80's Flashback - Pastels Trend Updated

Pastels Miami Vice Style
Image via passportmiami.com and theredlist.com

Pastels have been trending for a few seasons now, but have recently had another surge in mainstream popularity. Aside from fashion I'm seeing a lot more pastels influencing interior decor with many of the mainstream retailers here in New Zealand like Citta, Country Road and Freedom Furniture jumping on the trend.

Many of us (older generations) may remember the 80's cop TV show Miami Vice, where for me the most outstanding feature of the show was the fashion worn by the cast and in particular their penchant for pastels. It's impressive how Don Johnson can make a lilac tank top and white pant combo look so macho with his over the shoulder "are you checking out my butt" glare. Yes Don we are. Who knew pastels could be so manly! Even the ankle grazing, cropped pants and loafers look is back - check out Tinie Tempah's reinterpretation of this 80's style statement.

Let's start with the official definition:

pastel

ˈpast(ə)l/

adjective

1. 1.

   of a soft and delicate shade of colour.

   "pastel blue curtains"

So we've looked at the 80's version of pastels now lets explore how this trend has been reinvented and refreshed for 2014. Pastels are thought of as a very soft feminine color choice, but as Don Johnson shows, this may not necessarily be so. Let's see how you can safely bring pastels into your wardrobe and home without looking like an 80's throwback or the other risk factor of looking too girly and prissy.

Pastel Pink and Grey

Let's kick thing off with my favorite pastel color combo, soft blush pinks and grey tones from grey marl to charcoals and silvers.

This little girls bedroom is still soft and feminine as a pastel pink can be, but the the addition of the grey makes it more modern and less cutesy. Love this statement pink wool coat and grey marl dress, excellent winter combo.
Interior image via babble.com
Fashion image via glamourdistrict.com

As Don Johnson made us believe, blush pinks are not just for the girls, and can also be HOT on men as this tanned model proves with his grey blazer and pink tee combo. I'm going shopping for a pink tee for my husband tomorrow! I'm also a huge fan of these Tom Dixon lamps, this rose gold color is a fun play on the pastel pink trend but with the metallic chrome finish the pinky tone suddenly becomes more modern and sophisticated.
Interior image via yellows.dk
Fashion image via dailymail.co.uk

Pastel pinks with rose gold chrome is a winning combination. I would never have put these together myself thinking that there wouldn't be enough contrast, too same same and too matchy matchy. Shows what I  know because this look totally works and updates the blush pink pastel with a modern twist as chromes and metallics are very on trend right now too.
Interior image via 101woonideeen.nl
Fashion image via wwd.com

Black, White and Blush

The contrast of monochrome black and white with soft blush pink make a wonderful statement and just as grey and pink make a fabulous combo, so too when you separate the colors that make grey - black and white.

This simple grey marl sofa is accented beautifully with the black, white and pastel pink accessories. The scene is offset by the Scandinavian polished white floors making the furniture shine. Jessica Alba looks elegantly casual in this floating pastel pink skirt combined with delicate black kitten heels and a black cropped sweater. Her styling is flawless - the oversize patent black sunnies and handbag with the Breakfast at Tiffany's hair style, it all works incredibly well. The combo is a bit of a juxtaposition with the strong black contrased with the soft pink. It works particularly well on Jessica because of her tanned skin, this is why pastels usually trend in spring and summer as they're hard shades to pull off in the winter months if you have naturally fair skin.
Interior image via thedesignchaser.com
Fashion image via soullovelyfashion.com

Graphic black and white geometric shaped patterns on the rug and throw are beautifully contrasted with softer pastel shades. Our gorgeous blonde model on the right also has a winning combination with her soft and plush pastel pink jumper offset with the black jeans and Wayfarers. But what makes this look a success is the classic white shirt under the woolen jumper. Without that extra layer, texture and color the look would lack some substance that makes it interesting.
Interior image via normann-copenhagen.com
Fashion image via esther.com.au

This knitted grey throw just invites warmth, comfort and relaxation. Teamed with the pastel blue sofa a subtle coppery pastel is successfully added via the standing lamp and chevron cushion. I couldn't do a pastel post without briefly mentioning the pastel hair coloring trend. This model has a  subtle pink pastel wash through her hair. It started with celebrities like Demi Levato and Kelly Osbourne and has become a lot more common since with people experimenting with the dip dye effect or ombre. I quite like the pastel pink version but if you are bold enough to go brighter do it!
Interior image via sfgirlbybay.com
Fashion image via loft.com

This living room seems simple but there is a lot going on to make it work. Pastels are here in the form of the mint, slightly industrial coffee table and the blush pink cushions. These are contasted by the neutrals of the white walls and beige sofa and then some boldness is introduced via the stripe rug and yellow zebra print cushion. This cushion really stands out given the subdued nature of the rest of the room elements, but works to rescue the room from being too boring and plain. I love the idea of mixing pastel with stripes. This elegant blush pink pencil skirt and white pumps are dressed down with a tucked in white stripe tee. Another elegant yet casual triumphant outfit.
Interior image via missmoss.co.za
Fashion image via hellofashionblog.com

Pastel Pink and Brights

Updating a trend can sometimes be achieved by throwing together unexpected combinations. There are a lot of neon, fluros and bright, vibrant colors on trend at the moment, combining these shades together can give a delightful result.

Citta Design are one of my favorite home decor brands, very creative and unique designs. They've refreshed a pastel pink palette by teaming it with a vibrant orange. A combo that also works wonderfully well on the catwalk. 
Interior image via thestyleindex.com.au
Fashion image via mademoisellerobot.com

Pastel Blues

Pastel blue shades are said to be a fantastic color to use in a bedroom to make a calm and relaxing environment. The wall colour here brings in that soft hue in a gentle and subtle way. Blues are a cool color so be careful to use in a dramatic way in a bedroom, you will need to consider the amount of light the room receives so that it doesn't feel too cold and dark. But pastel blue is a great compromise. I like the way this room is teamed with floral accessories that acknowledge the pastel blue and introduce other complementary shades of pink, darker blues and greens. The Fashion image is a surprising combo, from the Chloe Resort 2014 collection. The monochrome combo works incredibly well with a pastel aqua top temed with a slighly darker pastel blue. Monochromatic means one color for the whole look, and these similar but slightly different pastel hues are a clever and a unique way you can think about how to mix your pastels. Here is a video tutorial from Sydne Summer on how to wear icy pastels and she shares another great mint monochrome example.
Interior image via elskeleenstra.nl
Fashion image via style.com

Colorful Pastel Sorbet

Now to have some pastel fun with these bold, confident and colorful combos that are reminiscent of fruity sorbet or french patisserie macarons. Verging on the edge of cutesy and babyish feminine, these combos are best set aside for kids bedrooms or study. Lululemon have a wide range of athletic wear in soft pastels bringing some playful fun and joy to your workouts.
Interior image via mollymeg.com
Fashion image via lululemon.com

If you're concerned that your fashion venture into the world of pastel will leave you looking more preschool than professional, I found this great post from babble.com to help you wear pastel without looking like a little girl.

Babble.com shows us how to do this

I leave you with this not sure if it's real or been photoshopped to buggery pastel sunset. And hopefully some more confidence with bringing pastels into your life safely. Until next time, thanks for reading!

xxx
Mereana

Image via cutecorruption.tumblr.com

Tis the season to be...jolly?

This post was going to be inspired by my new found love of leopard print and the anticipation that it will be big this season however I have since changed tack and found myself falling (just a little) for Christmas.


Dressing in theme is always a bit 'hit and miss' particularly when the theme lasts a whole month (or more in some cases) so I thought I'd show some great ways to do Christmas in style, and hey a lot of them reflect on a lot of lessons from previous blogs - so very unintentionally fitting:


Colourblocking

If you like to have a bit of fun try colourblocking as a Christmas statement.  It's bold yet funky and if done with some flair can make a statement that is seriously stylish. 

poetryoffashion.com

lateafternoonblog.com

fashionbombdailly.com

whowhatwear.com

Monochromatic

One day I will buy a silver Christmas tree.  I'm a real silver girl and silver goes with everything.  If you want to steer clear of the traditional green and red colours for the home try finding pieces that go with your homes decor - try whites, pinks, blues and teal in a fresh light decor 

inspirationforhome.blogspot.com

onephotographic.com

thelenoxx.com

Dressing your home in a monochromatic style - understated yet in the spirit of Christmas - is a great way to have your home feel Christmassy without looking too gimmicky.


Tribal

There is something ultra modern and stylish about mixing Christmas with some bold prints, colours and shapes that although not necessarily 'Christmas' really add personality into your scheme.  Besides, who wants their houses decorations to look like everyone elses.

thecowhidecompany.co.nz

lydiagable.com

A bit of glitter

Lets not forget about a bit of sparkle.  Christmas decorations wouldn't be half as fun without the lights and a bit of sparkle right, so how about what you wear?


Instead of dressing normally for Christmas dinner or lunch why not don your sparkliest ensemble and sparkle as much as the champagne in your glass.  It will put a smile on your face and everyone elses!

newfashionfantasy.com

Coop sequin dress by Trelise Cooper fashionz.co.nz

I personally love Christmas in all its shades but if you really want to get into it be prepared to put some real effort in and in some cases money into it. 

You can also bet that I'll be going bananas at the Boxing Day sales - specifically on a quest to nab those beautiful decorations that cost a small fortune before the 25th.  Its a slow process of collecting but you'll be so looking forward to your next Christmas that you won't mind waiting!

pinterest.com

I hope you have enjoyed our blog this year, and I especially hope you'll be enjoying Christmas and the New Year festivities in the best way you can - for me, thats with my family and friends.

May your days be merry and bright...


x

Monochrome - Black and White

Interior pic courtesy of http://thepursuitaesthetic.tumblr.com/
Outfit pic courtesy of http://stylelovely.com

Out of all the color combos I've blogged about, this high contrast couple is a classic. It is also very visually effective and quite safe as it is difficult to get wrong. Fashion styling wise the most flattering proportion would be white on top and black on the bottom, one word of warning however - go for edgy and well tailored pieces, you want to avoid looking like a waitress. The examples above and below are a perfect mix, and I'm loving the white blazer to complement an otherwise very basic outfit.

For interiors black and white is also difficult to get wrong, think black floors and white walls as the black jeans and white blazer equivalent, chic and classy.

Like any colour combo or theme you can take it too far, and with a monochrome coupling I recommend using some other coloured accents. For outfits - gold and silver accessories or even red lippy are great complements. For interiors - I like the minimalistic accent of wood grain, but loads of options in terms of introducing pops of colour in accesories in the form of wall art, cushions, ornaments and light fittings.

Interior image courtesty of http://frenchbydesign.blogspot.co.nz
Outfit image courtesy of theconfessionsofaproductjunkie.com

Image courtesy of http://www.antoniobarrella.com/

The above and below examples demonstrate the drama and strong power that can be achieved with such a simple set of colours. It's association with the classic and formal tuxedo make it quite masculine and strong. But as Dita Von Teese also demonstrates in her dress below it can also be very feminine. I love her style, she always looks immaculate!
 

Image courtesy of tumbler.com

Image courtesy of candy-mansion.com

Such a versatile combination can be safe, but anything but boring. See some inspiring examples below:

So flipping the combo, this model has the legs to do it! Image courtesy of blog.stylesight.com

Edgy with gold accessories and a pop of colour in the handbag = perfect! Image courtesy of calurivero.com

A bit OTT with the monochrome theme, but great gold accents and a bit eccentric, which I like. 
Image courtesy of http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com

Minimalist heaven, image courtesy of http://inredningsdesigner.blogspot.co.nz/

Some more minimalism. Very dramatic but could be a bit too cold. Image courtesy of http://www.bluesphere.be/

I'm crazy for chevron, I'm still trying to figure out how I can incorporate it into my house. Maybe I'll just buy a chevron scarf.
Image courtesy of bellemaison23.com

So opulent! Image courtesy of http://www.thedecorista.com

Introducing pops of red in wall art and light fittings works very well in a monochrome space. 
Image courtesy of tumblr.com

What a fun space! Mismatching chairs but all tied together with the black and white theme. 
Image courtesy of http://www.79ideas.org/

As an aside example, I was a bit paranoid about looking back on my wedding photos and regretting my fashion decisions, so I really wanted to go as classic as possible. I was a bit scarred by looking at some peoples 80s wedding pics and thinking, eeek! I didn't want to look back and think OMG what was I thinking. So I didn't want to be too fashionable and wanted to keep things classic. I believe nothing is more classic than black and white.

My wedding day 2008, our good looking bridal party in classic black and white

 
And like the leopard print and green combo from a previous post, this colour combo is also endorsed by nature. Just think friesian cows, zebras and my super cute kitty Bambino.

Image courtesty of http://photos-for-you.com/

Image courtesy of jukani.co.za

Image courtesy of weheartit.com

My baby boy Bambino is naturally and beautifully monochrome

So for a high contrast visual pleasure that nature endorses and can serve you very well in terms of being difficult to get wrong - go monochromatic. I bet you have loads of black and white pieces in your wardrobe right now, so go get them all out and mix and match. Have fun xxx

La la Layering

Outfit pic: By Lindsay Keats - Dress from NYNE, crochet singlet from Dotti, shoes from Lipstick 
Interior Pic: Courtesy of hgtv.com

Hubby and I are currently renovating our 70s home and have just gone from living in an episode of That 70s Show to embracing calming neutrals.  Neutrals can sound a bit blah and sometimes they can be, but the best way to get around this is to think TTL or tone, texture layer.  This goes for clothing and for home.

This pic captures a simple living space, neutral colours and a tonal palette made interesting with materials that have texture - the woven chairs, rattan stools, bare weatherboard feature walls and pearlescent shell chandelier all give a space interest while still maintaining a calm, soft and sleek vibe.  

Check out Mere's matching style...

I personally love this look for Mere.  It's a bit different to her personal style but there's a softness and sophistication that I really love.  Most elements of this outfit are monochromatic (tone on tone) but there are a mixture of materials, lengths and fabrics to keep things interesting - chiffon slip, patent blush belt, crochet crop singlet, knit shrug, metallic necklace, suede booties. It sounds like a lot but the effect is a look with an 'easy breezy feel'.

How to layer Pic: cassandramonica.buzznet.com

Layering doesn't have to seem complicated but it's a great way to make a lot of neutrals feel interesting.  I also found a really great article to help all the non-layerers out there - How to layer clothing

Lastly, and this is probably because I am wrapped up in a mink blanket with a cup of tea by my side (we are in the thick of Winter here) but I have a fascination with throws at the moment so what better time than now to mention that a textured throw across a white bed spread can make all the difference to create some interior layering.

I found these traditional throws online but you can buy something similar from Redcurrent

Traditional throws: st.houz.com

Interior pic: lombok.co.uk

Just like wearing your favourite sweater to bed!