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

Next Tribute up, the fourth the season, and it's another new one, finally Jacquemus has been brought to the Plaza! This is super exciting and I'm sure something that many people are happy about - it's such a popular well-loved brand, and we've had a few Inspired pieces before, but a whole store is next level^ From the advertising I'm excited about it, it looks fun and colourful with some nice designs, let's get into the store and see the whole collection:

As with the other releases, there are 3 floors and in this one a total of 21 looks with a few male choices and several pieces available for both male and female dolls. I have to say, at first I was a bit disappointed because it wasn't really looking how I was envisaging a Jacquemus collection, but with hindsight I am happy with this collection, it's a really good addition to the Tribute season. First up the accessories. There are 6 pairs of shoes on offer and the really do have a good range of styles and designs. The Zebra Mules are such a fun pair, love the print and little pink on the sole combined, I really love a mule style of shoes and we haven't seen much of this in the Plaza lately. The pairs that really caught my attention are the Creamy Strappy Heels, a fabulous neutral Summer heeled sandal, and the Denim Sling Backs which have such a cute low chunky heel and I also really enjoy a slingback style for Summer. The release has so many bags, a total of 10 to choose from! The Le Bambinou Purse comes in 3 colours which are Cherry, Black and Green which I think are really nice options to have to choose between with both classic and bold colours, I'm definitely torn between the Cherry and the Green! The design is a classic one, so it will be a popular piece I'm sure. Speaking of green, I love the Chartreuse Bag, it has a great green colour but also a super classic design with great structure. Another classic style is the Briefcase, it's simple in black but I love the smaller size than a typical briefcase would be, I think this makes it really versatile and is a solid black-bag option for a collection. The last piece to mention is the Woven Bag, I love this for the neutral colour but also the thick weave design. It looks like such a versatile piece and I think is a great Spring/Summer option, I'm really excited to style this one. There are some other accessories pieces as well, and the Giant Straw Hat stands out for sure, it's such a recognisable Jacquemus piece! While it's not so much for me, I can see it being popular. And there are jewellery pieces as well. I was definitely drawn in by the Long Flower Earring, love the floral feminine vibes this has and also been loving seeing it styled so far, it looks great. For something a little less long, the Circle Square Earrings are a nice option, the mismatching is cute and I think these look super subtle but classy. The last piece to mention in this category is the Jacquemus Purse Necklace, I love a more subtle design for necklaces so they work in a lot of outfits and this really ticks all the boxes for me, I love this piece so much =)

Now onto the clothing which I'll go through by floor. The first floor is a mix of neutrals with bolds. With those bright colours you can choose the Green Suede Top and Shorts set, I love this colour and the suede texture really looks great, I just don't love the fit of them on my doll, but I'm a little tempted by the top to give it a go. If you prefer red, then there's plenty of choices for you. The Red Off-the-shoulder Sweater is a great mix of styles, I really like the slouched design of this piece. Or there is the very cute Red Puffy Sleeve Top which I just think is adorable, it's allll about those sleeves! I'm just a little on the fence about this as I'm not sure how versatile it might be. The Enbroidered Flower Shirt is a great piece if you prefer your colours more muted, this has a fantastic fit on the doll and a great design. Love the print on this short sleeved option, which isn't something we have a lot of in the Plaza. Of course, I'm a big fan of the neutrals on this floor. The Leather Moto Jacket really stood out to me immediately, gotta love a new leather jacket, and I feel like it's been a while since we've had something like this, they definitely used to be super popular in releases. I love the muted tone to the colour with this one along with the oversized fit. The White Tie Top is classic Jacquemus to me, super minimal but stylish and I've seen several dolls already wearing it. The Highwasited Slacks also stand out to me, I'm a little on the fence about them as the oversized look isn't suiting my doll quite how I like, but they look great - only thing is the belt is attached to them which may be a deciding factor on these. The second floor is all about the neutrals and beige tones, this I really love! I'm just going to go through this one left to right. The Rattan Top looks fab, very French riviera, I can already think of a few cute looks for this one. As soon as I saw the Cream Long Coat I knew that I had to have it, love the shape and fit of this and the colour is beautiful. The wide neckline is fabulous and the slight oversizing is just perfect. Next to it is another coat I had to get immediately, the Cheetah Coat which is such a cute little cropped piece with a boxy fit. It's been a bit of a drought in the Plaza for animal print and I'm liking this comeback! This coat fits really nicely and I love it on my doll. Another jacket, the Cream Crop Top is a big winner in my books, love this piece a lot! It's a cropped piece, fitted in the body then oversized in the sleeves, and in a neutral colour with a white trim, I think the combination is just perfect^ The last piece to mention on this floor is the Fringe Top, super cute and super Jacquemus, a perfect fit for those fringed bags we already have! It's a simple piece, but the neutral colour gives a versatility. The final floor is a little more bright with the neutrals, it's more about the whites. For me, this is the floor I like the least, I feel like there's a lot going on with different volumes and patterns and it's a bit much. The Polkadot Mini Dress is quite cute, but not really the sort of thing I would wear very much. The Silver Skirt with it's mix of purple and metallic is quite an interesting piece, I'm a little tempted but really have no firm ideas on how to style it yet.

F E A T U R E S

First up is Brevis who wears the Leather Moto Jacket, Highwasited Slack and Briefcase in this very Scandi-chic look, I really love the relaxed vibes this jacket adds to any styling! The contrasting colours work really nicely, the muted tone to the jacket is great against the trousers, I'm all for these combinations^ Love the layering of the shirt and sweater plus the chunky belt, it's great against the black sandals.

Next up in a lighter look is fraternite who wears the White Tie Top and the Long Flower Earring(s) another super fun one that gives me different Scandi vibes too. I love the layering with the top, the sheer piece beneath looks seamless, and the trousers add nice subtle detailing with the waist design. Love the little purple touches in the look, the accessories really pop nicely in this one =) 

And the final feature comes from BeatriceFashion who styles the Woven Bag - honestly this look just is so Jacquemus that I thought a few items must have been from the store, but no, it's great! These nude toned clothes are perfect against the bag, the shade is just a little lighter so the bag pops really nicely. Love the hat accessorising in this one, really the perfect accessory pair for both the bag and for Jacquemus^

S T Y L I N G S

Now for my looks. First up, the Enbroidered Flower Shirt, Woven Bag and Cream Strappy Heels which are all pieces I really like individually but think they look fab together. The shirt was an absolute must to pair with these trousers, the reds are perfect together and I think the lighter colours in the shirt really make the trousers seem lighter for a Summer styling. I kept the rest of the look light with the lighter accessories, and I think the woven style has such natural Summer vibes anyway, it's perfect here. For the second look I've styled the Cream Crop Top, which I've not seen anyone else wear yet. I really liked the white trim so wanted to use that in the look and I'm really happy with the final styling, which took a while to get to as I tried out a lot of accessories options with this one. Really love these trousers with the piece, but finding the perfect bag was tough, nothing was quite the right colour to match the yellow, this one is an ok choice but I think the perfect option is still out there! And the final look uses both the Jacquemus Purse Necklace and Cheetah Coat - now I did think about going all out with the cheetah, but I toned it down a little although these trousers are a subtle animal print. I love these boots with the look, they're a perfect colour match with the base of the jacket and balance out the black well. And again, wanted to find an animal print bag but nothing was right, I'm actually quite loving this choice mixing the black and beige together =)

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

Wow it's been a minute! Work has had me swamped the past few months, but finally getting a little time to put together this post.

The start of March brought us a brand new Antidote release and I think it's been a while since our last one. This one again isn't so much my style, there are lots of bright colours and flamboyant designs and we all know I'm a more muted gal - but still amongst it all I still picked out a couple of pieces to try out and I'm looking forward to seeing how I can fit them into my style later in this post. But first, you guys sure loved this release and there were so many great stylings to include:

First up is Bianca.Vos who wears the Black Skirt, Black Shades and Chains Bag in this stunning and sleek combination. The skirt is such a stylish piece, and it's an amazing fit with the top combination - at first I thought it was one piece and designed to be paired with the skirt, so I was surprised to see it's two separate pieces that work great with the skirt. The other accessories are classic fitting pieces, the mix of black and silver is just right and the bag and earring combination pops nicely =)

Next up we have Mery.- wearing the Green Transparent Shiny Dress - I was quite curious to see who would choose this piece and what they would do with it, and I was just blown away by this outfit, it really makes the piece seem easily wearable! The green trousers layered underneath are a great colour for the dress and the glitter really pops out against the colour. I love the black and the chunky jewellery additions to the outfit too, especially this necklace, I think it's so perfect here!

Our third feature is from AngelinaVer who styles both the Golden Chest Top and Black Shades in this very street-style outfit for such a bold bodypiece^ I couldn't really see a way to wear these shield-like tops, but this layering is perfect and I think there is a nice balance between the top and the soft loose fabrics of the coat and trousers, a very nice combination overall. The gold shines but also fits in well with the brown of the coat. The accessories are simple yet effective for the look =D

And next is Brevis who has worn the other shield-like top, the Silver Chest Top in a fabulous casual outfit - the piece works surprisingly well with jeans and a (tiny) tee =) The white and denim both look great with the silver, I think the balance of tones across the outfit is just right. I love the accessories, these sunglasses and the earrings are fabulous and I think are perfect fits for the rest of the look^

And the final feature is from millaxx who styles the Puffer Pants in such a cute way. Again this was a piece that I couldn't really imagine being styled but this outfit is amazing for them, it's so fun! The resizing to make them cropped in length works very nicely for them and also balances well with the cropped jacket. I adore all the purple accessories added as well, all perfect final touches to the styling =D 

And now for my own stylings! I bought a surprisingly large number of pieces from the collection. First up is the OffShoulders Coat which has such a classic beautiful styling. It's simple in colour but sleek in design so I think will work in many different outfit styles. I went for glamour for my first outfit with it, I really like the colour combination with the silver so added that throughout the pieces. I also tried this out with some purple and the coat also looked great so I'm looking forward to using that combination next^ Second is the Oversized Brown Coat which reminds me of a few other brown overcoats that have been released over the years and that I have worn several times before, so I was confident this piece would work for me. I love this colour on my doll, I think it works well and I stuck with a very simple colour palate for the rest of the look with beige clothing. I really enjoyed accessorising this look, these earrings and the bag are fantastic with this coat and I'll wear them again with it for sure. And the third piece here is the Crystal Skirt, which I bought on a bit of a whim! It was a little trickier to style that I imagined, but it was still fun to work with and I think I'll definitely wear it again. I made use of the silver in the piece to add in the top and earrings - just lacking the perfect bag for it. I've not seen anyone else use this piece, but I'd love to see some other ideas with it for inspiration =)

Then we have the accessories: first up are the Cinderella Crystal Heels which are such a cute piece, and I thought quite festive actually, so perhaps these will be well-suited for the festive party season later in the year. I stayed very classic in my red choices to add to the shoes, this top just goes well with everything! The shoes do have a bit of black in them so I liked this bag for the look, and added more black for something more classic. Simple but sweet^ Next is the Yellow Bag which feels like it was added to this release just for me - you know I can't resist a citrus-coloured bag! This definitely feels like a Summer accessory which is why the outfit is definitely ready for the Summer season, the bag is pretty versatile and will work with a lot of pieces, the little touches of yellow in this top and in the rest of the accessories are just right to highlight the bag against the white trousers. And lastly is the Chains Bag which I think just looks like a great piece! Black and silver is certainly versatile so there were so many options when styling it, I just really liked it with this silver leopard print top and I think the matching shoes are a fun pairing and also work well with the bag. For sure this outfit is nothing special, but I think this bag has a lot to offer as a versatile accessory and I'm sure it will get plenty of wear.

The Surrealism in Fashion

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Coming up Schiaparelli!

Paris in the 1930s was the epicenter of avant-garde art. It is not surprising that Elsa Schiaparelli and the Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali met each other. Their collaboration was the first example of artists and designers collaborations, without which it is difficult to imagine the fashion industry today.

Elsa believed that art and fashion have one goal - to enrich and deepen the understanding of the world that surrounds us.

However, the most mesmerizing works are a hat in the shape of the shoe, a skeleton dress, a dress with a lobster, newspaper print and most importantly the surreal accessories, which she did together with Salvador Dali. These are the creations, by which designers are still inspired to this day. 

I've met with this brand not so long ago, but there is no doubt that I have a special place in my heart for it already. In addition, I strongly recommend you to check out their recent haute couture fall winter 2022 collection! 

 The items used in this look:

Lock Earrings - Inspired by: Schiaparelli Tribute
The Choker - StarDesign Hair (by Brevis)
Oversized Silk Puff - Voile
Black Belt - Bonjour Bizou

Gold Ornamental Glasses - Voile
Loose Gray Pants - Royalty
Gold Bag - Limited Edition
Embellished Lace Slingback Pumps - MSW


-Brevis ♡

Post Soviet Aesthetics on the Fashion Week

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Next up in the "Brand Fever" is Balenciaga.

Balenciaga Fashion House began its history back in 1917, with Cristobal Balenciaga being often called an ascetic and a rebel of high fashion. While Christian Dior drove women into wearing corsets, Cristobal created silhouettes with square shoulders, with an unnaturally high (or low) waistline.

As a result, absolutely remarkable shapes were born, which will forever remain in the women's wardrobe.

 “I don’t like to set any limits. If you set a limit you won’t be able to transcend it.” 

– Cristóbal Balenciaga

Now, Balenciaga is among the most famous and hotly discussed fashion brands in the world. Such epithets as "outrageous", "rebellious" and even sometimes "tasteless" and "scary" have become firmly entrenched behind it. 

In my opinion, under Demna's supervision, Balenciaga got its "second breath". Demna's vision had infiltrated fashion, streetwear and everything in between. As he said in one of the interviews, he draws his inspiration mainly from his grandmother. In his creations you can see a lot of prints and fabrics that were popular on the territory of the former Soviet Union. Demna literally gave a new life to these fabrics and prints.

This look is not an exception, here I combined elements such as silver boots, which are an accent piece of clothing by their own, with streetwear elements, as a result of which a harmonious look in the Balenciaga style was created.

The items used in this look:

Faux Leather Cap - Original Future

West Coast Shades - Original Future

Black Oversized Jacket - Fallen Angel

Frankieiz12 Longsleeve With XL Arms - Stardoll feat.

Cropped Sweatshirt - Vinyl.

Balenciaga Inspired Jeans - Inspired by: Balenciaga Tribute

Silver Crossbag - Evil Panda

Mirrored Tight High Boots - Limited Edition

-Brevis

♡

Gucci Casual

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Gucci: what is it?

"Gucci is an Italian fashion label founded in 1921 by Guccio Gucci, making it one of the oldest Italian fashion brands in operation today. Like many historic fashion houses, the brand started out as a luggage manufacturer, producing luxury travel goods for Italy's wealthy upper-classes, as well as equestrian equipment."

-HIGHSNOBIETY

Despite the fact that Gucci initially, and even to this day, position themselves as luxurious and not accessible to everyone brand, it is safe to say that Gucci clothes and accessories have penetrated into the wardrobe of almost everyone, whether it is a genuine clothing item or a replica.

In this outfit, I wanted to show that Gucci can be used not only to create runway looks, but it can be also used in everyday life. Comfortable and stylish pieces will never let you down and jewelry alongside with accessories will become the finishing touches of the sophisticated look.

The items used in this outfit:

Gucci Inspired Square Sunglasses - Callie's Picks

Round Gold White Earrings - Vinyl

Dollar Necklace - Antidote

Gucci Inspired Jacquard Cardigan - Mr.

Tucked Tee White - Subcouture

Clean Cut Shirt - Archive

LV Inspired Suit Trousers Black - Inspired by: Louis Vuitton Tribute

Gucci Inspired Frog Green Crossbody - Callie's Picks

Palermo Style Faux Fur black - It Girls

Knit Socks Female - Vinyl

Red Flat Shoes - Vinyl

-Brevis 

♡

"I love you, but I've chosen Versace"

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As I have mentioned earlier, we are going to dive into the "Brand Fever", so let us start with Versace.

 

"The Versace name was born as an audacious and unapologetic brand, fusing street style with high fashion to create bombastic, avant-garde designs. Versace is well known for mixing mediums such as metal, mesh and leather, often painted in bright, almost jarring colors."

-The Culture Trip

In my opinion, Versace had certain eras which define their creative activity and I would say that this outfit is a tribute to the so called "golden" era of Versace in the 90s, when they were making their clothing lines consisting of leather, extraordinary prints, massive gold jewelry and accessories. The 90s were not only the definite rise of the Versace, but it was the greatest time of the model industry, you can dive in this era of fashion by watching the video below: 

The items used in this outfit:

Gianni Medusa Cap - Callie's Picks

Golden Round Earrings - Bonjour Bizou

Chain Coin Necklace - Vinyl

Gold Two Chain - Nelly.com

Leather Tassel Jacket - Limited Edition

Givenchy Turtleneck Black - Museum Mile

Medusa Leather Belt - Callie's Picks

Black Leather Miniskirt - Callie's Picks

Medusa Chain Handbag - Callie's Picks

Versace Tall Boots - Callie's Picks

 and a little bit of love ♡

-Brevis

Hello from Brevis

You may know me by my nickname Brevis and I will be one of the guest writer of this blog. 

I've been on Stardoll since 2011. One of my great passions, which led me to this platform, was the creation of outfits, to the creation of which I have not lost my zeal to this day. 

The things that inspire me most often are some extraordinary clothing items, strong concepts, such as the brand named Schiaparelli. This brand never ceases to amaze me with each of its new releases. Among my favorite brands are Versace, Dior and Hermes. Each and every one of them have a significant feature which makes them special and memorable in their own way. 

Therefore, I want to devote my stay here to the "Brand Fever". 

Don't miss it!

xoxo

B I Z O U | Styled By Me / / Styled By You

Following on from PEARLS, the Spring Bizou release was another good one! There are a range of styles and coloured pieces on offer but there are a few firm favourites with everyone. Starting with two features, both styling the most popular piece of the release, the Yellow Pastel Jacket. First up is Prada opting for a more Winter-Spring transitional look with the use of boots. I adore this dress pairing with the blazer, the two styles are perfect together and the colours really pop, I would never have thought of it myself, I love it^ The red/brown tones in the bag and boots also really makes the look pop, those darker tones really catch the eye. Such a great styling =D Next is Brevis, showing a formal side to this piece - this pair of looks do highlight the versatility this piece can have, see, yellow can be versatile too! The black of the trousers is about the most contrasting you can get to the yellow, but I think it works really well, the style and fit of the trousers really emphasises the smartness of the blazer. And I love the black clutch bag too, I think it's a perfect fit for the two clothing items. We all know I'm a huge fan of gold, so the gold shoes and necklaces really catch my attention, perfect for this styling! The neckline of the blazer isn't too large, and I think this necklace piece really fills the space nicely, love it^

And for my own stylings - first are the Relaxed Pants, I was a little hesitant about these at first but I love the colour and ultimately decided to give them a go. I've gone for a very casual style pairing them with trainers, but I think it works quite nicely with the all-white shoes. They really gave me the option for white on the top half and I really struggled choosing a top, I think I went through about 30 before getting to this one, but it was worth the wait! It's a bit of a different vibe for me, but I quite like it. Accessories of course include my favourite blue glasses, they're really perfect with the trousers, and I'm also glad I could use this little quilted clutch, the colour is just right for this styling^ Next up is, of course, the Yellow Pastel Jacket, I'm not going to turn down another yellow jacket for my collection! I actually felt quite overwhelmed styling this, because there were so many things I wanted to try with it and didn't know where to start so I ended up going super simple - I think a dedicated post to this piece will come soon. The white feels like a classic with the lemon yellow, it will work every time. I do love this open-necked shirt in the styling, even though you can't see much of it I really like the neckline. The jeans give a casual look, but they end with these fabulous boots - these with the blazer is a winning combination! And the final piece I bought is the Woven Bag, which really could have gone with either of the other pieces I got from the release, but also looks good alone. I thought this was white initially, but I really see all sorts of pastel tones coming out in it with this styling. For some reason I had decided on pink to pair with this piece, not sure why but I think it fits with the blue and yellow of the other outfits. These smart wide leg trousers look great with the bag and I love this shirt in the look too, it's smart in style but super fun with the sheer fabric. I kept the rest of the accessories simple and I think the bag does a good job standing out in the look =D

L I M I T E D E D I T I O N | Styled By / / Styled By You

Ok so it's been a month since this brand new LE collection was released in the Plaza on the 18th February, and I've been trying to write a review all this time - I just can't do it! I'm not enthusiastic enough about the collection as a whole to get aa review out of it, so instead changing to a 'styled' post so I can still show off the fabulous stylings that I found amongst the members and showcase my own looks.

First up is sarah_1980 styling the Whiteblouse Man and Gold Bag in such a stylish Spring look, it's perfect for the season! These trousers are a perfect colour match for the shirt, and the styles are wonderful together, it's like they were made for each other. The belt bag is great in the middle, adding a little shape in a complementary way. The rest of the accessories are also stylish, love the glam added in these nude shoes and I think the earrings are such a fun touch^ The gold bag is a stand out finishing touch =)

Next up is harpie who also wears the Whiteblouse Man, but this time adds the Gold Earrings - this shirt is so versatile, I have some regrets about not getting it now! Love it layered over these neutral loose trousers, the two loose styles work very nicely together and I don't think it's too much because of the shape added at the waist with the belts, they look fab! I like the contrast of the black accessories with the light colours, it's something I think works well for so many different styles of outfits. The earrings add a delicate touch, as does the sheer undershirt added in the neckline, really love that touch to the outfit!

Pretty in pink with brevis styling up the Gold Earrings and Gold Bag - what a cute accessory pairing! And I'm all about this pink, it looks fabulous =D The short dark hairstyle is perfect for showing off these earrings, they really shine and I think are great with the feathering details along the trims of the jacket. Also love the thin belt added, perfect touch to tie in with the accessories. The gold bag is also beautiful agains the pink, I think it really pops well and I need to try out this combination for sure^ 

The penultimate feature is from HeraKowall who wears the Red Trousers and Lady Bag, really a classic pairing from this release the two were totally made for each other. The dark detailing on the bag makes it easy for some darker pieces to be incorporated into the look, this blouse is a great example! The red and white print pop well in the styling and it's a piece I've not seen styled much, now is its time to shine =) Love the black pointed shoes, the belt and the glasses too. The white of the bag then pops with the use of these blazer pieces, the light colour makes it work well for a Spring styling as well, I love it!

The final feature comes from millaxx, who styled up two looks and I just couldn't pick only one to include! First is the Silver Vest Man which I did think about buying briefly, but I know I could never pull it off as well as this! It looks fab in this open-neck trench and really adds some glamour to any type of styling. The black bra layered below is perfect for some coverage and also for adding more black in the styling, these leather-look leggings are great there^ Also love the accessories, this bag and the earrings are a great touch against the vest! Then the second look is with the Black Pearls Bag in a more street-style vibe, which I also love^ The pearls pop well against the darker colours in the look, especially this green, what a poppin' combination! The accessories are super fitting with the style of the bag, love the layered necklaces, earrings and belt with it. A flat boot like this pair never really crosses my mind to style but I think these look great in this styling, love them with the whole combination =D

Now for my own looks. These use all of the pieces I bought and I'm pretty happy with my choices from the collection. First up are the Red Trousers, which I did struggle with a little but I'm pretty pleased with this pink combination! The shirt style works really well with that of the trousers and of course I couldn't resist choosing my favourite pale pink accessories to match. I do love these red glasses with the trousers, the colour is almost a perfect match so I know I will be using the pairing again for sure! The second look uses both the Gold Earrings and Lady Bag - the earrings are versatile so I'm quite sure they could have worked in any of these stylings. I focused the look more on the bag using whites, blacks and reds and I love the outcome^ This was super easy to put together so I know this bag will work well in my collection. The little gold hardware details on the bag work well for adding the earrings to this styling. Finally is the Black Pearls Bag, which I think might be my favourite piece from the collection, it's a tough decision! I decided to go super classic with black and white for this one, I simply love it =D The texture of the bag does well to stand out against the black of these trousers, and I think the shirt adds a light but fun touch on the top half of the look. Loved accessorising this one so much, these black and pearl shoes are fabulous with the bag and of course I have a few pairs of pearl earrings to choose from which really pop against this hairstyle, I love it^ 

E P I P H A N Y | Styled By You / / Styled By Me

For me the EPIPHANY jewellery store releases can be hit or miss, the past few I haven't picked up any pieces really, but our latest Spring-time release really caught my eye! What I love about these jewellery releases now is that you can choose to buy either a Suite or Beauty Parlor version of the pieces, you can pick what works best for you and I think that's great, it makes these items so much more accessible - I'm super glad because I definitely prefer Suite pieces. First up a feature from Brevis who styles the Statement Earrings, these sure do live up to their name! They're a huge pair of gold earrings, the size really helps to promote the standing out of the design, it's super clear which I love as sometimes this can get lost with detailed pieces. The outfit is all about the earrings, all of the pieces look great with them. The black and white clothing gives a solid base for the gold, but still looks super stylish, love the off-shoulder shirt and the leather piece added on top. Gold details are all over the accessories, I love this chunky belt buckle and I think the bag is the most adorable addition, such a cute piece that has never really had much focus, but look how fab it looks?! Love the look all round!

I have just picked up one piece in the store so far, but of course I'm now tempted by the above styling. I got the Pearl Flower Earrings, I just thought these looked something quite different and had such a pretty design and look on the doll. The red pops so well against this black hairstyling, I love that - and I even made a beauty look for this outfit too. It's by no means creative, but a red smokey eye with a touch of grey and green made for a cute choice I though^ For the outfit I tried out a few things, I really wanted to make green work well, but nothing was coming together well - my favourite burgundy trousers saved the day, these look fab in so many stylings and are great with these earrings too. Kept the look super simple, the white shirt was a great base to help the colours of the earrings pop =)

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

Our recent(ish) Antidote release was a super popular one! I didn't love it completely, so no review, but there were a couple of pieces that I wanted to try out and of course I needed to feature all of the wonderful stylings I spotted on members around the site^ First up is Mery.- who wears the Trouser Suit Grey which look soo good on their own without their matching jacket counterpart. With the added burgundy pieces in the belt, bag and glasses I think the colour of the trousers really changes with a more pinky/red hue, they really look beautiful. The cinching of the waist is perfect for the wide leg style, this bustier piece looks great with the trousers and belt combined, such a fab idea^ And I love the cropped sweater ontop, it's one of those pieces I would never know what to do with and here it's perfect! The accessories are great finishing touches, love the little glamour in the tying together of the jewelled earrings and the big jewelled buckle of the belt. So much love for this one =)

Next up we have harpie who styles up both the Corset White Dress and the Black Stilleto Shoes - I think this is such a great way to wear the dress, it makes it quite wearable and a little versatile too^ The trousers chosen are really quite a perfect pair especially alongside the bow belt, the colour and style are classic and fit well with the style of the corset component of the dress; and I love that with trousers it makes it look like a top with a very cool train! The accessories are also great, the shoes really stand out too and pair well with the silver earrings and the little black and silver bag chosen, love it^

This look comes from brevis who styles up both the Oversized Blazer Grey and Trouser Suit Grey - I really think the colour looks different of these pieces when paired together than in the first feature! Anyway, still fab pieces and they make for a whole outfit of clothing on their own as they do have a fair amount of detail in the draping and fit on the doll especially of the jacket. That leaves the perfect opportunity for jewellery^ I love all the pieces chosen here, the gold chain really pops and I love the draping piece too. The earrings are also a good match, and work well with the slicked back hairstyle =)

Now something a little bright, AURA styles up the Black Stilleto Shoes which stand out well in this very cool styling even with the fab mix of colours going on. The red leopard tights really draw you to the bottom-half of the look and directly the the shoes, I love the print and stud combination there, it really works! This coat is such a fun piece and I love seeing it styled, it's great here^ I was also really drawn in by the bag, love the quilted style and the long chain, really great with the overall styling =D

The final feature is from proenza who wears both the PVC Jumpsuit and the White Stilleto Shoes in a very sleek monochrome look, I really like it^ This shows how easy it is to layer the jumpsuit, it works well as a pair of trousers here, the sheen is fabulous! This is well balanced with the matte of the sweater, it's been a long time since I've seen it styled, it's perfect here, so fitting. The shoes are a good choice, a perfect balance in the colours of the outfit, and I love the rest of the accessories - the bag is another piece I've not seen styled in a long time, it's so perfect!

And now onto my own stylings, I have only bought too things, I'm a little sad I wasn't fast enough to get the Silk Trousers as those look beautiful, and I'm sad that I've not seen anyone style them yet! Anyway, first up is the Pattern Dress which I didn't buy immediately but took some time to think about - I don't think I've done it justice with this styling at all, but it's an ok start as for this first look I really wanted to show off all the colours and design aspects the dress has to offer. The black base makes it easy for a winter styling, I really love the layering of it with this furry jacket, they're so fun together, and the dress length also works well with over-the-knee boots. I didn't go creative at all with this one, but I do really like this little lilac Prada bag with the look paired with the pink and purple tones in the dress. I'm for sure going to style this one again and try out what works well for it, I think it has a lot of potential! And now the Orange High Top Boots which were the first piece I picked up immediately in the release - I really love the colour of them, I think it's quite fabulous, but was a little concerned about the very high height on the leg. For the height I loved these white shorts with them, the two meet very well. Once I had these picked out I knew I wanted to go for an all-white clothing look and it works so well to make the boots pop, I love it and I love combining these shorts with this blazer, I will repeat this for sure! The accessorising is simple, I tried on so many bags that worked ok for the look but once I tried this cute cat one, I knew I was finished! The bag and boots are matching in colour almost exactly, I couldn't believe my luck with it - I knew I was keeping this bag around for a reason, haha =D

I N S P I R E D B Y B A L M A I N | Tribute Review

Next in our Tribute season, back to a classic with Balmain! This brand has been pretty solid in the Plaza previously with some great pieces coming from the releases, can this be replicated with this seasons release? Lets get on in and check it out:

For me I think this is quite a stand out collection from the other Balmain releases we've had, I love the vibes to it completely and whilst all the styles aren't necessarily fitting to me, I really like the collection as a whole. Starting with accessories and apart from that there are no jewellery pieces, the store is full of shoes and bags to choose from. There are 4 pairs of shoes on offer, all boots and in a range of styles. For me this is a 50% success rate, I adore the Balmain Inspired Pearl Boots and Boots Black, they have such a cool style with the angled heel, it really makes them stand out in a crowd. I love a good pointed-toe boots and these pairs both have unique features that will make me want to reach for them in my wardrobe - the Pearl ones in particular I think will be perfect for me and my style preferences! Onto the bags of which there are 5 on offer, which is quite a lot for a collection this size - no complaints from me though, I've bought 4 of them and I'm still considering buying the final one, haha^ All the bags are unique from each other and bring a completely different style to the store, I really think there is something for everyone with these. The one I haven't bought yet is the Balmain Inspired Handbag Pearls and the only think I'm not so sure about is the larger size, I generally prefer a smaller bag but I love the shape and style of this piece, the loose boho style is very cool and I would love to give that a try. The other bags are much smaller pieces but are in a range of styles and colours, the first one I knew I had to have was the Balmain Inspired Blue Bag, I love the baby blue colour and the boxy style to it, the small size and thin strap are perfect too^ I can really see myself being able to style this a lot. The Balmain Inspired Pink Bag is super cute, I love how it's presented in the store, that definitely sold it to me a lot. The colour is super pretty, I think it will make for a great Spring bag and this shade of pink will be perfect with florals. I like the over-the-shoulder strap to it, and it also has a lot of detail, I love the gold and the fringing. Similarly with a lot of detail is the Balmain Inspired Handbag Black, this piece has so many good things going on about it! The gold detailing and the design around the top opening of the bag is fab and I adore the pearls, those are adorable and I'm always on the hunt for pearl-adorned pieces, I really can't wait to style this one. And finally the Balmain Inspired Red Bag which is a really nice clutch piece, it may be more simple in design elements than the other pieces but the simplicity is striking and I adore the handing straps. The red colour really makes it pop.

Onto the clothing, the floors seem to have a bit of a split, with more jazzed up glam pieces on the first floor and the more casual pieces on the second which I quite like. Most of the pieces aren't really my style and I probably wouldn't wear them, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate or like them! The Balmain Inspired Embroidered Dress in pink and green and the red and gold Balmain Inspired Pearl Knit Dress definitely fall into that category, the designs are fabulous and I think they look great on the doll and with the accessories in the store, but I just can't see myself wearing them. Similarly the Balmain Inspired Pearls Jacket is one of the most beautiful pieces we've had in the Plaza recently, it's stunning, there's no other words to describe it! The muted blue and green colours, the golden and pearl details, and the fit on the doll - all fantastic. It's not cheap (37SD's) so it's quite a commitment. There are a couple of pieces I'm quite tempted to buy but haven't yet - those are the Balmain Inspired Sweater Man and the Balmain Inspired Leather Pant. The Sweater is in a lovely muted green colour with the fit on the female doll working nicely as an oversized sweater. The Pants I was actually quite convinced by the real-life version, I think they look really nice and the more I try them in the Plaza the more I think I might get them - they have a lovely high waist and slim leg design and I quite like the worn details on them. I've not seen anyone style either of these pieces yet, so would love to see someone giving them a go! But I did pick up one piece of clothing, the Balmain Inspired Skirt which is just the cutest thing - it doesn't seem to fit with the vibes of the rest of the store, it's quite bright and Spring-like, but that just makes the set stand out even more. It looks great on the doll and I love the colour and wrap-style - I'm so excited to style this piece, I think it will be a winner for Spring =D

T S L T O P T H R E E

Balmain Inspired Handbag Black | Balmain Inspired Skirt | Balmain Inspired Pearl Boots

It was tough to choose just three pieces to feature here, I could have picked a top six at least! Whilst bag stylings are yet to come from me, the skirt and the booties surprised me the most, I loved styling these and have absolutely no regrets about purchasing!

F E A T U R E S

First up for the features is Brevis who absolutely rocks the Balmain Inspired Pearls Jacket, I could never imagine that it would look this good, so creative and so great! If I could pull off a look like this, I'd be right to the Plaza to pick up this piece. The skirt layering is perfection, the gold base piece works well with the cream and golden components of the jacket while the blue fringed skirt on top highlights that colour in the jacket, it's just so great! The shoes add a nice amount of glitz with the detail on the strap and I love all of the jewellery used, the necklaces fill the neckline beautifully and the earrings are a great finishing touch =)

Next up is harpie styling up the matching Balmain Inspired Corset and Skirt and doing a good job in making me want to pick up the corset as well^ This look is ready for Spring, the set looks fabulous with this ruffled white blouse layered, so pretty and really extra perfect for Spring. Of course I also adore the accessories, these are totally my favourite white shoes and they're just right or the look. The jewellery is also beautiful, super simple yet so effective at the neckline of the corset and blouse. The bag though is my favourite addition, it's such an underrated piece that deserved more spotlight and it gets it here - so much love for it in this styling^ 

A brighter look next from HeraKowall who wears the Balmain Inspired Pearl Knit Dress in such a cool and wearable way, it almost makes me want to wear it myself. The layering added to the dress is great, I love the extra length added to the skirt, it looks so seamless. I also love the layered piece beneath that adds those awesome shoulder details, they look so fun and again super seamless. The red accessories are fabulous, they really pop and stand out well with the dress, really perfect choices there!

And the final feature comes from mrv93 who styles up the Balmain Inspired Leather Coat and Balmain Inspired Boots Black together - they look great! I'm especially loving these trousers in the look, the leather is great against the other pieces and the split hem is perfect to highlight the boot design, I need to find out where these are from for sure. The brown trim of the jacket stands out in a good way, it's something different and I think it catches the eye to make you come check out the look. I really also loved the cross-body bag the style of it slung looks great and I think it pairs really well with the jacket =)

S T Y L I N G S

Because I bought such a number of pieces I will do a separate posts styling the other three bags from the release that aren't included here. First up the Balmain Inspired Pearl Boots, I really loved styling these and was able to put this outfit together very quickly. I love the raw hem of these black jeans with the boots, the pairing works well for both pieces. The rest of the look is super simple but accessorised with added pearls in the earring and the bag - I wish the pearls on the bag were a little smaller, but I think it's a cute piece with the boots for sure! Next up are the Balmain Inspired Skirt and Balmain Inspired Blue Bag which I couldn't resist styling together. This skirt really has put me in the mini skirt mood, I'm ready for the Spring/Summer season so I can make good use of them! Anyway I kept this styling simple, but the skirt looks good with so many pieces. I opted for a transitional look between Winter and Spring with this furry coat, it looks pretty great with the pale blue and also the style of the bag, I think the two are very nice together. And lastly are the Balmain Inspired Boots Black which are so versatile that I struggled to decide on an outfit to share because everything was looking good with them - I'm so pleased with this styling though and followed through with the mini skirt inspiration. I really liked the matte vibe to this blazer against the shiny leather of the boots but the feather trim adds such a fun touch the outfit. I decided to add a little skirt beneath, this silver mini is fitting to the overall vibe between the blazer and the boots, and accessories were easy to choose after picking the clothing, I really love this =D