Fall Daily: Style from Apples?

There is nothing quite like apple picking during Fall. The crisp cool air, mixed with the sweet aromas of baskets and baskets of ripe apples! There will be apple pie, apple cider, apple strudel, apple jam, apple cider, and the list goes on. Fall just wouldn't be the same without these shiny bundles of crisp sweetness. 

Apple style is absorbing the essence of apple as a character, and submerging it into fashion style. Apples by nature are sweet, crisp, playful, beautiful, resilient, and multifunctional.

 First start by using the color scheme of  red, green, or yellow, and partner it with a cool crisp, white color. 

Keep it simple, and playful, while always remember the simplicity of the apple itself. An apple never tries too hard nor takes itself too seriously. It is effortless, cool, and a bit studious. 

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Have you been getting your daily dose of an apple?

Join me everyday for more Fall Style! (Posting everyday in October and November)

xo,

Maya

Blogmas Day 20: Addicted to Red?

The month of December has me seeing and craving all things red. The color Burgundy, or mauve is a color I love during late Fall and all of Winter, but a color never worn in my Spring or Summer Wardrobe. This started me thinking, why is it so many of us crave the color red during the colder months? 

The color red is consistently the most loved color of Winter, and it appears not as a trend, but a definitive fact year after year. Why do we crave the color, and why is it so appropriate for the Holidays?

Awhile back, I wrote an article based on the psychology behind colors, and the emotions behind them. The color red is scientifically proven to raise your body temperature, giving the sensation of warmth. Mentally and emotionally we translate red as the color of passion and love. It is also widely used to grab your attention, and spark urgency. All facts rather appropriate to all things "Christmas". 

The color red is even debated as the color choice of Santa Clause, but like the chicken  and the egg, which came first? Do we love red because of Santa, or love Santa and therefore, made him red? Some people say it is simple  propaganda created by a Coca Cola Campaign, while others debate Santa has been wearing red from years back. I say, it doesn't matter who first colored Santa's suit red, the color sticks because it  works. Red represents everything we desire during the Holidays. Warmth, Love, and Joy. This is what we crave as the Winter months freeze over, and this is what makes us happy. 

xo,

Maya

Blogmas Day 10: Holiday Coat

I don't know what it is about Christmas that makes me gravitate to the color red, but for some reason, I can't seem to get enough of it during the month of December. My coat is a bright orange red, and it is such a statement piece that I find myself wearing a lot of black to balance the eye from experiencing too much noise. There is an innate warmth to the color and it is in my opinion the perfect color for the ending of such a fiery season (Autumn). 

Blogmas Day 8: My Top 6 Burgundy Accessories

In the month of December, I basically almost always wear either red or burgundy. I am not quite sure why I love burgundy as much as I do, but it is my comfort color during the holidays. 

I am constantly searching for accessories or shoes in this color, but surprisingly, it is rare for me to find anything that excites me. However, I have featured below my top 6 favorite burgundy pieces. 

Noa Noa, knit trio, accessory. Noa Noa is a brand from Denmark, and one of my favorite stores in Europe. I discovered them while living in Belgium, and they always had pieces that were quite special.

Valentino purse with handmade, velvet red scarf by Maya Horikawa Designs ( Aka Me)

These amazing flats were purchased in NYC many many years ago, but still remain a favorite. The ruby cross charms, are fun and whimsical. 

These shoes are by Miu Miu and my favorite shoe. I love the color variations, and contrasting spots of light and dark.

The bow belt is from Accessorize, London, and very affordable.

The hair clip is made of crystal, and bought from a specialty shop in Europe.

xo,

Maya

Fashion Culture: India

See Street Style of India

India is a culture that celebrates color, it breaths life into the multitudes of outlooks, lifestyles, and traditions. In Religion, Politics, and Celebrations, the symbolism of color stands out and controls every aspect of life.   

There love of color however, is not purely aesthetic. There is meaning behind each specific color, which may be surprising for most western cultures. For example, Black has connotations of being ugly, evil, negative, and inertia. It symbolizes anger and darkness and is associated with the absence of energy, barrenness, and death. Surprisingly different from Western fashions, and attitudes, "Black" is not a desirable

Base garments: Sari and kurta

A sari is the traditional Indian Garment. It is wrapped around one's shoulder to accentuate the female figure. The kurta is a tunic that can be worn for casual occasions. Both are richly embroidered and come in vibrant colors.

Theses are a modern take on a traditional sari gracing the runway of India. A sari is a strip of unstitched cloth, ranging from four to nine meters in length, that is draped over the body in various styles. 

The color Red is translated in India as a dynamic and a creator of fire in the eyes of the beholder. It incites fear and is the color associated with one of the most revered goddesses in Hindu mythology , Durga. She is a fiery image with a  red tongue and almost red eyes.

Red also stands for purity and is the preferred color for a bride’s garment. Red has a deep meaning in the Indian psyche. It commemorates the union between two people and is visible right from the wedding, where the bride is decked in brilliant hues of red. A red tikka (spot on forehead) that she adorns after the wedding as a sign of her commitment. It is perhaps easy to see why red also symbolizes fertility and prosperity.

During weddings and festivals like Holi or the Featival of Color and Diwali (festival of lights), women decorate their hands, arms and feet with mehndi, or intricate patterns drawn onto the skin using henna. Here, skill is an equalizer; the rich and poor can have equally beautiful patterns.

White is actually a color specificially worn for widows. It is the selected color at funerals and ceremonies that mark death in the family. Widow white symbolizes her disconnecting from the pleasures and luxuries of active and normal participation in society and life around her. White is also widely accepted as the color of peace and purity.

Pink & Red Love Affair.

Holiday Candy!