Great Gatsby Glamour: Flapper Chic Fashion

After watching trailers of The Great Gatsby, it's difficult to not succumb to the charm of the fluid, shimmering glamour of flapper style... so why fight it? With the irresistibly irreverent combination of youthful joie-de-vivre and awe-inspiring opulence, the 20's style is most decidedly coming to 2013!

The cloche hat is an essential to this gorgeous style. Sleek and posh, it exudes silver screen glamour. Our cloche hat, decorated with luscious crystal and intricate metalwork, can add a touch of whimsy to any outfit!

Beading is also a staple in flapper eveningwear: the more extravagant, the better! Pearl or crystal in delicate patterns, either at the ends of a dress or cascading down the back, make an elegant statement.

An outfit can never have too much sparkle, can it? The true flapper girl layers on her jewellery fearlessly, creating the perfect statement of daring style.

.As for texture, anything goes, as long as you keep to a coherent colour scheme. Try a floating, cloudlike tulle with metallic accents, or a swingy, flowing silk dress with a shock of sequins!

How to Wear Neon with Effortless Chic

It seems that everywhere you turn, neon is proclaimed to be the key to this summer's fashion trends: and yet, some of us are wondering how to integrate it into our wardrobes and still remain true to our personal style: here are my tips to wearing neon with effortless chic!

1. Balance is everything. Neon can make a visual pop, but when your outfit lacks stabilizing elements, it can overpower you. Stick to one bright colour, and pair it with neutrals. Lemon yellow can look smashing with cloud gray, and loud raspberry pink can turn luxurious with chocolate brown or black.

2. Choose one statement piece: it IS possible to have too much of a good thing. Choose one sweater/blazer, or a shirt, or purse, or shoes, even a striking lip colour! If it has a blank canvas to work with, it will do just fine. If you crowd it with too many competing colours or too many contrasting patterns, its' effect will be diluted.

3. When following trends, it is always important to stay true to your own personal taste. Adapt this trend to fit your own. If you are more discreet, small touches of this, from a more daring lip shade to nail colour to statement jewellery or handbag, can work for you! If you are the more daring sort, pick a dress or leggings or a tunic in one of these exciting shades and have only neutrals for the rest of your accessories!

Happy hunting,

the Rose

The Pre-raphaelite Fascination

Preraphaelite art has always held an irresistible charm for us at Wild Rose and Sparrow. The luminous colours, the petal-light, flowing fabrics and mythological themes transport us to other worlds filled with ethereal beauty and forlorn, forgotten places.

Peopled with lithe nymphs, tragic heroines, powerful enchantresses and beguiling sirens, preraphaelite art transcends the everyday world and draws on the literature and poems of Romantic authors, as well as greek and roman myths for its themes. For the first time in European art, women were being viewed as strong and as the wielders of their own destinies.

This pre-raphaelite fascination has translated to our world in flower-strewn hairclips, delicate, graceful scarves and rich, saturated fabrics that have all of the rustle and texture of a J.W.Waterhouse painting.

What art movement do you think would make a good fashion trend? Leave us your response in the comments box.

Green envy: How to wear this season's freshest look

After this way-too-long winter, the latest fashion trend is like a fresh spring wind in the air: green is the colour of the moment, thanks to Pantone and many of fashion's biggest designers. Its vibrancy evokes life and luxury. However, this shade can sometimes be overwhelming to wear.With great trends come great responsibilities. Here are a few tips on how to wear this spring's most fashionable colour:

-  Do NOT overdo it! Wearing an emerald dress with dramatic jade green eyeshadow will make you look like a citizen of the emerald city. Instead of letting the trend wear you, wear the trend: small accents of green in an otherwise coloured outfit or one bold green statement piece paired with neutral or complementing colours will really flaunt your style savvy.

-When it comes to green, there is always a hint of drama that follows, so why not enjoy it? Instead of a discreet swipe of olive green eyeshadow, why not a luscious peacock feather inspired look, or take the gorgeous metallic shades of a beetle's shell as your palette?

-Green has a huge versatility, and can evoke any style. Try our bold, emerald green dress reminiscent of Pucci's prints to make any outfit pop! For a cleancut, preppy look, try pairing a white dress with Laduree mint accessories.

-For a look of effortless chic, try one of our braided pearl and semiprecious stone necklaces or rich, jewel toned scarves.

-For a wistful, romantic look, try our peacock and Swarovski jewel fascinator pinned in a loose updo or relaxed braided style.

Keep Calm and Carry On! Celebrating the Brits' Fashion Flair

With the Diamond Jubilee just last year, Kate and Will becoming media sweethearts, british shows like Downton Abbey and Sherlock topping the charts and the British Invasion of Hollywood (Keira Knightley and Eddie Redmayne, anyone?), the cultural compass has turned towards England. Anyone fancy a cup of tea?

 

                Let’s take a look at some of key items of British style:

1.       The bowtie. Fitting in with ease at any formal event, or adding a whimsical touch to an ordinary outfit, it’s no wonder that it’s a go-to look for anyone, whether you’re the Eleventh Doctor, you want to spice up a hairclip or add some sass to a too-nice Peter-pan collar!

 

2.       The peacoat: a quintessential element of style in colder weather (recently sported and popularized by TV’s latest Sherlocks from either side of the pond), the peacoat is as versatile as it is elegant. Wearing one instantly elevates your look and can make even the most relaxed of outfits look remarkably posh.

 

3.       A touch of attitude: designers like Vivienne Westwood are a confirmation that “punk” is still a part of the British aesthetic. However, the style as a part of current mainstream fashion has considerably softened. To rock this look successfully, try adding only echoes of this style rather than a complete immersion: think pairing a hint of tartan print (as a shirt) with a nice pair of tailored pants, or a leather jacket over lace or tulle.

 

And so, Keep Calm and Carry On!

 The Rose

What style do you want us to cover in our next post? Let us know in the comments box!

Spring To-Do List

Have you ever tried to type into Google the phrase "Spring To-Do List"?
All you end up getting is advice about how to spring clean your closets.
Well, instead of re-organizing your wardrobe, here's some advice for re-inventing it: pick the suggestions that fit your personality and transform your style!

- Wear a cloche hat, a beret or a fedora.

- Buy a canary yellow dress (but instead of calling the shade 'yellow', call it 'tournesol'), and wear it on a grey, rainy day.

- Wear fashion like it's yours, Comme les Garcons style: own your look, and don't look uncomfortable - you look great.

- Pair an arrogant grass-green t-shirt with a chunky white necklace.

- Wear a scarf that makes you feel like poetry in motion.

- Cover your arm in bracelets, and when you think you're done, add 3 more and go out the door.

- Buy the outrageously expensive new rouge Dior in a petal shade.

- The next time you see that pair of rain boots in that outrageous hue and crazy awesome pattern, go ahead and buy it: don't worry, it'll look good with absolutely everything!

- Replace all of your plastic hangers with some in wood. Better for your health.

- Get a beautifully intricate henna tattoo. If you change your mind at any time, you can easily wash it off.

- Ditch the chamomile tea. It's been a long winter. Have some espresso shots: time to wake up!

Spring is all about rebirth and reinvention, so don't go back to the same old habit of diving back into your closet and not finding the burst of 'awesome' you were looking for in the first place.

Instead of spring cleaning, throw a 'Welcome back, Spring!' party!
Then throw on a scarf that complements your much adored rain boots,
and embrace the joie-de-vivre of spring!

the Rose

Dreaming of Summer

With all of the snow pouring down, it’s hard to remember summer, and the lazy afternoons spent in hammocks or exploring sunlit meadows seem ages ago. Fear not! Here are a few ways to remind yourself that warmer days really are coming and block winter out of your mind for a few days:

1.       Make yourself a summer box! Select a box with a size that is appropriate for your use. It could be big enough to serve as a display on your coffeetable, or small enough to sit on your desk and remind you of balmier days while you work. Then, cover the base of the box in sand from some beaches you’ve explored (if the beach is not your thing, adapt to suit your personal vacation taste). Fill with whatever shells or mementos you’ve collected from pleasant summer days. Imagine the tang of the ocean and the smell of sunscreen in the air. Enjoy.

2.       On a snowed-in day, take out all of those souvenirs from summer escapades. Whether pressed wildflowers from the peak of a mountain to preserved lavender sprigs from lavender fields, pictures of the wonderful places you’ve explored or maps to faraway lands, tickets from the vaporetto in Venice or ticket stubs from buses in New York, take them all out. Then sort through them; decide which ones are meant for being scrapbooked and which could decorate a wall of your home. Bask in memories and make plans for the future.

 

 

3.       Organize your spring wardrobe. Prepare the light trenchcoats, the floating, light-as-air scarves, and all of your glorious sunny clothes! Look out for the smell of a fresh spring breeze.

the Rose

Keeping chic in the cold snap!

With the cold snap still raging, why not take advantage of this excuse to get glamorously warm? Here are a few tips to help get you started: 
- opt for silk underwear: tres chic, and much warmer than cotton.
-cashmere or wool clothes are now much more affordable than they were before. To update this look and prevent it from becoming too "classic", try layering with wonderful fabrics and fibers like Irish wool, boiled wool or French sailor's sweater type thick wool. 

-Think subtle colours like: oatmeal, chocolate brown and light gray. This year, creamy, peachy off-white light cream is in!
-Bright scarves to bring a pop of colour and warmth!
-Indulge in angora wool or cashmere socks in your winter boots. Your feet will thank you!
-If you wear a hat, it should match your coat or shoes.

And while we're at it, there's no better way to ward off winter's chill than to curl up with a luscious hot chocolate and an excellent book! Here's the recipe for a cup of the perfect french hot chocolate:

Break up a square of the best french dark chocolate you can find (preferably fair-trade too, but more on that later!) into small pieces. Melt on low heat, and add milk slowly. Stir. Cuddle up and enjoy!

the Rose

Pretty in Pastel

With a whisper of spring in the air, our thoughts have started turning back towards lighter things: banishing deeper colours and countless layers to the confines of our closets, Spring 2013 is all about delicious pastel shades!

From macaron mint and seafoam blue-green to strawberry ice cream pink and periwinkle blue, there is a multitude of colours to choose from.

We have already seen hints of this Laduree lusciousness in previous fashion shows, like in the 2012-2013 Chanel cruisewear collection in Versailles’ gardens. Pastel flounces and shimmering adornments in the shade of the gilt-laden fountains: Marie Antoinette would approve!

To rock this look, you can take a leaf from that stylish monarch’s book and add a touch of opulence to any outfit by adding small-but-glamorous details, like pearl, gold or crystal finishes, or a hint of lace or tulle to a skirt. Remember that less can definitely be more: don’t let your accessories overpower your style.

Another way of approaching this trend is by using the freshness of spring as your template: clean lines and an uncluttered look really allow statement pieces (from a gorgeous necklace to a beautiful dress) to shine!

50 Shades of Red- Finding Your Perfect Lipstick In 3 Easy Steps!

A showstopping red can add that perfect rebellious touch to a minimalist black dress, or bring an otherwise ordinary outfit from just cute to downright chic! However, red is as temperamental as it is tempting to wear: here are a few tips on how to master this lip shade!

1.       Unless you always have ridiculously white and perfect teeth, do not pick shades of red that have orange hues in them: the warm shades bring out any yellow present, resulting in a less than flattering look. However, do not despair! You can still rock that classic shade of perfect Parisian red: all you need is a lipstick with a cooler palette, with undertones of blue. Blue brings out the white in teeth, so you can be confident in your lovely smile.

2.       Try out different shades of red before purchasing. If you would rather not use the in-store tester on your lips, there are ways to get an accurate idea of how you would look wearing it: apply the lipstick to the tip of your finger and squeeze your finger lightly from below the applied portion.

3.       The type of lipstick you choose is also dictated by your personal fashion preferences and lifestyle. Do you want high drama with deeper/bolder shades or discreet elegance with more muted hues? High gloss or hints of sparkle are definitely attention-grabbers, but if you want a more versatile look, matte might be more appropriate.

If you wear lipstick religiously and consider it a wardrobe staple of yours, or even if you just wear it occasionally, you should consider opting for an organic lipstick. There are multiple things to watch out for in the composition of your lipstick, all of which will be discussed in a later blogpost.

Until next time,

The Rose