Christmas Outfit Inspiration & Ideas

The party season is upon us, and despite the stress it causes a lot of people, it brings one distinct advantage with it — an excuse for new clothes!

I love buying my Christmas clothes. As in, LOVE. It's another one of those Christmas rituals that gets me feeling all seasonal and fuzzy inside. I know there are better things I could be doing with my time in the run-up to Presentfest (such as, err, buying things for other people...), but oh well, whatever makes you happy, right? And scouring the town for Christmas outfit inspiration is definitely making me happy right now!

I've thrown together a few outfits in the hopes of sharing my festive consumerist delights with you guys. I know that some people prefer to stick to traditional reds and greens for their outfits, and some people prefer to break the mould a bit — so see which takes your fancy.

Items in this set:
Edith & Ella - Red Christmas Dress
Edith & Ella - Black Coat
Edith & Ella - Black Lace Heels

Firstly, a more traditional sort of outfit. The red keeps it Christmassy, but pairing it with simple black items keeps you from looking too much like one of Santa's elves.

Items in this set:
Edith & Ella - Purple Christmas Dress
Edith & Ella - Black Ballerina Flats

Next, a total departure from Christmas colours altogether. I am in looove with this purple dress from our Christmas collection, and I think it should be worn with as little else as possible to maximise its gloriousness! So, to that end, I chose a pair of simple black flats to go with it, as they won't detract from its very purple statement.

Items in this set:
Edith & Ella - Brown Check Ballet Flats
Edith & Ella - Brown Skirt

And finally, a bit of a middle ground. I like the idea of avoiding red, but still keeping it Christmassy with warm, spicy colours. I kind of imagine that this outfit would taste like cinnamon :)

More Christmas outfit inspiration on the way in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned, readers!

Would you wear a sheer jumpsuit?

What are your thoughts on this outfit, featured in the October 2009 issue of Jan magazine?


Would you be caught dead in a sheer jumpsuit? Or are you itching to go out and get your hands on one right now?

P.S. The shoes above are available (in pink and blue) in our online store - check them out!

Personal Pick: Flirty Floral Dress

Perfect for the transition to Autumn weather, this floral, 1940s-style tea dress will see you through hot and cool times. It's got that great Edge of Love style, which goes perfectly with so many things — from chunky knits to uber-feminine high heels.


Pair it with some light shoes to make those hot days bearable, or with tights (I'd suggest navy or cream) and a cute cardigan when the sun fails to show his face.

Pick of the Week: Navy Cardigan

If love has a physical form, then for me it's this strawberry cardigan!I pretty much haven't taken mine off since I got it. Mostly because I seem to be obsessed with navy at the moment, but also because I love the flattering cut, the poofy sleeves, and the cute little embroidered strawberries on the front and back.

My favourite way to wear it (so far, anyway) is with a little red dress and navy flats. I also throw on a pair of green tights if it's a bit chilly out, because they make the green embroidery on the cardigan stand out wonderfully.

Argh, it's just too great! ;)

Style Inspiration: Blue Jeans

I envy people who can look good in jeans, I really do. I always feel incredibly under-dressed when I wear them, even if I'm just popping down to the shop... Maybe I'm just not styling them right, though. Because they look wonderful in this page from Birgitte!


So, how to recreate these looks? The jeans themselves are pretty basic, and I'm sure you have a pair at home, but the styling makes all the difference.

Look #1: This is quite a boyish look, so pair the jeans with a flannel shirt and leather bomber. Add some girlier details to top it all off - some dainty shoes and a stylish handbag do the trick here.

Look #2: This is a much more traditionally feminine outfit, and a lot dressier than the first - even if they do describe it as 'hippie'. Grab a nice, loose shirt, a suede-style handbag, and top it all off with a pair of shiny heels to complete this look.

How do you like to style your jeans? Inspire me!

Inspiration: Exam Time!

Spring is coming to an end, and for lots of us, that means one thing... exams. Oh dear. I'm about to lose my mind in a mush of literary and cultural theory, but I'll be damned if I don't feel good while I'm doing it!

A big bag for my books:

(Buy in the store.)

A snuggly cardigan to keep me from panicking:

(Buy in the store.)

And a simple dress and shoes so I don't have to worry about matching in the morning:

(Buy in the store.)

(Buy in the store.)

Now I just have to actually go and learn the stuff... Good luck to any of you in the same boat!

Style Inspiration: The Edge of Love

The Edge of Love, for those of you who haven't heard of it, is a 2008 film starring Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller. I haven't actually seen it myself - RottenTomatoes only gives it 36% - but screencaps keep popping up in fashion blogs that I read, and the costumes are really gorgeous.

Makes you want a pair of wellies, doesn't it?

If you want to give Edge of Love style a go yourself, you'll need a few key things: floaty florals, frilly blouses, and thick knits to go over the top. Knee socks and wellingtons are optional in the summer, of course!



I love the idea of this floral dress with a heavy red knit, personally. I think they fit the film's aesthetic perfectly.

Be a Stripy, Nautical Sailor for Spring!

Earlier on the month I was blabbering on about nautical stripes and sailor-inspired outfits in Cosmpolitan, and now Cosmo Girl have got me all a-twitter with the feature below:

The stripy red socks and blue shoes combination is much too good, as is the D&G inspiration picture they've included.

There are some great nautical pieces in the Edith & Ella online store at the moment, too. I especially love these red and blue striped linen skirts, this red buttoned top.

Retro 1960s Mod Inspired Outfit

Image from allposters.com

They were hip, they were cool, they were edgy... they were mods! Now they're kooky and retro, but we still love them anyway.

Most people just associate the Mod lifestyle with the clothes, and rightly so, because they were pretty clothes-obsessed. But Mods had an agenda too; they wanted to reject the bland, boring culture of the 1950s, and engage with things that were smarter and faster paced. Amphetamine abuse aside, that all sounds pretty good to me.




Get your own Mod look with this 60s-inspired sequin dress from the store. It's still on sale for €40 today, so grab it while you can, and get dancin'!

Cosmopolitan Loves Edith & Ella!

I get embarrassingly enthused whenever the words 'stripy' and 'nautical' are mentioned. Mostly because they're usually accompanied by red, white and navy colour combinations, much to my delight!


This month's Cosmopolitan gives a nod to Edith & Ella, along with a slew of other seaworthy delights, on the page above. (Click on the picture to enlarge it and get more details.)

London Fashion Week Inspiration - Luella Fall 2009

I've barely managed to think about Spring, and yet Autumn/Winter collections from London Fashion Week are popping up everywhere I turn. It's a bit mad, but who am I to turn down an opportunity to ogle beautiful clothes?

My favourite collection that I've come across so far is from Luella. A mix of kooky schoolgirl and military aesthetics might sound a little odd, but it's pulled off wonderfully.

(All pictures from style.com.)

If you want to recreate the feel of this show for yourself, you'll need to look out for items with texture, structure, and, most importantly, bad-ass-itude!

Søndag Loves Edith & Ella

I love this outfit featured in Søndag recently (click for the full picture) — I want to lounge around painting pictures in it on a bright, breezy spring afternoon! Hurry up, good weather...

Spring Showers

It may be the ninth day of spring today, but that's no excuse not to keep wrapped up in a warm coat, still up to 50% off in the store!


Spring Showers - by vulgarmoon on Polyvore.com

My favourite is the extremely versatile blue wool coat; wear it with darker colours on dreary days, or dress it up with bright spring colours when you need a lift!

Vintage Style Icons: Ingrid bergman

I have always thought that Ingrid Bergman, most famous for her role in the classic, Casablanca - was really beautiful, and definitely a source of style inspiration if you're going for a vintage look! Here are some favourite pictures of mine for your admiration:






Try emulating her style with a vintage-style dress, pencil skirt, or a good old pair of classy high heels, all up to 75% off in the online sale!

Inspiration: Cardigans & Jumpers

To give you some outfit inspiration, here's a trio of perfectly-jumpered and -cardiganed girls from Flickr:

thecatspajamas

Hannah Mia

persephassa

Take a look at the store's knitwear section for some more inspiration, and be sure to keep warm through all the horrible winter weather!

New Year Party Dress

The post-Christmas lazies are certainly setting in around here; I've spent most of the last few days in bed with books, DVDs, and lots of chocolate. Most definitely appreciated after the stress of moving back home and having my luggage left behind in Copenhagen airport!

Now that the present-buying stress is out of the way, I'm wondering what I'll be doing with myself for the New Year. I've no plans yet, but here's what I'd love to be wearing no matter what the event:



The blue velour dress is available in the store now. I don't know why I get so obsessed with velour and velvet each year - they're just so seasonal, and the antithesis of the cold, dreary winter weather that's been hanging around so much lately.

Anyway, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Be sure to enjoy what's left of the holidays, and I'll see you all again in 2009 (or maybe even before)!

Vintage 1940s/1950s Makeup Tutorials

Last month I posted a couple of my favourite vintage hair tutorials, and today I thought I'd do a matching makeup post.
I love vintage makeup, mostly because it really feels as though it's worth the effort it takes to put on. I have no time for "no-makeup" makeup — it takes for-bloody-ever to apply, yet leaves you looking as though you aren't wearing any at all. Where's the fun in that?

This is my kind of tutorial; a very retro, pin-up style look:



While this one goes for a different style; Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's:



Finally, Beauty Couch has a great round-up of links for vintage makeup inspiration here.

Have fun, and good luck!

Slouchy Casual

When people come up with imaginary outfits, like the ones I post here pretty regularly, they usually involve high heels, fitted dresses, and other beautiful but rather formal things. I love to dress up, and I see no reason for keeping clothes like that for "special" occasions, but there are some days that you just want to slouch around in a pair of jeans and a giant jumper:



I think this long burgundy cardigan is perfect for the task, paired with jeans, cute socks, and soft shoes.

Review: Buttons and Skirts

Last month I posted a review of a sweater with lovely buttons on it, this month I got my hands on a skirt with lovely buttons!


I once again have to confess to choosing an item of clothing based on the button-placement. I'm an addict. I can't really be blamed, though... this skirt is button heaven! The ones on the front are wonderful, of course, but the two little buttons on the slit at the back are possibly the most adorable detail ever.

The Brown Stripe Skirt is, as always, available in the online store — indulge your own button-y delights here!

Smart Casual for Any Occasion!

Dinner with friends? Anniversary? Office party? Lounging around at home watching television? I'll take any excuse to dress up, really. Here's an outfit that I think would work for any of these!



Dressy enough for dinner with friends, pretty enough for a date (if you're in the mood for being pretty, anyway), demure enough to not shock your boss at a party, comfy enough to mooch around the house in... yep, with nice flats (be kind to your feet!) and a handbag to keep all your stuff in check, I think this dress can do just about anything.