From the age of 5 Boticca star designer Bita Pourtavoosi has had creativity running through her veins but it wasn’t until a chance viewing of a jewelry exhibition at college that Bita realized her true fashion destiny. With a real passion for carefully crafted, handmade jewelry, Boticca caught up with the lovely Bita to find out just why she wants her jewelry to make us feel both limitless and mischievous. (more…)
Handpicked by Poppy
Not only does M. Brulee’s stunning leather cuff perfectly sum up this autunm’s love for leather but the philanthropic designers also donate 10% of all purchases to nonprofit organisations, making it the ultimate guilt-free style splurge.
Here at Boticca we await each new season with a mixture of excitement and interest as we wait to discover what new delights we will be coveting. As regular readers will know, Boticca is all about stylishly standing out, being unique and always searching for the next new thing. This is why we love each new fashion season quite so much as we think of it as a new way to re-invent our style, feast our eyes on various delights and as always, find out who will be in our style dreams for the months to come.
Looking to the Autumn/Winter 2011-2012 trends, the catwalks have been awash with everything from leather to lace, polka dots to prints and fringing to fetish. With such a plethora of choice and such differing styles it can be easy for fabulous fashionistas to become somewhat confused as to what Autumn/Winter 2011 trend to embrace. Luckily Boticca is on hand to tell you which unique trends to plump for if you want to look ‘so now’ not ‘not that again.’
Androgyny is due to be a huge trend for Autumn/Winter 2011 with its easy accessibility and wearability. With its boy meets girl vibe, jewelry and accessories are pared down, chic yet simple and striking yet always elegant, making it the perfect trend of those looking for something slightly more out of the ordinary. Like the sound of androgyny? Think LeiVanKash’s skull bracelet, Poupee Couture’s Tuxedo Handbag and Catalina De La Torre’s Alanis Necklace.
As regular readers of the Boticca will know fetish has been heralded by our team as one of the most unique, inventive and daringly different fashion trends for Autumn/Winter 2011. Think bold and think big, think dark and think daring and finally think lace and think leather. Think it sounds like you? Then here’s what to go for; the Stella bag by azyra, the unagi necklace by Grace Hamilton and finally the Ear Ornament no 2 in Brass by Michelle Kirana Oh.
While the weather might be getting duller outside, fashion forward fillies will shine like the stars with colorful metallics and high shine palettes this winter. A highly distinctive trend this really is one only for those who want to stand out in style. And for this, you will need Susan Suh’s Dragonfly Cuff, Le Magnifique Crystal Ring by Yuen London and the London Voodoo bangle by Jolita Jewellery.
So for more of our awesome autumn trends click here
Considering Slim Paley only started her beautifully eclectic lifestyle blog on what she calls ‘a wing and a dare’ she really is having the last laugh now with her blog becoming the go-to guide for interiors and lifestyle inspiration.
Never one to sit still for long, Slim has called London, Vancouver, New York, Tokyo and LA home with her roots now firmly planted in California. With a love for travel running through her veins, Slim has visited Africa, India, Thailand, Greece and Bhutan in the last few years, using each trip as a valuable source for her seemingly endless inspiration.
Describing her blog as a combination of ‘travel, fashion, interiors, gardening and books – an eclectic brew’ Slim admits that despite all the critical acclaim for her blog, her greatest accomplishment is her 25 year strong marriage and her two sons.
And that’s not all – we have more from Slim here.
Handpicked by Eliza
My love has no limits for these Andalucia Earrings that channel the warmth and design of one of my favorite Mediterranean countries. Although the designer says you don’t need to dance the Flamenco to wear them, I’m sure the chime and charm of these dazzlers would get me moving on the dance floor.
There are not many people brave enough to change their entire career path to follow a dream but that is exactly what Boticca designer Susan Suh did. With her engagement proving as the catalyst to embark on this life long dream, we catch up with Susan and talk all things elegant. (more…)
The 1940s was a time like no other. With the outbreak of World War 2 the world literally changed over night. Gone were the carefree flapper days of the 1920s and 30s as rationing, manual labor for women and curfews became the new norm.
It wasn’t until 1945; the end of the Second World War, that the impact of these tumultuous times could be seen properly and the area that emerged most changed was women’s wardrobes. The 40s had heralded a brand new hierarchy for women as they took on factory work and other manual labor to keep their countries running while war was still raging and it was a feeling that women were not so willing to give up once peace was restored. There was a sense of empowerment, of living for the day, that once life returned to normal, women reflected this in their day-to-day wardrobes.
The 1940s also saw the rise of Hollywood starlets such as Joan Crawford and Rita Hayworth. Their unique and quirky style and strong-minded attitudes helped change the way women both viewed fashion and how they experimented with their own style.
With the war raging on in Europe until the mid 1940s – style seekers had to become ever more resourceful. With compulsory rationing and shortage of materials, style seekers became ever more resourceful. Like many of our designers on Boticca, they looked to their surroundings for inspirations and began thinking of making as an art as their fashion and accessories were mostly hand-made.
As with all good fashion trends, the 40s has once again been gracing our catwalks. Admittedly more opulent and daring than the original this is one style fans of unique, hand-made and homely trends will flock to. This Autumn/Winter 2011 fashion trend is all about thought, it’s all about being unique, being hand-made and being made to last which really is what after all, Boticca is all about too.
Think this trend looks like you? Here are Boticca’s top tips for nailing this fashion trend on the very fashionable head.
Florals were big in the 40s and they are huge in this re-make. For a more unique and modern spin why not try Uroco’s Kimono Clutch.
If ever there was a color to sum up this trend it would be pink. Soft and delicate yet pretty and strong – if you embrace only one element of this trend – make sure it’s pink. Put a 21st Century spin on this trend with World of Wonderful’s oversized Clutch bag.
Demure and delicate, no self respecting 40s lady would be seen without her gloves. As we enter winter, these become not only a style staple but an essential. Astis’Tenzing Leather Mittens will keep you warm in style.
A faux fur that is. This trend is all about ladylike chic and faux fur screams chic elegance. Be it a stole, a scarf or gloves, this season its all about the fur. Little Fille’s Blair Freshwater earmuffs are a wonderfully unique and modern take on this trend.
When it comes to handbags, this trend calls for them to be framed. Short strapped and framed style – the ICONIC GOLDEN LEATHER HANDBAG by anca irina lefter is what it’s all about.
Like what you see? We have more fabulous Forties fashion here.
Handpicked by Poppy
With vintage pink suede snakeskin and elegant swarovski detailing, if ever a bag screamed one of a kind, it is this one.
Taking her inspiration from her relationships with both people and nature, Michelle Kirana Oh‘s highly successful jewelry line only came about half way through her foundation year at college. Upon winning a place to study jewelry design, Michelle fell in love with the immediacy of making jewelry and thus began her love affair with her trademark style that she calls ‘slightly raw.’ We got the chance to catch up with the busy designer and find out why ethically produced materials are so important to her and what kind of designs we can expect next from her.
This week’s style inspiration comes courtesy of The Daily Mail’s online Fashion Editor and aspiring novelist Maysa Al-Rawi. A self-confessed style scatterbrain with a penchant for statement rings and evil eye bracelets, Maysa leads Boticca through her ultimate style wish list.
And that’s not all – we have more from Maysa right here.
