instagram fun

Been having a little instagram fun lately. 

You can follow me right here for instant updates. 

I'm shooting some truly magnificent jewels this week and will be giving you sneak peeks via Instagram. 

thanks for coming by for a visit. 

xxxxo

'athletenique'

My heart skipped a few beats when I stumbled upon the Spring/Summer 2012 collection titled "Athletenique" by designer Rajo Laurel under his namesake label House of Laurel. "Athletenique" is a combination of both the words 'athletic' and 'ethnic', "it's a fusion of the abstract aspects of ethnic prints and the spirit of sportswear" says Laurel. Bold, vibrant prints and luxurious fabrics are used throughout the sportswear influenced collection, with distinct touches of tribal influence.  The colors are absolutely splendid; shades of mint, teal and sky, mixed with rich orange, fuchsia and yellow, help create a cheerful, certainly fitting range. 

Rajo Man (the house's man's line) also offers the "Athletenique" collection, as does Rajito (the children's line at House of Laurel). 

thanks for the visit. 

xxxxo

Athletenique Spring/Summer 2012 Collection

House of Laurel by Rajo Laurel

color blocked

I probably had one of the best online experiences ever this week! I know, it's a strong statement, but wait until you hear the details. They are quite simple: fell in love with this skirt on theoutnet.com on Tuesday, immediately clicked add to cart followed by buy, the skirt shipped Wed., arrived yesterday and I'm wearing it today - all within 4 days!! If that's not incredible, I don't know what is. Needless to say, the Outnet has quickly become my go to online shop. 

Let's talk about the actual skirt. It's perfect: the asymmetry, the pleats, the subdued yet bold color and the fabric, which is light and flows like a feather in the wind. 

That's the wonderful thing about skirts, they are versatile and can be a great alternative to a dress. There are endless options, all depending on how you style the rest of the look. This outfit can be transformed simply by adding heels and a tailored jacket. It all depends on how you're feeling. :) 

Happy Friday to everyone and a happy weekend ahead!

thanks for visiting today. 

xxxo

LEATHER JACKET Mulberry (similar silhouette here)

TOP Banana Republic

SKIRT W118 by Walter Baker via theoutnet.com (still available and on sale here)

SHOES Candela NYC (how fun are these!)

CLUTCH Banana Republic (I love this one by Nicole Miller)

SUNGLASSES Prada (get them here)

JEWELS Banana Republic, Swarovski, personal pieces

lips

Pantone 2012 color of the year - tangerine tango - has not only impacted our fashion closets, but our beauty drawers too. Naturally, since the fiery-orange hue has already invaded my closet, next point of focus is my lips. I already own MAC Lady Danger (which I love!), but I wanted something brighter, something bolder. 

Needles to say, the search for the perfect shade began.

Make Up For Ever, despite looking bold and bright once on the lips it takes on more of a soft peachy, orange tone, which is perfect for an understated daytime look. The Sephora Sunset Rhythm, a tangerine inspired shade by Sephora + Pantone's color trend forecasting, is much more vivid, while the Guerlain has a coral sheen to it. 

Make Up For Ever in Watermelon 

Sephora in Sunset Rhythm

Guerlain in Quand Vient

The MAC Morange and NARS Heat Wave fall a little further on the red spectrum, but not to worry, they both still deliver an orange color that is intense and bright. You can layer it on thick for a bold look or lightly dab for a more subtle tone.
Remember, don't be afraid to play around with a few colors to ensure you find the right color just for you.

MAC in Morange

NARS in Heat Wave

And lastly, a Sephora + Pantone Universe exclusive,  the limited edition Tangerine Tango. I cannot tell you how excited I am to put this on my lips. It's being shipped as we speak! Can't wait to show you.

Sephora + Pantone Universe in Tangerine Tango

As always, thanks for visiting Styles by Ola 

xoxo

dots on dots

I'm officially obsessed with these new shorts by Tobi. I love the fact that they flare, giving the effect of a mini, flirty skirt. And the print: black and white dots, it couldn't get any better!! I can literally pair anything with these and it works. 

I'm wearing them here with my vintage cowboy boots - if only I was going to Coachella :). 

I probably get more use out of the boots in the spring and a little in the summer because I love pairing them with cute girly outfits. The contrast of the rugged, worn-in boots with any feminine piece gives the ultimate effortless vibe.  

Sorry for the grainy photos. We did not have the best lighting when taking these, but to be honest, I think I like the outcome (this is why I didn't scrap the whole thing). It gives a kind of old school vintagey feel. 

Hope you enjoy!

thanks for the visit. 

xx

TOP Zara (similar here)

SHORTS Tobi (get them here)

BOOTS Vintage (love these tan ones by Free People)

CLUTCH Marc by Marc Jacobs (this one would be super fun too!)

JEWELS J.Crew

technicolor

I've been mixing soft with hard lately, so when it came down to choosing a pair of heels for this dress, I immediately went with these fierce cutout booties. The juxtaposition of the bold shoe against the sweet, silky dress adds instant edge to the entire look. 

Colorful summer dresses are my absolute favorite; they are so versatile, you can literally take them from day, to night, to weekend, by simply changing what's on your feet and playing around with a few accessories.  

What's your summer staple? 

thanks for visiting. 

xxxo

DRESS Asos (get it on sale here)

SHOES Stuart Weitzman (love these)

BELT J.Crew

SUNGLASSES Prada (get them here)

a t-shirt design contest for you

I recently got word of the Brooklyn Industries t-shirt design contest and wanted to share the details with you. The contest is intended to discover and highlight new talented designers with innovative and thought provoking designs - so why wait, let's get those creative juices flowing! 

There will be at least one winning design chosen and sold (in-store and online) during the Fall 2012 season. This is huge! Wouldn't it be an absolute dream to have your design sold nationwide?!

The Grand Prize winner will also receive a $500 BKI gift card to stock up on season essentials.

In addition, there will be 2 honorable mention winners, each receiving a $150 gift card.

The guidelines are pretty straightforward: 

Contest runs through May 31, 2012

For official rules and to enter

CLICK HERE 

Diy updating jewels

As promised, I'm sharing a little DIY update on old jewels with you. It's so simple and takes any old chain, bracelet or earrings from passé to chic.

Supplies are needed. I got high gloss acrylic enamel paint - it's best suited for costume jewelry because the paint actually sticks to the base metal rather then just running off. 

The black chain on the right is super old; I was surprised I still even had it. The chain on the left I picked up at Forever 21. 

 And start painting! The more layers you paint, the better coated the piece and the brighter the color pops. When I was done with this piece, some of the silver base metal was still visible, but that didn't bother me. It gave the necklace a little more character. :) 

Don't forget to add a coat of varnish for that extra shine and protection. 

Wearing it earlier this week. I've done a couple more layers of paint, so the colors pop even more. 

Same goes for this piece, just start painting. I decided to alternate the fuchsia and neon yellow (not following any particular pattern).  Several layers were needed in order to cover the black completely. I think I might even add another layer or two right after this post. :) I want it bright!

And lastly one coat of varnish. 

Wearing the piece yesterday. 

I also updated a pair of fake pearl earrings - they are now bright yellow with blue polka dots. 

You can check them out right here and here. Also, follow me on instagram, I'll be updating more jewels this week and documenting it all. 

thanks for reading. what kind of DIY projects are you into lately?

xxx

coffee @ the playground

Spent the early morning enjoying my coffee at the playground. The kiddies were definitely more active than I was, at least until I finished my coffee. :) 

I juxtaposed this soft, feminine top with leather shorts. I love all the embroidered floral details, which make it super girly and playful. Finished off the combo with my favorite Keds in polka dots - the laces I changed out myself. 

Also, I'm wearing my new necklace that I won from DearDemure - thanks a million Inna! It's dainty and delicate, and was a perfect complement to the top. 

Off to run some serious weekend errands. 

thanks for the visit. 

xx

SHIRT French Connection

LEATHER SHORTS H&M (similar pair here)

SNEAKERS Keds (love these floral ones)

JEWELS DearDemure, Banana Republic, personal pieces