Perfecting the Peplum -Part 1

By now you must all be aware of the peplum trend which has made it's way from the runway into our high street stores. Originating from the 1940s and making a comeback in the 1980s with a more dramatic "Dynasty" look, the 2012 modern take on the peplum is minimalist with simpler lines to create an effortless look without losing any of its feminine flair.

The hourglass effect this look creates is a dream for any woman and with it being so simple to achieve, you would think by now women everywhere own some sort of peplum creation in their wardrobe. The emphasis on the waist creates a sophisticated, lady-like silhouette that will flatter any figure.

Neon Trend

Many of you must have noticed by now that neon is the blinding shade of the season. These luminous colours are an excellent way to brighten up any outfit and add character to it.

Try small doses of it in your outfit rather than all over look. While some may be able to pull it off, in most cases you'll end up looking like a fashion reject from the 80's. Some designers incorporate these colours as stripes or stitching in their designs. A small amount can go a long way.

To attract attention to this shade, co-ordinate with bright colours such as white or silver. To tone it down choose colours such as beige, brown or grey.

1.Madewell
2.Loeffler Randall
3.Topshop
4.Chanel
5.Zara
6.Madewell
7.Karen Walker
8.Topshop
9.Marni

If you can't find the right amount or combination of neon then why not try to DIY it!! Fashion blogger Maegan of  ...love Maegan.com took the neon trend into her own hands and redesigned one of her own pair of shoes to fit the trend. See how she did it here.

DIY shoes

I have an obsession with heels and I crave them so badly  - probably because I never get the opportunity to wear them while trying to run around after 3 kids - that I recently bought these pair from Zara and they are so surprisingly comfortable that I might just be able to get away with leaving them on all day! The only thing that I would love to change is that middle strap! If Zara hadn't added it on, then it would make for the perfect simple ankle strap heel.

So I decided to take matters into my own hands and take on a DIY challenge. But before I make any alterations I tried out the look on photoshop.

What do you think??

BEFORE

AFTER

Sleeveless Blazer - Part 3

Changing of the Season

While we saw it trending hugely last season and loved layering it over our winter fabrics, the sleeveless blazer has proven to be just as popular this Spring/Summer by teasing us with it's new lighter fabric and summery shades.

Investing in an item of clothing that can be adapted from one season to the next is a wardrobe necessity. But how do we adjust to that change?

There's no need to go out and buy the new 'mint green' version...just work with the one you have by mixing it up with what is currently trending. Wear it on top of your summer dress, add it to a loose vest and shorts or even try to be a little risque and wear it alone as a tunic.

Here are some suggestions on how to take last year's sleeveless blazer and re-invent it to work with your spring/summer wardrobe.

Dress: Bally, Clutch: 3.1 Phillip Lim, Shoes: Zara

Blouse: Aubin&Wills, Silk trousers: Sportmax, Shoes: Bally, Handbag: Chloe

T-shirt: 3.1 Phillip Lim, Shorts: H&M, Shoes: Tory Burch, Handbag: Versace

Sleeveless Blazer - Part 2

D.I.Y it!

As I mentioned in the previous post, it was proving difficult trying to locate a long sleeveless blazer in Bahrain and rather than going through the time-consuming headache of  purchasing online I decided to make one myself. 

I luckily stumbled on this blazer from the H&M sale at a ridiculous price of only 5 dinar!! It was the perfect length and fit to help recreate the sleeveless look. All I did was simply cut off the sleeves and stitch around the shoulder opening.

The result speaks for itself......

The sleeveless blazer is such a versatile item that it enables you to create many different looks. I was so excited to play around with it and come up with various styles.

Here are some of them.....

Sleeveless Blazer - Part 1

How to wear it

I have been meaning to publish this post since last autumn but have completely forgotten about it. Now that the weather has improved and we've moved into a new season, an update is needed for this post and for this reason I have split it into 3 parts to cater for the extra info.

Back in September 2011 I was craving over the sleeveless blazer and had been searching all over Bahrain for the right one but alas with no prevail.....until.... I came up with the idea to just DIY it! I found the perfect blazer from H&M and with a pair of scissors in my hand (and good stitching skills), the sleeveless blazer was created. But this will all be discussed in Part 2 of this post.

Sources: AtlanticPacific, ThisTimeTomorrow, HallieDaily, Tumbler

Adding a sleeveless blazer to your outfit is a trendy twist to the formal suit jacket. It gives an edgy vibe to a smart, sophisticated silhouette and is also a great aid for creating the latest craze of layering.

Choose the longer styles because they generally work best with any outfit weather it be skinny pants, shorts, skirts or dresses.

To carry the trend over from A/W to S/S simply opt for lighter shades, colours and fabrics. This is one item of clothing you can't go wrong with.