Blogger Style Icon: Barbie of the Day

Exclusively for Sugar and Spice

This week's Blogger Style Icon is Barbie of the Day: The Ultimate Style Icon. This plastic fantistic icon of our youth is always dressed to impress. I was delighted when the blogger behind Barbie of the Day agreed to be involved in the series, and couldn't wait to ask:

What influences your style choices?


Because Barbie of the Day is a daily blog we are influenced and inspired by everything be it a news article, a red carpet event or a fashion show. Sometimes just seeing someone in the street in an odd colour combination makes me want to rush home and recreate the look in miniature.

Glamour in the sun

Where do you mainly shop for new pieces for your wardrobe?

Never underestimate a size 18 lace dress in Primark. I love shopping the sales there when I'm in the UK and always buy enormous sizes to get the most fabric. A jersey maxi dress can create hundreds of mini dresses for my top mo-dolls. I spend a lot on miniature accessories on eBay too as well as Barbie lingerie and jewelry.

Who is your style icon?

Barbieoftheday.com is dedicated to the ultimate style icon, or so it says on my website. Barbie is a great icon. She has always existed in my mind as this blonde bombshell. I used to think how ugly the girls were at my school and wondered why they didn't have perfect hair and legs that went on for miles. I always thought that if I was a girl I would look like Barbie, with cascading blonde hair and a wardrobe full of clothes and not just clothes but identities. One day she can be a cute pink frothy dumbo and others she can be a goth or rocker or a scientist or whatever.

Red Carpet Style

Barbie is the ultimate blonde but other blonde style icons who continue to inspire are of course GaGa, Donatella Versace, Madonna and Grace Kelly.

Which blogger is your style icon?

Brunette Barbie

I bloody love A Model Recommends. Ruth Crilly mentioned barbieoftheday in an interview and we became friends on Twitter. It took a while for us to actually be in the same country at the same time but when we finally met in person we got on like a house on fire. She works really hard and has a great blog. The fact that she is gorgeous is obviously slightly annoying but I try to get past that.

Which blogger is your style icon? Which blogs to you go to when you need style inspiration?

If you know someone who you think should be included in this series, leave a comment on this post, or send me an email. If you would like to write a guest post for Sugar and Spice about who your blogger style icon is, or any other topic, you can find all of the information you need here.

Please nominate me in the "Established Fashion Blog" category

Blogger Style Icon: Jessica, of What I Wore

I am hugely excited to introduce to you this week's Blogger Style Icon: Jessica, the girl behind the blog What I Wore and the recently published book of the same name.

Jessica is one of the original personal style bloggers who has posted her outfits every day on her tumblr blog since 2007. Her blog is a delight to "read", her style choices make it a gorgeous record of her everyday wardrobe:

I asked Jessica:

What influences your style choices?

As crazy as it sounds, I try to rotate colors and that's a big motivator for me. For example, if I wear a lot of olive/denim/gray for a couple days, I try to switch it up with brights.  Because I'm photographing (almost) every outfit and posting it to the blog, I try to mix it up.  But then again, my gut feeling when I look at my closet has a lot to do with what I wear too!

DENIM LOVER

Where do you mainly shop for new pieces for your wardrobe?

50s housewife look: à la Betty Draper

I do a lot of online shopping, especially for bargains. I like discount e-mailers like Shop It To Me and flash sites like GILT group.  There are some great little boutiques in town (Bloomington, IN) that I like to browse at whenever I walk by too. Lately I've been shopping quite a bit at Anthropologie and J.Crew as well!


Who is your style icon?

MAD MEN influence

It's ever changing!  Sometimes I'm all about the 50s housewife à la Betty Draper and other times I'm in an Annie Hall mood.  There aren't any celebs that I follow religiously, probably because I just like to march to the beat of my own drum!

 Which blogger is your style icon? 

Most of my favorite blogs are actually lifestyle focused including Rockstar Diaries, Frecklewonder and Dear Baby.  The fashion blogs I read are gals I'm friendly with - Kendi Everyday, Cali Vintage, My Style Pill, Jen Loves Kev, Eat Sleep Wear and many many more!

Jessica is currently on a book tour promoting her brand new book, What I Wore, and hasn't let her style crown slip as she's toured the States:

What do you think of Jessica's style? Which blogger is your style icon? Which blogs to you go to when you need style inspiration?

If you know someone who you think should be included in this series, leave a comment on this post, or send me an email. If you would like to write a guest post for Sugar and Spice about who your blogger style icon is, or any other topic, you can find all of the information you need here.

Blogger Style Icon: V, of Grit and Glamour

This week I am so excited to showcase the fabulously stylish V, of Grit and Glamour (a hugely successful and informative blog) in the popular Blogger Style Icon series.

V's style isn't just glamorous and chic, it is wearable too, which is exactly what makes bloggers so appealing as Style Icons and inspiration for the women who read their blogs.

I asked V:


What influences your style choices?

Magazines, bloggers, celebrities. I'm a very visual person, so the strongest influence probably comes from fashion magazines.

KEEPING IT REAL: V shows us how to look good, even in the snow!

Where do you mainly shop for new pieces for your wardrobe?

That's a hard question to answer. I'd say 75% of my wardrobe is procured in person. The rest is ordered online. My favorite local stores are BCBG, Nordstrom, Tory Burch (for accessories), Ann Taylor, and Neiman Marcus. Online, I like Shopbop, AllSaints, Topshop, Saks. I'm sure if there were a Zara in my city, it would be at the top of my list. But alas, there is no Zara. Boo.

Who is your style icon?

I have many. Victoria Beckham, Christine Centenera, Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton of Sass & Bide, Tom Ford, the list goes on. 

Which blogger is your style icon?

I have a tremendous amount of respect for Karla of Karla's Closet. She's got an incredible eye, mixes vintage and modern extremely well, and I love that she is a west coast blogger who is truly unique and marches to the beat of her own drum. There is this ubiquitous over-accessorized, over-layered look that many west coast bloggers are doing; I love that Karla not only isn't influenced by that, but that she has short hair, and a curvy body. She is the J.Lo equivalent in blogging. She dresses so beautifully for her body, and she is a showstopper, but not in a LOOK AT ME kind of way. Karla's style is quiet, but unforgettable.

BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL

What do you think of V's style? Which blogger is your style icon? Which blogs to you go to when you need style inspiration?

If you know someone who you think should be included in this series, leave a comment on this post, or send me an email. If you would like to write a guest post for Sugar and Spice about who your blogger style icon is, or any other topic, you can find all of the information you need here.

PS. I have added a little poll in the top of the right hand column, if you have a spare second - please choose your response. Thank you.

Blogger Style Icon: B Jones Style

This week's Blogger Style Icon is Beth of B Jones Style whose relaxed Carrie-style buns, California style and colour-blocking makes her the perfect choice for my third post in this new series.

Fashion blogger and stylist Beth demonstrates her sense of style through her blog and the beautiful photo shoots she presents there:

Beth's blog through another of my Blogger Style Icons, The Online Stylist, when she highlighted Beth's Carrie-style bun:

Beth is definitely queen of colour blocking this season and her blog outfits are a riot of bright and beautiful bold shades:

COLOUR-BLOCKING: to the max!

I asked Beth:

What influences your style choices?
I've always been attracted to the dramatic.. so I am often influenced by dramatic or character driven looks. I love the 70's and exploring all sides of that era.

Where do you mainly shop for new pieces for your wardrobe?

HIGH STREET LOVER: Forever 21 dress

I love shopping vintage stores, flea markets and thrift stores for treasures and unique pieces to play up a look. But for the everyday stuff I like H&M, Forever 21, Zara, MNG, and TJMaxx. Some favorite designers are Rachel Rachel Roy, Chris Benz, Tory Burch, Chloe, Phillip Lim to name a few.

Who is your style icon?
Hands down.. the character of Carrie Bradshaw. She was probably my biggest influence to start experimenting with style in a quirky way.

CARRIE BUN

Which blogger is your style icon?
I am so inspired by Natalie Joos of Tales of Endearment. She loves vintage and has such a playful, quirky sense of style.

MORE COLOUR BLOCKING

What do you think of Beth's style? Which blogger is your style icon? Which blogs to you go to when you need style inspiration?

If you know someone who you think should be included in this series, leave a comment on this post, or send me an email. If you would like to write a guest post for Sugar and Spice about who your blogger style icon is, or any other topic, you can find all of the information you need here.

I first found

Blogger Style Icon: Paula, of Pink Bow

This week's Blogger Style Icon is the fabulous and stylish Paula, of Pink Bow.

Last week saw the start of the Blogger Style Icon series - a series which follows on from the long-running Style Icon series and focuses on those bloggers who influence and inspire you and me.

VINTAGE: Etsy dress

Paula showcases her outfits on her blog: these outfits combine high street with higher end designer pieces and unique and vintage pieces that she finds on eBay, Etsy and at markets and boot sales.

Her attention to details - in her outfits and the photographs of them - is always inspired. And in my book, anyone who can pull off a turban, like this, is truly a style icon:

STYLE ICON detail: eBay turbans

In order to get to know the person behind the style, I asked Paula:

What influences your style choices?Old films, style on the street, reading magazines & blogs.
Where do you mainly shop for new pieces for your wardrobe?

HIGH STREET: Topshop jumpsuits

Nearly always on-line, I really have come to hate the high street shopping experience. Crowds & rummaging is no longer for me. I will still shop some of the high street shops on-line, I love Top Shop, asos & Urban Outfitters and I always like a browse on Etsy and eBay for vintage. Occasionally I will have the budget for a higher end piece, so I'll google to find the best place to buy it. I would much rather take my chance & order something from a website. I know there is always the risk it won't fit but you do come to know your body shape and sizing after a while. And it means you get the item at a better price and more likely something that no one else will have.


Who is your style icon?

Probably someone quite predictable like Audrey Hepburn, Jacqueline Kennedy, Zoe Deschanel or Alexa Chung. These ladies are style icons for a very good reason. I like a classic but quirky style and I think they all achieve this really well.

Which blogger is your style icon?


This changes often, there are so many very stylish bloggers out there that I am constantly inspired by. But at the moment I will say Madelene from Le Portillon as she is stylish not just in the simple way she dresses but in the simple way she appears to live. I like to be able to find beauty in the simple things in life and she does this to perfection.

STYLE CAMELEON

What do you think of Paula's style? Which blogger is your style icon? Which blogs to you go to when you need style inspiration?

If you know someone who you think should be included in this series, leave a comment on this post, or send me an email. If you would like to write a guest post for Sugar and Spice about who your blogger style icon is, or any other topic, you can find all of the information you need here.

Blogger Style Icon: Amanda, aka The Online Stylist

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For a long while now I have been wondering how to move forward with the Style Icon series which has run on this blog for nearly 18 months. A few people suggested to me that I feature bloggers who are style icons as it seems that more and more often bloggers are influencing our style choices (something which is discussed and encouraged in many of the Friend Friday posts). Last month, I found myself lusting after a dress posted by Amanda, of The Online Stylist, and then buying the dress in question. Then it turned out that I was not the only one to be influenced by The Online Stylist: turns out the lovely lady behind Looking Fab at Any Age was also inspired to go purchase a dress, after seeing it on Amanda. So it seemed only right that Amanda be the first fashion blogger to be featured in the new and improved Style Icon posts:

STYLE INSPIRATION: the dress I bought; and the dress Fab in your 40s bought!

The obvious factor which turns many a fashion blogger into a style icon, is the fact that they show how to wear affordable fashions and catwalk trends and how these can be translated into everyday life.

Amanda excels at mixing high end fashion with high street finds - something that she also does seamlessly in her posts too:

MIXING HIGH END FASHION AND HIGH STREET FINDS: Alexander Wang T, Michael Kors bag and Next skirt

I asked Amanda:

What influences your style choices?

** I always look for investment pieces where possible and then top up with a few trend led pieces. Cost obviously plays a big part - if I had a bigger budget I would choose a few more high end pieces but I think there are so many great options on the high street now that we're spoilt for choice. I'm a huge believer in spending on a great bag or some statement shoes once a year.

Where do you mainly shop for new pieces for your wardrobe?

** Zara is a current hot favourite as is My-Wardobe.com. I'm also in love with practically everything Dorothy Perkins are doing - I feel they've really upped their game recently and can't wait for the AW11 lines to hit the shops.

Who is your style icon? (I think I can probably guess this!! Haha! - see what I mean here!)

** Yes you did guess right! That would be Olivia Palermo... the ultimate in glossy, groomed Manhattan chic. To say I'm obsessed with what she wears would be an understatement! She just has this knack of putting pieces together and looking stunning. The fact that she is beautiful helps a great deal but her ability to mix high street with high end is legendary in my book. If I ever met her I wouldn't know what to say.. I'm sure it would be highly embarrassing!

Which blogger is your style icon? (who do you think I should approach next?!!)

** Ooh.. that's a toughie. There are so many amazing style bloggers out there but one I have to check in with everyday is Jessica Quirk at What I Wore. I cannot believe I've only recently discovered her blog! She has such great individual style and always looks amazing in her outfit photos. She smiles, looks happy and to me, looks like someone you'd want to be friends with... a real girl who puts amazing outfits together. I've pre-ordered her book on Amazon as I can't wait to see it!

MAXI STYLE IMPACT: Lipsy maxi; and Zara maxi.

What do you think of Amanda's style? Which blogger is your style icon? Which blogs to you go to when you need style inspiration?

If you know someone who you think should be included in this series, leave a comment on this post, or send me an email. If you would like to write a guest post for Sugar and Spice about who your blogger style icon is, or any other topic, you can find all of the information you need here.

GUEST POST: Style Icon: Jenna Lyons

This week's Style Icon comes courtesy of Shannon of The Simply Luxurious Life, a wonderful blog that I only recently discovered, that shares "a life full of luxuries, but at the same time very clean and simplistic so as not to detract from the beauty". It is a beautiful blog, filled with carefully chosen photographs and thoughtful posts. One of my favourite series on Shannon's blog has been "Why Not... Be A Modern Lady". Without further ado, I hand over to Shannon to tell us about one of her Style Icons:


President-Executive Creative Director of J.Crew, Jenna Lyons has quickly risen to the top of my list when it comes to modern style icons. For many reasons, I am continually impressed, but for merely an aesthetic one, it is her height and how confidently and femininely she owns it. At 6'0" Jenna does not shy away from wearing stiletto heels, in fact it seems, she drinks them in and allows them to assist in bringing to attention her svelte and lengthy frame. For this alone, I am in awe and inspired.

She embodies the idea of what the J.Crew brand represents, stylishly casual, with her knack for layering, love of sequins, beautiful heels and bold red lips.

Below are a collection of looks that exhibit her style, her ease and the embracement of being exactly who she is.



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 On Oprah recently (April 21, 2010), Jenna shared a few of the fashion rules she lives by that everyone could benefit from following:



• Make a statement with jewelry.


• Balance feminine pieces with tomboy accents, like a military blazer.


• Wear opposites. If you're wearing something tailored, sprinkle in some sequins.


• Mix textures—pair tweed with silk, for example.


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What do you think of Shannon's choice of Style Icon?

If you have missed the previous style icons featured on the blog, check them out here.

Tell me, who is your style icon?

I am also looking for bloggers who would like to write a guest post for this series, about their Style Icon, so if you would like to join Shannon as a guest blogger, please get in touch if you would like to get involved. You can find out more here.

Who is your style icon Confessions of a Fashion Editor?

Today, Amy of Confessions of a Fashion Editor is sharing her favourite style icon:


"My style icon is a fictional pathologist. No really. I highly recommend watching 'Silent Witness', for Nikki Alexander's clothes, if nothing else. She always dresses practically, yet beautifully, and seems to be able to look elegant in anything, which you have to admire. Also, I am one of those rabid fangirl types, where this show is concerned."

Who is your style icon PinkBow?

I've asked PinkBow to share with us her favourite style icon and explain why:

"Style icons change all the time for me, currently it is Zooey Deschanel. She has similar colouring to me, so her looks really inspire me to suit my own style."

If you've missed the rest of this series, you can see the previous bloggers who have shared their favourite style icons with me, here. And remember to come back next week when another blogger will tell us their favourite style icon.

Who is your style icon Leia of HiFashion?

This week I asked Leia of HiFashion, who is your favourite style icon and why? (You might remember that her blogger-in-crime, Sherin, shared her style icon with us here.)


"Is it alright for me to say I have two style icons? My first would be Queen Rania of Jordan. I think she is always so elegant, conservative but not frumpy, and so beautiful. Also, I know she's a fictional character, but I do love Blair Waldorf's style. It's the perfect mix of preppy and pretty - I wish I could have access to her entire wardrobe!"

This post is a part of a series of posts in which I have asked some of my favourite fashion bloggers who their style icon or icons are. If you've missed the other posts in this series, you can find them here.

Who is your style icon Glamorous Grad Student?

This week I asked The Glamorous Grad Student, who is your favourite style icon and why? Here is her answer:

"Hmmm, it's tricky because I don't have a particular style icon, but a mishmash of inspirations. I like looking at street style blogs from my favourite city, Paris. I take cues mainly from Marilyn Munroe, Blair Waldorf of Gossip Girl and Charlotte York-Goldenblatt of Sex and the City as they are closest to representing the kind of style I personally like."