Ebony & Ivory Chic

Black and white is hot this spring! Some of you might be thinking, "What's so hot about basic black and neutral white?" "I thought we are advised to embrace color and think outside of the box."

Black and white are being presented in a couple of new edgy ways, color blocking, stripes and sometimes a combination of both.  Women love black because it's slimming but I sure as hell don't want to be mistaken as an undertaker for relying on black excessively.  White brightens up black with out neutralizing black's slimming effect. Slim and bright that's a fashion win as far as I'm concerned!

Below are a few color block and striped looks for inspiration and accessories to go with them.

Beyonce at the 2013 Grammy awards. This jumpsuit would be very boring without the brightening effect of white.

Both these dress are gorgeous in their simplicity and are slimming. The horizontal stripes on the right are slimming because the dress alternates different size stripes.

Below are fabulous accessories to compliment the black and white trend.

Black & White Color Blocking at it's finest

Like what you see? All accessories are available at ShakaraStyle.com

Pretty Pastels, Power Pastels

We are still in the throes of winter but at Shakara Style we have Spring on our mind. I’ll ignore the mounds of snow all around me and focus on Spring, the soon to be here blooming gardens, warm weather and of course Spring Fashion!  Spring 2013 is shaping out to be very exciting because the trends are relatable to real women and not the imaginary fantasy land that fashion runways and magazines occupy.  The top four trends for Spring are, Pastels, Lace, Stripes and Florals.  These trends are so exciting that we will dedicate an article to each one.

 

I usually start Fall and Winter very ambitiously, new shiny leather boots and lots of wonderful fashion forward accessories. After 12 weeks of frigid temperatures, my fashion style usually devolves to mismatched gloves, salt encrusted boots and dry hair.  (You can hide a whole lot of frumpiness under a big Winter coat and hat.) When I think Spring, I think of new beginnings, a time to reset my fashion choices. I always start Spring with lots of excitement and my fashion zeal doesn’t wane all the way to Labor day.

 

 

The biggest trend this Spring is color, beautiful, feminine, light and airy pastels. Think of your favorite flavor of sorbet. (Misty Green and Yellow Sorbet being the most popular).  The easiest and most affordable way to incorporate cutting edge trends into your existing wardrobe is with accessories. (At Shakara Style our motto is "Buy low, Look Fabulous.") These statement necklaces and purses will definitely  shake the last of the winter doldrums from your look.

 

 

 

 

 

For those of you who might feel pastels are too girly, lets introduce you to Power Pastels!
Power Pastels are basically pairing a light airy pastel with a neon version of the color for added punch.  The play between the lighter pastel and the bolder neon is so fresh. Don't limit power pastels to just jewelry. You can achieve the same look with purses, scarves, tops, bottoms. The combinations are limitless!

Coming soon...Lovely Lace!  Like what you see? All of these beautiful accesories and more are available at ShakaraStyle.com

Cold Weather Coral

The holidays have come and gone and it just dawned on me that we have at least 12 more weeks of winter. (If you live in Miami, L.A or Houston please disregard my earlier sentence.) Just because the sun is in retreat doesn't mean we have to turn our backs on color.

Coral has been the it color for a few summers in a row and it has good reason to be. It's universally flattering, it's very feminine and it's flirty. I say thats a winning recipe that needs to milked all year round. 

The key to incorporating a very summery color like coral into your winter wardrobe is moderation. Heavier fabrics like wool, damask or cashmere would look fabulous in this happy hue but appropriate and practical for the season.

Another easy way to incorporate color into your winter wardrobe is with jewelry and accessories. I wouldn't suggest you rush out and by a coral winter coat but a coral scarf, most definitely. Just the thought of a coral scarf brings a smile to my face!

Jewelry is another easy way to add a splash color to our winter look. Coral jewelry that is combined with metals or gemstones work best in winter. The metals and stones lend some gravitas to happy-go-lucky coral, balancing the look.

We can't forget about handbags and purses! We all know the important role that our bags play in rounding out any getup. Handbags are an excellent way to inject color into your winter wardrobe.

When picking a brighter colored bag for winter, make sure that materials used are a bit heavier/durable. Leathers and faux leather work well.  Nix the straw, raffia or any other material that scream, "I should be lounging on the beach." A coral colored bag would be an investment because it can be carried all year round.

Coral is such a wonderful shade that compliments a wide spectrum of colors, navy, brown, grey, olive. Fight winter doldrums with color, coral just might be our secret weapon!

Like what you see? Most of these items can be found at ShakaraStyle.com

Calling a Few Good Men

Calling a Few Good Men


That time of year is fast approaching and I'm not talking about the lead up to the Superbowl! It's Holiday Season 2012!

In a calendar year there are four gift giving Grand Slams for the woman in your life. 

• Her birthday
• Valentine's Day 
• Your anniversary 
• Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa. (I'm a Gen Xer, its been ingrained in me since middle school to be PC!)

If you've botched up your previous gift giving opportunities, the holidays can be your redemption and at Shakara Style we are here to help!


There is nothing more delightful than receiving a thoughtful gift from your man. It makes us feel loved and appreciated. The gift doesn't make us feel warm and fuzzy but the thought and effort behind the gift does. Case in point, a few birthdays ago my hubby bought a few outfits for me from my favorite boutique and in the right size. The warm and fuzzy part is that he actually knows where I like to buy my clothes, remembers my size even though I always ways complain that I'm gaining weight and I had mentioned in passing weeks earlier that I needed new clothes. He really does listen to me


You can still be a gift giving warrior, even if you don't have a clue about your ladies dress, shoe size, ring size.......

Here are Shakara Style's top 5 recommendations that are re-gifting proof. We think your wife, girlfriend, partner, significant other or baby mama deserves it. (I can't help being PC) also include your daughters too!


5.  PASHMINA SCARVES: These timeless scarves are soft, stylish and 100% silk. This 

      gift practical too! It's cold out there, so this item will be put to immediate use. Nothing

      makes a gift giver feel better than seeing the recipient of your gift put it to good use.

4.  Watch: Bold faced watches are a trend that's here to stay. Get the woman in your life a 

      crisp white ceramic or a bronze monochromatic watch both are universally flattering 

      and on trend.  I love watches, they are beautiful to look at and they are practical too!

3.  Bracelet/Cuffs: Bracelets and cuffs are my favorite pieces of jewelry because most 

     styles are universally flattering. Leather cuffs are especially flattering because they are

     adjustable and can be worn in a myriad of ways.

2.   TOTES/SATCHELS/HOBOS: Totes, Satchel and Hobos are the work horses of 

       women purses. We take them to work, we fit laptops in them, we use them to run 

       errands, sometimes they even double as stylish diaper bags. Every woman needs a 

       reliable work horse bag that is roomy, stylish and won't disappoint. Buy this for your 

       significant other and you'll convey the message that you appreciate all that she does.

1.  Clutch Purse: Clutches are wonderful purses for going out on the town. They are fun

     and flirty! Get your sweetie one of these and leave a note in it that says, "Wear this on

     our next date night...." This will definitely cement your gift giving warrior status! 

    More are available at ShakaraStyle.com. They are so affordably priced. Exceed your honeys expectations by getting her more than one suggestion.


Ladies pass this blog post to a few good men!

Welcome to Shakara Style! Home to all things Fabulous !