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Wednesday, 21 December 2022

Holiday Spirit

It's my last post before Christmas so I've decided to dress up for the occasion. In reality, I spend the entirety of the Christmas holiday in pajamas, but this is what virtual paperdolls is for.
 

This very lush Subcouture bow-wrap thing was just the piece required to look as pretty as a present. I didn't really have anything that I wanted to pair it with so I've ended up mashing up several pieces to make a flouncy sort of gown. I'm suprised how well it came together, and we've already established how much I love hot pink. 
 
Unlike the usual festive-wear traditions, I've gone light on the accessories and light on the sparkle, but I think with this much block-colour has to stand on it's own. 
 
Well, here's to a happy festive season to all those who celebrate!
 
Featuring:
Pink Train Coat • Subcouture
Sheer Tulle Dress • Evil Panda
Sheer Tulle Skirt • Evil Panda
Wide Pink Skirt • Evil Panda
Pearl Stone Earrings • Vinyl
Flower Embroidery Leather Gloves • Windows on the World
Pearl Purse • Limited Edition

 





Wednesday, 14 December 2022

Camel's Back

Just a simple one from me this week, as I style out the rest of my wares from the Limited Edition drop.

This time it's these chonky boots. I felt like doing something a bit monochrome so, taking my queues from the antique-y tones of the metal accent on the boots, I've gone for a classic camel. It's always got an expensive quality and the fact that most of the clothing items in this look are starcoins pieces is testament to that.
 
Stompers and classic tailoring might not be a natural pair, but I think the black accents overall help to balance everything out. 
 
Featuring
Black Metallic Boots • Limited Edition
Long Coat Beige • Basics
Velvet Knit Crop Top Beige • Basics
Beige Trousers • Bonjour Bizou
Fendi Inspired Headband • Limited Edition
Twosided Belt • Subcouture
Leather Long Belt • Fallen Angel
Balmain Black Bag • Tributes Gallery

Wednesday, 7 December 2022

Warm and Fuzzy

There's been a cold snap in the UK suddenly and I'm craving some warmth! Though just not at the top of my doll's left leg it would seem...
 
 
And so kicks off what will probably be a procession of looks showing off my haul from the most recent Limited Edition release. I surprised myself at the amount I bought considering my first impression wasn't great. 
 
This jumper was one of those pieces that went in and out of the cart several times before it made it's way home with me. I appreciate the colours but I was unsure what I'd be able to do with it. I immediately gravitated towards this Subcouture skirt, but the connect at the waist was a bit off. Turns out, it just needed hoisting up to make a sort of tied up sack split moment.
 
Of course there has to be contrast and humour, so we've got the teensiest little square of leg on show thanks to some ridiculous latex boots, and we're keeping the very top of our head warm with a fuzzy headband. 
 
Featuring
Cropped Sweater • Limited Edition
Highwaist Skirt • Subcouture
Whispy Headband • Bonjour Bizou
Tube Purse • Limited Edition
Long PVC Boots • Versace Tribute

Wednesday, 30 November 2022

Primary Function

I picked up this Windows on the World coat ages ago but it was all a bit too much COLOUR for me at the time. 
 

Primary colours like this can look a bit infantile and honestly, I couldn't decide whether to lean into that or not! The massively stacked boots and colourful earrings have a sense of humour, but the white trousers say 'I'm grown up enough to not worry about spilling things on myself'. The style of the jacket is ready for a messy, outdoors adventure, but the structured look underneath says 'I'm going to a drinks reception after'.
 
It's a game of two halves - always keep them guessing! 
 
This is a pretty limited-item heavy look, but just to highlight this softly tied blazer style jacket which is a starcoin item. If you've got starcoins that need using, get that one in your basket because this is an excellent versatile layering piece for all seasons and styles.
 
Featuring:
Multicoloured Jacket • Windows on the World
White Coat • Windows on the World
Pleated LE Whtie Suit Pants • Limited Edition
Flower Loops • Limited Edition
Crossbody Bag • Limited Edition
Metal Platform Boots White • Antidote

Wednesday, 23 November 2022

All That Glitters

I know you're not really supposed to talk about Christmas until December, but the Christmas lights have just been switched on in my town and I'm feeling festive!
 
Is there anything more festive than glitter?
 

I started with the boots and I suppose I lost control from there. Can I be blamed though - they're fabulous. You could easily have them as your one statement piece and dress with simply, sleek lines, but in this look, glitter is the neutral. I've also gone slouchy and oversized everywhere except the boots, to give everything a more casual vibe in spite of all the glitz.
 
There's still an element of simplicity here though - we're sticking with black and silver, the tiniest hints of red and blue, and the colours that the glitter itself reflects from light. The vibe is belle of the disco-ball, not she-rolled-in-glue-and-craft-supplies....
 
Featuring:
Black Silver Boots • MSW
Embroidered Balmain Inspired Sweater • Runway
Bunnyhop Sequin Vest • Bunny Hop
Crystals Top and Skirt • Saint Laurent Tribute
Black Oversized Jacket • Fallen Angel
Sk8er Beanie • Callie's Picks
Black Sport Satchel • Callie's Picks

Friday, 18 November 2022

A N T I D O T E | Styled By You / / Styled By Me

This Antidote release was a couple of months ago now, but I still wanted to get around to showing the features I had snapped and the pieces that I picked up - I wasn't particularly enamoured by this release, the overall style isn't so much fitting with my preferences, but I still found a few individual items that I liked the look of and wanted to try out.
First up in the features is fergaysson who styled the Satin Top in such a fun way, it really looks quite different to how it was styled in the store and I think this styling definitely sells the piece to me! I really like the puff sleeve design of the piece and I think it works well with the other pieces in this look compared to the trousers in the store. The animal print of the trousers looks green against the sheen of the piece and the two greens work together well. I really love the belt with this look, tying the clothing together nicely =)
Next is harpie wearing the Jewelry Dress - this is such a glamorous piece, but the sheer quality of it makes for a creative mind to style it (which is totally not me!). This dress sold super quickly, so a lot of people wanted to give it a go! This outfit is fabulous for it, the more neutral styled pieces beneath are a perfect base for those jewels to shine. I particularly love the accessorising, these shoes are the perfect pair for this dress. And the beauty look - the sleek makeup and hairstyle are spot on for this outfit^
The final feature comes from millaxx in a little more of a casual styling featuring the Pocket Coat - if I hadn't already bought this piece, this outfit would really have sold it to me^ This casual piece has definitely been up-styled with these smart trousers and the shimmering top, I think the combination works really well. I also love the accessorising with this one, the shoes add a minimal touch and the bag ties together the black and the beige tone of the jacket - plus the earrings and sunglasses, a super pairing =D
Now for my own stylings - I did pick up quite a few accessories, so will eventually get around to styling everything, but for now just a couple of the pieces. First is the Transluscent Top which I was a bit unsure about at first as I wondered how it could be styled but I really liked the purple tones to it, so I decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did because I love this outfit! Never too much lilac, that's for sure^ I layered a purple bodysuit underneath and I think that worked really nicely with this top. The sheen on the trousers adds another textural element and I added some fun lilac finishing touched with the accessories. Next up is the Green Crocodile Bag which I don't think I've seen anyone styling. I really liked the green colour and the cross-body style to it. I did try to pair it with other green pieces, but I just didn't have anything that was the same colour, nothing was quite perfect with this piece. I ended up going from grey, and actually I'm quite pleased with the outcome, I think the two colours work together very nicely in this Autumnal styling. And the last piece is the Ice Cube Clutch which I picked up as something that was quite fun and not like any other pieces in my wardrobe. I didn't really have any specific ideas for this before I started styling, but the pink sheen did make me think of this peach skirt a lot - I'm really pleased with this one^ I did try and make a lighter look, but in the end I was liking the contrast of the black and peach, I think the bag really stands out quite nicely here!

Friday, 11 November 2022

Red Queen

We're taking a little journey into the absurd today. Sometimes, you're wearing an evening gown and your ears get cold ya know?
 

I've had this gown for a while. It's a Givenchy gown worn by Rachel Weisz back to the Oscars back in 2019, and I was divided on it when I bought it - one of those last minute 'i've-got-the-dollars-and-it's-limited' purchases. I think it's the latex-y capelet that is a bit distracting for me. It's very covered up.
 
Luckily, there's cute latex-y red top that creates the beautiful square neckline that I'm so fond of when layered on top with some nude and contour details. 
 
I've paired it with some black accessories to add some graphic definition. This headpiece feels like a modern twist on the Hollywood scarf when it's paired with classic cateye shades like this. And of course, the final absudity, unecessary gloves. 
 
Featuring:
Weisz Givenchy Inspired Gown • Young Hollywood
Vinyl Red Top • Vinyl
Balaclava Hat • MSW
Cat Shades • Killah
Classic Black Belt • Callie's Picks
Leather Long Gloves • Inspired by Elie Saab Tribute

Friday, 4 November 2022

Barbie Girl

 It was all getting a bit too neutral wasn't it? 
 

When I'm getting stuck in a cycle of black, white, beige etc, hot Barbie pink is such a great reset. This coat is so joyful and it deserved some heavy sparkle to contrast against that utilitarian silhouette.
 
You know that problem goths talk about - all the shades of black not matching? I have the same problem with so many 'black' pieces that, to my eye, look purple, or slightly green, and it drives me nuts! These trousers have fallen foul of this in several potential looks - they're just slightly purple when I think they're supposed to be black. Luckily, there's a surprising amount of what I'm calling 'ambiguously black' items in the plaza - this bag being another. It's got the same slightly utilitarian style as the coat, but from a distance, looks glitzy enough to match all our 70s disco glitz under the coat.
 
As with most looks I put together, I don't know where she's going, but wherever it is, she'll be toasty warm, tactically equipped, and the belle of the disco ball.

Featuring:
Pink Coat Male • Vinyl
Sequin top black • Rio
Naeem Khan Inspired Pants • Young Hollywood
Pink Rectangular Sunglasses • Vinyl
Metallic Wrap Belt • Callie's Picks
Crossbody Bag • Mr
HotBuys Monochrome Shoes • It Girls


Sunday, 30 October 2022

T R A I L S | Styled By You / / Styled By Me

The latest TRAILS release in the Plaza was a pretty big one with three floors of Summer pieces to choose from. It was a mixed bag for me, but I did pick up a few pieces to style, first though, some features! This outfit from harpie features both the Crinkled Top and Pants worn in such a creative fun way, I really love it^ Theses two pieces naturally look good together, but also look amazing as base pieces to this fabulous dress. The citrus design and colours on the dress really work perfectly with the green beneath, and the top looks great as an off shoulder piece. The accessories are perfect finishing touches too, love the orange belting and earrings along with the bright yellow bag! 
Next up is a styling from Mery.- making use of the Orange Pants. Despite being a Summer release I think these trousers really have a versatile look to them, the colour is very Autumnal and the style is pretty neutral in terms of being a straight leg design. This is a great Summer-Autumn transitional styling, the trousers look fab with this loose jacket. The blue-orange top is such a fun addition, it really catches the eye and draws you in. And the accessories are great too, love these sandals in the styling a lot, along with the gold bangles^
Now for my own stylings - whilst this was a Summer release it's very much now Autumn, so I have tried to make these pieces work for Autumnal stylings. Firstly is the Crinkled Top - I did also buy the Crinkled Pants, but decided to style this alone. I love the pleated styling to the piece and decided to continue that with the skirt, I really love this pairing and I think the belt is a fun split between the two while fitting the overall style very nicely. Adore these boots with the look, the green is very complementary to the top colour. The simple accessories made for a nice finishing touch =) Next is the Knots Tote which is definitely a Summer piece, but I've tried hard to make it work for a bit of a warmer look, and I think it's been a success. I really liked the idea of wearing brown tones with the bag, so I used those as a base, of course brown is perfect for an Autumnal look. And I still think the bag stands out well agains this beige overcoat - but I'm particularly loving the pairing with these boots, I will definitely be using that again! And the final piece is the Knitted Skirt, which was my favourite piece to style, I don't have anything else like this in my wardrobe and I think it's a very current piece for Autumn. I found this super easy to style, the look came together in minutes. I knew I wanted to colours to be super neutral, the light tones really let the brown of the skirt pop. I adore these ankle booties with the look, they're great for this season and I think the suit the skirt perfectly^ Plus love these sunglasses with the look too, the brown is just what this look needed and these fit the bill =D

Friday, 28 October 2022

Caped Crusader

Halloween is almost upon us! 
 
While I'm not in costume this year, I do have the urge to add ~*drama*~ to everything. I've exhausted every pair of gloves, so all that is left is a floor length chiffon cape.
 
I've been doing a lot of neutrals lately - blacks, whites, pinky-beiges - but this look has lots of texture at play instead. The floating, swishiness of the cape with the flow of the trousers contrasts with the structure of the jacket and hat. 
 
The hat and cape are my final pick ups from Tributes Season, which has now departed from the plaza. I always like to go back in for a final dip to see if there's anything I've missed. I didn't think I needed a cape in my life, but in the back of my head, I saw it paired with this Limited Edition jacket retrieved from the bazaar and thought, that's coming home with me after all. 
 
With the trousers and the hat too, I feel like I've achieved a sort of fashion-witch on the downlow vibe - the flowers and sunhat say 'frolic in the fields with me...', but the black draping says '....to complete the sacrificial ritual'....
 
Featuring:
Armani Inspired Embroidered Jacket • Limited Edition
Black Cape • Inspired by Zuhair Murad Tribute
Black Flowy Pants • Fallen Angel
Flat Hat • Inspired by Schiaparelli Tribute
Vintage Black Stone Necklace • Vinyl
Leather Long Belt • Fallen Angel
Chain Stiletto Shoes • Velvet Orchid



 

Friday, 21 October 2022

With the Band

Will the love affair with gloves ever end?

 

It's a hard no. I've always struggled to accessorise in a satisfactory way (handbags are a nightmare), but somehow, I don't mind when I've styled a pair of gloves. I don't feel the need to get fussy with a necklace or earrings - it's quite liberating! Not to mention, it's the season for gloves in the northern hemisphere where I am, so I'm leaning in. 

I don't know how convincing this double-layered black band tee fantasy is, but I like it and that's the main thing. A massive band tee will never not have that chic devil-may-care attitude and I think it's a great contrast with a smarter skirt and sleeker accessories. 
 
The boots are the giveaway that this look isn't taking itself too seriously though - so clompy that they can only be good for standing head and shoulders above every one else. The higher the platform, the closer to God...
 
Featuring:
Euphoric T Shirt • Vinyl
Speedhunters T Shirt • It Girls
Houndstooth Skirt • Evil Panda
Black Belt • Bonjour Bizou
Red Gloves • Runway
Fishnet Stockings • Tingeling Couture
Off White Inspired Black Handbag • Museum Mile
Herve Leger Inspired Boots • Runway
Trash Boot • Nelly.com

Wednesday, 19 October 2022

I N S P I R E D B Y V E R S A C E | Styled Outfits

Today sharing 8 more looks from the VERSACE release - really a fabulous Tribute this past season! First up a glamorous set, but styled separately. The first styling uses the Pink Ornamental Mini Skirt also styled alongside the Pink Purse, I really like these two pieces together, but I do have plenty of pink items so they will be easy to style alone too. I knew with this skirt I wanted to wear a black top to go for a more Autumnal vibe, so I really continued that throughout all the additions I made. The bag really pops well against the black blazer, and gold accessories were an easy choice with the gold details on both embellished pieces. Secondly is the Blue Ornamental Top which I've paired with the Black Sandals, again moving a little towards Autumn, but for sure not a completely cosy look yet^ I also knew I wanted to use black in this styling with the top, and I think these trousers are a great length for also showing off the shoes. I added a blazer, this blue option is just about a perfect colour match to the top, I really quite like it and it ensures a light look with all of the black pieces used in the styling.
First up in this next set of stylings is the Nude Corset Dress - which really is quite nude on my doll as you can see! I really kept it simple for this first styling as I think this dress will be great for layering, and with this styling I wanted to make sure it was shown off. I'm super happy with my accessory choices, these brown/beige colours really work well together and pop against the dress - I love it =) Next are the Turquoise Platforms and while I'm pleased with this styling, I think it's not quite perfect for the shoes. The colour of the coat and the navy of the clothing both look good with the turquoise shoes, but I was really lacking in accessories to really highlight that beautiful colour in the outfit. These earrings are a nice touch, but not quite as perfect as I was wanting - this one is a work in progress! And the final piece here are the Belle Bottom Azure Pants which were very fun to style, and so easy for me. I've kept it light with this white shirt, which is such a versatile piece, and kept with a lot of white accessory touches to the styling. I do love this blue clutch in the look though, the colour matches the trousers exactly and the minimal design is just right for the outfit =D
Ending on a set of bags, I had a lot of fun styling these and they were all pretty easy to work with! First is the Pink Round Purse also worn with the Black Shades. I knew I wanted more bright pink in the look and I'm very happy I tried out this colourful dress as I really love it with the bag, plenty of pink and the other colours help make it an eye-catching styling. Beyond that pairing the look is super simple with black accessories and a poloneck top, but it's all about the colour with this one^ Next up is the Blue Purse which for some reason I knew I wanted to wear with white, in the end I compromised on blue and white, but I think it's a pretty cute outcome, especially this feather-trimmed top! The shoes are a good blue balance against the white, but I think it's lacking some extra glamour - some glitzy earrings may be the right addition. And the final piece is the Cylinder Purse in what I think is my favourite styling of this post - a perfect Autumnal outfit if I do say so myself =D All the additions are from the colours of the bag, and I really liked the leather-look trousers as a background for the bag, the white portion really pops well. When I first saw the bag I thought that the gold chain handle was actually a leopard print portion, so using this leopard print jacket is a nod to my error, haha, but I do think it looks pretty good in the outfit anyway =)

Saturday, 15 October 2022

I N S P I R E D B Y V E R S A C E | Tribute Review

Tribute number 5 of the season - it's Versace! This isn't out first Versace release, however it's been a number of years since the brands inclusion in a Tribute season, so it feels pretty new. As I've also said with the other Tributes, this isn't really a brand I keep up to date with, so have no idea what the current collections look like - I'm going into this with an open mind about what pieces we might get:
This release has three floors with a good number of looks, there are 13 for the girls and also two included for male dolls - I think the collection size is very good, it fits well with the other Tributes this season and from first glances there's a nice mix of styles to choose from. I'm really impressed with this collection, I'm pleased with the pieces to pick, but perhaps that's because I don't know the full extent of the RL collections that these pieces were selected from. Starting with the accessories, there are so many! There are 8 pairs of shoes to choose from, 6 are heels/sandals and 2 are boots - for me the shoes aren't the most impressive accessory but I do like the amount of choice in this category. The boots aren't so much my thing, but I really love the Turquoise Platforms. I don't typically wear a platform style shoe, but these just looked great and I was drawn in by the fabulous colour^ I also picked up the Black Sandals, again a platform style shoe but I liked the overall design of these and thought I would give them a try. Onto the bags - there are also a lot in this category with 8 to choose from as well. I kind of went a little crazy and bought a number of bags, they all just bring something different to the collection! There are 4 pieces which are more minimal in design/colour in black and white - the Black and White Hand Bags are real classic designs, I love a handheld style and these have both elegance and classic Versace design features. These are on the larger side in terms of size so I know they won't be to everyones taste, but there is also the White Purse which is very close in design but a much smaller size which is great to have as an option - this time I opted for the bigger one. Finally in this category of bag is the Cylinder Purse, which I really loved at first sight. It is simple in colour but unique in design, I love a structured piece like this, it really looks fantastic and I can't wait to style it =D The other bags in the release are all very colourful - the Pink Round Purse is a bold pink and reminds me of some of the Chanel bags from several years ago, this is such a fun touch to the bags of this collection. The other bags are all pastel tones and I really love it - both the Pink Purse and Blue Purse really stood out to me with their light base colour and the standout glamorous jewelled designs. Both are handheld bags with a small size, and I'm really very excited to work with both. The styles are ones which I think will work year round, so I'm also excited to see others style these up in different ways. There are a couple of other accessories in the collection. I'm very tempted with the Pearl Necklace, the design is so intricate and it looks very classy on the doll. And of course I never pass up an opportunity to buy even more sunglasses - I like both the Pink and Black Shades and these come in the option to buy a beauty parlor or a suite version, which is really perfect^
Time for the clothes! It's an extensive release and I actually liked quite a number of pieces of the clothing, so there's a lot to talk about =D The easiest way to do this is to go by floors. On the first floor most of the pieces are black or have a black base with a design on - I wear black a lot, so this catches my attention right away. I really liked the paired design of the Black Short Coat and Black Jacket, these look beautiful and simple with elegance, plus the design is really something, it looks great on the doll. The cutout at the neck is a unique design detail for sure. The other pieces on this floor are quite casual, and not so much my style, but I do like the colourful stripe design down the leg of the Silk Joggers. I am quite tempted by the Velour Top, the traditional Versace design on the front looks great and the piece fits the doll perfectly, I'm just not completely sure about it yet and haven't really seen anyone style it yet. The second floor combines black pieces with sassy colours and fabrics! The Azure Top and Bell Bottom Azure Pants steal the show on this floor and really pull all the attention - this colour is fantastic, the design is very nice and I think they're pretty versatile items for styling in other ways, I'm particularly excited about the trousers as I think I'll get a lot of wear from these. I also loved the Nude Corset Dress on this floor - and when it says 'nude', for my doll at least, it really means it, as it is almost a perfect match for my dolls skin tone. It has such a simple design, but a very beautiful one, I love a midi length and the corset detail is very stylish. I've not seen anyone wear this yet so I'm looking forward to trying it out^ The final floor of the store is all about pastel colours and jewel tones - there's so much to look at =D I'm a big fan of pastel pink, so these pieces really called to me immediately. The Pink PVC Coat is lovely, we don't really have anything similar and it looks like a perfect Autumnal coat, plus I really like the sheen to it. The Pink Ornamental Skirt paired with the Blue Ornamental Top is such a great set, the design of both pieces is fantastic, they look great on the doll and the details are just next level. These pieces really give me vibes of the early Tribute releases and how blown away with them that I was. And the final pink pieces to discuss, the Pink Jacket and Mini Skirt which I think are super cute but I've given a miss for the moment. The jacket is quite boxy, I don't so much like the fit on my doll but the embellishments across the shoulders are beautiful, they really make this piece something else! The skirt is also cute, and I love the trim, but the fit on the doll isn't quite there for me. This final floor also has a couple of male looks included in some fun prints if that's what you like for your male dolls^

F E A T U R E S
First up for the features is Bianca.Vos styling up the Azure Top, Bell Bottom Azure Pants and Black Shades - perfect pieces together and I love the burst of blue that this look is, fabulous! The blue pairs perfectly with this puffa jacket, the colour is such a perfect match that I can't wait to also make use of this idea^ I also really love the blue shoes and bag added as well - the black handle gives an opportunity to add more black pieces to the outfit and those touches are just right, I really like this belt plus the gold details like the hoop earrings =)
Next up is liability who wears the Black Shades, Blue Ornamental Top and the Black Mid Boots in yet another great pairing of pieces - I love that the light tones of this top can be made super edgy in a styling like this. This sequin skirt is a fun piece to pair with the top, the two are a great mix together and give a good amount of lightness against the dark pieces. The belting looks great to split the pieces up while the tights give a good balance against the light clothing and the chunky dark boots.
Light and feminine in pink, next is harpie styling up both the Pink Mini Skirt and the Pink Purse in such a beautiful outfit, I really love this and would totally wear it myself! The white base to the outfit is perfect to make sure the pink really pops, this blazer is so perfect here with the pink items from the release. I also love the delicate collar and bow added in the neckline, something small but a great touch^ The earrings are a great finish in terms of sparkle to add to the trim of the skirt and the design on the bag =D
Also choosing a pink-based styling is fergaysson wearing the Pink Ornamental Mini Skirt and Cylinder Purse, which make for an atypical pairing, but in this overall outfit I really love these two pieces together =D The pink base and the detail gemstone design of the skirt really pop well against the white clothing pieces in this styling, but I particularly love the skirt and shoe pairing here, what perfection, those shoes really are exactly what this skirt needs!
And last but not least Bianquette wearing both the Blue Purse and Turquoise Satin Shoes which bookend these features with the blue tones^ The turquoise blue colour is balanced beautifully across the look with the use of this top, it's such a glamorous piece to add to the glitz that the bag and shoes have, and I think the nude skirt, while adding detail in those ruffles, is a great neutral piece in the middle there. I also love the sparkly tights a lot, really a fab touch to this styling =)

S T Y L I N G S
I bought so many pieces from this collection that there will be a second Styled Outfits post to follow featuring the rest of my purchases - for now the first three looks^ First up is the Black Short Coat, with this one the belt is attached to the piece, but I quite like it, at least in this outfit anyway. I found this an easy piece to style, picking out a skirt quickly and easily choosing gold-embellished accessories to work well with the buttons and belt on the coat. These studded shoes and the 'V' detail on the bag are a great pairing with this piece for sure. And I brought out a hat! This look just needed a little something, and a hat was just the right idea^ Next up is the Black Jacket paired with the Black Shades - again this piece was quite easy to style, I'm really drawn in by the gold details to add to the look. With this one I kept it a more muted gold with this midi dress, I really love the combination. After that it was just accessorising and I kept it very simple with some neutral black pieces and a little glamour in the gold earrings. I think this jacket will make for a great layering piece as a shirt, so I'm looking forward to trying that out next time with it. The third styling is with the Pink PVC Coat, and I went into this styling with no immediate ideas for what I would pair with it, luckily I decided to try out red first because I just adore this styling =D The burgundy and pink is a classic combination and the style of each of the clothing pieces just work really well together. There is a little gold in the buttons of the coat so I decided to keep that theme flowing through these stylings with some gold in the accessories. This look is definitely a top Autumn styling for me this season!

Wednesday, 12 October 2022

Bodice Ripper

Corsets are having their moment in the sun again aren't they? I was about to say that I was around when that happened first (i.e the bustier trend of the early 00's) and then I realised that while I'm Stardoll-Ancient, I'm not *that* ancient...
 
 

You'll have seen me sporting this corset in Kirsten's Schiaparelli Tribute Round-Up (thank you Kirsten!) and I think this Westwood piece might be my favourite to drop while I was lost in the desert and not on Stardoll.
 
Obviously we know it dresses up (as one might an expect a corset to do), but it also dresses down pretty well too, as the kids do these days. I could easily have left it as the corset on it's own, but man, it looks good with these dramatic, diaphanous sleeves. It's that contrast again - hard corset lines, but soft sleeves and drapy loose trousers. 

If you want to layer it up like I've done in both this and my Schiaparelli look, but you want to keep that gorgeous neckline, you're going to have to get creative with layering and trickery. 
 
I've layered up the shirt that I want to use for sleeves, then over that, I've resized and rotated a couple of tubetops in my skintone (Underneath Stardoll) to cover the original neckline. To make sure you can layer the corset over the top, you'll need to hover the tubetops just on the edge of your dolls outline, until they 'snap' on, but with the rotation still in place. It takes a bit of practice, but once you've got it, you can float your corset right over the top and check that nothing extra is poking out the sides. The thickness of this corset's straps is great for this. 
 
After you've done your layering, what really sells it is putting the contours of your doll's body back in - Transform's collarbone and decolletage contours are the best for this, and it helps to choose something that reflects the vibe of your outfit. A corset could call for a more extreme contour, but as I'm keeping things looser here, I've just gone for the subtle shadow.
 
It can be our little secret, wink wink. 
 
Featuring:
Westwood Corset • Subcouture
Oversized Tulle and Silk Top • Voile
White Crisp Pants • Millionaire Mansion Fashion
Faux Leather Cap • Original Future
HotBuys Gold Rope Necklace • Pretty 'n' Love
Velvet Bow x 2 • Evil Panda
Clutch Bag Black • Mr.
HotBuys Eclipse Sneakers • Original Future

Sunday, 9 October 2022

I N S P I R E D B Y S C H I A P A R E L L I | Tribute Stylings

The next tribute this year was Inspired By Schiaparelli - this isn't one of my favourites and it's also one of the smaller collections so there aren't as many pieces to choose from. I didn't really feel like a full review was justified for this one, however I did find some fantastic stylings of the pieces and also styled up a couple of the items myself.

F E A T U R E S
First up is the ever-stunning Bianca.Vos wearing the Black Velvet Gown - with the revealing nature of this piece the look has been tactfully styled with a second piece underneath which fits seamlessly into the look. The gold details on this second dress make for the perfect opportunity to add more gold to the look - these small touches really add to the styling and don't pull attention from the main gown on show, I really love the choices^
Also styling up the Black Velvet Gown is Millaxx who similarly opts for a black and gold look, a true classic! Whilst the dress has long sleeves, the added gloves are seamless and make for a fantastic addition to the look. The second dress used is a great sultry piece, adding just enough coverage and also fitting pretty seamlessly to the style. Plus some fabulous gold earrings in this styling too, they're great!
Next up is harpie who styles the Corset Skirt, which is one of the more simpler and definitely easy to fit into a number of styles pieces of the collection. The piece is made even more wearable in this styling but the addition of the corset belt over the original gold section of the skirt, that was you can wear plenty of other colours with the piece - the silver additions to this look are fantastic, I love the sparkly bra piece and the amazing earrings^
And the final feature comes from our very own Miloshki wearing the Gold Chain Top, this is really a piece I hadn't considered buying at all, but this styling really makes me look at it in a different light, it looks amazing! The layering is fab, the chains aren't overwhelming at all and look great just as sleeves, plus this belt and the bag are perfect gold accessories to add. The gold and beige combination is exactly what I love - a perfect way to wear from this collection in a more every-day way =D

S T Y L I N G S
And now for my own stylings - interestingly I don't think I've seen anyone style any of these pieces yet, perhaps this can be a little inspiration to give these pieces a chance. First up the Midnight Blue Velvet Skirt which I really loved at first sight, what a fab colour this is! I also really love midi skirts, so knew this would be no problem for me to style. I opted for matching shoes and then kept the look light with a white shirt, I think the contrast is great and the colour really catches the eye. Accessories are super simple, but I love this Dior print bag with the styling, a pleasant surprise for me and I will definitely pair the bag with the skirt again in the future. Next up is the Red Velour Skirt with the Flat Hat - again a midi skirt is something easy for me, and as I went for something a little more formal/Summer into Autumn, I decided to go more casual and Autumn for this look, the red definitely works perfectly for that! I love these velvet dark boots with the skirt, I'm so glad I tried them out as I think they're perfect with the skirt. Again added a light sweater to stop the look being too dark, and felt like the hat worked well with this beige colour so it was a good opportunity to include the hat in a styling. The black trim on the hat made a chance to include more black in the accessories, I still kept these pretty small additions as I wanted the red and beige to be the focus of the look. I think this one is super cute^ And finally the Sunflowers Bag which is such a fun piece and I think will be great for Spring/Summer outfits, I tried to make a more Autumnal look with it though. The reds, oranges and yellows in the piece give plenty of options for styling, this time I liked the combination of these trousers and these burnt orange shoes with the flowers, plus I added some orange sunglasses to the bag as well. The black body of the bag works well for more Autumnal/Winter stylings, it was super easy to add more black to the look with this polo and the belt. I definitely think this will be a fun piece for next Spring so I look forward to styling it them =D

Wednesday, 5 October 2022

Buckle Up

I'm getting crafty again. Making trousers out of whatever's lying around.


I'll be honest, I'm not 100% sure this is as successful as I was hoping. I really like the massive buckle of this AREA skirt, but I think the length of it is very awkward when it's worn as a skirt. I found it a bit hard to proportion well, while still showing off that buckle.
 
So I got to thinking about whether it could work as the top of some voluminous black trousers....? I didn't have a pair that worked *just right* so I had to get layering. I'm thinking it looks a bit like a skort (skousers?) now, but it was worth the exploration!
 
Also, I really don't know why I'm in such a glove mood. I think it's because they're so dramatic and impractical for your everyday life. Tell us you don't have to do anything dextrous today without actually telling us. And isn't that irreverence at the centre of the fashion industry really?
 
Featuring:
Pearl Disco Top • PPQ of Mayfair
Big Buckle Skirt • Bonjour Bizou
High Waist Shorts • Bonjour Bizou
Mugler Inspired Black Pants • Inspired by Thierry Mugler
Billowing Black Trousers • Callie's Picks
Pearl Stone Earring • Vinyl
Perfect Cream Scarf • Limited Edition
Flower Embroidery Leather Gloves • Windows on the World
Taupe Envelope Clutch • Callie's Picks
Lace Ankle Boots • Fallen Angel

Wednesday, 28 September 2022

When in Rome

I'm feeling a bit of post-Tribute fatigue (and real life fatigue) at the minute so I think it's always best to take a good look at some of the older things in your wardrobe to see if it can breathe some inspiration into your newer pieces.

 

I've had this Versace inspired LE dress for a good while - it came in one of the covid mini releases last year and I must admit, that as I was styling it, I didn't immediately identify that it was Versace (shame on me). It's a gorgeous twist on a classic though, and while I started playing with layering, I settled on slightly covering the cut out rather than obliterating it. I like a good cutout, but it's not especially great for multiple wears.
 
The description itself calls this Roman inspired and the gold accessories I've chosen reflect this - gold earrings with classical nudes, the iconic Versace braclets from the recent tribute as a clasp for the bag (see I'm clearly not totally hopeless!) and some gold belting to highlight the waist under the boxy jacket. The contrast of the formless jacket and form-fitting dress might not do it for everyone, but it definitely does it for me. 
 
Featuring:
Roman Inspired Dress • Limited Edition
White Crisp One Side Blazer • Millionaire Mansion Fashion
Statement Earrings • Epiphany
HotBuys Gold Chain of Chains Choker • Rio
Red Carpet Golden Belt • Special Offer
Purse Gold • Inspired by Zuhair Murad Tribute
Arm Bracelet Right (worn as a bag clasp) • Inspired by Versace Tribute
White Mimmi Heel • Vinyl

Wednesday, 21 September 2022

Le Petit Hippocampe

If I could, I think I'd wear Max Mara everyday. And this coat is no exception. Why wouldn't you want to be bedecked in little seahorses?
 
A coat with such soft, pretty detail needed to be complimented by a simple, but hard base - these sharply pleated leather trousers and boots provide an excellent backbone for it all. Also, these trousers are long enough that you can float your boots a bit lower on your doll to give a longer leg. While gorgeous, a coat like this can cut you off at a slightly unappealing mid-calf.
 
It's all got a sense of humour though right? So naturally, handbag earring and an ironic beret to top it all off.
 
Featuring:
Seahorses Coat • Pearls
Satin BodCon Dress • Fallen Angel
LE Ather Slim Suit Pants • It Girls
French Cap • It Girls
Purse Earrings • Wild Candy
Fendi Inspired Lunettes • Fendi Tribute
Rose Underarm Bag • Decades
Leather Boots • Fallen Angel
 

Friday, 16 September 2022

Sour Patch

I think lime green might actually be my favourite colour? 
 
 
For a freebie, this coat really is fab and this is already it's second outing since I started posting here again. Off the shoulder fur is very glamourous, but the bright colour is quirky and interesting.
 
I've decided to pair it off with neutral pink boots and simply accessories so that the bag can be the stand out. Don't you just love floating your handbag in a vague attempt to make it look like a hand might be there? I sure do! I'd love it if we could have some more detachable hands for just this purpose...
 
Featuring:
Green Satin Dress • Royalty
Green Faux Fur Coat • Special Offer 
Chain Earrings • Vinyl
Stacked Necklace • Epiphany
Pink Purse • Inspired by Versace Tribute
Beige Boots • Royalty

Thursday, 15 September 2022

I N S P I R E D B Y E L I E S A A B | Styled Outfits

I was so impressed with the Elie Saab tribute and really went a little crazy with buying pieces from the collection - I bought a lot! I styled up five of the pieces in my review post and now it's time to style up the rest:
First up is the Leather Mini Dress which I think is definitely one of my top picks from this release. It was so fun to style and super easy to find pieces to work with it. I just loved how these shoes looked, while the colour isn't a perfect match, I think the shoes are far enough away from the dress to make it work. With the gold bow on the shoes this was perfect to add some lighter tones including the gold earrings and then some yellow pieces, I really love this little crossbody, it's so cute with the dress I think^ Next is the Printed Top which is a fabulous Summer piece to style - similarly to my styling with it's co-ord piece I've opted for the colours of the print, this skirt is great with it! As are the sunglasses, just fantastic! There's a lot of black in the print so I don't think adding both black shoes and a bag is too dark for the styling, the balance seems just right. And finally in this set are the Crystal Top and the Wide Belt With Rope together - I wasn't initially going to style the belt again however it seemed like a good fit with the overall outfit. I wanted to pick a colour from the top for the rest of the clothing in the look and I tried a few green options before deciding on this red skirt, I think it's the perfect vibrant pairing =D The skirt adds a lot so I kept the accessories simple in black, they're sleek pieces which complement the styling very nicely.
Next up are a co-ord set that I've styled separately although very similarly! First is the Black Holo Top which I think is such a fun piece, I love the futuristic vibes to it and I think it will make a great layering piece under open blazers and jackets, but for this first styling I've kept it on show. The blue tones are a perfect match with these trousers, I really love these two pieces together and will repeat the pairing for sure. Yellows and reds will also work well with this top as there are little flashes of those colours too and I will definitely try those out. I kept the rest of the look pretty fitting with the top by adding a lot of black pieces, love the sheen on this belt with the sheen of the top and also these black delicate sandals^ Then are the Striped Holo Pants (which I'm convinced is a skirt!) which I also really liked working with, again this will look good with the same colours as the top, I was just really feeling the blue for this one too! I think this top is super fun with its long sleeves against the maxi length of the trousers. I was feeling a little stuck with the accessories, in the end I picked some simple black pieces and I think they work, but there's maybe a little something missing in this styling - looking forward to wearing this piece again and giving it another go =)
And lastly for some accessories! First is the Pearl Clutch, I loved this piece on first sight and I loved styling it up too^ I found this very easy to style, I knew I wanted gold tones and this dress was one of the first things I tried out from my wardrobe. Beyond that I didn't really know what else to add to the look, but as soon as I tried these boots I loved the look^ The black jacket balances the boots well and I don't think the contrast in colours is too much, I really love this a lot. Next is the Chain Pendant which is such a nice simple yet elegant necklace to add to my collection. I decided to keep the outfit very simple so the design of the necklace can stand out and I think it's been a success, the chain really pops well against the bright white of the shirt and trousers. Stuck with simple accessories too, but really love the use of this little bag, the design and the chain are great in the look =) And last but not least, the Tassel Necklace which I really loved immediately upon seeing it in the store. I tried quite a few different times to style this but got stuck with it a few times, in the end I'm pleased with the look I've gone for though and I think it looks fab against the golden design of this shirt and trouser set. With the convenient belt positioning on the trousers I think the tassel stands out well. The print on the clothing really adds a lot of detail so I kept the accessories simple in gold - I love this styling a lot and will definitely pair this necklace with these clothes again^

Wednesday, 14 September 2022

Pièce de Resistance

 I think I've peaked. Whoops. 
 

I always snoop through Mr. releases because something fantastic always falls out - this time it's this Balmain coat. On it's own it's pretty great - all those deep blues and greens are like an oil slick. But of course I couldn't leave well alone. 
 
It started with those massive Schiaparelli earrings and then I just...lost control from there. But whether it was divine possession or madness, I'll be keeping this look for a while. I feel like a Grande Dame on the way to the Opera, but it's like...a cool opera where they let you wear leather trousers and no bra. 
 
Featuring:
Oversized Plush Coat • Mr.
Staring Earrings (worn as embroidery) • Inspired by Schiaparelli Tribute
Bird Brooch (x 2 worn as embroidery) • Limited Edition
Lanvin Inspired Palm Earrings (rotated, worn as embroidery) • Limited Edition
Metal Leaf Earrings (worn as embroidery) • PPQ of Mayfair
Gold Chain Necklace (worn as a clasp) • PPQ of Mayfair
Triple Tassle Necklace (worn as a clasp) • Callie's Picks
Sleeveless Organza Dress Black • Inspired by Prada Tribute
Slouchy Leather Pants • Inspired by Off-White Tribute
Gold Earrings • Inspired by Schiaparelli Tribute
One Line Heels • Vinyl

Friday, 9 September 2022

Incognito Mode

She's incognito, but also drawing as much attention as possible...And it's this raspberry pink's fault.


It's such a tasty colour! And the little cutout details towards the waist. And the square neck. It's proper Barbie's-now-a-trophy-wife stuff and I live for it. 

I could have just left it the way it was, but there's something very appealing about a loud dress fighting for attention with yet more accessories. Can't choose a handbag? Do both. Already wearing a hat? Tie it down with a scarf. The nice thing about this Versace hat-scarf combo is that you can mix it with another cap if you want. There's a time and a place for obnoxiously visible branding, but it just wasn't here. 

And of course it's Versace, so I had to dig out my old favourite Versus Versace sequin cardigan. It's a foundational piece in my wardrobe really (if you can believe it) because it introduces colour all over the place and doesn't immediately read as 'sparkly'. The blue and yellow are picked up in the scarf and somehow we're all pulled together, ready to drive everyone crazy as we jangle through the airport.

Featuring:
Hot Pink Dress • Pretty 'n' Love
Pink Sequin Cardigan • Versus Versace Tribute
Shawl Hat • Inspired by Versace Tribute 
Classic Cap with Piercing • Evil Panda
Hot Buys Mini Aviator Sunglasses • Original Future
Chain Coin Necklace • Vinyl
Painter Bag • Tingeling Couture
Blue Purse • Inspired by Versace Tribute
Rocker Heel in Pink • Inspired by Roberta Einer Tribute

Wednesday, 7 September 2022

Iris Van Linebacker

It's big shoulders time! Courtesy of the Iris Van Herpen tribute.

 

I absolutely love Iris Van Herpen IRL, but one of the things that is so iconic about the designs is how they don't really translate to other places. You can't do IVH on the cheap, nor can you *really* do IVH to nip to the shops (unless you're really extra). The same can sort of be said for the tribute itself, and as Kirsten pointed out in her round-up, we all seem pretty unanimous that each piece costs a lot for not a lot of versatility.

I picked up this orchid-y blue number with the intent of trying to wear it not-just-as-a-dress. I'm not sure how successful I've been, except in maybe making my doll look like she could take up the front row of a very fashionable scrum. 

I do love the colours I've pulled together though. Another formative fashion experience for me was the colour pairing chapters from Trinny and Susanna's What Not to Wear Books (you may not have heard of these outside of the UK although Trinny has an extremely chaotic TikTok - and maybe don't look them up either ha, they were pretty unnecessarily harsh to poor unsuspecting women). There was one particular look that put navy blue with lime green and I was just so sold on that. This was in....2002 maybe?..and I still can't shake it now.  

Perhaps I'll try this dress again in a few weeks - that'll be the real test - can I style it without lime green!

Featuring:
Blue Ombre Dress • Inspired by Iris Van Herpen Tribute
Prada Inspired Neon Fringe Dress (rotated and worn as a neckpiece) • Inspired by Prada Tribute
High Waist Pencil Pants • Velvet Orchid
Jacquemus Inspired Blue Belt • Subcouture
Sunny Belt • The JetSet
Ombre Bag • The JetSet
Plastic Couture Show Headwear • Tingeling Couture
Del Boca Earrings • Tingeling
Emerald Boots • Runway