Florals are nothing new for Spring, so that’s why you’ve got to approach them in a new way. Rather than thinking inside the southern belle box of floral sundresses - try eclectic, embellished jewelry, and hints of floral prints in accessories as a chic way to feel the spring in your step without looking like you’re going to a tea party.
Prohibition bangle @ Anthropologie $68
Scarf @ Forver 21 $8.80
Necklace @ Urban Outfitters $58
Headband @ Jcrew $16.50
Feature image by Mika Ninagawa
A bralette is technically a bra, gasp! If you go shopping around online for one - rarely will you find a detailed, more conservative version that you’ll need to achieve the bralette look. I first recognized this piece back in FIT, I had to do some sort of presentation on Prada and it must have been circa 2001 shows that I went back to - where she showed the high waisted circle skirts and midriff baring coordinating tops. Some also might recognize the look from the Sex and the City episode where Carrie gets stood up at Il Cantinori for her birthday. The actual aesthetic stems from the 50’s with the high waists again, but instead of bra tops - think knotted shirts, very Beach Boys - showing just a sliver of skin. I love this look for the daring - pair it under an open front or low cut top for evening - or have it peak through a boyfriend cardigan on the weekend. If that’s still too much - layer on some heavy chains or a sweet neck scarf to complete the look and downplay the bust. My goal is to cut up some old H&M bustier type bralettes that I used to throw under wrap dresses - and instead tie a boyish collared shirt over it with some tailored shorts for the present. Peggy Sue who?
Urban Outfitters contrast stitch $12.99
Top Shop denim $36
ASOS color block $25
Neon, due in large part to the huge wave of 80’s influence in fashion recently (Sprouse, Marc Jacobs, LV) – is in high demand. These shades are not for the light of heart – and are especially hard colors to pull off depending on skin tone. For darker skin tones, hot pink looks gorgeous from torso up – think hot pink hoops, scarves, and flowing tops. I like to stay away from a lot of structure with these colors, it makes it a little too futuristic, too dated – and fabrications like chiffon and lawn help to ease the color penetration and appear more ethereal than in your face. For lighter skin tones – you can go with the neon yellow, and lighter shades of neon green that will compliment rather than contrast. For everyone – a burst of color jean is also a great alternative if you don’t want to fully commit – paired with a clean top neon bottoms are very resort. If you’re going to pair anything with neon, go with white – you’ll look modern chic rather than early 90’s. Now that spring/summer is right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start picking up pieces here and there to ease yourself into this fresh, and seemingly nostalgic trend. Kind of makes you want to put on a slap bracelet!
Asos $25
Forever 21 Tank $11.80
Go Jane $19.40
Girl Props $1.99
Urban Outfitters $29.99
Like I said – I had no idea I would fall so hard for this menswear movement! Now that my job here in Austin requires a bit more subtlety in terms of dress – (i.e. straight men, not the garment district, etc) I plan on LIVING in these types of bottoms for the next year. To me, this is half of the new power suit – and the beauty of the balance is that the pant is the anchor, you can go with a feminine or basic top depending on the occasion - and the pant still looks effortlessly chic and pulls it all together, and so on trend with the shows. As much as I miss running around Polo in a bubble skirt, towering heels, and endless baubles - I just can’t walk around the new office sticking out like a sore thumb anymore. The first time I tried this pant in my new environment – it was for a huge presentation (which, I nailed) – and I wore black ankle Audrey pants (like the UO pair below) with a black fitted collar shirt (tucked in, sleeves rolled) & a pair of strappy and complicated sky-high gladiators. I felt on top of the world! There’s definitely something to be said for dressing the part – just don’t call it business casual.
Victoria’s Secret $69.50
Urban Outfitters $58
JCrew $79.50
Hannah MacGibbon showed her first collection as Chloé’s lead designer for Spring 09 - and I fell completely in love with the oversized scallop-edge detailing, especially on the shorts. Unfortunately - the real things are hard to find and even once found, are definitely unattainable. So, luckily I was able to find some cute alternatives until the fast fashion cycle catches up.
Urban Outfitters $48
Asos $30
I will also openly admit that I love Heidi Montag! She’s like a living Barbie doll - I kind of love that she ran with it unapologetically. AND the girl does have undeniable style that LC should (and probably does) envy.
Celeb images taken from People.com
The Victoria’s Secret bathing suit catalog was mailed out this week, and I was so excited to see the new styles but so disappointed while flipping through and realizing that it’s the result of a realllly bad last quarter. If anyone is really into the industry - Yahoo finance by retail sector is a great resource for apparel biz news, which is where I’ll often read about wholesaler inventory being way down this year. That means retailers like Victoria’s Secret aren’t buying that forward 50’s pinup suit this year because they can’t bank on the consumer to show up for it – so the wholesaler (design team) essentially scales back their style production.
What’s even crazier, as I hope this is the explanation for it and the cute suits aren’t gone forever – is that they featured a $300 crystal encrusted swimsuit on the cover. In reality, this reads not a penny over $60 worth – but what could be cute, inexpensive beading is instead Swarovski. Limited Brands - get your stuff together and put a key item feature on the cover (mix & match suits) that will actually drive people to spend. It’s so saddening because Victoria’s Secret swimsuits are always so playful, colorful, something for not only every body type - but every personality, and I always end up having to edit down 10 choices to 2 because of the incredible offering.
So, because I couldn’t find anything worthwhile, I’ve hunted down some adorable looks elsewhere:
Betsey Johnson $200ish (expensive, sorry!)
Urban Outfitters $98
Delia*s $44.50
Top Shop $50
Happy to see a feature in the January Harper’s about jumpsuits, I knew it! See post “You Jump, I Jump: Who Knew, Jumpsuits.“ I almost interned at Harper’s right after Teen Vogue - I interviewed and was good to go until FIT wouldn’t give me credit (credit crunch, those mags don’t pay) - so it would be slavery, but I sooo wanted it. Definitely a lot of red tape at SUNY. Regardless, I feel a bit better now as there’s a typo in the January issue’s linguistics regarding jumpsuits - Sportmax is one word, not two!
Luckily for the other alma mater of sorts, Vogue’s Style.com has an easy search engine that leads you directly to a compilation of all Spring 09 jumpsuit looks from a bevy of different designers (click here to view). I would have never been lead in the direction of London designer Danielle Scutt without it (far right), so - Vogue 1 Harper’s 0.
From left to right - DSquared, Dolce & Gabbana, Danielle Scutt - view the complete collections on Style.com
Top Shop $90
Urban Outfitters $68
Forever 21 $27.80
Sporting the Urban Outfitters faux fur hat from the post “Furrrocious: Don’t Freak Peta, I’m Talking Faux”.
Thanks Ana - keep on keepin’ on!
Feel free to send any submissions to Sidewalkisarunway@gmail.com (it makes my day!)
Since moving to Texas, I like to think I’ve been in a kind of twilight zone for five months. The weather hasn’t really changed, I’ve never been so busy, and there’s always something new to do. And, in said twilight zone - the typical feeling of winter and Christmas hasn’t hit me at all. In New York - regardless of whether or not there was snow, Christmas meant there were more tourists than cabs, and everyday shopping was like Black Friday. New York is so romantic during Christmas, the lights and the bundling up, the Mexican hot chocolate at La Esquina - oh the grass is always greener.
So, to compensate with the varying 75 degree days - I’ve made a conscious effort to not wear a jacket out, go without tights, and enjoy this paradox called Texas. This past weekend I even spent all day sitting outside drinking bloody’s with the girls, actually feeling hot. As a native northeastern girl, this is incredibly novel and totally messes with my head. My mom has always said that she thinks southern girls must be so smiley all the time because it’s always sunny - and I’ve found she may be right.
As there is now a total lack of cabin fever chic in my dress as well as my state of mind, to curb my nostalgia as I spend Christmas in another totally unseasonal city (New Orleans) - I’m going to have to take it up a notch. Fairisles, shearling, and buffalo checks are what first come to mind, but there is so much more to it than a few textures, patterns, or finishes. Fairisles should be kept tonal or monochromatic - as pastel fairisles are majorly matronly. When it comes to shearling, don’t over do it with a too detailed boot. I like the simplicity of an ugg, camel colored leather, or a Michael Kors type of bootie - stay away from heavy buckles or laces. When you hit the slopes - or your living room this Christmas, I recommend channeling a British royal.
Urban Outfitters $78
Spiegel bootie $59
Dillard’s shearling cocktail bag $14
American Eagle buffalo check coat $129.50
Old Navy knit bracelet $2.50 each
Even after complete immersion, it still baffles me how the most random things can create entire movements in fashion. Tuxedos have been around forever, and YSL really brought the aesthetic to the forefront of women’s wear. Forget Annie Hall, forget Dandy - the modern interpretation of the tuxedo is sexy & strong, with no grey area.
This trend is happening now and it’s happening in a gorgeous way. I’ve been seeing tuxedo pants – straight leg, ankle Audrey style pants with satin trim along the side seam – pop up everywhere, and even in denim. Not only bottoms - tuxedo jackets, boyish or even cropped – as well as feminine bib blouse interpretations and a bevy of bows.
About three years ago when I couldn’t find anything to buy that didn’t have a sparkle of some sort sewn onto it – I went into complete opposition mode and would only wear huge men’s sweaters and dress shirts with tights, a cinched waist belt, and a thick black headband (Prada played a big part). As much as I try not to regret my fashion choices – you’ve gotta live in the moment – this is not how I would do opposite sex dressing these days. Now it’s all about the same silhouettes you would usually rock - feminine & fitted - but with menswear inspired detailing (peaked lapels, bibs, french cuffs). Oddly enough - sometimes it takes dressing like a man to put a little swagger in your step - spitting and vulgarity aside.
Asos Jacket $85
Forever 21 Vest $22.80
Victoria’s Secret pant $39.50
Newport News shoe $34.00
