Trendspotting – from head to toe

with monochromatic dressing: One Shade Fits All:

carolina herrera
carolina herrera

I’ve always liked the look of wearing all one shade in either a neutral or color.  It tends to elongate you and if you break it up a bit with a belt or jewellery it works very well & doesn’t seem over the top.

Hit all the right hues this summer.  From head-to-heel sleek cobalt at Gucci to Stella McCartney’s green thumb and Carolina Herrera’s orange crush, these color-wonderful shades pack a major punch.  Or go completely Black or White – but not together.

Hermes
Hermes
From Spring 2013
From Spring 2013 – great look for petites

gucci

These tone on tone ensembles may seem intimidating to pull off, but by keeping a few tips in mind, achieving this look is a piece of cake. GFRTWSS13a

  • If you’re a little nervous about trying this bold statement, wear a lighter shade of the hue either on top or bottom – to create more of a muted palette.
  • Stella McCartney
    Stella McCartney

    Keep accessories simple and in neutral colors – gold, black, silver, white, nude.

    Miss Blumarine
    Miss Blumarine

On the RUNway – check this out!

lv3The Stars are STILL Going Crazy for LOUIS VUITTON’s Spring Summer 2013 checkered pattern.

Fashion is continually re inventing itself.  While I do admire Marc Jacobs always ingenious and escalating style for Louis Vuitton, this collection is not my personal choice.  Having the models come down escalators was a fresh & brilliantlv5 touch.

lv1The large checkered print would do nothing for me and I would only get lost in it.  Okay, maybe I can see myself carrying a large LV damier handbag but lv2that’s about it.

While I do really like to wear a plaid shirt with jeans or shorts I’m more partial to stripes & polka dots.  Lately I’ve taken to wearing bird, squirrel & bunny prints – so who am I to talk?

The Plaid Shirt - Garance Dore
The Plaid Shirt – Garance Dore

How about you? NO or Check Mate?check nails

Photos from Images.  For buying information:

www.louisvuitton.com

aliexpress.com
aliexpress.com
casual summer style plaid. weheartit.com
casual summer style plaid.
weheartit.com

fashionmagazine.com

style & substance – WILD on Fashion

trending now – animal instinctsScreen-Shot-2012-04-25-at-2.08.49-PM

 I thought we’d never tire of animal prints – and I’m right.  We never tire of animal prints, especially leopard.  I’m so relieved because otherwise I’d have to throw away half my wardrobe.  Okay, maybe not half but a significant portion. While wearing head to toe animal is not so cool, a little bit will go a long way.

Max Mara Spring/Summer 2013
Max Mara Spring/Summer 2013
Miranda Kerr
Miranda Kerr

A leopard  print scarf, shoes (a favorite) or belt remains classic.

Have a peek at “on the RUNway 2013” – what is old is new again….although it never went away.leopard1

For instance: my mom had an amazing leopard print/mesh one-piece bathing suit and I wore a leopard print bikini at 3 yrs. of age to give you an example.  Some things just stick.

  Bring out your inner “Dolce & Gabbana” “with some of these looks:brandwave.org

Rhianna wearing a blush bra - sold out!
Rhianna wears a leopard bra from blush in ELLE – sold out!
I was going to buy this D&G bronzer before I realized that the print would disappear soon after using it.
I wanted to buy this D&G bronzer before I realized that the print would disappear soon after using it.
Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana  shift dress with leopard lining.
For the babes: babyfashionmagazine.com
For the babes: babyfashionmagazine.co

 Capture1For more on the theme check out my favorite street photographer:

Summer-2013-Animal-Print-Nail-Color-01If you’re thinking about leopard print:

http://www.thesartorialist.com/photos/if-youre-thinking-about-leopard-print/

On the RUNway – Love LACE

Some things never fade from fashion – one of them is lovely lace.

lace

It’s such a fabulous fabric that wearing even just a hint makes women feel more feminine.  You can take lace anywhere,  from the bedroom to the boardroom .  It’s just how you wear it.  Wearing a lace camisole to the office is only appropriate if it’s underneath a blazer or cardigan obviously.  All white lace – too bridal.  Sometimes a lacy garter nobody sees is nice too…for the right situation.

Take a look at recent trends & adapt them to your own style:

Used as both accent and the main attraction, lace was spotted all over the Spring/Summer 2013 runways. katherine

Just Cavalli - ELLE
Just Cavalli – ELLE
Maria Valentino/MCV photo (4).
Maria Valentino/MCV photo (4).
Lace Nails from The Kit.   I'll pass on this one.
Lace Nails from The Kit.
I’ll pass on this one.

Lace DressesWHY WE LOVE THEM
Lace dresses are often either conservative or coquettish, but these strike a lovely balance. Think Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (can’t you see her in the green one?), not the Queen Mother. Playful colors counter the naughtiness of the lace, creating a sexy attitude that’s anything but stodgy.

HOW TO WEAR THEM
You have to be careful here—lace can get cheap-looking quickly. Choose high-quality material, and pair vibrant hues with shoes in the same color family or in a metallic. Wear hair loose to keep the overall look easy- going and fun.

Photo: (left to right) Vera Wang, Burberry Prorsum, Alberta Ferretti, Roberto Cavalli.  Taken from InStyle.com.

I may wear vintage lace but lace will never get old for me.

Personally speaking…I need more SPACE

What is SHE doing in MY closet?? My dream room (minus the kid).
What is SHE doing in MY closet??  Gwen…GET OUT!
My dream room (minus the kid although he is real cute).  sweetydesign.com

I’m trying to make the best out of a tiny situation, namely my closet space.  The fact is I have more clothes than closet.  My closet is a walk-in but not very deep – more like a “stand in” and now it’s time to edit everything – for the change of season.

A lot of stuff I’ve given away and I used to consign but decided it’s now better to put it into the clothing bins.  I still have closet envy but short of moving to a bigger closet house, I have to make the most of a small situation. That was part of my spring cleaning promise to myself – to clean up my act closet and re-arrange my life it all.  Not an easy task.  Have you done this recently?  Maybe you’ve been thinking about it too.

Hooks help to arrange some hats, scarves & a few bags.
Hooks help to organize a few hats, scarves & bags.  Hanging shoe racks are a good idea too.

RULES.  The first step…

Time to get some of those thin Velcro hangers like they sell at Costco – then you can add a few more items.

Edit your closet. Really take a good look at your lifestyle and realize that some pieces (like the mesh studded crop top) will never see the light of day again.  Divide into 3 piles.

1) Keeper

2) You want to keep it but be strong because you know you won’t wear it – possibility pile)

3) Definitely Not!

2+3 – Giveaways   (if clothes are in good shape, washed and/or dry-cleaned & still in style you can probably consign them).  I’ve consigned many times in the past & after almost forgetting about it after several months would get a phone call to say there’s a cheque for hundreds of dollars (because you won’t get more than 50% of what they decide to sell them for).  Great news.  Of course you can take the money and go buy more clothes right away with it.  But be strong….because remember why you’re getting the cash?  You had to clean out your closet.

4)You’ve heard it before but it’s true…..if something doesn’t fit right but it’s worth keeping have it altered to fit properly.  If not, give it away.  Nothing is worse than an ill fitting outfit.  Your body changes so if something that once fit now doesn’t think about giving it away unless you plan to hire a personal trainer & work really hard.

5)Separate into piles the type of clothing & what you wear most often.  Jeans, other pants, blouses, t-shirts, blazers, cardigans and put them in order of what you’re most likely to wear – so you can grab & go.

6)In the end you’ll feel so much better that you edited your closet.  Then try to resist feeling like you wasted so much money, time and effort in choosing waaay more than you realized you’d have to part with – but know that it’s true.  You wasted so much $$$$.  Some of your friends will benefit from this & vice versa.  You’ll feel good about giving it to someone who wears it better (although a bit envious).  You realize you may have either lost or put on a few pounds (most likely) or that you no longer look good in a teeny Brazilian string bikini (not that you ever did – ouch).  Good news: one pieces, especially retro style that cover up more skin are back in a BIG way. Realize you don’t need to sweat the small stuff.  A well edited tiny closet is a BIG deal.  Simplifying things is much easier…..yeah, yeah that is what my head keeps telling me.  I still want a big walk-in.

Catchphrase: Make the most of what you have

I love this corset hanger for containing some earrings & pendants.
SPACE SAVER:  I love this corset hanger for containing some earrings & pendants.  You can hang necklaces on the back.

You can hang some necklaces on the back.

Style & Substance – GILTy Pleasures

Go for the GOLD! 

choo shoe
Choo Shoe

Gold never did go out of style  except for quite a while we had a long silver streak.  Silver is still going strong and it’s safe but Gold is Bold and it’s beautiful.  Plus it was everywhere on the Spring/Summer 2013 runways.  I’m enjoying this Gold Rush resurgence.

I love O.P.I.’s limited edition “Man With the Golden Gun”  topcoat. It contains real 18K gold flecks and looks great over any dark nail polish (in photo).

I love "Man With the Golden Gun" from OPI.  It contains real 18K gold flecks (as shown in photo).

chanel suit from the "love gold" show in Cannes.  From Images
Chanel suit from the “love gold” show in Cannes (taken from Images).
Bazaar Magazine - May Issue
Bazaar Magazine – May Issue

How about you?

 

Are you a Gold or Silver person or bit of both?

style & substance – French Riviera CHIC

riviera2Cannes, Nice, St. Tropez, Monaco – I adore all of you! riviera4 I’ve been to the Côte d’Azur (all the above) just once – but that was enough to make me want to feel like I’m there a lot MORE.

riviera6 Of course wearing clothing like that from the riviera is a start.  That’s why I wear stripes so often.  I love the casual elegance of a sophisticated but laid-back sea side town with no rules and lovely yachts.  And the nicest gambling casino I’ve ever been to where dressing up is part of the game. riviera5

Okay, I’m going on a bit too much – this post is really about the style of the French Riviera – particulary St.Tropez.  We’ll leave bathing suits for another time.french riviera chic - the real real

riviera1

Style – making it your own

By personalizing coveted items.

Alexandra Richards in Paris.  Photo from Ferregamo Website.
Alexandra Richards (daughter of Keith Richards & model Patty Hansen) in Paris.   Photo taken from Ferragamo Website.

We’re all aware that we can monogram our initials on our plush Egyptian cotton bathrobes and even customize sneakers online but customizing luxury Italian leather goods? – not so common.

To commemorate the 35th anniversary of its famed “Vara skimmers” Ferragamo is introducing L’Icona, a digital DIY experience.

For 35 years, Vara has been worn by style setters around the globe (the go-to classic for style icons like Princess Diana to Alexa Chung to me),and has become an icon in the fashion realm. It is one of the most famously recognized shoes from the House of Ferragamo.  I’ve always loved this type of shoe – so versatile and classic.

Vara Classic - from Ferragamo Website
Vara Classic – from Ferragamo Website

 It’s a way for customers to reflect their personalities and so they will be able to e-cobble with choice of hue, ribbon, and plate.  Choose from 22 shades of patent leather, 21 colors of grosgrain ribbon, 3 metal options for the bow’s ornament plate and 2 heel heights. You can even have 3 letters monogrammed on the bottom of the shoe. Your perfect pair will arrive in five weeks – flat.  FerraGLAMo!  (photo)

http://icona.ferragamo.com/ferragamo

 Trivia:  Do you remember the TV series “Laverne & Shirley?”  Laverne always had her initials sewn into her tops.

 Making SCENTS with Ralph Lauren’s CUSTOMIZED perfume bottles.

pony

Buy one of Ralph Lauren Big Pony women’s or men’s fragrances online, and you can personalize it with a name, monogram, or message of up to 10 characters.  Perfect for detailing a signature scent, giving as a gift, or oh-so-elegantly marking your territory.

http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12510323

as seen in InStyle Magazine

style & substance – on my “bucket” list

is a champagne carryall – the Louis Vuitton iconic Noé bucket bag which has just been re-released in various shades of leather and monogram canvas.

from images
from images – more bags for more bottles, some cash & a lipstick.

In 1932, a Champagne vintner commissioned Louis Vuitton to design a carryall for his precious wares and voilà – the original Noé bag was born.  The result – a simple leather bucket bag that safely and stylishly housed five bottles of champagne – four upright and  a fifth place upside down in the middle.  Now I know why I always loved this bag!

 The bag came to represent the free-spirited, effervescent lifestyle of liberated women.

 Now, 81 years later, and available starting this month you can find the pint size version – the Noé BB, more suited to the bare essentials – and room enough for a Veuve Clicquot mini or Sofia Coppola blanc de blanc, possibly both.

what goes around comes around
what goes around comes around

As seen in marie claire magazine.

Style and Substance – with BOOKS

i want captions
No small feat to chic.  I didn’t say it would be easy.
This goes to prove the best body and the best wardrobe is unattainable
This goes to prove the best body and the best wardrobe is unattainable
J'Adore DIOR!
J’Adore DIOR

   I love books, I love coffee, I love  tables, I love style, I love books about style on coffee tables while drinking a cup.

Faking French can de done...with a little lots of help & a cigarette.
Faking French can be done…with lots of a little help & a cigarette.
Gotta love the Nerve!
Gotta love the Nerve!
Well at least I can read
Well at least I can read.  How will I manage to pull off this look with a Sheltie who walks with his nose to the ground?
Muses learn to develop style.  They are INspirations after all.  Think Kate Moss.
Muses learn to develop style. They are INspirations after all.  Think Kate Moss.