If you’ve been waiting for the perfect chance to jump on the recent resurgence of the animal print trend, but don’t want to ruffle your rather conservative feathers, look no further. Animal print jewelry sounds like a strange concept, but if you’re too wary of wilder accessories like leopard shoes or zebra cardigans, consider jewelry the perfect happy medium to dabble in wilder prints without committing to the riskier look. After all, animal print had been banished to the tacky land of failed fads for awhile, so baby steps are a smart way to ease into accepting that the look is stylish yet again. Leopard print gets some added texture with this Yochi leather calf-hair cuff, while high-contrast zebra print is best when worn subtly like this silver striped ring by Gorjana or these budget-friendly sparkly earrings from Forever 21. Giraffe print has never gotten the same fashion exposure as leopard print, so it’s time for some new spots to shine in the form of Kenneth Jay Lane enamel earrings, or a bold tribal-inspired bead and disc necklace!

- Alex Gambardella

Bold Animal Print Jewelry Fit for the Queen of the Jungle is a post from: Violet Revolution

As adventurous as I usually am with eyeshadows and glitter (I have pretty much every shade of the rainbow as well as those found nowhere in nature), when it comes to blush I usually stick to boring neutrals and shimmery bronzes. Snooze fest, I know. But when Pantone’s 2011 color of the year, honeysuckle, is calling your name and let’s face it — it’s much easier to wear than turquoise (beauty-wise, that is) — what better excuse do you need to jump onboard the trend and embrace the color that’s been bestowed with Pantone’s annual honor? Honeysuckle, a peachy-pink, is a gorgeous way to brighten up your winter beauty routine to transition into spring. Of course when it comes to blush, pulling off a hue on any skintone is much easier said than done, but with the right formula and variation on the shade that’s right for you (sheer washes are a safe bet for those not well-practiced with bright blushes), Honeysuckle isn’t quite as intimidating as it looks, as long as you play it cool with the rest of your makeup!

Pictured above: Cargo Blush in Amalfi, NARS Multiple Tint in Cadaques, Bobbi Brown Blush in Peony, MAC Stylishly Yours Creme Colour Base in Tickle Me Pink, and Edward Bess Compact Rouge in Love Affair.

- Alex Gambardella

Embrace Pantone’s 2011 Color of the Year with Honeysuckle Blush Shades is a post from: Violet Revolution

These Stila Cosmetics makeup palettes include what the pros bring with them to make celebs look ultra-glamorous for the red carpet.  Use them to make your own celeb-glam look!

My favorite is the Stunning Starlet Palette:

as I’m a fan of plum and smoky looks, but there are 2 other palettes available (for only $25, I might add).

Or you can splurge on the Blockbuster palette for $42 & never have to buy another eye shadow again (there’s 21 included in this one).

Another benefit of these palettes is that they are ideal for traveling.  If you travel frequently or don’t want to bring a ton of make-up on vacation, try out one of these palettes which includes everything for you.

Packing is such a laborious, and sometimes stressful task, especially when you’re trying to remember what to pack.  Make it easy on yourself and throw one of these kits in your bag and fuh-get about it.

Until next time,

-Violet

Get A Red Carpet Look For Less! is a post from: Violet Revolution

As the season moves closer to spring, it is official! I want a pair of lace up booties. But not just any pair of booties with laces… A sturdy looking military inspired pair. There’s something about the buckles, cushioning and soles that make me think that that needs to be the next addition to my shoe collection. Especially after seeing stars like Rachel Bilson and Blake Lively sporting snug brown leather editions as the paparazzi caught them running errands around the city, I’ve also come to the conclusion that not only are these trending booties uber chic but they are probably uber comfy, too. Why not take military technology and use it to our style and comfort favor?

Lace up booties can be worn in a multitude of ways, too. If you look in any newsstand’s latest fashion magazine or celebrity tabloid, you’ll find them style-approved. Paired with tucked-in jeans, rolled up skinnies, patterned tights, opaque stocking, and even pleated skirts! A military-inspired boot style manages to stay somewhere between smart yet casual and weather-proof yet hip, making it the go-to shoe to wear during the tail end of winter and the ideal transition boot when spring showers start to unexpectedly sprinkle about.

Popular and practical, Dolce Vita’s “Joelle” Military Lace-Up Booties, Stuart Weitzmen’s “TKO” Lace-Up Bootie, and Tory Burch’s Halima Lace Up Booties have been put on top of my list of favorite picks.

- Mira Torres

Nominate your favorite fashion brand for the Fashion 2.0 Social Media Awards by February 1st!

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Walk Tall in Military Inspired Lace Up Leather Booties is a post from: Violet Revolution

Then you start playing around with the shades and types of make-up, and viola!  You create a look just for you!

As you click on the products, a tool on the right side (not shown) keeps track of your selections so you can easily add them to your cart and check out. Some of the products/colors I picked on my model are:

glamoureyes mascara
convertible color poppy blush

eye shadow pans cassis

What I really love is that you can play around ’til your heart’s content trying on various shades without wasting a sales rep’s time in the store, and try out new shades you maybe wouldn’t normally dare to try in person.  You’ll save money by not buying products you don’t need.  Plus, who knows?  You could wind up with a whole new look!

Have you ever had a makeover?  Did it change your make-up routine/palette?

-Violet

Get A Virtual Makeover Just For You! is a post from: Violet Revolution

Who says you have to be a hippie to successfully support an eco-friendly design? If anything, making even the smallest impact of eco-consciousness by purchasing socially responsible and sustainable clothes will not only have you looking fantastic but feeling fantastic, as well. Looking for a first eco-friendly wardrobe find? How about a soft scarf that will not only keep you warm but add a splash of candy-colored inspiration to your everyday wares? Stimulated by the hand skilled craftsmanship of weavers, fabulous natural fibers, and the vibrant colors seen throughout, Michelle Baldwin and Michelle Taylor-Spearman took their inspiration and enchantment of Nepal’s country and culture to launch their eco-accessories brand, Nepali by TDM Designs, in 2007 and creating carefully crafted cashmere scarves that are impossibly soft, extremely warm, and amazingly lightweight.

Get your fashion-high off of accessories that help to nurture a community. Nepali by TDM Designs has made casual luxury fashion not only look good but do good as well. Not only are Nepali by TDM Design accessories made from natural materials such as silk, cashmere, bamboo, modal and wool and eco-friendly azo-free dyes (azo-dyes are found to have potential carcinogens) they are also intricately handmade in Nepal, through a movement that helps to fully support poverty stricken Nepalese women. Offering them reliable healthcare and private education for their children.

Shown above: Cashmere Fishnet, Kirsten Cavallarie in the Bobi Bamboo Scarf, and the Claire Cotton Scarf.

Stylish & Socially Responsible Scarves: Nepali by TDM Designs is a post from: Violet Revolution

(Photo Credit)

Besides, it’s going to be another great year for fashion, and this year will be better than ever! Spring runways showcased floral prints, sheer tops, and several even brought back bell-bottoms.  So when you sort through all of your clothes, make sure to keep that in mind.

(Photo Credit)

I’ll keep it simple for you with 3 quick closet cleaning tips and a checklist of Do’s and Don’ts for what to add (& keep, you trendsetter you) for Spring!

1) You’ve maybe heard it before, but it’s true.  If you haven’t worn something in over a year, donate it.  If you can’t part with it just yet, store it somewhere, be it your parents’ house or a storage locker in your building.  You’d be surprised how you won’t even remember it, and can donate it later.

2) Sort clothes by style, then color.  Put all jeans together, dress pants, tops, etc. together.  Then sort, where applicable, by color.

3) Assess your needs against what you have.  If you have 10 pairs of jeans and you wear jeans 1 time/week, you probably aren’t wearing a different pair each week.  There’s probably only a few go-to pairs you rely on.  Keep those, get rid of the rest.   Then look at the colors in your wardrobe.  Are all your tops one color?  If so, you probably need to get rid of at least 5 of the 10 white tops you have and add some flattering colors to your wardrobe.

Do Add (or Keep):

• Sheer Tops
• High Waisted Jeans & Trousers
• Wooden Heels
• Floral prints and garden shades (think poppy, honeysuckle pink, and moss green)
• Bright and bold colors (think orange, magenta, teal)

Don’t Clutter your Closet with:

• Boring patterns
• Too many floral prints (you don’t want to seem like you raided an old folks home for leftover fabric)
• Excessive biker looks (although they’ll still be in, a few key pieces are enough)
• Uggs (Sorry, Uggs should not be worn in Spring.  AND never wear Ugg slippers in public.  Slippers are for indoors.  I saw someone wearing these in a restaurant last week…not a fan.)

I hope everyone is keeping up with their New Years Resolutions!  Don’t dread being at work too much!  After all, how else are you going to fund your shopping habits? 

- Violet

2011 Guide: How to Clean Out Your Closet is a post from: Violet Revolution

1.  Breakfast at Tiffany’s

It should be no surprise this one is on the list. The image of Audrey Hepburn’s character Holly Golightly in her black Givenchy sheath staring into the window of Tiffany’s is burned into almost every fashionista’s brain. Her elegant look, however, is really rather attainable. It starts with a little black dress and once you add a pearl necklace, black gloves, and some oversized sunglasses, you too can have the look.

Here’s my picks:

Pearl and Gem necklace from Chic Gems (which you can get 20% off on with code VIOLET20…woo hoo!), Black Pumps from Lori’s Shoes, Dior Sunglasses from Solstice, Long Black Gloves from Peaches Boutique, and Black Scoop-Neck Dress from Perchance Boutique.

2. The Notebook

I’m a huge fan of vintage looks! The Notebook wouldn’t have been the same without the beautiful fashions of the 1940s and 1950s. Rachel McAdam’s character Allie has impeccable fashion. Her look is a mix of  fitted vintage gowns with shorter hem lines, floral hair accessories, and understated shoes. In terms of color, her character is often seen in either light blue or crimson.

Here’s my picks:

Red Flats from Akira, Floral Hair Accessories from Love, Lulu Mae, Assorted Casual Dresses from She Boutique, Red Scoop Neck Dress from Mark Shale.

Now that you’ve got the romantic look down, feel free to sport it on a date with your sweetie. And don’t forget to give yourself some signature red lips!

3. The Devil Wears Prada

Every woman loves a make-over movie. This one is great to watch for both the comedy of work stress and the amazing fashions. Anne Hathaway’s (ok, how fab did she look last night??) character, Andrea, gets the benefit of the “Runway” closet, but you don’t need it to steal her look. Shoot for neutral colors, layered clothing, newboy caps, long necklaces, and stiletto boots or heels.

Here’s my picks:

Black Stiletto Boots  from Lori’s Shoes, White Coat and Tunic from She Boutique, Black Liquid Leggings from Dress-Up Boutique, Treasures of the Sea Necklace from Francesca’s Collections, Black Easton Dress from Perchance Boutique, and White Shirt from Mark Shale.

I hope you enjoy the look sans the crazy boss!

And don’t think I forgot everyone’s favorite fictional fashionista, Carrie from Sex and the City! Check out this previous article and get ‘Carried’ away. 

- Violet

• Breakfast at Tiffany’s Photo Credit
• The Notebook Photo Credit 1, Photo Credit 2
• The Devil Wears Prada Photo Credit

How to Look Like a Film Icon is a post from: Violet Revolution

I remember back in the day when bulky vests started getting really stylish. I was in middle school — probably 7th grade — and all the other style-conscious little bookworms and I were buying those things like they were going out of style (well, I guess they were). Sure, in a place where it doesn’t get very chilly like San Francisco, relatively speaking, we could get away with just wearing vests over sweaters without coming down with a serious case of the sniffles. However, even in the more frigid parts of the globe, while vests may not be a suitable replacement for a full-blown coat, they certainly do add an extra layer of warmth, in a way that’s modern, stylish, and actually allows for movability, which is definitely a must-have trait when it comes to multiple layers! In fact, this season’s vest is all about keeping warm despite the whole concept of exposed arms — updated takes on shearling, faux fur, and insulated puffer vests help keep you trendy while ensuring you don’t end up freezing your butt off. Plus, the look is definitely much cooler than my collection of Old Navy “Tech Vests” from back in the day!
Pictured above: J. Crew Barbour Polarquilt Waistcoat, Michael Kors Puffer Vest, Quotation: Sanctuary Faux Shearling Vest, and Theory Martise Vest.

- Alex Gambardella

Warm Winter Vests For Luxe Cold Weather Layering from TheFind! is a post from: Violet Revolution

This week started off with our first ever intern feature! We interviewed Andrea Marie. Find out which Major League Sports Team Andrea wants to work for by reading up on her interview.

In the market for a New Years Eve outfit? Be sure to read our LookBook article on the Five Must-Haves for New Years Eve! We’ll give you tips on how to dazzle on the 31st!

Still thinking about what your Holiday look? We met up with The Working Wardrobe at Cerato Boutique to bring you great ideas on what to wear this Season! 

Our weekly Shopping and Goodies showcased great, unique jewelry pieces! As well as tons of other advice from some of our favorite online fashionistas!

And don’t forget to check out our Deals and Events post! We gathered a little over ten promotions that are happening or coming up right here in Chicago! You won’t want to miss out on these!

From all of us at Violet Revolution, we wish you and your family a joyful and safe Holiday Weekend. We hope that enjoy this special time with your loved ones and have a magnificent New Year!

P.S. If there is anything you would like Violet Revolution to write about in the New Year, be sure to let us know! We love to hear from our fans!

Violet’s Week in a Review:: December 20th-23rd is a post from: Violet Revolution