Artist Veronica Popoiacu (31) hails from Romania and is now living in Pennsylvania. You may recognize her as the lass in red from the S/S 2013 Hunter Boots campaign, a first hint that our blogger is not afraid of vibrant colour. In fact, her clever use of colour is one of her style trademarks, together with her expert pattern mixing skills and love of clean lines. She describes her style as minimalist with a penchant for colours and prints, and started her outfit blog, Bittersweet Colours, two years ago as a natural continuation of her artwork:

“I create an imaginary world, where I like to escape to now and then. It’s my own world in colours! For the past five years my love of colours and patterns in my artwork has been drawing my eye and heart to fashion, that’s how my artistic creations led me to start a fashion blog. You may notice that my art — as well as my style — are very playful, I guess the line between these two passions have become one. I’m an extended piece of canvas from my artwork.”

Aren’t these the best baggy shorts ever! The fluid fit and beautiful drape took my breath away. This outfit is Veronica’s take on art deco, it has a very luxe feel to it thanks to the brocade shorts, subtle sheen and rich silver and pale gold colour palette. By focussing on only a few characteristics of this 1920s-1930s art style — strong, simple lines and rich colours — she is keeping things streamlined. As always, the devil is in the details. The wide border on the semi-tucked sweater and shimmery pattern in white, black, gold and red on the clutch are a nod back to the architectural shapes prevailing in art deco. The sleek statement ring and etched chevron silver cuff with antique finish completely fit the modern mood of the look. And then there’s the sweet addition of the taupish grey suede pumps with ladylike back bows. The cherry on the super chic cake.

Veronica shared one of her favourite paintings with us, and it struck me how she likes to use geometric patterns in both her artwork and her outfits. She wore this outfit to an art gallery, it’s a wonderful example of how to create an eye-catching yet minimalist look around one statement piece. She loves a silk printed pant, and calls these gorgeous baggy trousers her “paint swatch pants”. If we don’t count accessories and footwear for a moment, the actual outfit consists of only one other item: a beautiful soft black leather jacket worn as a top. When you go this minimal, fit becomes even more crucial, and both items fit — and suit — Veronica perfectly. The formfitting leather jacket molds itself smoothly to her contours. It has a drapey open collar that showcases her neck and collarbones. Together with the scrunched sleeves and simple braided updo it subtly bares some skin, giving the whole an alluring effect. The cut of the trousers is also spot on, plus the rounded tapered hems drape artistically over the sky-high pumps. The shoes are little works of art in themselves, with the open lace print providing a hint of texture. Veronica tends to keep jewellery to a minimum, opting here for an open silver ring and studded black and gold leather cuff that brings some sleek toughness to the mix. An oversized tan leather clutch, that looks as soft as the jacket, picks up the yellowish-brown colour in the trousers and is all that’s needed to finish off the look.

Who would have guessed this was Veronica’s first time trying the sporty chic trend. I think she absolutely nailed it, and I’m picking this unstructured structured look as my personal favourite! I adore that the tuxedo stripe pants are the genuine article: an actual pair of Adidas zipper hem track pants. They constitute the casually nonchalant element in this outfit that gets dressed up with an elegant military-inspired wool coat in white. This crisp colour is repeated in the very on trend pointy toe wedge pumps. And again in the cropped boxy banded hem sweater. Our blogger has a true knack for putting together ensembles with a strong graphic vibe, and the fun black and white pattern of the jumper definitely helps to play up that vibe even more. A sweet small crossbody bag in bright blue adds extra vibrancy. The arm candy is a one-of-a-kind set of ropey bangles with resin inset complementing the different colours of her outfit.

By now it’s probably abundantly clear that pattern mixing and impactful looks are Veronica’s thing. She is all for being adventurous and expressing one’s individuality through fashion:

“My number 1 tip is to not follow the rules: BREAK them! Don’t get stuck in rules that work for someone else. Get creative and come up with your own ‘recipes’ by following your instincts. We all are different so we can produce different things.”

This elegant outfit is a bold style statement for sure. The tapered striped jeans and large check coat are both strong pieces on their own, yet work remarkably well together. The trick is that Veronica kept them both in black and white, which creates visual unity. Her two-toned d’Orsay pumps are also black and white, which further continues the aesthetic integrity. Love the low heels here, by the way. And have you noticed how her V-neck sweater and small crossbody bag with simple lines are also exactly the same colour? Another great way to keep the look from becoming too hectic. Opting for a warmer ochre instead of bright yellow is somewhat unexpected, modern and refined. Red nail polish and an industrial vibe silver bracelet are the only subtle hints of extra colour. Good call: no need for extra bells and whistles.

Ladylike pastel pink paired with shades of burgundy, this refreshing colour combo stole my heart the moment I laid eyes on it. It’s such a refreshing take on the monochromatic look. I’ll admit it had me very tempted to get myself a pink coat too, to wear with my burgundies and plums. Fashion-forward Veronica actually sported this outfit in January of this year, but the colour palette is still going to be big come Fall. And what a fab way to de-bombshell a pair of skinny jeans. Semi-tucking a roomy chunky knit pullover, and combining it with a simple, no-buttons coat with a fluid fit does the trick nicely. Love the high collar on the cable-knit sweater too. Also, can you believe the coat is vintage? It could be in the Zara lookbook for F/W 2013! The entire outfit has an invitingly cosy feel to it that screams “perfect for cold weather days”. The taupe suede ankle boots add extra texture and a hint of earthy ruggedness that reminds me of the beautiful Fall foliage. Sleek leather gloves and a colour-blocked plum with white clutch provide a touch of sophistication and tie everything together. No jewellery required, as the magnificent colours do all the talking.

Veronica is the proud owner of a superb coat collection, and this fantastic letter print slicker undeniably steals the show here. Stunningly graphic and mod at the same time. Very clever decision to keep the entire outfit in black, white and red — a tried and tested colour combo that designers in every creative discipline from graphic design, interior decorating to fashion can always count on to make a bold style statement. A simple black and white striped top is the ideal support act, bringing even more playfulness to the look. Black coated skinnies tucked into suede ankle boots lengthen the legline and provide urban sleekness. Perfect for roaming the streets of New York. A fire engine red baseball cap adds boyish cheek, while the shiny satchel in the same colour echoes the sleek surface of the leather cap. All that’s left to do now, is don a pair of black sunnies, and hit the city.

I can’t wait to hear what you think of Veronica’s outfits. Of course you can also check out the rest of her looks on her blog, hop on over to Pinterest to see what else inspires her, or take a look at her colourful paintings here.

Six up-and-coming Italian fashion designers chat about how they got started in the industry and the challenges they have encountered along the way.

Marques Almeida, a brand known for its shredded denim, and Liam Fahy, a shoe designer from Zimbabwe, are two of the nine designers chosen by the British Fashion Council to receive Newgen sponsorship for Spring/Summer 2014. Newgen is often referred to as “the home of ones-to-watch in London”, so we might be hearing a lot more from these designers very soon.

Fashionista reports that by embracing domestic brands, Peng Liyuan, China’s First Lady, has considerably increased interest in Chinese luxury brands. Browse the slideshow for more info on five names to watch out for.

Fab Links from Our Members

RoseandJoan is becoming increasingly fascinated by the role of 3D printing in fashion and where this technology is going to take us, and finds this website very informative.

K liked this Stylecaster post on “How to figure out what colors look best on you” because it actually shows the different tones for each colour.

In My Joi participated in Tanesha’s peplum style challenge, showing how a variety of body types can wear the peplum look and encouraging women to experiment with the trend.

L’Abeille got a good laugh from this Pinterest page that spoofs the über-precious outfits and poses in children’s fashion.

In this piece Sally talks about how some have perceived her body image writing as hypocritical because she provides style advice as well as promoting positive body image. Angie finds her writing on body image to be balanced, empowering, respectful and helpful. And adds that she enjoyed Sally’s perspective on why she has chosen to focus on the “middle ground” when it comes to writing about this highly emotive subject. 

La Belle Demimondaine would like to share this comic that, at first glance, “doesn’t really have anything to do with style, or fashion, or looking fab, and yet, it does”. She actually found it quite inspirational.

InStyle Magazine is now selling their own white button-down shirts, sized by bra size for a more precise fit. Nadya hopes that someone tries them soon and reports back.

This article on how to wear Fall footwear right now is inspiring AJ to get out her Fall shoes early, especially since Summer seems to be never-ending in her neck of the woods.

Laurinda thought these photos of “guys with fancy lady hair” were provocative — but then if men put in the time and effort to have long hair, why shouldn’t they have fun braiding it?

Celia loved learning about the Balenciaga heritage and enjoyed the message in this blog post that critiquing outfits for a living is about more than just saying you like a certain look or not. It also made her appreciate Cate Blanchett’s outfit for its history, and the art and craftmanship involved in the creation.

Cut-out booties have been a fringe trend for about a year, but have become more popular in 2013. They’re booties with open portions on the shaft area of the foot which is what creates the “cut-out” effect. Sometimes the cut-out detailing extends down on to the vamp of the foot, but usually it’s concentrated around the ankle area. 

Most cut-out booties are casual, but occasionally you’ll find a dressier style, like the Steven Triisha’s. Or a style somewhere between dressy and casual, like the combination boot from Zara in burgundy and black. 

The point of the style is to showcase the cut-out parts, and not hide them under trousers or jeans. That’s why they work well with boyfriend jeans, straight legs or skinnies that can be rolled at the hem, and ankle length pants that are a similar length to the height of the shaft. They also work well with shorts, skirts and dresses if those edgier combinations tickle your fancy. 

Here’s why the style is fab: 

• They look interesting, fresh and new.
• They are a practical boot option for warm Autumns and Springs, very mild Winters, and cool Summers. 
• They are a super boot style for Team Tough. 

Here’s why the style is not so fab:

• They are impractical in cold, rainy weather. Although you could wear them with thick hose, unless the weather is very nasty.
• Wearing booties sans socks might be a deal breaker. You could wear a footie with a few of the styles, or knee-highs under jeans and trousers. 
• They probably won’t work for Team Pretty. 

I don’t think I will be wearing casual cut-out booties because they generally look too tough for my style preferences. For a brief moment I toyed with the idea of the white version below because they look prettier than the rest. But I decided against them because I prefer footwear with minimal hardware, and a dressier vibe. That said, I love these cut-out booties for Team Tough. We’ve had forum members like Marley wear them to perfection, and they’ve been a match made in heaven for some of my clients.

What’s your take on cut-out booties? Do you like them, and would you wear them?

Here’s a selection of soft and stretchy black Ponte pants, which make a cozy change to stiff jeans. They’re ideal for casual Fall ensembles, but can also be dressed up for work with heels, blouses and formal jackets. Also in the list, arty toppers that are a great complement to the formfitting pants. 

1. Kut from the Kloth Jennifer Knit Pants: A comfortable and basic wardrobe piece that runs true to size and has enough length for tall gals. Read the rave reviews. 
2. NYDJ Zip Trim Skinny Stretch Ponte Pants: This has been a winner with my clients because they are slightly dressier than the KUTs. The extra thick fabric is supportive and adds structure to your outfit. Runs true to size, but shorter than the KUTs. 
3. Edyson Ponte Knit Skinny Pants: The fit is extra sleek. The stitch detailing down the front of the thighs adds a sporty touch, which will either make or break the look. May run a little small.
4. NYDJ Straight Leg Stretch Ponte Pants (Petite): These fit less closely to the body than the zip trim skinnies, and have a straighter leg. Great for gals with larger calves. Read the rave reviews. 
5. NYDJ Leather Trim Ponte Pants (Plus): Made of the same thick Ponte fabric as the other NYDJ’s styles, but with slanted pockets and leather trim. Good on an extra curvy bottom and thighs. 
6. Tildon Bouclé Knit Robe Cardigan: A robe cardigan without the robe tie at the waist. Streamlined and modern, and available in four colours. 
7. Three Dots Convertible Draped Cardigan (Plus): A drapey topper that works well over a long sleeved T-shirt. It’s sheer so don’t expect this item to keep you warm. Fab for a hot Fall. 
8. Michael Kors Woven Front Cardigan: A retro style that belts at the waist. Long in front and short at the back. Fab over a navy pencil skirt. 
9. Knit Vest With Faux Leather Pockets: This piece is very unstructured so it hangs like a sack. But it’s fabulous in an avant-garde and interesting way. Check out the back detail. It’s fab on a broad shoulder line, and looks a lot better on those who can fill out the silhouette. Love the leather pockets. 
10. Free People In Your Arms Sleeveless Cardigan: This one is for Team Bohemian. Lots of stitch interest and volume. Dramatically casual over a simple long sleeved T-shirt with jeans and boots. 

Long toppers are great worn over Ponte pants if you feel too exposed wearing an ultra formfitting style on the lower half of your body.