Color Block with a Modern Twist

Color blocking simply means wearing two or more solid hues resulting in a catchy yet chic look. Simply put, it's adding blocks of solid colors to a look and has been around for a while. This trend is still holding strong and is not going anywhere anytime soon. 

While neutral and subtle colors still look great together, a trend setting modern twist of pairing shades that are opposite on the color wheel make for an eye catching and edgier vibe that's not for the faint hearted. Opposite color pairs like orange and blue are known as complimentary colors meaning they produce greater contrast than either would with any other color. With the right accessories in the mix, this combo can effortlessly take your look from daytime to date night. Remember this look here?

A color blocked look still has the propensity (gosh, I'm becoming my Pastor, she uses this word pretty often. Love you Pastor Joy!) to make one stand out in the street style game.

The best thing about this not so new trend is that there are no set rules. Just experiment and have fun with it. I guess that could pass for the rule? Ha!

 Today I'm showing a look where my colorful separates are doing all the talking paired with toned down accessories. And I mean toned down in terms of color. After all, there's nothing like basic black to anchor bold shades.

Your thoughts?

 Deets

Skirt - Front Row Shop (sold out)

White Shirt - Front Row Shop (old)

Sweater - Zara (old)

Belt - Original Mangu (here)

Bag - Chanel (old)

Shoes - Jimmy Choo (old)

Thanks for stopping by, keep thinking the purple thoughts. Xx...

blue and orange Color block corset belt

Posted by Fashionably Idu in blue and orange, Color block, corset belt

Color Block with a Modern Twist

Comfy Style in a Veiled Beanie and Distressed Denim

I am a total hat gal but no style is quite like the brimless beanie to me. Not because it looks best on me but because it’s an ultimate Winter staple for me and I’m assuming for you as well? 

Why the heck not, it’s functional by keeping your head warm while hiding messy hair (Ha!) and fashionable by adding a cool yet effortless vibe to a look. A beanie can also give that undeniable edge to a look that a fascinator, a sunhat or any kind of hat for that matter won’t and can’t ever achieve.

From one Winter to the next, beanies continue to enjoy the spotlight and recently upgraded to Veiled, no surprises. The best thing about veiled beanies is that you can take your good ole beanie and jazz it up yourself with a piece of lace of your own choosing. What’s better than being able to choose a color or style of lace that you like to create the perfect illusion of 'mysterious and powerful'. Great DIY!

I’m wearing an effortless distressed denim, another go to of mine, a basic long sleeve tee underneath a vest and black combat boots for the ultimate cool girl look. I had previously styled this pair of jeans with the same boots and top here. 

Your thoughts on this casual look, SLOPPY or STYLISH?

Deets

Jeans - Topshop (similar here)

Vest - Topshop (here)

Beanie - Bcbg Maxazria (similar here)

Sunnies - Quay (here)

Boots - Bebe (old)

Bag - Jimmy Choo (old)

Thank you for stopping by, keep thinking the purple thoughts. Xx...

Color block Distressed denim Veiled Beanie

Posted by Fashionably Idu in Color block, Distressed denim, Veiled Beanie

Comfy Style in a Veiled Beanie and Distressed Denim

The Holiday Ball Gown

I read somewhere that "lusting over a beautiful ball gown is one of life's purest pleasures".

Stylish is always on trend but 'tis the season to ramp it up, be it to the cheesy work holiday party at a colleague's home or a black tie event in a grand ballroom.

From crimson reds to emerald greens, velvets, metallics and show stopping laces in breathtaking styles that are a surefire way to have you stand out from the crowd, style is ushering in the holidays in very exciting ways. 

The holiday parties are in full swing, you've rsvp'd to attend quite a few and figured out your party hopping strategies including who's driving and who'd get liquored up, the million dollar question is what are you wearing?

Being a full time teacher with the final work week of 2018 behind me as recently as yesterday means that in between teaching and gift shopping, I haven't had time to shop for any party outfits. Luckily there are promo items sitting in packages that scream 'open me' each time you absent-mindedly stroll by them, one of the perks of blogging.  

Today I'm showing one of them, an over the top Oscar / swoon worthy gown by Vindictive that will have any gal looking like an A-list star without blowing the budget. This gown boasts a skirt made out of luxurious layer after layer of beautiful emerald green lace that adds volume and a bodice spiced up in decadent three dimensional gemstones, sequins and huge doses of va-va-voom. 

A pop  of color in a pink clutch,  my favorite pair of shoes and a red ring made for a striking finish. 

I am not one to wear ball gowns often but when I do, I like to pull out all the stops so you can imagine that this one with all it's bells and whistles totally made my heart flutter. The fit is great for my form and the style my personality and taste. 

Elegance, pure unadulterated elegance...

...that's how I describe this look. 

Have a very merry Christmas everyone!!!

Deets

Gown - Vindictive (here)

Shoes - Christian Louboutin

Clutch - Jimmy Choo

Thank you for stopping by, keep thinking the purple thought. Xx...

Ball Gown Color block Holiday Ball Gown Holiday Style

Posted by Fashionably Idu in Ball Gown, Color block, Holiday Ball Gown, Holiday Style

The Holiday Ball Gown

Heat Wave

Brights are so meant to be worn together! I’ve been slowly integrating colors in my looks but when rising mercury levels cause a ‘heat wave’ and call for a wardrobe refresh, I reach for total LCP (little colorful pieces) for a very colorful pop to my Spring repertoire and more importantly to keep me cool. 

Today's Look

 I was having a major color moment in a cute lil skirt by one of my favorite designers Fausto Puglisi paired with this oh so cute statement top from the lovely people of Crysta Lucci that totally up’d the wow factor of this look. Check them out for some more fun pieces. Lace up sandals and a cross body Gucci bag completed the look. Such a bold spin on color blocking, this look is very playful, bold and fun.

How to Wear Brights

Making two fiery hues work together could be challenging. These two colors are not your everyday combo but they put any doubts to rest and worked together harmoniously without me looking like a lollipop. The striking  contrast is what makes for the most interest of course but so do the pieces themselves. Again, very fun!

There is a spectrum of ways to wear unique and very light hearted color combinations like this. Generally, hues that are across from each other on the color wheel create a high contrast and compliment each other.  These days, anything goes. Find the bright color that flatters you best, in my case purples and pinks (my absolute favorite colors) and build your look around them. 

Have fun!

Thanks for the love on my last post here.

By the way, have you shopped the much anticipated Net-a-Porter sale or the Nordstrom half yearly sale yet? So many awesome pieces!

Deets

Top - Crysta Lucci (here)

Skirt - Fausto Puglisi (here)

Heels - Forever 21(here)

Bag - Gucci (here)

Thank you for stopping by, keep thinking the purple thoughts. Xx...

Color block Lace Statement sleeves

Posted by Fashionably Idu in Color block, Lace, Statement sleeves

Heat Wave

Wrap It Up

The air is surely turning crisp as we watch the leaves change from a beautiful green to an even prettier blanket of orange, gold and red hues. I witnessed the most beautiful autumn leaves storm during recess on Wednesday. It lasted all of almost one minute but felt like an eternity. My young and impressionable students and I ooh’d and aah’d and watched until the very last leaf stood perfectly still on the black top at the end of it all. Applause. Autumn is such a shoowww off. Windy Wednesday we dubbed it as we went back indoors to record our findings on our weather chart. Our deduction? The season gods surely favor Autumn out of all four and that’s a no brainer.

The Autumn feel is undoubtedly beginning to peak even in my usually not too frosty and frigid corner of the universe. The temps are seriously starting to dip. What better to turn to than a coat (duh) and if you love colors like I do, especially if pink/purple are involved, you’d go for this FABULOUS ON A DIME piece perfectly color blocked in black, white, tomato red, blue, camel, pink and black. So much character in one little coat! Doesn’t hurt to bring summer with you into Winter with a burst of colors. But wait a minute. Did I just say ‘Fab on a Dime'? Yes I did, I can’t tell a lie. Hopefully you remember my FOAD series from here and here. This is a FOAD jacket fashioned after one of the Celine Fall '12 pieces. One downside was it getting linty easily. My lint roller never worked harder, but wrap it up around me I did and it kept me cozy.

The length of this jacket is perfect and so is the loose and cozy fit. Perfect for a 54-degree day and totally stare worthy. Oops, are you dealing with cooler temps? Didn't mean to rub my good fortune in, hehe. I paired it with a high waist pencil skirt (that omg hugs in all the right places) and a classic white shirt for a polished and feminine look. The cage belt with a metal plate in front accentuated my waist, the sexy six inch heels elongated my legs and the sparkle I piled on in the form of jewelry created the festive air that this time of year calls for. As street style continues to evolve almost over runway style, I grade this look an A++ for being totally #streetchic. 

Well Hello There Style Lovers!

How was your week darlings? Mine was busy but I survived. Countdown to the holidays is on and complaining aka whimpering (hehe) is off my lingua for now. Call me out if you sense the slightest bit of wah wah wahhh, hahaha. Note to self: savor every minute Idu, it’s the holidays! Anyways, I strutted happily even as the showers came down. After all umbrellas have to serve their purpose as do all other things. The universe says so.

I owned this chic street style, ;). Yay or Nay, your thoughts?

Deets

Shirt - Old

Skirt -Old

Cage Belt - Bebe (here)

Clutch - Saint Laurent (here)

Coat - Shein (here)

Thanks a lot for stopping by and keep thinking the purple thoughts, Xo.

Color block Fall Fall Fashion Heels Pencil skirt Winter Fashion

Posted by Fashionably Idu in Color block, Fall, Fall Fashion, Heels, Pencil skirt, Winter Fashion

Wrap It Up