Trend Watch Chic China Blue

China blue ladylike clothes and accessories are the new prints in town.  From feminine summer dresses to cute blue print bikinis, this trend is definitely worth investing in.

I have been particularly eyeing this Temperley London SS2013 catwalk for the last month but I can’t seem to get my head around spending  a fortune on a dress, so I’ve diverted my attention to the high street for some china blue prints, and I must admit that I have been pleasantly surprised. 

This Topshop petite china lace tunic is the perfect dress for those long hot summer days, and this Oasis china blue scarf will make the perfect accessory with any pair of jeans.  I also love these bikini top and bottom from warehouse.

But just like most fashionistas shopping on the high street is always made better when we manage to team up an affordable wardrobe with some designer goodies.  Here are few accessories that fit the bill – check out these 3.1 Philip Lim wedge sandals they look great with trousers and dresses.  As for this year’s perfect summer eyewear I think I have found the perfect pair to complement this trend – Heidi London’s circular sunglasses in blue denim print are just what I am looking for!

Stockists:

Topshop Petite China Lace Tunic £32 from topshop.com

Oasis China blue scarf £20 from oasis-stores.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs Large Turnlock Leather Bracelet £68 from shopbop.com

Warehouse China blue bikini top £12 from warehouse.co.uk

Warehouse China blue bikini bottom £12 from warehouse.co.uk

3.1 Phillip Lim Juliette Wedge Sandals £325 from shopbop.com

Heidi London Denim Print Circular Sunglasses £165 from wolfandbadger.com

Written and Compiled by Hala Di-Maio

66th Annual Cannes Film Festival Red Carpet Review

It comes as no surprise that the red carpet line-up for the opening ceremony of the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at the Theatre Lumiere couple of days ago was a spectacular one.  As expected celebrities showcased their stylish attire at The Great Gatsby Premiere, and I must admit I was very impressed with the choices of cocktail dresses this year; were all treated to some fantastic evening gowns which inevitably got most of Stilorama’s team talking about who wore what and most importantly who was our favourite red carpet queen.

I guess the jury is still out, but as far as I am concerned my bets are on these gorgeous beauties; I love Zhang Yuqi’s choice of this bright green dress by Ulyana Sergeenko which she accessorised with an eye-popping red ruby and diamond cocktail ring and a gold metallic clutch.

Nicole Kidman looked picture prefect wearing an elegant 1950s style Christian Dior dress which she accessorised with funky bright fuchsia pointed stiletto shoes.

Daughter of the famous duo Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall Georgia May Jagger looked stunning wearing a long red embellished gown by Roberto Cavalli.

Actress Freida Pinto looked fabulous wearing a long fuchsia halter neck gown by Emilio Pucci, which she accessorised with a pair of diamante sandals and a beautiful belt.

Written and Compiled by Hala Di-Maio

2013 Trend Watch Nautical Nuances

A new nautical wave is once again upon us and with spring in full swing, this is the best time to invest in elegant marine stripes. 

This year the nautical trend is sophisticated and chic, and is not limited to swimwear or to beach holidays.

Designers like Michael Kors, Dolce & Gabbana and Alberta Ferretti used nautical stripes for beachwear as well as for tailored office wear.  We have also witnessed new additions to the colour palette and a surge towards brighter shades of yellow, blue, orange, green and pink which have been incorporated with the usual black, white, navy and red. 

This season, nautical stripes have also gone a bit glamorous and metallic with Jonathan Saunders leading the way, making them the best choice for evening outs. 

Stockists:

Ted Baker Striped Pleated Dress £119 from tedbaker.com  

Balenciaga Two-Tone Teacup Sunglasses £235 from forzieri.com 

Tory Burch Beller Striped Sling-Back Wedges £200 from mytheresa.com

Blu Bijoux Red Nautical Round Stud Earrings £10 from maxandchloe.com

Sprout Watches Nautical Collection Woman Watch £20.68 from sproutwatches.com

Nautical Catwalk look from Tommy Hilfiger SS2013 RTW

Written and Compiled by Hala Di-Maio

Yogalicious…Yoga and Fashion Combined

A genuine yoga practitioner tries to adhere to the discipline of a yoga class by introducing it as a way of life instead of as sport; much like a fashion devotee is with styling. For many, dressing for the occasion is a way of life; some paint or make music, others create street style. When these two very strong philosophies, yoga and fashion combine, friction may subside if not dealt with properly. Yoga calls for baggy sweats and ill-fitted pants while fashionistas would cringe at the thought of sweats. I myself have resisted wearing certain pieces of clothing during yoga class to avoid the clichéd yoga look. But alas I have found the path to a harmonious relationship between the two: Lulu Lemon, a high quality stylish Canadian yoga brand. Great fits, colours, beliefs, and system; I can honestly say I am guilt free wearing yoga clothes or sweats, even outside the yoga studio now. Namaste!

Model wearing a Lulu Lemon Contempo Jacket II £128 from lululemon.com

Lulu LemonVinyasa To Vino Bag £118 from lululemon.com

Adidas by Stella McCartney Cotton-blend jersey yoga pants £80 from net-a-porter.com

Jack Wills Bembridge Tee £22 from jackwills.com

Uniqlo Racer Back Lace camisole £7.90 from uniqlo.com

Women’s New Balance 101 Casual Shoes from finishline.com

Written by Zaineb Hussein – Compiled by Hala Di-Maio

Best Dressed for The Met Gala 2013

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual Costume Institute Gala is the ultimate high fashion event of the year. Hosted by Vogue, and attended by fashion authority and A-list celebrities, this event celebrates and begs for avant-garde risks and styling. The theme of this year was punk, in celebration of the Met’s new exhibit “Punk: Chaos to Couture”. Dressing aacording to theme, innovation, and attitude, these are my picks for the top 5 best dressed for The Met Gala 2013:

Met Gala 2013 Red Carpet Style Report

The 2013 Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art – the Met Gala – took place in New York on Monday night, celebrating the spring exhibition “PUNK: Chaos to Couture”. Last year, celebrities shined in plenty of metallic numbers. This year, the red carpet was greeted with black leather, plenty of spiked studs, and dark eye make-up with the occasional quiff. One of fashion’s biggest annual events showcases all kinds of fashion and style. Celebrities including Anne Hathaway, Sienna Miller, Jessica Alba, Cara Delevingne, Jourdan Dunn, Beyoncé and Katie Holmes graced the red carpet with eye-popping gowns making their own twist on the punk theme. So who do you think did the unconventional theme justice?

Written and Compiled by Stephanie Ma

Trend Watch Animal Onesies

Onesie was thought to be just for toddlers and kids, until it was brought to the fashion scene by the well-loved 20-year-old model – Cara Delevingne. Cara has constantly posted photos of her wearing animal onesies on her Instagram profile since last Christmas. She has been photographed wearing her onesies outside on her flight or to event such as Children in Need and even stated that she wanted to have her own onesie line. While it is rather unusual to wear onesies outside, Cara seems to make it work for her and also make it an acceptable trend among celebrities and young adults. Many high street brands and online fashion shop has started to create their own onesie line or import onesies from brands like Japanese brand Kigu – Cara Delevingne’s favourite onesie brand.

It is not summer yet so there is probably still time for you to pick up a few of these cute animal onesies to wear at home or – if you dare to and think it will work, to dress up for a party. But be prepared as it might not be easy to go to the toilet in these cuties!

Topshop Zebra All in One £36 from topshop.com

Kigu Giraffe Onesie £50 from asos.com

Kigu Rabbit Onesie £50 from asos.com

Kigu Owl Onesie £50 from asos.com

Topshop Leopard Novelty All in One £34 from topshop.com

Written and compiled by Hanh Piz (Hanh Dinh)

Editor’s Picks Fancy Footwear

We are all used to seeing gorgeous footwear on the catwalks, and this spring embellished shoes and sandals seem to have shifted towards a more decorative theme.

Fancy shoes were spotted on many catwalks including the likes of Fendi, Dolce & Cabana, Prada, John Galliano, Celine and Alexander McQueen.

This impressive trend comes in many forms like lavish exaggerated Swarovski crystal heels and playful futuristic Perspex, which were teamed up with leather, silk, suede and metal.

At Stilorama we can’t get enough of this extravagant footwear, and here are few of my favourites.

Stockists:

Kenzo Crystal-embellished leather sandals £434 from net-a-porter.com

Tory Burch ambrosia shell sandal £255 from toryburch.com

Jimmy Coho Time cut out suede sandals £650 from net-a-porter.com

Dolce & Cabana Crystal-embellished printed satin-twill sandals £605 from net-a-porter.com

Nicholas Kirkwood Bernadette Sling back Heel £1380 from harrods.com

Written and Compiled by Hala Di-Maio

Summer Shades – Black is Back

With the summer season ahead of us, a style update is in order for our wardrobes. When we think of summer, our minds are filled with an array of bright colours and sunny holidays. However, this season the key trend is to dress in the shade. Yes, black is back and we know exactly how to style it up! Think minimalism in colour and focus on the structure and silhouette to enhance your elegant side. Buy into the lightweight pieces with textures such as pleats and ruffles, not forgetting the beautiful lace and embellishments too! Black is not only for those dark winter nights, but for those warm and sweet summer days as well.

Halston Heritage draped strapless jumpsuit £460 from Net-A-Porter

Sass & Bide Ode To Love cutout crepe jacket £570 from Net-A-Porter

Black wrapped halter neck crop top £28 from River Island

Metal sash cocktail dress £64.99 from Mango

Written and Compiled by Stephanie Ma

Trend Inspiration: Hit television series “Girls”

If you haven’t caught on to the “Girls” obsession yet, brace yourself. The American comedy-drama series has just finished its second season and is up for a third one in the near future. Created by writer and actress (she stars as one of the main characters named Hannah) Lena Dunham, the television programme centres on four twenty-something girls living in New York City. Ok, so it sounds exactly like “Sex and the City.” And perhaps it is a modern take on the former beloved show as it focuses on love, friendship, and finding oneself. But “Girls” sets itself apart from “Sex and the City” and similar programmes in its raw but extremely true take on reality and what girls in their young twenties are actually like. Forget the glamour and fancy cocktails of Manhattan and prepare yourself for a struggling writer cut off from her parents and having to do unpaid internships, STI’s, the casual hookup turn relationship, and falling out of love. “Girls” presents us with the actual issues that girls just out of university really face. When speaking to some of my friends, I have found that almost each one of them can relate to at least one of the main characters completely. And the amount of times I have heard “that conversation or that part when Hannah says to Marnie…SO TRUE! I literally had that conversation the other day!” is too many to count. If nothing else, pay attention to each of the main characters’ styles for wardrobe inspiration—are you a hipster Hannah? Sophisticated city chic Marnie? Boho Jessa? Or preppy Shoshanna? Here’s a little guide to achieve whichever girl’s look you identify with and if you haven’t already, tune into “Girls” on Sky Atlantic.

Hipster Hannah: Main character Hannah revels in the fact that she is a writer trying to make it in New York. Living in Brooklyn, New York’s hipster centre (think Shoreditch), Hannah often wears mid-length skirts; button up shirts, vintage-inspired floral dresses, hats, and Oxford/brogue shoes. Her mismatched outfits add to her quirky, creative personality that is cause for many hilarious (although slightly awkward) situations.

Sophisticated city chic Marnie: Marnie is Hannah’s best friend and in series one, housemate. Marnie has a decent job and initially, the perfect boyfriend. She is primped and proper and incredibly beautiful. Marnie usually wears tailored dresses and looks both professional and sophisticated without compromising her beauty or youth. Think Zara-like dresses or jeans paired with blouses and feminine accessories (scarves, necklaces, etc.) Marnie is the girl that everyone wants to be and look like in New York.

Boho Jessa: Having just come back from travelling, Shoshanna’s British cousin Jessa brings a carefree hippy element to the group. On the surface, Jessa seems to have it all figured out—her effortless personal style, abundance of life experiences, endless wisdom, and living life as one experience presents itself to the next. But there is certainly another layer to her in that she is fairly lost and perhaps lonely at times. Exuding her complex personality, Jessa wears long flowing skirts and dresses layered with shirts, tops, patterns and prints. She loves floppy hats and bracelets and funky rings. Think paisley.

Preppy Shoshanna: Perhaps the most naïve of the group, Shoshanna is somewhat insecure and immature. She is still waiting for her breakthrough moment. As a result, she plays it relatively safe with her wardrobe. But safe is ok when you’re right on trend! Shoshanna is on it with the recent preppy trend that we have seen emerging this spring. House of Holland, Ralph Lauren, and other top designer houses have presented stripes, Yacht-inspired Americana preppy looks. Think polo shirts and striped skinny trousers, collars underneath lightweight jumpers and sweet ballet flats. Skater skirts and low-cut Chelsea boots with collared blouses are perfect for the Shoshanna side of all of us, especially this spring.

By Nicola Rothery