inspiration. pre-fall 2013.

i think i needed this.

a dose of inspiration 

courtesy of the plethora of 

beautiful pre-fall 2013 collections.

from top:

Alexander McQueen/Alexander Wang/Balenciaga/Burberry Prorsum/Christian Dior/Valentino/Vera Wang/Zac Posen/Carolina Herrera/Carolina Herrera/Celine/Chanel

images via vogue

the trends i'm sensing:

+ black and white

+ menswear inspired pieces - check out the killer suits and detailing.

+ red.

+ luxe details - brocade, tweed, a hint of sparkle, jeweled necklines.

overall, i think the collections were beautiful and are certainly great jumping points for everyday outfits and inspiration when your falling into a styling rut.

what do you guys think of this years pre-fall choices?

xoxo,

Bella

Givenchy Inspired.

i was at the zara store on 5th ave over the weekend, 

and amongst all the beautiful new items (& lots of sale goodies!)

i spotted a sweater from the new collection 

that bore a striking resemblance to a Givenchy staple.

here's the Zara Sweater with Jacquard Pattern:

via Zara

and the Givenchy Rottweiler Tee

via Barneys

different animals, similar look.

i think if your looking for a sweater to toughen up a look 

or if you love this Givenchy aesthetic than the Zara sweater is a 

great dupe at $79.90 versus $300 for the Givenchy tee.

any thoughts? what's your take on the popular Givenchy tee?

xoxo,
Bella

J. Crew Factory Look Book

actually, some of the new "outfit obsessions" on the J.Crew Factory website 

have gotten me a wee bit excited for warmer weather.

however, i still think some of the layering applied here can work in cold weather.

take a looks at some of their "outfit obsessions":

via here

i love the rich blue hues, printed polka dot pants, the nod to the nautical, and the lovely coral skirt.

and doesn't j.crew always make denim (or chambray) shirts look effortless.

what do you think?

feeling inspired?

xoxo,

Bella

photos of the week

all photos courtesy of Vogue Italia 

& property of their respective owners.

chloe pre summer 2012

ermanno scervino

fall 2012 trend: brown on brown (brioni)

jason wu

olivia palmero in a fab suede jacket 

tommy hilfiger 2012

xoxo,

bella

Snowed In Style!

Lets be real, weather like this pretty much equals home or work and the occasional time spent outside shoveling or doing something fun like sledding.  For those of us fortunate enough to live a climate like the Northeastern part of the US where the snow in the winter is equivalent to that of a mini blizzard know that we have to have a plan of attack ready when it comes to what to wear out. or in for that matter.  As comfy as PJ's are, you know your going to feel so much more productive when your a bit dressed up, even if it is super casual.  And i have just the thing to get those ideas going :)

Winter Wonderland:

Winter Wonderland by vivabellar3 featuring stone jewelry

Snowed in:

Snowed In... by vivabellar3 featuring boat neck tops

I hope these looks provide some inspiration for these chilly days! As for the make-up, stay neutral: The Naked Palette by Urban Decay would be perfect for the eyes, just use one color like Naked all over the lid and use Virgin as a highlight for the brow bone and tear duct area.  Keep the skin natural, and use a cream blush for a tinge of color, Wet n' Wild has a couple of nice colors if your on a budget.  If not Bobbi Brown makes some gorgeous cream blushes that will last you for ages.  On the lips keep it simple with a lip stain, there are about a million drug store variants that will work well for this, CoverGirl makes some really lovely ones.  Polish it off with mascara and your all ready to brave the winter elements! 

Keep warm and cozy :)

Love, 

Bella

ps: your smile really is the best accessory!

So it's been quite some time...

Hey guys and girls! It's been forever and i sincerely apologize if I've been gone for too long.  I just started school again and it was a crazy hectic semester, now that finals are winding down I think its time to start blogging again.  I've pretty much forgotten how amazing it feels to have an outlet like this and I'm excited to start again.  Now lets just get straight back into it, as much as I LOVE make-up I've been finding myself leaning towards fashion more nowadays, as an avid reader of all a couple of fashion blogs, there are people out there who are completely inspiring in so many ways.  As a busy college student I know how hard it is to just forget about fashion and make-up, and in a sense your own sense of style during times as hectic as finals.  But now that they're almost over I think its time to jump right back into it.  There are tons of easy ways to update our looks from the almost uniform stressed college student outfit.  One of my favorite things to wear during the week has been just throwing on some leggings with Uggs and my Northface but as most of you know this look receives almost zero style points, and as much as I love it I know its not the best look for me.  Plus it does nothing to accentuate the curves and flaunt what I have.  So I was browsing around looking for inspiration for an easy outfit, thats as easy to throw on as jeans and a hoodie.  I came across a picture of Hilary Duff at a book signing for her new novel, Elixir, and she looked fab! Plus the outfit was perfect for anyone in a rush who wants to look put together without much effort.  Her makeup was amazing as well but thats a post for another day ;)  

Here's the original outfit worn by Ms. Duff:

photo credit: the vogue diaries  

This is the outfit that was inspired by hers: (i opted for brooches instead of bangles, you can do both)

Inspired by Hilary Duff by vivabellar3 featuring rubber boots

Perfect-fit mixed-tape cardigan - J.Crew, $50
Basic Ribbed Tank, $5.80
Colorblock Ponte Leggings, $15
Women's Jegging - American Eagle Outfitters, $40
Triangle Heel Suedette Booties, $33
Sky Blue Crystal Corsage Brooch (Silver Tone), 15 GBP
Large Jet Black Swarovski Crystal Owl Brooch (Silver Tone), 24 GBP
Yves Saint Laurent Leopard-print wool and cashmere-blend scarf, $995
Foulard circulaire, $7.80

Happy Reading!

love, 

Bella