Trending... Tribes & Tribulations

From left to right:
Etro, Dries Van Noten, Lourdes Ciccone in AllSaints, Jean Charles de Castelbajac, Roberto Cavalli

No doubt you've heard the words 'Ethnic', 'Tribal', 'Aztec' & 'Navajo' floating round the pages of the fashion mags recently & that's because this trend, after appearing in the Spring/Summer runway shows of L.A.M.B, DVF, Jean Charles de Castelbajac & many more, has now hit the high street with a bang. 

The most obvious way to work this trend is with a large Navajo tribe print with a splash of colour much like the sell-out AllSaints mini dress donned by Madonna's daughter Lourdes (above) which has also appeared on the bodies of HSM's Ashley Tisdale & Una Healy of The Saturdays fame. Jean Charles de Castelbajac & Dries Van Noten have both gone for small detailed prints in eye catching bright colours for a stand out look. For inspiration for a more ethnic & ethereal look choose more natural, muted colours like Etro & add some soft feathers & fringing in the style of Roberto Cavalli.

What we at TTP love about this trend is that it's the perfect choice of styles, textures & colours for this transitional period from Summer to Autumn. Loose knit jumpers, oversized capes & silky kimonos are staples for your aztec closet. Consider the texture of an item before you buy it... Tactile fabrics like wool, mohair, leather & faux fur are great for outerwear. Think autumnal in your colour palette with earthy shades of black, browns, beige & nude with rich reds, blues & greens sparingly thrown in to the mix for contrast. Your prints should be sharp & directional rather than abstract & a great way to get the tribal feel is to look for prints that echo animal print in their markings but are not immediately identifiable with a certain species ('cause then you're just wearing leopard print!) & your accessories should make a statement. Look for feather detail, fringing, chains, spikes rather than studs & anything that resembles armour.

Now that you're armed with information about the trend, it's our duty to show you the best way to rock it. Have a look below at our Top Picks from the high street & on-line & go forth & let loose your inner tribeswoman!                                                              xo TBC

Top Picks

Earthy Ethnic:
Black/Silver lace & jacquard jacket - Karen Millen €302.00,
Geo-pattern bodycon dress - Miss Selfridge €61.00, Vanessa vest - Motel €35.90,
Fringed aztec tote - Accesorize €65.00, Mohair cocoon cardi - Topshop £50.00stg,
Embellished python skirt - AllSaints €210.00,
Mercer Wedge - Michael Antonio Studio $105.00 (approx €75.00) @ www.endless.com

Aztec Accessories:
Pharoah bead statement necklace - Accesorize €24.90,
Green/Gold origami clip on earrings - ASOS €19.23,
Mixed metal stack ring - Accesorize €12.50, Metallic coil bracelet - Penneys €5.00,
Cobalt blue stud earrings - ASOS €10.26, Metallic plate neck piece - Penneys €5.00,
Silver plated arrow ring - Aurelie Biderman €131.08 @ www.net-a-porter.com

Tribal Tones:

Snake print satchel - Penneys €13, Monochrome fair isle jumper - River Island £40.00stg,
Soft Barbarian Ikat print top - Warehouse €72.00, Mixed print kimono - R.I. £50.00stg,
Soft knit palazzo pant - Forever 21 €21.75, Red Adelia ankle boots - Miss KG €110.00

Making a statement

Trending... Statement Jewellery

A girls best friend when you want to add a little oumph to your outfit? Jewellery of course, and this season the bigger and bolder the better! On catwalks Gucci, Jean Paul Gaultier and even Chanel completed their looks with lashings of statement eye candy. And to our delight, as every girl knows that jewellery worn right can uplift not just our outfits but also our spirits.

Style godess in the know, Olivia Palmero shows us how to work this trend perfectly, peared down with no other jewellery and a simple up-do. I love the statement earring choices of Blake Lively and Eva Longoria, for me this is how to wear big earrings, no necklace is a must, you want to enhance not over-do, showing us that making a statement can also be elegant and classy. Like all of the celebs shown, its best to compliment your statement jewels with a solid background of colour in your outfit to enhance the look as much as possible.

Top Picks

Clockwise from top left: Emerald drop earrings €15.38 ASOS, Spike ring £10 Topshop, Drop earrings with pleated detail €19.23 ASOS, Stretch bracelet £20 Topshop, Multi coloured feathered necklace €32.05 ASOS, Gold cut out cuff £12 River Island, 24 karat gold plated ring €166.82 Oscar De La Renta (Net-a-porter), Fish pendant £14 Topshop, Metal bib necklace €64.10 ASOS.

Personally, I'm a statement ring kind of girl.. a bold and beautiful ring compliments most outfits with ease. And with the statement trend, mixing it up and adorning your fingers with multiple bejewelled beauties gives us the bonus of being on trend AND feeling like we've gone back to the days of raiding our mums jewellery boxes!

Statement neck pieces, bibs and layered necklaces are huge right now, and the choker is set to make its come back for autumn/winter. Bangles get mixed up in different types of metals and bold cuffs are the arm's best friend this season. This really is the wallet friendly way to inject some glamour into your wardrobe with plenty of on trend bargain buys to be found in the likes of Topshop, ASOS and Forever 21.

So there's never been a better time to experiment with your jewellery and find what works for you. Think walking, talking, living piece of art and you've got it nailed!                                            xox Marie

Cult product alert!

Looking for a must have make up item this summer that will see you through day and night and has had all the experts talking? Well look no further. The Naked Pallette from Urban Decay has had beauty insiders raving since its release, hailing it the holy grail of eyeshadow pallets. 

Made to suit all skin tones and complexions, perfectly pigmented and with 12 shades of neutral colour suitable for every occassion we can see why this little wonder is selling out on a regular basis. One thing's for sure neutral is far from boring. If you love your make up (like our Tabby) you will want to have road tested this baby for yourself to see if all the hype is warranted and if you adore it as much as the masses. Its in stock now on www.lookfantastic.com or in Urban Decay stockists. 

And who better to test this product i thought than our very own beauty guru Tabitha.. Seeing as she is the BIRTHDAY girl today I thought this little gem might go down a treat as a present for the beauty-ista herself! Surprise!! Every beauty junkie deserves the best of the cult products right? I sense maybe a review on this pallet in a future TBC Make-Up Round up feature! Marie XOX