Thursday, April 30, 2009

How To Wear Ikat Print


Keep your look boho and bright. We blogged about the ethnic ikat print back in the fall, but this trend continues into the sunshine with bright colors! This ikat print rompersuit by 3.1 Phillip Lim is popular on Polyvore and the ways to accessorize this are endless. Match your shoes and accessories to one of the bolder colors or keep this piece as the center of attention by wearing neutral metallics and earth tones. You can wear ethnic jewelry or more contemporary accessories. Here are some ways to style this look:













Like the ikat print but on a budget? Check out this Charlotte Russe ikat dress for only $26.99:

Posted by nadia at 12:48 PM 6 comments
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Undo & Redo



Don't you hate it when you accidentally delete or drag an item while making a set, ruining your 50-item masterpiece? Well, never fear, we have a solution for you!

Today we're pleased to announce the launch of Undo & Redo buttons in the Polyvore editor. We noticed it was a top feature request in all your Dear Polyvore Staff sets, so we decided to prioritize building it. We hope this makes it easier for you to continue creating all your gorgeous outfits and collages.

This feature was a bit tricky to launch, so you may have noticed the site being a bit slow or buggy lately. We apologize for that and thank you for your patience.

If you experience any problems using Undo/Redo, please leave a comment here on the blog with instructions on how to reproduce the problem. Make sure to include your operating system and browser version as well.

Thanks for being the greatest online community. We love you guys!

Love,
The Polyvore Team
Posted by Jess Lee at 12:24 PM 8 comments
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Wednesday, April 29, 2009

The Gossip Girl Style Challenge



The Gossip Girl Style Challenge -- your one and only source into the scandalous lives (and closets!) of Manhattan's elite...

If you love the fabulous fashion on Gossip Girl, then you'll love our latest Polyvore contest, the Gossip Girl Style Challenge. We're asking you to create outfits inspired by your favorite Gossip Girl characters. 3 winners will receive $100 American Express cards and have their outfits featured on the Polyvore Explore page and blog.

So, which Upper East Sider's style do you most admire? Do you prefer polished, preppy headbands and blouses like queen bee Blair Waldorf? Or do you like the low-key glam of reformed wild child Serena Van Der Woodsen?





For more tips on Gossip Girl style, check out GossipGirlInsider.com's great roundup of who wore what for every episode. For the latest news about the show & cast, go to YouKnowYouLoveMe.org and GossipGirlOnline.net.
Posted by Jess Lee at 6:11 PM 1 comments
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Polyvore Featured on Examiner.com

Polyvore was mentioned on Examiner.com as a great place to help "refashion" and find new inspiration for the clothes in your wardrobe. You can check out the article by Sarah MacKay here: Virtual Style Inspiration.

Polyvore member, ♥♥Jennadette♥♥, had one of her sets featured in the article, too!

Posted by nadia at 2:28 PM 0 comments
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What Does Chic Mean To You? Contest Winners

This guest post was written by Helen Zhu from Chictopia. Helen is not only the CEO & founder of Chictopia, she's also a style maven who posts plenty of killer outfits on her Chictopia blog!

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the What Does Chic Mean To You contest! The Chictopia team had the most unbelievably difficult time picking winners, but the three that we settled on were our standout favorites.

Third place winner Polka My Dot’s outfit inspired by Chictopia user xs_ played it hard and soft with killer Givenchy wedges and the sweetest tunic you've ever seen.

3rd place


Polyvore's suceve convinced us all to think pink (how'd she know that the thestylishwanderer always brings a smile to our faces?) and award her second place.

2nd place


But it was MarianaBrazil's delightfully quaint summery outfit (the flat-brimmed straw topper and round-framed sunglasses were especially clutch) that played close to our hearts. We've always been a fan of Chictopian strawb errykoi's idyllic and loved seeing it reinterprerated.

1st place


And despite the wildly different aesthetics of the three looks, we're thrilled to see that these--and all of the chicest outfits submitted--were brimming with personality. Thanks again for participating, and we'll catch you on Chictopia!

Check out all the entries here or below:
See more on Polyvore
Posted by Jess Lee at 11:50 AM 2 comments
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Guest Blog: SATC Figure Flattery - Charlotte York

This guest post was written by Simone Riley director of Dress Moi image consultancy; she has years of experience in the retail industry and is also known as Dress Moi on Polyvore. Her fashion forward thinking has helped to transform the lives of many men and women; by understanding that beauty is also on the inside as well as out.

Charlotte is the slim pear shape.

Charlotte York


Charlotte is a cross between an English Rose and a typical Stepford wife. Her outfits are conservative yet never too revealing which shows off her feminine charm. Charlotte lives by the rules. Her preppy style is classic and chic and is always accompanied by matching shoes and accessories.

Charlotte has a slim pear shape where her bottom half is larger than her top half. With this body shape you need to wear clothes that minimize your hips and draws the eyes upwards.

Key: It’s all about balance, it is important to give the appearance of wider shoulders and bigger bust as this will help to take the attention away from the widest part of the body by bringing the eyes up to your face, neck, bust and waist. This can be done by using color on top, wide neck lines, accentuate your waste and wear dark colors on the bottom.

What to wear?

* Dresses and skirts should be A Lined and flared at the hips, putting a bow into your outfit will also add a zest of femininity.

* If wearing jackets choose those that are double breasted as it will balance out your silhouette.

* Reduce the size of your hips by wearing dark coloured trousers or jeans that flair out at the knee.

* Try wearing darker colours on your lower half. Obvious as it may sound; black is always slimming, and can detract attention away from those problem areas team with colourful tops to add colour to your outfit.

* Look for necklines that are scooped, draped, rounded or squared. Any neckline that has a lower and wider neckline will look great. These will emphasize your bust and draw attention to your face.

* A halter top that ties at the neck will give the shoulders the appearance of width they need, and this will help balance out your hips and thighs.

* Wear boots to cover chunky calves or heels to elongate your legs and slim your ankles.
Posted by nadia at 10:56 AM 1 comments
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Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Guest Blog: Harem Pants

This guest post is by Jael Paris, also known as Fashion Me Fabulous on Polyvore. Check out more of her daily posts on great trends and fashion goodies at the Fashion Me Fabulous blog.

This will shock you, but...I kind of like harem pants. They're huge this season. All the fashion magazines say we must have them, while all the fashion critics cry "Hammer Time!" Despite any of that, I think they just may be the pant solution I've been looking for as the worst fit is in my thighs. With harem pants, the thighs are loose and draped. No more tears on bloated days. No more pulling down my trousers when I stand after a long period in a chair. If you style them with understated basics and a structured jacket, like the Polyvorians below did, they they are quite wearable and flattering.











Posted by nadia at 12:37 PM 6 comments
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Friday, April 24, 2009

Interview with torilink

Today's interview is with torilink. Her sets are very feminine, soft and polished and her fashion combinations are more than pleasing to the eye! Torilink has been hooked on Polyvore for almost a year now and moderates three groups, too. When she's not working, she's usually channeling her creative side here on Polyvore.


Here are some of her sets:






Tell us about yourself.

My name is Vicki, and at 43 I'm probably one of your older Polyvorians. I am currently residing in Northwest Indiana, within the Chicago Metro area. I design and build websites for a living, which is nice because it allows me the freedom to work at home! Most of my days are spent between working & Polyvore. I plan to return to school in the near future to take some courses in graphic design and perhaps even advertising!

Describe your sense of style/fashion.

My style is very relaxed and feminine. I love playing with different color combinations and mixing patterns & textures, but anyone who knows my sets also knows I'm a very matchy matchy person. If my shoes don't match my purse, and they don't match my earrings or scarf, well just forget about it! I'm the same way in real life too!

I love dresses and heels, anything frilly, floral, and soft is my cup of tea. Since having children my style has become much more casual and practical and I've long since traded in my office heels for flats! Since I no longer need to dress up and go into an office everyday it makes it really easy to fall into the jeans and tee's habit, but with Polyvore I still get to live out my fashion fantasies!! I adore designer clothing, I love to daydream about fashion and build sets with those types of clothes, they just aren't very practical in my day to day life experience right now.

How did you discover Polyvore?

I was checking my stats on a blog I write and saw a hit coming in from this site called Polyvore and just had to see what it was, the rest is history.

Tell us a little about what you use Polyvore for and why. What do you like about Polyvore?

Polyvore allows me a quick and easy creative fix anytime, day or night. I can take 10 minutes or two hours and the creative possibilities are endless. Each set is a mini work of art and I just love browsing other member's sets. I see so many lovely and creative sets every single day, it not only inspires me but feeds into my own creativity!

Describe your set creation process. Where do you get inspiration for your sets? How do you pick a theme? How do you find your items?

Sometimes I'll see a piece of clothing and start with that, other times it will be an accessory or a background image that inspires me. Every now and then I'll just pick a theme or concept out of thin air and start there. Contests are always a great way to come up with a theme or concept for a set as well. Most of the time I put a lot of time and thought into the backgrounds of my sets but try to keep the focus on the beauty of the clothing items.

What are your 3 favorite sets of the ones you've made?

That's a tough one!





Got any feature requests for the Polyvore team?

I would love to be able to rotate images. When creating a set, I'd love to be able to search through the 'My Items' folder by color!
Posted by nadia at 9:00 AM 4 comments
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Thursday, April 23, 2009

How To Wear a Plaid Boyfriend Shirt


Ah, the boyfriend fit shirt. This plaid design is perfectly comfy, yet still stylish in its own right. As you can tell from the outfits below, Polyvorians like to style this shirt with shorts. And why not? You can go casual with some sandals or pump up the volume with some to-die-for heels. You can't call this piece frumpy, proof that your boyfriend's clothes can sometimes make you look fabulous!









Posted by nadia at 11:15 AM 6 comments
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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Yellow Alert!

Thanks to everyone who has written to us about sets that have yellow backgrounds and items that have yellow blocks around them. We're aware of this issue and we're working hard to fix it. Things should be back to normal soon enough, and we appreciate all your patience in the meantime!
Posted by nadia at 6:50 PM 9 comments
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Welcome Koodos

We can't get enough of designer discounts! So we wanted to introduce you to Koodos (in case you haven't already discovered them), an online retailer from the UK that offers stylish brands ranging from Chloe, to Marc Jacobs, to J Brand, to 7 For All Mankind at amazing prices. Check out the camisole below for only $15! The best part is that they deliver to the US, Canada and a bunch of other European countries!


Take a peek at Koodos.com for some great steals and deals and also see their styles here on Polyvore:

View 'Koodos' on Polyvore
Posted by nadia at 6:18 PM 1 comments
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Guest Blog: SATC Figure Flattery - Miranda Hobbs

This guest post was written by Simone Riley director of Dress Moi image consultancy; she has years of experience in the retail industry and is also known as Dress Moi on Polyvore. Her fashion forward thinking has helped to transform the lives of many men and women; by understanding that beauty is also on the inside as well as out.

Miranda is the classic triangular shape.

Miranda Hobbs


Miranda is a career girl who wears structured, classic and practical suits, which have been softened to reflect her role as mum. As a career girl, Miranda’s focus is on getting the job done rather than following fashion trends. To inject some style into her wardrobe she will add a dash of colour or experiment with funky accessories.

Miranda has what is known as a triangular figure that is fuller on the top due to large boobs or broad shoulders and narrow on the bottom.

Key: your main aim is to balance your figure so that you don't look top heavy, accessorize and dress to achieve a look that gives you an hourglass silhouette.

What To Wear?

This is the opposite of the pear shape so the focus is on drawing eyes downwards. This can be done by wearing thick material and bright colours on the bottom half.

* Hipster jeans will flatter your waistline and boot cut jeans will widen your lower legs.

* Give the illusion of larger hips by wearing skirts and trousers with side pockets and button details in contrast keep the top simple.

* Accessorise with chunky necklaces.

* Draw attention to your long legs by wearing coloured shoes as this will add an edge to your look and why not add a matching bag or coloured bracelets

* Avoid sweetheart necklines or low scoop tops as emphasizing the bust can result in a Dolly Partonesque look. Instead, a V-neck can draw attention from a large bust as it guides the eye inwards and down the midline of the dress

* Avoid shoulder pads – as there is no need to accentuate the broad shoulder, instead try to bring attention down to the narrow end of the body.

**Next week we will look at the final SATC character Charlotte





Posted by nadia at 9:00 AM 0 comments
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Tuesday, April 21, 2009

17 Again Contest Winners

17 Again takes 30-year old Mike O'Donnell back to the age of 17. He has no clue how to dress and blend in with high school kids, so we asked you to create the perfect outfit to help him fit in!

Congratulations to **lena**, heyjetaime and -=original=- who placed in our 17 Again contest!

1st:


2nd:


3rd:
Check out more great menswear outfits inspired by 17 Again:
See more on Polyvore
Posted by nadia at 2:45 PM 5 comments
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How To Wear High-Waisted Shorts

Want a great pair of shorts to dress up for any occasion? Go high-waisted! These look great paired with wide belts and a simple tank top. Or give your look some fluff by layering with a fancy cardigan. A great pair of heels will top your outfit off. Perfect for day or night, these shorts are versatile for any type of look.









On a budget? Try a pair of high-waisted shorts from Charlotte Russe for only $22.99!
Posted by nadia at 11:00 AM 3 comments
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Monday, April 20, 2009

Interview with EmilyLiz

Today's interview is with EmilyLiz. She's an active member on Polyvore with some big contest wins to her name! EmilyLiz won 1st place in the Style a Music Video contest and most recently, the LynnVisible contest. We also just learned that Polyvore is an integral part of her work life! Step into the creative world of EmilyLiz...


Here are some of her winning sets:





Tell us about yourself.

My name is Emilia Lizcano but most people call me Emily. Although I am 26 yrs old, most people think I’m a high school student, because I look really young. I live in Michigan, in a very small town with a population of about 3000 people.

I am a senior, and I am working toward a BA bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. And I am six classes away from my Associates in Business Administration degree. I already have my Associates in Arts degree. I am planning to continue my education to include graphic design. One of my dream jobs would include designing advertisements and using my ideas to design fashion sets for magazine covers, or designing web sites. I love to draw, paint, and read. I also design swim suits; I have sketched about a hundred swim suits and I am now attempting to construct my ideas, which is more difficult than I anticipated.

I work at home, the company I work for is “We Love Colors.” I love the company and the job and I hope to continue work for them for many more years to come. What I do for the company is make sets in their We Love Colors Polyvore account and I get paid to do so. It’s the best job in the world. [Editor's note: WOW! We think this is the coolest job ever!!]

Describe your sense of style/fashion.

I have never been able to describe my style, because I don’t dress in one certain style, I like to mix and match the styles up. I don't let people influence me but I do respect where I go and the people around me, so I can say my sense of style doesn't hurt anyone. I was surprised how many different style outfits I can make from my clothes. But I guess if you want to find out what my fashion style is I guess is to be pretty, practical, easy, and comfortable whatever my mood is that day.

How did you discover Polyvore?

I discovered Polyvore.com through Yahoo answers. A woman asked a question about what she should wear for a party. She was directed to the Polyvore.com website by a link. I clicked on the link and I signed up to become a member.

Tell us a little about what you use Polyvore for and why. What do
you like about Polyvore?

The main reason that I use Polyvore.com is to create sets. I also find it interesting to see what other people have created, and I will often brag about cool finds and will enter into the contests that are offered in the site.

Describe your set creation process. Where do you get inspiration for your sets? How do you pick a theme? How do you find your items?

I search the web for interesting items that I use in my sets online. When I am creating a set, I am inspired by a color, uniqueness of the shape or style of an item, or an interesting picture; I create the set with that piece as a focal point. Occasionally, I also use music to help me with my design. The pieces that I use on my sets are not always items that I consider to be appealing, but it is eye-catching and it has a distinctive element that highlights the theme that I am trying to sculpt.

What are your 3 favorite sets of the ones you've made?

Well, it's pretty hard to choose only 3 favorite set, but if i had to pick 3 - I'd pick my first set to be Little Boy Blue.

This set is my favorite set because I love rhymes and riddles and I love to create a set describing the riddles. Anyone can appreciate riddle, poems, and rhymes and almost anyone can enjoy and learn to make them.


The next set i like is called I'd come for you - Just one More Moment.

This set is about the most popular teen movie called Twilight. I am happy to say that I read all 4 books and saw the movie and loved every bit of it.



Another one of my favorite sets is called Bella & Edward. I just love the art and expression sets. I was so stunned on how so many creative people there are in Polyvore. One day I thought to make an art set of my own. After a few attempts and several hours later I finally created my first art set; it was not as good as I wanted it to be, but at least I tried. I finally got the hang of these art sets and that is when I created my favorite ART SET called Bella & Edward.



Got any feature requests for the Polyvore team?

A rotation tool would be nice. I also like to design my own Polyvore homepage maybe move the layout around myself like the way we all design our own myspace home page. And also my own music playlist that way people can enjoy seeing my sets while hearing some of my music in my playlist. I’d also like to be able to add more sets in MY COLLECTIONS instead of only 100 sets. Oh, and maybe an “Emoticon” button by the comments so when people leave me a comment on one of my sets they can insert an emoticon that be great too. =)
Posted by nadia at 12:00 PM 6 comments
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Guest Blog: Workwear For Hourglass Figures

This guest post was written by Jennifer and Melissa of Workchic.com. Workchic helps dress women for work by offering suggested outfits, fit guidelines, tips and tricks on how to look professional, feminine and chic. Check out the Workchic blog for tips and trends!

Our friends at Polyvore have already covered workwear for apples, boyish, and pear shapes. We are jumping in to help with hourglass figures. Your friends are probably jealous of your figure, but when getting dressed for work it may be easy to stumble. We want to show you how to keep the sexy secretary at bay and play up your polished professional look.



For a Business Casual office, go with a printed A-line skirt. We selected a knit top with a ribbed waistband so it will accentuate your smallest part. Both the drapey cardigan and skirt will float away from your body. The necklace should hit above the neckline of your top. This combination is sweet and sophisticated all at once. You will be ready for any event thrown your way since this outfit creates such a balanced look.



For a Business Professional office, keep the garments simple and play with accessories. This dress is perfect for your hourglass figure, the pleats along the skirt will provide a softening effect and the jacket keeps things all business. The simple nature is begging for a statement necklace. Depending on your office environment, pick the shoes that will work best for you.



For a casual day at the office, try wide leg trouser jeans and a loose printed blouse. Tuck in the blouse and add a belt for a polished look. Also plan on wearing a cami underneath this light weight fabric. We paired it with fun aqua and green accessories to bring out the colors in the print.
Posted by nadia at 10:25 AM 3 comments
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Friday, April 17, 2009

theOutnet.com Launches

Sometimes high fashion comes at a pretty price. But if you're a fashionista on a budget, your prayers have just been answered! Net-a-Porter, one of the most popular retailers on Polyvore, has just launched theOutnet.com which brings you all the hottest runway designs at less than half the price. They're calling it "Chic-onomics" and we think it's brilliant! Here are a couple of looks that have been styled with fashion from theOutnet:






You can check out more items and sets from theOutnet on Polyvore here!
Posted by nadia at 12:30 PM 1 comments
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How To Wear Caged Booties

We know why the caged booties sing...because they're hot! These glossy mesh-like weave boots have finally made their way from the runway to the stores. One of the cool things about these caged booties is that they actually have a chunky heel that makes these functional and wearable. These look amazing with skirts and dresses. Just watch out for those tan lines!





Posted by nadia at 10:54 AM 3 comments
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Thursday, April 16, 2009

Guest Blog: SATC Figure Flattery - Samantha Jones

This guest post was written by Simone Riley director of Dress Moi image consultancy; she has years of experience in the retail industry and is also known as Dress Moi on Polyvore. Her fashion forward thinking has helped to transform the lives of many men and women; by understanding that beauty is also on the inside as well as out.

Following on from Carrie’s boyish body shape we will now explore Samantha Jones’ hour glass figure.


Samantha is a high-powered businesswoman who wears suits and bold colours such as citrus, ruby reds and neon colours to reflect her powerful and feisty persona. She sometimes wears white or black, but rarely wears earthy tones. For work we see Sam wearing body con figure hugging dresses that accentuate her curvy body shape, whilst at night she wears more revealing yet demure outfits that show off her sexy figure and personality.

She has the most sought after body shape, which is perfectly proportioned both upper and lower with a defined waist.

Key: As with Marilyn Monroe you will ooze sex appeal with your hour glass figure, be sure to make a statement with each outfit by highlighting your favourite body parts such as your cleavage, arms or legs (remember ladies don’t show all at once), try too choose outfits that flaunt your figure but never show too much.

What to wear?

* Tailored two-piece suits worn together or separately. On the latest SATC movie belts were hot property and we saw Samantha clinch her waist with a large belt to accentuate the smallest part of her sexy hourglass figure.

* Skirts are a must-have to show off those long legs, these can either be straight pencil skirts teamed with a tailored shirt or full skirts teamed with a figure hugging top, balance is the key here.

* Dresses that are nipped in at the waist show off your figure perfectly.

* To show off your figure make sure you opt for stilettos as they give shape to the calf and elongate legs, try this seasons statement shoes.

* You can also add personality through bold and flash accessories, the more flamboyant and over the top the better, think chunky gold bracelets, large chandler earrings and over sized clutches.

This post is also for ladies with fuller figures who can also follow these guidelines. Don’t be shy to wear skirts or dresses, just opt for ones that have a flared detailed or a fitted front panel to hide any lumps. If wearing dresses make sure to wear a belt to clinch in the waist and to give the illusion of an hourglass figure.

When wearing coats or jackets go for those with flared sleeves or arms that fall at bracelet length to disguise full arms.

**Next week we will look at Miranda’s body shape
Posted by nadia at 11:00 AM 0 comments
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How To Wear Light Wash Denim


Two things are for certain, skinnies are still in and light wash denim is a must for spring. This pair of D&G cropped skinny jeans encompasses both elements and are a popular pick amongst Polyvorians. Light washes are great for a bohemian look and compliment almost every color. If you've got long legs and you choose a skinny cut, pair your jeans with some great flats. If you're on the shorter side, have no fear...platforms and heels work perfectly! Here are some great ways to style them:













Posted by nadia at 9:00 AM 2 comments
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Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Roleplay Guidelines

In response to recent issues with inappropriate use of personal photos in roleplays on Polyvore, we have decided to ban clipping from photo sites such as Photobucket, TinyPic, MySpace, and Facebook.

We'd also like to clarify the ground rules for roleplaying on Polyvore. For those of you who have never heard of roleplay before, roleplay is a game where people pretend to be fictional characters. Some Polyvore members use roleplay as a creative source of inspiration of sets. A good example of this is the Big Apple Interns group, where Polyvore members pretend to be interns working in the fashion industry in New York and create outfits for their characters to wear. Some roleplays are set in fictional worlds from TV or books, such as Gossip Girl or Twilight. In general, we are supportive of roleplay because imagination and fantasy are a huge part of what drives fashion and art.

If you choose to engage in roleplay on Polyvore, please pay attention to our community guidelines and remember to follow these simple rules:

No violent or sexual content is permitted on Polyvore.
Polyvore is meant for people of all ages, so please refrain from using any sexual or violent imagery, words, or storylines in your sets. We have a zero tolerance policy for this type of material, so anyone who breaks this rule will have their account banned immediately.

Be respectful of others.
We noticed that some Polyvore members were clipping random people's MySpace pictures or personal blog photos for use in sets. This violates the privacy of others and is not appropriate. Imagine how you'd feel if your photo was being used without your knowledge in ways you weren't comfortable with.

We know that the vast majority of Polyvore members are friendly fashionistas who use the site to showcase their creativity and unique sense of style. You guys are what makes Polyvore tick, and we love you!

Thank you to everyone who has been helping to flag inappropriate groups, members, sets, and items. Please keep it up. The more people who flag an item, the more attention it will get from our team.
Posted by nadia at 6:11 PM 25 comments
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Interview with Samara996

Today's interview is with Samara996. Her sets combine art and fashion and many of them look like pages out of a magazine! Her layouts are beautiful and she finds unique ways to incorporate images of models and even mannequins. We invite you to take a moment and get to know Samara996 a little better.


Here are some of her sets:






Tell us about yourself.

My name is Monika, I am 13 years old and I live in Vilnius, a capital of a small European country called Lithuania. I am a 6th class pupil. I'm kind of interested everywhere - I love reading books, watching films, hanging out with friends, I also love taking photographs. I spend most of my free time knitting, wool felting, painting or designing something. And of course, creating sets in this wonderful place!

Describe your sense of style/fashion.

My style isn't very extraordinary or something. Whatever I wear, I try to keep it elegant and girly. As for my age, I can't wear everything I want, but I am a fashion junkie! I think the best style is when you keep your outfit classy, stylish and original at the same time so that people looking at you would say: Wow, she's really great! I like sophisticated looks like a stylish beret, a jacket, a skirt, long socks and stylish heels. That's how I would imagine a perfect outfit (an example of this you can see in E. Armani Fall/Winter 2009 show). I love all the colours. It's so unbelievably HARD to describe my style. Just be sure I will never wear Converse or something like that, that's the only thing I know for certain... For me, fashion is like an art. I love extraordinary hats, glamorous clutches and stuff like that. Just check out my sets and you will understand.

How did you discover Polyvore?

One of my classmates told me about this site. Ironically, she's not my friend and I don't even like her - well, at least there's one thing to be thankful for her ;]

Tell us a little about what you use Polyvore for and why. What do
you like about Polyvore?

I use Polyvore like any other way to let the creativity flow. As I said, I like knitting, wool felting (and in near future I want to discover decoupage), and Polyvore is just another chance to show what is in my head. It's so different from other sites, and I just love this. When I discovered Polyvore, I fell into the fashion. That's the best thing.

Describe your set creation process. Where do you get inspiration
for your sets? How do you pick a theme? How do you find your items?

I can get inspiration from anything starting from a beautiful landscape ending the cartoon. Truly, inspiration comes in unexpected time, and in all the forms I could imagine. For example, inspiration for my recent Japanese collection came from small things - I had an excursion with my class to Japanese embassy, then I read some Koji Suzuki's books like "The Ring" trilogy and "Dark Water", after that I had some Japanese culture based lessons at school... It's amazing. I am a big fan of cartoons like Tom&Jerry, Looney Tunes, Scooby Doo (I guess I'll never grow up) so probably my next sets will be based on them ;D But I never know what may pop in my head tomorrow... And I noticed that greatest sets come out very quickly and easily with no big effort. It just depends on the right day, right time. There's no formula how to create a good set.

What are your 3 favorite sets of the ones you've made?

Ooh what a difficult question! Probably these ones:


(Because it's my first Japanese based set and I think it turned out simply GREAT)


(I love the colours here)


(Because I included some really great photos here and that volcano! Haha)

Got any feature requests for the Polyvore team?

No specific requests. Just keep as amazing as you are right now.
Posted by nadia at 11:00 AM 10 comments
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Louboutin Love Contest Winners

Congratulations to torilink, ♥ hcovolleyball ♥ and Adelynkiki who placed in our Louboutin Love contest! Thanks to everyone who entered, we received 2751 sets featuring the fancy footwork of Christian Louboutin.

1st:


2nd:


3rd:
you're not who she is
you're not who she is by Adelynkiki featuring Mayle tank tops

Check out more Louboutin Love sets:
See more on Polyvore

Posted by nadia at 4:36 PM 2 comments
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Guest Blog: Bohemian 1999 vs. 2009

This guest post is by Jael Paris, also known as Fashion Me Fabulous on Polyvore. Check out more of her daily posts on great trends and fashion goodies at the Fashion Me Fabulous blog.

If there is one item of boho clothing still lurking in your closet, it's most likely a peasant top. They are super comfy, after all. In 1999, I wore my peasant tops with ankle length print skirts, crochet vests, chunky leather sandals, and a fringe bag. You can wear that same top again with slim pants, platform heels and an oversized clutch.



Maxi dresses are a big, flowing part of the bohemian look. In the nineties, they were usually worn with flats and some sort of big beaded earrings. To bring your maxi dress to 2009, accessorize it with tough leathers. Here, I used oh-so-trendy cage heels and a zip-happy cropped jacket to make the maxi city chic.



Through high school, I carried around my mom's old crochet fringe bag. Chances are you have something similar lying around. While we used to wear it with print dresses and clogs (remember those?), try it this time with well-cut clothes in neutral colors. Try to avoid fringe and flowing fabrics.



Broomstick skirts are perfect for summer. Yummy breezes! In high school, my broomstick skirt, peasant top, leather belt and thick sandals doubled as renaissance fair attire. To update this warm weather staple, use bold or neon colors. Toss on a trendy statement necklace, and you're living in the now.

Posted by nadia at 10:26 AM 7 comments
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Interview with zsuu

Today's interview is with zsuu. Her sets are beautiful fashion layouts that incorporate text and quotes to set the tone. Zsuu is from Hungary, proof that fashion is truly an international language. Also, she most recently won 1st place in our Spring Trend contest for harem pants.


Here are some of her sets:







Tell us about yourself.

My name is Zsuzsi, I'm 18 and I live in Hungary. I'm in high school now and I am going to graduate in May and I look forward to finishing school and start something new. From September I'd like to study marketing and fashion. My dream is to work at a fashion magazine or be a stylist because the world of fashion has always amazed me.

Describe your sense of style/fashion.

I think my style is very girlie and usually casual and simple, but it depends on the occasion. I can't say that I love only one style because my style is mix of everything. I am obsessed with high heels and skirts and dresses but when I go to school I usually wear skinny jeans with flats and a simple t-shirt. I usually buy my clothes in secondhand and I love making over them. For me fashion has been always very important. It's self expression. It's art. I love it. I could say fashion is my passion.

How did you discover Polyvore?

I read fashion blogs every day and one day I saw a Polyvore set on a blog and I thought I have to try this. And I have immediately become an addict!

Tell us a little about what you use Polyvore for and why.

Before I found Polyvore I did the same with my magazines: I cut out the pictures and made collages of them. But when I found the Polyvore I was very happy because I always regretted to cut my beloved Vogues. With Polyvore the whole process is easier and there are endless possibilities to create my dream closet.

How much time do you spend on Polyvore per week?

A lot:) I try to sign in every day. I don't have time and inspiration all the time to make new sets but I check every day my Polyvore to see what everyone has been doing because there are loads of creative people who make amazing sets.

Describe your set creation process. Where do you get inspiration
for your sets? How do you pick a theme? How do you find your items?

The whole process starts with an item which inspires me. It can be a beautiful pair of shoes or a bag or music...anything. Sometimes my inspiration is a picture of a model because I think the woman makes the set complete. That's why you can see a model in all of my sets. But I am hooked up with high heels and skirts too, so I often start with one of these. And then I imagine how I would wear it and I try to find something like that. Making a set sometimes takes only 20 minutes but sometimes I save a draft when I feel something is missing from the set and I finish it days or weeks later when the inspiration comes.

What are your 3 favorite sets of the ones you've made?





Got any feature requests for the Polyvore team?

Yes, that would great if we can organize our items into groups (shoes, bags, accessories....) And a rotate and an undo option would be nice too. But I adore Polyvore the way as it is now!
Posted by nadia at 9:00 AM 1 comments
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Friday, April 10, 2009

Dear Polyvore Community



Today we're pleased to announce the launch of colored text in the Polyvore editor! We saw all the "Dear Polyvore Staff" sets that you created and noticed that this was one of the top feature requests.

We also investigated the wrong song issue that some people reported yesterday. We discovered that it was a problem with the Amazon MP3 widget, but the Amazon team seems to have fixed it. If you continue to have issues, just let us know in the comments.

Thanks for being the best online community in the whole world! As always, if you have feedback, let us know by leaving a comment here on the blog.

Love,
The Polyvore Team

P.S. By the way, the official account of the Polyvore team is Polyvore. If you see other people pretending to be official Polyvore moderators, please flag them!
Posted by Jess Lee at 7:30 PM 33 comments
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17 Again Contest



Our latest contest on Polyvore features the upcoming movie 17 Again, which hits theaters on April 17 and stars Zac Efron, Matthew Perry and Leslie Mann.

Help create the perfect outfit for Mike O'Donnell! He's a 30 year old man turned 17 again, with no clue how to dress and blend in with high school kids.

Class of 1989, Mike O'Donnell (Zac Efron) is a star on his high school basketball court with a college scout in the stands and a bright future in his grasp.

20 years later, an adult Mike (Matthew Perry) finds that his glory days are decidedly behind him. His marriage to his wife Scarlett (Leslie Mann) has fallen apart, he has been passed over for a promotion at work, and his teenage kids think he is a loser.

But Mike is given another chance when he is miraculously transformed back to the age of 17. Unfortunately, Mike may look 17 again, but his thirtysomething outlook is totally uncool in the class of 2009.

3 winners will be chosen by the Polyvore team and featured on the Explore page and blog. Don't forget to tag your sets with "menswear" and "17 Again".

Enter the 17 Again Contest here.
Posted by Jess Lee at 3:56 PM 2 comments
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Thursday, April 9, 2009

How To Wear A Studded Vest


A popular product on Polyvore is this studded vest by Balmain. It's the perfect touch to a chic rocker look with it's patchwork and studs. Polyvore's brilliant community of stylists offer their suggestions on how to rock this out:











Posted by nadia at 12:28 PM 2 comments
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5 Ways To Wear a Jean Jacket

It's time to rediscover the jean jacket. You may still have one hiding in your closet from 10 years ago, but if not, this Current/Elliot jean jacket is piece to consider. Because it's denim, it's very neutral and will go with all prints and colors. Here are 5 ways to wear a jean jacket with different trends:


1. Western

Posted by nadia at 9:00 AM 3 comments
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Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Guest Blog: Interview with lilac.

This interview was originally conducted by Polyvore member elizabeth says relax. You can check out more interviews and fashion trends on her blog, elizabeth says relax.

Lilac is easily one the members I see becoming well known throughout the Polyvore community. Lilac moderates her group called Fashion Rocks which is based off the fact that music and fashion influence each other and pretty much go hand in hand, as well as creating her fabulous sets daily. Here’s the interview I did with Lilac.


Introduce yourself:

Blair, 14 years, just moved to California.

How were you introduced to Polyvore?

My friend told me about Polyvore months ago, I can’t even remember who

What inspires you to make a set?

Normally music inspires me, or a quote or feeling. I really get inspired by almost anything at anytime, but it depends on my mood. Looking at other people's sets gets me thinking or seeing an amazing piece of clothing. There’s so much creativity involved in set making.

What are some of your sets you think you did the best job on and why?

My favorite sets are the ones that I just make without thinking about too much - those seem to be the most natural.



Who are some of your favorite members on Polyvore?

I have a lot favorite members. There are so many insanely talented people here. parkereloise has some amazing sets. And I always love my friend Aly's, classic. Fσяєvєяℓσvє.xσxσ.'s sets never fail to look perfect and EtchaSketchinLola has some fantastic stuff too.

Please feel free to check more of Blair’s sets on her Polyvore page. They are truly amazing! I love this girl’s style; it’s fantastic!
Posted by nadia at 1:29 PM 2 comments
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Inappropriate Use of Images in Roleplays

It has come to our attention that there are users creating and participating in inappropriate roleplays on Polyvore that involve unauthorized use of personal photos or copyrighted images.

We are going to be taking a more aggressive role in monitoring roleplay behavior and will suspend accounts that do not comply with Polyvore's guidelines. Please always respect the integrity and privacy of other people.

If you have sets that contain copyrighted images or violate other rules, please remove them now. If you come across inappropriate roleplay groups, please report them to us by clicking the "Flag as inappropriate" link on the group page.

We want Polyvore to be a fun, friendly and creative environment, so please take a moment to review our community guidelines which clearly state:

When using Polyvore, you should:

  • Have fun! :)
  • Be creative and original
  • Share your sense of style and your artistic talent
  • Give people constructive feedback -- if you don't have anything nice or helpful to say, then don't say anything at all
  • Respect other people's views and beliefs

When using Polyvore, you should NOT:

  • Do NOT create adult content. No pornography, full frontal nudity, or sexually explicit language.
  • Do NOT promote violence or use hateful speech. No racist sets or comments.
  • Do NOT bully, harass, abuse, stalk, or threaten other people. No sets that are mean to other people.
  • Do NOT copy other people's sets and pretend they are yours.
  • Do NOT upload photos of other people without their permission.
  • Do NOT upload photos of yourself unless you are okay with other people using those photos. All items on Polyvore are considered public, meaning anybody else is free to use them. If you're not comfortable with this, then please don't upload your private pictures in the first place.
  • Do NOT create or upload content that infringes on any copyright, trademark, or patent.
  • Do NOT break any laws or participate in any illegal activities.
  • Do NOT use profanity in your sets, comments, or messages.
  • Do NOT send chain mail or spam in messages or comments.
  • Do NOT create or participate in violent, sexual or otherwise inappropriate roleplays.
Posted by nadia at 12:18 PM 305 comments
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Bug in Clipper

You may have noticed that the Polyvore Clipper was not working correctly over the past day. We often update the clipper and this time we managed to break it. Fortunately, the problem has been fixed.

If this clipper is still not working for you, you simply need to clear your browser's cache to clear out the old version.

Sorry about the inconvenience.
Posted by pasha at 9:57 AM 7 comments
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Tuesday, April 7, 2009

No Doubt Concert Roleplay Contest Winners

Maria and her friends landed tickets to the No Doubt reunion tour and they couldn't be more ecstatic! Maria's always been inspired by Gwen Stefani's bold and eclectic style through the years, so she plans to dress the part for the concert. To help put an outfit together, Maria's been browsing Gwen's brand L.A.M.B. But she can't decide between Gwen's early bikini top and low-slung pants look or her vintage, 1940s pinup style. If you were Maria, what Gwen-inspired look would you wear to the No Doubt concert?

Here are the winning sets:

1st:

Hey Baby
Hey Baby by Noala:) featuring Forever21 belts

2nd:

It's your fault you didn't shut the refrigerator
It's your fault you didn't shut the refrigerator by αιѕнα.кαу featuring L.A.M.B. heels & wedges

Posted by nadia at 10:40 AM 3 comments
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Guest Blog: SATC Figure Flattery - Carrie Bradshaw

This guest post was written by Simone Riley director of Dress Moi image consultancy; she has years of experience in the retail industry and is known as Dress Moi on Polyvore, as well. Her fashion forward thinking has helped to transform the lives of many men and women; by understanding that beauty is also on the inside as well as out.

As an English girl in New York, I thought it only right to pay homage to the Sex And The City (SATC) girls. Sat in Starbucks drinking a skinny latte typing on my Macbook, dressed in my new Stella McCartney pink jumpsuit teamed with my Marc by Marc Jacob peep toe pumps; I imagine what it feels like to be Miss Carrie Bradshaw.

As we all know the quirky individual style of each girl is down to Patricia Fields’ fabulous mix of vintage and modern pieces. We can all try to imitate their style but if you aren’t dressing for your body shape you aren’t doing SATC!!

In this four week SATC blog we will explore each characters body shape. Once you determine which body shape category you are, you will be able to solve fashion problems that you have been longing to answer all your life. You will also realize why some clothes suit you and why others are a no go.


In the hustle and bustle of New York City, Carrie needs to stand out from the crowd. She does this by mixing her eclectic style with bright and colorful contemporary pieces to bring a playful, child-like quality to her style. Her looks range from wild chick to glamour puss and she absolutely adores mixing one of her vintage pieces with modern looks.

Carrie has a straight up and down body also known as a boyish shape with narrow hips and small waist. Most clothes fit perfectly on her frame. Accessories are a major key to this body shape. Add corsages, pearls or necklaces to accentuate your outfit.

Key: With a boyish body shape it is important to add dimension to your profile. Think this season’s unstructured tops and pants.

What to wear?

* Wear clothes with details at the hips to draw the eye to your waist. Try anything with horizontal detail from pattern in clothing to the hemlines.

* When wearing dresses or plain tops wear a belt at the waist or just below the bust to create shape.

* If you are short, wear jeans with a wide pocket to elongate your legs. Narrow figured ladies are some of the few that look fabulous in skinny jeans and cigarette style trousers for a relaxed stylish day look, team with flat pumps and at night add sky scraper heels.

* If you have toned arms spaghetti straps or strapless tops are perfect for you.

* Dresses are a perfect way to add definition to boyish figures and romantic floaty dresses with ruffles or frills will add shape to your silhouette.

* Team this seasons draped skirt and detailing up top to give your figure some curves

**Next week we will look at Samantha's body shape


Where to go
Where to go by wild jungle ivy featuring Coach necklaces

sarah jessica parker
sarah jessica parker by LolaHaze featuring Dorothy Perkins belts

Carrie Bradshaw...
Carrie Bradshaw... by *Anči* featuring Todd Lynn vests

Style Icons: Sarah Jessica Parker
Style Icons: Sarah Jessica Parker by dançadasolidão featuring D&G bracelets

To receive tailored advice on how to dress for your shape and how to update your wardrobe please contact Simone at Simone@dressmoi.co.uk.
Posted by nadia at 10:00 AM 0 comments
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Monday, April 6, 2009

LynnVisible Contest Winners

We're thrilled to announce the winners of the LynnVisible contest, where participants were asked to design an outfit for the book's main character, Lynn!

Author Julia DeVillers has handpicked 5 lucky Polyvorians to receive autographed copies of her upcoming novel. But that's not all...The outfit that was created by 1st place winner, Emily Liz, will be mentioned in the book as an outfit worn by main character, Lynn. And the real names of Emily Liz, mariferduran and lucy694 will be mentioned in the book, as well!

Congratulations again to Emily Liz, mariferduran, lucy694, PaintHead and gallopinto!


Posted by nadia at 3:51 PM 4 comments
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How To Wear a Silk Pocket Tank

Tanks tops are a staple for the warm weather and these loose silk pocket tanks are super popular way to wear them this season. You can wear them out on skinnies and leggings or tuck them into shorts and skirts for a more polished look. In case the looseness of the tank top reveals too much skin for you, you can always throw a cami on underneath.

Posted by nadia at 11:53 AM 1 comments
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Saturday, April 4, 2009

How To Wear Metallic Sneakers

You may have 99 problems, but your kicks ain't one. It's the weekend, and it's time to throw yours heels aside and indulge in the comfort of some sneakers. If you live in a big city, you know that sneakers (or trainers) are a must-have for all the walking you do. But you can always dazzle your feet up with metallic colors for extra shine. Nowadays, sneakers go with everything!


Posted by nadia at 9:30 AM 5 comments
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Friday, April 3, 2009

Cool Blog Post About Polyvore!

We stumbled upon an article about Polyvore on a fashion blog called Archiving Fashion that's actually run by Polyvore member je suis mode. We thought was pretty cool and wanted to invite you to check it out, too: Archiving Fashion: Polyvore

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Posted by nadia at 6:29 PM 3 comments
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Spring Trend: Florals Contest Winners

Spring is in bloom, and so are all the flowers. Here are the winners of the Spring Trend: Florals contest:


Congratulations and a big thanks to everyone who entered! Here's a look at more floral outfits:
See more on Polyvore
Posted by nadia at 4:20 PM 0 comments
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Chain-Detailed Shoes

Are you a lover of hardware? Then check out these great chain-embellished shoes that are perfect for the season. Chain detailing is the perfect way to add a little roughness to a chic or casual outfit without out being too tough. The key is to have the chain detailing compliment your ensemble, not overpower it.
Posted by nadia at 11:34 AM 0 comments
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Thursday, April 2, 2009

Spring Trend: Jumpsuits Contest Winners

963 entries say the jumpsuit is here for the season! Congratulations to the 3 winners of the Spring Trend: Jumpsuits contest!


Here's a look at more jumpsuit looks:
See more on Polyvore
Posted by nadia at 12:50 PM 3 comments
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5 Ways To Wear a Kaftan

Bring out your animal instincts with this popular Versace leopard print kaftan. What's a kaftan, you ask? It's traditionally a long flowing garment that has long sleeves, and is ankle length. But contemporary kaftans come in many lengths. They are extremely comfortable and easy to wear -- just slip it over your head. Though they're generally worn as a swimsuit coverup, but the styling opportunities are endless:

1. To work
Lady..........................
Lady.......................... by cecilu featuring Brian Atwood heels & wedges

2. To the beach

Beach Time
Beach Time by *Luna* featuring Monsoon sunglasses

3. With denim for a casual look

LoVe this
LoVe this by katkaaa featuring claire's rings

4. With shorts

What about us... ?
What about us... ? by ♥Sandra_mkd♥[catching up, again] featuring Dior sunglasses

5. With a wide belt

Untitled
Untitled by Evelline featuring Dorothy Perkins jeans
Posted by nadia at 12:00 PM 1 comments
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Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Welcome A Peace Treaty

Did someone say fashion with purpose? We like it already.

Let us introduce you to Polyvore newbies, A Peace Treaty. We're pretty inspired by the story of how founders Farah Malik and Dana Arbib conceived the idea behind these beautiful scarves and stoles. A Peace Treaty was born from a pact between the girls to create employment for skilled artisans living in places of socio-economic strife.

Each season, they travel to a particular region and seek out local village artisans to re-define an accessory, creating limited edition pieces in style-unique colorways. A few pieces from their Spring/Summer 2009 collection are on Polyvore, so we invite you to check them out! No matter the time of year, you can always find ways to accessorize with a scarf...and you can make a difference while doing it.

Here's how we styled the Neoni handkerchief scarf:


To check out their entire collection or to learn more about them, visit apeacetreaty.com.
Posted by nadia at 5:42 PM 3 comments
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Introducing the New Group Moderation Tool

Attention all group moderators! We've introduced a new tool to the groups feature that allows you to moderate the sets submitted to your group. The most popular groups on Polyvore are those that have relevant and focused content within a group theme. Quality is better than quantity here. So if you'd like to see your group move up in rank, you may want to consider taking advantage of this new moderation tool.

Here's a quick tutorial:
  • If you're a moderator for an existing group, click 'Edit group information.'
  • Then, check the box next to 'All submissions must be approved by moderator' and click the 'Update' button.
  • Once this box has been checked, you'll be able to monitor the sets being submitted to your group. If you have sets pending approval, you'll see a notification next to the 'Moderate' button. Click 'Moderate' to proceed.
  • Finally, you'll see tabs for pending sets, rejected sets and approved sets. To control the quality of the sets being submitted to your group, you can either approve or reject pending sets.
Posted by nadia at 12:20 PM 89 comments
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Guest Blog: Workchic Skirts To Fit Your Figure

This guest post was written by Jennifer and Melissa of Workchic.com. Workchic helps dress women for work by offering suggested outfits, fit guidelines, tips and tricks on how to look professional, feminine and chic. Check out the Workchic blog for tips and trends!

It’s Spring and we love picking up fun floral skirts and dresses this season. They liven up our work wardrobes and make our whole attitude brighter. Just think of the compliments you’ll get strolling down the halls. We want to make sure you are getting the right looks and compliments. This means your skirt length needs to be appropriate, but you know that. What we really want to discuss is the right skirt for your figure. The key body shapes are Apple, Pear, boyish, and hourglass. Keep reading to find your shape and the right Spring Skirt for you.

Apple: A-line
Apple Shape=Aline
Apple Shape=Aline by Workchic featuring J Crew blouses

The belt on this Aline skirt will make you waist feel smaller. So tuck in the skirt and keep the accessories simple. This Ikat skirt and vintage inspired blouse should get all the attention. Here are two more Spring Skirts with soft A-line silhouettes.


Wear a full skirt with a tailored jacket. The soft lines of the skirt will soften the hip and the broader shoulder on the jacket will balance your shape. Plus a jacket makes business casual easy. A knit top can be worn out, but it should not go past the waistband on the dress. Ballet flats will keep you comfortable during long days at the office.

Boyish: Petal or Tulip
Boyish Figure=Petal Skirt
Boyish Figure=Petal Skirt by Workchic on Polyvore.com

Petal and Tulip skirts add volume. This makes them nice for anyone with slender hips. Tuck in a tailored blouse and add a short sleeve cardigan to complete a polished business casual look. We love the rocker edge these accessories have to contrast the soft folds of the petal skirt and sleeves on the cardigan. Finish the look with Peep Toe pumps and show off that pedicure that’s been hiding all winter.


Pencil skirts look chic on hourglass figures. Wear the belt around the waist over the cardigan to accentuate your shape. These pops of orange bring out the sophisticated peacock pattern in the skirt.

Follow these suggestions and look chic in business casual this Spring. Now go shopping!
Posted by nadia at 10:41 AM 2 comments
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