The Tassel of Torment

Every year, without fail, the fashion world explodes with a flurry of tassels, frayed edges, and fringes. No matter that, just days ago, those shredded bucket bags went on the list of things to give to grandma, and those overly shiny cowboy-boots with the white fringe rim were designated "things I should never have bought," suddenly, they're your new bets friends.

No matter the status of your festival tickets - #nochella or #coachella - festival style's most important, and apparently unending trend, is to have pieces of fabric and thread dangling from all corners and crevasses of the body.

For once, though, Stardoll has more than got the memo - so if you're into this trend, for the moment of forever, there's no lack of items to choose from.

About half-way through the second look, I realized my hair was about as far from festival-casual as you can get. Which highlights my own #nochella status just the right amount, I think.

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Trend Review: Floral Stripes

From mixing prints, to adding embroidery, or simply pairing one with the other, florals and stripes have made a matching pair in the eyes of the fashion world. It's been forever since I last wrote a trend review (and I know I say that a lot, but really, the last one was in November.)

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of either trend in real life - neither one looks flattering on me, and put together, they're undoubtedly difficult to pull off. On other people, though, I can't question that this combination can look amazing.

One good thing about this trend is the variety - from pants to glasses, shoes and blouses, there's no limit to the styles you can find with one print, the other, or both. They're also great prints for most places - work at the office, a girl's night out, even the red carpet has gotten in on this one.

Another plus is how easy it is to turn a plain striped item to a floral one - there's iron on patches, self-embroidering, and you can always just add a different item in floral. The issue is, if you do alter any items, it's very difficult to undo once the trend has passed. And printed items are essentially impossible to alter, unless you like all-white, all-bleached everything.

But, the biggest issue with stripes - especially horizontal ones - is only worsened when adding a round-shaped, floral print. That's right, they can make you look wider. That's not to say curvy girls can't wear them - seriously, enough with that rule - but that they need to be worn tactfully, so this isn't a trend you'll find suits everyone, and even if one piece does, another may not. And as someone who likes to stock up when something I love comes into fashion, that's beyond unfortunate.

I will say that this look pairs up two classics, so in the respect it won't look overly weird if you do own and wear a piece in a few years time. It's unlikely to still be on trend, but the black-and-white pieces with red or pink flowers have a less out-there style, and looks like something that could have been in someone's wardrobe five years ago too.

Rating: 6.75/10

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Trend Review: Poofy Sleeves

It's been an age since I reviewed a trend! Of course, I'm back at it with the polyvore pics too. I just had to!

Poofy sleeves are something I've found myself buying over and over and over again - but only on stardoll.

They're an absolute gem when it comes to layering, at least in the pixellated world. You can make any regular tee look a thousand times more trendy and unique by layering it over a poofy floofy sleeve!

They're also very versatile in terms of events. It's the kind of trend you can take to the runway, the office, out with friends or really anywhere. It's on everything, from blouses to dresses and even sweatshirts. There's such a variety in fabrics that it's also season-spanning, being currently trending in both the northern and southern hemispheres.

The unfortunate biggest issue with this trend is that it's, well, big. Oversized items in any form can only suit a small number of people, and I'm not one of them. Wide sleeves only serve to make arms look even chubbier, and that's just not flattering for people with, well, wide arms, chests, or shoulders. It might be good for covering over a little flab, or scars, but it's just not ideal for too many people.

The other issue is that it's almost impossible to add or remove once the trend is over and done with. This is a style you'll either be stuck with, or without.

This is a trend that, for me at least, will likely forever remain pixellated and little else.

Rating: 7/10

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Trend Review - Showing Shoulder

Cold shoulder, off the shoulder items - shirts, dresses, and even jumpers -  have been making the rounds recently.

Personally, I like it in summer , or transitional seasons, but the concept of doing it to Winter clothing is just as baffling to me as jeans with fake pockets. The very purpose of wearing a jumper is so you stay nice and warm - adding holes isn't helping anyone.

One big market that cold shoulder items cater to really well is the older fashionistas, as well as anyone working in a strict or formal wear industry. Why? Well because it's a subtle way to show skin, and it's also one of the few areas on the body that you're unlikely to get wrinkles or acne. So, compared to low-back or deep-necked items, as a little hint of skin, cold shoulders work great for almost anyone.

There's also plenty of variety in terms of cuts, colours, prints, and types of items.

In terms of longevity, though, this trend is nearly impossible to adjust later on. You could potentially patch over the shoulder, but there's a good chance it will look obvious or ugly. 

Rating: 7.5/10

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Trend Review : Slit/Asymmetric + Pants

It's finally trend review time! I did it a little backwards because I was just way too into this trend to leave styling it for later.

I know I promised back with the trend creation that I'd find a catchier title - sorry, folks, but I'm really out of ideas here.

But anyway, on with the review.


For me IRL, the best thing about this trend - is that it covers your butt. Hear me out! Sometimes you have to wear a pad, because #girlythings. Other times, your ass is just not feeling so fabulous today. Or maybe you have a rip in the butt of your favourite jeans. Or you just want to avoid the possibility of any but crack appearances while in leggings. All is well that ends below the bottom!

It's also a great concept for anyone who wants to wear something more dress-like, but doesn't want to totally commit. Or you're like me and get cold legs, which is where the "with pants" part of the trend is just super practical and versatile.  Seeing that it's winter here, I'm almost always wrapped in at least one jumper, thermals, pants and boots. So a little bit of asymmetrical layering is a good way to make my layers look a little less bulky, and a bit more stylish.


As always, I absolutely love a trend with variation - there's side slits, front slits, asymmetric to the side, middle, front, back, or anywhere in between. There are plenty of variants on colours, patterns and lengths - and that's just the top half! The beauty of this trend is it comes in two parts, so you're more than free to mix and match pieces. It's such a personable trend and better yet, I haven't seen any "wrong" way to wear them, either. (I'm still waiting - there's always someone who has to make it look terrible.)

And, unlike the majority of trends, this one is entirely "fixable" when it's out of fashion! All it takes is a little clever tucking, a belt, or some scissors and sewing skills.  It doesn't take much to change the length or style of a hemline, so if you love everything else about a piece, you're in luck.

Trend Rating : 9/10

Will you be spotted styling this trend?

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Trend Review: Going Gingham

The last couple of years have all been about tartan - edgy, laid back, and effortlessly cool.

But moving into the middle of 2017, Gingham print is on the rise. And, no, it's not (usually) the same as tartan or plaid  - but that explanation is for another post.

Gingham is typically a small print, in red, white, black, or blue. But times are changing , and with that, so too is the print. There's now loads of different size and colour options, thought the classics are still out in force.

It's a print typical of flounces these days, most especially on skirts and dresses. But this print is versatile, so it's not hard to find it in shirts, pants, jackets, or accessories as well.

Gingham is one of those prints that runs the line between flattering, and unflattering. Being smaller, it tends to make a person look bigger comparatively, but because it's a lined print - sometimes cut on the diagonal too - it also works to lengthen the body. So it's a bit counteractive. With this print, the shape of the clothing piece is going to affect the flattery a lot more than the gingham will.

For skin tones, the range of styles and colours means there's guaranteed to be something for everyone.

But like most prints, when the trend is over, you're stuck with it. The good thing about gingham - especially black or red - is that it's an essential anyway. It's one of those items that is totally acceptable to be wearing in the off season, because it doesn't really have one.

Rating: 8/10 

Let's be honest here - I just like this one, and have probably been wearing it since it last came into style!

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Faking Fendi: Stylings + Reviews

I decided to combine my stylings with item reviews, to judge whether or not these are worth buying compared to tribute versions.

I tried to keep in mind the price point as well when rating them.

Minimalism: Classic Fendi Bag

It was only when I started trying to style this that I discovered what an odd shade of grey it actually is. Which, as a sole grey in a coloured or monchrome look, isn't such a bad thing. It does become an issue though is when you go to pair it with blacks and other greys. But I was determined to do it, and I'm fairly impressed with the end result.

There's a lot of layering and, yes, decor potential with this bag, so there's not a lot to loose.

Rating: 8.25/10 - Will undoubtedly wear again!

Mr: Monster Backpack

The cheapest of the lot, and unfortunately for good reason. It was very difficult to figure out how to position it in the doll - which leg, and in front or behind he pants. No position looked all that realistic, due to the odd position and angle of it. I did end up liking the blue and orange, but outside of using those two, not many colours would look decent with this one.

It's a shame, because the concept is super cute and the graphics are pretty decent.

Rating: 6/10 - I'll forget I bought this by next week.

It Girls: Olivia Shoulder Bag

My instant issue, as was addressed in the previous post, is the fact that this just isn't Fendi enough. If I'm shelling out for a piece of brand-inspired goodness, I want to know who it's buy just by looking at it. I should need to go on google or read the label. 

In saying that, it's still super cute, very cheap, absolutely trending and almost too easy to style. You can never have too many black bags!

Rating: 7.5/10 - User-friendly staple piece. 

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Trend Review: Silk Look

The reason I'm calling it "silk look" is because real, genuine silk is expensive. I've been shopping around recently for a dress irl, and almost none of the "silk" dresses are actually silk, or if they are, it's as a blend.

So, most people are wearing silk look, instead of the real deal.

Truthfully, I could divide this review up into many sections, because while silk and silk-blends and silk-look-a-likes are traditionally used as dress fabric, or for bedroom wear, the look and texture is becoming more and more common to see in day jackets, pants, even handbags and shoes.

But - what do I think of it?

Firstly, it's not a trend that's likely to last. So I'd invest in items that you can, in fact, wear around the bedroom because it won't be long before that's the only place you will want to wear them.

But, why do I think it won't last as a trend?

It's extremely delicate, for one thing. It doesn't often last the test of time, loosing its colour and texture. It also stains easily, which is then difficult to remove. Cheaper, fake versions are also extremely flimsy and thin, so are unlikely to last for more than a handful of washes.

It's also not a trend that's very adaptable. It is what it is, and you can't change what a fabric looks like, outside of dyes.

Undeniably, though, it is a trend that's versatile here and now. There's seemingly limitless colours, shapes, and styles of items which this fabric can cover and mold into. This means that it can suit just about everyone, and there's no pressure to buy a certain colour or type over another.

This trend is flexible, but only for the time being.

Rating: 6.75/10

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Trend Review : +Choker

Whoa, it's been a long time since I've written one of these!

This time, I'm reviewing the item+choker trend. I wasn't really sure what to call it but basically, it's any item - dress, shirt, jacket, etc - that comes with its own choker built in.  I tried not to put any bras in my collage.

I realized while writing up this trend that the pros and cons are almost the same thing.

There's no need to run around looking for the right necklace to go with - it's already built in. Which then causes and issue when you love the top/dress/etc but want to wear a necklace with it, which since a number of these have the choker sewn into it, is not going to really work.

Having them as a part of the garment gives a lot more room for variety, and to create shapes with, so there are some really cool effects where the choker is attached to the neckline with a thin piece of fabric or a chain. There's definitely something for everyone.

Another thing is that this is a really easy thing to update when chokers aren't in fashion - you just unpick it if it's sew in, or just don't wear it if its separate. But the issue with that is, the more high-quality you buy, the more likely the choker is part of the fabric and not just sewn in, which makes it harder to get rid of without damaging anything.

Then,there's the issue of sizing - what if the shirt fits, but not the choker, or vice versa? What if you like one but not the other? That's something that would be very difficult to change.

Mostly, I think I'll stick with keeping my chokers separate.

Overall  : 7.75

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Camo Print - Pros and Cons

I haven't had the time for a full review and lookbook lately, so I thought I'd mix it up a little! it's in two lists, 5 pros and 5 cons along with outfits!


Being quite busy these last two weeks, I used items I already owned instead of the plaza this time. I'll do a 35 post to make up for it!

Pros

1. Many different colours and combinations to choose from
2. Mostly neutral, so can often go well with other prints and colours
3. Goes alongside the current trend of military fashion
4. Comes in a variety of print sizes and shapes
5. A common print so easy to find - both in real stores and on stardoll

Cons

1. Reminds me of hunting
2. Looks odd when worn with, or is in, bright colours
3. Not a flatteringly print - can be widening around the body
4. Hard to wear two pieces at once and have them both match
5. Very informal, hard to dress up for special occasions

Outfits:

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Trend Review: Button Front Skirts

Another super versatile trend that's come into play over the last two years - button up skirts! There's just so many different patterns, lengths, fabrics and shapes that are available, it's hard to get bored with this trend.

One advantage to having a straight line of buttons up the front is that it's actually very flattering, helping to create a straight line and make you look taller! A disadvantage though, is the sheer number of buttons you need - and the reality of gaping in between. A gaping hole between buttons on a shirt is never a good look, and on a skirt, it's even worse. So, if you're going to jump into this trend, you better try before you buy.

In terms of future wear, skirt so rarely go out of style, they just change in lengths and fabric. So a plain black or denim version will be near timeless! It's tricky to change button to zips, or ties, so you'd better like those buttons because they're not coming off once this trend has had it's time.

Rating : 8.75/10

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Trend Review: Pajama Style

If you haven't seen this trend already - it's all about wide pants, matching pieces, lots of loose and flowy pants and blouses, and of course crazy prints.

Personally, I think this is the kind of trend that suits a very select number of people - the tall, thin, Taylor-Swift shaped woman. I could not find a single picture featuring anyone who had any curves, or looked shorter than 5'6." Yes, there are a few guys who've attempted this trend, but again, selected few can actually pull this look off.

This is also a super tricky style to do without looking like you quite literally just rolled out of bed. As much as I'd like to look good and fashionable with minimum effort, this is one trend that, rather ironically, needs a lo of work in order to look decent. If "bed head" is ever in fashion, count me in. But today is just not that day.

Lastly, this is not something I would invest in, unless you happen to really like sleeping in silk pants. Yet again, this is a trend that's almost impossible to convert when it goes out of style, as none of these pieces are true staples.

Trend Rating : 4/10

Rather than make a collage, here's a few pictures to show you the kind of look this trend is all about:

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Trend Review : Ugly Sweaters

It's been a while since I last wrote a trend review, but here it is!

Being the festive season, I went with something my American counterparts seem rather fond of -

Ugly (Christmas) Sweaters

When it comes to ugly sweaters in general, I must admit to being a real life fan. They're warm, snuggly, and everyone owns at least one so no-one can judge you for it.

When it comes to Christmas though, I'm less impressed. 

The reason for this is mostly because they can only be worn on one - or, possibly two if you count Christmas Eve - days of the year. And then it will be shoved to the back of you closet and forgotten about again. They are a fairly easy DIY to make - just add tinsel - but if you buy something printed or knitted into a certain Christmas-y theme, they're almost impossible to wear out of season.

The second has more to do with geography than the actual trend. Living in the Southern hemisphere means that I, and everyone else here, would absolutely boil alive in a sweater on Christmas day. Why? Well because it's summer! 

While some people do try wear them - generally just to arrive to the party in then promptly take off - others have altered the trend to suit the needs of those below the equator. I've spotted some hideous Santa Claus skirts online, along with t-shirts, and plenty of skimpy bikinis that are actually lingerie.

Love it or hate it, this trend at least is bound to get people talking.

Rating : 6.5/10

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Trend Review: Ruffle Tops

With tops like these, style is absolutely key - because it's a really short ride from "Vintage quirk" to "Shabby Grandma".

This is another one of those trends that just has so many different variations, it'd be hard not to find one to suit you, no matter the body type. Which in real life, is great! There's plenty of different placements of the ruffles, plenty of different colours, patterns, styles of tops that you can choose from.

The issue with ruffles is that they tend to make the areas where they are placed look much wider than they are, which is never ideal.

This is one trend that, in terms of a DIY wardrobe update, could really depend on what you're looking at. Adding a ruffled hem or sleeve might be easy, but the v-neck look, off-the-shoulders or turtleneck ruffle pieces would be a lot trickier to add on. Which also means that these are items that, when the trend is old, probably won't keep being worn.

Trend Rating : 7.75/10

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Trend Review : Matching Sets

This is one of those trend I can't help but have mixed feeling about.

Personally, I really love the concept of it, and I think it's a trend that almost anyone can pull off, given that they can find the right print and cut to suit.

But there's the issue - finding the right thing. Way too often, these come off like bad pajamas or like something your mother would dress you up in back when you were a toddler. And neither look is desirable. Then, some colours and prints look terrible when too much of them are on one body.

I do like the functionality of it - they're all very easy to stick together, and you could just as easily split up the set to pair with other items and no-one would be any wiser, making this one trend that is easily updated.

Trend Rating : 7.75/10

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Trend Review : The Brallete

There are so many ways to wear lingerie this season - but with this post, I've focused in on the brallette.

In real life, I'm well past the sizes hat Victoria's Secret caters for, which pretty much renders a brallete unwearable for me - I've tried a few on and, as cute as they might be, I have zero support and come out feeling like I've gone through a boxing match with my own chest. Not fun. Some girls I know wear a support bra beneath the brallette bra, but to me, that seems like a waste of time and money. Not to mention you'd get really hot and sweaty under all those extra layers. So, functionality wise, this trend gets a Simon Cowell -worthy No from me.

I do like that there's such and abundance in styles, shapes, colours and patterns so that you an hide or display as much as you may want to. There's sexy, girly, sporty styles and all sorts in the middle.

Personally, I really love the back-detailed or high-neckline strappy designs, they're a sexy, edgy way to dress up lower necked or backless outfits.

Then comes the issue of where you can wear them - outside of summer, or your own bedroom, there aren't a lot of places that allow for showing off quite the amount of cleavage needed to make buying a brallette worthwhile. Some people have taken to wearing the brallette outside of their clothing, which can look cool, but to be defeats the entire purpose of a bra - not to mention, it's a style that's already been banned from my campus, among other places.

This trend is pretty much a loss on me, but I know there are some people out there who can pull it off really well and who can wear it without discomfort, and good for you if you're in this category.

Trend Rating : 5.5/10

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Trend Review: Khaki Green

Personally, I love green so this trend was always going to be a win for me. I've definitely been loving wearing it both online and off.

One major thing about Khaki is that is comes in so many varying shades. There's very green, more grey, and brown, meaning it can suit almost any person - so long as you can find the right one. Which is also it's downfall when shopping for it IRL, seeing as most stores won't carry a multitude of different shades of greens, and if you're shopping online it's really hard to tell what kind of green the item will actually turn out to be when you've bought it. 

A big bonus for this trend is that it really can go with anything. It can be used as a neutral piece or as a pop of colour, because it's just the right shade to be in-between. Which also means, even when it's not so much of a trending colour anymore, it can quite easily just become a basic staple piece in your wardrobe.

Trend Rating : 8.5/10

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Trend Review: Leather Lovers

Leather is all over right now - it's no longer just a luxury item. There's plenty of fake leathers and half leathers and patched leather pieces so there's no reason why you wouldn't have at least one piece in my wardrobe.

I'm in love with the full-skirt leather look, and also moto jackets, which have been all the rage this past year. Most leather items come in blacks and browns but whites, reds and greens are not uncommon to find, all of which are really great staple colours that won't go out of fashion any time soon.

One thing that's very popular right now IRL is the patched jeans and tights look. A side, knee, cuff or stripe of the garment is made with leather and it's a cool update to basic items, and real leather is still expensive so it's a cheaper way to look a little luxury with a little less of the full-denim cost.

Another in piece is the leather wrap or tie choker. Now, I really love chokers, but these scare me because of the choking hazzard that comes with wrapping anything around your neck. They do look super cool though and there's a number of similar-looking options that have a nice clasp instead.

Unfortunately, I have two major issues with leather as a fabric. Firstly it cracks and, in the case of fake or mixed leathers, they can deteriorate very quickly if not cared for properly. So you really have to be careful where you wear it and how you wash it. Secondly, real leather comes from animals, which in itself is not necessarily a bad thing, but I've seen far too many videos of how badly such animals are treated, which is definitely not right at all.

I've also seen the leather leggings worn by people in ways that are just too awful to talk about.

Trend Rating : 7.5/10

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Trend Review: Printed Plaid

This is, I will admit, a personal favourite of mine both on Stardoll and in the real world.

The first great thing about tart is, as with most trends recently, just how many variations of it there are. There's pink to black, red, green, and everything that comes in between. 

For the most part, this trend has totally taken over skirts and shirts. And they've been an essential scarf print for a while. But, there is definitely no shortage in other items - I found a good number of hats, shoes, headscarves, bags,glasses, and phone cases, among a few other bits and pieces.

What I personally love about plaid and tartan type prints is just how much you can pair them with. They're great with almost any colour, and are a great base for print mixing. I even found a pre-mixed skirt with tartan and floral, shown top right!

Another big plus is that most people already have plaid in their closet. Even though it's become very popular lately, a plaid button down or scarf has long been a great basic piece for all wardrobes, because it really is versatile. Which means this is one trend you can feel safe to invest in for the future! However, you will need to sew on patches or pockets if you want to update old items, which is a little less worth it in the long run.

One cool thing I found while browsing Polyvore was the varying models. There were all kinds of girls - and guys - wearing plaid pieces! Often I've been finding that there's a very limited selection of people when I go looking for items to feature, so it was really cool to see and shows that plaid has been brought back by the popular demands of the masses - it really does have something for everyone.

Rating : 8.75/10

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Trend Review: Sheer

Sheer, it turns out, is really hard to make a collage out of!

When it comes to sheer, there's a lot of variations that come to mind. There's lace and there's mesh, plastics and nylon. You can have everything from classic stockings to sheer shoes, bags, skirts, shirts and dresses. I really love the sheer (get it?  sheer?) amount of variation that can come out of this trend. There's no one way to wear it, which means that just about anyone can!

When it comes to updating your current wardrobe, it's a little bit more difficult to add on sheer panels to existing items, unless you were to make an overlay or a peek-a-boo lining. So you'd probably be better off just buying something new.

As with a lot of the trends we've had lately, this is a really great one to layer with. Sheer pieces can go over the top of items you already know and love for a new texture, or under them, if you're feeling brave.

Overall : 8.5/10

Yes, I've decided to start rating my trends! This one gets 8.5 which I think is a great start.

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