The Official Blog of Polyvore.com

Member Spotlight: piedraandjesus

2012-05-25T21:05:00.000-07:00

Today's member spotlight is on piedraandjesus. She is one our winners of the Get Out of the Fold contest. she won 6 pairs of Converse Chucks, a $250 Visa gift card and a $250 Lady Foot Locker gift card! She's a fashionable mom who has been on Polyvore for 5 years. Here are a few of her sets.

Get Dolled Up and Coquette with Lancôme by piedraandjesus featuring sequin dresses

SUNGLASSES contest by piedraandjesus featuring bride hair accessories

Get Out of the Fold by piedraandjesus featuring stud earrings

Tell us your name, age, profession and what you typically wear every day (anything you’d like to share).

Hi, my name is Isabel Rexroad, 32 years old, and I studied Communications at the University of Panama but now I am a stay-at-home mother.

Normally I dress very casually when I am at home and with more chic when I go out. I like lots of colors, as is popular in Latin culture. I like fashionable sandals and nice shoes, though good shoes are always hard to find in a size 5. I like jeans and skirts and a wide range of tops from nice blouses to colorful tank tops. Also, I have always loved flowers and I often have one in my hair.

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

I am from Panama but I have lived south of Houston, TX for almost 6 years now. With Houston having a warmer climate, you have a lot more shorts, skirts, tank tops and warm weather clothing. You will see everything from western and formal clothing to casual chic and more laid-back styles. There is really a little bit of everything here.

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

My favorite brand / designer is Carolina Herrera

Her style is fabulous; very unique, beautiful and interesting. Her designs are very dynamic and she always seems to create just the perfect outfits for different seasons. Also, I love that she has a big heart for fashion and helping others.

Which celebrity has great style?

I would have to say Jennifer Lopez

What are your personal aspirations/goals?

I want to design my own clothing line one day and learn more about this wonderful world of fashion. Being from a country where there is a lot of poverty I would love to help people in impoverished situations learn how to look their best and love who they are. I think everyone is has beauty to share.

How has Polyvore affected your life?

I think this website taught me to love fashion even more, and to share it with people of all nations. Being a stay-at-home mom, I love having a way to stay in touch with fashion and be creative.

How would you describe your set style?

I like to be fun and creative, so I put sets together that I would like to wear and see. I don’t have a set formula, just a love for fun fashion.

What to Wear to a Graduation

2012-05-25T20:13:00.002-07:00

It's time for Pomp and Circumstance. Whether you're the grad or going to someone's graduation ceremony, you've got to wear something that's right for the occasion. What would you wear to graduation?

View this collection on Polyvore

What to Wear to a Graduation? by polyvore-editorial on polyvore.com

Polyvore Love Letters: Blog Roundup

2012-05-25T18:30:00.000-07:00

Ready for some outfit inspiration from our favorite bloggers? Ahead of the long weekend, here is a roundup of some creative ways bloggers are using Polyvore.

It's Memorial Day weekend, and what better time to take a look at what women are wearing across the United States? Inspiration and Celebrations created this fun set about styles several major cities. What do you think about the style in your city?

Style Spotting Across America by christinalauren featuring strapless dresses

New on the blogging scene, Daily Fashion Dream put together this adorable peachy outfit.

Peachy by adriana-adrielle featuring a scoop neck tee

NYC Dumpling Mama picked out some sparkling goods for all the Gemini babies.

Are you a Gemini? by ccherylng featuring peep toe sandals

Summer's here and Closet-Coach has a guide to trends you can wear now.

Summer 2012 trends by closetcoach featuring a fedora hat

Long time Polyvore member Fashion In My Eyes always creates beautiful celebrity-inspired sets. Here's one she created about Rumer Willis.

get the look by nookiefime featuring zipper jeans

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

Changes to your Following page

2012-05-25T11:00:00.002-07:00

Changes to your Following page by polyvore on polyvore.com

One of the most exciting things about Polyvore is connecting with other fashion lovers around the world. We want to make it easy to find people who share your sense of style, so today we're combining the Following and Likes tabs together into one page. You'll find more new people to follow, and your creations will be seen by more people every time they're liked!

After testing this with some of your fellow Polyvore members, we think this change will make your home page more interesting and enjoyable. Plus, we've included a "Creations" filter so you can focus on just the people you're following when you want to.

Feel free to share your feedback by leaving a comment here on the blog post.

Love,
The Polyvore Team

CFDA Swarovski Awards Contest

2012-05-24T17:29:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) for celebrating 50 great years!

Every year the CFDA nominates three emerging womenswear designers and three accessory designers for their prestigious Swarovski Awards. To honor the nominees, this year Polyvore ran a contest where you picked your favorite nominees.

The womenswear nominees are Creatures of the Wind's Chris Peters and Shane Gabier, Suno's Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty, and Joseph Altuzarra for his eponymous label. The accessory nominees are Irene Neuwirth, Pamela Love and Tabitha Simmons.

For womenswear, about 41% of you picked Creatures of the Wind, followed by Suno (39%) and Altuzarra (19%).

For accessories, you favored Irene Neuwirth (about 59%), followed by Tabitha Simmons (22%) and Pamela Love (19%) in a close run-off.

Next up is a challenge featuring the nominees for the Womenswear Designer of the Year Award, Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen of The Row, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler and Marc Jacobs. In the same challenge, we'll also feature nominees for Accessory Designer of the Year: Alexander Wang, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler and Reed Krakoff. Look for this challenge on May 25 through May 29. The prize will be a Proenza Schouler PS1 wallet! The CFDA will announce the award winners on Monday, June 4th in New York City.

Who won the Polyvore CFDA Swarovski Award contest? We have two winners, both picked by CFDA CEO Steven Kolb. Congratulations to elizaja68 and mychanel! They each win a Pamela Love necklace!

Here is elizaja68's winning set:

CFDA 3 by elizaja68 featuring ankle strap shoes

Here is mychanel's winning set:

CFDA’s Swarovski Awards for Emerging Designers by mychanel featuring high heel shoes

Congratulations, ladies! And congratulations to all the CFDA nominees!

New on the Polyvore Homepage: Blogger Spotlight

2012-05-23T16:06:00.000-07:00

Blogger Spotlight by polyvorebloggernetwork on polyvore.com

Fashion and style bloggers constantly inspire us on Polyvore. So, starting today, we have a new feature on the Polyvore homepage called Blogger Spotlight, where bloggers share their style and favorite finds.

We've invited several bloggers--we're calling them the Polyvore Social Set--to contribute to the Spotlight. Today, Julie Sarinana of Sincerely Jules shares her makeup must-haves for an effortless, everyday look. Be sure to check back next week for more fashion tips from the Social Set!

Love,

The Polyvore Team

Polyvore Love Letters: Blog Roundup

2012-05-18T17:54:00.001-07:00

How do you use Polyvore in your blog to express your style? Every Friday we check in with bloggers to see how they inspire their readers. Here's what we found this week.

Tariro of Peppermint and Ivy always has something stylish up her sleeve. Here is her take on some fresh color and pattern combinations.

Pretty Colors by uncutdiamonds featuring vintage tanks

Black and white is always chic. Fox and Mint shows you how.

Shade Invade by foxandmint featuring metal sunglasses

Maria of Lost In a Spotless Mind, who is a long time Polyvore member from Norway, wrote a beautiful post about four gorgeous styles inspired by a pair of satin capri pants. She created the look below, taking cue from Marilyn Monroe's style. Go to her post to check out what she has to say about each look.

Capri pants 1 by mariaairam featuring clutch handbags

Console to Closet is an amazing blog where you can find outfits inspired directly from games. Here's an outfit inspired by Princess Daisy of the Mario games.

Princess Daisy (Mario Series) by ladysnip3r featuring twist jewelry

We love the sunset colors in All You Need Is Style's new set. Check out those great sunglasses!

Deep Sunset by allyouneedisstyle featuring round toe shoes

This week we also found a helpful guide from a blogger -- if you're new to Polyvore, check out Fashionably Organized's guide to create a Polyvore board.

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

Member Spotlight: sarahbella00

2012-05-18T01:03:00.000-07:00

Today's member spotlight is on sarahbella00. She already nailed her set style and she's only been a member for one year. Here are a few of her favorite sets.

Neon bridesmaid by sarahbella00 featuring bangle jewelry

Soft Flow by sarahbella00 featuring printed handbags

touch of purple by sarahbella00 featuring wrap jewelry

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

My name is Sarah, and I'm 27 years old. I am a salon manager and self-proclaimed "beauty guru". I love all things beauty and fashion. My everyday style is well put-together and feminine with a little bit of edge. I admit I wear a lot of black clothing, but I try and keep it fun and interesting with some embellished shoulders or eye-catching accessories. I believe in always wearing one statement piece. In the summer you will usually find me in a maxi stress with a cute cropped leather or denim jacket, plus accessories.

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

It is hard to narrow it down to one designer, but I am going to go with the beautiful Marchesa. The dresses always contain all the elements that I adore. It's feminine, sexy and edgy.

Anything with lace or ruffles gets me every time !

Which celebrity has great style?

I really admire Kim Kardashian's style. Whether casual or dressed up, I always want what she is wearing!

How has Polyvore affected your life?

Polyvore has been a wonderful creative outlet for me. It gives me something to look forward to each day and has opened up a whole new world of friends. I feel much less guilty about sitting in front of the computer for hours, because I am actually doing something creative! :)

Polyvore has also opened me up to new fashion ideas, and I find I am more inspired now when I am shopping.

What is Polyvore to you?

Polyvore is a chance for people to express themselves in many different ways... From fashion to art sets, it gives us the opportunity to create something whether we are feeling happy or sad. I think it also lets us live out that fantasy life we always dreamed of within our sets. Polyvore makes me feel like I am part of a community and I am overwhelmed with how supportive and positive it has been.

How would you describe your set style?

My set style is similar to me :) Feminine, fun, flirty and up-to-date with current trends and fashion, I really love evening dresses. Although I do not get the opportunity to really wear them in my own life, I like to live vicariously through the ideas and fantasy of my sets ;) Dare to dream right ?!

Describe your personal sense of style.

I would describe my personal sense of style as sophisticated with a bit of sexy.

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....