I N S P I R E D B Y A L E X A N D E R M C Q U E E N | Tribute Review

Ok so I'm very relieved that we finally started the Winter 2023/2024 Tribute season, I won't lie, I was getting worried that we weren't getting one! Starting off we have Inspired By Alexander McQueen - a brand which is no stranger to the Tribute releases as we've had a few before. I love the advertising for this one, the pink is super eye-catching and looks very chic and I like the simplicity of 3 mannequins with looks on. These are three extravagant dresses, but I think they highlight a mix of styles and colours for the collection. Let's dive on in!

This release brings us 3 floors which really are quite packed with glamour! There's a bit of everything in the 15 female and 3 male doll looks, including a few pieces priced in SC's which I think is something new. Really, what a selection we have to choose from, I'm pretty impressed so I do think the wait was kinda worth it for this one - let's hope the upcoming Tributes follow suit^ So starting with the accessories. There are 7 pairs of shoes to choose from and these are in a really nice mix of styles and colours. I'm not such a fan of the two trainers on offer, but the other pairs are pretty good. There is a choice in the heels and I think the Black Twisted Armadillo Sandal is a great pair, they look simple from afar but have a fabulous sparkle detail all over the straps which will really pop in an outfit as you can see in the store. But it's the boots which really have captured my attention - both the Black Slash Flare Boots and Armadillo Bow Boots are fantastic! I love the knee high, high heel style and the designs of these are great, simple yet very stylish and will work in so many different outfits - these are really something getting me excited to style the collection already. There are also 7 bags on offer and I'm really quite pleased with the selection, they give me so many styling ideas^ The first to catch my eye was the Pink Bucket Bag, it's just in such a cute colour and given that none of the clothes are really pink, I think it stands out very nicely. The size is just right for a bucket bag, and I like the design with the straps running around the outside of the body. The Exploded Victorian Jewel Knuckle Clutch is also a very beautiful bag, and reminds me of classic McQueen collections from years ago - I love the jewels all over it and the draped jewels off the clutch body, I really think this could be a go-to bag for those occasions when I do go for a more dressed up style. There are quite a few options in black to choose from, and in a good range of styles. I really like the handheld style with the strap draped over design of the Biker Small Skull Bag, but I'm not sure it's so much a piece I would wear. The Black Grip Mini Bag on the other hand looks more up my street, it's simple on the body but has a very nice chain and hardware detail in silver. Now that I've seen it styled (see the features below!), I'm also quite liking the Bow Bag, which is much larger in style than the other pieces, but stands out with it's quilted design, it's really something quite unique. There are also just a couple of other accessory pieces in the release - the Black Hat stands out with it's mesh design and I'm quite tempted by the Silver Spike Studs Sunglasses, but it's the jewellery that gave me a surprise. There are two pieces, the Rich Collar Choker and the Drop Down Earring, which are both priced in SC's, and are both very nice pieces. They're both in gold, so perfect for my preferences, and the styles are really something I haven't seen in the Plaza, at least not recently, so they're fun new jewellery options to have.

Now onto the clothing and there are so many pieces to discuss, I will just do this floor by floor to make it easier to write and also to follow along^ The first floor is mixed with navy, red and a neutral, and actually my eyes are drawn all over the place because these are all colours that I like. In navy there are 2 options, the Black and Gold Dress (it looks much more navy than black!) which is a mini length with long sleeves and some lovely cut-out details plus a gold plaque design on the front, and also the Black Knots Dress (again, this is completely navy looking and not black!) which is a knitted piece with a maxi length and a very fun unique knotted design across the top-half of the body. I really like both of these pieces, they bring different and unique ideas and both look amazing on the doll, plus I think will be really fun to accessorise. With the red pieces the styles are also quite different, the Red Dress is a knitted maxi with a leg split and cut-outs all over the place, and a fabulous red tone as well. I'm just not sure how much wear I'd get out of this. The Embroidery Dress on the otherhand makes red quite wearable, with the red being a detailed embroidered pattern on top of a neutral beige base of a midi length. I really like the overall simple style of the dress being relatively high-necked and sleeveless with the skirt length. The second floor brings much of the same colour mix as the first. For me, these red pieces are a bit less everyday-wearable and are very much statement items (the Red Layered Dress and Red Soarkly Dress), but if dressing up in a fabulous gown is your thing, then these are perfect for you! The other pieces on this floor bring a much more casual vibe and really make me happy^ The outfit of the Funnel Neck Knit Jumper and Leather Bustier Skirt just really looks amazing, super simple pieces but so stylish with subtle design details, these pieces look great together but also seem very versatile so will be great separately too - especially the sweater, that is a piece that I think could become a Tribute favourite for me. The Military Trench Coat also looks fantastic, I really like a trench coat in the first place, but this one definitely has a stand out style with the loose fit and the bulk to the piece above the belting, I really think it could make some amazing outfits for the Spring and Autumn seasons. The third and final floor takes another step towards glamour and really goes for the gowns and metallics - this one isn't so much my thing, but the gowns really are gorgeous pieces that have been translated beautifully from real life designs onto Stardoll. The Purple Dress is stunning, the deep purple tone is amazing and I'd love to see more like it in the Plaza, the design is slim fitting to the doll with a deep V neckline and flaring from the knee, plus with some very extravagant shoulder details. The Silver Dress is a piece that I can see being very popular, the metallic colour has been done beautifully and I know people will like the bodice style and the great draping of the skirting design.

F E A T U R E S

First up in the features is Bianca.Vos who styles up the Bow Bag and really makes me want to buy the bag with this look! The leather fabric of the bag balances well with the skirt and bralette pieces against the sheer base layers in the styling, and the quilting also helps with that pop. The all-black look is super sleek and so perfect for so many different style-scenarios!

Next up is Claudentia who has opted for a bold styling with multiple copies of the Red Layered Dress, plus the Black Grip Mini Bag for an elegant look^ The dress really looks stunning styled like this, it suits the knee-length length very well and I love the tulle skirting for a more voluminous look. The accessories are fabulous additions, the black bag stands out with the tulle and the bright red shoes look great against the mesh tights.

Also choosing some red is harpie who wears the Embroidery Dress and mixes a great neutral and red look. I love the golden puff sleeves and the tulle long sleeves beneath the dress, they're beautiful additions to the piece and really make it seem like it does have some versatility to it. The neutral shoes and golden jewellery add well to this, while the red ribbon belt and bag add an extra touch a red to complete the styling =)

Something on the neutral front next, kiedis styles up the Knit Sweater in this fabulous sheeny styling, this is another one that makes me want to buy this piece! The sweater layers beautifully with both the gold knee-length slip skirt and the tulle long blouse, again these highlight a versatility to the piece that I really like to see. The accessories are super fitting with the overall styling, I love the pearl necklace, the chunky style really works well with the chunky knit design^

Now in the penultimate feature, this comes from leiona_- who wears the Leather Bustier Skirt combining office-chic and fabulous style. The grey colour of the skirt really stands out against the dark black of the blazer, shoes and bag, and I love that colour combination, it's very trendy right now. The collared shirt layered with the bralette looks great, and I love the cropping done, it's a fresh idea for the layering!

And last but not least, Mery.- wearing the Black Slash Flare Boots in this very current and trendy Miu Miu-esque outfit, super fun and I love seeing it^ Alike the above look, the black and grey tones are great against each other, especially as the boots have a more matte look to them. The brown of the poloneck sweater is a nice touch to the darker tones, and I love the accessories added in that colour-range, the clutch is a fun glamorous touch and I especially adore the burgundy gloves =D

2018 / / T R I B U T E S R E V I S I T E D

W I N T E R 2 0 1 8

Hot off the revisit to the Winter 2017 Tributes, it's time to look back to 2018! This season had 6 releases, which does include one that was a combination of a Tribute and and Antidote release; these were Fendi, Prada, Moschino/Antidote, Alexander McQueen, Tom Ford and Off-White. Looking back, this season had a really nice mix of designs, styles, colours and fabrics, I really think a little something for everyone - and a number of classic pieces that we still love a lot today. I don't think I can count how many times I've styled the McQueen Trousers Black because it's just too many^

F E N D I

For me at least, this Fendi release was a great one, especially looking back at it a few years down the line. I just love all the brown and earth tones to the collection while still bringing details and some really beautiful patterns and colour combinations - I'm looking at you Fendi Inspired Pattern Fur Coat and Fendi Inspired Romb Dress! The accessories in this collection are some of the most lasting, I see them styled all the time, which really keeps me thinking about this release.

A L E X A N D E R M C Q U E E N

This Alexander McQueen collection is one of the most memorable Tribute collections for me - so simple yet super stylish, the pieces were and still are super versatile and the styles are classics, they really have lasted and still look great today. These are some of the pieces that I do see styled quite often on dolls, so I think it's a bit of a universal favourite. I already mentioned the McQueen Trousers Black and I think many will agree what a perfect pair of trousers these are, but the boot selection in this release is fabulous, and despite the overall collection being quite small, I think it offers something for everyone.

T O M F O R D

The Tom Ford release in this Tribute season has been our only one from this brand, and I'd say it was a super strong one! I'd like to see some more from this in the Plaza based on this first release, but it's not a brand I'm super familiar with. This release was super fun, and while the above Tributes satisfy my neutral needs, this one has fabulous pops of colour and print along with metallics. The silvers in this one were great but the coloured Jaguar Sandals in three different colours remain to be some of my favourite Tribute shoes of all time, just amazing pairs to have in a collection!

2024 C O L O U R S | Cherry Red

Images: Alberta Ferretti, Gucci, Valentino, Alexander McQueen, Zimmermann

Red is all over the place right now, and even though this is focusing on 2024, I think red has been growing in popularity for the last several months - I even already did a little taster of red on the blog a few weeks back when I did some red tight stylings^ I'm here for the red, and although I've focussed on whole red looks in the above snapshots from the runway, red is really going strong on the accessory front and has been doing well as just a pop of colour amongst other tones. It's also one of those colours that does extremely well either going all out or going more minimal, it's an easy trend to slip into everyday stylings and there are so many pieces in the Plaza to choose from already!

I've been a lover of wearing red for years, and I think we all know that, so this colour trend comes easily to me - I have so many reds in my wardrobe that it's not tricky to work on this one already! One of the things I love about red is that it works great on a minimal, middle and maximum way, you can do just accessory touches or you can go all out and it's a colour that looks fantastic, plus it catches the eye very easily^ If bright bold colours aren't so much your thing, I would definitely stick to accessories, and there are so many good ones in the Plaza for you to choose from. What I'm looking for next is a fab red dress, plus maybe some more top/shirt options, this one in the second look is fantastic, but I definitely over-wear it, haha XD

FEATURES

Pops of red from head to toe in this look from baksik7899, who looks fabulous^ Red is one of those colours that looks good as both a 'less' and a 'more', and opting for accessories is the perfect way to bring the colour to your stylings, this beret is adorable^ The bright colour really pops against the neutral white of the top and the denim of the skirt, those boots are the perfect touch popping out at the hem!

Then is a very cool look from neon.swift, adding red in the clothing this time which really just jumps off the screen against the black and white pieces in the look. I love the style of the half-tucked top with the little shorts, it's really something perfect^ The tights with the front seam are also an eye-catching touch, and we all know I'm a fan of oversized outerwear, so this blazer is great in the look! The simple accessories make for a great finishing touch.

T S L P L A Z A P I C K S

2024 C O L O U R S | Baby Blue

Images: Proenza Schouler, Loewe, Proenza Schouler, Givenchy, Proenza Schouler

This baby blue is super sweet and I'm really feeling quite inspired with some of the runway looks I've been seeing that include this colour - I've got quite a few pieces in this shade in my closet, and have made some great stylings with them in the past, I'm ready for a 2024 refresh with them! The one thing I'm hoping for in the Plaza this season is more bags and belts in this colour range, we have a lot of baby blue shoes already and I think I need some more bags, and maybe some earrings too^ I love the contrasting runway looks that include baby blue - black, red? Anything goes! And I think that's the fresh take and inspiration I need for this colour. The BASICS store in the Plaza has some amazing baby blue pieces, at SC prices, there's no reason not to give this colour trend a try =)

I really loved working with all of these pieces - I was just feeling so enthusiastic and inspired about it, which I'm so pleased about, I know I'll be wearing this colour a lot this year. I love the versatility of the blue, it really works well with lights, darks and bold colours in between and stands out in all the stylings. I was particularly inspired by the Givenchy looks pairing blue with red and I'm so pleased that translated into an outfit for my doll, I'm so in love with this first styling - it's such a simple one, but I think it's so chic and really screams baby blue! And the colour works so well dressed both up and down as the second and third looks relay. And I think it's a colour that layers up really well, I'm all for the blue on blue on blue, and the third look is perfect at highlighting that =D

F E A T U R E S

I love this outfit by outofdreams who opts for a sheeny baby blue in this sweet layered look^ The high-neck sleeveless dress looks great and perfect for Spring layered with this equally sheeny blouse. The thigh-high socks area also super cute and really balance the colours nicely in the look. The black heels bring in that contrast seen on the runway and I really love that for this styling!

And then we also have a look from lovelybrody who has styled up a fabulous Winter-ready look, I love it! This dress is one I don't think I've seen styled, and being a maxi design with a lot of skirt layers, I do think it's a trickier one to work with - but this outfit ticks all the boxes and maybe even makes me want to try it out myself^ It layers beautifully with a blue top underneath and the white gloves are a fab accessory at the end of the long sleeves, along with the furry addition. I'm also loving the navy touches here, the bow at the neck is super eye-catching =)

T S L P L A Z A P I C K S

W H I T E S T U D D E D J A C K E T

December also brought us a new The JetSet release which was quite glam and full of dressier pieces - not so much pieces that I buy often, but the Red Gown does still catch my eye! I did make one purchase though and after styling it up, I'm so pleased with it, the White Studded Jacket. When I bought this I thought it would be really easy to style in lots of different ways, but when I started working with it, I found I was leaning to the same styles and colours of pieces - but I think there's some options there for it. I was really leaning to whites, greys, silvers and light blue tones, taking from the colours in the jacket itself. For the first look I was so happy with how this baby blue miniskirt looked, it's so cute with the jacket and I think the oversized sleeves and shoulders are really emphasised with the pairing with this small skirt. I kept the rest of the look simple with white boots and a shirt, I wanted it to be all about the skirt and jacket combination. And of course accessorised with some blues, and I'm super happy with those pieces^ For the second styling I wanted to use grey, and I really like having the sweater as the only darker piece in the look as it really pops and I've balanced that with the silver sandals and the black glasses on the bag - I really love it! The rest of the look is simple in white - simple but effective I think, the focus is really on the jacket and sweater pairing and I'm really pleased with it overall =)

Pretty and preppy in pink

I spotted this sweet feminine styling from Claudentia and was immediately in love with it, so adorable and stylish! I love the mix of details, there's a bit of everything - lace, glitter, florals, feathers, trims and jewels, I definitely think this is a case where a little of everything goes a long way! The jumpsuit on the base is a piece I think is super cute but hard to style, and this outfit ticks all the boxes for it, the tulle lace skirt on top is a perfect idea^ And I just love all the accessories, especially the socks and shoes combination, and the belting, all so detailed =D

W I L D C A N D Y | Styled By You / / Styled By Me

Between the Christmas and New Year period we got a brand new release of Wild Candy (Couture) which is a great way to spend all those SC's that I've been collecting up! The release is quite mixed in styles and colours, but I do think the graphics and overall designs look pretty good and there's definitely some pieces in there which will be popular. First up, some features^ This is Bianca.Vos who wears the Pink Dress in this fun layered styling - the magenta pink and the cobalt blue are super popping and eye-catching! The dress has a lot going on with the train, the pretty draping and the cutout pattern, so it definitely doesn't need too much added for a stand out look. The gathering details on the top really complement the dress design details well. The delicate silver jewellery pieces look fab and I think are perfect for finishing off this outfit =)

And then we have the ever fabulous harpie styling up the Black Bow Top - all ready for a party for sure! This look really shows that just because an item is from an SC store, doesn't mean it can't look amazing, the bow top makes for the perfect New Years party top. It looks great with the glitter sleeves and the sheer bodice. The trousers with statement buckle are a great addition, as are the silver accessories - those earrings in particular are perfection here and are great with the bow!

Back to bright with this styling from taise who has picked the Orange Dress to wear and looks great doing so! The look is simple, but this dress has plenty of features that definitely need a more simple styling to show off, the twisted shoulder detail and the hem-line for example. I love the glittered tights added, these are so fun, and the Dior bag is a great colour fit for the dress - this pairing definitely makes me want to give this piece a chance =D

Next is Mia1435 who wows in the Gold Lace Dress - this is a piece that I quite liked, but wasn't quite sure how to style it, well, this is how! The black sparkling bustier under the dress is just perfect, it looks completely part of the dress and for me at least, makes it a little more wearable. The accessories are great additions, I'm loving the sparkly gloves in particular, but also the clutch, fitting perfectly with the nude of the skirt, and the heels are a good balance against the black in the dress, love it!

And the final styling from this release comes from sorenita styling the Ripped Dress and really making it look like such a wearable piece - I couldn't imagine at all how it would be styled, so this really impresses me a lot =) The dress looks amazing layered ontop of this white midi skirt and white boot pairing, the blue pops and the rip design really catches the eye. The mixed-denim jacket ontop is great, the lighter tone really works well with the white while the darker tone highlights the dress. The accessorising is also great, love the hoop earrings and furry coat^

And now my stylings, I quite like a few of the pieces but have just picked up the co-ord to try so far. First up, the Brown Top which is a loose piece with a drawstring neck - I'm not sure how much I like the neck design, but I really liked the colour and fit of this piece. I think casual is the automatic though for this piece, but I really wanted to keep away from that and went quite dressy which I think worked out quite well. I stuck with brown tones with the trousers and I'm so pleased with the colour pairing of these pieces. I decided to add black in the accessories, along with the brown bag, and I'm really happy with the colour mix outcome. Then I also picked up the Layered Skirt which I'm really so happy with, this is a fab skirt with both a great colour and ruffled design. I really loved styling this and was inspired by some runway looks to go for this pale yellow blouse with the brown. The Gucci-inspired piece inspired the rest of the choices in the look and overall I'm just so pleased with everything in this one!

Skirted street

This outfit from leiona_- is just so 'in' right now, it's got a little bit of all the popular trends and they've blended together seamlessly! These wide-leg trousers really look great balanced against the oversized square blazer and I think the checked print of the blazer plays well with the almost metallic sheen of the trouser fabric. I think it's super fun to have this skirt worn as a strapless top, the attached belting is perfect around the bust and the colour and pattern to the piece are a great light touch to the dark trousers. Accessories are also great, love the pointed shoes and the bag plus perfect sunglasses for the styling =)

2024 C O L O U R S | Pale Yellow

I've seen a number of articles online highlighting amazing colour trends for 2024 - this month I'm picking 4 of them and sharing how I'll bring these trends to my doll and what you can get in the Plaza now to get ahead with these fab colours^

Images: Loewe, Loewe, Givenchy, Bottega Venetta, Proenza Schouler

I've always been a big fan of yellow - this year it's about that lighter tone with a paler hue, and I'm for sure here to give that a go! I adore the yellows on this seasons runways, there are so many options and designs to choose from, and we already have the same range for our dolls in the Plaza and Bazaar. This shade of yellow is great for fresh Spring/Summer vibes so I'm thinking we'll be seeing it a lot over the next few months and I'm hoping for some new pieces to come into the Plaza to fit this trend too.

For me at least, yellow tones are so easy to style - it's just one of those colours that I find a joy to work with! So these outfits were fun and quick to put together, and just highlight a few ways to work with yellow, in particular yellow outerwear. In the first styling, this over-shoulder coat is one of my favourites, it's just a beautiful piece and I loved making a simple look for it, with a white base to show off the yellow. The trainers were a fun addition to this look and are definitely a piece I need to style more often, they have a fab mix of colours! The second styling layers up yellow in both the shirt and blazer, I think these two tones work really well together - this BASICS Summer Linen Shirt Soft Yellow (priced in SCs) still available in the Plaza is a great way to dip your toe into the colour.

F E A T U R E S

First up here is eararmut who wears a super pale yellow in a very glam styling^ These little fringed shorts are adorable, I don't think I've paid them much attention before but they look amazing in this outfit. The lighter yellow is perfectly paired with this jacket, the mixed colours on it are great and the design is so unique. Yellow and blue works great together (as seen on the runway!) and I think this bag is a great final touch to the look =)

Next we have sneja combining both a super pale yellow and a brighter tone too! This puffed dress looks great with all of the additions, and I think the yellow in it really comes to the forefront more with the yellow blouse underneath. The mesh sleeves are also super fun and do make for a good seasonal outfit. Also loving the pop of red with these booties^

And the final look is from sorenita who also utilises a super light yellow but this time with a navy blue and I think it looks fab! This knitted vest is a piece that I'd skimmed over in the Plaza but really looks fantastic here, the blouson sleeves really add a lot to this vest, really a perfect combination. The accessories are very fitting too, love these boots and the hat is just great there too!

T S L P L A Z A P I C K S

Sea style

I loved these beautiful blue and white sea vibes in this styling from DIORian which has such a fabulous mix of fabrics and textures! I really loved styling up this skirt when I got it, and I love these fresh vibes for it. The blue colour matches perfectly with this draped top, and I love the split in the look that the mesh skirting provides, it goes well with the white of the skirt and adds an interesting detail. More white is added in these sleeves and also the accessories, I think the balance of the two colours is just right in this styling. So much love for the accessory choices, especially these buckle shoes, I'm really liking that design just now^

G I F T - O - M E T E R | Styled By You / / Styled By Me

Of course this year we also had a Holiday Gift-O-Meter - spend 300SD in the Plaza and get various clothing and decor gifts along the way, and there's still a few more days to fill up the meter and get those final gifts! Time for some features and stylings to inspire about the pieces you can get this year^ First up is Bianca.Vos who wears firstly the Encrusted Jacket (180SD spend) in this party-ready outfit. I think the piece looks great and the sparkling maxi skirt length is very complementary to it, the two are just right together. The accessories are also great, I love this layered silver sparkling choker, it's fab in the neckline of the jacket! The next look uses the Black Denims (120SD spend) which I think look amazing, this look alone makes me want to get to that spend point so I can style them too! I love the mixed styles in this look, the jeans look great with this smart white blouse, but it's layered super creatively with the black top underneath and the belting around the chest. The loose belts around the waist also suit the two-waisted jean style really well too^

Here is serhanservet670 also wearing the Encrusted Jacket (180SD spend) and highlighting a different style for this piece. The black really pops well against the neon, for sure a different choice but one that works so well for the glamorous jacket! The ruffled sleeve top balances very nicely with the boots, and I love the mix of textures included in the styling. The mesh skirting is also fab and the accessories are a great final touch, especially the choker, it's fab with the silver details on the jacket =)

Next we have minutiae styling up the Black Dress (180SD spend) - it's a simple look but this complements the detailed and elegant dress design, that cutout pattern is amazing! The dress has some small silver touches and these are played upon in the accessories with both silver earrings and silver embellishments on the bag chosen. I also particularly like the bag and shoe combination with the patent material, this definitely stands out^ 

Now is liability who wears the Green Leather Jacket (50SD spend) and really catches my eye in doing so. I wasn't feeling too enthusiastic about this piece because I'm not such a fan of the length but did like the colour, but this look with it tucked in really changes my mind! The tuck is perfect for the large collar design, and the placement with the belting is just right. The trousers are simple but a great colour-match. The accessories are amazing, I'm here for the layering of the necklaces and I love the overall mix of black and gold, I'm especially pleased to see someone else loving these shoes!

And now onto my own looks. First up, of course I also had to style the very popular Encrusted Jacket - and I can see why it's popular, I put it on and immediately had some styling ideas! I love these sparkling trousers with the piece, and I have many other silver items which will also look good with it. With a black base, it's easy to accessorise. I definitely love this styling with the jacket more than I thought I would before trying it out! Next I paired together the Green Leather Jacket and Chunky Ankle Bracelet - this took a while to come together as I was quite determined to style the jacket with green shoes, but this bag worked so much better so I changed track and went for a black and green styling, I think it works nicely^ The gold of the bag inspired the addition of other gold in the look, including the anklet. And the final piece, the Black Denim, which I didn't think I would like but actually did really enjoy styling. They're such a casual piece in comparison to the other items from the GOM so it leaves the styling open for plenty of options. I stuck with a casual vibe and chose some trainers and simple colours to add, the white of the top and shoes frames the jeans nicely.

Out and about in orange

First Feature post of the new year, and coming in bold! This amazing orange styling comes from Bianquette who just looks fabulous^ This maxi dress has a beautiful sleek style, the skirting just falls perfectly, and the orange heels pop out neatly at the hem. The orange and comic printed coat looks great, the close fit is really nice with the slim fit of the dress and the colour is a great match to the dress, I really love this unusual combination =) The accessories are also great, the black balances well with the comic print on the jacket^

I T G I R L S | Release Review

I have my fingers crossed for the Winter Tribute season to start soon, but in the meantime - a new collection was released in It Girls with a mix of transitional Winter-Spring pieces in a range of colours and styles, lets take a look:

The release is the usual size for a regular store release and comes with a good mix of clothing and accessories pieces in different styles, fabrics and colours. Starting with the accessories, I think the bags really are stand out in this category. There are 3 to choose from and they offer both both neutral and fun styles. The Beige Purse and Black Bag are great basic pieces and I'm really a fan of the smaller size of these as they will be easy to work into many outfits. Also a quick note, if you're SS/Royalty, the Black Bag is this weeks free gift on the Superstar page^ Then there is also the Leather And Denim Bag and if you're thinking this looks familiar, then you're correct - this is inspired by the Loewe 'hammock' style of bag and we've already had basically the same bag but from a different angle. This is from Velvet Orchid, the Jeans Leather Bag, which you can still buy in the Plaza - not great Stardoll! Anyway, onto the clothing pieces, of which there are 10 pieces to choose from. My eye automatically goes to the white/beige pieces and I think these are very nice - I really love the White Long Skirt and Pleated Blouse (although this seems more like a dress to me!) a lot, the styles are simple yet very nice and these pieces both look great on the doll. They will be great for layering for Winter stylings now, but will also be fab in the Spring/Summer. The Knit Braid Dress is also quite nice, I love the idea of it, but I don't think it looks quite as good on the doll as the other pieces, I think the positioning of the waist isn't quite right (when I tried it on at least). Then there are a couple of other knit-style pieces, and in that category I'm really liking the One Sleeve Sweater, this brown piece is super cute and has a very sweet sleeve detail on it's one sleeve. It's definitely unique in the Plaza and I think it could make some great neutral toned Winter looks. There is also the Red Turtleneck Sweater, which I love the colour of but I think the diamond-line design is potentially off-putting to some, I would have preferred this to be a little more subtle, but I still think it will make some nice stylings. The final pieces to mention are the Marine Serre-inspired Moon Top and Leggings which are a sweet Winter co-ord. The design is simple and I like the brown base to them, but they're not so much pieces that I would wear. I think I could be convinced otherwise though if I see a fabulous and creative styling with them!

F E A T U R E S

First up is harpie who styles the Pleated Blouse very elegantly and creatively. This piece layers beautifully and that way there will be so many looks for it, this one is great to start with^ I love the skirting especially, it has a vintage look to it which I think looks fab and works well with the pleated and fluted sleeves of the blouse. The simple accessories are effective and pretty, but I love the elaborate earring choice, so fabulous =D

Then we have Izzy_Star who has opted for the White Long Skirt in this sleek minimal styling, matching the beautiful decor design. This is an outfit that really highlights the beauty of 'less is more', the skirt really hasn't needed much added to look amazing. The white sheer top is fab with it, and the matching bra underneath is perfect. I adore the simple yet very stylish accessories, the pointed sandals and dinky designer bag are great final touches =)

And the final feature comes from Bianquette wearing the Red Turtleneck Sweater and really doing a good job at trying to make me want this piece! The pattern doesn't stand out so much in this styling, which is really nice. I love all the use of red in the look, it's definitely not too much at all and I think the bag is such a great fit for the sweater, along with the delicate necklace choices. The brown skirt is such a fitting piece and it works perfectly at not being overwhelmed by red. I really love this fun and creative styling of such a bold colour!

S T Y L I N G S

I've just bought two pieces so far, but there's a couple of others that I think I will be picking up too. First up is the White Long Skirt which really looks great in a number of stylings, I wanted to go for something a little on the casual side and I think it works nicely with this oversized sweater. With the stripes on the sweater being black I decided to use that for my accessories and I stuck with simple pieces. I'm really loving this look a lot and I think this skirt will be a great staple piece for the upcoming Spring/Summer season. Despite already owning the other almost identical bag, I did also get the Leather And Denim Bag which I had fun styling, I love this outfit so much! After styling this one, I do think I prefer this version over the other one. Anyway, I decided to style it with jeans and was super pleased to find a perfect denim match for the bag, I love this pairing a lot^ With some brown accessories, I kept the rest of the clothing simple choosing this white shirt which is a classic and makes for an effective styling to highlight the bag. I am also loving this ponytail hairstyling with this look, I think it all just comes together nicely =)