How to make friends with color!

Come summer and color comes with it.. especially the bright bold kind! While it is relatively a cake walk to carry off a bold top or colored pants, the same cannot be said about wearing color from head to toe. So how does one manage to have fun with color while not looking like a lego toy? :) Simple! Look at this lovely ensemble put together by Modnique featuring our signature polka dotted skinny cardigan. Two pop brights are paired with each other but the patterned neutral light weight cardigan helps break the solid blocks of color to make the outfit more grown up and lady like. We approve! So remember next time you want to go all out with color, neutrals are your best friend.

Ombre obsession!

The ombre trend has been all over the place for two seasons now from hair to nail art and we aren't complaining! In fact we can't get enough of it. This season we have a lovely range of dip-dye pieces with a wearable update. As opposed to "in your face" colors; our dip dyes are tonal and subtle in soft cotton printed burnout patterns for that ethereal feel. Put on a straw hat and a pair of sandals and you are beach ready in a second! Stay happy, stay hydrated! <3

To "Dye" for!

Looking to channel you inner hippie? But do not want to look sloppy? Your search for your perfect summer go-to ends here! We are super obsessed with tie dyes this season. And Luv4anouka's take on them is less woodstock and more classy and lady like. From tees to dresses to skirts, these vibrant patterns are sure to make this blazing summer a lot more tolerable! :)

Crushing on Color: Colored bottoms!

Come summer and color comes with it! And boy are we crushing on color, bottoms in particular. Punchy pants & shorts have been around for a few seasons now but doesn't seem like anyone is tiring of them. I for one am very happy they are sticking around, especially because of my love-hate relationship with denim. These beauties from Luv4anouka's summer line instantly brighten your summer wardrobe, fit and flatter your body like nobody's business( because they are stretchy knit), and to top it off are super-easy to style. Work the colored pants with one of our easy tees, or pull on a pair of bright shorts and head to the beach for the weekend! Easy Peesy!

Happy 4th of July

Happy independence day to americans all over the world! While you enjoy BBQ's, lemonade and apple pie, you might also want to dress the part. While I personally love looking like a replica of the flag, some of you'll might not want to do that. We have some wonderful styles for you in the colors of the flag that are perfect to show off your patriotic style without being in-your-face about it! Have a wonderful holiday!

Dressed to a Tee!

The sun is out full force, and however much I like sunshine, it can get stifling after a while! The heat slowly but surely robs me of my resolve to get creative with my outfits. And I am pretty sure I am not the only one who feels this way. Which is why I think summer is the perfect time to stock up on tees! They are super versatile, easy to throw on, can be dressed up or down, and a breeze to care for.  Here are four of my favorites from Luv4Anouka's summer collection which are sure to find their way into my wardrobe. Which one are you loving? 

Skirting Around!

Blame it on the heat, but come summer, I somehow do not seem to enjoy wearing pants as much! Skirts.. well that is a different story... especially the flowy, super soft kind in fun colors!

Incidentally(ahem!) our summer line has some great options which will make you want to LIVE in this season. Also I must warn you that there might be good chance you might want them all! I personally think there is no such thing as too many skirts...but just in case you want to exercise some restraint, here are 3 of my favorites! Enjoy the sun :)

FALLING for FALL: Sneak Peek!

Alright I know we've been lying low for a while.. but let me tell you it's only because we were busy putting in the final touches to our fabulous fall line! I know I digress, but didn't it feel like it was fall YESTERDAY? And before you know it will be fall all over again... No worries! We have you all covered! Apart from the buttery tops we are so well known for; this season we also have an array of sweaters - from light weight angora blends to textured chunky sweaters - which will give you all the more reason to fall in "Luv"..... A sneak peak of what's coming is on it's way!

Don't forget to fan us on Facebook for updates!<3

DIY Herb Pot with Recycled Candle Jar

Over Easter, one of our designers received a small lavender plant from her family. Unfortunately, she had no herb pots at home and the plant wasn't very well protected - the dirt was getting everywhere. She knew she wasn't going to have time to go pick up pots, so she started looking for objects around the house. Desperate, she almost used a food storage container when she came across a candle that was no longer holding it's light. Instead of throwing it out, she wondered if the lavender plant would fit in the old candle jar - perfect fit! 

Designer Style + Ode To The Summer Skirt

How does Luv 4 Anouka designer, Melissa Renkosik, style the clothing she designs? She keeps it fun and simple. The Luv 4 Anouka line is here to make your life easier. All the tops and bottoms mix and match effortlessly so you look good AND feel good. Yes, comfort is one of our number one concerns. If you love bright colors, fun prints, adoring details and super soft fabrics, then you’re one of the good ones. 

Here, Melissa is wearing our textured skirt with side braid detail and our burnout jersey heart-shaped neckline tee. 

Packing List for a Summer Weekend Getaway

This is a very serious epidemic… did you know that 10 out of 10 women over pack? Okay those numbers are not reflective of any research, but every woman I know has trouble packing for a short weekend. And I’m guilty of it too! Even if I’m just going away for a few days, I end up packing a week’s worth of clothing. Sure, having options is nice, but if you’re flying or need to keep your load light, options might not be in the cards.

Sunglasses. Sun Hat. Floral Print Clutch. Bikini. Wedges. Beach Bag. Necklace. 

So after lugging one too many a suitcase down the stairs, I decided to come up with a fool-proof packing list for a summer weekend getaway. If it’s warm out, what do you really need anyway? The secret is to stick with some effortless basics that you’ll look and feel good in no matter where you’re headed. Once you have your basics, pack along some accessories so you can dress your outfit up if need be.

For example, the Luv4Anouka dress featured above can work for a day at the beach or can be dressed up for a night out if you pair it with a fun clutch and nice pair of sandals. And you can’t go wrong with a basic tank top and shorts. It’s an easy look for day, and you can dress it up with a statement necklace and once again, nice pair of sandals.  

And some additions & tips, conditions permitting:

If you’re going somewhere where it cools off at night, be sure to pack a warmer layer.

If you’re going to be staying at the beach or walking around, pack a pair of comfortable flip flops.

Don’t forget your sunscreen!

Use your beach bag as a carry on if you’re flying

Spring Cleaning Your Wardrobe: What to Toss & Must Haves

If you’re anything like me, you still have clothes from 5 years ago clogging up your closet. I’m not what you would call a pack-rat, but I just like holding on to things in case they ever go back in style (can you hear the denial?). So this year I have made it my goal to really give the closet a nice spring cleaning. I thought I’d share the method to my madness since I can’t be the only one holding on to the past! 

Welcoming Spring: Backyard Green Garden Party

If you’ve been in hibernation mode for the past 5 months like I have, you’re probably bursting at the seams to get out and do something! I find the best way to welcome spring is with a bright, casual backyard garden party with friends.

Paint the Town Paisley: Summer's Prettiest Print

During the summer you see a lot of stripes, and maybe even some polka dots. But paisley is seriously summer's prettiest print. The way it swirls and blooms inside twisted teardrops gives it a feminine yet somewhat exotic feel to it. The reason it's so popular for the summer is it's botanical beauty. Thought to be inspired by the tropical seeming date palm tree, looking or wearing paisley can transport you to it's origins of India or Persia. The pattern is truly unpredictable, just like the woman wearing it!

Styled for Spring: The Jersey Button Up

On the East Coast here in NYC, we're pretty tired of getting slammed with snow and "storm of the centuries". The second the weather gets above 45 we'll be jumping for joy! 45 and sunny may not seem very warm but it’s such a nice reprieve from the bitter cold winter we have had.  

While it may not be time for sandals yet, our designers are busy creating effortless looks for Spring time. Mixing and matching pieces from the Spring 2013 line and our own wardrobe, we’ve come up with an outfit that you can wear just about anywhere!

What is about a button up that’s so alluring? Maybe it’s the versatility: this burnout wash jersey cotton rolled 1/2 sleeve button up can be styled so many different ways. Not to mention you can wear it throughout spring, summer and fall! Tie it together at the bottom and pair it with a maxi skirt, or wear it with these great ankle-zip skinny pants like we plan to here.

How to: Style The Plain Tee

You already know about our love for the basic tee, so we won't bore you with the details. Here are a few tips from our designers for styling a plain tee shirt. If you have your own suggestions, leave us a comment! 

Click for the full size!

Decorating With Your Valentine's Day Flowers

We hope everyone had a love-filled Valentine’s Day this year. One of the Luv4Anouka designers got 50 red roses for Valentine’s Day and when they started to wilt, she couldn’t bear to see them thrown out. To Pinterest we went, trying to find ways to preserve their life, but there was not much creativity in the dried-flowers department. Sure you can dry the flowers and pin them to your wall, but here is another simple approach that works just as well!

Here they are before...

And after!

1. Cut off any leaves or thorns and cut the stems to your preferred length
2. Fan out flowers and tie a small rubber-band (like one you would use for the end of a braid) around the middle of the stems
3. Using some kitchen twine or string, tie around the rubber-band tightly (just to provide some extra reinforcement)
4.  Find a nice long ribbon and begin wrapping around both the flowers stems and the post you’re tying them to. Loop around several times and make sure it’s nice and tight. Then tuck it under and tie a knot to keep it in place. (She was able to tie it around the perpendicular posts for even more support).  

How To Style Printed Pants for Spring: Do's and Don'ts

The most playful trend for spring is undoubtedly the printed pants. Eye-catching bottoms are a nice break from over the top embellished blouses and the likes; they are almost like an accessory in themselves. This trend hit the runway in Spring 2012 and you've probably seen the fashion savvy begin to embrace them. But if you're thinking... Really? How am I supposed to pull those off without looking like Kelly Kapowski from Saved By The Bell? We've got you covered. Floral print pants are actually kind of (dare we say it) flattering. Here are a few DO'S and DON'TS to follow:

DO layer on top. With all other trends, the key is balance. A few layers on top will balance and soften the look.

DON'T wear knee high boots. Show off those pants, don't hide them under your shoes. For some reason, this trend just works better with delicate flats/loafers, classy heels or ankle booties.

DO experiment with tops. We love styling printed pants with a simple knit top, but we would never knock mixing prints! Floral and polka dots or stripes are some of our favorite combinations.

DON'T stray too far from the colors in your pants. If your wearing printed pants its likely that there are a variety of colors. Pick one or two colors from the pattern and match the rest of your outfit from there (especially if you're mixing prints).

Here are two ways to style our floral printed pants! In the first photo we styled them with our shadow stripe sweater knit and our blazer with cable rib pockets.  In the second photo, one of our stylists, Preethi is wearing them with a knit and hoodie from our fall 2012 line. These pants have zippers, buttons and pockets so they look like jeans but they are just as comfortable (if not more) as a pair of leggings!

Glitzy Photo Board DIY Inspiration

If you can remember (and long for) a time when photos used to be showcased around your house, and not your Instagram page, this DIY is for you. Here’s the situation: The walls of your bedroom are bare. The photos in your frames are over 10 years old. You and your significant other have no photographs together, but you’re tagged in about 50 of them on Facebook.

This is what happened to Samantha when she moved into a new place, so she decided to get creative! She ordered a set of 24 instagram photos to be printed by printstagr.am. She went to Michaels and picked up a corkboard, heavy duty double sided tape, glitter tape, sequin and pom pom string. It’s so easy to create your own photo board with the right materials!

Easy Vanilla Cupcakes with Tiramisu Mascarpone Frosting

Most of us here at Luv4Anouka have a sweet tooth, but that doesn’t mean any of us are excellent bakers. The thought of making our own cupcakes was always intimidating – why make your own when you could go out and buy them? With the cupcake craze still going strong, the price of cupcakes have gone through the roof. Last time we bought 4 cupcakes it cost $18, so, we went out on the search for cupcake recipes (from scratch). Finding one for novice bakers that didn’t include a boxed cake mix wasn’t easy. Fortunately, the first batch we whipped up was easy AND tasty! If you’re like us and need your cupcake fix but don’t know your way around a kitchen (or own a $250 mixer), this recipe is for you! Although the mixer wouldn’t hurt and would probably deliver a fluffier frosting :)

PS - these are addicting. One of our desginers said she could eat these for breakfast. The tiramisu mascarpone really takes it above and beyond. 

Classic Spring Prints: Falling for Floral

You know about our love for stripes, but when it starts to warm up outside and the flowers bloom, we can't help but fall for floral. Why should a girl be forced to chose between the two? Some of our best items for spring combine stripes and vintage-esque blossoms. It may only be January, but here are our favorite picks you can find in stores now.

Suggestions and Tips for Styling a Maxi Skirt

One of our signature styles at Luv4Anouka is the maxi skirt. Our maxi is a little more contemporary than the maxi skirts of the past. Made from the softest cotton, the Luv4Anouka maxi is form fitting at the top and flows at the bottom. The fold-over top adds the perfect amount of ruching and texture. It comes in a variety of colors and prints, so it can be the star of your outfit or just a nice solid canvas for a fun top and statement necklace, like Rach from Pink Peonies does with the Luv4Anouka maxi here. 

We love how Rach tucked in her chambray button up top to create a seamless silhouette. This neutral maxi is perfect for all seasons and can be brightened up with accessories during the spring/summer or cozied up with a sweater for the fall/winter. See how we've styled our Holiday maxi below. The rich color and beautiful lace insets make it a statement piece that you can wear for fun occasions. Tuck in a tee shirt and cover up with a cardigan or go with a simple chunky cable knit sweater. 

And to see our new Spring/Summer maxi's and skirts, click here!