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 | Styled Outfits

After posting my review of the Inspired By Alexander McQueen tribute store, finally getting around to sharing my looks - and I am super excited about these! I loved working with these pieces and found them both fun and easy, I'm super happy with this as the first release of the Tribute season. First up is the Embroidery Dress, which I think will make for some great Summer stylings, but I've gone in a more Winter to Spring transition look with a long sleeve layered underneath. The red colour of this one is perfect with the embroidery threads on the dress. I stuck with red for all the accessories, I particularly love these boots with the look^ Next are the Military Trench Coat and Armadillo Bow Boots. This isn't the perfect look to show off the boots, but I wanted to get as many pieces into these stylings as possible. But I Kept it super simple with just black additions to this coat, the more dress style design does make it difficult to style beyond accessories. I'm really happy with these choices and I really love the simplicity of the look showing off those design details on the coat. And the third look here includes the Funnel Neck Knit Jumper and Exploded Victorian Jewel Knuckle Clutch and I am in love with this styling! The bag is more silver but I was seeing pink vibes in it so knew I wanted to get pink into the look with it - and I think the black and baby pink contrast is super eye-catching. I kept it simple and balanced, with the black boots against the sweater then this fabulous pink pearl necklace - this is a look I would easily wear day after day^

And for some darker stylings in the next three outfits. First here are the Black And Gold Dress and Drop Down Earring which I think are fantastic with each other, the gold of the earring matches that on the dress really perfectly. I was torn about what direction to go with because I wanted to add a lot more gold but also keep it simple - I did struggle to find perfect gold accessories to match the gold on the dress, so opted for a more simple look. I added a navy top underneath for a more Winter look without the shoulder gaps, then also used tights, but I really like the balance of gold with these shoes^ Next is the Black Knots Dress, which I am still convinced is navy - so I paired it with navy! I love the look with this navy knit beneath it, really the two are so great together, I'm super pleased with the pairing. I kept with navy in these sheeny boots and love the vibe they add to the look. I'm super excited to wear this dress again already. And the final piece is the Leather Bustier Skirt and actually I came up with quite a few options for this piece, so it's got really nice versatility to it. The colour is a dark grey, so I really liked trying out other greys with it, this sweater tucked in with a black polo underneath is a super cute option. Accessorising was simple in black, but really there were so many options I could have gone for. Again, this is another piece I'm looking forward to styling another time.

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

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

And now reviewing our 3rd Tribute of the season - Alexander McQueen! I didn't like the first release of McQueen so much, so I was a little sceptical going into this one. The advertising looks pretty cute though, I'm especially loving the look of the dress on the front model and the vibe of the background, it looks pretty nice!

Highlights I have to say, I'm hugely impressed! I didn't like our first offering of McQueen and this release completely changes my view of the brand, I love it so much =D The interior is a great neutral base and I think the pieces pop really nicely against it - they're taken from a couple of different collections, but overall it really works. This one gets a big thumbs up from me!

Accessories The shoes in this release really pop out to me, a great range and style of choices. Boots are the focus, which is perfect for this season, there are 5 pairs to choose from. The Metal Cap Boots are the flat option in the collection, they're studded all over with a cap on the toe and have a short height up the ankle, which works for some, but isn't so much to my taste. The Metal Cap Roses Stiletto's have the next highest ankle height, they're also quite short, but their stiletto heel makes them more appealing for me at least. I love the floral design on them, it's super cute and not something you see everyday in the Plaza. The final 3 pairs all cover the ankle with their heights and they are all heeled boots with individual designs. The Flower Boots are an espresso tone with a fabulous minimal flower embroidery up the front, then there are the McQueen Inspired Victorian Boots White, which are a white pair with zips at the top and a row of buttons on the outer side, lastly there are the McQueen Inspired Victorian Boots Black, with the same zip and buttons, but these have a studded trim around the edges of the sole which I really like the look of - it's a minimal take on the rock-star trend. I bought 4 pairs, definitely going a little crazy with this one but I'm excited by these shoes!

There is just one bag in the collection, I'd love more but the one we have is pretty amazing, the McQueen Bucket Bag, which matches with the Flower Boots and I just love that so much! There are just a couple of other accessory pieces, the Saddle Belt in a dark brown with a cool thick edging and a long tail, it looks great and of course is perfect with skirted styles. There is the McQueen Body Chain, which is a take on jewellery, and also the Insect Choker, which is unusually an SC piece and available for Royalty only.

Clothing Next up the clothing, there are 10 looks and 2 of them are for males. There are quite a few dresses in the collection, 5 in different styles and designs. The boldest of them doesn't really fit clearly with the others, the Victorian Mini Dress is red and printed, it's super cute and mini in length but with a high neck and long sleeves, I love the idea of it and the structure to the design. The Silver Slip Dress is super slinky and swanky. I love the shimmer it has, but it's super sheer and there are a lot of cutout sections to it, so it won't be everyone's style but I think it will work well for some. The Patchwork Knit Dress is also a little sheer, but the nude wool hides a little more - I really love this piece, I think it looks beautiful. The belted design and seams down the skirting are still clear, and I like the bell sleeves and long length, I'm excited to see how other style this^ And lastly the McQueen Flower Lace Dress, which I see very much as a focal point of the collection. I love the detailed square neckline and the floral lace design over the piece, it's all very pretty^ And it matches well to a number of the accessories =)

I absolutely adore the trousers in this release, they're AH-mazing! The McQueen Trousers Black are a classic pair, straight legged, high waisted and traditional in black, super easy to style and very smart and fitting on the doll. You can also get the McQueen Trousers in check, which are stunning. These aren't on the floor of the store, but you can find them in the catalogue - they're the same fit as the first pair, but they're in a stylish check which is a popular trend at the moment. And you can get the matching McQueen Jacket to really complete the look! I love a checked blazer and this one is super cool with a deep V and sleeve splits. And last but not least, the McQueen Inspired Sweater, an oversized piece with breton stripes, zipped sleeves and an intricate applique on the neckline, it's such a pretty winterwear piece^

Prices This release ranges from 20 to 33SD's, which is pretty average for a Tribute. There is also a piece in SC's but it is a Royalty only item.

Styled Outfits I've styled up a few of the items already in my WEARING post, and I plan to share more looks with you again this month, but here are 3 looks today! First up the McQueen Inspired Sweater which I've styled very minimally to really let it be shown off, this works^ The trousers are a good base and I've stuck with black accessories and the stripes really stand out. Next the McQueen Trousers, and although not paired with their matching piece, still with a checked blazer because I loved the furry sleeves that were added to the look. I think the brown works well with the checks throughout the look and I think these trousers will work well in many more looks to come! And in the third look, the Flower Boots and McQueen Bucket Bag - the dreamiest of combinations! These pieces work well with a lot of clothing, I found quite a few good examples that I could have shown, but chose this cute tulle skirted style that really lets the dark tone stand out. I really love the cream colours overall with these accessories =)

Features And lastly the features - I've been super impressed with some of the cool ways that you guys have been styling this release! First up we have Marta-43 wearing the Patchwork Knit Dress, McQueen Bucket Bag and the McQueen Inspired Victorian Boots White. The layering with the dress is amazing, I love the ruffled sleeves under the dress, the booties are perfect with the colour. The bag pops as a belt piece, it looks awesome!

Next up, two looks with the Leather Corset Top, the first styling is from Mia1435 who pairs it with the McQueen Inspired Victorian Boots Black and a dark rock-chick styling. This skirting looks amazing against the leather, the pieces look perfect paired together and the boots fit the style well playing off the long gloves used. I also love this hair and beauty look, it really adds to the overall vibe^

Also in the Leather Corset Top is GirlEwelina, going for a lighter look but also pairing the shirt well with a skirt, this one is lighter in base, but the black splashes work perfectly for the top. The look also uses the McQueen Inspired Victorian Boots White, also great with the skirt. I like the layering of the top with a smart shirt, and the rest of the accessories are super fun =)

Back to darker stylings, this time localsaint wearing the Rose Leather Jacket - it really looks fabulous in this look! A perfect pairing with black trousers and the accessories of the studded shoes and bag really stand out in the styling, but don't pull the attention negatively from the florals. The hat is a cute piece too, and I love the dark smokey eye makeup!

Our second to last styling is from -Lady_Sweet- pairing the McQueen Trousers and McQueen Jacket, perfection! The tucked style works perfectly and the split sleeve design is prominent in the look. I love the furry stole over the shoulder and the speckled bag stands out well. The checked shoes are also the perfect touch to finish the styling =D

And lastly a super bright styling from notnoworlater wearing the Victorian Mini Dress and going all out with the red, it looks fabulous =D And it's definitely not too much^ The red boots and earrings are a perfect colour match with the dress and I really like the slight clash the bag has with the pieces. It works out really well, the accessories really make this one!

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

Our next tribute release has arrived - Inspired By Alexander McQueen! This is our first specific store for Alexander McQueen but there have been many inspired pieces in the plaza previously. I quite like the homepage ad, especially the coppery style background and the makeup looks, they really are spot on =D

We got a pretty big drop this time with three floors filled with pieces, which I think is pretty generous! To me there's not really much of a running theme, but somehow I think with this one it works out better as it means you are more likely to find a few pieces in your individual styles than not being able to get anything at all.

So there's not too much on the accessories front really. There's one bag, and it's quite massive! The McQueen Inspired Faux Fur Big Clutch is more than just big, it's one huge piece. For me it's just that bit too big, I'd rather my clutch be a tad on the smaller side - maybe a size option for this one would be great, but at this one I'm just not interested even though it has a great colour and style. Then there's just shoes - no jewellery or scarves or headpieces at all, which I think is maybe where this collection is lacking a little, but that might just be me. There are a pretty good range of shoes in this release with both heels and flats and a non-basic option for the guys. I do quite like the printing on the Pins Platforms (and the Male version), but I just don't like the overall style of the shoe, for me it's not so wearable, but I wish I could have the print! I'm hoping to see some inspiration in some looks and maybe I will reconsider my decision =) Then there's four pairs of heels to be had. Firstly the black and pink Furry Pink High Heels which definitely have a great edgy feel. They remind me a little of some of the styles available in Melbourne Minimalism and I think they would look good with a whole host of different styles and items. The last shoes are three very similar pairs - they all have the same cut really with the same black base and heel size but with slightly different prints, so the McQueen Inspired High Heels, Butterfly High Heels and Kurbit Inspired Platforms (which are just a little chunkier than the others). To be honest I really didn't notice a difference until I zoomed in and looked at each pair individually, and I'm glad I did! I initially loved the butterflies, but now I'm pretty sold on those platforms with the pretty purple toned flowers =D

So now the clothing. I have to say when I first saw everything I was quite under-whelmed, nothing seemed particularly wearable or versatile for my style and other items in my closet - but trying everything on really helped me out! Also, when I first saw the spoilers, I thought a lot more pieces were menswear items, just from the coats and their general shape and style - I was quite pleased there were going to be numerous male items available but in the end it didn't quite work out like that. I'll start with the outerwear anyway, and the first item I wanted was the male Butterfly Long Coat. It has a great neutral tan colour and a nice oversized shape. The butterflies are small and a nice decorative element without being too in your face - it ticks a lot of boxes for me! Something else which ticked a lot of boxes was the minimal Long Coat Satin Belt. It's my style to a 'T'^ The colour is great (it's black, where could it go wrong?!) and the shape is a pretty good one which I see working with a lot of different pieces from jeans to smart trousers but also skirts and dresses. The sash design also makes it pretty unique from what we've got in the Plaza otherwise. Also in the black category of outerwear are the Chained To My Coat and Maxi Leather Wing Coat, I thought these might be alright pieces initially, but the styles really don't suit my doll, and actually I haven't seen anyone wearing either. The styles are quite similar but with individual designs, I think the collar in the latter is what is a little off-putting for me, it just doesn't quite look right. There's also a shorter more casual option too, the Rock My Leather Jacket, I like the butterfly printing, but I can't get my head around the shape, it's not something I can see myself styling well, but maybe if someone does it justice I will change my mind! And there's some pale pieces too - the Pastelle Faux Fur Coat and the McQueen Inspired Oversized Coat. I love the pink colouring, it's fab, but I do see the pieces without too much versatility, I think they've probably got a good few outfits in them, but there might be a limit. The second has such a cool and unique shape, but for someone like myself who isn't very creative with pieces, something like this could be tricky to love in lots of looks.
Dresses really are a prominent item of this collection with a huge range of styles and colours to choose from - for me the issue is that just about everything has a huge amount of sheer. This automatically makes the cogs turn and makes me wonder if I'll find anything that I really want. I'll start with the shorter option, where there are four pieces, two dark and two light, so it's good to see a mix and there are different levels of sheerness in the pieces. In the pinks are the Nude Butterfly Sheer Dress, which really just is top half sheer and has a dip, which is an easy work-around really and has super pretty skirt layering, then also the Nude Laced Butterfly Dress which is a little more covered up top and has long sleeves, but has a patchy sort of sheer skirting - it could work out well with the right outerwear though, maybe a little challenge for someone! Then the darker pieces which are the Black Laced Butterfly Dress, a black version of the Nude one but with very minimal sheer material so it gets a big tick mark and has really pretty florals on it too, and also the Sheer Turtleneck Dress which has such a great shape but just quite a lot of sheer - it will definitely work out well for some people, just not myself! There are then five maxi styles, and all of them are a whole lot of sheer! The patterns are very pretty, especially the Birds And The Sun Dress and the Fantasy Dress Inspired By McQueen - they're just not pieces I can envisage worn in an everyday or easy manner, that's totally just my opinion, feel free to love them and wear them all the time and with trainers if it so suits you^ I do have a slight soft spot for the McQueen Tribute Bird Dance Dress, I love the shape and it suits my doll really well. It's not too bad on the sheer front as there's a lot of lace styled detailing ... maybe I should just bite the bullet and purchase it, let me know your thoughts! I also very much like the Butterflies And Frills dress, the shape and design as well as butterfly details are great, but it's just very sheer ... all these issues! If they were half the price I would have no bother taking the risk, but being 35SD each makes it a little tricky! There are some non-dress sheer pieces, and I quite like them both and they're definitely a lot more wearable for everyday looks. These are the Black McQueen Tulle Skirt and Sheer Star Pants which both have a lovely shimmer and glitter to them - if these pieces were the most adventurous that a whole collection had, then I'd be pretty happy!

Prices for this release range from 19 to 42SD's, which certainly doesn't make this collection a cheap one. I found just a few pieces really caused the total price of the shopping cart to soar quickly. In a way this is good because it will stop random purchases on my part, but it's not entirely user friendly if you're not wanting to have to purchase a lot of SD's.
Now my looks! I really looked for pieces which could fit into my own style well, because I really don't do well with items outside of my zone^ I really think I made what I bought work well for me! Firstly the Sheer Star Pants, and I really felt inclined to stick with the sheer theme in my shirt, I like it. A coverup was a little essential, but I think this fur fits nicely, and I stayed simple with black shoes and a bag - next time maybe some earrings I think! Secondly the Pastelle Faux Fur Coat which I was very kindly gifted when it was released for SC's. I was a little unsure what direction I wanted to go with this but these burgundy trousers were calling to me, so I stuck with them and a matching bag - I really love the tone with the pale pink colour. I think this look is still missing something though, so I'd love to hear your thoughts! Finally the Long Coat Satin Belt, as it's quite a minimal piece I decided to go all out with colours and patterns and these PPQ Geo Print Trousers seemed like a good answer with their small touches of blue but still fitting in with the black. I do quite like my accessorising with this one, that clutch is a good fit for the trousers and the sunglasses give it a little chic touch^

Lastly some features. It took a while for this tribute to hit it off with members I feel, I didn't start seeing a lot more looks until the end of the week really, but that doesn't matter at all - I'd like to think people were thinking about their choices carefully rather than buying things on a whim^ So first up is lacky_girl.., who has gone with the Time Is Ticking Suit Dress. The other clothing included is thoroughly on theme with the pink jacket to match the butterfly and a black base in the sheer skirting, what a great style for the piece^ Accessorising is also pretty cool with the trainers and socks!

Next we have natusia_182 going for chic and simple with the Long Coat Satin Belt. It looks great with these culottes and I love the shades of black between the two. The rest is pretty neutral but very complimentary, going with a knit and belt and a fitting matching bag then again with the heels, I love the straps and they really fill up the bare ankle left by the culotte length. Hair and beauty is spot on and perfect for this outfit =D

Something a tone away from the dark in the above two looks comes from Eyes.. who has managed to work with the McQueen Inspired Faux Fur Big Clutch very well! It suits the lilac and grey tones in the jacket very well, and I think it stands out with a variety of colours used in the look, I especially like it with these trousers! Accessorising is again very good, love these heels and the sunglasses make the outfit look oh so swanky^

And even brighter with LediGaga12's styling wearing the McQueen Inspired Oversized Coat. It's very much an outfit on its own with all the detail and great design element, but I really like how it's been put together here with the lace cami, they're a good fit together. Shoes are pretty and fashionable yet don't take attention from the coat. Also love the chocker necklace, it's a great style addition =)

And last but not least, something a little more casual with this look from Nmaar which includes the Butterfly Long Coat. I think the print really stands out with the tan knitwear and beige trousers, a pretty classic look to go for with a piece like this. I love the curled hairstyle, it looks awesome with this look, and a neutral beauty look takes it a long way!