70's fashion is back and for some of us there's a sense of "been there done that!" However, the silhouettes have been refined and updated - I'm loving the cropped jackets, billowy dresses, woven wedged sandals and fringed bags. Etro's collection is pitch perfect in capturing that era's carefree bohemian spirit. Fabrics have customized dyeing, braiding and intricate embroidery giving the clothes an engaging mix of Native American-style details and Zandra Rhodes' gossamer, floaty handkerchief hems.
Read MoreEveryday Dressing
Although I love high fashion, I appreciate a certain elegant simplicity in my everyday dressing. Beautiful fabrics, unusual patterns, interesting color and texture combinations and an overall great fit are the signature elements in my wardrobe. So, for me Tory Burch often fits the bill for everyday dressing as the clothes are not fussy and as her collections have evolved, her aesthetic has become less preppy and more sophisticated. I love navy and this year I'm in luck as a lot of designers seem to be loving navy too. Louis Vuitton has a gorgeous navy blazer, tapered at the waist, small shoulders and gold button detail paired with tailored jeans, which if there's an outfit I'm lusting after, this is it. It's that quintessential casual elegance that always appeals to me.
Read MoreChristopher Bailey, Chief Creative and Chief Executive Officer at Burberry presented a creative re-imagining of those forever staples, the denim jacket and trench coat from the Spring 2015 Prorsum collection. The denim jacket has shrunk significantly and the sheepskin, silk, patent leather and suede details, gives this perennial favorite a new spin for Spring. Wearing this jacket immediately puts you on-trend and will remain your favorite go to piece for seasons to come. There was also a nod to the current fad for the 70's in suede for both the jackets and trenches.
Read MoreAlthough on the East Coast it's still arctic, I'm daydreaming about this spring's fashions and the look that's resonating for me is the tailored coat and gilet. Designed to be worn as part of the overall outfit, at Givenchy it's downright rocker-chick sexy. The workmanship is practically haute couture with highly detailed black and white latticed jackets and elaborate embroidery of whipstitching and filigree. Dior's court coats and gilets were shown with silk quilted Bermuda shorts for a somewhat informal effect, but with no less attention to beautiful embroidery details. Dior referenced an 18th-century court coat, as Style.com eloquently expressed, "evoked the historicism of Christian Dior's original Bar silhouette.
Read MorePeter Copping, who Oscar de la Renta chose to succeed him presented his first collection this week, just three months after taking on the role of artistic director. Previously, he was at Nina Ricci for five years as artistic director. Mr Copping managed to balance the de la Renta sensibility without being overly reverential, while subtly introducing his own. He has moved the design house forward, making it more youthful and contemporary while maintaining the elegance, meticulous details and luxurious fabrics.
Read MoreSome inspiring ideas to help celebrate Valentine's weekend. Seduce your significant other with candles, lingerie, flowers, desserts or better yet, jewelry.
Read MoreIt's a little too early for me to talk about Spring especially as there's a winter snow advisory, predicting 3-5 inches this weekend. However, it's always the right time to discuss denim. One trend that's gathering speed is high-waisted jeans, and in my opinion not a moment too soon. The low-rise jean was one of the most uncomfortable and often unflattering looks I can remember in a long time. That style also gave us the "muffin-top" and no-one was happy about that. So, now the high waist is back, but not in a mumsy way - it's very stylish, accentuating a wasp waist and if you like your sweater or blouse tucked in to show off that wasp waist and belt buckle, they will now stay in place. I couldn't be happier...
Read MoreThe White Series Contd...
Continuing with my White Series for January, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Perpaolo Piccioli the designers for Valentino created an enchanting series of white lace dresses for Spring ready-to-wear 2015. The collection was based on the long gone tradition of the Grand Tour, where the British Aristocracy and the very wealthy would travel to France and Italy in pursuit of improving their culture. The designers used the Grand Tour as their inspiration, creating a collection that was poetic, graceful and beautiful. The detail and intricate workmanship of lace was quite astonishing.
Read MoreThe White Series...
It's January 2015 and time to start afresh, make new resolutions and promise to commit to improve whatever we deem lacking in ourselves and/or our lives. Nothing says fresh new start quite like white. In this and the following posts are some of the inspired turns white has taken for January. This morning I read in the Times that two high fashion retails stores, The Webster, Miami Beach and Le Bon Marche Rive Gauche, Paris have launched a designer collaboration series all white collection. As Hilary Moss explains, it's a Bon Marche tradition since January 1873, when the store's owner Aristide Boucicaut stocked a selection of snow-hued garments to fill his shelves following the holiday shopping season.
Read MoreIt's the holiday season with invitations to all manner of events, some formal, some not so much. What to wear that looks sufficiently festive and can the outfit(s) be worn to more than one event? These are the questions I ponder as I look through my closet. The very good news is that the sales have begun and most things from the Fall/Winter season are now on sale. Looking through the clothing lines of some of the designers, one that I feel strikes just the right note is from Diane Von Furstenberg.
Read MorePart II
Christophe Lemaire's Fall/Winter 2014 collection for Hermes was a look of seemingly effortless luxury. To quote Tim Blanks from Style.com, "stealth wealth, indeed." The styles were consistently strong, graceful, urban and elegant with lush knitwear, slouchy jackets, pants and coats. As with Bottega Veneta the hem is mid-calf, not my favorite length, but it looks so sophisticated in both collections I'm willing to try it again. Although prints were at a minimum, there was an abundance of luxurious textures - cashmere, silk, velvet, leather and mink.
Read MoreInspiring Collections for Fall/Winter 2014
PART I
For me, there were two exceptional collections for this Fall/Winter - one being Tomas Maier of Bottega Veneta. There were no jackets or pants, just fabulous dresses, skirts, sweaters and coats. On the face of it the clothes looked very simple, but it was all in the details of exceptional cut, fit and fabric. The length was below the knee and hems gave a lovely swish when moving, without an excess of volume. The graphic patterns and color combinations kept the looks fresh, yet very elegant. Take a look...
Read MoreOscar de la Renta
Yesterday morning I woke up to the very sad news that one of my favorite fashion designers, Oscar de la Renta, died yesterday with complications from cancer at his home in Connecticut at the age of 82.
Read MoreFall’s here and everything I’m reading and seeing on the street and in stores points to grey – shoes, bags, clothes. I’m thrilled as grey is my color of choice every winter. Every winter I have one statement sweater and this winter is no exception.
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