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