FashionHap: End July 2017, I

Barbie celebrated Swim Week Miami, including attending the SI Swimsuit party, with a triad of fab looks. Latex is having a (growing) fashion moment and Barbie hopped on the trend in a simple black dress from Meshki Boutique that garnered extra seduction  thanks to the smooth sheen of its fabric. This likely reminds you of Nikki Bella’s 2016 ESPY’s look and, indeed, the dresses are quite similar, with one exception: Barbie’s is cut straight at the neckline, instead of having the sweetheart shape. Both ladies styled the piece with ankle-strap heels. While Nikki went for a bold, studded pair, Barbie chose a slimmer version. She also wore her hair in a polished high, self-wrapped ponytail, which I love: it shows of her shoulders and fits the sleek look of the dress flawlessly. Hoop earrings add a hint of trendy shine.  Her next look pairs a square-neck crop top Meshki Boutique with the Multi Snake Split Trousers from Pretty Little Thing. I still can’t get behind the double front slit, but I love the riotous mutli-hued fabric -it’s def there to party! I also give props to Barbie for seamlessly mixing affordable pieces into her look. Nudist-type heels in beige finish the outfit, while a low pony gives the styling a more casual vibe. There’s nothing casual about her SI Swimsuit party dress, though! The piece, from Elie Madi via For The Stars Fashion House, features glittering sequined scroll-work set over a translucent  nude base. While I am very much over the sheer trend, I can’t help but admit that this dress is a showstopper! It manages to be that just-right blend of gorgeous and sexy, and still feels like a fresh take on the overdone sheer look. I love every inch of Barbie’s beauty look, from the slightly right-of-center part (with enough volume to be more stunning than severe) to her her dewy-meets-smoky eye (I have always adored the fresh glow of the dewy look) to her sand-pink lip shade. Barbie looks utterly amazing!
After Barbie’s darkness and shine, we head into a blaze of color from Brandi. First up is a lemon yellow halter maxi from Show Me Your Mumu that must feel like wearing sunshine! I’m wild over the color and the simple silhouette is versatile, comfortable and beautiful. Can’t ask for more than that :). Brandi completed the look with multi-color slingback wedges and a Louis Vuitton bag that strikes the only darker note in the styling. I don’t mind the grounding effect, but I could see a beige tote working nicely as well.  Equally praiseworthy is her next offering, a pumpkin cold-shoulder gown with ruffled sleeves. With the bright color, statement sleeves and flawless fit, it reminds me strongly of Angela Sarafyan’s look at this year’s Emmy’s. Brandi’s gown is Julea Domani x Zeena Zaki. She accented it with slender touches of  gold in earrings and a bangle. The warmth of the metallic echoed that of the dress and provided just the right subtle statement, while her rose lip shade brought a perfect extra pop of color.

Barbie gave  us a BTS look at a recent photoshoot she did for Runway Magazine in which she channeled a Barbie doll. It was an incredibly fitting theme for her and Barbie clearly has a total blast with the ‘shoot, raving about the perfection of the pink house she got to shoot in and creating fabulous shots as she lounged in bead-drenched pink body jewelry, put on her make-up, posed in a Barbie-home-become-real-life neon pink leather chair and bounced on a fur-topped ink bed. One of my favorite snaps is this one, where her simple pose and massive floppy hat created a 70s vibe and, along with her pink statement ring, creates a high fashion vibe that brings the lookout of the realm of fantasy into the real world. Her bright yellow bangle is a wonderful contrast for all the pink, while her simple white lace-up bodysuit is both Barbie-doll-worthy and appealingly modern. As sugary as it is, there’s something thrilling about seeing this fantasy realized so flawlessly! Barbie went from doll-world to the Garden of Eden (per her own caption :)) in this printed maxi from Pretty Little Thing. I love the silhouette of this piece, although the keyhole is perhaps an unnecessary addition, as well as the saturated colors in this emerald-and-sky-blue print. What particularly struck me about this look, though, was her hairstyle: this slightly poofed half up-do isn’t something we see often from her and I think we should – it’s gorgeous and really highlights the beauty of her features. Barbie finished the look with clear heels, but the print colors would allow black, forest green or pale blue to be used also. Lastly, we got to see her napping in the sun, wearing this two-piece swimsuit from Honey Bee Swim. While the top is a simple double-stringed halter, the bottoms are notable for the high-waist styling with the unusual sheer central detail that makes the high-ride look far less vintage and much sexier! The pale iris purple shade of this set is my favorite thing about it – it’s magical!