HO, HO, HOLIDAYS//

Well, it's the holiday season again and the crimes against fashion are rampant.  Every year, it shocks me; seeing people dressed like our friends above.  While it is hard to tell if these two lovebirds are being ironic or not, more often than not, the folks roaming around town dressed in their finest holiday sweaters and matching socks are just exploding with Christmas joy and the rest of us are left traumatized.  Dear clients and readers, please do not fall into this unforgivable trap this season.  Obviously, if you own any clothing Christmas themed that sparkles, burn it now.  Holiday fashion crimes reach beyond the dreaded sweater and sock set.  This time of year, there are a lot of parties and gatherings to attend and there are lots of ways to go wrong.  Wearing red to a holiday party is a little too obvious.  And trying to be shinier than the tree is a competition you will surely lose.  As a rule, mini length dresses that are too form fitting are what Hugh Hefner's bunnies wear at The Mansion, not what chic, sophisticated, modern women wear to celebrate with friends and family.  I think you get my point.
In general, there are two categories of holiday attire - the dress and the pants.  There are many ways to interpret these and some are more appropriate for holiday occasions than others.  I would dress myself and my clients in any of these looks - they are clean, chic, and fun without a hint of irony.  Happy party-going!

Antonio Berardi, Phillip Lim, Antonio Berardi

 The black dress always works.  Choices like this (velvet, lace, and small details) keep the black cocktail dress from being boring.  I love the Phillip Lim look with the white blazer and tan booties.  Mixing shapes and textures is always chic.

Jeremy Laing, Maria Cornejo, Dries Van Noten

 This is the kind of print you should go for as opposed to reindeer and Christmas trees! The colors here are vibrant but wearable.  These are three different looks but each one is chic and fun and perfect for a holiday party.  Because of the prints, these looks require little extra embellishment (have fun with the shoes instead).  I adore the maxi length - it adds a little edge and drama.

Prabal Gurung, Roland Mouret

A metallic cocktail dress is a great choice for many occasions, but for holiday it is especially appropriate.  The draping detail and colors here are gorgeous and chic.  Metallics can often look cheap - the colors must be muted and the material must be quality.  This Roland Mouret dress is perfection - the nude color leaves room for texture and other details the way most colors don't (except black).  Ah, the neckline and belt - greatness.  If you experiment with nudes, look for details like this.

Diane von Furstenburg, Isabel Marant

Depending on how you wear them, pants are always a modern and sophisticated alternative to a dress.  I personally prefer pants because they are more versatile and comfortable.  These looks achieve an effortless ease (note: I would remove the hat on the DVF look) but they are fun and party appropriate.  The embellishments here make the outfits - the jacket and the sequins give these looks life.  Don't knock sequins (especially pants!) until you try them - so hot!

Marc Jacobs, Dries Van Noten

Ok. These two looks make me drool. There is nothing chicer than the muted gray palette of Marc Jacobs with the loose trouser and the fur embellishment.  To pull off a muted palette like this, you must have a textured piece like the jacket and the silhouette of this pant works on everyone.  The way the Dries look mixes patterns is perfection - floral blazer with metallic detailed pant in a slouchy/narrow cut.  The print of the blazer give it femininity and the shine on the pants compliments that without competing.  This is menswear with a feminine edge and is perfect for parties.


photos from style.com

"IT'S A LOOK"//

Everyone has a "look" whether they know it or not.  Your "look" is defined by the personality of your appearance - the tendencies you have in regards to what you wear, how you style yourself, and how "accessories" like hair, makeup, posture, etc. accompany your clothing choices.  I often find, when I am working with my clients to pick out new pieces for their wardrobes, that I use the term "it's a look" when I am trying to get them to think outside their all-too-comfortable box.  Just the other day, I was shopping with a male client and I took him to Billy Reid (http://www.billyreid.com/).  I had introduced this to him previously, and while he thought a lot of it was "cool", it was clearly a departure from his usual shopping experience.  While perusing, I suggested somethings that got a silent, cocked head response.  I wanted to say "Come on, this is fabulous and cool and totally wearable!!" but instead I simply said, "Well, it is a look!" to which he agreed and then conceded that it was really great but maybe not right for him.  I love that moment because it opens up a conversation.  If I am doing my job, at the end of the conversation, I have at least convinced my clients to try something.  Once they feel the fabric, try these pieces on, and get some guidance, a new door opens up and they begin to see their wardrobes and selves from a new and more empowered perspective.  
Building a look takes time and thought, and frankly, can go horribly wrong.  Think Jersey Shore (GTL - "good to laugh" at), Cher (tall and thin and famous or not, it's just never worked), or the "busy mom" (either trying to stay hip and trendy and ending up looking like their teenage daughers or not trying at all and looking 10 years out of date).  The "looks" that have the longest shelf-lives and feel the most authentic and chic are ones that are totally symbiotic with their inhabitants. 
The goal is to find your "look" but not get stuck in it.  I would call my personal "look" slightly tailored, effortless and street conscious, slightly edgy with a high-low sensibility and attention to detail.  Depending on the season, point in my life, etc. I might change up the layers of the look, but the core always stays the same.  I always stay true to myself but remain creative.  That, to me, is the pilar of style. 

from left: from Sartorialist; Anna Dello Russo; Mary Kate Olsen; Karl Lagerfeld

 

from left: Katharine Hepburn; Kate Lanphear; from Sartorialist; Erin Wasson

From actors to stylists to designers to models to everyday people, these people embody a look that is authentic and speaks to the power of embodying your fashion choices.  Each one feels effortless yet thoughtful and each oozes with personality.  By looking at these people, you know something about them without knowing them at all.  It's a beautiful thing when something as simple and seemingly superficial as clothing can communicate one's identity. 

YOU ARE WHAT YOU READ//

One of my favorite things to do is read magazines - specifically magazines about style, fashion, and design. All magazines, however, are not made equal.  Standing in line at the grocery store there are the likes of US Weekly, People, Cosmo, etc. and all of these are complete crap (which is part of their appeal).  But if you are looking at these for fashion tips, look again.  These publications show a variety of celebs in shots ranging from movie premiers to "everyday life" and most of the time, they look like crap.  Demi Moore and the like have stylists (ahem Rachel Zoe) and the Paris Hilton types are rich idiots dressed up like stripper Barbie.  Any way you look at it, the images in these magazines are not ones to aspire to or compare oneself to.  Point and laugh at the plastic surgery, borderline eating disorders, veneers, and overly produced looks and walk away.
Moving up the ladder of sustenance are magazines devoted strictly to fashion - Vogue, Elle, Bazaar.  There are talented folks working at these publications and in order to stay on top of what's new in fashion and style reading these magazines is a must.  Experts such as Sally Singer (Vogue) and Kate Lamphear (Elle) and of course the queen of all things fashion Anna Wintour are behind these publications and they have found a way to bring the guts of the fashion world to the masses.  They are a little celebrity heavy (hey, it sells!) and trying to interpret the looks on the models runways is hard.  But looking at these magazines can help you begin to understand what to fill your closet with and how to style them.  I personally tear pages out that "speak" to me and save them for inspiration.
The most "nutritious" magazines are the ones that incorporate style, fashion, art, and design while keeping the focus off celebs and all the mainstream trends that over saturate popular media.  These magazines focus on people whose everyday lives are stylish, they aren't necessarily famous or drop dead gorgeous but they are far more interesting because they understand that fashion doesn't exist in a vacuum but that it intersects with all elements of our culture: art, music, economics, design, etc.  In this way, fashion becomes more than just clothes and shoes but part of our cultural makeup that everyone participates in (whether they realize it or not).  Whether you shop at TJ Maxx or Bergdorf Goodman or any variation in between, you are participating in "fashion".  Doesn't it make sense to participate in an educated and empowering way??  

From left: French Vogue editor in chief Carine Roitfeld is possibly one of the most stylish and chic women in the world.  While I love American Vogue (all hail Anna and Grace) there is something magical about its French equivalent.  I can't really read any of it but looking at the images is like entering a fantasy world.  I think getting a European perspective on fashion and style is really important (plus the French know style like no one else).  Seeing the differences between the French and American interpretation of trends and style opens up a new avenue for creativity in your own wardrobe. 
Industrie is a magazine published in the UK and they claim to be "The world's first culture of fashion magazine".  With thick, non-glossy paper and oversized images and print, it feels like a cool newspaper and truly touches the culture of fashion in a global way.  The fashion spreads feel like art, not a ploy to sell you something. 
Love is my favorite of the bunch.  It is the brainchild of uber stylist and fashion powerhouse Katie Grand.  This too is published in the UK and only comes out twice a year (thank God I have a great friend in London who sends them to me!).  It is a very photography led magazine (the best and most creative photographers have free reign here) and although it focuses heavily on the "ins" of the fashion industry, it is quite accessible and fun (there is a quite a bit of nudity!) and fashion is integrated into every story and the context of each subject, just as it should be.

 From left: V Magazine is an in-your-face approach to fashion journalism.  You aren't going to find lengthy stories written about trends or people, mostly just larger than life photographs that tell a specific, and sometimes controversial, narrative.  Nudity is splashed here and there and fashion seeps into every angle from art to personality profiles to music.
i-D Magazine is yet another gem printed in the UK and has a unique perspective on all things stylish with it's tongue in cheek attitude and collage-like layout.  There are a lot of great interviews with folks from all walks of style (some you've never heard of but end up being really interesting) and when you are finished perusing this publication, you feel like you have been to a party with people so cool it feels illegal.  
W Magazine is the "who, what, where, when, and why in the world of style".  While this "slogan" is a bit cliche, it is true.  Recently, W got a new editor, Stephano Tonchi and it has a new direction and feel (good and bad).  This is now the kind of magazine you have to be prepared to read, it is very article heavy, but the writing is quite good and and the fashion photography is still some of the best.  Having Kim Kardashian on the November 2010 cover is a bit off-putting but spreads on artists like Barbara Kruger make up for it.  Again, the way Tonchi focuses on style as opposed to fashion is refreshing and makes W a more "intellectual" pursuit than most.

WWW.//

For someone who loves to shop, I hate shopping.  I love hunting for that perfect shoe, piece of jewelry, coat, nail polish, anything really.  When you are passionate about fashion and style, your wardrobe becomes an extension of yourself, something you nurture and care for.  With my work, my goal is to help everyone, fashion crazed like me or not, learn how to nurture their wardrobes and personal style. Nurturing your wardrobe and style means staying true to yourself in a sophisticated, practical, authentic way by choosing new pieces wisely and eliminating things you have literally and figuratively grown out of.  

In order to do this, you must shop.  Love it or hate it, it is just inevitable.  I have spent time on both sides of this equation, as a shopper and a salesperson.  My experience as a boutique owner opened my eyes to the needs of customers and the difficulty good salespeople face.  The sad fact is that good salespeople are few and far between so customers are often left to their own devices.  All stores, even the most high end, have problems with customer service - the fact is that to be guided properly through a shopping experience you must have someone helping you who is first and foremost knowledgeable about the products they are selling and someone who is sensitive to your personality can detect when to help and when to back off.  Here are a few "rules" that my experience has taught me:  if you walk into a clothing or accessories boutique and the people working there do not represent the atmosphere of the space they probably don't know anything about the labels, the fit of the clothes or how to style them appropriately. Just like in education, the smaller the size of the class/place you shop, the greater your odds are of getting proper, well informed help.  Shoppers must be prepared for all kinds of things when they go out into the jungle of consumption.  Your best defense is a good offense - people like me are out there to give you the tools to help yourself so you don't have to listen to the daft salesperson following you around the store trying desperately to make a sale.  If you know what you are looking for, what your wardrobe needs, what fits you best, and how to combine all those elements, you don't need ill-informed, style-challenged salespeople to help you and you can navigate your shopping experience without too much stress.  

OR...
you can shop on this little invention called the internet!!  I say a prayer every night for internet shopping. It is heavenly and if you haven't discovered the benefits of shopping online, you are way behind the times!  Most of the shopping I do for my clients is online.  It doesn't matter if I am looking for something very specific and hard to find or something widely popular; I can find it quickly and painlessly on the internet.  No, you can't feel the fabric or try it on, but don't you want to do that in your own home anyway?  As long as you have a few days to spare, you haven't lost anything by shopping online.  You have saved the headache of traveling, dealing with crowds of people, incompetent salespeople, etc. It's a no-brainer really.  There are hundreds of online boutiques and some are fine-tuned and actually practice better customer service than most bricks and mortar stores. Here are my go-to sites.  Do yourself a favor and give online shopping a try.  It takes a little practice, but it is the way shopping is done these days.  There isn't anything you can't find...

Lagarconne.com is probably my favorite "place" to shop.  It is clean, easy to navigate, carries the best labels, shows them styled, and has great customer service. 

 Net-a-Porter.com is the leader in luxury e-shopping.  You can find pieces here from the highest end to the most wearable basics.  Everything here is seamless - customer service is the best I have seen anywhere.  The photographs are of highest quality and you feel as if you are trying things on while you search the site.  Founder and CEO Natalie Massenet is a genius and has created the model for what online shopping should be.  

 
Most people know Shopbop.com - the selection is huge and the customer service is impeccable.  This site will keep you updated on new trends and show you how to style them.  The buyers for this site have really figured out how to reach the largest audience possible - everyone can shop here with ease.

Revolveclothing.com is another site much like shopbop.com where the selection of labels and prices is huge and makes for a thorough shopping experience.  They have a sister site, forwardforward.com which is great too and focuses on higher end brands.  This site is on the edgier side (which I love) but still has great things for everyone.


Check out the links on my site to lots of other favorite sites as there are too many to feature here!

MOMS RULE//

Part of what I do with my company is helping moms get their style and mojo back.  Being a mom of a 2 and a half year old and with one on the way (8 weeks to go!!) I know how difficult it is to be a mom and feel attractive, cool, and sexy.  It is far too easy to let your appearance and style go, but doing so is a mistake and can make you feel old, worn out, and frankly depressed.  There is nothing vain about wanting to look good - it is amazing how your confidence and attitude towards life in general changes when you can walk into your closet, effortlessly pick out a simple and chic outfit (even if it is to run errands) and go into the world looking like you care about yourself (everyone around you will also be grateful that you aren't in a worn out, unflattering, velour sweatsuit made by that one brand, oh what's it called...Juicy something??!!) 
 
The fact is, if you don't have a well stocked wardrobe filled with classic essentials, it is close to impossible for busy moms (or anyone for that matter) to feel good about what they wear.  A wardrobe needs to be updated seasonally - this doesn't mean going on a spending spree, but in the fall and the spring, you should do some homework (consult an expert, read a fashion magazine, etc.) and see what colors, shapes, and pieces are current and see what you are missing.  While you are updating, get rid of things that are past their prime so you are constantly infusing your wardrobe with updated classics and getting rid of outdated trends.  Moms get into ruts with their wardrobe because the focus is elsewhere and the time to shop or clean out your closet just isn't there.  I want all moms out there to know that letting your style and confidence in your appearance go is NOT okay.  Of all people, you need to find a way (hire a consultant!) to make this a priority.  Just because you have stretch marks from pregnancy and haven't lost all all that weight and things hang in ways you never would have imagined doesn't mean you can't walk tall, look hot, feel great about yourself, and set an example for your kids and others about what is means to be a powerful woman.  I have done posts in the past about essentials that all women need (review if necessary) and some of those essentials include accessories - a great shoe, piece of jewelry, or handbag.  I believe that money should be spent on these things more than certain pieces of clothing - cheap leather looks cheap, cheap jewelry looks cheap and knock offs are not an option - so spend your money where it matters most and invest in well-made, beautiful accessories.  

I am currently 8 months pregnant and have had to get creative with how to maintain a sense of style as I grow and grow and grow and feel tired and gross most of the time.  Just because you are pregnant or have just had a baby and still feel like you are in an alternate universe physically and mentally doesn't mean you can't accessorize, or plan for the future.  Nothing boosts motivation to get your old self back like having new pieces hanging in the closet waiting for you.  Here are some of the ways I have invested my money while pregnant - most of these things I can wear now and love (except the Dries van Noten blazer!) so as to maintain my style mojo.  Whether you are a mom-to-be, a stay at home mom, or a mom with a family and a career, these are the kinds of things you can buy that will start to put you back on the style map.  

Celine riding boot/Dries van Noten blazer/Natalia Brilli gold leather cuff/Isabel Marant two-toned bootie/Ann Taylor scarf

 photos by E. O'Mahony

WHAT I AM WEARING THIS FALL PART 1//

Today is September 16th and it is still 94 degress in this Texas heat.  I want to scream and leave this place and never come back.  How are fashion obsessed people supposed to enjoy their cornucopia of fall treats - boots, blazers, coats, scarves??  The rule here is even if you live in a hell hole of heat like I do, purchase the things you love for the season and daydream about wearing them.  It beats not having anything to look forward to.  This fall has so many covetable pieces, it has been really hard to narrow down what to get.  I have been quite conservative, partially because I am 7 months pregnant, but also because I believe (after years of wild spending) that a few key pieces can transform a wardrobe and be worn for many years.  To illustrate my point, let me show you the items I have purchased (so far) this season and how I intend to wear them.  

Celine shoulder/messenger handbag

 I love leopard print - I see it as another neutral in a wardrobe and I searched high and low for the perfect fall bag.  This is it - perfect size, perfect print, and the shoulder strap can extend to become a messenger bag.  If you are going to invest in a bag, it needs to be versatile and somewhat sturdy.  The great thing about hide (unless you are a vegan or whatever) is how durable it is.  I will be carrying this with everything for a long time to come.  Some people are afraid of animal prints and wonder if they are too "busy" or if they "go" with everything.  With something like animal print, it is best to stick to accessories - bags, shoes, belts (I would do a leopard jacket but that's just me) because they truly do blend with everything.  Head to toe animal print - no.  Splashes of it here and there - yes, yes, yes!

Celine covered wedge boot

OK. The second I saw these I had to take a deep breath.  I suggest you do the same.  How sick are these?  The covered wedge and two tone nude and black makes them so chic and just a little bit out of the box which I love.  The 1960s element here I also love because they are still modern but have a vintage feel.  Again, with something as killer as this, you have to just wear the hell out of them with everything.  Don't even think about it - over jeans with a chunky knit.  Done.  With a shorter dress?   Done.  With a mid calf or ankle length chiffon skirt and blazer.  So done.  People tend to overthink great statement pieces like this and that is a mistake.  When you invest in something like this, the only way to make it worthwhile is to wear it as much as possible and not let them hibernate in your closet. 

Dries Van Noten buckle pants

 These fabulous pants incorporate every trend (I hate that word but oh well) for the season.  They are army green (great new neutral), they are slouchy, they are tapered, they have just the right kind of embellishment, and they can be worn with everything.  I have always been a sucker for pants with this silhouette - I know a lot of women are wary of the slouchy/tapered look and rightfully so.  Done wrong and it is a disaster.  What saves these is that they aren't a harem pant (the crotch doesn't hit the knees) so the buckles around the calves work to balance out the easy, slouchy fit at the top.  These will be worn with everything in my closet - basic tees, tucked in with pumps or booties; tailored jackets or blazers; oversized sweaters; menswear inspired collared shirts...whatever.  And army green can be worn virtually with any color (maybe not cherry red or pepto pink) but it is really versatile.  

Isabel Marant Alodi jacket 

 Oh Isabel.  If I wasn't the size of a whale, I would have purchased like 10 more of her pieces but I settled on this jacket (mine is a camel/taupe color).  It has great draping in the front and is a nubby wool trimmed in leather.  These details make it not only special but a piece that can pump up any outfit.  The texture is great and adds a richness and depth to any look.  I also love this because it isn't too tailored and isn't too oversized.  This silhouette pairs nicely with any trouser (skinny, slouchy, wide leg) or can be thrown over any dress that is more form fitting.  This will be coming with me everywhere and I think everyone needs a jacket like this - think camel, texture, some kind of detail (leather, big buttons, draping) and easy fit.  

Phillip Lim camel wool coat

 The beauty of this is how all the little details come together and make an easy to wear, chic coat.  It is double breasted, has no collar, skinny black belt, and oversized hip pockets with zippers and the best detail is the sleeves - wide and rolled...soo good.  If this coat had regular sleeves it would lose all its appeal.  The key piece of the season is a camel colored coat.  This is a trend that isn't trendy and a must.  People always turn to black and I think camel is a fresh alternative that softens a wardrobe and allows for an overall new color palette.  Black can overpower and drown out the details of an outfit.  This will be worn anytime the weather allows.  I cannot wait to experiment with wearing a sweater or logn sleeved blouse underneath for that peek-a-boo effect of the sleeve.  Fun!

Natalia Brilli leather necklace

 Natalia Brilli is a French designer and makes exquisite leather jewelry, bags, and other accessories.  One of my absolute favorite stores, Urban Flower Grange Hall, carries her line and every piece is to die for.  I have a few other pieces but when I saw this necklace this season, I was in love.  I love the tribal organic quality of it and of course the fact that it is leather makes it the perfect mix of feminine and edgy that is a staple for me.  The attention to detail speak to her artistry - the top is twisted leather and the bottom is a series of leather balls connected to each other.  Sick.  I plan to wear this with a wife beater, jean, and combat boots...or a cocktail dress.  Even something this specific and special can be a versatile piece in a wardrobe.  I LOVE pieces like this (and all the ones posted here) because all of them are unique and a little out of the box but they are staples in a wardrobe.  These are the kinds of pieces I am drawn to.  Each one fits my personality and my lifestyle.  I firmly believe that when shopping, those are criteria to live by.  Not what will my boss think or is this too "weird" for me...listen to your gut and then ask yourself if it will become a staple in your wardrobe.  Lastly, be authentic to your personality.  That is the only way to develop true style. 

photos taken by E.O'Mahony; from style.com

FALL TREND REVIEW//

Fall is soo close I can taste it and living in Texas, I don't think there is anything I want more than cooler temps, sweaters, and boots. One of my favorite things to do as September rolls around, is go through all fashion magazine September issues (you should see my coffee table!) Because I have been a researcher of fashion for so long, it never dawned on me how daunting these issues can be - Vogue is 726 pages long!  To help out my friends, clients, etc. I thought I would condense all the information about Fall 2010 trends down to a handful of categories so as to make all this accessible.  If there is one thing I don't like about the fashion industry, it's how isolated and elitist it can be.  Our recent economic situation has changed this a bit, but there is no reason why everyone can't interpret the luxury and glamor of fashion into their lives and wardrobes.  All is takes is a little guidance and imagination.

If you didn't love the military before, you will now!  Military inspired silhouettes and colors are key for fall.  There are things to love and not love about this look.  The Burberry Prorsum collection (photo far left) is full of this military look and is so chic.  I love this look because of the color palette - different shades of green layered - which makes a new surprising neutral.  Anyone can wear this and it is more interesting than, say, brown.  The structured look of the jackets is flattering and sophisticated and can be paired with anything from denim to a cocktail dress. Speaking of dresses, the middle look is Oscar de la Renta, and I love his interpretation of this trend.  When people think "military" they think trousers and sharp jackets but this dress is a beautiful feminine way to wear this trend.  It is still structured but not uptight.  The rolled sleeve is a key detail as is the accented waist.  Now, before I say this, let it be known that Rag and Bone is one of my all time favorite labels.  However, this last look, for me, is a bit overdone and inaccessible.  No one ever wears things exactly as they are shown on the runway - well some celebs do - but even if you take this look apart, it is still a tough one.  I get the idea, and if my gig wasn't to try and make fashion accessible to real women, then this wouldn't bug me as much as it does.  The fact is, this type of look is totally unwearable. If you wore the pullover all by itself you would still look like you were trying really hard to look "army".  Anything forced is bad. The skirt with the knee socks and booties is also too much.  Only a runway model and Angelina Jolie have the right legs to pull that off.  I do like the shoes...!  My point is that sometimes these trends can be interpreted by the public the wrong way, and the reason for that, often times, is the way the designers present them on the runway.  The way to work this trend is to focus on color (green) and structure (in a jacket or pant for example).  

I LOVE this look and am so glad it is part of the fashion vernacular again.  There is something so sexy and chic about a women in men's clothing...we actually wear their clothes better than they do most of the time!  At first, these looks can seem boring and redundant.  Look closer:  it is about material and silhouette and how this look flatters all body types.  Of course, there are different cuts for trousers and blazers, but in general, any woman can rock a suit.  The great thing about this fall is the trouser - it's back.  For the past few seasons, pants have been jodpurs, harem, and slouchy (they still are to a certain extent) but now trousers are long and lean and lovely.  Straight leg paired with a boxy or somewhat slouchy blazer is so chic and modern. The first look is Bottega Veneta (notice the double breasted button and the wide lapel).  The last look is Calvin Klein which is a slightly different interpretation - a bit more structure to the fit and fabric and beautiful detail on the blazer (it is these details that make this look anything but boring).  My favorite is the middle look is also Bottega Veneta but is is LEATHER!  I die for leather (don't tell PETA) and it too is all over the place this season.  Now, I know most people wouldn't be daring enough for this kind of thing, and I admit, an entire suit of leather is intense.  But I love the way the leather hangs and how it shines and how it feels.  This is the ultimate modern take on the suit but risky!

Knits.  Always a staple for fall.  And a welcome one at that.  I think the reason people get so excited about the fall season (in the fashion world and beyond) is that it signifies a new start.  Things start to happen again in the fall - good bye vacations and summer heat, hello productivity and a crisp, clean feeling in the air.  When I lived in NYC, I loved wearing these heavy knits - there is nothing cozier or more comforting that throwing on one of these heavy sweaters.  But in Texas, this trend is not so easy to wear (tear).  I have learned that you can replace a coat for a heavy knit in warmer climates and achieve this look.  The great thing about this trend is how easy it is.  It's a sweater layered with anything really, some trousers, jeans, a dress, whatever and you're off.  The first look is Alexander Wang and I love the slouchy, nonchalant look of this.  Knits should be a no fuss staple and this achieves that perfectly.  The second look is Chanel.  Oh Karl...you've done it again!  Again, no real person is going to wear this look (unless you live in an igloo) but you get the idea!  The idea here is you are going to the slopes (notice the real ice blocks on the runway).  There is something charming about the boots and shorts, no??  And lastly, there is a look from Proenza Schouler.  This is another really accessible look.  I love the oxford shirt buttoned up all the way under the v neck knit.  The cropped length is great as well because you can layer underneath and get that sort of casual undone look with denim or a pant.  Bottom line, get a chunky knit sweater for the fall and wear the hell out of it!

The one good thing about the tank in the economy has been a shift, in design terms, to a utilitarian, minimalist perspective.  I personally have always believed that less is more.  Muted colors and sleek and simple silhouettes are always sophisticated and accessible to everyone.  Once again, there is nothing boring about this look contrary to popular thought.  When something is this pared down, the look boils down to details, or the absence of detail which is, in itself, detail.  The first look is Stella McCartney.  What I love about this is how she layered pieces in virtually the same color and paired it with a shoe in the same color.  It's a totally blank canvas - no statement is being made and it feels completely natural.  The second look is Celine - another label I die for.  Everything Phoebe Philo does is perfect.  Who else can take a basic silhouette and the most basic color palette and turn it into this?? The details are perfection: notice the high neck and the ties that fall almost to the floor.  The fabric of the taupe part of the dress is different from what appears to be a silk/crepe top - so it's all about texture.  I think the key to pulling off this look is to keep the colors all in a similar color family (neutrals or bolds work best) and to keep the silhouettes clean and straight.  

 I think of all the trends this season, this is my least favorite.  I get the aesthetic and I get that it is a totally fresh look that throws a curve ball at what we have seen in recent seasons.  And I appreciate that.  I also appreciate the beauty and nostalgia of this look.  The thing for me is that is feels like a costume because I cannot think of any woman I know who could actually pull this off without looking, well, ridiculous.  Granted, you could take bits and pieces of this look and possibly make it work, but in general, it is just too contrived for my taste.  Let's break this down:  the length of the skirts and dresses (mid calf) is horrible for most women.  It totally cuts the length out of your leg and makes you look dumpy and short (unless you are 5'10" 120 lbs.) This is the most difficult silhouette to wear especially when you add volume and a defined waist.  The emphasis on separates also makes me nervous.  Skirts are notoriously difficult to pull off no matter what your body type and when paired with little sweaters and boleros, it just makes it a disaster waiting to happen.  Let's go through the looks - the first is Isabel Marant and I think it is the most accessible of these.  I really do love the rolled pants, the boxy jacket, pointy heel, and the scarf.  If you took away the scarf, you would have a retro/modern look.  But this look is age specific.  Sorry, but it is! The second is Louis Vuitton and the most difficult kind of retro look to wear.  Is it charming?  Pretty?  Yes.  Wearable and practical?  No.  I don't think all fashion needs to necessarily be wearable.  Fashion is, after all, about fantasy to some extent.  But since my mission is to help regular everyday women with all body types and lifestyles incorporate trends and a sensibility for fashion into their daily lives, I have to think twice about a look like this.  Bottom line, avoid it unless you are a model or don't mind looking a little silly.  The third look is Dries Van Noten; another designer I absolutely love.  And I love this look.  It is retro but in a cool, modern and accessible way.  It also blends lots of trends that I think are great - fur, animal print, and menswear.  The silhouette here is more relaxed and could be broken up in a variety of ways.  If you were going to do a retro look this fall, this is the way to do it.  The fur animal print vest is gorgeous and adds texture and dimension to the look; something to think about.  Lastly, is Marc Jacobs, the man, the myth, the legend.  He sets trends, period.  This whole fifties flashback was his doing and again, while aesthetically pleasing and fresh, this is pretty unwearable because of the length and the silhouette.  I have to say, though, I love the ankle socks and kitten heel shoe.  And the fur bolero is fantastic.  On top of all this, I am not sure modern women want to necessarily look like women from a time when repression, oppression, and hysteria were the norm.  Right??!

Velvet is a fabric I loved as a kid because of the way it feels - soft, warm, and actually sexy.  I have to say, I love that velvet is actually being worn again.  It reminds me of all things regal and royal - it is a posh fabric and one that isn't used nearly enough.  The only tricky thing is to avoid looking like a drape in this heavy fabric.  I have to admit, I wouldn't wear or suggest anyone else wear the two looks above.  Again, you have to be a specific type of woman to pull off a velvet dress with these silhouettes.  However, velvet jackets, blouses, and trousers I am all for.  I think the problem with the dress for me is that it tends to look drape-ish...too much fabric and it can hang awkwardly.  Both Alexander Wang (left) and Zac Posen (right) are fantastic and have given velvet a modern edge here.  But if I was going to purchase velvet, I would focus on pieces I could break up with other fabrics.

When I think plaid, I think two things: Scotland and the school uniform I wore for 14 years.  I guess I also think of Kurt Cobain which sort of redeems plaid for me, but not entirely.  The great thing about this trend is how designers like Jil Sander (left) and Phillip Lim (right) have reimagined it.  Looks like this don't scream school uniform or bagpipes, or angst ridden 90's musician.  It is chic and won't make you look like you're being ironic.  I think the key here is to go for plaids that mix off beat or multiple colors.  I love the Phillip Lim look for this reason - you get the texture and visual detail of plaid without the uniform feel. 

 This is a no-brainer:  the color camel is everywhere and it's fantastic.  Thank god black is no longer the only neutral to choose from.  The runways were full of head to toe camel outfits and it is so refreshing and actually quite flattering, more so than black actually.  Black is actually very harsh and can be hard for fair skinned people especially.  Most people don't think about this but black is not necessarily the best go to color. I think camel is a better option.  It is soft, easy, and really does with all skin tones.  Plus it allows for some great accenting...a camel sweater dress with red shoes...it pairs with any color very well.  I think everyone should invest in something camel this fall - a coat, jacket, sweater, dress, purse, shoe, whatever.  I hope this is a trend that becomes a fashion staple!

all photos from style.com

PERFECTION//

I have returned from the Emerald Isle...and I have been out of the loop on a lot of things.  I am frantically trying to catch up on all things fashion and since fall is upon us (YAY!) I am getting really excited and pumped up to add things to my (and others'!) wardrobes.  Fall is truly the ultimate season in fashion - summer is over, the air is fresh, and it is time for a fresh perspective.  The selections this season are fabulous...it's going to be hard for all the fashion obsessed people of the world to make decisions.

One designer that I always save my money for (I have already mentioned her many times) is Isabel Marant.  There is something about her innate coolness (it's a French thing) and her way of looking past trends that endears her to me.  She is so hot right now, but I have been buying her stuff for many years - my first purchase was from Satine in L.A. in 2004 - and I have been following her ever since.  I already have two pieces from the Fall 2010 collection that I can't wait to wear (more on the way!), but I was most excited to see her Fall 2010 ad campaign featuring none other than the fabulously perfect Kate Moss.  Two of my favorite women in fashion coming together makes me very happy.  The only way to make Isabel Marant cooler than she already is is to put Kate Moss in her clothes...when I look at these images, I close my eyes and imagine I am, in some alternate universe, as effortlessly chic as Kate is here.  Life ain't fair...

 images from isabelmarant.tm.fr

LOVE HER STYLE...//

In less than 24 hours, I will be on an airplane headed for Ireland where the fashion and word "style" are, well, different than they are in other parts of the world.  I will do my best to capture some examples of traditional Irish style as well as they way young women are modernizing themselves and appropriating both American and European looks - I should definitely take my fashion magic wand!  
Before I leave, I want to post something about a young woman I am fascinated by and mildly envious of.  Her name is Gaia Repossi and she is the great-granddaughter of Gian Pietro Repossi of Repossi fine jewelry (repossi.com).  She is Italian (check envy box), creates beautiful jewelry (check box again), gets to work with the likes of Alexander Wang and Joseph Altuzarra (check), and her wardrobe is the definition of chic (she wears Celine from head to toe for christ's sake!).  All of this adds up to impeccable style and a lifestyle consumed in creative expression and let's face it, fabulousness (is that a word?). 
I particularly love the collaborations she is doing with Alexander Wang and her "Ere", "Neree", and "Maure" collections.  I just love what jewelry is all about lately...it is bold, beautiful armor that somehow blends into your body and doesn't overpower.  

i

images from repossi.com

COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET PART 1//

It's been a while since I posted anything - between vacation and staying busy helping some lost fashion soles, I just haven't had time.  Over the past week, I have been working with some great young women who need help finding specific items and revamping their wardrobes and overall look.  There are a few key points I have taken away from these consultations that I think speak to general problems that people face when shopping and getting dressed.  The most obvious is the curse of the UNIFORM.  The more I talk to women, the more I realize that they want a new look and to change things up, but life is so busy that it is easier to just stick to habitual dressing (wearing the same outfit for every occasion even if you know it doesn't look great or make you feel great).  Most young women have similar lifestyles - they work, have a group of friends and a partner, possibly a family of their own, that they spend most of their time with, and they enjoy being social (going out to eat, movies, theater, concerts, parties).  The uniform becomes divided between work wear and social wear (think boring cuffed black trousers, a cotton/lycra oxford shirt, sweater, and a comfortable shoe for work and a medium wash boot cut jean with a blouse and a heel or a cotton dress for fun). Instead of seeing shopping as a way to develop their personality or as a means of finding a unique, authentic style, most women shop to fit the uniform (what should I be wearing?? as opposed to how do I want to feel and what impression do I want to make?).  This creates problems and leaves these fun, attractive, strong women dressing like boring, reserved, matronly older women (or sometimes preteens!) instead of the powerful, intelligent, fun women they are.  My approach to help correct this problem is to make sure every closet has a list of essentials that can create a variety of different looks.  The trick is then to take these essentials and add your personality - are you feminine?  edgy?  sophisticated?  bohemian?  classic?  androgynous?  Everything from the items you pick to the accessories to the shoes to the attitude you have creates a look.  If you wear a "uniform" it is hard to be unique and hard to develop a style that is true to your personality and lifestyle.  

 Notice the simplicity of these outfits.  All of the pieces shown here are basic and should be in everyone's wardrobe - white jeans, striped tops, chambray oxford shit, tailored skirt, neutral trousers and sweater...the problem is most people, because they are stuck in a rut, don't think about buying a striped top instead of a black top, they don't think about tucking things in, adding bold accessories, or mixing neutrals.  There is nothing crazy or "fashiony" about these outfits...they are just easy basics put together with some thought and a touch of detail.

 These images are from the J Crew Fall 2010 lookbook - J Crew is really going through a great reinvention...and these are examples of classic pieces jazzed up a bit.  The look is feminine and fun and unexpected but not complicated.  Of course none of us necessarily look like this lovely model nor do we have stylists perfecting every detail of our look, but if you look at the foundation of these outfits, you'll see how simple and classic they are - a great leather jacket with a striped cardigan just peeking out; a dress paired with a plaid slouchy blazer; leather jacket, oxford shirt, and tweed trousers.  The key to these looks is layering and texture.  Again, these are essential pieces all women should have in their closet - depending on your personality and intended look, something like this is easy to put together. 

 Here are real women wearing real clothes that they put on themselves!  Imagine that!  I love these looks because, once again, they show how looking great and expressing your personality is NOT about being high fashion or trendy.  There is nothing fussy about any of these outfits; all of them are about combining staple pieces in a certain way.  The top photo is simple - neutral blouse, tailored short, sandals, and a few accessories. It is the ease of the outfit as a whole, the way she tucks in the blouse and uses a belt, and the way everything is relaxed that makes this chic.  Same goes for the dress - basic, feminine floral pattern and it's all about the belt.  A waist belt is very useful and here it is perfection!  The other two photos are all about the draping - the distressed jeans mixed with a black blazer would be ok but not as great without the scarf (or the shoes!) And to the right, the sweater wrap is chic and balances out the leggings perfectly.  All of these women are dressed differently, but you can tell what kind of attitude they have by looking at their style.  And they have style because they put small twists on basics and really inhabit their clothes.

images from Elle and Sartorialist

FOR THE EYES//

Tomorrow I am leaving for a much needed vacation in the California desert to celebrate my best buddy's upcoming nuptials.  Although I will be the odd man out (pregnant in a bikini that fit me years ago and not drinking casually all day in the sun), I will certainly love soaking in all that sun, round belly and all.  As I was procrastinating packing for the trip, I started looking through some archives of French Vogue...as usual, I was inspired by so many images.  Some are just beautiful to look at, some take me to a fantasy world I long to inhabit, some reek of "cool", but all speak to why I love fashion - the mood created and the power of the image (regardless of it's authenticity or achievability) are easy to get lost in.  See for yourself...

 all images from French Vogue

REMEMBERING MJ//

Yesterday was the 1st anniversary of Michael Jackson's death.  I'm not one of those people who gets all emotional over the death of celebrities (we don't really know them after all) but I have to say MJ's death is still really sad.  The fact that I will never forget the day I got the "Thriller" album and then had a "Thriller" themed birthday party (I had the red jacket and a glove) and wanted to marry him when I was about 7 is testament to his power as one of the most charming and talented artists of my lifetime.  Michael always looked cool too.  He was always sparkling and making bold statements.  There is no doubt that the fashion world and MJ had a symbiotic relationship - since about Spring 2009, fashion has had an 80's revival period (which I secretly love) which has made strong silhouettes (think big shoulders and skinny legs) stick.  Starting last spring, designers like Balmain looked to MJ's sparkle, bold shoulders, leather, and military inspired jackets to create their collections. Fall 2010 saw some of these trends as well. Although these looks have just about run their course, they have been influential and are just as cool as they were when Michael introduced us to them...miss you MJ!  xoxo

 Looks from Balmain and Chanel

INTERSECTIONS - FASHION & ART//

I have always been fascinated by the intersection of fashion and art.  No matter what field you practice, what passions you have, or what your interests are, it cannot be denied that at some point, all things converge and influence each other (economics and architecture, religion and literature, technology and medicine, fashion and EVERYTHING!). This is the first of what will be many posts on the specific relationship between art (photography, painting, sculpture, architecture, etc.) and fashion.  Thinking about these things isn't only great fun, but informs trends and the overarching definition of STYLE.  

The first artist I thought of while pondering this idea was Cindy Sherman.  Her images speak directly to fashion, in my opinion, as they distort traditional images of women through the use of "costumes".  One could think of fashion as a costume - a constructed image projected to the world whose function is twofold - to mask and reveal certain parts of the self.  We then simultaneously become self and other, a predicament which is nothing if not unreliable.  Cindy Sherman certainly comments very loudly about the instability of "image".  Fashion allows us to play with this unreliability and construct various personalities.
While researching the Fall 2010 runway, one trend in particular made me think of Sherman's images - the retro, ladylike, peplum cuts that harken to the hysterical housewife of the 1950s.  Looking at fall 2010 fashion as Sherman's photography side by side, the irony there is clear.  Women of 2010 are no longer forced to wear the "perfect lady" costume, complete with coiffed hair and subservient demeanor.  Because this is no longer a reality, fashion can appropriate it as fantasy, just as Sherman reveals the hysteria behind the costume, liberating women and bringing together reality and fantasy.

Looks from Celine, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Prabal Gurung, Dries Van Noten
images from style.com
 

 Cindy Sherman has made a point of defying categorization as a mere photographer. Since the 1970s, she has pushed the boundaries of the medium by inserting herself as her own model in order to explore the complexities of female subjectivity in a postmodern age.  Her Film Stills seem to reference the work of cinema’s elite (e.g. Hitchcock and Godard), and yet they also retain a certain ambiguity that insists the viewer consider aesthetics over narrative. The (non)magic of these images lies in an arrested experience that is at once distinct and anonymous – we are left with a picture, a seemingly interrupted instant, that reminds us of the vicissitudes of advertizing and entertainment as the artist re-presents herself 'honestly' through repetition and disguise; these methodically constructed scenes not only ask us to question everyday masquerades through their apparent snap shot approach, but also criticize what has been a patriarchal and canonical culture industry. Her later works in color often accomplish this more directly by making clear reference to Old 'Master' paintings as well as to the fashion industry. These almost grotesque assemblages highlight what have been the underlying ramifications of women’s portraiture throughout history; her poses and props, disquieting in their mimicry, are experimented with and explored in order to blur the lines between theatre, painting, and photography. Fundamentally, by turning the lens on herself, Sherman captures the question of what it means to be looking – the gaze of the viewer becomes politically charged.

Essay by my dear friend and art expert Dr. Wood Roberdeau

images from: emmanichells.files.wordpress.com

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