April 2012 - Style and Fashion Blog

Summer Beers for the Win

Apr 302012

Summer Beers 2012; Photo credit: rheinlander.com

With summer on the horizon, it’s time to dig into the season of what we like to call the Big Three: baseball, the beach, and beer. Sivani’s blog is paying close attention to all three of these very important summer mainstays. Right now, we want to talk about the third and potentially most important of the three. And that, friends, is beer.

Summer is traditionally the season of Pilsner–a group of pale lagers with a taste that we will describe here as “fresh” instead of “light.” Because if it doesn’t taste like something, you didn’t spend enough money on it. Our favorite pilsners are Pilsner Urquell (THE original pilsner from the Czech Republic), Jever (of the German persuasion, and slightly more bitter than the Czech), Warsteiner (another prolifically delicious German pils), and Belgium’s Grolsch, which has a sweet ring to it that can be enhanced with a small slice of citrus.

For those of you who like the wares that smaller breweries have to offer, we’ve got a few suggestions to pair with whatever you’re serving up on the grill. If it’s an ale you’re after, reach for Ipswitch Ale Brewery’s Summer Ale—a nice, full blonde with a dash of citrus. Lagunita’s A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin is a silky wheat beer with quite a little bang for its buck at 7.5% abv. (don’t man the grill if you’ve had a few, y’hear?). For something a little heavier, grab a cold Russian River Supplication. It’s a darker summer ale that has been sent to age in wine barrels made of oak.

There are also a ton of beer festivals going on this summer if you’ve got a taste for it. Beerfestivals.org has a great selection of events organized by city. Some of the most epic fests include Portland’s Oregon Brewers Festival and the Great American Beer Festival in Denver. Wherever you go and whatsoever you drink, remember to drink responsibly—so you can actually enjoy the festivities and remember them, too.

Sivani Bracelets and Necklaces – Reminders of Friendship

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Apr 282012

Sivani Bracelets and Necklaces Reminders of Friendship

Little Floral Leather Bracelet

Sivani is synonymous with the summer. The uniqueness of Silvia Nikolov’s designs is the perfect complement to the wide range of scents, sights, and life events associated with this special time of the year. Weddings, when done right, reflect the values and personalities of those being joined together in marriage. So, if you’re a Sivani bride, groom, or guest, why not make our jewelry a part of the special celebration?

Leather Necklace Horseshoe Pendant

Sivani bracelets and necklaces make for fantastic reminders of friendship for both bridesmaids and groomsmen. These are gifts they will truly cherish – to have and to hold, as a matter of fact. For bridesmaids in a country wedding, we suggest our little sterling silver floral bracelet. This lovely piece is dainty and particularly striking in red. For a more urban celebration, the silver wrap bracelet with citrine is recommended. Your team of maids can even make it a long, fun necklace for once the
dancing starts!

The non-traditional groom might be well suited (no wedding pun intended) to the men’s leather necklace with horseshoe pendant. Horseshoes are a symbol of good luck—and what guy couldn’t use that on his wedding day, even as a protection against flubbing the vows? And wise indeed is the groom who hands out our leather bracelet with sterling silver anchor before the ceremony to symbolically thank his buddies for their constant support and friendship.

Mothers of the bride, cousins of the groom – there’s truly something for every wedding guest from Sivani Designs. Have a great time shopping our friendship bracelets and necklaces, and be sure to browse our
other posts for my style inspiration. Happy celebrating!

Wedding Style Tips for Men – Break Up Summer Wedding Monotony

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Apr 262012

Wedding Style Tips for Men Break Up Summer Wedding Monotony

Source: GQ.com

It’s that time of the year, fellas: the time when those wedding bells break up that old gang of yours. Whether you’re twenty, forty, or sixty, chances are you’ll be playing the role of guest, groomsman, or father/uncle/grandfather of the bride at one time or another this summer. But just because you’re expected to wear a certain something – be it a black tie ball or laidback beach affair – doesn’t mean you can’t keep a unique touch or two of your own in the mix. Keep on reading our a little out-of-the-box wedding style tips for men if you are ready to break up the Summer wedding monotony.

If you’re in the wedding party, you’ve probably been given orders to appear in a very specific tux or suit, or have strict guidelines you need to follow on what shade of khakis to show up in. When these little restrictions get you down, you know it’s time to reach for your favorite Sivani piece. Leather bracelets blend in with the comfortable vibe of a beach or country ceremony, while sterling silver accents can add an extra touch of style to a city soiree. And for all you Sivani grooms out there: why not treat your groomsmen and other important guests to some Sivani loot as a thank you for backing you up on your big day?

As a guest at the wedding, you obviously have a few more options when it comes to attire. One of the trends we suggest trying pushes against the one-time fashion faux pas of wearing brown, black, and navy together. These neutral shades actually make for a striking trio, probably because few dare to put them with one another. We suggest picking two shades for your shirt, tie, trousers, and shoes, and leaving the third for accessories only to create maximum impact.

Wedding Guest Style – Wedding Belles Wear Sivani

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Apr 242012

Wedding Guest Style Wedding Belles Wear Sivani

Kate Middleton Fascinator; Credit: people.com; Tim Graham/Getty

Do us a favor and flip open to the June/July/August pages of your monthly planner. If you don’t already have a wedding (or two, or three) written down in one (or two, or three) of the weekend boxes, it’s probably just because you just haven’t gotten all the invitations yet! We made our point – it’s time to do some shopping and find the best wedding guest style for you and your personality.

Dressing as a guest of the wedding should be a good time, not a drag. While we approve of keeping some of the rules in place – never, ever, ever, wear a white dress unless you’re the bride – we at Sivani are also in favor of adding some flavor to the polite, pearl and pastel ensembles usually seen at summer nuptials. The best place to start for inspiration is your local Sivani blog. Take a look at some of our other posts and throw together a wild, Safari-style outfit or a laidback hippie gal look. You can dress any of these styles up with the right shoes and accessories.

And here’s another awesome secret from the Sivani fashion vault: a website called “Rent the Runway.” You can find them at the aptly named renttherunway.com. This site lets you rent designer gowns for a weekend at a fraction of the original cost. They’ll even send you two sizes of the same gown to cover any measurement mishaps. Imagine how confident you’ll feel in Temperley or Gucci as you take to the dance floor! Dresses are available, but also shoes, wraps, and bags.

If your dress is the canvas, your accessories are your paint, your accents. With that in mind, we’d also like to suggest taking a cue from the British in general and the Duchess of Cambridge specifically and encourage you to try out some flirty fascinators and hats. Few things in life are more enjoyable than visiting a milliner, and future brides might consider this as a gift to her bridesmaids or special guests! Do a Google search and find a qualified hat maker in your area, or simply head to the nicest department store you can think of.

The Surf Style – Summer Trend 2012 – We love you, Surfer Dude

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Apr 182012

The Surf Style Summer Trend 2012 We love you, Surfer Dude

Men's Surf Style Summer 2012; Photo credit: blog.sisterbrotherstyle.com

Lucky you, guys, the surf style Summer trend 2012 is very easy to pull off. Right up there with the cowboy, an icon of American masculinity is the surfer. Strong, peaceful, at one with nature, and always sporting dripping hair and a divinely sent tan from even the first day of sunshine, he’s a fun-loving and laid-back guy. At Sivani, we think every guy should get a chance to just chill out, especially in the summer at the beach, and preferably with a brew in his hand and a Sivani piece on his wrist or around his neck.

Sivani’s leather necklace with Sterling Silver Spiral Pendants is a perfect complement to your swim trunks and sunglasses. This piece, with its spiral pendant forged by Thai hill tribes and handcrafted leather bands, recalls the cycles of life but also other eras of the Earth’s and the sea’s development. In addition to your favorite Sivani, the surfer look is always best accomplished shirtless with swim trunks, leather sandals, and wet hair. But if you need to grab a shirt, no big deal—a preferably beat-up v-neck tee in just about any color will do the trick if you are wearing a Sivani piece too lend your surfer vibe legitimacy!

Once you’ve slipped this incredible piece on and gathered your buddies, why not try surfing this summer if you’ve never done it before? Surfing holidays are not only a blast, but they’ll get your upper body in shape really quick. In the US, Southern California and Hawaii are particularly active cultures for surfing, with surf schools and instructors abounding. In a typical first lesson, you’ll learn how to paddle, how to get up on your board, and honestly—you might be surprised at how quick the learning comes. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be learning how to ride bigger and bigger waves. But be careful, surfing is totally addictive and an incredible rush. It’s also a perfect way to Zen out and to take a step back from the hustle of the office and of life in general. And as a fashion trend, the surf style summer trend 2012 for men, is one of the easiest to put together!

The Surf Style – Summer Trend 2012 – You All Can Be California Girls

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Apr 162012

The surf style, which is a hot Summer trend 2012, is all about cutting loose, being comfortable, and getting in touch with your natural spirituality. No matter what part of the country you live in, chances are you’re ready to break out of sweaters and jackets, shave those legs, and generally revel in the warm weather and sunshine. From coast to coast, Sivani women know how to do summer right—are we right? Thought so!

The Surf Style Summer Trend 2012 You All Can Be California Girls

Resort 2012 Surf Trends; Photo credit: Style.com

Now, in Southern California, despite the lovely weather all year round, they really know summer. The surfer babe look and vibe is currently riding a fashion wave that starts with the 1970s trends we’ve been seeing on the runway for the past year or so. Sivani’s leather bracelets and long necklaces for women are at the forefront of this trend, needless to say. Almost any of our leather products can help you achieve the allure of a hippie/beach baby vibe.

The first step with this look (after the Sivani jewelry, of course) should always be your hair. Fret not about what length or texture it is, the idea is for your hair to look tussled as if the waves did it themselves. Jennifer Aniston, for instance, has this look down to a science (an earth science, if you will). The best way to do it is to braid your damp hair and spray with a texturizing spray—Bumble & Bumble’s ‘Surf’ spray is a nice one. Once hair is mostly dry, flip your hair over to blow dry on a low setting and you’re good to go.

It’s good form to put on sunscreen in the summer, of course, but doing so before makeup can make your skin look dewy. We suggest it! Throw on a little mascara and a touch of bronzer for blush. Then, to complete this Summer trend 2012, it’s only up to you to choose your cutest bikini and flip flops before you hit the boardwalk, the beach, and the waves. Happy surfing, ladies.

How to Rock the Safari Look with Leather Bracelets and Necklaces

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Apr 142012

How to Rock the Safari Look with Leather Bracelets and Necklaces

Sterling Silver Filigree Leather Necklace

Sivani’s leather bracelets and necklaces make a natural complement to this season’s safari-and-desert-inspired trends. While Sivani offers stunning pieces in leather for women, such as wrap bracelets and long necklaces with gemstones, our men’s styles take the explorer-man look to a whole new level of ruggedness.

Designed by our in-house artist, Silvia Nikolov, Sivani’s leather necklacewith sterling silver filigree pendant for men is a study in contrasts. You can customize this piece to include earthy brown leather, or desert-night black leather. Either looks distinct and manly against the .925 sterling silver pendant, with its bas relief sculpted filigree design. This high-contrast piece is sure to grab attention in an outfit composed primarily of light, low-contrast materials. Handmade and put together using only the highest-quality materials, this piece is sure to be a constant companion on all of your worldly explorations.

Simple Leather Wrap Bracelet with Sterling Silverexplorations.

For a little something to look at while you’re waiting at the stoplight on your motorcycle, car, or—depending on the occasion—camel, we suggest our simple men’s leather wrap bracelet in sterling silver. This is a luxury piece for the man wishing to express a polished modernity alongside a Wild-West, devil-may-care attitude. This is a versatile bracelet, that can in fact also be worn as a necklace by men and women alike. Wrapping an average of six times around the wrist—or two times around the neck.

Sivani’s leather bracelets and leather necklaces are the best way to liven up a safari look. We know you’ll agree.

Spring Trend 2012 – Sivani Man on Safari

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Apr 122012

Safari Trend for Men - Spring 2012; Source: Esquire Magazine Spring/Summer 2012

All right, Sivani men. We’ve got a Spring trend 2012 that is right up your alley. Hold on to your suave hats and give us a bit of a drum-roll, please. How would you like to rock a safari look? Sounds awesome? We thought so.

We at Sivani are having a hard time thinking up trends that could possibly be so masculine. Now, be honest—can you really help but think of man’s-man figures such as Humphrey Bogart, Teddy Roosevelt, Ernest Hemingway, and Indiana Jones when we mention the word ‘safari’? You can’t help it, and you shouldn’t.

This timelessly masculine look can be pulled off in a number of ways. However, the key to doing it well is wearing a low contrast of colors while mixing a few different fabrics. For instance, grab your favorite Sivani men’s leather necklace, such as the leaf and feather sterling silver pendant pieces. Pair it with a tan tee, light jeans, and a pocket-covered linen jacket for a cool, relaxed, and rugged vibe. A pair of leather sandals or boots can’t hurt either. Got the idea? You can go all out on the accessories, too: there’s nothing wrong with a pair of glasses or sunglasses in tortoiseshell (you can even snag a pair of Hemingway-inspired frames). Reach for your favorite, tattered canvas bag and throw your Moleskine in it, and you’ll get lots of looks no matter if you’re walking through the urban jungle or perhaps somewhere more wild still.

Spring Trend 2012 – Safari Chic: Yes, It Exists!

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Apr 092012

If you’ll recall last week’s post on the Spring trend 2012 – pretty pastels and buoyant fabrics – hitting fashion spreads, runways, and department stores the world over, you might be surprised to learn that quite an opposite trend has also taken hold for Spring and Summer 2012. In stark contrast to the breezy, retro styles that are currently worn by the “in” crowd, a safari-inspired look is a timely crowd-pleaser too.

Spring Trend 2012 Safari Chic: Yes, It Exists!

Spring Trend 2012 - Safari; image source: stylebakery.com

While this might conjure up images of big game hunting and the requisite faded black and white photos that go along with it, there’s a way to pull this look off in a way that’s chic, feminine, and modern. And you certainly don’t need experience in the Sahara or the Congo to do it justice—channel the swanky desert-chic of Kristen Scott Thomas in The English Patient, and you’ll be well on your way.

This look is all about mixing materials. The four items you’ll definitely need in your wardrobe are a high-quality white or light blue cotton shirt, a slim-legged pair of khakis, a sturdy shirtdress in a neutral color, and a wide leather belt—from there, anything is possible.

During the day, be sure to sport a wide-brimmed hat, a pair of aviator glasses, and, for a bit of edge, try a knee-high duo of gladiator sandals. And, in the sunlight or shade alike, Sivani’s long leather necklaces look seductively rugged with an open cotton blouse. For the transition to evening, Sivani’s leather necklace with copper and amethyst provides a subtle infusion of natural color. Throw on a leather jacket and tie a silky, animal-print scarf around your neck to lend your look a while touch. Voila, you have pulled off one of the hottest Spring trends for 2012 – the Safari look!

Sivani Springs into Leather Necklaces and Bracelets – In Mint Condition

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Apr 062012

Sterling Silver Chain Leather Necklace

Mint is emerging as one of the hottest and most wanted colors this season. Fashion designers have colored the runways in minty clothing collections and we, at Sivani, have decided to keep up with the latest color trend and offer some minty leather necklaces and leather bracelets on our web runway. Luckily for the savvy fashionista, Sivani has created a few limited edition leather necklaces and some long desired leather bracelets that can add a little minty freshness into your wardrobe.

First, there is the sterling silver chain necklace with mint in a beautiful smooth leather. This is a desirable, limited edition necklace that lays long on the chest. It features a structured Italian sterling silver chain, which lends a weighty contrast to the light green leather from which it suspends. The silver has undergone a specialized oxidation process to achieve a metallic shimmer and natural variation.

Minty Chocolate Leather Necklace

The infinity bracelet in mint leather is a delicate piece. Its design is inspired by Silvia Nikolov’s clients.Says the designer herself: “I’ve had so many requests for a bracelet with the infinity symbol, and I finally designed one.” This light and airy bracelet features sterling silver beads made by hand and sources from hill tribes. This bracelet, with its promise of eternal affection, makes a wonderful gift to a loved one or special friend. It comes in a variety of sizes and colors, and includes a stunning sterling silver button clasp for effortless wearability.

The minty chocolate leather necklace is also a limited edition item. Measuring at 28 inches long, it is at once sophisticated and uniquely earthy with its brown and mint color scheme. At the end of the knotted mint leather, delight in the necklace’s finishing touch: three deliriously depth-filled and handmade beads of glass. This item is perfect for wearing by itself, or try it with gold or sterling silver chains.

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