one picture: pink print mixing

[image: hallie daily]

This image seemed to be all over my Pinterest feed this weekend and I absolutely adore the print mixing going on here, courtesy of personal style blogger Hallie Daily. Pattern blocking is such a refreshing styling trend, especially when tied together by a common color like the bubblegum pink palate here. 

Stripes pair easily with most prints, even zany ones like on the top and clutch in this picture. Lately, I've been wearing my favorite striped tees with tropical and tribal patterned pants and loving the results. 

Do you have a favorite print mixing combo? Tell me, tell me!

Peace, Love and Neon,
Marisa

one picture: brights and whites

Blair Eadie of Atlantic-Pacific coming in with
back-to-back posts here on the Neon Tea Party.

I couldn't resist sharing this look with you all:

Mixing brights and whites are a perfect bold summer statement.

It's inspiring me to create a similar outfit with my own white blazer.

Wish there were a close up of her bracelet combo, though, as I spy oranges, pinks, and yellows! You can check out her neons from Toronto jewelry designer Lauren Elan here.

Neon wrists forever!

Peace, Love and Neon,

Marisa

styling tip: short sleeve floral coats

{via look | vintage coat}

{atlantic-pacific | coat by Missoni}

I love me a good floral jacket. (Well, let's be honest, I love me a good floral anything.)

What you'll find in my coat closet hanging next to a mustard leather Rag & Bone jacket, a grey wool Marc by Marc Jacobs hooded cape and my beloved Erin Fetherston for Target black heart coat: two floral trenches. Not one, but TWO. (For spring AND fall, obviously.)

What's so great about a floral coat of any kind is how it can add a load of personality to a basic outfit with little effort. Throw it over a simple shift dress or an ensemble of shorts and a silky blouse, add your favorite pair of flats and a statement necklace, et voilà: a super chic, easy and comfortable look!

Even cooler than a floral trench (a french?!) is a short sleeve floral coat. Peep exhibits A and B, above. With the breeze that's been blowing through New York the past couple days, a light short sleeve jacket is the perfect solution to beating summer's gentle chill.

Now imagine these beauts paired with contrasting elbow-length gloves in colder weather... Swoon! A perfect look for a neon tea party!

Peace, Love and Neon,

Marisa

styling tip: freshening up winter looks

It's late March in Boston and, surprise surprise, it's still freeeezing out! Not to mention today's random flurries. Having just returned from sunny and 80 Atlanta, I'm especially bummed about being back in the arctic tundra that is the Northeast. While my body aches to be swathed in flimsy tanks and flutter shorts, I am forced to keep my pants on. Literally.

Today I bring you two styling tips picked up from fashion month's especially gorgeous street style images. Both are examples of how wearing accessories in a new way can freshen up overly recycled cold weather looks---and can be carried out through spring. (If it ever gets here!)

up top:

{tommy ton for style.com}

{streetfsn}

Wear a necklace like a bow tie!

Add a statement necklace to a button down button all the way up, making sure to place the necklace neatly under the collar.

*Also, check out the double watch action in the second picture! Love this. Honestly...WTF does too.

down low:

{both tommy ton for style.com}

Wear socks with heels!

Socks with heeled sandals allow you to break out those pretty new spring shoes now. Contrast colors and patterns for a bold look.

my take aka today's outfit:

{necklace: free people, shirt: j.crew}

{shoes: nine west, socks: monoprix,

worn with skinny jeans: madewell}

Whattup crappy quality Photobooth images.

Here's to hoping for a warm April full of pantsless heel+sockage!

Peace, Love and Neon,
Marisa

styling tip: patterned dress + grey tights

These photos are serving as today's outfit inspiration. Try it out yourself!

Runway (Balenciaga FW07)

{pictures from style.com}

Real Way

{picture from unknown}

Peace, Love and Neon,
Marisa

styling tip: discovering the sweater-scarf

I've been trying this out lately. Tell me what you think...

It's a look I like to call the sweater-scarf. A pretty self explanatory look, I'd say.

Step 1: Find a sweater.

Step 2: Wrap said sweater around neck like a scarf.

Et voilà: a fabulous chunky asymmetrical scarf--not to mention a convenient place to keep your sweater when you don't wanna wear it!

Be sure to use a sweater that isn't too chunky or long and preferably one without a hood. Cashmere pullovers and buttonless cardigans are probably your best bets.

Next time when you're looking for that perfect scarf that you just don't have, you may not have to go any further than your own sweater drawer.

Peace, Love and Neon,
Marisa

styling tip: roomy trousers

While pouring over the images from last month's shows and choosing my favorite looks, I realized that the ones I was most drawn to exude a casual glamour--totally effortless, totally comfortable, and totally fabulous.

Baggy silk trousers are looking to be my new wardrobe staple:

{jason wu}

{3.1 phillip lim}

{michael kors}

{céline}

{dries van noten}

{photos from style.com}

Peace, Love and Neon,
Marisa

styling tip: piling on the bracelets

Some subscribe to the belief that one's feet tell a lot about them: shoes, socks, and stockings represent one's profession, style, hobbies and interests. While this is certainly true, I much prefer to interpret the lives of others by looking at their hands and wrists. Bracelets, rings, strings and things all tell the stories of where one's been and who one is.

My wrists are constantly changing in the bracelets that adorn them--both the tiny bracelets that stay fixed on me for months, even years and the chunky guys that make their cameos to jazz up a look. While living in Paris and traveling Europe last semester, for example, I made it a point to buy a bracelet in every new place that I went. The result? I was my own scrapbook of my journeys!

While I've been doing the friendship bracelet thing since the days of Spice Girls and Limited Too, I must give credit where credit is due and admit that my beloved fashion editor muses' own bracelet choices have perpetuated my obsession for keep my wrists ever covered in stringy and chunky bracelet shenanigans.

Voilà Exhibits A and B:

{alex, jess and me in cape cod}

{this summer's usual assortment}

Check out my typical inspiration: editors' wrists in action:

{pictures from style.com}

Bet you're all running to your jewelry boxes right now to jazz up your own wrists, ya?

Peace, Love and Neon,
Marisa