Spring Is Here! Get Warm Weather Ready With These Cute Sundresses
Finally, it seems like that long, cold, snowy winter is finally behind us. With the temp reaching into the 80’s today, we got a little inspired to do some summer clothes browsing, and if there’s one staple for the season that everyone needs, it’s definitely the sundress. We scoured the web to bring you the best options for that easy, breezy dressing to keep you looking cool in the hot and humid days ahead.
Proenza Schouler for Target Palm Print Gauze Dress in Purple/Pink, $27.98 available at Target
Cream Spotted Scallop Collar Dress, $55 available at Topshop
Fernwood Croquet Dress, $134, available at Madewell
Pretty Embroidered Shift Dress, $80.69, available at ASOS.com
Cotton Striped Dress by Marc by Marc Jacobs, $173.60, available at Shopbop.com
Rose Print Woven Dress, $19.80, available at Forever 21
Patio Picnic Dress, $129.99, available at ModCloth.com
Skirt Dress in White by Levis x Opening Ceremony, $275, available at Barneys Co-Op
—Kat Blazowski
The New ASOS Lookbook Gives Us Some Serious Spring Fever
I’ve been crushing on British retailer ASOS hard lately. If you don’t yet know it, ASOS is basically like a Topshop, except they incorporate random brands like Mango, Diesel, Juicy Couture and some lesser-known ones, as well as high-end designers; and always highlight looks that are ‘in the style of’ a fashion-conscious celebrity like Florence Welch or Lauren Conrad. But the real draw is the bang you get for your buck: their trendy, insanely cute offerings are easy on the bank account (for the most part).
What sealed the deal for me was laying my eyes on their Spring 2011 lookbook last week, which is basically my dream wardrobe and got me longing for warmer months bigtime. I’d seriously wear each and every outfit. And whoever did the styling – kudos to them. Check out our favorite looks below to get inspired. Spring can’t come fast enough.
—Kat Blazowski
5 Top Trend Predictions For 2011
As we move on to a new year it’s pretty hard to avoid the myriad of lists summarizing the year that was. From worst fashion moments, best-selling covers, to annoying trends, they’re all out there. But since the past is, well, in the past, we’re looking forward with the trends we think will take off bigtime for 2011. Here, our top 5:
1. Ballerina-inspired Fashion
A look from Chanel Spring 2011
It first started out in Spring ‘10 on the pastel runways of designers like Charlotte Ronson and Marc Jacobs; and topknot buns on pretty much every other girl on the street. Now, with all the “Black Swan” hype and designers still continuing to turn out more pale, feminine looks, as seen back in October at Chanel, we think this Spring the ballerina girl trend will reach a fever pitch. The New York Times said it this weekend, but yeah, we already knew that.
2. Midi-skirts
A look from Chris Benz Spring 2011
Forget the short, tight and sexy body-con minis that ruled the runways and girls’ closets everywhere for the past several seasons, now, it’s all about the longer and looser silhouette we’ve been seeing that carries a bit of a nod to the 70’s.
3. Barrettes
Rodarte Spring 2011
You may not have rocked a barrette since you were under the age of 12, or maybe while channeling Courtney Love in the 90’s, but that all may soon change. Last September, Rodarte sent out models with beachy, side-parted hair, pinned back with ornate earthy-toned barrettes. We love the ingenue-ish innocence of the look and definitely look forward to seeing longer-haired girls try it out.
4. Orange Lipstick
Orange pouts at Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring 11
While reds and berries seem to be the go-to choice for a lipcolor statement, we think orange is about to have a moment. It was seen everywhere on the runways on has been steady on the red carpet on celebs like Liv Tyler. To the low-maintenence type it may look scary at first, but there’s a shade that flatters pretty much every skintone. Color us sold.
5. Mismatched Prints
Zany prints at Suno Spring 2011
Suno designers Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty are pros at delivering perfectly quirky and fun prints each season and it seems the heavier-hitters, like Prada, who, back in October gave us bananas, stripes and monkeys, are catching on. Pairing different print sizes and staying in the same color palette will keep you from looking like a true fashion weirdo, unless of course, thats what you’re going for. And in our book, that’s okay too.
—Kat Blazowski
All images via Style.com
Creepy Or Cute?: Topshop’s Bug Collar Necklace
While doing some online browsing this weekend at one of my go-to sites, Topshop.com, I stumbled upon this little guy, the Bug Overlay Collar:
For $50 US dollars, you can own a mixed-metal necklace that features all sorts of creepy crawlies. But we’re wondering, would you want to? While the idea can actually be really cute (see Lanvin Spring 2011, where designer, Alber Elbaz featured a ton of ornate insect-themed accessories, that are actually drool-worthy), we’d have to pass on this one, but could see some people being into it, obviously, since it is now sold out.
So tell us, would you wear it?
—Kat Blazowski
Image via Topshop.com
Fashion Week Cheat Sheet: 10 Things We Learned From The Spring 2011 Collections
The Spring 2011 runway shows just came to a close in Paris last week. Among the hundreds of shows and presentations across the four major fashion cities were some that left us dazzled and some, well, not so much. From fresh new talent, must-have items to truly head-scratching moments, we break it all down for you here.
1. Virginal White Dresses Are The New Bodycon Dress
White was everywhere this season. And while most of it was minimal and boring, warranting an “ugh, more white?!,” there were plenty of whimsical girlish dresses in eyelet and lace fit for the ingenue in all of us.
Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2011
ADAM Spring 2011
Erdem Spring 2011
2. Jacquita Banana Serves As Inspiration
We could already see the “Would You Wear That?” articles being written when Prada sent out bold and colorful banana and monkey prints. Stella McCartney soon followed with lemon and grapefruits. Some critics raved over the fruity moments, but we’d rather have ours on a plate thankyouverymuch.
Prada Spring 2011
Stella McCartney Spring 2011
3. Sarah Burton Ushers In A Promising New Era At McQueen
After last season’s untimely passing of the great Lee Alexander McQueen, many wondered how Sarah Burton, the named successor to the house, would fill such shoes. While McQueen surely could never be replaced, Burton proved her talent by delivering a collection that was at once a perfectly executed nature-inspired vision and fitting tribute to the man’s legacy. One of the best collections of the season.
Alexander McQueen Spring 2011
Alexander McQueen Spring 2011
Sarah Burton
4. Long Skirts Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere
Hemlines started to fall on the runways a few seasons back and now every H&M and Forever 21 is stocking their share of the trend. But the new silhouettes, seen at Lanvin and Chloe, are more breezy and free-flowing. Think Ballerina.
Lanvin Spring 2011
Chloe Spring 2011
5. Balmain Is Still Turning Out The Same Old
Christophe Decarnin of Balmain has caught a lot of flack for his $1625 ripped tees that are easily DIY-able for pretty much next to nothing. And well, unfortunately he’s still pretty much showing more of the same. While his trend-setting rocker look inspired countless knockoffs and was hard to resist, it’s now time for something new.
Balmain Spring 2011
6. Downtown Meets Uptown In Neon Power-Dressing
Designers of the downtown set, Proenza Schouler and Christopher Kane played with a study in contrasts this season with uptown ladies-who-lunch suits and shifts in bright acid neon hues. One of the more interesting themes of the season.
Christopher Kane Spring 2011
Proenza Schouler Spring 2011
7. Suno Teams Up With Loeffler Randall For Some Seriously Lustworthy Shoes
The fashion Twitterverse went wild during Suno’s New York presentation, going nuts over the tiny flower-printed wooden wedges made in collaboration with Loeffler Randall. Good luck getting a hold of these bad boys come Spring!
Loeffler Randall for Suno Spring 2011
8. Courtney Love Is Still Fashion’s Muse
The self-proclaimed fashion-obsessed frontwoman was certainly busy this season performing at parties on both sides of the pond, causing quite the stir with her surprising cover of Gaga’s “Bad Romance.”
Courtney Love at the V Magazine / Printemps party in Paris
9. Marc Gives Us A Double Shot Of Glamour; Results Both Campy and Classy
Marc Jacobs is known for swinging that pendulum with each new season. Case in point: Fall ‘10 was all about grey and beige and minimal. This season? All out glamour. His signature collection hit the mark with a 40’s meets 70’s meets Studo 54 melange of frizzy flower-accented hair, breezy berry colored lounge dresses and Missoni-esque prints; while his Louis Vuitton collection missed the mark, with campy Asian-inspired looks more meant for a costume shop than a runway.
Marc Jacobs Spring 2011
Louis Vuitton Spring 2011
10. Paint-Splattered Hair Is So Not The Look
What started at Alexander Wang, with white clay streaks painted onto the models’ hair resembling, well, an unfortunate bird mishap, continued at Altuzarra, but instead with pops of bold color painted along the side of the head, perhaps channeling Ziggy Stardust? Either way, please don’t try this at home.
Alexander Wang Spring 2011
Altuzarra Spring 2011
— Kat Blazowski
All runway images via Style.com; Loeffler Randall for Suno image via Loeffler Randall
New York Fashion Week
Unless you were hiding under a rock last week, you know that the runways were being pounded in the Lincoln Center as designers flaunted their looks for spring 2011. Even though we live a few hours away the trends and newest edgy styles see no state lines and will surely be filtering into our wardrobes in the coming months. Below you’ll find a list of sites we suggest for a quick guide to what was hot, what was not and what got people talking at New York Fashion Week.
The Encyclopedia: Style.com has photos documenting every designer (in alphabetical order) along with the looks they showed. So you couldn’t afford to make it to the Lincoln Center? It’s okay, you can still relive every outfit that walked the runway on your computer screen.
The minute by minute: Looking for an archive of “we are at the runway show and this is amazing” or “so and so is sitting next to such and such and they HATE blah blah blah designer’s line”? Look no further than the Twitter of the infamous daily fashion paper, WWD. Just scroll through their posts from last week for your play by play.
The top 100 list: if you’re looking for a ultimate 100 list of favorites, look no further than Harper’s Bazaar. Their slide show documents the magazine’s 100 favorites from spring 2011.
No holds commentary: The crew over at NY Mag’s The Cut have a knack for telling it like it is—both the good and the bad. Plus, their Hot Shots section makes for a diverse and entertaining photo editorial on the events that took place inside the Lincoln Center last week.