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The Return of the Skirt as Seen at NYFW 2014

The "skirt" has for a moment in time been buried under boyfriend jeans, crop tops and jumpsuits waiting to reemerge, and now is the time! New York Fashion Week has spotlighted many new trends, the skirt being one to follow this Fall. This once forgotten article of clothing is debuting in fresh silhouettes, colors and patterns. Surely you've heard of the midi skirt which first surfaced in the Spring of 2014. Now is the time to try flounce and wraps in flavorful plaids and playful stripes. Solid skirts are on the fashion menu too in textiles like cashmere, crepe and leather. There's no skirting around this Fall trend favorite. Have a look at how to style the skirt this season... Happy Sunday! xx

"Check" Her Out: Plaid Mini

Red + Crepe

Grey + Wool = That's a Wrap!

My Outfit of the Day: Black and White Stripes Atop a Black Vegan Leather Skirt

The Flavor of Floral

If you missed out on New York Fashion Week, just check back here for posts on the top trends. I've got your back on all things fashion. ;) 

Continue scrolling for tips on how to boast the revived skirt.  

Shimmer Gold Leather - The NYFW Gold Standard (Love it!) 

Psychedelic Green and White Stripes with Flounce

Get creative, have fun and let your personality shine as you slip on your new skirt.

Herringbone Skirt - Check it out! ;)

All of the pictures in this post (other than my outfit of the day) are from Vogue.com's spread entitled: 

Photos: Street Style: New York Fashion Week Fall 2014 Part Two.

Surprise Summer Collection Sneak Peak: The Culture of Design Jewelry

Bonjour, ladies and gents!  Here's a surprise summer collection sneak peak because I'm horrible at keeping design secrets.  These are a couple of my most recent handmade creations soon to be available for purchase on my Etsy shop: thecultureofdesign.etsy.com.

Which necklace is your favorite out of my summer collection? xx

Outfit of the Day: Lady in Red Jumpsuit

Red is the hot hue for 2014's fashion palette, and it's no wonder after seeing stars like Amy Adams sporting this vivacious color at the Golden Globes.  One of my favorite bloggers and style guides, Blair Eadie of Atlantic-Pacific, has featured three red saturated outfits within the last couple of weeks.  What does this all mean?  It's time to get in with the red trend!

I'm taking my dressing cues from crimson this season.  Here I'm wearing a red jumpsuit by Elana Kattan along with a glistening, black bow clutch by Ted Baker.  My earrings (available here) and my necklace (see here) are ruthenium stunners by Marie Laure Chamorel of France.  This outfit is available at Ziabird's store in Lumina Station.  Stop in to give my Lady in Red Outfit of the Day a try!  xx

 For the clutch, stop in Ziabird located in Lumina Station or take a peek at its bright pink style here.

 Get a close-up of this exquisite necklace by Marie Laure Chamorel here.

I love the elegance that these earrings emit with cascading ruthenium chain (see here). 

Wearing red are celebrities like Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Narcisco Rodriguez and Amy Adams in Valentino.  Lupita Nyong'o stunned the stars with her crimson cape dress by Ralph Lauren, all at the Golden Globes.  

Atlantic-Pacific blogger is suiting up in red.  Read more here. 

 Atlantic-Pacific blogger rocking the cascading red overcoat.  Check out her blogpost here.

Atlantic-Pacific blogger in a military lobster red coat.  For her blogpost, click here. 

Red hot pea coat by JCrew available here.

How do you plan on rocking red this season? 

New Year, New You Resolutions & Outfit of the Day: The Magic of Midnight

Happy 2014, everyone!  I couldn't be more excited for a new year to begin.  2013 was a wild one, saturated with transition and plagued with the unknown.  I enjoy the occasional surprise or two, but when your life is ridden with the unpredictable, a daily routine is thoroughly refreshing.  Two months into my role as marketing director at Ziabird, I'm thankful for my routine and casting vision for the future.  A few of my 2014 new year's resolutions are listed below.

My New Year's Resolutions:

1.) Get back to eating more live foods (After indulging in too many grains and sweets over the holidays, I've been reminded that food either heals or poisons the body.)

2.) Incorporate more discipline into my exercise and meditation time (I'm a huge fan of Pilates, but I've been wanting to test the Yoga waters in an effort to not just increase my strength but also my focus and self-discipline.  Well, I'm diving in.  I tried out my first Yoga class yesterday, really enjoyed it and plan on taking a few, free classes this weekend at Yoga-Fest.  Care to join?) 

3.) I'm not sure if this one counts but... Have my own pet by the end of this year like this little golden retriever puppy.  Who can say no to this adorable little guy?

4.) Build my own vegetable garden

5.) Clear my mind of can't (With the new year here, there's no better time to remove "can't" from my vocabulary.  Anything is possible!)

6.) Post regularly on my blog with more enticing content, including the occasional video outfit of the day (What do you like most about the blogs and websites you frequent?  Also, do you know of anyone handy with a video camera?  I welcome your suggestions and feedback!)

My full list of 2014 resolutions continues, but I'll spare you the eternal scrolling down.  Instead, see how I captured the magic of midnight in my outfit of the day, a look I styled for Ziabird. 

With a sheen like that of the stars, this St. Emile mohair jacket in midnight blue is the quintessential Winter coat.

St. Emile's midnight blue mohair jacket acts as the perfect backdrop to this dazzling clutch by Deepa Gurnani.  The lapis drop ring with hammered gold is by Maggie Orli, a Wilmington native now living in Southern California.

No outfit is complete without an outstanding pair of earrings.  This gold winged pair adorned in lapis, ruby and green onyx by South African designer Zoja sets the bar high.

These darling oxblood heels are a fabulous find from Aqua Fedora.  Make the rest of this outfit yours by stopping in Ziabird of Lumina Station.

What are some of your goals for this new year?  Do you plan on making any personal or fashion changes?  Happy New Year to the new you! xx

Outfit of the Day: Winter White Not?

Reminiscent of morning frost, winter white is an outfit essential this season that I'm fully embracing.  This icy hue completes any outfit's color palette. 

Here I'm wearing a vintage Antik Batik tunic embellished with silver and bronze along the buttoned-down neckline.  I've layered on my gray fur scarf and JCrew's heather gray pixie pant to bring an element of warmth with my open cage heels from Forever 21 (you NEED these black patent shoes). The finishing touch is my winter white Calvin Klein coat with silver zipper details.

This outfit is comprised of two sentimental pieces which I collected from my time in London - only four months but priceless and life-changing.  The fur scarf I hunted down at the Portobello Market in Notting Hill after my co-worker at AT Showroom came in wearing a camel colored one.  As a parting gift, my darling German boss Alexa of AT Showroom gave me the stunning, cobalt tunic by Antik Batik.  I simultaneously strut in my outfit of the day and smile at the magical moments I shared with my fabulous flatmates and faithful God in the UK. 

Winter white Calvin Klein coat, gray fur scarf and JCrew pixie pant

Antik Batik tunic with its silver and bronze embellishment

Forever 21 open cage, black patent heels

I hope you're feeling inspired to layer and experiment with winter white!  Happy Friday!  xx

Sweet Tooth Sunday: Pumpkin Spice Doughnut Holes (Gluten-free & Dairy-free)

These pumpkin spice doughnut holes are an incredible dessert especially around the holidays to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings.  They would also be a delicious recipe to share Christmas morning with your family.  I wonder if these doughnut holes could be converted into cake pops...?

I made these (and an egg-free version) for Friendsgiving, and the crowd went wild!  I had several friends asking for the recipe so here it is:

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

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Ingredients

For the doughnuts:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour blend (I used Silvana Nardone's blend - it's the best!)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your flour blend already contains it like in Silvana's)

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3/4 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)

1/2 cup rice milk (or almond milk)

For the sugar coating:

1/2 cup (which equals 8 Tablespoons) soy-free Earth Balance 

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350º, and spray a 24 count mini-muffin tin with gluten-free cooking spray. Set aside.

2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, spices and xanthan gum in a large bowl. Add the oil, brown sugar, egg, pumpkin puree and milk.  Whisk until smooth.

3. Using a small scoop or tablespoon, fill holes in pan about 3/4 full.  Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of one comes out clean.  Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes.  You will probably need to bake 2-3 batches, depending on how big your pan is.

4. Place half of the sugar and cinnamon blend in a large, zip-up bag and the other half in another bag.  Dip the doughnut holes on all side in the melted earth balance; then place one dozen in the first bag and the second dozen in the other bag (I actually had enough dough for three dozen so I doubled the blend and added a third bag). Seal each bag and shake to coat with sugar-cinnamon mixture.  Serve immediately or let cool like I did.  These are best when eaten the same day.

*** To make my second batch of pumpkin spice doughnuts egg-free, I replaced the egg with 2Tbsp. water, 1Tbsp. oil and 2 tsp. baking powder.***

Happy Holiday baking!  I hope you enjoy these pumpkin spice doughnut holes as much as my friends and I did! xx

Dipping the freshly baked doughnut holes in the melted soy-free Earth Balance. 

Sitting pretty in their sugar-cinnamon coating. 

Ready to taste test with a glass of yummy rice milk. 

Sub Santa's usual milk and cookies with these delicious pumpkin spice doughnut holes (that happen to be gluten-free and dairy-free, and there's even an egg-free option)!