Stylehive Blog

Welcome to the Jungle: Animal Prints Inspired By Dolce & Gabbana

PaulineM@stylehive.com (Pauline Montupet) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:19:40 PST

Animal prints have been around forever, since the near beginning of time. So it's not surprising that that they come back in fashion periodically. From leopard print to zebra prints -- you name it -- everything from the jungle will be welcomed this fall. Dolce & Gabbana have always been a huge fan of this wild style, making it their signature, and this fall other designers like Phillip Lim and Oscar de la Renta are embracing it as well. From realistic to abstract versions of the prints, they are everywhere and they're a bold way to add to some punch, pattern and texture to any outfit. Feeling risky? Go for a head to toe look inspired by the Dolce & Gabbana runway and pair a tastefully sexy leopard pencil skirt like the Mirror & Dash Leopard Skirt from Urban Outfitters with a Torn by Ronny Kobo bold shouldered long sleeve top. The different scaled prints and covered up shoulders make the look work, and at a fraction of the cost of the runway look! If a head-to-toe animal print is too much for you, try wearing an animal print top or shoe. Check out the slidshow to see ways to get wild with animal prints.

Vintage Fashionistas Savor Gray This Season!

ZUBURBIA@stylehive.com (Mary Kincaid) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:18:40 PST

When searching for vintage clothing online, it's important that you use the right keywords to find what you want. And heaven forbid you're looking for something gray, because well, there's gray (the American spelling) and then there's grey (the British spelling). Of course, since vintage clothing sellers on both sides of the pond spell this color both ways without any sensible rhyme or reason, the wise online vintage shopper knows to plug both spellings into their search engines. If you do, you'll be rewarded with a smorgasbord of vintage treats in this classic, conservative neutral. Try substituting darker charcoal shades of gray for black. Or choose pale shades of gray to take the place of white. Morning, noon or night, for dresses, coats or evening gowns, gray is a fabulous wardrobe choice for a vintage fashionista. Just click the slideshow to see this week's selections!

CollegeCandy Shows Us How To Pull Off The Formal Fauxhawk

xgalexy@stylehive.com (Alex Gambardella) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:24:40 PST

I'm not really a fan of traditional up-dos. You know, the ones with the spiral curls that are pinned neatly together and sprayed with enough hairspray to destroy the ozone. Maybe it's just me, but I've never really been into pageant hair. I prefer something a little sleeker and sexier, not to mention something that doesn't quadruple my carbon footprint. When it comes to formal or special events, I'm all about taking risks with hair and makeup. The bigger the risk the better the payoff, right? That couldn't be more true with the look Kim Kardashian is rockin' on the red carpet. If you've got a formal coming up (or you just want to try something different on a Saturday night), this fauxhawk is sophisticated, fun and super easy to do. Click over to CollegeCandy for the video tutorial!

Karmaloop Introduces The WeSC Holiday Collection

Karmaloop_goodkarma@stylehive.com (Karmaloop Goodkarma) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:24:40 PST

WeSC's holiday collection is now available at Karmaloop.com! In celebration of its 10th anniversary, WeSC has also released its Anniversary collection - a collection that pays tribute to the brand's ten successful years of creating and promoting top-notch streetwear clothing. The Ofelia Anniversary Jacket and The Grace Anniversary Cardigan are two staple pieces that reflect WeSC's sophisticated and clean aesthetic. As a special re-release of select WeSC garments and patterns that originally put the Swedish brand on the map, together with the Holiday collection, they illustrate the story of where WeSC has been. Favorites include The Veera Dress, The Tarja Sweater and The Bodil Jacket. Get yours at Karmaloop.com.

Haute Deal: Badgley Mischka-Style Sequin Pumps For Under $25!

xgalexy@stylehive.com (Alex Gambardella) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:19:40 PST

It's no news that the trend this season is to drench just about anything in sequins: blazers, cardigans, tanks, etc. And as a girl who is instantly drawn to anything with a little sparkle (like a kitten to catnip), I'm all about the emergence of bedazzled pumps, just in time for holiday cocktail parties and New Years' Eve -- the ultimate excuse to bling yourself out like a human disco ball. However, fancified heels usually come with an super-showy price tag to match, like these lust-worthy Badgley Mischka Hart Pumps ($190) that would most likely have me dropping the shoe back on the rack like a hot coal. Lucky for us bargain hunters, however, good ol' Forever 21 has a nearly identical pair (can you tell which is which?!) for a mere $22.80! Considering a sturdy pair of sequin pumps probably aren't what you'd consider an everyday wardrobe staple, I think it would be safe to opt for the style steal in this case. But if you've got the extra $167.20 and really feel the urge to spend it for the sake of the designer name (okay, and the extra sequins on the heel), it's up to you!

Black And Blue and Chic All Over

PaulineM@stylehive.com (Pauline Montupet) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:20:40 PST

Wearing blue and black together... how can you? Isn't that that one of the number one fashion faux-pas? Slowly but surely all of your grandma's old fashion cliches, like not wearing white after Labor Day and not wearing blue and black in the same outfit are quickly being thrown to the way side -- and not a moment to soon. Take your basic black and turn it into something way beyond boring by adding shot of bright blue. A Prussian blue top layered under a sleek black jacket and some tailored menswear-inspired trousers give you a look that goes right from the Gucci runway to your office. With holiday party season coming up, stand out of the crown with an LBBD, a little blue and black dress. Add a skinny blue belt to any old black dress, or even better, add on a blue and black necklace or scarf and you're good to go. Looking to splurge a little? Get "Mad Men"-sexy with Proenza Schouler's t-shirt bustier dress that is the perfect combo of girl next door-style t-shirt and a va-va-voom bustier dress. However you wear it, being black and blue is no longer a bad thing! Check out the slideshow for some more ways to hit the trend.

Cozy Up In Tweed Clothing And Accessories That Aren't So Traditional

xgalexy@stylehive.com (Alex Gambardella) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:19:40 PST

There's something about tweed that undeniably conjures up images of wintertime coziness... not to mention old-fashioned office attire and your grandma's go-to outfit for Sunday brunch. The good news is, however, that tweed has been updated to suit the styles of modern trends -- from platform pumps to boyfriend blazers -- and has expanded beyond its traditional use in plain ol' pea coats and conservative skirt suits. The great thing about the fabric is its ability to makes items still look office-appropriate without appearing stuffy, yet it can also be dressed up with metallic details for a night out, or thrown on last minute for an upgrade of your usual "just rolled outta bed" look. For some wintry-warm tweed pieces that are still totally on-trend, check out the slideshow!

Coquette Keeps It Chic and Cozy With Sweater Coats!

nataliezee@stylehive.com (Natalie Zee Drieu) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:19:40 PST

It's definitely getting colder out there and I love the option of bundling up with a sweater coat. I love these Marled Funnel-Neck Sweater ($152) and this Long Cable-Knit Sweater Coat ($175) both at Banana Republic which look great belted. Need some help fighting off the colder weather, but want to still look like a fierce fashionista while doing it? There are so many cute styles out there so click on over to our friends at Coquette and see some of the seasons faves!

Dress Like A Rock Star With Denim Of Virtue

xgalexy@stylehive.com (Alex Gambardella) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:18:40 PST

Inside all of us is a rock star waiting to get out -- a leather jacket-toting, torn-up jeans-wearing, utterly fabulous rock star. Thanks to Denim of Virtue, the time has never been better to embrace this inner desire. This rock star image was the first thing that came to mind upon viewing the Denim of Virtue collection. An array of distressed jean selections, each one was more stage-worthy than the next. The denim even comes in varying levels of distressing, catering to a wide variety of consumers. There's the subtle collection, boasting boyfriend, skinny and wide-leg jeans with only a hint of wear-and-tear. The second is the moderate collection, where skinny jeans show more tailored signs of distress. And finally, there is the extreme, where 90s punk rears its head in the form of carefully placed holes that decorate skinny jeans. When you're done rockin' out, be sure to check out WhatsWear for more notable new brands!

Comfy Cashmere Sweaters Without The Campy Christmas Prints

xgalexy@stylehive.com (Alex Gambardella) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:18:40 PST

Sure, cashmere is soft and luxurious -- just the kind of warm-weather material we crave during the cold winter months. But for some reason, whenever I think of the idea of a cashmere sweater, I can't help but be haunted by my childhood memories of unwrapping my Christmas gift from Grandma and finding (to my utter dismay) a chunky cable-knit creation with a dilapidated Christmas tree on its front. However, now that I'm old enough to appreciate (and prefer) clothing gifts in place of toys, I know that there's more to cashmere than ugly holiday prints and Abercrombie & Fitch pull-overs with a sewn-on moose logo. Switch out your sweatshirt hoodie with a cashmere version from Free People that's still casual but way more cozy. Or, if you're not afraid to look festive, this embellished LaROK cardigan isn't too kitschy, but it's still snazzy enough for a low-key holiday party. For more ways to get comfy this season without looking like a Christmas card, watch the slideshow!