FashionHap: End Jun 2017, I

Barbie went all out with the urban facet of her fashion sense in this look. She layered a sheer bodysuit under blue denim shorts (from One Teaspoon) and accessorized it with a black Hermés belt and black suede OTK boots. While I think Barbie pulls this off quite nicely,  I’m generally not a fan of the visible brassiere look; it rocks in vids and editorials, but it’s a challenge to keep classy irl. Beyond that caveat, though, I love the punchy combo of light denim blue and black. The contrast heightens the power of the black pieces and the look comes off cool and fierce. She quickly returned to summer color with this gorgeously-hued tie-dyed bikini. The strappy bottoms are about as daring as it gets and def make this suit a jaw-dropper. However, it’s the intense shading of the pattern that really sells me on it – that rich magenta, contrasted with icy mint and spiced with hints of daffodil and paprika is so beautiful and just right for baking under a glowing sun. You may remember Barbie previously wearing this Gooseberry Intimates bodysuit in black. Then, she dressed it up by wearing pointy heels with it and black jeans. Here, she kept things more casual by pairing the white piece with blue denim and furry slippers that are totally Rihanna – literally, as well as figuratively, since they are from the Fenty x Puma line. A topknot and hoop earrings complete this off-duty starlet look.
Brandi was busy working the high-low look with this knotted top, which she paired with gray distressed denim and studded gladiator sandals. I love the way this casual ensemble still keeps its edge, thanks to the studs, distressing and, most importantly, the unique and au courant silhouette. This is classic Brandi in that it still retains the undercurrent of polished confidence, even as it explores a much more modern vibe. She created a much sexier aura with her next look, a strapless playsuit done in striped of varying width. They add wonderful visual interest to this piece, although the highlight has to be that plunging sweetheart neckline! Also noteworthy is Brandi’s choice of necklace: a bold gold pendant that’s just the right length to accentuate said neckline and the sultriness of this piece! She gets props for not going with a (at this point over-done) choker; the pendant is different and consequently stands out. She goes more formal yet for her next outfit, which is fine by me because it’s a genre Brandi excels at. She ramps up the fiery statement of this coral side-lace-up bodycon dress by adding a few shots of glam: studded heels, a glittering gold clutch and a statement earring(s?).  With black sandal booties, and plainer accessories, this would be a standard date night look, but the formal accessories take it to a new level.

Cathy was breezy and beautiful in this white romper, adorned with dark stripes and gold trim. It’s not often that a metallic is grounding, but that’s how it works here, providing a sold and glamorous counterpoint to the lightweight white fabric and floaty ruffles. The one thing on my wishlist here is (believe it or not ;)) black shoes. They might seem prosaic, but they would punctuate this look better than the whispy nude, especially because light neutrals and ivories can appear as dirty fabric, rather than as their true color when paired with white. No such caveats on her next look, though: she paired a paper-chain printed sheath dress with cherry sandals. I love the way the bright shoes accentuate the color in her dress, as well as the way the piece comes off maturely playful – a result of the black backdrop and whimsical patterning. The triangle trim is super fun as well!
Charlotte seemed to hit a run of brown-shoe love, using the color for footwear twice in succession. First, she used dusty amber pumps to round off the pairing of a simple black tank with a lovely burgundy lace pencil skirt for a June meet-and-greet. I love the ankle strap detail, as well as the way they help keep the look lighter and summer-appropriate. From there, it was on to caramel OTK boots, which completed the combination of blue jean with a lace blouse that sported a sheer central band.  The boots bring a nice touch of toughness to the delicate lace. The interplay is reinforced by her topper, a leather moto
jacket emblazoned with red roses that I completely adore and need (NEED!) in my closet. Her choice of brown boots, as opposed to fiercer black is quite interesting, as it brings an earthier, more girl-next-door vibe to the look. Also of note is her citrine statement ring, which echoes the caramel tones of her boots. There are a lot of different elements in this outfit, so it could come off quite busy, but the aesthetic of her jacket helps to unify it all. Her final look is a simple pairing of a cami and blue denim. IT’s quite basic, but the au courant olive shade helps to keep ti relevant, as does the sheer detail at the top, which adds some needed textural contrast. I’m surprise she didn’t play up the 90’s vibe with a choker, but perhaps she passé dover the baubletry in order to give the look panache via a killer pair of shoes ;)