trends « Elements of Style Blog

Archive for the ‘trends’ Category

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Some trends gets played out quickly and die a quick death. Others linger in such a way that the words “classic” and “timeless” begins to get inserted before them. This is how I feel the zig zag is developing. Super hot and trendy, but really a very easy to incorporate pattern into just about any space and one that doesn’t scream “2009! 2009!”. Just think about Missoni. They’ve built a whole luxury brand on the zig zag! Plus, I just like saying zig zag.

A few favorite items and images for you to consider:

Handpainted ceramic lamps

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Bedding and pillows by Twinkle Living:

Mary McDonald certainly agrees with me:

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I love Alan Campbell’s Zig Zag from Quadrille- also seen on this darling Oomph table:

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GORGEOUS tiles from Popham Design:

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The ubiquitous Madeline Weinrib rug:

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How about making a modern quilt in a zig zag pattern a la A Quilt Is Nice or this crafty lady. I am adoring these for a little boys room!

zigzagquilt Zig zag quilt top

Have loved Schumacher’s Shockwave fabric for a long time

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Loving these gift tags by Linda & Harriet too…

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Posted in trends | 14 Comments »

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

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This cannot be happening. Is the fashion industry trying to bring back the SCRUNCHIE??? When my girlfriend sent this link to me I almost has a friggin’ stroke right here at my desk. What’s next, banana clips? Should I dust off my slap bracelets and Color Me Badd tapes? I know a lot of hideous trends have resurfaced this year: shoulder pads and hammer pants being the worst offenders, but scrunchies? Don’t these celebrity stylists recall the SATC episode where Carrie mercilessly taunts Berger for having his stylish book heroine wearing a scrunchie in modern day Manhattan? If Carrie, one of the the most adventurously wardrobed characters on TV, thinks scrunchies are still a big, fat, screaming NO- then I have to agree.

Please– as it is with “tights as pants” I beg of you not to participate. :)

Posted in fashion, trends | 74 Comments »

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

I was in Ann Taylor the other day and spotted this amazing, very “un-Ann Taylor” dress in the store (looks WAY better in person- hate it with black tights). It’s so mod, so fashion forward in it’s bright yellow and nude color scheme and exposed zipper up the back. It looks a lot like what is coming down the Balenciaga runway for Spring 2010 . It got me thinking about bold yellow accents for spring (such thinking helps lift me out of my winter blue doldrums). It’s gonna be the pop of color in my new office (I think) and a big trend for both home and fashion. I especially love it in the home when paired with grey, black and white!

Some yellow items I’m loving (click on pics for links):

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A few rooms that use yellow- in small and big ways:

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Posted in Inspirations, colors, trends | 42 Comments »

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

I really cannot believe it’s November already. Time is absolutely FLYING. Holiday decorations are going up at stores prematurely and my husband’s got X-mas carols on rotation on his iPod (he’s obsessed with X-mas). The skies have been gloomy the past few days and I can’t help but be drawn to these high contrast pairings of deep dark colors with shots of bright white. It reminds me of the bleak white sky against dark branches of bare trees.

It’s not easy to create an interesting space using only black and white (or dark brown and white), but these rooms certainly dazzle my eyes!

images via DecorPad, Desire to Inspire, Apartment Therapy, House Beautiful, Design New England, Brown Design.

Posted in Inspirations, trends | 25 Comments »

Friday, June 19th, 2009

One of the biggest trends I’ve noticed lately in fashion is hot pink. When I saw Bar Rafaeli in the hot pink one shouldered number below I thought it was stunning (but hate the shoes- the purple is too Barbie with this bold color). I have always associated hot pink with the 80’s and the days when I would puffy paint everything within my grasp with hot pink hearts…. but it’s looks so chic on all these fabulous women I think my next purchase may have to be something bold and pink!

Hot pink for a formal occasion:

Looks great paired with black (and easier to try wearing it in small doses if you are timid…)

Casual hot pink:

Runway hot pink:

The fashion world has even deemed hot pink hot for men- re-branding the color “man-genta“, according to the friggin‘ Wall Street Journal! In my book, man-genta is NOT ok. I like a tan guy in a light pink shirt in the summer, heck yeah, but not HOT pink…

Give it a try for under $20 with this hot pink dress from Forever 21, go preppy in a J.Crew cardigan or dare to bare in this Urban Outfitters one shoulder dress:

Look drape-y and gorgeous in this Issa wrap top or maybe just a pop with a Lauren Merkin clutch?

How about adding a dose of hot pink to your house? I am loving this desk chair from Athena Says blog:

One of my favorite commercial spaces has to be Cambridge’s Upstairs on the Square with it’s Zebra Room (in hot pink and zebra!) and Soiree Room with pink and gold plaid painted walls! A preppy-luxe must see if you are in the area!

Happy Friday- I hope it’s a hot pink kind of day for you!
xoxo

Posted in Fashion Fridays, colors, trends | 20 Comments »

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

House Beautiful, July 08

I’ve seen a ot of retail vendors pushing trunks as furniture these days and thought I’d do a nice little round up for you since I am a fan of the look! Not only do they offer hidden storage (toys, srtack sof magazines you can’t bear to throw out…ahem!) but they add a little bit of vintage whimsy to any space.

This affordable version from Z. Gallerie would make a lovely little side table.

My favorites from WS Home- as side tables, paired as cocktail tables, or the large version as a coffee table! Yes, please.

Pottery Barn mixes it up with an equestrian inspired version and a metal trunk to provide a little glamorous sheen to the trend…

I have a friend who used to have a HUGE vintage LV trunk with a piece of glass on top of it as her coffee table. I die. I saw one at Brimfield last year and tried to convince my dad to buy it as “an investment”- for $8k. :) Can’t blame a girl for trying!

Feelin’ rich? How about this vintage Goyard trunk? Holy gorgeousness, Batman!

A lucite trunk you could fill with shells or any kind of collection for visual punch, from Plexicraft.

I fear that this is actually REAL zebra, which makes me sad, but could there be a trunk that is more “me”? Nope. A bit less of an “endangered species” vibe is found in these cowhide trunks from Mecox Gardens.

I love this colorful antique trunk from Jayson Home & Garden- great at the foot of a bed.

How about this amazing painted leather trunk from my cousin’s shop, with it’s bright blue lining?? A-MA-ZING.

Posted in antiques, trends | 16 Comments »

Monday, March 16th, 2009

(the blue elephant cake was so fantastic- wish i could find a better pic!)

Over the weekend I was home alone and rented Rachel Getting Married and have two things to say about the film 1) Anne Hathaway was a force to be reckoned with and in any non-Winslet year, would have won the Oscar fo’ sho’ 2) I absolutely flipped for the Indian themed wedding at the end of the movie, particularly the sari print tent. It seriously looked like the most fun wedding ever with all the bright colors, fantastic music and family dysfunction.
I scoured the internet for stills from the wedding in the movie but found nothing- I did however find the tent company that provided the tent- feast your eyes on these!!!

I can barely stand the beauty of these and can imagine there is a rather hefty price tag to accompany them.
What was that you say? You need amazing invitations to match your jaw dropping tent? No sweat- check out these from All Wedding Cards- each is less than $2 per card and are gorgeous (check the site to see what the inserts all look like!)

Posted in trends, weddings | 12 Comments »

Monday, February 9th, 2009

After getting the Domino news this month I was sure glad that Elle Decor served up a kick ass issue in which I may have folded down every other page. My favorite image has to be the cover though, which is the entryway of artist Anne Becker’s NYC apartment. I really loved this space- it’s far more streamlined and simple that I tend to veer, but something about it’s clean lines mixed with piles of suzanis and antique/ethnic pieces really appealed to the yogini in me (p.s. I managed to finally master the headstand this week with the help of my incredible teacher/guru David!) Anyways, suzanis have become kind of overdone these days in interiors, but I still love them and want one of my very own ASAP.

To create a piece like in Anne’s entryway you could do one of two things- frame a whole suzani or but inexpensive ikat fabric and wrap it around an extra large blank artist canvas and use a staple gun to attach it to the back of the stretcher bars. Antiquarian Textiles on eBay has great options for both.

I am loving the embroidered/beaded ottoman shown in Anne’s living room, it reminds me a smidge of the ottomans from Karma Living I posted a while back.

Pick up some suzani boxed candles from designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, who certainly has a serious love affair with suzanis- just check his portfolio and product lines!

Simple suzani-ish pillows for under $50.

Some amazing suzani chairs from Stanistan Design:

For an unexpected application, I am loving these suzani inspired ribbons from LNF Textiles

Posted in Inspirations, trends | 8 Comments »

Monday, February 2nd, 2009

The overall feeling these days is anything but bright- with the weather chilly and grey (at least where I am), the economy in utter shambles and our favorite magazines closing it’s nice to see a ray of light in the forecast- yellow. Pantone has declared yellow to be the “color of 2009″. Whether it’s in small doses in a room or walls bathed in the color, try a little yellow in your space to lift your mood.

Lee Kleinhelter is fantastic at using yellow in her modern home as well as in her shop:

Items from Pieces in the color of 09:

Pottery Barn also used a lot of yellow in their spring line:

Try adding yellow with a patterned lucite tray or hip stationery from Iomoi:

This yellow rug from Dash & Albert is a favorite of mine, it works in traditional or modern spaces. This wing chair in the middle is from Absolutely Beautiful Things’ Anna Spiro’s shop in Australia and the yellow screen at right is an amazing way to add a yellow graphic element to a room:

Kelly Wearstler loves her some yellow- specifically at the Viceroy Palm Springs which is like a homage to the color:

Use yellow in unexpected places like on a canvas as a headboard or in tile in a kitchen:

KWID’s Imperial Trellis in Citron is an amazing yellow patterned fabric- as seen here in a runner by Erika at Urban Grace (lookin‘ mighty find paired with turquoise) and Courtney’s chair from Style Court.

Yellow ikat takes care of two big ‘09 trends- these place mats by Virginia Whitbeck via Stylebeat are fantastic, as are these yellow ikat pillows from Fabricadabra:

Don’t stop with just your room- add some sunshine to your wardrobe too. I love these looks I found on the Cusp website as well as my yellow dress I ADORE (and have yet to wear anywhere) from Boston designer Sara Campbell:

J.Crew’s gone lemon yellow as well. If a lot of yellow seems daunting, just try a pop of it in a bold necklace:

Even Target’s gotten into the game with some yellow gladiator sandals, a patterned trench and Indian inspired scarf:

Posted in colors, fashion, trends | 18 Comments »

Thursday, October 9th, 2008

This question always comes up when I try to decorate my own home. I love both looks- the more simple, relaxing color scheme and also the bold, bright, fun look as well! I think I need two houses- one that can be riskier and more personality driven and one that can be more traditionally calm and restful! How do you feel about the dichotomy of decorating with these two looks?

BOLD- this doesn’t mean obnoxious or over the top- the right statement making pieces can really punctuate a space with cheerfulness and whimsy. Pure fun.