Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Breakfast at Tiffany's & a Timeless Trench Coat




Who could ever forget Audrey Hepburn's big break as a hopeless romantic in the timeless classic Breakfast at Tiffany's.  Hepburn's naive and eccentric character, Holly Golightly, spends her time at wealthy parties, meeting high-class men who take her on expensive dates.  But portraying a childlike innocence and carefree spirit, she fears the ever so inevitable commitment to a cheeky romance spawned by a new neighbor in the area, which will unknowingly cost her more than her Givenchy clothing and accessories.

Even despite her blithe and airy innocence, Audrey Hepburn's character is doused in the most desired of designer clothing!  Although most of her outfits have stolen the hearts of many on the flawless Audrey Hepburn, the light-beige trench coat doubling as a chic raincoat made the final scene impossible to ignore!

I came across a beautiful vintage trench/raincoat that is nearly identical to that of Audrey Hepburn's on an Etsy shop known as Bop and Awe, owned by a wonderful woman in town.  Bop and Awe is an online vintage shop that collects vintage clothing from as early as the 50s!  The trench coat I am referring to portrays a beautiful, light-beige silhouette with chest and hip pockets, buttons, a cinching belt, and more!  It is at an extremely reasonable price for a vogue raincoat from the 70's that will keep you looking chic in the rain!  


I am absolutely in love with this piece!  It is perfect for a night out or even just a cover up for another outfit.  Click here to view more details on this lovely, one of a kind, vintage piece and be sure to check out Bop and Awe's pleated skirt collection as well!  Enjoy the photos below!








Coat: Bop and Awe Vintage Shop, Bustier: Forever 21, Skirt: Forever 21, Heels: by Delicious, Bag: Kohl's, Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters

For more information on collaborating and advertising, visit my contact page!
XoXo




Saturday, July 28, 2012

Jungle Love


Sun Hat: Charming Charlie's, Crochet Top: 2b by Bebe, Bandeau: Forever 21 Swimwear, High-Waisted Shorts: Forever 21

Inspired by the hot, tropical days of the summer, a breezy crochet top over a bandeau swimsuit and high-waisted shorts seemed the perfect attire for the humid atmosphere.  A broad, woven sunhat, gold aviators, and a tribal printed backpack complimented these natural looking colors and completed the look!  

The combination of different prints, fabrics, and materials create a sort of tamed chaos that completes the rugged, outdoor, jungle theme.  Plus, I adore sun hats!  They are cute, fashionable, and smart to wear for protection since the sun beats down so strongly where I am from!  The multiple shades of purple on the shorts and the backpack add a twist to the natural hues of the browns, cremes, and greens in the surroundings.  I personally love this backpack and its print!  It is a sort of tribal or aztech design that we see so often in skirts and shirts this summer, but since it portrays softer colors (like the lilac, soft pink, and gray), it complements the outfit even more than loud colors would.

I hope you enjoy!  XoXo





Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Retro Modern Pin-Up


Bustier: American Eagle Outfitters, Skirt: Forever 21, Shoes: Candies at Kohls, Eye Wear: Urban Outfitters

Ultimately inspired by my infatuation with the 1950s style I wrote about yesterday, I decided to pull an outfit together that portrayed a bit of a modern pin up look.  I could do a lot better, but I lack the vintage accessories and hair styling products to do so.  So I combined a gray, crochet bustier and high-waisted skirt to bring forth the '50s look.  The floral print seemed to be the piece that added a retro vibe to the whole outfit and doesn't really portray the bland, conservative '50's look. The eye wear, cherry red lipstick, and bandana headband seemed to top off the look and really embrace the 1950s pin up vibe.  

Enjoy! Read more about the fabulous fifties in my previous blog post Bobbins and Bombshells

XoXo





Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Bobbins and Bombshells











The 1950's: an absolute gorgeous and respectable era in style and fashion.  Curves were adored rather than skin and bones, and being modest and covered up was sexier than a skimpy outfit.  High-waisted swimsuits, beautiful curls, and delicious pie are just some of the wonderful and inspiring representations of the fifties.  

Hair in the 1950's was flawless and perfectly coiffed, which complimented the flawless makeup looks of the time.  Soft rolls, curled bangs, and the pompadour were three hairstyles that bookmarked the 1950's classic styles.  Some of the 1950's looks transitioned effortlessly into today's generation in the most timeless manner.



Blake Lively at Savages Premier Los Angeles


Katy Perry contrasts her dark curls and light skin with cherry red lipstick


Miley Cyrus at Elton John's Aids Foundation Oscar Party

Effortless curls, soft pink cheeks, black liquid eyeliner, and bright red lipstick complete the timeless look of the 1950s.   Icons like Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Lucille Ball are all the unforgettable, beautiful faces of the fifties that will forever be remembered. And how can we forget the gorgeous bombshell Marilyn Monroe who changed the body image of women in the fifties and the future forever.








Heels&Socks




Its as if high fashion has embraced the classic, school-girl look. Lacy socks paired with sultry pumps adds a touch of red-hot appeal to any darling dress.  Play with different colors, fabrics, and textures to get the look you want.  Knee-high socks, crew socks, ankle socks, or even thigh-highs in any fabric will make you fall in love within this chic trend.
Anxious to get started but need some tips? If you’re too nervous about leaping right into this look, try neutral colors first just to get the feel for things.   Any type sock can be worn, it just takes the right outfit and body type to pull it off properly.  Unfortunately, socks visually make your legs shorter, so this trend may not be best for some people.  I would still try to work it out though by keeping the sock worn on the thinnest part of your ankle or calf.  As for fabrics, I would personally go with a nylon blend since it is lighter and won’t tend to sag or slip down like a regular cotton sock.  Now go get yourself some socks and haute heels and try this trend out!
XoXo

Shades of Orange


Tangerines, mangos, spices, sunsets: there are plenty of different shades of orange that are making a splash this summer! Orange is a unique and bold color to wear, but quite eye-catching when worn right.  However, orange clothing can be quite reluctant to wear, but a simple manicure and pedicure is the perfect amount of citrus burst we need from this striking color! It can sometimes come off as loud and messy, but it just takes some time to find the right shade for your skin tone or outfit.
Sparkling golds, bright pinks, bold blacks, or even light blues and whites softly accentuate orange beautifully when paired together!  Try it yourself, and you will fall madly in love with this glowing, summer color! 



True Blue: Nautical Trends






Top: Abercrombie and Fitch, Shorts: Forever21, Shoes: by Candies

      Summer means anything and everything nautical.  This timeless trend can be pulled off in plenty of different ways, starting with the classic stripe.  Thick or thin but most commonly blue and white,     
    nautical stripes create the sailor look with a bit more elegance.  A patriotic color palette of reds, 
      whites, and blues can also be used to bring out the classic, boating look. Neutrals such as khakis 
                          or even certain denims can be paired with these colors as well.

To complete any nautical look, tiny gold accents are used to produce a subtle effect without looking too gaudy.  If you want to try something a little more, I would recommend a bulky, rope bracelet or even an anchor necklace to really embrace this look and make it your own.  Finally, a stripe of simple, red lipstick will finish off this tasteful trend.
Start accessorizing your seafaring outfit with these easy DIY Nautical Rope Bracelets!

DIY Nautical Rope Bracelet




Since it is summer and anything that has to do with the beach or boats is fascinating to me, this DIY rope bracelet with a gold anchor hook is an ideal must-have for any seafaring outfit this summer!
DIY NAUTICAL ROPE BRACELET:
* Thick rope (any color)
* Anchor charm
* Large cord crimps
* Some thin rope (for the bracelet fastener)
1. Measure the thicker rope by wrapping it once around your wrist, and add 1-2 inches to that length then cut. Repeat with a second piece of rope.
2. Take one of the pieces of rope, and bend it in half to create a loop. Slip a crimping bead over the loose rope ends and squeeze it tightly with pliers. This should fasten together the loose ends with the metal crimping bead.
3. Loop the second piece of rope and wrap it under and through the first piece of rope’s loop. Use the picture as reference. It looks much more complicated than it is!
4. Once the two pieces of rope are looped together, secure the loose ends of the second rope with another metal crimping bead. Before squeezing the bead closed, slip a looped piece of thinner rope in the bottom end and then press the crimping bead shut. This will be your bracelet fastener!
5. Take your anchor charm and tie the top to the end of your bracelet that doesn’t have the thinner piece of rope attached. This can be done by either sewing the charm in place or looping a thinner piece of rope through the end of the thicker rope. Whatever is easiest for you!
Eager to wear this new bracelet?  Visit my latest post for nautical outfit tips!

Monday, July 23, 2012

Spread the Love with Bloglovin

Follow Cocoa Couture on Bloglovin!  Spread the love! XoXo

DIY American Flag Shorts!

Patriotism or just another fashion trend? The American flag has flown its way into the fashion world and caught my eye! It has imprinted itself onto denim, shirts, sweaters, accessories, and even shoes. I feel it is about time to add some trendy patriotism into my wardrobe, so the American flag denim short is going to be my next summer DIY project! Scroll down to find the materials and steps!






DIY AMERICAN FLAG DENIM SHORT:
* Denim cutoff shorts
* Felt adhesive stars
* Painters tape
* Fabric spray paint
The procedure is a bit self-explanatory (placing the stars and tape on the areas you do not want any color and spraying over it).  However, to create a more faded, vintage look, wash the shorts a few hours after painting (but do not forget to make sure the paint is completely dry to keep the colors looking brighter). These were quick, simple, and easy to make. See the picture below for more details!

 If you want to try a different look (like this new picture below), I would recommend all the same materials but advise paint instead of spray paint. Make sure you buy paints that will not bleed and read these Fabric Painting Tips to ensure you will get the best results for your shorts!
The stars and tape can again be used to mark the areas you do not want to paint at the moment, but making sure the paint stays on afterward (preforming the correct heat pressing and washing techniques) is the most important part! Again, see Fabric Painting Tips, they really help!
Once you are complete, welcome to the world of the ‘flag fashion’ trend!


Summer Style: The Maxi Dress


Yesterday, my sister and I went shopping for the first time in a long, long time. So today, we were much too eager to sport our new outfits!  During a stroll downtown on this beautiful, sunshiny, Mother’s Day, we decided to walk through the art center. This building is charming and displays a bit of stucco, mediterranean architecture.
I began snapping pictures of my sister walking up the stairs, and the whole aura of her ensemble suited the architecture perfectly! She is wearing an almost pale, rust tinted, red maxi dress with black, woven, platform wedges, and a maroon shoulder bag.  The dress flatters at every angle because of its off-color, ruffled top, beautifully draped back, and empire waist. Her maxi dress was perfectly fitting for our warm, breezy, mid-afternoon, walk on the bay front!