Trends to Retire in 2016

For someone who likes getting more mileage out of items in my closet (as documented in my favorite fashion app), it’s really sad seeing these forecasts.

While a lot of fashion websites made their own list, each different on their own, I’m sticking to my favorite fashion guide for this post. Not only did they narrow it down to three (THREE) items to retire (win, haha!), they also made a list of items to adopt for next year. Check it here.

Though I don’t necessarily agree with all of them, (I mean I’ve just blogged about neoprenes here *insert crying emoji*), but I’d have to agree that too much of a good thing is bad already. I guess I’ll just have to wait for them to be cool to wear again. On the positive side, I’ll make some space for others in my closet. my stubborn self insists that I can pull combos to make them cool again. Hahaha! 

Anyway, for you fashion girls hopping here, this is what the creative director of a trend forecasting company listed. Try to make positive use of this info in such a way that if you see these trends on sale, perhaps try saving instead for their list of items to adopt for next year. J

1. Peplum tops. I scrolled down my feed and noticed that it’s true that I haven’t worn them much lately.

Top: Mango; Skirt: The Ramp Crossings Shoes: Marks & Spencer

2. Neoprene skirt. Say it’s a temporary au revoir! But I really love this midi! *sigh*

Top: Apartment8; Skirt: Topshop; Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

3. High-Low Dresses. I have no qualms retiring this one. It was acquired on sale last year and I have maximized it’s full potential I believe. Okay, I still have one more plan for this. Haha!

Jacket: Topshop; Dress: H&M; Shoes: Adidas

The Wedding Emcee

A wedding that took 9 months to prepare. Wow. Of course I know some other rushed weddings because of unexpected circumstances but this one is different. Having it scheduled on the 24th, I know it was tough but I’m so proud of my friends for pulling it off.  As a close friend helping out on the preps the night before the big day, I felt the stress that I had to joke and tell my friends that nobody should get married next year. Lol!

But my takeaway from the wedding? Seriously. If a guy really wants you, he would really work quickly to secure you. Haha! That’s how my guy friend worked. Lol! The wedding was far from perfect what with some vital parts missing but I felt the intimacy having been a part of the couple’s relationship that only started this year. And the most shocking part was, me emcee-ing the wedding. Yes, that really made it imperfect. Hahaha!!! I got a not bad comment from a friend though. I’m gonna be okay with that. J

Dress: Apple & Eve (also here); Skirt/ Bag: Mango (also here); Shoes: CMG

Denim Top Half Style Tricks

Funny! I was photo time traveling the other day in Timehop when I found out something strange. There was a photo of me taking a group picture in the mirror of the elevator for two consecutive years (3 and 2 years ago but with a different group of friends). Apparently, aside from the intuition to wear the same dress or color code on the same time of the year as posted here, you also have the habit of doing the same things on a certain day. Hmm, I need to make a research about this theory on behavior. Lol.

Maybe this theory is responsible for this half-styling tricks that I notice I keep on doing my denim tops. Though the photos don't involve any time factor, I guess there's just something appealing to me about these tricks that I keep on doing them again and again. :P

Half-tuck. The half-tuck trend started somewhere around 2013 and is still carried on until this year according to some NYC  fashion editors here (photo taken around Sept 2014). I thought that doing this style trick in this combo resulted to a better colorblocking highlight. :)

Blazer/ Necklace: Mango; Skirt: Topshop; Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

Half-Buttoned. The half-buttoned look is just a good way of reinventing your old buttondowns or rather in this case, my brother's acid wash that I keep on borrowing using. Hehehe. :P I believe this was worn during the height of the crop top fever so leaving a few of the buttons below unbuttoned is a subtle nod to the trend. ;)

Top: Topman (also here); Skirt: Topshop; Shoes: Mango

Half-worn. Okay, I'll admit I did not wear this thing this way. Haha! But I thought it was a cool way to highlight just the other half of the distressed denim jacket so I could let my hair down on the other side. :)

Jacket/ Shoes: Mango; Top: Penshoppe; Skirt: Zalora

Traveling in Pinafores

While most of us are familiar with the word denim jumper, allow me to educate you with the proper terminology – it’s called pinafores or apron dress. This style is a cross-over with dungarees though or denim over-alls but the latter is broader since the bottom part of over-alls could take up too many forms (shorts, pants or longer skirts). The denim dress and over-alls became a trend during the summer so it's not a surprise if their close relatives like pinafores would emerge too. Why not? It’s such a versatile piece and I think is ideal for traveling.

P.S. Looks from this post were from the East Coast summer trip. =D

For traveling, I actually like to keep it sporty since it will involve a lot of exploring. While out and about in New York, I chose to layer mine with crops, as a way to welcome the summer season and pair it with my Roshe kicks as seen below. Pic was taken from the 9/11 memorial hall on Jersey side.

Top: Topshop; Pinafore: Mango; Shoes: Nike

While in Ontario, I opted for another matchy matchy in color look with this white crop top and Stan Smiths. This is one of my favorite photo by the incredible Niagara falls. 

Top: H&M; Pinafore: Mango; Shoes: Adidas

Safety Pin Style Hacks ;)

Once again, we interrupt your regular style programming to share with you the style benefits of using a drumroll please…. Safety pin! Haha! Seriously, they don’t all go missing in the gym for no reason! Atleast I can vouch for the female lockers, haha! Okay, in some branches in my gym where they don’t use the magnetic card, the locker keys have pins in it so members can easily attach them to any of their properties like towels and never forget them anywhere. That’s one practical use of it but not in styling. So…

When this article was released about it, I just simply felt the urge to share because first of all I like enumerations and lists. And funny, I’ve done 3/ 5 of their recommended use of safety pins. So let me highlight them in the post below.

1. Make your sweater figure-flattering. Without the safety pin, this sweater looks like this (7th image). 

Top: Bayo; Sweater/ Pants: Mango; Shoes: Chinese Laundry

2. Elongate a necklace. Yes, 100% guilty! I use mostly fancy statement necklaces to liven up my look and most of them could really use a little length to be emphasized more. Just make sure that the pins are safely hidden under the collar or your hair so as to not make them visible. ;)

Top: Cotton On; Skirt: Mango

3.Zip up tight boots. True story. This is the second to the last time I used this boots. :( The thing is, one time while zipping up the pull tab was removed so I had to use a safety pin to close the shoes. Needless to say, the shoe needs to be disposed but I gave it one last chance because I really need to create this Palermo look here (4th image). Haha! Check also my post about the five type of boots you'll ever need here. :)

Top: Bayo; Sweater: Mango; Shoes: Vincci; 

A Week in Monochrome

Though I always plan my outfits in advance, it's weird that sometimes I feel more accomplished as a planner when there was a certain theme for the week. :P There are times when it'd start with the first outfit decided on a Monday say, a pop of red and then decide to go on a streak thereafter or some cases when I notice later from my fashion app that I have been unconsciously wearing light colors such as pink and orange for consecutive days. For this particular week of interest though, there was a deliberate attempt to wear monochrome for four days. 

So why monochrome? As learned from some credible style websites, this is one of those slimming tips applied by celebrities. As if they need to look more slim XD I know I've just posted something about universally slimming items here but this is another style tip. Wearing one color from head to toe is visually lengthening, making you look taller and leaner. Black on its own is already a slimming choice but other options such as all white and gray works too. Btw, the gray look is taken out since it was already featured in the same link above. :)

What do you think? Do you agree with this styling tip? Sound off in the comments. :)

Bodysuit/ Pants/ Shoes: H&M; Sunnies: Aldo

Top/Pants: Mango; Shoes: H&M. Similar look here.

Blazer/ Pants: Mango; Top: Zara Man; Shoes: Dorothy Perkins Similar look here.

Trend Report: Somewhere Over the Rainbow

If you look at the S/S16 runway collection from the recently held fashion shows, one thing was obviously common among designers - rainbow stripes. Celebrities and street style stars have picked up on the trend and I'm so glad to have found new ways to wear this cheerful top I got from Mango years ago. Seriously, no need to invest in a new piece. Though it didn't hurt that this colorful bag went on sale recently. It's my new favorite. :)

It was believed that fashion designers have associated the trend with the recent advancements in equality in marriages and gay marriage rights. In any case, rainbows symbolize new beginnings, happiness, celebration, promise, good fortune, connection, and balance. It's a feel-good color so why not embrace the trend now? ;)

Top: Mango; Skirt: Forever21; Shoes: Dorothy Perkins; Bag: Aldo

Top/ Pants: Mango (harem pants featured here); Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

Bag: Marks & Spencer