Polka dot inspirations

Polka dots is the most versatile design features one an find. You an almost team anything with a polka dot dress. Want something classic and timeless, you got it there. 

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Images from pinterest. Polka dot dresses from sirenlondon.com

Field of Poppies

Here's Veronica Ferraro from 'The Fashion Fruit' looking amazing in our Venus Cream Dress. The fully lined dress with cascading silver beads and pearls looks heavenly in these 'fairytale' style photos. The stunning bright red poppies compliment the soft cream tones of the dress beautifully for a romantic yet girly look.

Venus Cream Dress - £19 Sirenlondon.com

Down with love- You can live in a movie

Whenever I need an inspiration for color in fashion, I always revisit my beloved movie 'Down with Love'. This frivolously delicious and hilarious movie, starring Rennee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor, has itself become a bit of a vintage movie. It is a spoof on the Doris Day and Rock Hudson comedies of the 60s.

The bubbly blonde and the dark, handsome guy, with the 'girl trying to work hard to get somewhere' kind of story line. It certainly makes a very deserving 'chick flick', perfect for a rainy Sunday afternoon. However, the main attractions for me are the costumes. Make no mistake, this is certainly forward thinking in terms of the whole vintage thing. I guess the craze about 'Mad Men' really started with this movie.

The costumes were designed by Daniel Orlandi. I am extremely impressed with the fact that it had no real vintage clothing at all. All of the costumes were complete re-designs, fitted and turned into the funny colorful feast of a movie. The whole movie is a nonstop extravaganza of fashion display, overloaded with rainbow colors, beautiful fabrics, and matching outfits. I adore the ensemble of a pink and white wool jacket, over a super-fitted wool dress, matching the color of the jacket and topped with a pair of white gloves for style.

Daniel Orlandi must have read all the magazines from the years 62-67 to draw his inspirations for the movie. "We didn't want to use vintage clothes on Renee, or any of the other principals, because we didn't want it to look shabby," says Orlandi, who instead used vintage fabric for many of his designs. "We wanted the clothes to seem fun and surprising, not campy."

It definitely does not look 'thrift shop', in fact the cut and fit for both actors are simply amazing. Apparently, he intentionally designed the garments with lots of vibrant colors, even though they were not traditional colors for a blonde. I think the bright colors agreed with Renee very well, reflecting on her character and the comedy plot. The riot of colors, lavender, lime, fuchsia, snow-white, magenta and ice blue are certainly a feast for the eyes.

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Fushia dress £17.00 Lime dress with belt, £17.50

Don't be afraid to copy the fashion of this movie though. All the expertly matched outfits, certainly put all of us who wear a GAP tee shirt and jeans to shame. We could always lighten ourselves up with a brightly colored scarf, a fitted dress with neat tucking details, or a pair of snazzy pumps. We should never be afraid of color, after all we can still wear the classic black coat. Get out there and wear those color and treat your friends to a colorful feast.

Maroon dress £28.00

All images edited from SirenLondon.com. All dress from SirenLondon. 

Behind the Scenes: Jewellery Photo shoot

On Tuesday we had our gorgeous model Stephanie with us again to shoot our latest jewelry range. There was much excitement in the studio when the products came out, and quite a bit of time was spent cooing over cute earrings and admiring the ornate detachable collars. We put 'You'll never get rich' starring Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth on the TV to get everyone dancing and energetic for the day ahead, and Stephanie told us some amazing stories about her dancing career. After coffee and cupcakes we got right to work, pairing the pieces with our favorite Siren dresses, and raiding the office shoe collection for impressively towering heels. Two looks were created by our hair and makeup team for Stephanie to model both the girlier pieces and the more edgy, punk style collection - and she totally rocked them both!

For the first look, we took inspiration from the fishtail plaits seen on the runway at Alexander Wang. It's a tricky style that calls for lots of hairspray and kirby grips, check out this tutorial if you want to try it at home. For the eyes we used a blend of MAC's Family Silver and Threesome Mineralize shadows, with Chanel's Intensities 14 Ors followed by MAC Vanilla Pigment under the brow to open up the eye. We then applied Givenchy's Penomen'eyes in Black, which thanks to its spherical wand separates the lashes and produces an amazing effect. On Stephanie's lips we used a base of MAC Snob with a pop of Rimmel's Moisture Renew in Lily Extase, with a sweep of Givenchy's Prisme Again! blush for a sweet candy pink flush. 

For the second part of the shoot we combed out the fishtail and piled her hair into a high bun for a chic but laid back vibe. For a blue smoky eye with depth we started with a base of Red Earth's GR031 green trio palette, and brushed over a mixture of MAC Silversmith and Persuasive to get a heavy silver and blue color, which we blended right up to the socket for maximum effect. Again we used Givenchy mascara, and finished off the look with a nude lip by simply applying a concealer which matched Stephanie's skin tone.

Most of the shoot took place in the studio but at the end of the day we ventured outdoors to snap some outfits because the weather was so beautiful! Stephanie turned quite a few heads as she walked down the road in her killer heels and our Juliette beaded dress (Stephanie's favorite, she didn't want to take it off!), and we all enjoyed the excuse to get out in the sunshine. When the time came to say 'It's a wrap' we were totally exhausted from a hectic day, but it was all worth it. The photographer really excelled at doing our gorgeous pieces justice, and we can't wait to have them up on the site and introduce our customers to the new range. 

Into the wild...

That summer feeling is most definitely in the air, and as the days get longer and the sun shines brighter, you might start to yearn for adventure. The great outdoors awaits, in all its unpredictability and animalistic excitement. To ease you in to your wild summer shenanigans, the latest jewellery craze - one that has got us ladies at Siren London squealing over the sheer cuteness and badassery of the pieces – are animal inspired, and make a serious style statement. Born out of the recent revival in 1970s fashion, favouring long, flowing locks and fluid-like garments which shroud the body in mystery, the popularity of these critter accessories is soaring. Designers seek to pay homage to the organic world and showcase its splendour, and who are we to resist?

The beauty of such a trend is that you can showcase your individuality by selecting your very own spirit animal. Want to be cute and cuddly? Opt for a matching panda bear necklace and ring, to be loaded with kitsch, sparkly goodness that will keep the compliments coming. Looking for a special piece that will brighten up an otherwise everyday outfit? Select eye-catching bold exotic birds such as flamingos and toucans, with colourful beaks and gorgeous feathers. Alternatively, express your inner cat lady by channeling her through necklaces and rings adorned with friendly feline faces.

Remember, it’s not all happy-go-lucky in the animal kingdom. If you’re after tough accessories that compete in the style stakes, it’s still worth taking a look at what’s on offer at the moment. From silvery slithering snakes that wrap around your fingers and wrists and glitter fiercely in the sun, to wolves that sit silently around your neck and stare with cool confidence, these brilliantly beastly pieces will intimidate and inspire.

For a nod towards the wild side without going over the edge, pick a wraparound claw ring, or a simple shark tooth pendant to sling over your favourite band shirt. These casual accessories pack a punch and show you are a girl not to be messed with, but they don’t dominate your outfit and cage you in. They are simple enough to be stacked with your other favourite jewels for an eclectic vibe, but can equally be worn by themselves for an understated, casually cool effect.

Animal motifs allow you to express your personal strength as well as your appreciation of the natural world in all its glory. A bridge between the traditional and the trendy, these talismans put regular jewellery to shame by appealing to our primal instincts through flashes of colour and detailed design. Animals have such character that these are pieces you will want to collect and treasure for years to come - because after all, whilst we might consider this a current hot trend, whoever heard of an elephant or a lion going out of style? Timeless, elegant and unique, these animals grace the planet and are emblematic of its beauty; now they can enhance yours too. 

All images from pinterest.com and sirenlondon.com

Romantic Dreams

We have a beautiful new collection of springtime dresses and wanted to share the inspirations and ideas behind some of the garments.

Our Heidi Floral Lace Dress is simple yet magical. Gorgeous flower detailing graces the front of this adorable dress, inspired by pretty apple blossoms and English roses. The sheer, pleated chiffon skirt is reminiscent of delicate butterfly wings, whilst the lace adds that antique feel. This timeless piece is extremely versatile, ideal for a casual date or romantic wedding. It's the sort of frock that you'll want to cherish over the years as it will never lose its simplistic beauty.

So why not flaunt your love of feminine accents and get totally swept away by this luxurious lace dress!

Heidi Floral Lace Dress £14 - Sirenlondon.com

Say it with Stripes - Briar Rose

Here's the lovely Megan from Briar Rose looking amazing in our Reya Striped Waterfall Blazer. Her stunning red locks compliment the black and white vertical stripes of the jacket for a flattering yet quirky look. Teamed with white tights, black floaty dress and wedge heels for perfect monochrome style!!

Another Rainy Day - Stormy Military Jacket

Here's Veronica Ferraro looking totally amazing in our Stormy Military Jacket teamed with jeans, studded bag and silver jewellery. What better way to add sparkle to a dreary day!!

Polka Dot Perfection

Here's the amazing Veronica Ferraro from 'The Fashion Fruit' looking great in our Emilia Polka Dot Dress. Teamed with sporty jacket, baseball cap, opaque tights and heels her pretty and eclectic style is demonstrated perfectly.