Beach Chic: Black & White

Trending big for 2013, Black & White does not have to be relegated to the streets; where the sand meets the surf is the perfect place to express your 'chic-ness'.  Beachwear has a laid back feel with it's carefree cuts and easy going silhouettes; mixing and matching to create a one-of-a-kind look, is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1.  Handmade Beaded Top
2.  Side Tie Swim Shorts
3.  Beaded Foot Thong

Beach Chic is easy to achieve if you keep in mind that you are at the beach!  You go to the beach to enjoy yourself and relax, and nothing says fun more so than this beaded cover-up (1).  With it's colorful beading and slit back design, a cool, Caribbean vibe is in order.  Swim bottoms in a boy short cut and tie-scrunch sides (2) are flirty without showing too much skin...cheeky bottoms are just as sexy as barely there bikinis!  As a self proclaimed Shoe-A-Holic, I relish the opportunity to wear a pair of shoes, but on the beach, these sole-less foot thongs (3) are quite possibly the next best thing!

1, 2, 3 Chic!

How I Styled It?

Confession time, my fellow Chic-sters... I have always wanted a beaded top!  Long ago, I watch my aunt sit at her dining room table and make two for my older cousins, one black and the other white, and they were magnificent.  Fast forward to last week when my aunt, also a Chic-ster, made my childhood wish come true, and as a bonus, this gorgeous black and white toe thong, I had been searching for!  For today's 1, 2, 3 Styling, I wanted to illustrate the fact that one's styling opportunities need not come to a halt when one goes to the beach...Fashion doesn't take a holiday and nor should one's Chic-ness!  I'm crushing on this outfit so much, that I am headed out to find beads to add to my swim bottoms and bikini top!  SN

Molto Grazie, Zia!  Un Bacio!

 

Black & White Chic: Mixed Prints

A timeless trend makes a resurgence in 2013, and the effect is crisp, clean and fabulous.  With the juxtapose, jarring mix of dark and light, black and white print has become the new 'neutral' and serves as a blank canvas for pairing with colors.

Body Central -Zebra Print Cropped Cardigan
Old Navy -Geo Print Mini Skirt
Anne Klein -Zya, in Black (Houndstooth Print)
 

Mixing prints is a frightening prospect, especially when the design of the prints varies greatly.  But perspective is the key to pulling off this particular mix of prints; viewing black and white as a single 'neutral' color, various prints in this same 'neutral', will match, just as dressing all in grey or all black match.

 

The zebra print sweater (1) is a classic print (like it's leopard counterpart) and should be a staple in any chic wardrobe.  The Geometric (Geo) print skirt is a modern infusion of black and white, and in a mini cut is a fun take on this trend.  The Houndstooth print is another classic, but it gets an unexpected update in a pump (3) instead of clothing.

 

 

1, 2, 3 Chic!

1, 2, 3 Chic!

How I Styled It?

1, 2, 3 Styling is attention grabbing, when you use classic pieces in bold designs then throw caution to the wind!  It takes a great deal of skill to pull off mixed prints, but with black and white, one need not be cautious -all the attention that is normally paid to pairing color families is virtually eliminated.  I matched my black and white ensemble with a navy tank top and satchel, only because it was the evening.  For a day look, I would have gone with a bright pink, red or yellow.  For an alternative look, I would opt for a bright clutch and a skinny belt.  My styling word of caution is simple: make sure the white parts of your prints are indeed a bright white, and that the black is a true black, which has not faded to a dark grey.  You want your look to stand out, not fade into the background!  SN



Trend Chic: Black and White

One of the hottest trends for spring 2013 is Black and White; while the stark contrast between these two colors can be quite jarring, when patterned, like stripes, they can create a great neutral palette.

1.  Cristina Love -Striped Tie-Waist Dress
2.  Chadwick's -White Denim Moto Jacket
3.  Very Volatile -La Brea Shooties in Black

A fun way to liven up the pattern of stripes is to add a splash (or two) of color; the black and white in the dress (1) is given a bright, springy twist with two of the seasons hottest colors: tender shoots and nectarine.  Summer white and denim combine effectively in this moto jacket (2), providing a textural contrast to the dress, while the entire ensemble is anchored with these black shooties (3).

1, 2 3 Chic!

1, 2 3 Chic!

 How I Style It?

1, 2, 3 Styling is fun when you are working with the basics; black and white are a timeless pairing, but tend to have a formal appearance when they are juxtaposed with each other.  The multi-colored, striped dress is a modern twist on the the black and white trend, serving double duty where they tone down the stark white jacket, and simultaneously brighten the dark, leather, cut-out shooties!  SN