Black and White Effect

(Louis Vuitton S/S 2013)

Black & White Effect

For 2013 Spring/Summer there’s no escaping your darker shades for season. That’s right, dark colours, patterns and stripes, are all staying in your summer wardrobe. The mixture of black and white colours is a much-watched trend for 2013, from stripes to chequered and also blocked colouring of the tones. 

(Alexander McQueen, Saint Laurent, Balmain S/S 2013)

The mixture of the colours helps in creating modern glamour, with a slight twist of edgy. Dare to mix the strong colours into one look, its effortlessly stylish. The catwalks stormed with clear signs of the Black and White trend being fully flaunted, with designers from Marc Jacobs to Saint Laurent, they all showed their flare. This season be sure to show the world your style through Black and White, with great structure, volume and crisp cuts.

(Givenchy, Balmain, Celine S/S 2013)

Work the Look:

• A new trend does not always mean a new wardrobe, it simply suggest a new way of styling it up. Every man or woman must own a black blazer, its criminal not too.
•  For a casual take on the trend, invest in a great pair of black jeans, paired with chiffon or cotton loose fitting white t-shirt, thrown on with your classic white blazer. 
• Finished off with a pair of black velvet slipper pumps. 
• Accessories well with a stack of gold tone bracelets or a small bunch of gold chains. 
• Don't Over crowd the look with Jewellery, choose one area either your neck or wrist to exaggerate.

(Rihanna, Kim Kardashian)

Celebrities also grab hold of this trend and work it into there daily evening and day schedules. Once the perfect balanced is reached within the two colours of Black and white, its a look that is effortlessly classic. Perfecting for working into your day and taking into to your evening.-★

(Miroslava Mikheeva Duma, Olivia Palermo, Amiee Song) 

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TARTAN

TARTAN

My New Favourite Trend:

Its not all kilts and bagpipes when you think of Tartan, its more great wools and amazing stripped patterns. Creeping up on the runways from Alexander McQueen to Chanel's extravaganza that took place in the heart of Scotland. I am literally CRAZY over this trend. Its a local trend that has defiantly played out worldwide on top watched celebrities. The classic prints of Tartan is a non mover in many of the elites wardrobes, for this Autumn / Winter sees the return of Tartan hitting the runways and streets. 

Ever year Chanel's creative designer Karl Lagerfeld hosts Metiers d'Art Show with a new theme, in a new location and a whole new story behind the collection... this year Chanel took over Scotland. Set in a private location just outside of Edinburgh, Lagerfeld was sure to set an evening of Chanel's iconic substance dazzled in a dose of doomed romance, a fabulous combination.

Chanel's catwalk represented the finest in tweeds, knits, cardigans and also displayed dashes of Tartan. Creator of the brand Gabrielle Chanel, spent a lot of time in Scotland with her lover the Duke of Westminster, much . 

How to work your Tartan look

• Keep your palette to the colours used in the print, from Blacks to Greens and even white
• Keep your accessories to a minimum, try not to over power the tartan too much print and colour can look messy 

• Layer up with scarfs, boots and tights depending on your garment

• Do not be afraid to wear more than one item of Tartan, doubling up on the same print can be an affective fashion statement

Tartan is a classic, you can keep reinventing the ways in which you wear it. Its perfect for those wintery days adding the right amount of colour, never be afraid of too much print!-★

CLUTCHES

CLUTCHES

The Top 10 guide:

No evening outfit is complete without the right type of accessories and that all starts from the right pair of shoes to the perfect clutch. I have selected some of the luxurious evening clutches, from small to big and yet so stylish. Small bags have been storming runways of the streets, from miniature satchels to small Celine style totes. 

When shopping for a clutch there are a few rules to always consider: 

• You want to by something that is CLASSIC or yet so UNIQUE, it easily works with your wardrobe choices.
• Never BUY a clutch just for one outfit, its crucial to INVEST in items that can make more appearance in your life than in your closet. 
• Never question the SIZE of your clutch, be ready to break the fear of  wearing an oversized clutch. 

GIVENCHY

PRADA

CHANEL

JIMMY CHOO

DIANE VON FURSTENBERG

YSL

Balenciaga 

VALENTINO

Alexander McQueen 

DIOR  

No matter what event your ready to dazzle at, be sure to have paired the correct clutch to add to the finishing touches of your outfit.-★

Indian Jewellery

Indian Jewellery

The beauty of traditional Indian Jewellery:

From chunky necklaces, bangles, cuffs, earrings, head pieces, tika's (traditional Indian head jewellery) and rings, traditional Indian jewellery offers some of the most beautiful pieces in the world. 

Indian jewellery has always been an on going custom, to be treasured, passed on and to be gifted. Many people associated gold jewellery with India, but many do not realise that Indian Jewellery offers much more than just gold to its pieces. From unique designs, to stones, diamond cuts and a traditional use of the jewellery. 

Jewellery is often known to be associated with women, but many decades ago during the times of Maharaja's (Kings) of India, many of the men were drenched in Royal design which used diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and pearls, to exhibit their importance and wealth. Even in todays modern India, men wear jewels during their religious wedding ceremony, this is to signify them as princes, on their special day. 

(Indian Maharaja King)

Western designers such as Alexander McQueen and Chanel have often used Indian jewellery during their fashion shows and as part of their collection inspiration. Indian jewellery offers a unique ethnicity to it, a holds a huge variety, from style to colour and size of the delicate pieces. 

(Chanel Show 2011/12  http://skarmanspassion.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/chanel-takes-bombay.html)

Indian Jewellery currently has been challenging the tradition and focusing more on the modern day, costume jewellery, with new younger designers giving the younger generation, unique and playful jewellery. Such as my favoruite Indian contemporary designer such as Eina Ahluwalia and Nitya Arora, using traditional symbolic Indian objects and colours in a modern take, so effective.-★