Shoppalu

Metallics are a great trend for summer and can really add to an outfit. Whether it’s just as a shoe or accessory, it can really help take an outfit to the next level. Check out below how these ladies worked metallics in their outfits for some inspiration.
By Samantha Pereira

This summer is definitely going by much faster than anticipated! However, that does not mean that we don’t have enough time to rock all of the trends of the season. We most definitely do! This weeks trend is metallics! Metallics are a fun way to spruce up an outfit with a solid colour, adding dimension and some flare. Check out how designers such as Rebecca Taylor, Badgley Mischka and DKNY brought metallic pieces out on the runway.
By: Samantha Pereira

Badgley Mischka Spring 2012 RTW

Badgley Mischka Spring 2012 RTW

Badgley Mischka Spring 2012 RTW

Cynthia Rowley Spring 2012 RTW

DKNY Spring 2012 RTW

DKNY Spring 2012 RTW

Rebecca Taylor Spring 2012 RTW

Rebecca Taylor Spring 2012 RTW

A couple of weeks ago, the ladies of Shoppalu got together for a styling shoot. Each lady was asked to pick two vintage items from the website and style it in three different ways, for three different looks. Over the next week or so, each post will feature one of the items showing how each lady styled it. Also, each lady has answered where they would ideally wear each outfit, which we will share with you.
The first item is a vintage bejewelled vest, which can be found here. Samantha, our Junior Buyer/ Online Associate Director has put together 3 ways to wear the vest. Check it out below and see what she has to say about where she’d ideally wear each outfit!

“Ideally, this first outfit would be worn out to a casual lunch or dinner, or even a shopping date. I feel as though the vest, in this situation, adds a nice touch to this outfit, which keeps it from straying to “plain” or “boring”.

“Ideally I’d wear this second outfit to work. I think it has a professional feel to it while still feeling a little edgier with a bit of flare. It definitely appeals more to my aesthetic.”

“With this third look, I think it’s perfect for a night out on the town. The black silk romper is simple which really allows the vest to be the focal point which I love. Going out at night in this vest would really allow for the bejeweled embellishments to shine in the light.”
Be sure to check back for when we post more from our styling shoot!

Gwen Vikkey Miao (Vicki Victoire) is a Chinese blogger born in Denver, Colorado. Vicki is proud of her Chinese heritage and can be seen through her blog La Mode by GV Miao and outfits. Vicki has lived all over the world and her multicultural background has influenced her style. Check out our Q&A with Vicki :)

1) How long have you been blogging for? What made you start?
Two years. I first set up my blog and facebook fan page in January or February of 2010. I guess it was my enthusiasm for fashion and faith. I used to be a fashion marketer and visual merchandiser for a few brands such as Ralph Lauren and TSE New York. I had a feeling that bloggers from all over the world were doing more or less the same thing.
Being conscious of my Chinese heritage, I tend to make my blog unique and genuine by specializing myself in oriental-inspired fashion with eastern motifs cross-fertilizing western styles which brings an exotic feel to it. You may find my blog exceptionally different from American or European bloggers’ in terms of style, themes and choice of topics.

2) How would you describe your aesthetic?
As my blog suggests, I admire oriental glam, Victorian elegance and vintage style. My aesthetic principle is that one must fully understand him/herself, avoid follow trends blindly, and be able to express his/her personality through clothes. God creates each of us special and unique. Not only top models deserve to be beautiful and fashionable. Everybody does as long as you have passion for life.
3) Your perfect outfit consists of?
Either a one-piece dress or jumpsuit with a perfect silhouette and exquisite hand-craftsmanship such as Shiatzy Chen’s beads work and embroidery and a pair of patent leather pumps. My perfect outfit should be made up of a variety of fabric combinations. I love the idea of mixing fabrics and textures such as chiffon with silk satin, lace with velvet.

4) A classic trend you try to incorporate into your style
Traditional Chinese dress qi-pao, I’ve got a knit top with qi-pao inspired high collar and sleeves by Vivienne Tam. It would be perfect to accessorize the look with Shiatzy Chen jade necklaces, which entirely exudes oriental glamor.
5) One thing on your bucket list you have to do…
Be a successful fashion blogger and share my love and support among the talented Chinese/Asian designers and bring them to the world’s attention; celebrate traditional Chinese culture through fashion, and launch my designer brand with the help of my mom who has been a seamstress all her life (Ooops, sorry I mentioned 3 things).

Astrid Bergès-Frisbey is an up and coming actress from Spain, born in Barcelona. You may remember her as one of the mermaids in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. We love her feminine yet modern style and the way she makes menswear look girly-chic.

Astrid Berges-Frisbey x Glamour France July 2012 photographed by Jonas Bresnan

As shot in Glamour France’s 100th issue

More girly-menswear shots from the French Glamour shoot

At Cannes in 2011

On the street

Attending Fashion Dinner For AIDS at Pavillon d’Armenonville in 2010

World premier of Pirates of the Caribbean on Stranger Tides at Disneyland

These ladies sure know how to work sheer pieces. Look below for some inspiration on how to incorporate a sheer alternative into your summer looks!
By Samantha Pereira.

In the summer, thanks to the amazing weather, we are constantly looking for items that are going to keep us cool—yet stylish. However, sometimes this may result in constantly choosing the shortest of shorts, smallest of tanks and showing off a whole lot of skin. This weeks trend is to give us an alternative to the seemingly always casual look for summer. On the runway we saw a lot of sheer pieces of clothing, whether it was a skirt, top, dress, and sometimes even pants. Incorporating a sheer piece of clothing into your outfit can look elegant, while adding some sex appeal without going over the top. Check out how designer Christian Dior, Nina Ricci, and Lanvin added sheer pieces to their collections.
By: Samantha Pereira.

Badgley Mischka Spring 2012 RTW

Chanel Spring 2012 RTW

Christian Dior Spring 2012 RTW

Christian Dior Spring 2012 RTW

Lanvin Spring 2012 RTW

Lanvin Spring 2012 RTW

Nina Ricci Spring 2012 RTW

Nina Ricci Spring 2012 RTW

Nina Ricci Spring 2012 RTW

By: Eden Goldberg

Most people love summer for its endless sunshine. When we’re soaking up the sun, though, we must be careful to protect ourselves from the harmful UV rays. Sure, slapping on sunscreen is always a good call, but why not go one step further and look stylish while doing so? The best way to look summer chic while still being sun safe is by wearing a floppy, oversized sunhat. There’s always a reason why certain fashions repeat themselves, and floppy sunhats fit the category. For decades, women have been wearing this classic style of hat. It has always been, and will continue to be, a great way to style up any summer outfit while at the pool or out for lunch. Whether you find one new or vintage, chances are they’ll be the same timeless style. So bask in the sun, and look classy while doing so. Be inspired by these hats from the past!

Kayley Heeringa is a true multi-tasker. She is a blogger, photographer, hair and fashion stylist and works part-time at Gap. Apart from fashion inspirations, her blog Sidewalk Ready consists of hair tutorials, home decor and photography. Check out our interview with her!

1) How long have you been blogging for? What made you start?
I started my blog at the very end of September 2010. I started completely on a whim after a good friend of mine proposed the idea. That evening, I went home and updated my facebook status to “I’m thinking about starting a fashion blog but have no idea if anyone would read it.” I got 14 likes on that status so I figured 14 reader was a pretty good start!

2) How would you describe your aesthetic?
I feel like my fashion aesthetic is constantly developing. What used to be completely girly and romantic, has taken on an edge of sophistication that I’m really loving. I feel like I’m coming into my sense of style as I grow older, and I’m totally digging feeling classy and mature lately.

3) Your perfect outfit consists of?
It absolutely depends on my mood, but for the sake of answering the question, I would probably have to say something that incorporates all aspects of my aesthetic - some femininity with a dress or a skirt, a splash of sophistication with a blazer, and a little bit of sexiness with some stand out heels.

4) A trend you like to incorporate as much into your style as possible…
Stand out accessories. I love wearing a simple outfit and making it pop with an awesome necklace and some fabulous shoes. I love this trend because I can re-wear my favorite clothing pieces and accessories over and over and make them feel constantly new.

5) One thing on your bucket list you have to do …
I haven’t yet composed a bucket list but one thing I absolutely want to do during my life is slowly chip away at making our home the vision I have in my head. I am so in love with the location, history, and style of the house and I have so many big plans for it!

By: Eden Goldberg

Most “fashionistas” seem to follow trends, yet still maintain a look of their own. What makes this so? Everyday we are inspired by peoples’ unique senses of fashion. There are certain components of a person’s outfit that transform simple pieces into an exhibit of his or her style. A person’s style can really portray his or her personality, exert confidence, and inspire others.

Interestingly, what makes many peoples’ style their own is not necessarily their clothing. When one thinks about fashion, clothing is usually the thing that comes to mind first. As we’ve seen from many of our other blog posts, individuals can obviously reflect their style by combining new and unique looks through patterns, cuts, and colours. However, when assessing someone’s style we must look beyond clothing.

Let us all agree that any person, from the most fashionable to the least fashionable, wears some form of clothing everyday (well, hopefully). The wealthiest to the poorest, conservative to hipster to punk, men and women, all wear clothing. So it’s not really our clothing that makes our sense of style, is it?

While clothing can make subtle differences, the easiest pieces you can use to define your style are accessories.

Any two people can wear jeans and a white t-shirt, yet their accessories can completely revamp the simple look. No matter which accessories you add to an outfit you are transforming it to make the outfit your own, thus defining your own personal style. Accessories can also help you change up your wardrobe by creating a new look from the same pieces of clothing. For example, a cotton black dress could go from work to play by changing from loafers to strappy heels and briefcase to clutch.

Looking around at the well-dressed people on blogs or on the street, one can see that many dress complexly. Some people can be overwhelmed by certain outfits and would feel that they are not “hip” or “fashionable” enough to look like that. Well don’t be intimidated; it’s easy to look stylish!

Anyone can renovate his or her look by adding just a few accessories. Be your own personal stylist; have a look at people around you and think about what you like about their outfits. Chances are it will be an accessory that adds something extra to a plain outfit that anyone could wear.

So, wrap a scarf around your neck, add a belt to pop in some colour, wear a hat if (or even if not) you’re having a bad hair day, wear sunglasses, chunky necklaces, dangly earrings, and funky shoes… the list of amazing accessories can go on forever.

Do remember though; do not go overboard on the accessories. While we love them for adding in a punch of our selves to our style, too many will take away from the outfit and the clear style you are aiming to display. So if you’re pondering what to put on in the morning, try some simple clothes and fancy it up with some awesome accessories to create a new and unique look for you!

The Russian Fash Pack has been making a splash with fashionphiles everywhere with so much attention from everyone from Tommy Ton to Vogue. Not only is the Russian Fash Pack redefining how we see Russian style from Eurotrash victims (side bar: not in the fierce and fabulous way our girl Justine Iaboni works it) think horrible, tacky, and laughable to creative, unique, and elegant. Miroslava Duma probably describes this phenomenon best when she says “There was 70 years of nothing at all in our country, and then when people got huge money from oil, there was huge interest in fashion,”…“Even if people had money before, they were afraid to expose it.”

Probably the most visible of the formidable pack is Ulyana Sergeenko. Sergeenko is a burgeoning designer, photographer and former model who showed for the first time at Paris Couture Week. Her aesthetic is ladylike and somehow seamlessly integrates multiple decades into one look or outfit. Her designs are inspiring, one-of-a-kind and a fresh take on fashion.

Sergeenko pictured for an interview in Wonderland magazine

Shot for Garage Magazine by Nick Shuskevich

More shots from Sergeenko’s Garage Magazine shoot

Outside Jean-Paul Gauthier during Paris Couture Week 2012/2013

Ulyana Sergeenko with Elena Perminova

Babushka-clad at Giambatista Valli 2012-13 - (left to right) Elisabeth Von Guttman, Alexia Niedzelski, Shala Monroque, Elena Perminova & Ulyana Sergeenko

Sergeenko outside of Christian Dior’s Haute Couture presentation 2012-2013

Sergeenko at the John Galliano Ready-To-Wear Fall/Winter 2012 show

The designer’s Fall/Winter 2012 couture collection

Ulyana Sergeenko’s 2011/2012 Lookbook

Look below for some inspiration on great ways to colour block. Make sure not to keep the colours in you’re outfit around two or three. Anything over three will just make you look like a rainbow. Also, to keep the colours within the same family. This can mean either warm tones, cool tones, or even jewel tones. Check out how these ladies get it done right!! By Samantha Pereira.

It’s a brand new week and a brand new trend. Since we’ve been looking a lot at patterns, it’s time to look at an alternative when choosing what to wear this summer. A great alternative to prints and patterns, especially for those of us who aren’t really fans of prints, is colour blocking. Colour blocking is a great way to still be able to spruce up you’re outfit while still looking sleek and chic. There are also many different ways to wear colour blocked pieces to fit you’re own personal aesthetic. Check out designers such as Marc by Marc Jacobs, Tommy Hilfiger, and Sophie Theallet showcase the trend on the runway!

Carolina Herrera Spring 2012 RTW

J. Mendel Spring 2012 RTW

Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring 2012 RTW

Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring 2012 RTW

Reed Krakoff Spring 2012 RTW

Sophie Theallet Spring 2012 RTW

Sophie Theallet Spring 2012 RTW

Tommy Hilfiger Spring 2012 RTW

Tommy Hilfiger Spring 2012 RTW

Victoria Beckham Spring 2012 RTW

By: Eden Goldberg

Many people wonder what the hottest colors are this season. Well, the truth is, the best way to look Summer Chic is by wearing the boldest and brightest colors that repeat themselves naturally every summer. That’s right, let nature inspire you. The beautiful tones that bring life to your garden can revive any outfit and make it perfect for summer. Just take a look at how these accessories are inspired by the floral colors that come alive in the summer season. It’s only natural that Mother Nature’s summer colors be ours too!

So, when in doubt of what color to wear, let nature inspire you! Let the garden be your guide!

Bebe Zeva from Las Vegas is known for her colourful pieces and combinations. One of the things I admire the most is she is also not afraid to accessorize. It’s hard to believe that this young fashionista is only 19 years old. We are excited to see where she goes from this point on. Check out her blog here!

1) How long have you been blogging for? What made you start?
I started blogging in October 2010 because I wasn’t doing enough to channel my creativity. I wanted to challenge myself by looking at a style with a new perspective. Seeing fashion as an art form gave me an incredible new appreciation of the industry. And now that I’ve developed standards for my style, I’m always aiming to out-do myself.

2) How would you describe your aesthetic?
Unpredictable! I couldn’t dedicate my aesthetic to any one theme, that’s why I adopt a new persona every day. Sometimes I wear conservative prints like argyle and polka dots, and other days I’ll wear a cut up graphic t-shirt with 6-inch platform combat boots. The more unrecognizable I look from one day to the next, the better!

3) What does your perfect outfit consist of?
There’s a perfect outfit for every occasion. Since I’m in the Spring spirit, I’d say my ideal outfit consists of a pair of patchwork black jeans, platform ankle boots, a baggy black band tee, faux fur vest, red paisley bandana, and crazy jewelry. I’m talking 10 pounds of metal hanging from my neck, wrists, and fingers! Evidently, I’m ready to rock this season.

4) A favourite trend you try to incorporate into your style…
Flower crowns. Every Monday I go to the dollar store and buy bouquets of silk flowers to weave into a wreath of floral wire. Ideally I’d like a crown in every color! Hopefully by the time I complete my collection, the trend won’t be irredeemably passe. ;)

5) One thing on your bucket list you have to do:
Contrary to my clothing choices, I’m not a big risk taker. I’d probably choose something safe (but potentially dangerous to my health in the long-term) like eating 150 buffalo wings drenched in hot sauce while watching an entire season of Sex and the City. Actually, that sounds too good to reserve for a bucket list… I think I’ll work it into my agenda this weekend.

You may know this week’s Fashion Icon of the Week, Lauren Santo Domingo, from her Twitter persona, @theLSD, or from the fact that she’s a founder of M’oda Operandi one of the fashion retail business’ greatest online innovation: the designer trunk show. Did we mention she was also a contributing editor of Vogue and once was president of Carolina Herrera? Here at Shoppalu, we like a woman with style and substance, and the LSD definitely has both with her business savvy and fashion heavyweight BFFs (Margherita Missoni is a close friend).

Her home featured in Vogue

Santo Domingo at Paris Fashion Week S/S 2010

Classic American street style at New York Fashion Week

Santo Domingo at the J. Mendel show for NYFW

With long time pals Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler

Woman on the go

At Derek Blasberg’s book launch, Very Classy with Giovanna Battaglia, Olivier Theyskens and Blasberg

Modelling jewels in Vogue Paris

At the Met Gala in 2010

Just before her wedding’s reception, Santo Domingo decided she wanted a short dress, luckily for her, she’s friends with the designer Olivier Theyskens (of Nina Ricci), so he cut the dress in half

In case you were wondering, this is what she wore in the church

These ladies rock ankle socks with any type of shoe. Here is some inspiration on how to rock the trend in a fashionable way. By Samantha Pereira.