Posts tagged color

Trend Obsession: Monochrome Moment, Part 2


Last week, we focused on monochrome looks in their most classic form: black and white. Dressing in just one color can be daunting, so starting with all-black or all-white ensembles is a great way to experiment with the monochrome trend. But now that we’re a little more comfortable with the look, why should we just limit ourselves to black and white? As we enter into spring, we want our outfits to reflect our sunnier moods—that means color, and lots of it!

Once you’ve mastered black and white, try out a monochrome look in one of spring’s hottest colors; my favorites are emerald, blue-green, or orange, but don’t be afraid to try something new! The most important part of putting together a colorful monochrome look is to wear the color in a variety of tones—make sure your look isn’t matchy-matchy and stay away from choosing all pieces that are too similar in shade.

For a casual day-to-day look, choose one piece of clothing in a bright color and build the rest of your outfit around it. Try pairing a pale blue silk blouse with a pair of electric blue pants and accessorize with a navy blazer or a patterned blue scarf. Choosing a suit in a bright color (as seen above) is an even bolder way to try this trend, just make sure your accessories and other components aren’t the identical shade as the suit. To transition the outfit to evening, add a brightly colored clutch or a vibrant pair of blue pumps to your ensemble. Color-coordinating your accessories to your outfit is an absolute must with this trend.

The key to wearing colorful monochrome is not being afraid to experiment; just because you’re limited to one color doesn’t mean you can’t play around with different shades and patterns! Step into spring in a fun, colorful monochrome look-you’ll be sure to stand out!

~Alyssa, fashioniSTA

(Image credits for collage: www.nyanzi.com, carolinesmode.com, www.asos.com)

Get the Look: Spring 2013

The snow is melting (for now) and the flowers are blooming…spring is officially upon us! And in the fashion world this means, pastels, floral prints, bold neons, and skirts sans tights. This spring, with trends coming from every angle - from super masculine to extra feminine - opposites really do attract!

Stripes are always a must come springtime, but this year say goodbye to nautical themed stripes and hello to the big and the bold. Wide, statement-making stripes can be found on everything from leggings to bathing suits. Try subtlety mixing this pattern into your current wardrobe by pairing a striped tee with a boyfriend blazer and cropped pants. Or if you’re the more fashion forward type, fully embrace the look and go for stripes on stripes. Go for the runway-popular black and white look paired with a sharp red lip for an instant ensemble.
To put even more of a masculine edge in your closet, this season is all about the suit gone short. Mixing up your nighttime ensemble has never been easier thanks to suits that incorporate shorts rather than pants. Ease into this trend by donning the shorts by day and adding the matching jacket for a night out.

If you gravitate towards more feminine trends, then spring is your time to shine. With warmer weather approaching, sheer details and cutouts are back. A great way of showing a little skin without being too revealing, try sheer sleeves for daytime and sheer panels for night. To take it to the next level, go with intricate cutouts on a skirt or a dress, a trend that popped up consistently during NYFW.
To embrace the feminine side of spring, in a more unexpected way than florals, try out the ruffle trend that swept the runways. From skirts to necklines, ruffles and origami-like folds are adding new dimension to any outfit this season. If you happen to like non-sparkly embellishments, this is a fresh take on adding a little extra to your ensemble.

Whether you’re all about raiding your boyfriend’s closet or stick strictly to girly shapes, there’s something for everyone this season. Remember, spring is the time to try new trends and embrace what works for your style!

Nail Colors of the Moment for Any Ensemble

In my opinion, an outfit is never complete unless you have perfectly manicured nails. No matter how great and fashionable you may look, a chipped manicure will bring down your overall look. Luckily, it’s easy to polish your look by stopping by your favorite local nail salon, or if you’re in a pinch put on a few coats of polish yourself! Here are a few nail trends that will keep your nails looking fashion forward:

1. Pale nails.
Pale nails never go out of style. This is always my basic fallback option and better yet, you can get away with having a few chips without it being glaringly obvious! Essie’s Mademoiselle is the perfect pale pink that instantly makes you look more polished and put together. Essie describes this color as “the most classic, grown-up pink,” and we couldn’t agree more! We also love a classic nude nail, and Essie’s Topless and Barefoot is a lovely nude. This is a fresh option for black tie events instead of going with a bold color (like with the Elie Saab dress pictured below), and it’s perfect for outfits that are tricky to match to your nails (like the Theodora & Callum cover-up below).

2. Dark gray.
Although this may not seem like your typical nail polish color, this color surprisingly goes with everything. We love Essie’s Smokin’ Hot. It’s not too dark, but is dark enough to make a statement. We think that a dark gray color can be worn similarly to a dark purple. Think dark gray paired with your favorite slouchy sweater and boots (sweater pictured below is J. Crew, boots are by Ugg). We recommend a nice flat gray that doesn’t have sparkles in it for a clean look worthy of Pinterest.

3. Dark reds.
Dark red is currently having a moment of popularity. This is a classic color that is perfect for this time of year, and we’re fixed on Butter’s La Moss hue. We love a dark oxblood red and have found that it’s wonderfully versatile for our winter wardrobe. We think this color beautifully compliments a wide variety of colors, from winter white to dark colors. Since oxblood has been so huge this fall and winter, you can wear this to add a pint of punch to a neutral outfit (like the black and gold Marni dress pictured below), or use it to complement an already-colorful ensemble (like the Dolce & Gabbana dress below). For the truly oxblood-obsessed, match your nails to your lips for a look that is unbeatably currant (pun intended).

Enjoy your manicures everyone!

~Molly, fashioniSTA

A Very FashioniSTA Birthday

Earlier this week, this fashioniSTA celebrated a very stylish birthday (not to mention a double birthday for my fashionable twin sister as well). Friends and family gathered on a waterfront restaurant roof deck overlooking Boston’s harbor where the sun was shining and the sangria was absolutely delicious. To dress for the occasion I wore a white form-fitting Nicole Miller number, while my sister opted for a flowy feminine look in soft pink silk chiffon. FashioniSTA friends arrived in sundresses and full skirts covered in florals, lace, and summer stripes.  It was quite the party.

On your birthday it’s your time to shine, and at your party you are already the center of attention so make sure you dress the part.  Don’t be afraid to wear a bold color or to steal the show in sequins. Play up your personality and show off your own unique personal style.  Here are some fabulous looks for a fashioniSTA birthday party:

LWD: The little white dress is easily summer’s version of the LBD.  It’s classic, elegant, and chic, and is the perfect dress for any special occasion- especially on your special day. The little white dress allows you to accessorize in a way that really shows off your personality, like adding some personalized Alex and Ani bangles or a statement necklace. There are many options of silhouettes, fabrics and details, so chose something that flatters your figure and that you feel comfortable in.
FashioniSTA picks: Susana Monaco, Alice + Olivia, Nicholas.

Be Bold: Another option is to wear a bright color which really puts you as the center of attention on your birthday. Neon has been a huge trend this spring and summer, so if you’re feeling daring, don a dress if the super bright shades. If trends aren’t your thing, try a dress in a summery shade of coral or yellow. Wearing a bold color exudes confidence and shows a fun, playful personality.
FashioniSTA picks: BCBGMAXAZRIA, Herve Leger.

Sparkle and Shine: At STA we love anything that sparkles. If you really want to shine on your birthday, wear sequins. A little sparkle will never go out of style.
FashioniSTA picks: Parker, MICHAEL Michael Kors.

~Lisa, fashioniSTA