Style Ingredient: open backs with necklaces

For some reason, this always reminds me of the No. 5 Chanel ad where an open back dress was teamed with a No. 5 penchant. However, open backs with necklaces also look good for non-promotional activities! The silver chain necklace above looks great with Yola Thorp's top which is worn backwards to make an open back. I also love the style below, where pearl necklaces are draped round to create a romantic look. This pic is from Yellow Tete.

Style ingredient: more hair adornment from Chanel

A while ago we all swooned over the DIY version of Chanel's beautiful pearl hair slides. These are a stunning, classic way to make a special hair-do, however, whilst browsing Chanel's Spring 2012 ads I came across another, more modern way of adorning your hair, courtesy of Uncle Karl. Although I don't remember these being featured on the runway, the Chanel ads show clear plastic flower clips places all over Saskia de Brauw's hair. Although I don't know how this would translate in 'real life', I love the effect of the clear accessories! Images via Fashionising.

Style ingredient: Smart layering

This outfit was posted on Armoire Ideale a few days ago and really fascinated me. It is a fabulous look by itself, but what really impressed me is that these are all layered separates and accessories which weren't designed to be worn together, but have been cleverly combined. I didn't think that layering a few pieces could look this professional, but everything really looks like it was made to be worn together!

Style ingredient: ankle candy

Now that arm candy is an established fashion term, it is time to adorn new limbs! On a lot of blogs recently I have seen cuffs worn around ankles to form a faux-ankle strap. I also really like this take on the trend: wrapping a necklace around your ankle to create ankle candy! So pretty, and perfect for tanned legs in the summer! Image via I'm Trying To Be Famous.

Style ingredient: new ways to wear red

Gone are the days when a red clothing item was the stand-out piece of an outfit, paired with neutrals. Lately, whilst bright colours remain on trend, we have seen it being combined in new and modern ways. Here are a few new colour combinations to wear with red! All pictures and their sources can be found on my Pinterest account.

1. Red and pink (of course) This used to be sacrilegious but has now become a full-blown trend. Whether it's red on top or pink, any way to combine the two is on-trend and results in gorgeous, stand-out outfits like the ones above.

   2. Red and orange. Another warm colour that compliments red really well is orange. This subtle combination doesn't provide as much as a contrast as the pink&red trend, but still feels very modern.

3. Red with multiple other bright colours. Finally, if done right, red can be combined with multiple other stand-out colours to create a look that is both complimentary and contrasting.

Style ingredient: matching a crop top with a skirt

Those of you who have me on Pinterest may recognize this picture. I found it at Pins, Needles and Fashion and it was taken backstage at the Sally Lapointe show. Lately, I have been seeing a lot of matching crop tops with skirts in fashion editorials etc (remember Topshop's version?) and I really love this look, but I had no idea whether it could translate into a wearable look. And I think this look above has done just that: made this trend wearable! The black crochet ensemble is a subtle take on the trend that is easy to wear and looks fabulous!

Style Ingredient: Silvio Betterelli's printed trousers

One of Spring's biggest trends is printed trousers. From flower patterns to abstract prints, they are everywhere and lots of people are rocking the look! Generally, the idea is: the crazier the better, and amazing print mixing combinations are coming out of this trend. Whilst I still completely love this look, the look above caught my eye from the Silvio Betterelli collection, and this may be a way to develop the trend for fall. The trousers are printed with a gorgeous photoprint, but are not completely covered in it. The print makes a great statement at the top of the trousers, but then stops, leaving the rest of them solid. I think this is a great twist on the usually fully printed trousers, and one that can be very chic and wearable this winter!
Images via Style Bistro.

Style ingredient: Rodarte starry hair clips

You know how sometimes you're creating an outfit and you feel like you should add something but you don't know what?! Rodarte gave me the answer for next time that happens to me: a statement hairclip! These beautiful hair clips were featured in Rodarte's a/w 2012 collection and they really do make a lovely statement for any type of hair.
Image via From Me To You.

Style Ingredient: Styling inspiration from Sass & Bide

Sass & Bide is a label that is going from strength to strength at the moment. The brand has nailed both the neon and print trends, and seems to keep on getting better. Looking at their past two lookbooks, there are a lot of style ideas to try to recreate:
1. Pair a fancy, bright dress, with casual, gold sneakers. I love the deep red with the gold, and the contrast between the luxurious silk and the casual sneakers is great!

2. Mixing different textures in black looks even better when contrasted with a neon accessory.

3. A flash of gold looks great with panels of bright prints.

4. Wear a bright colour under a white lace dress for a cool colour pop. I love this one! I have been wearing my lace pieces with nude underlayers, but I am definitely going to replace these for bright colours!

5. Update a simple jacket with interesting sleeves. This is also one of my favourites, it adds something extra to a jacket whilst still keeping it simple, so you can wear it casually.

6. Break up a monochrome outfit with printed trousers. I still love monochrome, but it also looks really great as a way of styling print.

7. Use colour - at the back of your outfit. The back of clothing has been given lots of attention recently, but it is usually in the form of cut-outs etc. I like this idea of keeping the back exactly the same as the front - just a completely different colour. It almost looks like she's wearing the top back to front, but I love it!
Images via Sass & Bide.

PS  - IF YOU ARE A GFC FOLLOWER, DON'T FORGET THAT GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT WILL BE UNAVAILABLE FOR NON-GOOGLE USERS FROM THE 1ST OF MARCH. I WOULD LOVE IT IF YOU STAID CONNECTED IN ANOTHER WAY, SUCH AS TWITTER OR BLOGLOVIN

Style Ingredient: Mixing sequin prints at Suno a/w 2012

I will leave the reviews of the collections currently being presented during fashion week to the experts, but I do want to introduce a new feature to the blog: Style Ingredients. These are the styling tips from lookbooks or collections, or inspiration that catches my eye. The first Style Ingredient comes from one of my favourite shows for Fall 2012 so far: Suno. The collection was all about mixing prints, and this one look really stood out for me. Usually, when you wear sequins, you let the clothing item stand on its own and do all the talking. But in this look, print mixing was brought to sequin clothes. One statement piece isn't enough: you throw another one, in a different print and/or colour on top for a very chic look! Images via Style Bistro.

A fashion revolution? Skirts over dresses

It all started with the peplum miniskirts worn over dresses at the iconic Miu Miu fall 2012 collection. Now, for spring 2012 and fall 2012, Derek Lam (for his 10 Crosby collection) and Alexander Wang have both featured skirts over dresses. A lot of people expressed their dislike when Karoline Kurkova tried out the look recently, however , Diane Kruger managed to rock it.. Now I want to know what you think! Personally, I quite like this look, when done right. I think that a complementary skirt over a printed dress, showing just a peak of the dress at the bottom looks very chic. I wonder whether this will be a true fashion revolution, and everyone in 10 years will find this look completely normal, and wonder what all the fuss was about back in 2012.. What do you think?
Images: 10 Crosby by Derek Lam, via Twirly Skirts and Diane Kruger in the collection via Zimbio.

Style inspiration: J Crew Lookbook

J Crew's lookbook is always full of amazing fashion, and really useful styling tips. However, I am being stubborn and ignoring those! I want to share with you the style inspiration, and styling tips, that caught my eye.
1. (above): NEON LIPS! Featured everywhere in the lookbook, they complemented outfits perfectly, or clashed with outfits fabulously. I expect most make-up brands to start bringing neon lipsticks onto the market, so we will have to wait and see which is the best one.

2. This look I really thought was genius: pairing a patterned top with a solid, bright skirt and then matching the colour of the skirt in your necklace! Am already mentally going through my wardrobe to see if I have any items I could use to recreate this..

3. Don't stop at a matchy-matchy printed look, throw in another trend: the peplum! This style goes so well with head-to-toe print (especially when the print is as amazing as this one).

4. Throw a casual knitted jumper over a fancy, bright - preferably sequinned - skirt for the ultimate daytime-chic look!

To view the rest of the lookbook, click here.