How has your summer been? Ours has been fabulous, thanks! We’ve been blessed with outstanding weather which means more beach time than usual. Vancouver’s surrounded with some stunning naturally beautiful landscape. Not to brag too much, but our city in the summer is about as good as it gets! Ahhh…
More good news- we’re having a huge summer sale on all of our clothing, jewelry and accessories! This includes all of our bohemian style dresses, tunic tops, statement jewelry, and our pure leather and beaded belt collection. You won’t find anything over $70. The sale is on now until August 2nd so tell your friends and scoop up your favourite pieces while the prices are hot! All sale items are available online at store.indiverve.com and there’s no code needed at check-out. Happy shopping!
As we are entering Spring and visions of floaty sundresses, cardigans, and sandals float through our heads, stores will soon be filled with the spring/summer collections that we saw for the first time last fall. As we get ready to revamp our wardrobes in preparation, we have selected our five favorite make-up looks inspired by the Spring/Summer 2014 runways. From berry-stained lips to winged eyeliner a’la Twiggy, the overall look for the season is natural yet striking, with one feature highlighted, bold against a radiant complexion.
1. Mad for Merlot
There is nothing more elegant than a berry-lip. On days where classic red feels garish and pink feels girlish, berry is always sophisticated and manages to be both sultry and work appropriate. While fair gals may be weary of darker colours, a softer shade of plum is striking without being harsh, and the blue undertones in the shade help to minimize redness in fair skin. Ladies with warm undertones should go for a rich raspberry shade, and darker-skin beauties a deep merlot.
2. Barely There Beauty
The funny thing about makeup is that so often people put it on to look as though they are not wearing any. The no-makeup look is truly an art. The models on the runway for Dolce and Gabbana’s collection were all positively ethereal but looked as if they weren’t wearing a stitch of makeup. The secret? Take care of your skin (eat healthy, drink lots of water, cleanse, moisturize, repeat.) and prep the skin with a primer. Only use concealer where you need it, on blemishes and on under eye circles and use a lighter tinted moisturizer or BB cream instead of foundation and only apply around the center of your face (t-zone area). Not only will it be better for your skin, but it will provide sheerer, more natural looking coverage. Applying any makeup other than a light dusting of blush on your cheeks will leave you looking overly made-up. Next smudge dark brown or black eyeliner right into your lash-line and apply a few strokes of lengthening mascara for a wide-eyed look.
3. Orange is the New Black
If you had suggested to us six months ago that we would actually consider the possibility of painting our lips orange we would have called you crazy. Don’t get us wrong, tangerine lips is one hundred percent a look that you can over-do. To keep yourself looking chic and fearless, instead of tacky and clueless, we recommend only highlighting your lips and keeping the rest of your face subdued and natural. If you feel like playing up your eyes then use a lip tint or gloss that is a little more sheer. Orange is actually a surprisingly wearable shade if done right and brings a lot of warmth to fair skin and pops against darker complexions.
4.Cat-Call
The cat-eye is tricky business, even more so than the smoky eye. That being said, when done right, it’s utter perfection in a 1960s stewardess kind of way. Black liquid eyeliner and a steady hand are what is required for this look. Start from the outside and lightly trace the shape you want to create on both eyes and fill in with liner. Next, move mistakes and make sure it is even with a q-tip dipped in make-up remover. Instantly channel Audrey Hepburn with this sophisticated look.
5. White Noise
It’s a well known beauty trick, used by makeup artists everywhere, to use white eyeliner on the lash-line and rim to leave one looking more awake and refreshed. Take it one step further and dust a pearlescent shadow on your lids for a angelic look, and a refreshing change from the usual smoky eye.
Is there a look that you think we should include? Send us an email at alicia@indiverve.com and we may include it in our next post (with full credit and links to you of course!).
Every city’s fashion week, whether it’s Paris, New York, Milan, London or even Vancouver, has a flavor and spirit that is completely unique to itself. If Paris is fashion week’s pearl-wearing, champagne swilling, Tolstoy reading sophisticate – then London Fashion Week would be it’s leather pants and ironic t-shirt donning younger sibling. It’s impossible to choose adjectives that truly incapsulate London’s Fashion Week. That being said, the words we would use to describe this year’s shows would be quirky, quirky, quirky. From Ashish’s crystal encrusted lace tracksuits worn with white platform sneakers (appropriately or inappropriately – you decide) t0 Orla Kiely’s throw-back to London’s 1960s Vidal Sassoon/Twiggy/Beatle-mania hay-day – the entire show was eclectic to the point of bizarre. London has always been a city of incredible creativity in terms of its fashion industry and this season proved that London’s reputation for innovating design is well-deserved and continuing to grow.
1. Ashish
Whether one loved or hated Ashish’s glitzy parade of jumpsuits, we had to take our hats off to the designer for daring to be so different. The collection definitely walked the line between luxe and cheap, bold and tacky, Barbarella and Snookie. Nonetheless, the intricacy of the fabrics were stunning and the dreamy sorbet palette, breathtaking.
2. Giles
We couldn’t help but fall in love with Giles’ bold colour palette of turquoise, cobalt, black, white and golden yellow. With the colour blocking and whimsical avian prints – this collection celebrated the unexpected and somewhat retro. Although we don’t know what Giles’ inspiration was, in our heads the collection was a fusion of “Swiss Family Robinson” and “The Jetsons”.
3. Matthew Williamson
Wearing runners and sport shoes with ultra-glam formal wear seemed to be an underlying theme this season for many designers. What struck us most about Matthew Williamson’s collection however were the razor sharpness of the cuts and the vibrant colours and prints. The collection was truly a mix of classic feminine pieces with 90s inspired sportswear. Although this influx of athletic inspired clothing makes us worry that we are going to return to the days of neon spandex and sweat-bands a’la Olivia Newton John in “Let’s Get Physical”, if the trend shows itself like it did in Matthew Williamson’s FW14 collection, we will be happy as can be.
4. Mary Katrantzou
Mary Katrantzou is revered for her striking digital prints. It’s her signature and the shocking realism of many of her past collections is what has really allowed Mary to build a strong and instantly recognizable presence as a designer. That being said, it was refreshing to see the designer branch out with her use of materials. Instead of dynamic prints, Mary wowed with her meticulous pleated silks, intricate jacquards, and ornate embroidery and beading. A mesmerizing blend of contrasting colours, fabrics and shapes, the collection reminded us of both the renaissance period and Ancient Egypt. With a muted palette of neutrals accented with rich jewel tones (think sapphire, dark jade, ruby, and amethyst), every look screamed Fall and was dripping in luxury.
5. Orla Kiely
Orla Kiely truly channeled the swinging sixties with her Twiggy-esque parade of shifts and baby-doll dresses. Amongst a sea of edgier looks, Orla’s collection was definitely one of the more subdued and wearable. A throw-back to the classic looks that have made London such an iconic city in the fashion industry, it was both nostalgic and refreshing to see the classic mod-looks (mini-dresses, cartoonish floral motifs, shifts, mary-jane shoes, and opaque tights) revamped. Undoubtedly feminine but with the air of rebellion that is so signature to London fashion, Orla Kiely’s collection was quite possibly our favorite of London Fashion Week so far!
Are there any shows that you think we should have listed? If so, shoot us an email at alicia@indiverve.com. Let us know what you think of our choices! There were some crazy designs on the London Fashion Week runways and we’d love to hear your opinions!
Paris fashion week is pretty much the most exciting week of our year and lives. Even more so (in our humble opinions) than New York, Milan and London does Paris fashion week bring the most revolutionary, inspiring and breath-taking couture pieces to the runway. The day that we are able to be present for one of these shows is the day we are going to drop to our knees and cry tears of pure fashion joy. From Chanel and Elie Saab to Giambattista Valli, the runways were rife with whimsy-filled collections reminiscent of Marie Antoinette in Versaille or classic fairy-tales such as Sleeping Beauty. Unadulterated luxury and femininity seemed to be the themes of the week. Ethereal laces and printed silks were adorned with iridescent sequins, hand-beading and trails of floral appliques. Though we are inspired by many of the collections that were shown, Giambattista Valli’s romantic and vividly hued collection was the stand-out for us. The soft feminine details were juxtoposed against solid bold colours (think lemon, magenta and cobalt) and lines. Waist-lines were defined with sashes and strategic seams and curves were accentuated with full-skirts. The collection played full tribute to the beautiful nuances of the feminine form and yet very little skin was shown. High-necklines and long sleeves would balance out a shorter hem-line and alternatively, a strap-less bodice would be made more demure with a floor-sweeping gown. In an industry that is so often dominated by sex appeal and skin, it is always refreshing to see the feminine figure celebrated in a different, perhaps slightly nostalgic way. In a world where everything is so accessible, it is really so true that mystery and what one doesn’t see is so often more exciting that what you can see. This was a truly breath-taking collection and we have selected five of our favorite looks from the runway.
Check out our cat walk debut filmed by Vancouver Fashion Week TV from start to finish on YouTube.
Our debut at Vancouver Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2014 was officially a success! We met several local and international designers, media, new customers and friends as well as a few celebrities thrown in the mix! The adrenaline pumping excitement and thrill of being backstage and part of the show made us blissfully excited for future fashion events to follow.
Having a first-hand experience from carefully selecting our 16 runway looks complete with Indiverve jewelry, hair and make-up to being showcased as a vendor, to rehearsing and being backstage watching our models trot down the runway in our designs was positively satisfying. Working with the Vancouver Fashion Week team was a pleasure and we were very impressed with how well everything came together in the end. What a genuinely inspiring experience for our small team. We can’t wait for what the future holds for Indiverve. We truly feel we’re a part of the local Vancouver fashion community.
We took part in the West Coast Women’s Spring Show, our very first trade show, which was held at the PNE Forum in Vancouver. We had a great time despite the rainy weather on Friday and Saturday. Sunday’s weather was sunny, gorgeous, and our booth was buzzing all day long. We had the chance to meet many new local customers and boutique owners throughout the show. We’re delighted that everyone got the chance to see our designs in person and were able to see and feel our merchandise first- hand.
Indiverve was featured in the “Spring Into Style” Fashion Show on the main stage all three days. It was thrilling to see our designs showcased on stage in front of a larger audience. Saturday was especially exciting as DJ Tony Okungbowa from the Ellen DeGeneres Show was there spinning during the entire fashion show.
We sincerely thank everyone for their compliments and positive feedback at the show. Check out some of the pictures we caught below!
Find all of these featured tops, dresses, jewelery and accessories, plus much more, at our e-store: store.indiverve.com
We have so much that inspires us that we could write dozens of posts about all of it. Thank goodness for Pinterest so we can easily share images and find inspiration from others around the world wide web. Below, is a little collection of some of the images that have caught our eye. All of them feature something exquisite whether it be rich embroidery, lovely patterns, creatively placed embellishments, or striking colour combinations. They all help get our creative juices flowing!
from blog.hippiecouture.com
from London Fashion Week. Image: glamourexclusive.com
from Berlin Fashion Week. Image: vanessajackman.blogspot.com
from Bangalore Fashion Week. Image courtesy of timesofindia.com
Kohl is an ancient eye cosmetic widely used in South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and West Africa to darken the eyelids and eyelashes. It is used mostly by women, but also some men and children in certain cultures. Kohl was originally used as protection against common eye ailments. Darkening around the eyes was believed to protect them from the harsh rays of the sun.
Kohl has been used in India as a cosmetic for a long time. Mothers would sometimes apply kohl to their infants’ eyes soon after birth. Some did this to help strengthen the child’s eyes and others believed it could prevent the child from being cursed by the evil eye. In India today, it is used by women as a type of eyeliner that is applied around the edge of the eyes. It is often worn for special social and religious occasions.
Kohl and kohl inspired “smokey eye” looks are very popular around the world. Many women prefer to use waterproof formulas which will last longer and not smudge as easily. Often used for a big night out, the black smokey look can really make the eyes pop and there are endless tips, which can be found on beauty blogs, on how to get the look using different make up techniques.
Kohl eyeliner is available in drug stores everywhere as well as stores like Sephora, and MAC around the globe. Try it for your next party or night out on the town!
We can’t get enough of the metallic look right now! In shades of gold, silver, copper and bronze, metallics create richness and elegance when added to more timeless look like a little black dress or to glam up a t-shirt and jeans. Metallics were seen all over the runway on clothing, jewelry, accessories, and even in nail colour and make-up. The key to this look is not to over do it. Choose one or two items and no more. After all, you still want to keep the attention on yourself. But be prepared to stand out if you choose to incorporate metallics! In this post, we highlight a few of our favourite metallic items with our Braided Leather Belt in Metallic, Metallic Patterned Cuff, and Embellished Tunic Top.
We adore the look of our dotted embellished tunic top. In a unique dotted cotton dobby material, this top has exquisite bronze coloured embellishments around the neckline. Its a fresh take on a favourite style.
Our Braided Leather Belt in Metallic is made of leather and has a fantastic sheen to it. We love it paired with a solid coloured maxi dress in a black, grey or navy shade. It really makes the belt pop without overwhelming the rest of the outfit, as styled on our lovely model (above).
For the finishing touch, we added our Metallic Patterned Cuff, a versatile piece that can easily be dressed up or down. The carved and braided design on a solid silver metal is the perfect metallic combination! It also looks fantastic if you want to try the “arm party” look and add multiple bangles or thinner bracelets.
Neon is back! As seen everywhere, especially as the weather warms up and we’re all eager to get into our summer gear and brighten up. The good news is the neon trend doesn’t have to remind you of the 80’s and can be worn in a much more fresh and sophisticated way. For some runway inspiration, read this post. Tangerine tango, a vibrant orange hue has been named by Pantone as colour of the year. Have you worn this colour yet? Take our poll and let us know your thoughts on it. Read on for more ideas and a few ultra colourful pieces of jewelry we’ll be carrying.
Vibrant bright orange and candy apple red beaded necklace.
Bangle set in pops of orange and pink with hints of green, blue and gold. So much fun to mix and match!
Fuchsia pink stone cocktail ring with silver etched details- a sure way to start a conversation!
Wear the neon trend around your wrist with this chunky orange and gold wooden bangle.
These bright pieces would look best matched with muted colours like black, white, a black and white mix, or nude, which is also very popular right now. Another bright idea is experimenting with your make-up shades, especially on your lips. Lipsticks in shades like fuchsia, hot pink, orange, and cherry red are guaranteed to put you in a happy mood!
Try neon lips this season! (courtesy of Glamour.com)
What ways have you incorporated neon into your look?
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