SS 2018: The Ultimate Trend Guide

While the fashion world is buzzing with Fashion Month stories, I decided to take a step back from the frenzy surrounding the ongoing fashion shows and focus on what's currently trending and is about to overtake our wishlist. Temperatures may still be a little low but Spring fashion is always shining a little ray of light on the gloomiest of days. If the clothes are sunny then maybe we can force Spring to come a little sooner? 

Fashion Conundrums: Mixed Prints

Hello fashion world,

I admit that activity on this blog has been rather minimal (if not non-existent) and I'm ashamed. Lately I've been placing all of my efforts on my other website, The Athenian Chic,which is more travel/lifestyle-oriented. However, maintaining this blog and fueling it with interesting content is on top of my priorities this year.

If there's one thing that keeps me from posting often is that there's a lot of work that usually goes into curating a post. I want the advice offered on here to be informed and well-rounded and actually useful to someone.

So following up on an idea I had back in December, I decided to start a series of posts on how to tackle various fashion conundrums and offer my personal take on them.

On top of my list of "tricky trends" was a styling practice I actually love which is none other than mixing prints.

Print mixing is admittedly a controversial trend and usually reserved for hardcore fashion fanatics. Most people tend to shy away for fear of looking clownish or out of place. It's definitely intimidating at first, but if you follow a few simple cues you might find another world of creativity hidden inside your closet. And that is the reason why I love styling. Fun, unorthodox pairings can make you re-discover old favorites or breathe new life into items you thought you had no use for.

How To Wear White Jeans In Winter

Americans have a rule that says "no white after Labor Day", which is a holiday celebrated on the first Monday of September. Any white garment  remotely reminiscent of summer escapades after that mark is considered a fashion faux pas. 

However over the last couple of years this rule seems to have no bearing on modern, fashion-forward women - along with plenty of other fashion rules. The lines between what's season-appropriate and what's not seem to be getting more and more blurry as time goes on. Almost anything goes, as long as it's properly styled. 

6 Office Chic Looks That Are Far From Boring

Hello hello,

Fall is the time to regroup and get busy. And with my graduation from Law School on the horizon, I've been thinking about professional attire more and more. As my friends land their first internships and jobs outside of uni, I am often asked about tips on how to look more put-together and work-appropriate. For anyone who lives in their jeans and t-shirt, it's certainly a challenge. However, the whole endeavor proves to be even more tedious for anyone who loves fashion and dressing for fun. Flamboyancy is unfortunately accepted and appreciated in very few work fields, so unless you're in the fashion industry or the arts, you're in need of clothes that will be a little more business and a little less play.

The first things to take into account when dressing for work are the field and the office dress code, as well as the actual work involved. Is it mainly in-office work? Are there going to be meetings with clients? You have to factor all that in your outfit-picking process. If unsure about the dress code, my word of advice is go in a little more formal during the first week just in case, observe what others are wearing and follow their lead.

Most of the outfits presented below are for offices without extremely strict dress codes because the options there are quite limited. I gather that most places should be okay with outfits like the ones suggested.

THE HIGH WAISTED PANT

Office Chic I by fashionistalooks featuring flower wall art

Neutral tones and minimal silhouettes are pretty much as foolproof as it gets. High waisted wide-leg pants are flattering, lengthening and a staple that shouldn't be missing from any wardrobe. Mannish coats are abundant on the market right now, so invest in a classic piece that will add that extra polish to both on and off-duty looks.

How To Update Your Style Mid-Winter

This time of year can be pretty boring. The inspiration runs thin. The weather is cold and dull, the holidays are well behind us, work and commitments beckon and you're stuck in your routine where nothing feels new or exciting.

Fashion can reflect that too. You're kind of over the glam Christmassy looks, the dark palette, the heavy knits but you're still (what feels like) eons away from spring and summer.  So what can you do to freshen up your mid-winter wardrobe? While the sales are still on, you can snag a couple of versatile pieces that will make the transition from winter to early spring that much easier. 

THE ROMANTIC BLOUSE

The Victorian blouse isn't going anywhere anytime soon. This ultra-romantic style will continue dominating our top choices in 2017 so grab a couple on sale now.

Romantic Blouses by fashionistalooks on polyvore.com

Runway To Bathroom: Les Copains F/W 2016-17 Makeup Look

Hello my lovely people,

I am so excited to start - or rather follow up on - this new series of beauty blog posts. Last year I did another recreation of a runway inspired makeup look which you can find here with a detailed how-to guide on bronzing and strobing for an effortless, slightly 70s inspired sunkissed look.

Today I have for you one of my favorite, go-to makeup looks that looks polished yet unfussy at the same time. No need to have major makeup artist skills to master this. Just a couple of brushes, a cleansed moisturized face and a few handy products! This look requires a very small amount of makeup products which is no surprise since runway makeup is usually very minimal and lighthanded. No contouring, not a bazillion different eyeshadows, no crisp winged eyeliner, nada. Just easy, chic, glowing makeup.

Here how to achieve it:

How To Get Ready FAST In The Morning

Streetstyle Inspiration: 6 Outfits To Try Now

Hello again my lovelies and happy Sunday!

How cool are Sundays. Seriously. Sleeping in, having some serious brunch and chilling at home all day in your pj's - priceless. If you're anything like me, you surely like to sneak in a little blog post too.

If there's one thing I'm grateful to fashion for, it's that it always encourages me to be in the moment. Trends, be it beauty, fashion, or cultural ones always push us to be present, to take notice in what's happening around us. This spring I've challenged myself to start feeling more in the moment and stop worrying about what's ahead. These are some somber times we live in, the least we can do for ourselves and our sanity is to make most of what's happening right now and stop stressing profusely about the future (which is something I've been guilty of).

So what is happening exactly in the fashion world right now? Streetstyle has been the main source of fashion inspiration for quite some time now and it's definitely shaping up the current fashion scene. From Alexander Wang to Gucci to Vetements, the street is the main point of reference when it comes to casual dressing.  This spring's street chic looks are unfussy, heavy on the denim, colorful and - what else -  effortlessly cool.

Here's a roundup of a few of my favorite street outfits to date and how to recreate them:

MIXED STRIPES

Streetstyle Inspired: Mixed Stripes by fashionistalooks featuring a navy blue sweater

Spring 2016 Trends How-To: Day-to-Night

Hello my lovely readers!

Long time, no see. How are you enjoying Spring so far? As the weather becomes warmer and warmer we find ourselves daydreaming about summer: long beaches, messy braids, tan skin, watermelon, frozen margueritas, effortless outfits and so on.

This is a very exciting season for me. I've found myself drawn to many of the hot Spring '16 trends and I can tell my wallet is already protesting. What I love about Spring and Summer style is that it's uncomplicated, unfussy, light, ethereal. At least that's my romanticized idea of it. There are so many streetstyle staples around these days: the denim mini skirt, the bomber jacket, the cropped flared jeans, the poplin cut-out shirts etc. But how do you take these items from street to evening chic? That's the challenge I'd like to tackle today.

Of course these aren't the only options, just mere suggestions. The possibilites are endless and they're entirely up to you. As you scroll through this post, you will find that often there are multiple trends combined in an outfit, even though the focus is on only one in each set. I did that so you can see how you can wear all these different trends together. If you have any questions please let me know in the comments section.

CROPPED FLARED JEANS

Cropped flares are basically the biggest jean trend we've seen in a while. They have a lightness to them while the cropped cut ellongates the leg, especially when paired with heels. It's fairly easy to style this streetstyle must during the day but questions arise once the sun has set. It's actually quite simple: find a fabulous metallic top, a pair of long earrings and high heeled mules (another huge trend this season), add a pop of color and you're good to go.

SS '16 Trends Day-to-Night: Cropped Flared Jeans by fashionistalooks featuring evening handbags

DIY Custom Liquid Highlighter (super easy!)

DIY Custom Highlighter by fashionistalooks featuring Becca Cosmetics

Mood Boards & Outfits: Valentine's Day

Hello my dear readers,

Valentine's Day is approaching and I thought it appropriate to make an outfit suggestions type of post. I considered doing it the usual way (if you're familiar with my posting style), by creating paperdolls (using Polyvore) that demonstrate the outfits.

But then I thought about making this more inspiring and personal, and less editorial-like. This isn't Who What Wear after all. Just a personal blog. What got me going was the idea that designing is always considered as more creative than styling and I just wanted to show you that styling can be a creative process and not just "which top goes with which skirt". Being a stylist feels like being an alchemist. It takes the right ingredients to make the perfect, sweet combination. While it's the designing that makes the garments, styling is what makes the look.

I bring you today 8 collages inspired by love that feature romantic, V Day-ready looks and the hottest items of the moment:

All sets are created by me.

flesh and bone - the pierces by fashionistalooks featuring a red bakeware

This is a sweet, feminine Valentine's Day look: classic, elegant red dress, matching lips, a nude coat and a silver pop that adds a glam touch. The oxfords give a slightly androgynous touch to the delicate, ladylike ensemble.

Fashion Conundrums: Wear Tights Like A Pro

How To: The Perfect Preppy Chic a la Blair Waldorf

Hello ladies and gents,

How are you? It feels strange publishing a fashion post after recent events...maybe all of us fashion enthusiasts can use fashion as a healing method. I know, it sounds ridiculous to some, but I think whichever way one chooses in order to cope is absolutely fine by my books. For some people it's lighting a candle, for others it's listening to music and for some of us it's putting our best look forward. Sometimes bravery and confidence and strength need a little boost, which can start from the outside. Put your lipstick on, put a smile on and you will get through the day.

Fashion and beauty are definitely not the panacea to the world's problems but they can be helpful to those who find refuge in them in order to feel strong again. That's not a bad thing, and it should not be demonized. So yeah, Blair Waldorf's looks are hardly relevant to what's been happening but they're something to help me take my mind off things for now. Just for now.

I know this isn't how you would expect this post to start but then again, I couldn't not acknowledge what's happened and how it has affected me because it has. I don't want to pretend it didn't and I don't want to feel ashamed for posting today. I'm sure most of you would understand. You're here too reading this, after all.

The Ultimate Summer Makeup

Makeup For Work/College: Α Tutorial

Trend Breakdown: How To Wear The 70s

How to: Spring Trends

Hello my lovely readers,

It's finally Spring! I've been looking forward to it because winter was very hectic and stressful for me. I'm definitely in need of some sunshine and fun. Time to get out more, be more productive, dress a little lighter and why not try a new trend?

From Summer To Fall: 7 tips to step into the season

Here we are again..

Tan lines fade and suitcases are finally being put away as we slip into September's dullness and new beginnings..

Remember when I did a post last season on how to achieve a smooth style transition from winter to spring? (You can check it here) Well, I felt it was only appropriate to do a post on now to avoid the awkwardness of having nothing to wear when the weather  does not say summer but not exactly scream autumn either. For me at least, changing up my style over that period of time helps me avoid the bore that September can be and I want to share with you 7 fast and economical ways you can get that yourself.

SANDALS vs OXFORDS/BALLERINAS

While sandals scream beach and summer dresses, ballerinas and oxford flats are the perfect preppy answer to the question what shoes to go for. Time to pull those out again and give your summer wardrobe a twist.