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

Make the evening special with a special look. This may sound hokey, but dressing a little different from the everyday norm makes us feel, I don’t know, more optimistic, even excited about the events to come. Why else do people dress up and paint their faces in team colors for a sporting event? Not to mention, colors themselves can channel different feelings, and it’s no surprise adding some red can help you feel bold(er) for the evening.  But what if you don’t own a red dress, or the idea of wearing THAT much red seems ridiculous?  What do you do? Add a pop of color to your existing outfit!  Here’s how:

Take the Ali Ro striped dress below. If you want to make it more festive, mix and match a few red accessories, like the ones I’ve picked out here. You can add one, a few, or if you’re really feeling bold that day; go for it and wear them all. Even though the ring and belt seem large here, they won’t look so overpowering on.  If you’re not too style savvy to begin with, keep it simple to start.  You’ll feel more confident, and can always add more when you feel more comfortable with your style skills.

How are you planning to spend Valentine’s Day this year?

Day Dresses by Ali Ro
Pumps by Charles by Charles David

Center:

striped Ali Ro dress at CUSP

Counter-clockwise from top left:

rhinestone hat

McQ safety pin red belt

Red Pumps by Charles by Charles David at Lori’s Shoes

Foley & Corinna disco city crossbody handbag at CUSP

Kate Spade flower ring

Betsey Johnson lip earrings

Happy Valentine’s Day!
- Violet

Lookbook: Valentine’s Day Outfit Idea (Hint: Just Add Red) 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

I know plenty of guys who wear cufflinks these days.  Give his a personal touch with these handmade personalized silver stamped cufflinks.  You can order them with any initials on them (they don’t even have to be the same letters on both), plus you can have a special date stamped on the back.   For example, you could get each of your initials on each cufflink and your wedding date on the back.  Or maybe the initials of your child or children and their birthdates on the back.

Whether your man is a new dad or not, this Daddy’s Tie is just too adorable not to get for him from the kiddies this Valentine’s Day.

Guys need chocolate too.  Give him a manly take on a Valentine’s Day heart full of chocolate with this gift set including beer and  2 Bacon and Chocolate Bars famously from Vosges Chocolat.  Yes, that’s right, the flavor of bacon and chocolate…possibly every man’s flavor heaven he never knew existed.

Whether your main squeeze is a computer geek, workaholic, fantasy baseball addict, or online gamer; he’ll always keep you in his thoughts with this personalized heart shaped mouse pad.

Now that he’s covered, what are you going to wear for Valentine’s Day?

- Violet

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Him is a post from: Violet Revolution

If he’s already in the doghouse, or really wants to splurge on you this Valentine’s Day; nothing says love like a Vintage Vintage Chanel ’93 CC Heart Necklace.  I Love, Love, Love it!

Don’t forget those soon-to-be new moms this Valentine’s Day!  They need love too…and chocolate!  How cute is this gift of Luxury Chocolates from Vosges Haut-Chocolat?  It includes a cravings kit with flavors selected based on known pregnancy cravings, plus a style book to help a mom-to-be look her best while feeling, what could be, her worst.

I “love” this cute and sparkly mesh polka-dot, heart accented Felix Rey I Heart You Clutch. It’s just so unique, yet the colors are neutral so you can wear it with practically anything.

Sure, every girl gets roses at one point or another for Valentine’s Day, but how many times can you say you’ve received one dozen lavender roses?  Since shades of violet and purple are my favorite colors, this would be a beautiful and unexpected bouquet to find delivered at my door.

I’m not really into heart-shaped jewelry, but I’d wear these Gold Heart Cluster Earrings.   Not only are they Valentine’s Day festive, but they aren’t so overtly obvious that they are hearts, it makes them more versatile.  They have an almost filigree look to them, like the many oversized earrings you might see these days, but with a twist. Plus they’re only $60 –  a perfect price if you both don’t want to spend too much, or if he wants to make it part of a larger gift (I’m not going to argue with that, are you?  There’s a matching bracelet as well!  )

Hope you get what your heart desires this Valentine’s Day!

- Violet

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Her is a post from: Violet Revolution

(Photo Credit)

Whether it’s the good stuff or fun jewelry, every girl should know how to pick jewelry that’s going to look the best on her.  Here are my 5 tips to help you pick out jewelry for a woman (whether that’s you or someone you know!):

1) Choose colors that match what you have in your closet. If you wear a lot of blue, for example, then select a few pieces with blue in them.  Perhaps a necklace has all blue beads on it, another has black, silver, and blue, and yet another includes yellow and blue.  You can then mix and match any of them with what you have to create different looks.

2) Add a pop of color. If you wear a lot of black or grey, try adding color with jewelry.  For example, red or pink with black is quite striking.  Try selecting a few different colors that will make your outfit pop (think yellow, coral, teal, pink, red).

(Yellow necklace and tank under a blazer.  It still looks professional, but the pop of color adds interest.)

3) Take your size into account. If you have larger wrists, stick with bangle vs. cuff bracelets as they might make your wrist look too thick.  Larger rings or wide bracelets might be too overbearing if you’re really petite.  For example, I bought my sister this wide cuff bracelet as a gift.  It looked nice on me, but I’m 5’6″ and she’s 5″.  It didn’t appear as flattering on her because I didn’t take her size into consideration when selecting it.  I guess that turned out well for me as I now have a new bracelet. 

4) Don’t wear large everything. Meaning don’t wear large earrings with a statement necklace, plus a cuff bracelet and statement ring.  It’s too much.  Rather, only wear the statement necklace and bracelet, or long earrings and statement ring.  Big earrings are in right now and pairing them with an oversized necklace will look too overdone and cheesy.  Either go without or wear a dainty necklace that complements the earrings, but doesn’t detract from them.

(Statement earrings and ring on Beyonce.  No necklace.  Photo credit.)

(Here she is again wearing a statement diamond necklace and small diamond earrings. Photo credit.)

5) Buy varying necklace lengths for various necklines. A boat neck top looks best with a choker or long necklace.  A sweetheart neckline would be good with a tiered or large statement piece because you have the room for it to lay on your skin (It shouldn’t lay half on your chest, half on your top.  After a while, part of it will slide into your top and you’ll be fixing it the rest of the day or night.)  Long necklaces, whether single strand or cascading, multiple strands, look best with turtlenecks.

(Here’s Debra Messing wearing a statement necklace with a sweetheart neckline and no earrings. Photo Credit)

What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?

- Violet

What to Wear: 5 Tips When Picking Jewelry is a post from: Violet Revolution

A: Oh yes, an occasion I remember very well! My best advice is to be yourself when choosing an outfit. You want to be as relaxed as you can be when you meet the folks! Being comfortable in your outfit will put your nerves to rest. If you’re confident in your appearance, you will be able to focus on the conversation and ditch your worries at the door. I put together a staple outfit for you to get an idea of what I would wear. This outfit can be dressed up or down as much as you would like. I included a few accessories to give you ideas of how to add to it.  

For my top I would choose a looser fit, muted color. Now’s not really the time to show off your flair for fashion.  If they are conservative and you show up in a hot pink dress, they might have an initially negative (to them) image of you.  We all judge people by their appearance whether we mean to or not, so why make it harder on yourself to win them over.  I really like the sweater sleeves as it adds a bit of interest without being overdone.  For my bottom I would wear a pair of leggings or even tights. 

I am a fan of wearing boots, like the ones above, if the occasion is more casual, but you can also add a bit of dazzle to the outfit, with these cute accessories:  

If you rather wear heels instead of riding boots, choose a pump. These glittery ones are not too overdone, but add a dressy element to the outfit.  Adding a cute bag like this studded one and a complimentary, but not too overdone, belt can also subtlely jazz up the outfit.  Don’t forget to jewelry! I would opt for hoop earrings as they are simple and classic. These hoops match the top, are very feminine and just the right size!  

Good luck, girlfriend! Work it, own it, rock it – You got this! XOXO 

– Violet  

Pictured Above (Left to Right):  

Sateen Legging in Black from Perchance Boutique
Snakeskin boots from Perchance Boutique
Sweater sleeve tunic from Penelope’s
Glitter Pumps in Black from Akira
Multi-Hoops in Silver from Juliet Jewelry
Studded Satchel from Krista K
Studded Black Belt from Francesca’s Collections

Q&A: Meeting The Boyfriend’s Parents for the First Time 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

So I started thinking are there any stylish, warm weather boots out there?  Surprisingly, there are, but you have to look for them.

Sorel boots have gained popularity this winter.  I can vouch that this fur trim pair looks way better in person.  They even make a style that has crystals instead of little studs on the boot instead.  Of course, because of the rubber at the bottom, they’re quite easy to keep clean.

Ugg has branched out into other styles this winter.  This low wedge, sweater shaft boot still has the sheepskin lining, but a little more structure around the foot.

This rhinestone embellished pair is perfect for the fashionista out there.  Not only are they adorable, but they also have faux-shearling lining inside to keep your tootsies warm.

My personal favorite is these all-over furry boots, but that could be because of my fur accessories this year.

I may have to venture out into the cold to get these!  What about you, what are your favorite boots this winter?

-Violet

What to Wear: 4 Warm (& Stylish) Boots You Need Now is a post from: Violet Revolution