Two of the few fashion icons on my list whose style leaves me perenially...obsessed...(just check out http://olsensanonymous.blogspot.com/ if you don't believe me) Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson have contributed even more than their own creative way of dressing to the fashion world, and I am thankful. Their two lines, The Row and the more financially accessible Elizabeth & James (I DIE), are successful despite the twins' lack of actual design training. And I hope their success continues, because it would be a shame if those fantastic-fitting Elizabeth & James blazers disappeared from the racks anytime soon.
With only 12 days and counting to New York Fashion Week this September, folks in the fashion industry are busy gearing up not only their 5" platform Louboutins to trek from show to show, but also their Towns Cars and Escalades to chauffeur them from Bryant Park to Milk Studios, back and forth from show to show. Aside from dying to see the clothes themselves, I find myself wondering what drama will ensue between the two locales. What kind of logistical challenges will this present? Whose shows will be late and who will be late to the shows? Will this split represent the divide between the new and edgy and the old-school designers? This season I will be answering these questions, as I will be reporting from inside both the tents and Milk Studios. Stay tuned for more insider updates to come, from yours truly, Thoughts on Style.
So what are your thoughts on Fashion Week? Where will you be, and whose shows are you dying to see? Post your comments below.
Me with my new handbag. grey top: Madewell, black jeans: Forever 21, motorcycle boots: Frye
While I am normally a huge proponent of the "forever" bag, i.e., a Chanel, YSL, etc. bag that will outlast trends and stay by your side for ten years or more as an investment piece, I could not resist this perfectly trendy black leather bag from Topshop. For $170, it looks like a lot more than it costs. It's big and roomy (a huge plus for me, and anyone else who needs to carry magazines/books/laptops around for entertainment on the subway), has edgy stud details around the bottom and sides, and the quality of the leather is not too shabby either. It's no buttery lambskin or Alexander Wang "it" bag, mind you, but it looks like it could hold up for a few seasons or so. And with its rugged styling, it will look even better when it's worn in and all beat up. My favorite bags seem to always show their wear anyway, so why not? Save the Chanel for dinner at the Four Seasons, wear this bad boy to brunch at Delicatessen after a night of partying.
To me, the Fall 09 Chloe print ads (photographed in the Sept issue of Vogue here) embody the chic, sophisticated spirit of fall fashion this season, without being inclined to the biker/rocker end of the spectrum that has become so popular with the fashion set. The Chloe girl is breezy, effortless, timeless, like a French Ralph Lauren.
My latest fashion mission: finding the perfect platform ankle bootie for fall. It must be meet the following criteria: a: under $500, b: under 4" minus the height of the platform, since it doesn't arch the foot as severly as the heel would without the platform, and c: match at least 30% of my wardrobe...okay I might as well say, it has to be black. Call me practical, call me the anti-fashionista, call me what you will, but this is what works for someone who prefers to walk from here to there instead of cabbing it (it's my only form of exercise, what can I say). So when I found the Stuart Weitzman bootie I hit the jackpot. Yes, it's a little safe, a little bland, a little runway toned-down about five notches for the masses, but I am one for honesty - if it's over $300 and I cannot walk ten blocks in it, and I cannot match at least ten outfits with it, it's out. So Stuart Weitzman bootie, you are in.
I am gearing up my opaque black tights and a body-con micro mini with a slouchy tee and boyfriend blazer and about a million layers of necklaces, and all that's needed to complete the look are these boot-tays. yay.
Leggings are the biggest statement for fall in pants. They are a favorite of mine, since they can be dressed up or down, are super comfy, and make legs look sky high with heels, I am stocking up in leggings of several varieties, I seriously cannot stop buying them in all styles. These are photos of my favorites - leather, ripped, equestrian, and denim. They range from super affordable for denim leggings at Aldo for $20, to super pricey for leather leggings for upwards of $1000. I want them all!
I love vintage travel posters. Not only do they have that nostalgic look of days gone by, with the artistic renderings of various destinations instead of modern photography, but they also give a glimpse of a time when travel was glamorous, when people dressed. Headscarves, furs, and even the now-trendy Panama hat (above) are all parts of the mystique. The days of strolling down the boardwalk dressed to the nines (save the fur-clad ladies of Nice in the winter months) may be gone, but their memories live on, and very fondly.
How do I love thy Helmut Lang Fall merch? Let me count the ways...well for one, their body con use of leather. This stretch leather dress, above, takes a little imagination to love on the flat, but when I saw it in person, I just DIED. This dress is obssesion-worthy for several reasons (um, just look at it), but most importantly from a wearer's standpoint, in that Helmut Lang somehow makes leather snug yet wearable, and tough yet chic, all without suffocating the wearer. With its stretchy panels in all the right places, it prevents that stiff, restricting feeling that leather normally has.
I suggest pairing it with minimal details; perhaps a nude or ballet pink suede platform heel to keep the focus on the dress (or if you must tchotchke it up, add something feminine instead of anything too hard-edged to balance out the look).
Me with my new handbag. grey top: Madewell, black jeans: Forever 21, motorcycle boots: Frye
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