Heart of Haute Blog

Who doesn't love springtime!  Flowers, warmer weather, brighter colors, longer days, it's all good!  But we've gotten so accustomed to the cold of the winter our closets may not be ready just yet!  Here's 5 easy ways to help you transition your winter wardrobe to spring! 1. Replace dark colors with brights - With the lovely little flowers on their way it's time for all of us to start thinking brighter!  Bold and bright colors make any outfit more fun, whether your favorite is Aqua, Coral, Lavender, or Pink.  Textured fabrics like Honeycomb Dimensions add an interesting pop to solid colored frocks.   Sundresses like our classic Sweetie Dress, and our newly refreshed Maybelline Dress are great for this season. 2. Switch fitted with flowy - Pencil skirts and wiggle dresses are popular in the fall and winter months, but spring is all about flirty, flowy and full skirts! Swing dresses are the best because they keep you cooler as the weather starts to warm up. And of course you can dance the night away!  The Milan and Marseilles Dresses have full circle skirts that are perfect for this season, and are available in the loveliest of florals.  We also have full skirts on their way this season - Keep your eye on our new arrivals! Tea party anyone? 3. Bold patterns - Pack away the plaid and hide the hounds-tooth! Just until next fall that is!  Replace them with polka dots and florals in pastels and brights.  Bold florals like the classic Rosa and the new Ariel just scream flirty fun.  Every retro loving gal's wardrobe needs vivid fabrics like Russian Dolls and Teal Damask. I can't resist those adorable babushkas! 4. Change up the accessories - The easiest way to add some spring fun to your everyday outfits is to add a flower or two!  Daisies are my favorite spring flower, but you pick whichever you like best!  Bright accessories like the Pinup Couture Amoeba Bag in Turquoise Glitter are a spring must have. And their Wicker Purse just makes me want to have a pinup picnic!

Can't forget a new pair of sunnies - Tres Noir 'Ultra Lux' and a lovely little necklace like the Blingy Bow.  The brighter the accessories the better you feel I always say!

5. Switch up your layers - Springtime means skirts will be getting shorter and sleeves will disappear soon enough. But in the mean time, especially with the weather that can't decide if it wants to be warm or still cold, it's important to keep a little sweater handy.  The Sweet Sweater is wrinkle resistant so you can just throw it in your bag in case the evening gets chilly! It's available in solids or spring patterns.  The Betty Bolero is a great choice for when you want to wear your favorite sundress but need a little extra sleevage! Available in White, Black, and Red, so it'll go with virtually any outfit! Enjoy sprucing up your wardrobe! Ali for HoH <3

Hey there Haute Honeys!  I was just going through some of our stock today and as always my eyes got caught on a little black dress.  We all have at least one in our wardrobes!  It got me thinking about the origins of the 'LBD'... According to fashion historians (wouldn't it be awesome to have that job!) the Little Black Dress can be credited to the early 1920's designs of CoCo Chanel.  The whole point of the LBD was to be versatile, long-lasting, accessible and affordable! Prior to the 1920's black was generally a color that was only used for mourning and funerals. It was actually considered indecent for a woman to be wearing anything black outside of those circumstances!  Glad I wasn't around for that!  Then in the post war era, around the 1950's, Hollywood's famous femme fatale characters (and an era of sexual conservatism) sort of took the little black dress back to it's original reputation of being the wardrobe of 'dangerous women.'  Not exactly the choice for the wholesome housewife! Then, thank goodness, in 1961 Audrey Hepburn and Givenchy came together to create the epitome of 'Basic Black' accessorized with pearls in "Breakfast At Tiffany's." And ever since then just about every woman has at least one LBD in their closet.  It's a wardrobe staple piece! Let's just say I'm very happy to live in an era where ladies can wear just about whatever they like! So I've put together some outfit inspirations featuring a few of the Heart Of Haute Little Black Dresses! The Anita Dress is a sassy wiggle dress that has a classic vintage silhouette that I just can't resist!  It reminds me of something Dita Von Teese would rock anyday!  With a below the knee hem and quarter length sleeves, the Anita is a perfect choice for cooler nights out.  I like to pair this one with red and gold accents like these Christian Louboutin pumps, the classic Pinup Couture Bow Handbag, and some Tres Noirs Ultra Lux Sunglasses if it's a daytime outing.  Don't forget the red lips! The Marseilles Dress is for more of the girly-gals! This one is satin so it has a gorgeous sheen to it that catches the moonlight (and perhaps the eye of that prince charming?) just right.  A full swingin' skirt makes it the perfect dance partner, showing off that gorgeous back with criss cross straps. Ooooh la la, don't I love it!  In my opinion this particular dress goes well with pink accessories like the gorgeous Viva to the Diva Pink Rose, lovely pink jeweled earrings from Asos, and these light pink sandal pumps by Giuseppe Zanotti.  A lovely choice for a pink-lovin' pinup princess! The Aimee Dress is every bit as fun as the lady it's named after - trust me, she's my sister! I like the Aimee Dress for those times where I'm just not sure where the night is going to go, because it's perfect to dress up or down!  I pair it with my favorite saddle shoes or even a pair of Converse! - 'cause let's face it, nobody want's to be stuck in heels at your friend's brother's band's gig at the Whiskey a Go-Go!  This dress is a great choice for rockabilly babes and pinup princesses alike.  It's the perfect combination of comfort and cuteness!  I like to accessorize the Aimee with beetlejuice stripes and green accents like this adorably creepy skull bracelet from Infectious Threads and Serpentina lipstick from LimeCrime.   Oh Vera... how do I describe your subtle sexyness?  Vera is one of those silent but deadly dames.  She let's her style do the talking and yet she still is the center of attention.  Featuring a tiny peplum waistline and stunning collar, the Vera Dress and her daring hemline are for the bold fashionistas out there.  I styled the Vera with Rsvp Cailyn plum pumps and the Posh the Limit Hat by ModCloth. What do you think, Haute Honeys? Do you have a favorite little black dress? <3 Ali for HoH <3

We've teamed up with popular fashion blogger & model Amy Roiland to shoot our long awaited 'It's Raining Cats' line by Mandie Bee. We just thought with her gorgeous look & adorable haircut that she'd be perfect for these vintage inspired pieces! Ruby This is the Ella Top, Pinup Couture Bow Handbag in Red, and Sassy Skirt. Photographed by Mandie Bee / Makeup and Hair by Lara Kay at www.SimplyVanity.com Amy is a classic beauty who can pull off any style. She updates her blog A Fashion Nerd every single day, making her a fans very very happy!  Her style ranges from vintage, gypsy, grunge, mod, and some things in between - making her blog a first stop destination for fashion inspiration.  She mixes vintage pieces with new ones to create completely unique looks we envy! The Matey Dress in It's Raining Cats // Hats by NastyGal Aside from blogging for a living, Amy spends her days acting, modeling, and designing.  She also designs her own jewelry line - A Tiny Touch where she re-purposes found objects into unique vintage styled pieces. I mean... is there anything she can't do? Amy wearing the Ella Top in Black and the Moxie Skirt in It's Raining Cats - Available at Heart of Haute. Mandie Bee also shot Amy in her classic Ruby Dress in Mini Daisy. This talented LA native certainly has a spectacular fashion sense, keep your eye on her!  We heart Amy, we hope to collaborate again soon! Can't get enough Amy? Follow her on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter -- just search for @AFashionNerd ! <3 Ali for HoH <3