Colour blocking: A pop of colour to brighten the mood

From left to right: www.mohomy.com, www.ruedechic.com, www.glamour.com

I don't know about you but on a cold day like it is here today in New Zealand I need a bit of colour to brighten the mood!

ORANGE AND ROYAL BLUE

 From left to right: lifestyle.ezinemark.com & asdinteriors.wordpress.com

Let's face it, colour blocking isn't a new trend in fact we've written about it before and it has probably been reinvented so many times with a new 'seasonal colour to watch' that I'm hardly breaking new ground here.  But without dwelling on a particular colour I am instead choosing to pay homage to a pop of colour in every shade that I feel really brings a smile to my dial and brings oomph to any room!

PURPLE

From left to right: norwegianmoods.blogspot.com & nihrida.com

I must have gone out and bought at least 4 new shades of bold nail polish in the last two weeks (considering I don't wear nail polish this is pretty significant!).  The bold rich hues of burgundy, merlot, blood red and mauve are so inviting that I've been prepared to brave a wonky right hand just for the privilege of having dramatic colour on my cuticles.  Sometimes a lick of nail polish is all you need to feel like you've done something 'electric' with your look - and for 'naked nail types' like myself it can be quite an uplifting change!

EMERALD GREEN

From left to right: designagogo.wordpress.com & fashionisers.com

 How much fun is this room now that the bed is green and not brown!  Unexpected yet captivating!

PINK ACCENTS

 From left to right: decor8blog.com & www.soniaroselli.com

Recently I've been transfixed by instagram pics of bright bold pink lipstick,  not to mention shots of pink on duvet covers, velvet cushions and mink throws and as I am a girly girl at heart and love pink, I'm going with it.  When normally I would reach for my favourite red lippy (Poppy Cream by Elizabeth Arden) as a 'look at me' lip colour I instead purchased 'Pout Paste' by Australis in a hot pink similar to the one Emma Stone is wearing - its a really glossy shiny pink stain (not great on a windy day) but I instantly loved it.  So much so that I've taken to wearing it during the day (after all it is a gloss) - and you only live once right!  Having said that, a touch of pink really is quite timeless in the right context.  Just like there is a shade of pink for every home there is a shade of pink for every pout!

PINK AND BLACK

From left to right: vcheidersberger.blogspot.com & gray-shade.blogspot.com

From left to right: followpics.com & fashion.about.com

BLACK AND YELLOW

 From left to right: apartmentsilike.wordpress.com & sunrainly.com & www.cocokelley.com

For the home, yellow and grey have always been a match made in heaven, its almost as if the grey has a calming effect on the yellow and softens its impact.  While black on the other hand makes the yellow stand out even more as if  vying for attention.  I especially love the culotte's in the first fashion pic, how amazing do those pants look? - yes you probably do need a super high heel or long limbs to have the same effect but if you're shorter, a yellow skirt would have the same effect.  Love it, this makes me smile!

What are you wearing this season that makes you smile whenever you wear it? I bet it's bright and bold.  Sometimes we need a pop of colour to brighten the mood and assert our personalities whether that be at home or on the street :-)

And if you don't wear bright colours very much, try it, you just might like it!

The Great Gatsby - 1920's style inspiration

Carey Mulligan who plays Daisy – the 'girl' in the epic love story The Great Gatsby.
 Image courtesy of  wahingtonpost.com

The recent release of The Great Gatsby movie has inspired a resurgence of 1920's fashion. The movie is set to be released in New Zealand soon, and I cant wait! The glamour and decadence of the art deco period is truly dazzling. Think fur, diamonds, pearls, champagne and everything glitzy and sparkly. It is such a gorgeous and glorious decade, I'm pleased that it has made a comeback in fashion.

The "roaring" 20's were a period of social liberation and the fashion and style of the day reflect that excitement and optimism post World War 1. Its the decade that women became allowed to vote and of prohibition (in the USA) which arguably spawned a legendary surge of organized crime and a whole other movie genre.

For fashion the flapper look is what immediately comes to mind; the headband, drop waist dresses, feathers, sequins and a healthy heaping of flashy accessories of diamonds and pearls topped off with fur. Its great to take some cues from this trend, but to avoid looking like you're heading to a costume party I wouldn't put it altogether at once. For tips on how to wear faux fur check one of our latest posts.

For interiors the same thing goes, the look and feel of the time is of extreme opulence and lavishness.  So over the top detailed accessories like chandeliers, gold, silver and bronze, most things reflective and shiny perfectly fit this sort of style. Also think strong graphic designs in wallpaper which have a very distinctive sleek look. 

The star burst mirror and clock are classic art deco along with graphic and decorative wallpaper.
Check this lovely flapper outfit with the turquoise and yellow, very complimentary colors. The headband with feathers along with the long pearls are totally flapperish
Interior image courtesy of skonahem.com
Outfit image courtesy of stylegirljessjames.com

Deep emerald green totally captures the essence of this rich period in time. Alison Williams  from GIRLS wears a very strong structured almost architectural dress with distinctive art deco period contours.
Interior image courtesy of habitusliving.com
Outfit image courtesy of  blog.mangomuseevents.com

Check this modern take on an art deco chandelier, gives a nod to the past but with a modern and contemporary edge. This headband with pearls and feather again ticks all the 1920s glamour boxes, but teamed with a more subtle dress make it more contemporary and less costume like.
Interior image courtesy of design-byproxy.com
Outfit image courtesy of 3d-memoirs.com

Bold and graphic designs like this black and white wallpaper epitomize the art deco period. This dress worn by Blake Lively is so sexy and contemporary, but she wouldn't have looked out of place at one of Gatsby's parties nearly a century ago, timeless beauty.
Interior image courtesy of etsy.com
Outfit image courtesy of sewinglovers.blogspot.com

The darker side of art deco elegance, shimmer and style. Simple but elegant and timeless.
Interior image courtesy of habitusliving.com
Outfit image courtesy of becomegorgeous.com

Glittering, sparkling, diamonds, silver and sequins, as long as it is shiny and reflective its right on our Great Gatsby brief!
Interior image courtesy of decorati.com
Outfit image courtesy of applebaummd.com

Satin and gold, the perfect opulent pairing for this rich and luxurious interior. Kept modern with the white floorboards, contemporary cushions and mixing in with the Moroccan pouf. Sequins and sparklers, how could you talk about the Great Gatsby without mentioning fireworks!
Interior image courtesy of homebunch.com
Outfit image courtesy of Visit pinterest

Graphic wallpaper and art deco style mirrors along with a mirrored vanity, modern yet classic. Carey Mulligan looks so stunning and demure in this pic, the soft pastels are also a strong fashion theme to emerge from this trend. How do you get those finger waves? Try the tutorial here.
Interior image courtesy of Visit decorati.com
Outfit image courtesy of newyorkdress.com

Rich style with rich colours - black, white and gold make for a truly lavish combination that screams DELUXE. Appropriate to bring out these big guns for a special room or outfit for a special occasion.
Interior image courtesy of lifeandstyleonadime.blogspot.com.au
Outfit image courtesy of thebeautyagenteurs.com

Now straight out of the movie, some stunning images to really demonstrate how plush and splendid this trend is...

Leonardo is so hot in that suit, surrounded by the decadence of those cakes and flowers its a great image.
Image courtesy of cinemastyle.blogspot.co.nz

Men in black suits and bow ties - check, sparkly dress - check, fur - check, sparkly headband  - check, swinging party scene - check. Roaring 20s party scene 100% confirmed.
Image courtesy of thegreatgatsby.warnerbros.com/

You can't forget the diamonds and champagne!
Image courtesy of thegreatgatsby.warnerbros.com

What a great scene, statement chandelier, enormous statement rug and I think that room is round, a distinctive architectural style of the art deco times.
Image courtesy of living.msn.com

Here are some flapper fashion ideas to get ideas on how to bring this trend into your wardrobe...

Image courtesy of  fashionstylemag.com

Pastel feminine softness is one way to capture this trend - contract with some geometric patterns and you've arrived.
Image courtesy of fashionstylemag.com

Ralph Lauren flapper influenced collection, flowy with a hint of feathers throughout.
Image courtesy of fashionstylemag.com

A beautiful example of a vintage graphic wallpaper print with beautiful vintage accessories.
Image courtesy of  your4walls.co.uk

The art deco mirror is a simple and effective way to bring the 20's style into your home.
Image courtesy of  your4walls.co.uk

Introduce some 1920's, Great Gatsby luxury into your life. So forget casual, get glam and go for everything that glitters and sparkles, shine on!

The faux show

Fur throw over bed end - pic by favim.com

I am in love with faux fur!  Sometimes I get a really strong sense for a trend and after styling a shoot recently I had that 'I want it' moment with faux fur.  It was a fur stole to be exact but the model happened to be wearing a vintage dress of mine for this particular shot and that dress combined with the photographers 'prop' - a faux fur stole just took it to a whole other level. so I've been in love with the idea of faux fur ever since.  So much so that I've dedicated this whole post to it!

Fur capelet by kollabora.com

Faux fur in an interior sense (or faux anything) is always hard to get right as it can come off looking too fake or just plain inappropriate for the setting.  I think the key to getting above this wee challenge in any case is always to go for quality and that doesn't necessarily mean spending exorbitant prices from a high-end boutique but merely thinking outside the box, looking in secondhand stores or online auction sites.  If you were wanting to create your own  faux fur stole for instance, just visit any second hand store for a fur collared jacket and choose one that would be easy to disassemble the collar from the jacket as often this is easy to do.  See the tutorial I have posted below from Transient Expression.

Fur collar tutorial and image from transientexpression.com

How to transform a jacket with a faux fur collar tutorial

Fur collars are so luxe - so they can really take what would otherwise be a non differential jacket or dress to something that oozes interest and sophistication. They also photograph well.  I especially love the idea of contrasting textures - as in leather and fur.  We are coming into Winter here so I'm always looking at ways to make the transition cheaply (as in using what I have) while giving people a new perspective.  This year that new perspective might just be a faux fur collar or accent.

Image by creatorsofdesire.com

Leopard accents - image by luxereport.blogspot.com

I love these leopard print accents above.  I think the interior designer has done a great job of staying under the line of being too OTT by keeping everything from the lampshades to the furniture both light, sleek and modern so that the personality of the print can shine.

Cosy fur bedspread and image by nikjillb.blogspot.com

Despite the fact that one of the bedside lamps is on the bend in the pic above (only just noticed this!) I really like (again) that everything is white and light in the bedroom above and yet the faux fur animal print bed spread gives it a warm, inviting and interesting feel.  Imagine how much colder the room could feel without it!  We have a guest room that gets no light during the day so everything is going to be light and white but I'm worried about the room looking cold, so this is great inspiration for that bedroom!

Image by candycake12.blogspot.com

In fashion, as with interiors.  One solid contrasting colour (think black, white, red) is all you need and then your faux fur jacket, throw or collar will do the rest.  I mean, how chic does this woman look in all black and leopard.  This kind of look never gets old in my book.  Actually this also demonstrates another tip, that if you want to look coordinated from top to toe, try matching your shoe to an accent colour that you're wearing, (the less predictable the better).  She has chosen the nutty brown of the middle of the leopard print to accent in her heels.  She could have gone black but I love the contrast here.

In a funny coincidence, my husband and I are trying to declutter 10 years worth of personal belongings and we uncovered a shaggy fur throw from 5 years ago that I fell out of love with but you'll be pleased to know I am so in love with it again.  I guess because we are in a new place but I can see so many new possibilities for it in our interior space so 'it stays'.

Til next time, go faux!

Everything Ombre

These ombre walls and curtains add such a lovely softness to the room. There is something about the gradual tonal changes that just feels soft and relaxing. This girl is so totally ombre by doing the ombre dress AND ombre hairstyle.
Interior pic courtesy of Happiness Is
Outfit pic courtesy of Beauty Moves Me

Ombre is a French term meaning “shaded”. The effect is usually achieved by a multicolored stripe, with colors graduating from light to dark. Its a trend that if you Google right now will come up with a lot of hairstyle images from celebs who over the past few years have been rocking the dark roots that slowly get lighter at the ends. Apparently the celebs have now abandoned the two toned hairstyles, but in fashion and interiors; ombre can be a lot more timeless. In fact ombre is a color style that works not just on interiors and fashion, but also on cakes, lips and nails and has even shown up in a lot of wedding styling. The 'dip dye' style is very similar in terms of the visual effect it creates of which there are quite a few DIY tutorials to try out.

Google ombre and you will get hundreds of these sorts of celeb hairstyle pics. From left to right Rachel Bilson, Drew Barrymore and Khloe Kardashian.Images courtesy of theberry.com, andazelenca.com and franaq16.blogspot.co.nz

What I love about ombre is the softness and gentleness. It has a calming feeling to it, from a dark rich color to softer more pastel tones and all the way to white.

These are more subtle gradient ombre examples. They also demonstrate that blue on blue on blue can work, you don't have to be afraid to be too matchy matchy.
Interior pic courtesy of apetycznewnetrze.blogspot.com 
Outfit pic courtesy of weheartit.com

A great example of the sweet softness of ombre. Pale pink and turquoise, too cute.
Interior pic courtesy of blog.jelanieshop.com
Outfit pic courtesy of pose.com

A DIY project you can ombre paint a set of drawers for a fabulous visual effect. Gwen Stefani was stunning in this John Galliano wedding dress way back in 2002 before ombre became a hairstyle sensation.
Interior pic courtesy of creamylife.comombre-desk 
Outfit pic courtesy of wedding-darling.com

Dip dye denim blue, has a chic easiness to it that feels very down to earth.
Interior pic courtesy of etsy.com
Ombre denim shirt courtesy of etsy.com

Orange in your wedding dress is probably even more outrageous than pink, but its cute and it works. This simplistic art piece demonstrates that ombre is beauty and art in itself.
Ombre Sunset Pic courtesy of etsy.com
Orange ombre wedding pic courtesy of beforethebigday.co.uk

There are no limits to this trend, even your lips can have this crazy extra dimension.
Interior pic Courtesy of  Happiness Is
Make-up pic courtesy of  Tumbler.com

Wedding cakes and crazy couture are all ombre friendly
Image courtesy of savvyinteriordesign.com

There is something hippy and cool about both these examples, but I wouldn't try the pink hair unless you were in your early 20s.
Interior pic courtesy of anordinarywoman.net
Pink hair image courtesy of tammyleighsblog.blogspot.com

Sunshine yellow ombre is very easy on the eye and soothing to the soul. Such a cheerful color in such a peaceful tone takes me to my happy place.
Interior pic courtesy of Happiness Is
Outfit pic courtesy of i612.photobucket.com

Check some ombre and dip dyed ideas below for the avid DIYer and a whole lot more ideas here.

Make your own dip dyed napkins via a great tutorial from A Beautiful Mess

Give more interest and beauty to some retro furniture. Image courtesy of budgetdecorating.about.com

Ombre doesn't have to be crazy colorful shades. Grey is a great option for neutral beauty. Image courtesy of countryliving.com 

This is a great tutorial on how to paint an ombre wall, see full instructions here

Finally some ombre fashion examples...

Ombre on the runway. 
Image courtesy of designsbykf.blogspot.com

Ombre on the red carpet. 
Image courtesy of fromthefloor.nordstrom.com

It is true you could ombre just about anything, and with any color so have fun with this trend and get "ombreing".