Monday, 25 December 2017

MERRY CHRISTMAS


From me to you: Wishing you all a very safe and relaxing Christmas / holiday period & a very happy New Years. May 2018 bring you love, and joy. I will be back to posting as of the 2nd of January. 

Sunday, 24 December 2017

Statement Pieces: Long Dresses



Christmas gift-o-metre - Subcouture - Versace Tribute


It's rare that you will ever see my doll sporting a long, formal gown. However, I love them, and I love to have little 'dress-up' sessions where I style my doll for some high-fashion formal event! I did style a lot more gowns to show you, but for some reason they clashed with the layout of my other images used, so we will make-do with the three that actually worked. 
The first dress is simple, yet elegant. A stunning velvet material used with small silver detailing up the leg split. I love the boxy shoulders, which gives the dress a beautiful silhouette. I can see Angelina Jolie wearing this gown, it reminds me so much of that leg split dress she wore. I styled the gown with simple accessories, clear heels, so not as to distract from the amazing garment. A simple burgundy clutch finished off the look, being a boxy shape also, it drew similarities to the boxy shoulders. 
From Subcouture, a gorgeous silk dress. This piece is a bit more indie-hippie inspired, that's how I interpret it. As the print is so nice, I did not want to overwhelm the look by adding additional statement pieces. Instead, I added some navy earrings which complement the colour of the gown. To finish the style I put on some tan rope heels, which neither distract from the gown, but they still add personality to the look. 
Finally, from Versace, a simple black gown. A demanding neckline, shaped to accentuate womanly features, does not call for extravagant accessories. Much like the other looks, less is more in this case. Some basic earrings, and strapped stilettos. The eye is immediately drawn to the cut-out of the gown, which  could be seen as the main feature. So, whilst it's a rarity that I get my doll dressed up super fancy, I still love to appreciate the pieces on offer for those who do get dressed for the Gods. 

LE Release


Awaking to an unexpected announcement of LE left me excited, normally I find a decent piece which I love - this release provided exactly that. Being a winter theme, shades of red, khaki, navy, white, and black were present. I loved the colour theme, both in-keeping with the more subtle colours of winter, yet still maintaining consistency with every other piece. 
Eight hours after its release, only two pieces were sold out - something which I did not anticipate. In my opinion, I think the appeal of LE is slowly dwindling down. Part of this, I think, is due to the increasing prices of the items on offer; this collection saw items priced at nearly 200sd. With tribute season becoming such a predominant part of our Stardoll community - the appeal of LE is suffering slightly. One factor that I do not think was considered, is that hello, it's tribute season...why spend 200sd on an LE dress, when Saint Laurent and Versace has just been released. Hm. Maybe it's just me who feels this way, but maybe LE prices need a bit of a makeover. 
ANYWHO, BACK TO THE COLLECTION REVIEW. The collection as a whole was very pleasing to the eye, and did offer a wide variety of items. Of course, jackets were the first to sell-out, something I am noticing is becoming increasingly popular. Three floors were released, providing fourteen items to peruse. My top picks on offer; a stunning white set (look 1), cut out denim shorts (look 2), metallic khaki boots (floor 2), and the Celine inspired dress (look 4). As you can see, I have styled a select few of the items keeping true to my own style. The first look, I thought that both the blazer and culottes were too perfect to have separate. Keeping them together, I styled with basic black accessories, giving off a chic boss lady look. Look two, slightly more 'in-trend' inspired - think Tammy Hembrow, she is exactly who I think of when I see this look. Third, styling the navy blue cropped jumper, I thought the christmas gift-o-metre grey jeans would look great alongside the navy. The white detailing on the jumper encouraged me to use white accessories to bring together the whole look. Finally, an unconventional look, the Celine dress. I didn't think that I would find myself attracted to this dress at all, however, the print is just simply to die for. The piece truly is a statement alone, so some simple strappy heels were all that was needed to complete the look. 
All in all, a good collection, but as stated above, the downfall of LE is upon us I think. Did you like the collection?

Saturday, 23 December 2017

Versace Tribute






The second week of tribute season bestowed upon us...Versace! Now, I have a confession to make, in the real world, I am not a huge fan of Versace - the brand and their designs just don't speak to me - however, it is important to note the large impact that Versace has had throughout the years. The release of Versace comes not long after the runway show in which Donatella honoured her now deceased brother, and iconic supermodels. While I don't find myself drawn to Versace in my personal life; the collection on Stardoll was perfect. I loved every aspect, every detail, every piece. Not only was each item true to the Versace brand, they were also wearable high-fashion pieces. Personally, I was most happy with the embroidered dress (look 2), simple black heels (look 3), and the leather cut-out trousers (look 3). I ended up purchasing the entire collection. I think that everybody will be able to find an item which they can adapt to suit their style. With gold embellishments adorning garments and shoes, buyers certainly feel like they will be receiving near-authentic Versace items! I can't comment on any 'misses' in the collection, because I truly enjoyed every piece on offer! Unlike the Saint Laurent tribute last week, where there were some questionable pieces, I think that this release is of much higher standard - but of course, it does change depending on ones personal preferences. I am so excited to see what is coming up next week!

Sunday, 17 December 2017

How To Style: Moto Jackets


Lately, I have been loving moto jackets, and Stardoll has a solid selection available in a variety of stores! Above, I have styled jackets from Vinyl, The Jet Set, Subcouture, and ItGirls. The two jackets on the end (look 1 & look 4), are bulkier than my preferred silhouette, but after many attempts I ended up with styles that I actually like. 
The first moto, from Vinyl, perfectly combines masculine elements to create a 'unisex' looking piece - something which I'm sure will be appealing to many users. The masuclinity is found in the buckle and zipper detailing. So, to counteract the masculinity, I styled this item with a gingham dress and black heels, both of which still keeps with the overall edgy look. 
Next, a stunning suede-effect jacket from The Jet Set. I went through a phase recently where I would style this jacket in every way possible, especially with the boots pictured. Being such a lovely pink colour, I find that this moto best suits lighter colours: blues, yellows, greys, and whites. Also, the cropped silhouette allows the jacket to work really well with midi-length skirts and dresses - as pictured. 
Now, for arguably my favourite clothing item currently; the yellow Subcouture moto jacket. Everything about this is perfect, the colour, the way it sits on the dolls, the silver detailing present. I have found, in the limited time that I have owned this piece, that it looks great with denim. Denim is such a versatile thing, as we know, so I styled the item with a denim patched midi-skirt. A simple slogan tee was my next thing to add, and the pop of red colour inspired the addition of the Gucci fanny-pack. I have seen so many users rocking this moto, and for good reason, it's surely one of those pieces which will become highly sought after. 
Finally from ItGirls, a fur-lined pink moto. Similarly to the first jacket, this too is bulky rather than having a more feminine fit. I went for a simple and casual style this time, pairing it with jeans and trainers. To add just a little bit of bling, I added the Saint Laurent pearl earrings and some sunglasses. I'm not overly fussed by this jacket, but I do love the fur details and the slight ruching up the arms. 
So, are moto jackets worth the hype? I think yes! Versatile & often easy to style, I recommend you find one to suit your style and rock it!

Saturday, 16 December 2017

Christmas Gift-O-Metre




Christmas time has blessed us with the gift-o-metre, yet again. This is the first year where I have ever been able to take part, as I became Superstar again in about March of this year. I swear years ago, there used to be a metre for starcoin spending too, or are those days long dead? 
The 'gifts' on offer range from both ends of the spectrum: 'what is this?' to 'yas queen'. Under the title of 'what is this?' I think is #1 & #6. Sure, a reindeer onesie if you're feeling extra festive, but for me, when I spend money, I want the first reward to entice me, not make me shudder. As for #6, I did receive this jacket, and the pattern is just a bit too much for my liking. The fit is also quite bulky - I'm just not that adventurous. I love offers #2, #4, #5, #7, and #8 - these pieces fit more with my style. In particular, I was so pleased that the grey jeans were #2 item to be gifted, they are my favourite piece on offer!
All in all, the gift-o-metre is cool, but is rather exclusive, it would be nice if it was more inclusive. Even just by including starcoin expenditure to be counted. Have you received anything from this years collection? What is your favourite?

Friday, 15 December 2017

Saint Laurent Tribute!





Apparently it's tribute season again; didn't the last one just finish? The first release was none other than Saint Laurent. My review of the collection will be short and snappy. I have conflicting views on the items available, they seem more haute couture than my preferred ready-to-wear runway style. Maybe I'm too oldschool for Stardoll nowadays. Some of the items are quite nice, even though they are styled in quite eccentric fashions. I particularly like the blouse (look 2), it's puffed sleeves and glittery detailing give off a bohemian vibe; I like it. I also quite like the corset top (look 1), I think it's quite on-trend, and is great for layering, as I have done with my styling. I cam't say that I'd wear this top without an item underneath, but that just comes down to personal preference! The tassel detail is prevalent on other items in the collection - such as the strappy feather heels (look 2), shorts, and the mens' top. The glittery bodysuit (look 3) is also nice, although sheer, you could wear something underneath to hide the tacky Stardoll bra. The bodysuit wasn't hard to style, although initially hesitant, I found it quite suitable for a variety of bottoms. Now, let me just address what I think are the more 'questionable' items in the collection, again, completely determined by personal liking or disliking. The shaggy boots: I really get Snooki from Jersey Shore images in my head when I see this, I just can't see me successfully pairing these with the stuff in my closet, The white feather dress, purple puff top, and black leather dress, all on floor 2 - what are these. I've seen one doll wearing the purple top, and it didn't look too bad, but I just cannot get on board. The black leather dress, a bit too daring for me, maybe too couture looking, who knows. Controversial to have these opinions I know, because lots of dolls actually loved this release, I, on the other hand, would prefer to have something that we haven't had for the past five years. Stardoll, introduce a new tribute: Balenciaga, Victoria Beckham, Alexander Wang, Givenchy, Coach, Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu - ANYTHING different (although, don't get rid of Gucci or Fendi, they were really good last time, I think Chanel can go however...). What did you think of the release? Any guesses for the next tribute?

Monday, 11 December 2017

Subcouture Release


I'm way too late with my writing for this release; but I swear I have been flat-out lately! Better late than never, right? Anywho, the Subcouture release - some loved it, some were left disappointed. Personally, I preferred the last release, but I did find some lovely pieces in this months release. I'm fairly sure that the yellow moto jacket was the most successful item in the collection, I must say, I am a huge fan. Rarely do I like yellow, but a perfect yellow moto jacket, YES PLEASE! I find the items from the collection either really easy to style and versatile, or complete stand-alone statement pieces. In my above looks, I chose to style the more casual and versatile clothing. I chose the yellow moto jacket, Subcouture detailed jumper, puffed-shoulder sheer top, and white boots. I am so happy with the looks I have created, because I feel that they are reflective of my personal style and show a sense of individuality. I can't even choose a favourite look, that's how happy I am. 
So, while the Subcouture collection as a whole offered items at the casual and formal spectrum, I feel that everyone was able to find something to suit their doll. I have always enjoyed Subcouture releases; they offer a range of 'street style' and 'trendy', as well as occasionally throwing in a fancy dress or two. My only critique, as with nearly every release, is that there is never enough, or any, option for non-superstar members, who are just as valuable as paying members. Even though the collection is out for a limited time, that should not stop items priced in Starcoins from being included #NonPayingMembersMatterToo
I wouldn't say I'm a collector of Subcouture, but I always end up nearly purchasing everything on offer. Early days yet, but I'm itching for the next release! What did you guys think? Yay or nay?