The celebration of handmade art

To possess something which was created by machines but is the result of an individual’s handicraft is very special. For that reason, many people own artworks such as paintings or sculptures or even sew their own clothes and tablecloths. These pieces have a special meaning for their respective owners as they symbolize skill and the manufacturer’s personal characteristics, e.g. patience and a focus to detail. The aesthetic value is often so important that function does not play a role, and one might believe in Oscar Wilde who closed the prologue to his novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray” with the claim that “All art is quite useless”. Yet, a Full post…

What You Need Right Now: 13 Age-Appropriate Bow Styles

We may be all grown up (almost), but we have a total soft spot for clothing and accessories with bows. The good news is that, contrary to popular belief, be-ribboned clothing doesnt have to make you feel like an overage tween. Instead, its a great way to add a feminine flourish or spice up a simple silhouette, which is why weve rounded up our favorite bow-adorned styles. Check them out below!

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Viva Fashion Featured in The New York Times

Hey guys…I’m so excited to share with you that Viva Fashion was featured in The New York Times today. Thank you again for all of your amazing support. It really means a lot to me. And of course, I can’t go without thanking God for letting me do what I love so much. Here’s a link to the full story: Adding Classic to Latina Style

ps. The story will be in the print issue on July 5th. 

Label We Love: Alexandra Blak

Alexandra Blak jewellery designs combine futuristic and abstract aesthetics with innovative materials to create statement pieces that make the simplest outfits memorable. Each piece from the Alexandra Blak collection is individually handcrafted, emanating “strength and individual style.”  

Australian based designer Alexandra Anson founded this fashion forward jewellery label by artfully sculpting bespoke pieces for clients from lucite, silver, textile and stone materials. By combining her love of minimalism, abstract forms, and futuristic inspirations each piece is able to radiate a “timeless androgynous allure”.

When it comes to Alexandra Blak designs less is certainly more, with the strong minimalist pieces being enough to compliment the bold printed and neon designs on trend this season without being over powering. The jewel

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What You Need Right Now: Cool Coral Clothes (& Accessories!)

Tired of the same ol neutral hues, but not yet ready to get in on the neon trend? Try a fresh coral shade!

Coral is a great summery color, and its bright enough to get everyones attention without burning their retinas. Whether you like a deeper shade or a more subtle tint, check out our top picks below:

Skin Cancer…My Mom’s Story

My beautiful mommy…enjoying a day in the sun (with sunscreen).
Weve teamed up with Neutrogena to bring awareness to their Choose Skin Health campaign, which mission is to help fight the skin cancer epidemic. As some of you may know, my mom was diagnosed with skin cancer a few years ago and she was very fortunate to have caught it on time. So this is a cause very dear to my heart. Since that scare, my mom never leaves home without sunscreen, but before then it was always a challenge to get her to wear sunscreen. I think part of it comes from the thought that it can never happen to us, but statistically 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer, which is a very scary thought.

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Trend Report: Artistic Tattoos

Sometimes when I spot a heavily tattooed arm or leg on the street, I think about what a commitment that person must have made when deciding their tattoo.  Another image that pops into my head is that of my mother waving her finger at me while saying, “Tattoos are tacky!”. 

For many people who are trying to find a medium between an arm sleeve and swearing off all tattoos there is hope.  The solution?  Small artistic tattoos.

Many celebrities and fashionistas alike are jumping on the artistic tattoo bandwagon and for many good reasons.  One of the benefits of having a small artistic tattoo is that it can be covered up when necessary, but also shown off in a subtle way.  Some ideas for tiny tats include: symbols, short words, or dates.  Two of my personal favourite celeb tattoos include Giselle Bündchen’s star wrist tat and Rihanna’s gun on her side. 

 Another way to get a subtle tattoo is to use white ink, which can also be hidden easily in professional situations.  If you ever thought about getting a tattoo, I highly recommend getting a small tat.

(Images via Pinterest.com)