peep-toe heels and a nude bag.
4. Supermodel Alek Wek wore the same lace and organic cotton blend dress for an H&M outing last week, combining her fetching look with gold sequin and bead embroidered leather sandals that are also part of the H&M Conscious Collection.
5. The first person to be seen in the charming lace frock was Jessica Alba at Paris Fashion Week in February 2014. The starlet gave her look an edge with black tights and platform pumps.

Veteran model Amber Valletta fronts the 2014 H&M Conscious Collection Campaign, pictured in the creamy lace scalloped-hem, long-sleeved dress, which retails for $249. The dress is accessorized with a rhinestone decorated neckpiece that costs $149.

As for 'Who Wore It Better?', I think both Jennifer Lopez and Alek Wek wear this dress beautifully, without the high neckline being too overwhelming. I also liked the fit of the sleeves on Alek. Do you think this dress needs the beaded shoulder ornamentation?

Who Do You Think Wore This H&M Dress Best?

Looks of the Week - 12/04/14

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


Pastel Promenade

Emmy Rossum is pretty in a pink and white candied Tanya Taylor sweater, daintily paired with a white lace sheer striped Rebecca Taylor skirt, lace pumps and a Ralph Lauren bag.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley makes an attractive dash out in a lilac Marios Schwab mini dress, accented with a petal pink Stella McCartney blazer, taupe Christian Louboutin pumps and a dark green Givenchy Antigona bag.
Emmy Rossum once again inspires with her superb street style, wearing a powder blue lace Rebecca Taylor top over a grey mini Mercer Kenmare dress. An aquamint Rebecca Minkoff satchel and matching Yosi Samra ballet flats style Emmy's endearing outfit.


Striped Suggestions

Reese Witherspoon teams her breton striped tee with a leather-sleeved bomber jacket, skinny jeans, The Row bag and a pop of red By Malene Birger heels.
Kourtney Kardashian stirs stripes and florals together with a monochrome top and Alice + Olivia A-line skirt. Her patterned pumps are by Roberto Cavalli.
Kimberley Garner takes a stylish stroll in this cute red and white stripe-frilled sailor shorts, worn with a black top, red bag and Jimmy Choo heels.
Mollie King validates her style icon status in this modish striped top and trendy white flair midi skirt from her own collection for Oasis.
Miranda Kerr keeps it casually chic in a fringed leather Saint Laurent jacket which she slung over her stripe top, along with a pair of satin twill Frame Denim jeans and Saint Laurent shoes.


Sugar Cane

Sarah Hyland delighted in a white cropped top and blush pink midi trumpet skirt by Milly. Her outfit was expertly accessorized with an embellished Jenny Packham clutch and gold lace shoes.
Kate Bosworth is ornately beaded in this silver and white Giambattista Valli mini, tied up with a rose pink bow on the bodice. Metallic Casadei pumps fit her feet.
Alesha Dixon went ladylike in a white embellished cropped top and grey fan pleated midi skirt, both by Tibi.
Mena Suvari looked lovely in a floaty white cropped tank and a flower-cut-out Sachin+Babi skirt. Her look is finalized by a coral Edie Parker clutch and printed Dolce & Gabbana sandals.


Navy Blues

Ari Graynor wears a navy high waisted satin pants with a printed collarless and cuffed blouse by Tommy Hilfiger. White & beige platform loafers and a metallic envelope clutch style her look.
Hilary Rhoda mixes materials in this inky blue ribbed jumper and contrasting sheer beaded skirt by Jason Wu. Intricate Tabitha Simmons ankle strap sandals finish her look. 
Hannah Simone wears a cute nautical inspired navy and white dress imprinted with red sail boats, which is from Zooey Deschanel's collection for Tommy Hilfiger. Chunky red and white cap-toed heels add to the marine feel of her outfit.
Nikki Reed put on a winsome midnight shaded lace bodice Ted Baker dress with flaired chiffon skirt. She carries a JustFab gold glittered clutch and walks in red shoes.

Modern Elegance

Taylor Swift shed the sparkle for a more modern and simplistic look by J.Mendel with a white cut-out cropped top and slim black slitted skirt. Her sandals are by Casadei. 
Elle Fanning is all grown up in a ruby spaghetti strap slip dress by Versace. Bronze Christian Louboutin pumps and a Brian Atwood bag style her outfit.
Jessica Biel takes inspiration from Breakfast at Tiffany's in this elegant black plunge neck gown with belted waist and split skirt, which is by Oscar de la Renta.
Cassadee Pope was regal in a wine red chiffon pleated Maria Lucia Hohan gown with cut-out back.
Rebecca Hall makes a sophisticated statement in an embellished black Alexander McQueen column gown, with beaded clutch in hand.


Yellow Fever

Brooklyn Decker was a vision of Spring in this charming canary yellow lace long-sleeved romper by Valentino, worn with nude Saint Laurent sandals.
Candace Swanepoel looked stunning in an acid yellow strapless lace Valentino gown.
Emma Stone's saffron yellow Atelier Versace was the perfect choice for her pale skin tone and red hair. The pleated gown features a loosely slung bodice with fitted waist and straight skirt.

Who is your Favourite 'Look of the Week'?

Friday Frills

You are not made up of those words that hurt you. 

Or that number on the scale. 

Or the expectations that you feel you will never meet. 

You are made up of nothing more than you. 

Simply, beautifully, wonderfully, uniquely you. 

You are a lovely and complex soul. 

An individually fascinating combination of thoughts, ideas, feelings, emotions. 

No other is as beautiful as you. Look past the mirror. Look at your soul. 

Only then will you see yourself as you truly are. Beautiful.

Love yourself. Forgive yourself. 

And be true to yourself. 

How you treat yourself sets the standard for how others will treat you.

Quotes by Anonymous &  Steve Maraboli.