The Official Blog of Polyvore.com

Polyvore Love Letters: Blog Roundup

2012-05-11T16:10:00.000-07:00

We introduced some exciting new features this week that are great for bloggers, like the new Editor improvements and rectangular sets. We can't wait to see how bloggers use these new features to create even more beautiful images! Here's a look at how bloggers in the Polyvore community have been using Polyvore this week.

6irly6irl has some great tips of how to get the "natural beauty" look.

Natural Beauty - Contest. by girlygirl featuring a straw beach tote

The Glossarie found some sweet gifts to pamper hard-working moms.

mother's day gift guide 2012 by laratf featuring Somme Institute face moisturizers

If you are a young fashionista looking to the runway for prom inspiration, The Wardrobe Mistress has a mood board just for you.

prom dress by natukakarkashadze on polyvore.com

We found this pretty bridal set from 2 Chic Gurls.

Blushing Bride by mermaids2chic featuring a lip makeup

Ms Fashinista's spring colors in this denim post look fresh for the season.

Colored Jeans by addictedtoshopping featuring knit shirts

If you've found inspiring bloggers through Polyvore, or want to be featured in Love Letters, let us know! loveletters@polyvore.com

New: Embed Your Set as a Rectangle

2012-05-11T11:42:00.000-07:00

Until now, Polyvore sets were always squares, and that’s what appeared on your blog when you embedded a set: a square image. Style bloggers want images that look, well, stylish. That’s why we’re adding a new feature: starting today, you can embed a Polyvore set onto your blog as a rectangle.

Before: a square set.

And here’s the after: rectangle-shaped set images!

Now, when you publish a set and post it to your blog, you can specify the width of the set, and Polyvore will automatically detect the edges of the items in the set to determine the height. The maximum set width is 1024 pixels, and the maximum set height is also 1024 pixels.

You can also check the “Use Square Canvas” checkbox under Set Image Size if you want to embed the set as a square.

With the new flexibility in image sizes, the door is open for you to become even more creative with bringing beautiful Polyvore sets to your blog.

Love,
The Polyvore Team

CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award Winner: Tommy Hilfiger

2012-05-10T20:15:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Tommy Hilfiger who won CFDA's Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award! Since 1984, Tommy Hilfiger has brought us ultra-American clothing, often emblazoned with red,white and blue. In 1995, he won the CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year award, and this year, he's back for the ultimate accolade. Congratulations!

Tommy♥Hilfiger by tintirilla featuring rectangular watches

Member Spotlight: nn10

2012-05-10T16:29:00.000-07:00

Today's member spotlight is on nn10. The Washington Post chose her to be the Guest Style Correspondent for their blog and featured her in the print style section. Check out some of her favorite sets here:

Spring in the air by nn10 featuring beige pumps

Secrets by nn10 featuring a vera wang perfume

Michelle @ the Oscars by nn10 featuring clutch handbags

Tell us your name, age, profession and what you typically wear every day

My name is Ana, I'm a 29-year-old mom-to-be, and I work as a marketing assistant for an energy-efficiency project. My style is very casual, I like comfortable clothes made out of natural materials, such as cotton and silk. Jeans are inevitable, a necessary part of my closet :) Although my Polyvore sets are filled with heels, in real life I wear them only when necessary - I feel good in them but I'm not really a fashion victim - comfort comes first! Also, I love dresses and skirts, especially summer ones!

Where do you live, and what trends are big there?

I live in Croatia's capital Zagreb and I'd say we're a fashionable country. We have many great Croatian designers, but also, people here just have a great sense of style. Judging by the girls on the streets, a big trend for this spring are floral prints and strong colors as well as wingtip shoes.

What is your favorite brand/designer? What do like about that brand?

I couldn't say that I have only one favorite brand, I appreciate many famous brands as well as DIY projects of certain bloggers. I like Jason Wu, Lanvin, Dior, Marc Jacobs, Balmain, Burberry Prorsum, Chloe, Stella McCartney. Those designers are not really alike, but their designs have a certain appeal - they are interesting, simple and special at the same time. It's a great art to create something that appears to be simple but still catches the eye with an interesting detail.

Which celebrity has great style?

I love Michelle Williams's style, as well as Blake Lively's (especially in her role in Gossip Girl). Sarah Jessica Parker is already an icon, and Jennifer Aniston as well. Recently I've noticed Olivia Palermo, whose style is definitely inspiring!

What are your personal aspirations/goals?

My personal goal has nothing to do with fashion, really :) Fashion is just a world I like to dive into once in a while, but my personal goal is only to enjoy life as much as I can and appreciate all the small things in it. I would love to create a business of my own some day and enjoy in doing it, as well as to enjoy a happy family life, filled with laughter, love and health.

How has Polyvore affected your life?

Polyvore is a hobby of mine that helps me to take my mind off of some things and to be a little girl playing dress up once more :)

I find it entertaining and inspiring - you get to see the latest fashion trends and have the freedom to adjust them to your personal sense of style. I have a certain creativity in me and this is just one way of showing and developing it.

Describe your personal sense of style.

My style is simple and "clean", I'm not up for some fashion experiments. I love interesting details in clothes and jewelry but true elegance can only be simple. Therefore, my rule would be "less is more".

New Improvements to the Editor

2012-05-09T16:51:00.000-07:00

New Improvements to the Editor! by polyvore featuring stiletto heels

We're always thinking of ways to improve your creation experience on Polyvore. So we've been working on some changes to the editor to make it easier to use, especially for new users. After surveying users new and old, we found some areas to improve. Today we're excited to introduce our first round of changes, with more to come. Here are the changes we're making:

More obvious background tool. We've made the background tool more obvious by showing a preview of how an image will look with its background, without it and with custom cropping.

Bigger Publish button. The 'Publish' button is now bigger and blue so it's easy to see.

Improved visual design. We've updated the editor icons to be consistent with the rest of the site's look and feel. Also, to make it easier for newer members to navigate the items tab, we've added bottom pagination and a link back to all items in the header.

We hope you like the new changes and find them helpful. As always, we love to hear your feedback. If you have thoughts or suggestions on things you'd like to see in the editor, please leave a comment here.

Love,

The Polyvore Team

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

2012-05-05T10:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Check out these Cinco de Mayo sets, including a DIY pepper pinata set.

View this collection on Polyvore

Happy Cinco de Mayo! by polyvore-editorial on polyvore.com

Polyvore Love Letters: Blog Roundup

2012-05-04T17:21:00.001-07:00

We started this week with an inspirational and stylish gathering of bloggers at LuckyFabb in Santa Monica. So it's only appropriate to end the week with all the creative sets from some of our favorite bloggers!

Fashionista New York Girl created a great set to show off how to wear these bold snake print pants. We love that she used the numbers and arrows graphic in the Polyvore editor. If you haven't tried it, check it out next time you create a set.

How to Wear Snake Skin Pants for a Day Time Affair by fashionistany featuring twist jewelry

Not Just Happenstance chose all her favorite pastel finds into this great Topshop set.

these are a few of my favorite things by nataliejeanette featuring polka dot pants

Cinco de Mayo is just hours away, so La Petite Fashionista picked out a perfect outfit to celebrate the holiday.

Get the Look: Cinco de Mayo Style by lapetitefashionistablog featuring a yellow gold bangle

Here's a new take on using Polyvore on your blog -- Tanya, a portrait photographer, used Polyvore to show her clients some great outfit ideas for a family portrait.

Spring Family Photo Shoot by tanyagsmith featuring flare jeans

If you've found inspiring bloggers through Polyvore, or want to be featured in Love Letters, let us know! loveletters@polyvore.com

Member Spotlight: bluescribe

2012-05-04T13:25:00.000-07:00

Today's member spotlight is on bluescribe. A Polyvore member for eight months, bluescribe is a Kate Bosworth/JewelMint contest winner. She won a year's subscription to JewelMint. Check out some of her favorite sets:

jewelmint + kate 01. by bluescribe featuring platform shoes

bright primaries w/ reed krakoff. by bluescribe featuring tom binns jewelry

arizona for louis 03. by bluescribe featuring louis vuitton shades

Tell us your name, age, profession and what you typically wear every day

My name is Grace Wright. I'm a 19-year-old (20 on the 29th!) performance studies undergrad at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. My daily style uniform is typically preppy/feminine, with something edgy thrown in. Today I'm wearing a J.Crew white button-down tucked into a Karl for Net-a-Porter pleated, faux-leather skirt, a chambray blazer on top and some metallic gold Sperrys.

Where do you live, and what trends are big there?

I currently live in Evanston, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago. It's where I go to school. Since it's a college campus, you see very "collegiate" trends for girls in a lot of muted colors: riding boots, vests, plenty of Hunter wellies, skinny jeans, Sperrys, North Face jackets. A lot of weatherproof fashion since the majority of the school year is chilly. I think I do go out of my way to add more color to my wardrobe than most people here.

What is your favorite brand/designer? What do like about that brand?

Right now I'm J.Crew all the way. They're really great at adapting to trends while staying polished and feminine. And their student discount helps. ;) As far as individual designers / things I can't afford, Marc Jacobs can do no wrong. The last couple Louis Vuitton shows, the spring carousel and the fall show with the working train on the runway... I couldn't believe my eyes.

Which celebrity has great style?

Well, Kate Bosworth is an obvious inspiration. ;) I also have to say I'm really admiring Emma Stone right now. She plays it very cool in the public eye: skinny jeans, cute jacket and flats, practical big bag. And then when she gets on the red carpet, she's just mesmerizing: quirky-glamorous, really put together and pretty. And I LOVE how she always pulled off red as a redhead.

What are your personal aspirations/goals?

Right now, I'm just trying to make it through school! And after that... Part of me wants a PhD, part of me wants to start getting jobs in showbiz right away (casting direction, somehow working it up to production), and then there's a chunk of me that wants to put everything I've done in school aside and get into fashion. I do sketches from time to time but school tends to pull me away from that. I love my classes and my major, but I always wonder...

How has Polyvore affected your life?

Polyvore has been an artistic outlet for me at a time in my life when it's just not practical to buy a bunch of art supplies and keep magazine clippings everywhere. It's kept me abreast of trends and informed my own personal style. It's enabled me to talk to people from all over the world. I've been able to help others, which is always rewarding. I remember helping someone in the "Ask" boards pick bridesmaid dresses for a wedding... She later messaged me and told me she was going to use the very dress I'd suggested! It was so fascinating to have a real, tangible impact; it made me think about what a career in styling might be like. And, for someone like me going into the job market in a couple years, Polyvore can actually be a networking resource. I don't know if anything will come of it besides some awesome free jewelry, but the fact that Kate Bosworth knows I'm out there is pretty cool. :)

How would you describe your set style?

A couple months ago was when my set style kind of "crystallized," I guess. I started leaving white edges on everything to make the image seem cleaner (which can be a lot of work with custom borders, but worth it). I like an even balance of pictures and magazine articles. While it can be really time consuming, I try to find fashion editorials and random photographs with the same colors and aesthetic of the outfit I'm featuring. And then I throw on colored flowers and paint splotch effects to accent the whole image and fill negative space.

Describe your personal sense of style.

My sense of style is always feminine, and usually preppy in some way. I'm definitely more J.Crew and less Guess, if that puts it in perspective - although I do try to mix in edgy pieces here and there. (Net-a-Porter had a feature in which they called J.Crew "geek chic," which I think is pretty fitting for me.) I try to stay of-the-moment, but that's often impractical for a college student. I LOVE colors: I'm way into colored jeans right now, still waiting to see if printed jeans are gonna stick around before I get a pair of those...

Your Celebrity Wedding

2012-05-02T12:09:00.000-07:00

We've all thought about it. We're walking down the aisle, and the groom waiting for us at the end is...?

If you could marry anyone, who would it be? Show us what your celebrity wedding would look like!

View this collection on Polyvore

Your Celebrity Wedding by polyvore-editorial on polyvore.com

What Would You Wear as a Bridesmaid?

2012-05-02T12:07:00.003-07:00

How do you look awesome as a bridesmaid without upstaging the bride? It's tricky! Dresses have come a long way from the revamped prom-look. What would you wear as a bridesmaid?

View this collection on Polyvore

What Would You Wear as a Bridesmaid? by polyvore-editorial on polyvore.com

Polyvore Love Letters: Blog Roundup

2012-04-27T17:09:00.000-07:00

It's Friday and time to check out how fashion and style bloggers use Polyvore to create beautiful images for their readers!

Classy N Glamorous created a beautiful set with summer whites that made us wish for warm weather soon.

Summer Whites by classy-n-glamorous featuring leather clutches

If you want a little more summer glow to go with those summer whites, The Makeup Blogger found some great bronzers for you.

Jennifer Aniston Glow by themakeupblogger featuring a glitter eyeshadow

Elements of Style's Fashion Friday makes the end of the work week that much more fun. Erin created a set featuring a very of-the-moment 3.1 Phillip Lim floral pants. Head over to her blog to see the rooms that inspired these fashion finds.

China Seas Summer by elementsofstyleblog featuring a raffia handbag

It's almost wedding season, which brings conundrum of "what do I wear to a ______ wedding?" Bridgette Raes put together some great wedding outfits, like this breezy maxi dress.

Beach Wedding by bridgetteraes featuring chandelier earrings

How many ways can you remix a white denim skirt? Kristina J. shows you three cute ideas on her blog.

Pink And White by skclemens1comcastnet featuring a bow handbag

If you've found inspiring bloggers through Polyvore, or want to be featured in Love Letters, let us know! loveletters@polyvore.com

Member Spotlight: kimberlee123

2012-04-25T16:25:00.000-07:00

Today's member spotlight is on kimberlee123. She's one of the lovely ladies who won a trip to NYC Fashion Week, and sat front row at our very own Polyvore Live show. She enjoys life and makes the best of every moment. Check out some of her favorite sets:

Polyvore Live and COVERGIRL Present Gavaskar by kimberlee123 featuring a patent leather clutch

For me, what hurts the most is unrequited love...... by kimberlee123 featuring leather tote bags

Modern Solitude by kimberlee123 featuring patent leather handbags

Tell us your name, age, profession and what you typically wear every day

My name is Kimberlee Graper, I'm 38 (I so so so wanted to lie about that, but it is what it is). I am a pharmacist and enjoy helping people. What do I wear everyday? Sadly, most days my cute outfits are hidden by untailored white jackets. That cute outfit usually consists of some flats, dress pants, a t-shirt or ruffled blouse or button-down shirt. It seems that I always wear a cardigan or a blazer with my outfits. After work I usually throw on a pair of yoga pants and a sweatshirt, wash all my makeup off and put my hair up in a bun. I love to relax and be comfortable. If we are going out, I love sexy jeans and heels and choose the rest of the outfit to coordinate with the jeans and heels.

Where do you live, and what trends are big there?

I live in Parker, Colorado. As for big trends, I can only speak as to what I see daily, the most common being the really fabulous new pastel colors mixed with neon bags or jewelry. The true craze here is intricate hair braids and buns that everyone is wearing and which are inspired by the movie Hunger Games.

What is your favorite brand/designer? What do like about that brand?

Like most, I don't have just one favorite designer. There are too many fabulous designers to just choose one. My top six are: Louis Vuitton (especially the bags), Jimmy Choo (the best shoes), Hermes, Gucci (amazing sunglasses) and Gavaskar. How could I not love the designer that picked my set so I could to go to New York? Regardless of that, his dresses and floral patterns are truly beautiful.

Which celebrity has great style?

Jennifer Aniston has such amazing style. She is always classy and sexy at the same time, which is how I love to feel.

What are your personal aspirations/goals?

At this point in my life, my main goal is to raise the two most amazing boys ever and help them to become successful and happy as they grow. I also love to travel and would love to do more of that, but who wouldn't?

How has Polyvore affected your life?

Polyvore has enhanced my life in many ways. Some of them are: providing me with a much needed creative outlet, giving me fantastic wardrobe/outfits ideas almost daily, providing me with many new online friends that have grown dear to me, and of course, an amazing trip to NY Fashion Week. My favorite way that Polyvore has changed my life is that now, I always get something that I love for Christmas, birthdays etc. When my husband goes shopping he pulls up my sets on his iPhone and chooses from the items in my sets. He knows that I will love almost any of the items he buys, if they are featured in one of my sets. I think Polyvore has made his life better too :)

How would you describe your set style?

I don't know that I have a specific style, it pretty much depends on what/how I am feeling the day when I am creating the set. I guess the easiest way to describe my style is to say that my sets make sense, that there is usually an order to them. I shoot for beautiful with minimal amount of clutter. Along with that order, I love adding quotes that are thought provoking and including an amazing "dream-of-having" outfit. I also add some items or background that make the set romantic in some way.

Describe your personal sense of style.

I like to look put together and feel that details such as jewelry, sunglasses or a bag can make an average outfit fabulous. I guess I am usually pretty conservative with the way I dress, but I love to play it up with some color, lace, ruffles or sexy heels. Honestly, I like to feel classy-sexy and choose my outfits based on that criteria.

Share Your Style on Pinterest!

2012-04-13T15:14:00.001-07:00

Share Your Style on Pinterest! by polyvore featuring polka dot handbags

Are you pinning? We added the Pin It button a few weeks ago because we noticed Polyvore sets are particularly popular on Pinterest. (Check out how many people are discovering outfits from Polyvore members like stacy-gustin, htotheb, uniqueimage, and styleofe!)

Now we're making it even easier for you to share your creations! Connect your Pinterest account to automatically pin the sets you create and the items you clip into Polyvore. And of course, you can also use the Pin It button to share any other sets and items that inspire you!

Love,
The Polyvore Team

Welcome back, Etsy!

2012-04-12T13:12:00.001-07:00

Welcome back, Etsy! by polyvore featuring clutch handbags

Sometimes it takes a truly unique piece to express your individual style. That's why we're excited to announce you can once again clip products from Etsy.com to include in your Polyvore outfits!

A few years ago, we blocked clipping due to complaints from the Etsy community. Sellers were concerned about how their images would be used, so we respected the site's request to be excluded from Polyvore. As both our sites have grown, however, we've heard more and more interest from Etsy sellers who want to use Polyvore to share their creations and discover new fans. Now you can mix & match your favorite trends with a variety of one-of-a-kind products, and of course, we'll always link back to the Etsy store where the item is for sale.

So let's get clipping! Etsy is a treasure trove of handmade and vintage fashion, so we can't wait to see how you'll style your finds.

Member Spotlight: etchasketchinlola

2012-04-11T17:17:00.001-07:00

Today's member spotlight is on etchasketchinlola. She's been a member for four years now and we wanted to catch up with her because it's been awhile since her last interview. She's now a tutor in NYC. Maybe she can teach us some of her set creating skills. Check out some of her favorite sets.

Your lipstick stains on the front lobe of my left side brains by etchasketchinlola featuring a pleated chiffon skirt

Somewhere beyond the sea by etchasketchinlola featuring elizabeth and james jewelry

It's better to have loved than not to love at all by etchasketchinlola featuring ballerina shoes

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Angelica, but I’m more commonly known as Angie. I am 23 years old and work as a tutor here in New York. Typically, I go for a very effortless style. I wear mostly jeans, t-shirts, cardigans and maxis; stuff that I can throw on fast and get out of the house. For the most part, I like to blend colors and patterns, but nowadays the most interesting things I wear are my shoes. I am obsessed with shoes lately. From cowboy booties to sky high Jeffrey Campbells, I have totally fallen in love with shoes.

Where do you live, and what trends are big there?

As I mentioned earlier, I live in New York, specifically in the Bronx. Trends tend to be limited to whatever section of the Bronx you’re from. Here in Riverdale, there’s a definite preppy vibe, but as the temperature gets higher everyone pulls out their maxi and midi skirts. The biggest trend right now is floral pants. I can’t walk a block without seeing a pair of floral jeans, pants or leggings, which I absolutely love!

What is your favorite brand/designer? What do like about that brand?

My favorite brands? That can take all day. There are brands that I love but have never had the courage to actually purchase because (a) I would go broke or (b) don’t think I could ever pull the look off. Then, there are brands that are a bit low-end that I love and wear every day. The dream brands include: Isabel Marant, Alice + Olivia, Elizabeth and James, Christopher Kane and Lanvin. They are all pretty out-of-the-box and different. Also, they tend to play with different colors and patterns which is completely up my alley. As I’m still young and don’t have the ability to splurge on big ticket items, I stick mostly to Free People, H&M, House of Harlow, Jeffrey Campbell, Steve Madden, Gap and Zara. Those brands have nice quality and fashionable clothes that won’t send me to the poorhouse so I love shopping there.

Which celebrity has great style?

This is probably the most difficult question for me to answer as I am obsessed with street style. Lately, I have been following Miley Cyrus’ style and it has really impressed me. She has formed a great balance between boho and street chic that I envy so much. Her style is like a more colorful Rachel Bilson and I love it. However my all-time favorite celeb style crush is Nicole Richie. In the past few years, she has perfected her style and created the perfect modern boho look. It’s not overtly hippie as if she was attending Coachella year-round; it’s just the perfect combination of boho, edgy and I don’t even know. She just never fails to impress me.

What are your personal aspirations/goals?

As far as my professional goals, I am hoping to go back to school and finally become a teacher. I keep putting it off, but that is my ultimate goal. Aside from that and despite how cliché it sounds, I genuinely just aspire to live a happy, healthy life. I’m not exactly sure what that will entail, but that’s what I want.

How has Polyvore affected your life?

Aside from providing me with hours of fun, Polyvore has given me two things (a) a greater love of fashion and interior design (b) new friends and (c) my own personal style. Before Polyvore, I liked fashion but we were at a “just friends” stage. I did not take it very seriously and would occasionally skim magazines. After I found Polyvore I found myself truly enthralled in fashion. Now I know more brands and labels, designers' names, models' names, etc., whereas I previously thought Christian Dior was the designer for Christian Dior. I was completely unaware of a whole world of knowledge. Polyvore piqued my interest and opened the door to this hidden world. I also gained an array of friends from all over the world, which is just pretty awesome. Meeting new people from different cultures, countries and walks of life has been very eye-opening and amazing; definitely an experience that you cannot achieve on most websites. Finally, Polyvore has helped me develop my own style. I no longer wear whatever my friends are wearing or whatever I see people around me wearing. Instead, I now choose the things that I enjoy. I shop for things that fit my taste. I have a deeper understanding of my taste now, and I don’t know if I would have found that had I not stuck with Polyvore.

Describe your personal sense of style.

I try for a boho or effortless-chic style, but I usually miss since I throw a leather jacket or grandma style cardigan over everything I wear. I love colors, particularly pinks and oranges. They go well with my skin tone so I wear them pretty often. I also love mixing prints. It’s like habit for me now. It was something I started doing in my sets, that just seeped its way into my wardrobe and now I can’t go a day with clashing prints.

Polyvore Love Letters: Blog Roundup

2012-04-09T17:06:00.000-07:00

Floral prints and light fabrics are all over our favorite blogs recently. Check out how bloggers are using Polyvore to create great visuals for spring fashion.

The always chic Sandra of Sandra's Closet has some tips about how to rock gorgeous prints.

How to rock print by sandrascloset featuring strappy heels

At Inspirations and Celebrations, geometric pattern is the look of the day.

Print Play by christinalauren featuring enamel jewelry

At Fashion Me Fabulous, adorable flats and a bright clutch accent a gorgeous spring dress.

Lady Spring by fashionmefabulous featuring buckle shoes

Fashionista NY Girl found a perfect look to go with some pastel rain boots.

April Showers by fashionistany featuring shop handbags

Still wondering what to wear for spring? Crystal Phuong found some inspiration right here from the Polyvore community.

Bohemian floral girly look! by ncrystalicious featuring bohemian jewelry

If you belong to a Polyvore Group, you can easily host contests for your Polyvore friends and readers, like Fashion for Jojo did with the spring neon trend.

Sun in my Shade by alwaysinstyle featuring stilettos pumps

If you've found inspiring bloggers through Polyvore, or want to be featured in Love Letters, let us know!
loveletters@polyvore.com

Member Spotlight: toxipollen

2012-04-04T17:24:00.001-07:00

Today's member spotlight is on toxipollen. She joined the Polyvore community three years ago. She's a survivor. Take a look at some of her favorite sets.

Balmain Paris by toxipollen featuring a metallic leather jacket

die tonight by toxipollen featuring suede handbags

Rich girl by toxipollen featuring metallic handbags

Tell us about yourself.
Hi! My name is Omolara Arije; I am a 21-year-old art student, waif, muse, model, seamstress, consumer savant and daft, radical dreamer. I was born in Newark, NJ to amazing parents, and I have a brother and a sister. Um, what do I do? What don't I do! I paint, I dance, I sew, I travel, I fall in love, I wash, I rinse, and I repeat. I'm currently living in Chicago. I moved there for many reasons (mainly school) about two years ago and now am contemplating moving to Los Angeles (and taking a break from school).

When I was seventeen I was diagnosed with Wegener's Granulomatosis around Christmas time (I was missing school a lot due to the fact I couldn't breath very well and was so tired). I spent the next year receiving dialysis treatments three times a week. Doctors had to put a catheter in my neck (which I couldn't hide no matter what I wore), and they also had me on a very dangerous chemotherapy treatment called Cytoxin which was administered by I.V for six hours once a month to bring the disease into remission. If that didn't make it worse I was also on drugs that made me very weak, nauseous, confused, and swollen. I almost didn't finish high school because I spent so much time in the hospital. I looked so sick, and not just I-have-a-cold-sick, I looked like I was dying. Toward the end of that year it was decided that my kidneys would never function on their own and I would need a kidney transplant. The ideal candidate would be my twin sister, Funmi, but she was too young at the time (we were 18) so it was decided that my brother (who was 21) would do it.

Who could've known that my mother who had undetected heart disease would die a little after Christmas 2008, and her kidneys and liver would be given away. One of those organs went to me. My operation was on New Year's Eve. It took some time for me to recover from it physically, and even longer to recover emotionally (try three years), but I'm getting there.

Polyvore really helped with that recovery. It really got me into fashion, and put me in touch with my passions--what I want to do with my life and how to live it. I feel like through all this I learned one thing: I'm a survivor, and I will carry on. I'm stronger than I've been in my life, so much so that it moves me to tears when I think about the past.

I’m driven and ambitious, but most of all, I’m new.

What are your personal aspirations/goals?
To rule the world. Ha ha, I seriously would if I could :D
I just want to be able to have the power to influence a generation, maybe even a couple of generations through my art, voice and actions like all the other greats of our time. I have three professional aspirations currently. The first is to become a buyer for stores; I'm very good at trend forecasting. I foresaw glitter and sparkle as this season's trend and knew it would be a part of every girl's Christmas wardrobe.

My second dream job would be creative director; I've already been to my share of fashion shows. I was even in one, a small one. I draw out ideas constantly, and I'm currently trying to plan my fall collection called Lucy by Lara.

My third would be to become a fashion editor; I always have something to write about because I do my daily dose of digging for new and unique things. As you can see, I have pretty interesting way of telling it.

As for personal aspirations I sort of have a list I made when I was 11. I was copying a similar one made by Mandy Moore. I then edited it when I turned 18. Here's a preview: it includes attending a ball and shaving my head. Currently I'm trying to travel to as many countries as possible this summer and to finish my clothing collection.

How has Polyvore affected your life?
So, when I started out on Polyvore it was a month or two after my mother had passed away, which devasted me. I discovered Polyvore through ModCloth.com when they were holding a Valentine's Day contest. I can remember thinking, from the first time I visited the webpage, "What an amazing site! It's so full resources and knowledge about clothes, brands and fashion. Why don't more people know about this?" I was ecstatic, haha, and at one point I became addicted to making sets! I would just spend so much time pairing designers and quotes and brands. Through that process I would read up on a brand and it would help me find pieces to add to my wardrobe. The site just really helped me realize my real passion. It allowed me to develop further, which made me to change my original major, psychology, to fashion. It also made e realize that fashion wasn't just pretty clothes and shoes, but hard work and effort and know-how.

What are you up to now
Right now, I am at the School of The Art Insitute of Chicago studying Fashion Design. I am, however, looking into transferring to Parsons School of Design. I am currently employed at a Macy's cosmetic and fragrance counter, which is exciting becuase I am immersed in the world of beauty, and I am gaining skills from it. As of late I am looking into getting internships at publications and fashion houses, but I also blog about the fashion industry and fashion design, and I freelance my sewing services for small clothing projects.

Describe your personal sense of style.
I don't know really where to begin, first and foremost I like to think of my self as a person who pays a lot of attention to details in fashion and in my wardrobe, but I don't completely believe in the "trendy" aspect of fashion. That is to say, I like to keep it more unique and creative and let that guide me to my sense of style. I think that everyone should be open to experimentation and I myself like to try new things with my outfits and draw from classics to build my sense of style. You can call me an "irregular choice" kind of girl. Like I would match a high-waisted jean with a pin-stripe tank-top and some statement jewelry.

What are some of your favorite brands?
Wow, now that's like opening Pandora's Box, I can go on all night! Well let's see at the moment: Jeffrey Campbell for sure (love his Litas!), Christian Louboutin, Tom Ford, Nicole Miller, Ksubi, Vivienne Westwood, Brian Lichtenberg, Manish Arora, Hermes, Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Free People, Giuseppe Zanotti, Blank NYC, Cheap Mondays, Obsessive Compulsive cosmetics, Alex and Chloe, Tarina Tarantino, MotelRocks, just to name a Few....

Data Server Disaster -- We're On It!

2012-04-01T00:09:00.001-07:00

Topped Servers by polyvore-editorial on polyvore.com

All the sets on the homepage have fallen 90° to the right due to an issue at our data center. A huge increase in sets using the maximum 50 items caused tremendous data load, which toppled our servers. We're working as quickly as we can to restore the load balance and apologize for the visual change. If you'd like to help, we’re hiring smart people to solve our balance issues, and would love to hear from you or your friends. In the meantime, slightly tilt your head to the right.

Thanks for your patience!

Love,
The Polyvore Team

Polyvore Love Letters: Blog Roundup

2012-03-30T17:26:00.000-07:00

This week some of our favorite bloggers used Polyvore to show their readers useful tips like how to tame flyaway hair or how to style a long maxi skirt. Check out their creative ways!

Peppermint and Ivy created a guide to achieve that perfectly adorable casual look.

Cute & Cozy by uncutdiamonds featuring a leather wrap bracelet

Amarie Beauty blog picked up some colorful bobby pins for those days when your hair just doesn't want to listen.

bobby pins by amariebeauty on polyvore.com

What's on your wishlist for spring? Cent-sibly Chic found lots of covet-worthy pieces, including an amazing pair of floral pants.

Spring Wardrobe Wishlist by zjamai featuring h&m pants

Styling a maxi skirt can be challenging if you are petite. La Petite Fashionista found some solutions for you.

Get the Look: Maxi Dresses for Petite Fashionistas by lapetitefashionistablog featuring a cotton belt

If you've found inspiring bloggers through Polyvore, or want to be featured in Love Letters, let us know!
loveletters@polyvore.com

Find Beauty Products Easily on Polyvore

2012-03-29T13:47:00.000-07:00

We’ve just made it easier for you to find beauty products on Polyvore! Looking for the latest lipstick or nail polish? Check out the Shop Page on Polyvore—you can now search for them using the new beauty product categories.

You can find over 45,000 makeup, skincare, fragrance and nail-care products on Polyvore. To refine your search, just type the brand name or category name in the Search box.

If you're a beauty blogger, once you find the products you want, you can easily create a set and embed it on your blog. Check out an example of a beauty product image created using Polyvore, from the blog The Glossarie.

bronzed beauty by laratf featuring smashbox cosmetics

Need some blog inspiration? You can see more examples of great beauty-product sets on Polyvore in the Brilliant Blog Style – Beauty collection. If you have great ideas about how to use these high-resolution beauty products on your blog, let us know at bloggers@polyvore.com!

Member Spotlight: vanessanataly

2012-03-29T00:20:00.000-07:00

Today's member spotlight is on vanessanataly. She's in a band with her siblings and they are recording their first professional album! On top of that, she is a student and an avid Polyvore user. Check out her interview and some of her favorite sets:

Turpentine by vanessanataly featuring black sunglasses

Ziggy Stardust by vanessanataly featuring high heel pumps

You're All I Need To Get By by vanessanataly featuring silk screen t shirts

Tell us your name, age, profession and what you typically wear every day

My name is Vanessa Villa, and I’m 19 years old. I am a full-time musician, student and avid Polyvore user. I was raised in a large family; 5 girls and 1 boy, and style has been the only way to express my individuality. Since my sisters and I look so much alike, it’s sometimes hard to tell the difference between us. Occasionally, my mom and dad will call me by a different name. Since my siblings and I are recording our first professional album, a typical day for me would be at the studio, which means I dress in really comfortable clothing. Usually it's workout clothing and sneakers; ironic really, since I love to dress up.

Where do you live, and what trends are big there?

I live in a small town called Apple Valley, located in Southern California. I really wouldn’t know what to say as far as popular trends, simply because I rarely ever go out in Apple Valley. I’m usually travelling with the band or in the studio.

What is your favorite brand/designer? What do like about that brand?

Oh goodness. This is by far the hardest question I have ever had to answer. When it comes down to brands, I have too many to list. But I’ll narrow it down a bit. My favorite shoe designers at the moment are Christian Louboutin and Charlotte Olympia. I love Christian Louboutin’s wide range of shoes, and I don’t think I’ve ever met a pair of his shoes that I didn’t love, including all his sneakers, heels and flats. As for Charlotte Olympia, her heels are killer. As far as bags are concerned, I am really just a big fan of all the classic pieces. My favorite clothing designers are Victoria Beckham, Marc Jacobs, Valentino and Dolce and Gabbana; simply because I would wear everything in their collections.

Which celebrity has great style?

Victoria Beckham and Kate Middleton are my personal favorites.

What are your personal aspirations/goals?

For now, I would love to graduate from college and maybe attend law school in the future. That is, if I don’t major in English and become a fashion writer. ;) But priorities come first, and right now, music is my main priority. Since everything seems to be going well, I plan to focus fully on the band.

How has Polyvore affected your life?

Well, the truth is, Polyvore plays a major role in my life. And I say that sincerely. I started writing a bucket list a few years ago, and I have several Polyvore items listed. Including being interviewed by Polyvore and having a top set in Polyvore. Polyvore has really influenced my passion for fashion and made me really open-minded. It helped expose creativity inside of me which I didn’t know existed.

Describe your personal sense of style.

Well, since I am short, 5’2” to be exact, I’ve always had to find clothes that flatter my body, rather than wear what I want. So I often opt for dresses, since they’re easier to wear. I don’t have a specific sense of style; I’ll wear just about any kind of style. From edgy to classic pieces.

Polyvore Love Letters: Blog Roundup

2012-03-23T18:16:00.001-07:00

We love seeing the creative ways bloggers use Polyvore to express their style. Check out what our favorite bloggers have been up to!

Snow White in Wonderland says that a classic trench is a must-have for your closet. Here are two ways she'd style this iconic coat:

Essential Items: Trench Coat by snow-white-in-wonderland featuring patent leather pumps

How would you wear gladiator sandals this spring? Glam and Graffiti put up these two looks for your consideration:

Gladiators by glamandgraffiti featuring gladiator sandals

Miss Rock Couture found a breezy, fresh weekend look that extends to a beautiful manicure:

St Patty LookBook by missrockcouture featuring tear drop earrings

On quite the other end of the spectrum, Inspirations and Celebrations created a great animal-print, rock-n-roll set:

Animal Instinct by christinalauren featuring black tops

And from our long-time community member Golestaneh, who is expecting her baby any day now, here is a great look for soon-to-be moms:

http://golestaneh-streetstyle.blogspot.de von golestaneh, white skinny pants enthaltend

If you've found inspiring bloggers through Polyvore, or want to be featured in Love Letters, let us know!
loveletters@polyvore.com

Share More on Your Facebook Timeline

2012-03-23T16:20:00.000-07:00

Now that Facebook Timeline is available for everyone, we want to remind you that you can use it to share your Polyvore style! Plus, we've added a few more types of activity so you can build a Polyvore summary that fully represents you.

In addition to sharing your Polyvore sets, like, items, and contests wins, the new Timeline update lets you share:

Collections you've updated
Comments
People you follow
Groups you've joined
Sets you share with your groups

Here's how you can add these new Timeline features:

Make sure that you have Timeline enabled on your Facebook profile
Go to your Sharing page on your Polyvore account
Select the option to share to Facebook Timeline

That's it! Now you're ready to show off your style with a Polyvore box on your Facebook Timeline, which will automatically update with your most recent Polyvore activity.

Love,
The Polyvore Team

Member Spotlight: ashley-rebecca

2012-03-21T20:54:00.000-07:00

Today's member spotlight is on ashley-rebecca. I'm sure you all have seen her amazing sets. She's a fashionista with a Masters in Management and Marketing and a future blogger. Check out some of her favorite sets:

Denim Fever by ashley-rebecca featuring gucci handbags

Style-on-the-go by ashley-rebecca featuring slouchy tops

Sun-Sentinel by ashley-rebecca featuring a yellow swimwear

Tell us your name, age, profession and what you typically wear every day.

My name is Ashley-Rebecca Frejlich and I'm 25 years old. I recently graduated with my Masters in Management and Marketing and I'm currently taking some online courses while I look for a job.

I'm all about effortless chic. I will typically wear either my Gypsy05 maxi dress or I'll wear skinny jeans with a loose fitted blouse tucked in the front. I also love wearing fedoras on days when I don't feel like washing my hair and chunky rings that dwarf my tiny fingers.

Where do you live, and what trends are big there?

I grew up in Toronto, Canada and then moved to London, England for University. I graduated with my Masters and moved back home to find a job. I decided that the cold weather wasn't making my skin look so pretty and decided to move into my parents' place in Florida. So... I currently stay in Florida and travel back to Toronto on special occasions.

Current Miami trends: a killer pair of wedges, juicy orange and coral hues and a cute pair of white framed sunnies. Current Toronto trends: fishtail braids, chunky scarves and knitted beanie hats.

What is your favorite brand/designer? What do like about that brand?

I've always been a huge fan of the Olsen twins. They have a head for business and a swank sense of style. They are the faces and force behind two of my favourite labels, The Row and Elizabeth and James. I'm a style-obsessed critic, and they give me precisely what I'm after: elegant, understated, modern clothing. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's distinct sense of style continues to hold my fascination and has impacted my wardrobe drastically. They are seriously style superstars in my eyes!

Which celebrity has great style?

With or without Jude Law, as an accessory on her arm, Sienna Miller has a great sense of style. Her bohemian chic is so contagious. I continuously refer to her wardrobe for ideas.

What are your personal aspirations/goals?

Short term goals: update and develop my skills with Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop and land a job within the communications industry. Oh... and maybe get a blog up and running of style tips and beauty advice - I have way too much fashion information in my head and I would love to share it with the world.

Long-term goals: develop my status within a company and gain work experience overseas (I've only studied, and would love the opportunity to get a taste of the working life). I will never get that travel bug out of me.

How has Polyvore affected your life?

In the year that I've been on Polyvore, Polyvore has helped me change my career focus. Growing up, I wanted to be a stock broker. I have a ton of internship experience in that industry, but Polyvore has made me realize that my heart lies with social media. After all... my undergraduate degree is in media studies. So thank you Polyvore for providing an outlet for me to recognize this.

Describe your personal sense of style.

I get my style gene from my father. He's in the business of fashion and has taught me to make sure you always dress for your audience. I sometimes follow that rule, but I have to say, that I typically dress according to my mood. If that means I'm wearing three different styles and committing a million fashion crimes, so be it. I'm more of an investment-piece shopper. I invest in quality items that I know will last in my closet for a long time. I also love to play up the accessories. So... I'm all about the perfect handbag and a killer pair of shoes. I get a lot of my inspiration from ELLEUK magazine.

Anything else you would like us to know?

My personality mirrors Lorelai Gilmore from the show Gilmore Girls. I'm all about the smiles and laughter. I'm kinda a homebody and love DIY projects. You sometimes might find my head in a jar of coconut butter or in the fridge eating fresh coconut chips. I love to cook and bake. It's my stress relief, along with rollerblading and dancing like crazy when a really good jam from the radio comes on. I think fedoras and leather jackets make any outfit look mega chic. I have an obsession with magazines. There's just something about glossy paper I love and it's not just because iPads suck to read on (but that hasn't kept me from doing it). These hoarded magazines have inspired my sense of style on Polyvore and I hope it gives my followers some inspiration on how to style their lives.

Are You Preppy?

2012-03-21T16:26:00.002-07:00

Have you always gravitated toward a clean cut look? If you love polo shirts, khakis, crisp cottons and pleated skirts, you might have preppy style. Take a look at these styles and find out: Are you preppy?

View this collection on Polyvore

Are You Preppy? by polyvore-editorial on polyvore.com