Party Season!

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

It is well and truly party season right now! Whether you're heading off to numerous Christmas parties, celebrations with friends, dinner parties, New Years eve party planning, and more, you will need to think about outfits and if you're hosting the decor. If you're in the northern hemisphere with eggnog or the southern hemisphere with BBQ's and cold brews, its a great time to celebrate. I love this time of year, being thankful for the year that has been and welcoming in all new exciting possibilities for 2014.

This post is dedicated to giving you some ideas on fun party outfits and decor ideas to make your next party an event to remember. I'm enjoying Polyvore a lot lately! Below are some of my favorite New Years eve party outfit mood boards...

Metallic dresses are so stand out at parties and a slick modern twist on the classic shiny sequins.
Image courtesy of lcarvajaltriana.polyvore.com

Sexy bandage dresses are very appropriate for a new years party. Gold and red, very festive! Image courtesy of darcy-bambi.polyvore.com

Silver, snowflakes and champagne! Looking at this image makes me want to party!
Image courtesty of saramoreira.polyvore.com

The crop top trend has been huge this year. I think it is best executed with just a hint of skin, keeping it classy.  Image courtesy of danielle-fashion.polyvore.com

For the girly girls out there, how pretty and fun is black and pink! Pink YSL overload!
Image courtesy of selena-stanic.polyvore.com

Blues a lovely moody hue of choice. Image courtesy of nguyen-huynh-khanh-thy.polyvore.com

More crop top inspiration! Image courtesy of  katie-aindow.polyvore.com

For Great Gatsby Glamour this outfit is chic and sexy. Image courtesy of dianefantasy.polyvore.com

Youthful silver sparkle, yes another crop top! Outfit image courtesy of mereana-beconcini.polyvore.com. Party decor image courtesy of pinterest.com

Gold glamour for any glitzy New Years party is very hot! Outfit image courtesy of mereana-beconcini.polyvore.com. Party decor image courtesy of ablissfulnest.com

For our southern hemisphere friends, outdoor summer parties are more fun when you brighten up your outfit with vibrant summer colours like orange, pinks and yellows. Outfit image courtesy of lacybow.polyvore.com. Party decor image courtesy of weddingtonway.com

Love this Monotone Summer Wishlist from Milo & Mitzy, I can see myself in that dress at a few dinner parties. Image courtesy of Milo & Mitzy 

I enjoyed watching these beautiful people host a Gliztmas Party. Courtesy of Devon Rachel, she shows you how to do it in glamorous style with an overload of glitter!

Image Courtesy of  fullstart.com

From us here at Home Becomes Her we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We hope you enjoy spending precious time with your loved ones. Stay gorgeous and glamorous this holiday season. Love, joy and glitter to you all!

Love Mereana and Erena

We love neon!

Left image Erena Te Paa (me) and right image my house via alotwithalittle.com

This is me, Erena and thats an arco lamp I painted for my living room makeover.  You don't normally see me in person on the blog but Mereana and I were playing dress ups one day and she snapped this photo of me at her place in one of my favourite colour combinations.  Neon yellow and white.  It's a fresh look and this kind of yellow always brightens my mood.  The white helps to make everything more vibrant creating a stop traffic kind of Pow!  I bought this crop top from a store called Dotti.  If the truth be told it's actually 2 sizes too big for me but I don't like clingy things and I think it still works - it was also ON SALE so no surprises that I just had to get it.  The skirt I bought in Wellington at a secondhand street stall for $20.  I don't know if you can tell but it has pleating right the way around which gives it a little formality and adds a certain retro great gatsby vibe - I actually used it for a gatsby inspired photoshoot I styled recently.

Naturally this colour combination inspired the post as I am more than a bit obsessed with neon accents and namely fluoro yellow neon at the moment, can you tell...

Left image: via  undeclaredpanache.com & right image: via cocokelley.com

I love love love the dress above. The neon limey yellow accent draped along the lower skirt is to die for. I think perhaps the most intriguing thing is the fact that the designer has paired this with a very nude muted palette.  Which if I'd only heard about the dress from just a description I just couldn't envisage it working but clearly it works so well and it gives the dress an edge.  I love bright yellow accents in any space - I did it at my own place with the arco lamp that I painted and it works really well in the eclectic style interior above. 

Left image: via  foxxfoe.blogspot.com & right image: via freshome.com

Fluoro yellow is an of the moment kind of trend and its not something you'll want to throw on everyday but it really does leave other colours in the dust.  I mean why just have a white mini shirt dress when you could have a fluoro yellow mini shirt dress and why just have a white cabinet when you could have a white and fluoro coloured cabinet.  Its just so refreshing.

Left image: via  vogue.com & right image: via desiretodecorate.com

A clawfoot bath in fluoro green is such a great idea for injecting modernity into your space which is especially great if you favour modern spaces while your partner might love vintage pieces.  There is always a way to find balance and merge the two, love it! 

Image via milkfarmroad.com

I couldn't end this post without showing you a simple DIY effect you can do at home.  Dipped bottles, utensils, plates (you name it, if it is tangible you can dip it).  I am definitely trying this one at my place very soon when I take on the kitchen! Simply take your item and proceed to dip it, dip it good, di-dip it real good (note the Salt & Pepa reference) but head to milkfarmroad to get all dipped out with this style tip.

Til next time

Pleats to meet you

Pleats outfit image from Home Becomes Her
Architecture image on right courtesy of  dezeen.com

Sorry for the bad pun, I had a few others too - "You comPleat me" and "Pretty pleats"! This post was inspired by my recent purchase of the black pleated baby doll dress pictured above. I went into a local second hand clothing store Missy's Room and took a few items into the changing room. All of my picks were bad, but already hanging in the changing room waiting for me was this dress. I tried it on and it was perfect, basically the dress picked me! I've always loved pleats and believe I don't own enough, so this this dress is a good start. This black sculptural building above is a New York residential tower designed by Dutch architect Ben van Berkel of UNStudio. The wrapped black metal bands around the building form the balconies, terraces and shades creating interest, function and form. A perfect comparison with our fabric fashion pleats.

There is a sense of elegance to pleats, the folds in fabric and structure provide a 3-dimensional element of depth, contrast and allure. The dimensions of that pleated and folded origami look is sophisticated and implies a level of craft and care in design and construction.

White pleats are so chic and classy. This beautiful chair by Raw Edges is sculptural and luxurious.

Outfit image from 2dayslook.com
Chair image from raw-edges.com

Soft pink shades of precise and elegant pleated folds.
Lamp image courtesy of das-tropenhaus.de
Outfit image courtesy of pinterest.com

This plush Peacock Chair was brought to market by Cappellini and designed by a New York based designer Dror Benshetrit.
The felt construction is quite ingenious, I wonder what its like to sit in?
Images from pinterest.com

Nature's pleated plants provide inspiration for beautiful contrast for this Issey Miyake Pleats Please design.
Images from pinterest.com

Pleat purple wall panel designed by Anne Kyyro Quinn not only provides a layered wall covering but also offers sound proofing and softening of acoustics in a room.
Wall image courtesy of architonic.com
Outfit image courtesy of pinterest.com

A post about pleats wouldn't be complete without mentioning Issey Miyake. The Pleats Please range was introduced by Issey Miyake in 1989 and has been redeveloped every season since. He has beautifully captured that unique cross between functionality for every day comfort wear, beautiful design and utilizing the latest technology.

Issey Miayake Pleats Please clutch - image from pinterest.com

Issey Miyake Pleats Please outfit - image courtesy of pleatfarm.com

When you think of pleats for the home, you probably think of pleated curtains or table cloths, but there is so much more! As with the above examples, the concept of pleats and folds can be applied to wall coverings, chairs, lamps and external cladding. 

These pleated lamps are only $99 from crateandbarrel.com

Sleek pleated wooden chair by Chris Hardy from Australia.
Image courtesy of chrishardy.com.au/pleat.html

So for a touch of sophistication this up an coming party season, try a pleated ensemble to elevate your look to another level of class. I leave you with one of my favorite pleated outfits right now, royal blue, rich velvet, pleated wide-leg pant, very regal.

Roberto Cavalli Resort 2013 pleat wear
Image courtesy of thefrontrowview.com

Peek-a-boo Cutouts

Top Left: Via Bespoke, Far Right: Via The Suburban Diary, Bottom Left: Via Gazelle85

Laser cutting, perforations or peek-a-boo cut-outs as they are so aptly-put are for lack of a better phrase so hot right now! Think of a plain stiletto or a white wall and imagine how impactful it could be with just the hint of a watermarked pattern running right the way through it.  Well that my friends is called a cut-out embellishment and it is brilliant for adding personality to your spaces and fashion looks.

Top Left: Via Dezeen, Far Right: Via Styling Notes, Bottom Left: Via Heart Home Mag

I personally have a love-hate relationship with lace and lace overlays and if you share this infrequent distaste then perforations and cut-outs strike a nice middle ground.  The overlay is permanent and can be anything from a series of geometric cut-outs to Moroccan inspired patterns yet the effect is timeless and perhaps most of all is it is just so different.The ankle bootie heel above for instance would cut a beautiful and unique imprint on one's tootsies that you have to believe that it would draw some serious compliments and good ones - that is of course provided that you want people to stare at your feet!

Left: Via Wedding Belles Blog, Right: Via Interior Designn

Think of a simple wedding dress.  Classic, elegant and yet some might say safe or predictable but how fantastic would a wedding dress be if though simple in style was swathed in a beautiful laser cut print.  There are so many laser cutters around that you could investigate having your cut-out be unique to you - it might be a family design or a more fun approach might be to laser-cut the initials of you and your hubby-to-be who knows all I know is that perforations and laser cutting is a thing of beauty and a trend that's here to stay.

Top Left: Via, The Sustainable Stylist, Top Middle: Via Pattern People, Far Right: Via FashioNZ, Bottom Left: Via The Coolspotter

In hindsight I seem to be taken by cut-outs in shoes summer heels in particular but whether you are heading in to Autumn in your part of the world or Summer as in ours, the trend of cut-outs transpires throughout the seasons.  For instance for the home it's light fixtures and artworks with wooden laser-cut overlays and in fashion its perforated designs on suede booties and in leather vests and jackets.

Top Left: Via My Packing Stylist, Far Right: Via Trendhunter, Bottom Left: Via Design Juices

Cut-outs are a peek-a-boo trend that makes the plain more interesting and an otherwise ordinary piece more special. I've just noticed the top right dress isn't a laser cutout persay though it emulates the trend rather well and could be a nice compromise for those of you who are heading into Winter but like the aesthetic but need the warmth that full fabric provides.

Newsflash: I have just bought a pair of my own cut-outs too and though a tad sore to walk in look flippin fabulous!

Pattern Attack!

With the change in season I feel inspired to brighten things up with prints and patterns. On trend right now is to be fearless with patterns and prints and to try some bold combinations. Check our previous post how to mix prints to take it to the next level.

I'm a big fan of Porter Teleo's unique wall paper prints so I've dedicated quite a few of this posts image round up to their fabulous print collection.

I love this large red graphic Porter Teleo Wallpaper against the eclectic art and blue accessories. This outfit combination is from the latest  Karen Walker walker range, mixing prints well. Outfit image courtesy of preciouspeg.com

Handpainted Porter Teleo wallpaper in a beautiful colour combo of blues, teals, tans and yellows. Sister Jane Monet dress from asos.com.

We can't have a  pattern attack round up without polka dots. I love the raw texture that the drip effect from the hand painted Porter Teleo wallpaper gives. This is an amazing dress from twentysevennames.co.nz that I'd love to have to welcome in spring.

A more bold example from Porter Teleo wallpaper has a massive impact. This funky outfit from twentysevennames.co.nz is also a great example of mixing prints - pattern and polka dots.

Like pattern and print but not too confident with color? Try grey and white. Porter Teleo wallpaper and dress from asos.com.

Monochromes and grey grahpic prints -  Porter Teleo wallpaper and dress from asos.com.

More floral polka dot Porter Teleo  wallpaper print and the gorgeous floating Mondegreen tee and maxi skirt.

Porter Teleo aqua and grey wallpaper print, with Kate Sylvester demonstrating how to mix prints right - stripe and floral.

Marimekko is an internationally renowned Finnish brand that is famous for their bold graphic designs for prints, fashion and ceramics. Their range truly spans the premise of this blog from home decor and accessories to fashion, so putting the following roundup together was a very natural fit for homebecomesher...

Beautiful bright pink Marimekko print, and this guy is pretty confident to rock this pant print!

Marimekko monochrome and red geometric print

Marimekko tree print ranging from decor to dresses.

Marimekko bold bed duvet set and loving this flamboyant rain drop print.

This poppy print is probably Marimekko's most famous trademark design, and they've teamed with Converse to create these bold sneakers.

Monochrome Marimekko, these hand drawn looking lines give real character to your typical stripe. I would love this ceramic print as a wallpaper.

Monochrome Marimekko floral. Again the famous poppy print in blacks and greys. 

Some of my favorite fashion prints right now...

Diesel print jumpsuit - from asos.com

Fantastic floral from Mondegreen.co.nz

More Marimekko boldness

Orla Kiely 60s Shift Posey Printed Silk Dress. From Asos.com

Mixing stripe and a busy floral pattern is an easy an effective way to mix prints. Outfit from rubynz.co.nz

Embrace this new seasons pattern attack and work the combos, be bold and bright. Happy change of season!

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