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

5 reasons why you should wear black

Interior pic - madeaboutthehouse.com Michael Kors 2013 - upscalehype.com

In 2012 I was adamant that I would steer away from black.  Why?  Well it's a bit of a kiwi stereotype and I wanted to challenge myself and my wardrobe!  Now that we are well and truly into the new year I feel differently.  Black is chic, it evokes so many emotions  including edginess and sexiness and for some reason this Winter I'm looking forward to heading over to the dark side.  So these are my Top 5 reasons (in no particular order) why black IS the colour you should be wearing this season.

5 - Black is powerful and masculine!

Kitchen image - freshome.com and Justin - styleforum.net

Whether you have your doubts about black in the home there really is no question that a hit of black makes a dramatic statement and there is a masculinity and strength to it.  It's a nice way to turn what would be a feminine space into somewhere your husband would feel even more comfortable being.  Oh yes and a black suit on a man is oh so suave!

4 - Black is slimming! 

America Ferrera left - cupcakesandcosmeticsbyclare.blogspot.com 

Right - harpersbazaar.com

It can't be denied, the right dress in  black can create the illusion of a svelte and slimmer figure.  Thats not to say that every black dress will do this.  Be careful not to confuse this with just colour alone.  Black cannot work miracles on its own it needs to also be teamed with great tailoring.  Get those two right and boom, style star!

3 - Black makes other colours look good!

Left - triplemaxtons.com Right - whatsmoreimportantthanfashion.com

If black is a place you never venture - perhaps because its 'not in your colour palette' or it evokes memories of a bad girl past, fear not.  Turn those misconceptions around and venture gently by pairing black with another colour, think silver, fuschia, royal blue and white and you'll have yourself a stylish contrast.

2 - All black gives you instant style cred!

Image - ifyouseekstyle.com

Head to toe black is undeniably stylish.  There are times when I have felt undecidedly blah about what I am going to wear and have turned to all black (in various textures) to feel more 'put together' and thats what an all black ensemble can do.  The above example really does showcase the girl on the right - she just looks more put together in all black.

1 - Black is just so hip right now!

Left - devon.greatbritishlife.co.uk Right - Olivia glamour.com

Okay so Olivia can do know wrong in my eyes but how chic and cool does she look above.  All black, lots of texture and a stone cold attitude!  The interior parallel to her above is a great play on the boho theme.  The quirky elements of chandeliers mixed with oak and mid century furniture takes the cool factor up about 20 notches, so cool and unexpected don't you think?

electricalshapes.blogspot.com

Yes, it could be said that I am digging on black at the moment but I'm excited to go to this dark place this Winter.  Even style maven Anna Dello Russo is 'jealous' (above).  Black is edgier and just so cool in my eyes and hopefully I've awakened you to it's many dark charms, if you needed more convincing that is.