Keep it light and pink!

One of the outstanding key pieces this season is Isabel Marant’s pink shorts as seen on their Spring/Summer 2011 show. It has since spawned a slew of copies from other brands and amongst which is Siwy’s gorgeous Siwy Camilla shorts in Desert Rose.

The dreamy aesthetic of the dusty pink wash blends well into a holiday at your favorite beach resort destination if you can get away somewhere this summer.  A white knit sweater or a white loose tank like the Wildfox dreamweaver tank (as seen above) seem to be the ideal escorting pieces to a well-dressed summer beach day or night out.

Not going anywhere for the summer like me? I am considering getting the hannah version of the desert rose wash instead which I can quite happily marry with my daily work and weekend outfits. Personally, I am a little bored of the usual blues, blacks and greys that you get with regular jean washes anyway and have never been a fan of brightly coloured denim. I see this dusty pink wash as a natural trangression from my favorite and overworn Siwy Hannahs in One Love.

So whether or not you’re going to be basking under the sun or sitting under the lights of your office, a little touch of pink is sure to lift your spirits up a little and make this summer a bit sweeter than usual.

Summer may be a little over a season away but who is to say you cannot inject a bit of its sparkle into your current season palette? My appetite for silver is an all year round affair and these pieces I currently love would easily blend into most occasions.

The Chrissy L Entrapment necklace (as seen on beach model) would sit happy over a knitted dress for the current season but doubles as a glamorous choice over swimwear at the beach. I personally love it over a one-shouldered dress worn together with Marcia Moran’s Titanium Triple Drop Tribal earrings for an equally dramatic look. Similarly, it is a great classic piece that will marry any evening dress.

For everyday wear, the Adina Small Horseshoe necklace would be the minimalist’s idea of a little daily boost, both in style and in luck. It is the best piece for fuss-free accessorizing, especially if you prefer cool over glamour.

There is something quite effortlessly sultry about the combat trouser (cargo pants), a 90’s trend that girl group All Saints were famous for. It was refreshingly sexy at that time because the girls looked good laid-back and comfortable as compared to the Spice Girls who were known for their over-the-top glamour outfits. The combat style on women catered to a different set of males who thought of sexiness as something effortless and that could be why the style was relatively prevalent for the longest time.

Last year, a few premium denim companies tried to revive the trend back and it got the seal of approval from some commonly style-stalked hollywood celebrities like Ashley Tisdale, Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, etc. With 90’s trends coming on strong at the moment, this is one style to definitely consider loving again. After all, who would deny comfort and cool, especially now that it’s back in everyone’s favourite skinny leg style?

Even if you do not fancy the big pockets on the combat trousers, you can easily cheat by getting jeans in an earthy tone like the Siwy Hannah Slim Crop in Rebellion, a personal favourite of mine.  I would pair with a slinky romantic top and heels or even combat boots if I wanted to take the look to the next level.

What could be a better way to start the new year with a new effortlessly sexy look? Check out for the following combat styles by Siwy on Manhattanite!

1. Siwy Rose Drainpipe jeans in Moss

2. Siwy Marielle Chino Pants in Blacksand or Moss

3. Siwy Valentine Cargo Pants in Blacksand or Moss

Get ahead of all your peers by doing the Balmain Spring/Summer 2011 runway look already! You can also get so much more use out of these two items in terms of  ”wearability”, more than you can possibly imagine! Let’s face it, most of us will not be able to afford the Balmain price tag, and these options are both under $200 each! Why resist?! Lovely!

Items shown in post:

1. Cecilia De Beaucourt Bolero with Chain Fringe $188.00

2. Siwy Camillia shorts in Fascination $168.00

Credits:

Runway image from Style.com

The Siwy jeans that I spoke of in my last post arrived recently and it didn’t take long for me to start wearing them. The sizing and the fit is so reliable; I have gotten so used to their jeans that I don’t need to worry if it may or may not fit when it arrives.

I paired them with a lace bodysuit from Topshop and my favourite cropped jacket by Adam. However, I’d imagine it would be much colder where you are right now so I strongly suggest a leather bomber jacket to go with these sleek grey jeans.

From left to right:

Mackage Cataline Jacket in Connac

Mackage Leane Jacket in Gunmetal

For a cheaper alternative, try

Astars by Alpine Stars Worldwide Jacket

I have been raving so much about Siwy Denim for the past few posts that I just had to continue the trail with Michelle Siwy’s advice on the best way to treat your pair of Siwys. This is for those whose obsession with Siwy is just as unhealthy as mine and want to make your denim accustomed solely to yourself.

Michelle’s advice is pretty simple, “Its best not to wash them for six months. The salt from your skin will soften it and make them your own. If you need to refresh, spot treat and dry with dryer sheets. Then after, wash inside out, cool with a non-abrasive soap like lingerie detergent and hang in the sunshine to dry.”

It might sound a bit crazy not to wash your denim for six months but from personal experience, my hand washed pair of the Camilla shorts just do not look the same as the pair that I have allowed self-cleaning by drying under natural sunlight. I also found that the more often you wear them, the softer and more comfortable they get and not washing them maintains the intended look and keeps them looking more relaxed as well. Monitoring how the jeans mould into your very own is almost like art, something that no one can replicate. The process, you can say is actually rather beautiful. 

My Siwy’s have always been more than just clothing to me, perhaps like an extension of myself now. I live most of my weekends in them and they remind me of a more carefree, lazy and easy-going part of life. It just makes sense to also clean them as naturally as possible and to wear them so frequently till they start to soften into the contours of your own body. I hope Michelle Siwy’s advice was as useful for you as it has been for me.

Maybe it’s my inner collegiate still expecting her Spring Break, but I’ve got vacations on my mind. It goes something like, clear calm waters, a selection of VC Andrews novels, and a tiny wifi enabled hut on the beach that comes with a spout that alternates sangria and lime beer. Of course, this fantasy also includes daydreams of silver bikinis, batik scarves, over-sized opalescent shades and a new, island-inspired scent  (I have been known to put on suntan oil just to feel closer to the land of sandy bliss). Also packed into my vision is this striped, Sofia by ViX Marley Caftan Coverup, the perfect thing to toss on after a hard day of doing absolutely nothing in the sun. Who’s with me?

Here at Manhattanite, its clear that Siwy denim is very well loved by all our bloggers and staff alike, and Spring/Summer 2010 brings in more reasons why we still won’t be able to stop raving about this romantic denim label.

The Siwy Camilla is once again re-invented in many new washes but its the vintage “Stardust” wash that really caught my eye. Faded to perfection without really having the re-visit the bad 80s acid wash, it is cleverly finished with a subtle amount of studs that compliment the look without making it look “punk”. Wear it with whatever you choose, I’m sure it would give your outfit an extra ooomph, thanks to the nonchalant feel.

The other studded pair in Gypsy features bright gold studs which offsets the dark indigo wash, bound to catch a lot of specific attention on the lower half of your body. This is my favourite wash to wear for the evening with some earthy coloured wedge heels.

Summer is almost here and I’m pretty sure anyone would be happier with a perkier ass in this siwy denim shorts, running along the beach or walking down the city with that little twinkle in the eye because there is just something unspoken but special about this denim label that will keep you coming back for more and more. I know I am definitely a sucker for them.