Glamour: Hot Looks for 2008

(CBS) With 2007 all but over, you’re probably thinking ahead to what you might be wearing in 2008.   On The Early Show Monday, Suze Yalof Schwartz, executive fashion editor-at-large of Glamour magazine, offered a sneak preview of next year’s chic, “in” looks.  All the outfits Schwartz spotlighted can easily be incorporated in your existing wardrobe.   She didn’t focus on prices as much outfits typifying trends.   Schwartz says the key to being a great shopper is to not only focus on the current season’s trends, but the ones going forward.

The top trends she sees for the 2008 spring season include:

LOOK 1: MENSWEAR + SHINE

Mixing masculine and feminine isn’t news, but stealing your boyfriend’s blazer and throwing it over a sequin t-shirt dress is! Though this look certainly isn’t office-appropriate, it definitely works.

SPORTCOAT — Phillip Lim (wool/cashmere blend)
DRESS — Banana Republic (sequins)
BAG — Banana Republic
SHOES — Stuart Weitzman

LOOK 2: RUFFLES + PINK

This look exemplifies the message of spring / summer 2008. The ruffled sleeve detail is a touch of 1940s glamour that feels modern in 2008. Add to it a high-waisted, above-the-knee skirt in the season’s most important color — pink!

TOP + SKIRT — Khoon Hooi (silk blend)
BAG — Hollywould for Target
SHOES — Stuart Weitzman for ScoopNYC

LOOK 3: FLORAL ANY AND EVERYTHING + THE NEW PANT

Flowers never go away, but they can’t be hotter than they are this season. The new shape pant is still straight, but cropped above the ankle. A pair of high heels gives a modern twist.

TOP — DVF at Bloomingdale’s (silk)
BAG — Hollywould for Target
PANTS — Theory at Bloomingdale’s (wool and polyester)
SHOES — Steven by Steve Madden

LOOK 4: ASSYMETRICAL TOPS + FULL SKIRTS

Give ’em the cold shoulder: This top is great paired with jeans and skirts, and will be a great transitional piece from winter to spring. A high-waist full skirt. touching just above the knee, is both the cut and length du jour.

TOP — Banana Republic (cashmere)
BAG — Rafe
SKIRT — Club Monaco (silk and cotton)
SHOES — closet

LOOK 5: THE ART–INSPIRED DRESS

Stefano Pilati created a movement when this dress appeared in his 2008 Cruise Collection, then magically appeared in spring collections all over the globe. Don’t be surprised if you’re walking through stores and feel like you’re walking through an art museum; many of the season’s pieces have been inspired by both modern and classic artists.

ENTIRE LOOK —- YSL Cruise 2008 Collection

Hot for Spring 2008: Watch out for the Big Girls

I recently discovered a wonderful plus-sized designer on Etsy.com.

JANE BON BON is HOT! 

Oh, there’s also Size Appeal.  Check them out as well!  Here are some great spring looks you can pick up online.

   

 

Color Trends for Fall 2007

More at www.fashiontrendsetter.com

Fall is full of jewel tones and rich hues.  I haven’t seen many of these colors in a while, but I’m happy to see their return…most notably PURPLE.  Nothing like a rich royal purple to set off any skin tone.

Pantone.com says: “ Spicy Chili Pepper and exotic Lemon Curry stimulate the taste buds, entice the senses and enliven any wardrobe. Purple Wine, the ultimate expression of creativity, marries purple and wine, broadening the appeal of purple for fashion. The violet undertones of Dusk give gray a whole new dimension, making this fall’s neutral much more desirable.

Carafe, a deep, espresso brown, adds contrast to the palette, providing a rich alternative to the usual black or charcoal. Sumptuous Cashmere Rose is not only the perfect complement to any of fall’s colors, but also flatters any complexion. Many seasons have paid homage to nature, and fall ‘07 is no exception.

Shale Green takes the shade in a murky, blue/gray direction, while foliage-inspired Green Moss goes to the yellow side. Earthy Burnt Ochre is this autumn’s orange and sophisticated Stargazer (blue) continues the trend of turquoise, but with a deeper intensity.  Nuanced colors with subtle undertones enhance the ever-present neutrals and allow for clever and extraordinary color combinations. Pairing designer pieces with mainstream staples has become a way of life, and color adds an important dimension for expressing one’s unique sense of style.

Modesty is the New Chic

FoxNews | NEW YORK —  If the world needs another sign that Britney Spears’ look is yesterday’s news, check out New York Fashion Week.

Gone are the skin-centric, tummy-revealing and possibly private part-exposing trends that Spears and friends like Paris Hilton made ubiquitous. Instead, designers are embracing modesty, using sheer fabrics and lingerie looks to subtly hint at sexiness.

It’s an extension of the ladylike trends for fall; designers seem to have made the collective decision that a lot of skin isn’t in.

On Tuesday, Monique Lhuillier presented sophisticated, fluid looks that celebrate a woman’s shape without squeezing it. Carmen Marc Valvo showed tasteful swimwear with plenty of coverage, flattering pintucks and low leg openings. Even pantyhose made a comeback over the weekend at the Derek Lam show.

Of course, every rule has an exception. Marc Jacobs bucked the trend on Monday with plenty of glimpses of bras, slips and tap pants _ but the show was more of an artistic statement than a presentation of wearable fashions.

New York Fashion Week wraps up Wednesday after an eight-day preview of the spring-summer looks of 100 or so designers.

Sweater Boots: hot for Fall 2007

I saw a black pair of sweater boots in Urban Outfitters today… so cute. I think these are going to be big in the fall. Kinda Ugg looking, the construction and fabric make them susceptible to dirt (in the knit weaving, as opposed to a smooth service like leather), and the soles on many of the pairs I’ve seen are simple rubber…that could wear down in harsh weather on city streets. However, they are very very warm and comfortable. Comfort + fashion= worth the drama! 🙂 These boots are perfect with a matching cable knit sweater and skinny jeans for a super casual day! They almost look like you’re wearing leg warmmers…and I love 80’s revival leg warmers!!!

$109 – Comfortable knit boots from Livs! Soft cotton sweater knit upper in a tall mid calf height can be slouched. Hand knit with natural ventilation and comfort, rounded toe.

$299.95 – Free People’s Fairisle Lace Up Sweater Boot Patterned fairisle sweater boots with cowhide toe and lace-up detail, by Carolina K.

Top Trends from NEW YORK Fall 2007 Fashion Week

New York’s Fashion Week may be a foggy memory of feathers, hats, and sequins, but we’re still sifting through the looks. We combed hundreds of shows to find fall 2007’s ten biggest trends, from silhouettes to shoes. Now you just have to find somewhere to wear them. – NYMag (Click here for photos from Fashion Week of these trends.)

(1.) Your silhouette will slim down.
Fall’s shapes are far narrower than spring’s bubbles and trapezes. Marc Jacobs and Calvin Klein led the slim charge, with belted coats and tailored dresses respectively.

(2.) You’ll channel the queen.
Tweed can be hard to pull off—it tends toward bulky, frumpy, and way too royal family. Thakoon handled it lightly on an elegant coat, while Ralph Lauren and Oscar de le Renta made it classic, not dowdy.

(3.) You’ll supersize your sweaters.
Chunky knits were all over the runways. Bruce showed how cozy can still look sleek, while Diane von Furstenberg kept it loose and comfortable with a floppy-collared sweater coat. Our pick, however, is Malo’s sweater: space age and warm at the same time.

(4.) You’ll get some new pants—finally!
After a year of dresses and leggings, pants are back, and in a big, big, big way. There were great slouchy menswear versions at Michael Kors and Proenza Schouler, slick stovepipes at Narciso Rodriguez, and sailor-esque pants at Zero Maria Cornejo.

(5.) You’ll zip it good.
What is it with the eighties? This season it was zippers. Behnaz Sarafpour trimmed hers in neon yellow, while Derek Lam kept his basic black. At Thakoon, the zippers were for pockets only.

(6.) You’ll keep your head warm.
Whether it’s wide-brimmed (Marc Jacobs), pulled low (Proenza Schouler), or little more than a spray (Donna Karan), you’ll be wearing a hat. Cover for warmth (Michael Kors’s fur) or for modesty (Vera Wang’s head scarf), but just cover with something.

(7.) You’ll dare to clash.
In what has become a 5 x 10 classic, navy and black reigned supreme: a black belt on a navy dress at Derek Lam, royal blue on cardigans at Marc Jacobs and Thakoon.

(8.) You’ll keep walking tall.
The platform trend remains, but it’s subtler. The shapes are more traditional this season: pumps, sandals, and so on. Everyone from Donna Karan to Derek Lam amped up their shoes, with platforms beneath the toe box that function like lifts.

(9.) You’ll be dazzling.
Sequins and paillettes were everywhere, and in a whole host of vibrant colors. They were silver and muted at Vera Wang, and Technicolor dreamy at Marc Jacobs. Tory Burch even showed how the look can work for day: beneath a toggled fisherman sweater paired with an easy pair of pants.

(10.) You’ll fly away.
What’s more fun on an evening gown than a mound of fluffy feathers? Not much, as dresses from Mizrahi, Malandrino, and Marchesa pointed out. Sari Gueron and Thakoon turned their cool, young eyes on the trend with pared-down takes.

Fast Fashion in the UK

Cheap fashion: the trend may be over
Prices have fallen dramatically in the past decade as products are sourced from countries with low labour costs, but clothes cannot carry on getting cheaper. By Karen Attwood

full article@ independent.co.uk

British fashionistas have never had it so good. For the past decade the price of clothing has been falling at an astonishing rate, and almost everyone is now able to afford a wardrobe, or even two, stuffed full of the latest fads. The discerning consumer has got into the habit of mixing and matching, buying a number of expensive pieces to wear together with a range of cheaper staples. As fashion has got cheaper, more clothes have been snapped up. In 1997, the average woman bought 19 items of clothing a year, but this has now risen to 34 items a year.

But research published today suggests the trend towards ever-decreasing pricing is coming to end, and while clothing may remain relatively keenly priced over the next few years, the dramatic falls that consumers have been taking for granted for so long will no longer be seen.

Neil Saunders, consulting director at the research firm Verdict Consulting, who carried out the study, said there are several factors that have been driving prices down. Perhaps, most obviously is the sourcing of products from countries around the world, such as China and Bangladesh, where labour costs are phenomenally cheap. “This has underpinned price deflation,” Mr Saunders said, and has allowed value players, such as Primark and H&M, to flourish. The expansion of the major supermarkets and the value players into clothing “has reshaped the competitive landscape”. The low prices of Primark, and supermarkets such as Asda and Tesco, has meant that other retailers have had to lower their prices to try to remain competitive. Retailers such as M&S and Next have been able to maintain sales figures despite slashing prices due to higher volumes flying off the shelves. “Instead of someone buying one T-shirt, they will buy two or three,” Mr Saunders points out. “People are buying fashion in a much more disposable way.”

Between 2003 and 2007 prices have fallen by an average of 10 per cent.

Jimmy Choo’s $28,000 treat for Jet Setters

This “Bari” bag is from Jimmy Choo’s Jet Setter Collection.  $28,000 limited-edition crocodile bag that comes complete with its own fur blanket.

High tech bling from Swarovski

Oh these Active Crystals from Swarovski are so James Bond, so Coco Chanel…just such an lovey fusion of fashion and technology.  I’m just in love.

A must have for the fashionable, early adapters to technology…those who are rocking the iPhone before everyone else and the Hermes muff handbag too.

Shoe of the Day 8.17

Motorcycle chic and Children’s playground meets Balenciaga.  These shoes where the absoulte center of attraction at Balenciaga’s Fall 2007 press parade. They are being called the “IT”.  Well I say, “Work IT!”  Ok?!?!?  Fab-u-lous!