French Stripes

July 20, 2015July 22, 2015 / Elena / Leave a comment

Striped shirt is one of the true wardrobe staples. I believe most girls I know have some kind of variation of a striped shirt.

History fact: Stripy pattern was originally part of sailor’s uniform in France and was called Breton shirt. “Breton” stands for Brittany. A shirt displayed 21 stripes for each one of Napoleon’s victories against British.

Breton striped shirts became popular after Coco Chanel used it in her nautical line in 1917. The original collection consisted of the stripy shirt worn with flared trousers in navy and white. That combination is still very popular today.

I took a bit more romantic approach to the Breton shirt by combining it with pleated A-line full skirt in teal, statement pearl necklace, and nude pumps. Red lipstick and orange nail polish completed the look. The look is very Parisian, effortless, and very easy to wear. Do you have your favorite Breton shirt combinations?

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Edgy Black and Luscious Purple

July 17, 2015July 22, 2015 / Polina / Leave a comment

Every woman has various sides to her – a sweet girl, elegant lady, rocker chick… Sometimes these traits are hidden, sometimes they come out to play. Sometimes you show your other “selves” to the world and sometimes you are the only one seeing them. Women are mysterious creatures and most of us like to shake things up now and then and surprise people around us. Clothes are a great, maybe the best, way to make you feel comfortable in your own skin or experiment with new things. Whatever the case may be, it’s important to keep it balanced. Any outfit can look stylish as long as you don’t overdo it. Always remember Coco Chanel, who said: “Fashion is architecture. It is a matter of proportions.”

Special thanks to Yuliya Ryvkina Photography for capturing the mood so perfectly!

Have a stylish weekend!

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Five ways to wear a military vest

May 24, 2015July 14, 2015 / Polina / 2 Comments

I am a huge fan of layering pieces. Any outfit, in my opinion, looks more sophisticated and put together when multiple layers come into play. Think of a white t-shirt, for example… it’s nice and crisp but it looks plain on its own. Try layering it with a blazer or a vest and you have yourself a fashion outfit (plus or minus various accessories and awesome shoes). Speaking of vests – they are some of the most versatile pieces of any wardrobe. They provide layering flexibility on warmer days when a jacket or a blazer may be too warm to wear.

Recently I found a great military vest that I’ve already worn on multiple occasions. It has all the attributes of a perfect layering gem – it’s neutral in color, made of natural quality fibers (cotton with a tiny addition of spandex), features a cinched waste that gives it a flattering shape, and it fits just below the hip for the effortless but elegant look. With this vest, the outfit combinations are infinite and here are 5 to get your started:

1. In the Office

The trick is not to go completely “blah” with any neutral clothing and especially when it serves as a top layer. A longer vest, like this one, with nothing to pop underneath will completely consume your outfit, so go with brighter colors. Plus, colors are always fun! 🙂 I paired the vest with a pinky-purplish skirt and a mint silky blouse for a more feminine look.