Rihanna for River Island: A/W 2013 Review

Naturally, after the first Rihanna for River Island collection, I was definitely hesitant to purchase anything from this one. I still can't believe how terrible the first one was, if I'm honest.

Well, this collection definitely isn't amazing and it's not worth obsessing over, in my opinion. I can see Rihanna's fan base buying a lot of the items for the sake of buying them, however. I suppose celebrity status will always conquer merchandise, no matter what it looks like.

Personally, I've bought 2 items from the collection and I'm questioning one of them now...

G4Life Sweat Dress- £50.00

I'm pretty content with my sweat dress purchase. It seems like that incredibly warm jumper that'll always get worn on blustery Winter days. Paired with cable knit tights and heeled ankle boots, I don't think this is a bad item from the collection. It makes a statement without being too loud.

G4Life Cropped Sweatshirt- £35.00

Although I bought this, the sweatshirt is definitely nothing special. Maybe if paired with high-waisted acid wash jeans, I'll change my mind.

Aside from these items, there was quite a few items that just weren't realistically wearable to the average British girl or woman. Somehow, I just can't see myself walking around the streets of London in these glossy trousers, can you? Now, if Rihanna walked around in these... she'd somehow make it onto a "best dressed" list. Why? She's Rihanna. Rihanna can pull off anything, quite literally.

High-shine coated trousers- £50.00

One item I will give Rihanna props for is the tan stiletto boots in her range. They're so tough and rebel-chic. Rather on the expensive side, but I suppose you wouldn't expect anything less.

Suede stiletto boots- £120.00

Overall, Rihanna's new collection is definitely better, but still doesn't have enough appeal to me. The items still all seem like things Rihanna would wear. Although that's the idea, successful celebrity collections have always intertwined personal style with subtleness. The neon yellows, PVC and the lack of pretty much anything that isn't cropped can definitely be off-putting for your average shopper in River Island. Definitely a hit and miss collection.

NY Fashion Week: T by Alexander Wang S/S 2014 Review + Personal Update!

Where on Earth have I been?

New York Fashion Week has officially come to an end and I feel like I've completely missed all of it. I've been away for a while on internships and preparing for life at university but I can assure my readers that I am doing everything in my power to stay motivated to blog. I'm not exactly sure which direction to take with blogging but for now, it'll still remain a big interest of mine as there's nothing I love more than to review collections. My experience working for www.styleclone.com has also confirmed that this is one of many passions and I will continue to invest in it until I don't feel satisfied anymore. What I will say is this- seeing the views on this blog continually increase so rapidly is definitely the most motivating factor for me. Whoever you are, I genuinely appreciate you as I have a lot to learn in this sphere and it's going to take a hell of a lot to become a noted blogger.

Wang's Modern Wardrobe Staples  

As you may know, Alexander Wang will forever be one of my favourite designers. His unique mindset enables him to create the most statement pieces that don't even scream "statement". With this collection, I was pleasantly satisfied to see Wang stick to his simple and minimalist stance on clothing. As per usual, no print and no embellishment. It really is all about silhouette and fabric in Wang's collections.

The choice of rich red separates in a ribbed knit material is definitely shows Wang's ability to create wardrobe staples. Comfortability with edge, as the zips that aren't fully done almost personifies the average Wang girl... a bit mysterious but definitely not reserved. 

A boxy shirt with an unusual fabric that's almost similar to latex. Wang definitely loves to play around with dimensions as he creates this street-luxe ensemble. 

"Fetishism" and "Wang" are words often used interchangeably and now I understand why. The tightness of this dress on the model's figure is seductive. 

A utility jumpsuit that goes perfectly against the construction background. With Wang, there's no clear line to mark what is feminine or masculine. 

Outfit Of The Day: It's Alright As Long As It's Black Or White

A new blogging venture for me... outfit of the days. Perhaps, these are a little overdone? Well, I'm not doing street style (yet...) and I'm not making a huge deal out of photography. I want this to be as realistic as possible... a spontaneous photograph of my outfit for the day and where to get it. An idea of my taste and what I pair together for different occasions. If I like how it goes, I'll continue doing this and if any requests or questions are put forward, I'm more than happy to answer! 

I rarely look at trends and try and emulate them so it's unlikely that I will be doing "how to wear ___ trend" posts. However, if I find that I'm wearing something on the day or have some things in mind that fit a certain trend, whether it be catwalk-based or street-style based, I might put something together. 

(If I know something I'm wearing is still in store, I will definitely link it too!)

Instagram: @ManitaRughwani - similar photos and 'Outfit Of The Day' posts will be uploaded there too but the blog posts will have a bit of extra detail. 

Disclaimer: I have a bunch of insecurities. Probably more than Bridget Jones. 

Top- Primark
Skirt- H&M
Wedges- New Look
Sunglasses- Marc Jacobs

Today's outfit was for a 'How To Get In To Fashion' event hosted by GoThinkBig. Some lovely staff from Grazia magazine talked to about 20 of us young and eager beavers about their journeys and life and how they ended up where they are. It gave me so much confidence that I'm on the right track (touch wood). It's all about interning, connections and humbling yourself. In a tough industry, being complacent and cocky won't get you anywhere. If you come into a job or internship thinking you're above it, you pretty much won't get anywhere because people in fashion TALK and recommend left, right and centre! Those were some of the vital points I got from the event.

Really happy I went! I wanted to wear something fairly comfortable, yet stylish. Therefore, the plain black stretch top tucked into the lace skirt was perfect because it complimented my shape and didn't enhance my unforgiving curves, at times. The sandals were pretty comfortable too and I thought the metallic gold broke down the simplicity of the black and white.

Lipsy Panel Mini Tote Bag Review

The jewel of Lipsy's current handbag range is this tote bag with a nude, black and gold colour scheme.

The structure of the tote is very Céline-esque which is one of the features that drew me to the bag. Classically elegant and chic is what this bag screams with the gold metal detailing on the front of the bag. 

I didn't just buy this bag because of it's style, I bought it because I needed something practical and sturdy enough for my start at university this September. The space inside is enough for a laptop and some books, perfect!

The gold zip is ideal to keep everything securely tucked away. I tend to prefer zips than button details just for security and peace of mind.

I'm also keen on the limited patent fabric that the tote has. I find that excess amount of PVC adds a cheaper feel to an item but a little on the frame of the bag is a lovely touch.

The colours are perfect for all year round and the bag can be matched to many outfits which is something to look for when it comes to a handbag choice. Although we've been seeing a lot of neons and brights considering the summer weather, often they are hard to team up with outfits unless you're wearing something toned down.

This beauty is available for just £48.00 at Lipsy.

Giveaway Time! Win a £50 Spend!

Loyal readers, as you may know, I am currently writing content for www.styleclone.com and they have a fantastic giveaway! 

To enter, click here:

http://styleclone.com/23913/competition-win-50-spend-at-petasil-kids-shoes-fashioncompetition/

You have a great chance to win a £50 spend at Petasil shoes, a brand with a huge celebrity following. They sell stylish, yet comfortable and quality shoes for children. 

Elie Saab Fall 2013 Couture Review

By far, Elie Saab is my favourite designer to review during Couture season, as well as Valentino and Dior. The glamour and classiness that ooze throughout each and every collection produced is simply unbeatable. The standards for Haute Couture are high and Elie Saab has never produced a design, nor a single piece that I haven't found to be gorgeous.

Just when I thought Elie Saab's Spring 2013 Couture collection, reviewed here: http://www.therebirthoffashion.net/2013/01/elie-saab-spring-2013-couture.html?q=saab, would be impossible to top, the uber-talented designer has managed to present another flawless, exquisite collection showcasing some of the finest designs in the world right now.

Opting for a deep, rich colour palette with ruby shades, creams, golds, sapphires and emeralds, the colours selected for Fall were perfect and certainly are fit for a queen. Opting to change things up from the black and gold combinations as well as the aquamarine tones we saw in the last Fall collection (http://www.therebirthoffashion.net/2012/08/fall-2012-couture-whos-best.html?q=saab), every single collection is like an exciting present to open as the images are released. I know I'm going to be blown away every time and as I've said over and over again, Saab has a way of bringing back that old Hollywood glamour with a modern touch. Tradition can be a good thing and I disagree with Style.com's review- print may be something Saab plays around with in the future but I don't believe his collections get monotonous, I believe his beading and embroidery speak volumes and excessive use of print will shift the creative direction quite drastically.

Stunning, red-carpet perfect ruby gown with red embellishing. The flared skirt and three-quarter length sleeves  add dimension. 

Shorter and sweet, yet elegant and striking. A nude-shade ballgown-style dress with a shorter hem. 

In a deep shade of sapphire, a one-sleeved, floor-length gown is beautiful to the highest degree possible.  The non-embellished chiffon skirt sways as the model walks, whilst the fitted bodice enhances a flattering figure.

A tighter, more straight fit to the other gowns. A sweetheart neckline and a more figure-hugging fit would make any wearer look svelte and daring in this number. 

A richer fabric would not be possible for this piece. The emerald tone looks gorgeous with the sheen and the plunge neckline is simple but a nice touch.

As with all Saab shows, the last and final, awaited bridal gown will always leave cameras flashing and fashion-fanatics going crazy. Crystals and quartz are embroidered on this layered gown which leaves an enormous trail from the sides and the back. The veil is floor-length and is also clearly glistening with embroidery all the way through. 

Rihanna at River Island: The All New Autumn Collection

Read my thoughts on Rihanna's streetwise, luxe collection for River Island here: http://styleclone.com/23694/rihanna-at-river-island-all-new-autumn-collection-with-attitude/