all about toggles
Thursday, January 12
For the last week or so, all the major US and European designers have been presenting their pre-fall collections to the press, and the one constant among them is the toggle coat. Style.com proclaims it will be the must-have piece next fall. Narciso Rodriguez's version is above, and the ones below are from Moschino Cheap and Chic and Burberry Prorsum (last pic). I love how the toggles add a sporty, casual vibe. I'm thinking about jumping on next fall's bandwagon right now with this cashmere camel toggle jacket by Lover or perhaps this simple black one from Target.
let's get graphic
Thursday, January 12
A dash of neon pink and mod stripes--a perfect take on the statement sweater. Wear it with...
1. Miss Selfridge stripe sweater, $68, missselfridge.com
2. Topshop clutch, $56, topshop.com
3. Miu Miu bootie, $757, bluefly.com
4. Lanvin tweed skirt, $1195, barneys.com
5. Links of London bracelet, $295, bloomingdales.com
good jeans
Wednesday, January 11
I had the pleasure of working with WhoWhatWear.com co-founder and creative director Katherine Power (pictured above) the other day. Every time I see her, whether it's at a press event or a glitzy LA cocktail party, she's always so put together, her outfit unfailingly spot-on and next season-looking in that knowing fashion editor way. But what's most interesting about my encounters with Katherine is that she always makes me want things I never knew I needed. The other day's outfit revealed to me that I need a mini Celine Shopper tote in black nonchalantly dangling from my shoulder as well as Jenni Kayne's black D'Orsay slippers on my feet (which are, tragically, already sold out). However, the centerpiece of Katherine's look was her pair of high-waisted faded blue jeans from The Row. She said she had washed them a few times to get the right fit and feel. They were slightly loose and tapered and perfectly cropped, so you can wear wear them with flats or heels. And the faded blue wash? Consider it a style omen in the current sea of pastel, waxed and print jeans. So, yes, I'll need those, too.
wear-everywhere blouse
Wednesday, January 11
So versatile. So easy. So chic. Wear it with...
1. Equipment silk shirt, $394, my-wardrobe.com
2. Military belted coat, $178, topshop.com
3. Valentino studded bag, $2516, forwardbyelysewalker.com
4. Rag & Bone booties, $495, rag-bone.com
5. JBrand pencil leg jeans, $192, barneys.com
the sheer thing
Wednesday, January 11
As you may have gathered from previous posts, I am a big fan of lace and its peekaboo properties. So, it should come as no surprise that I am fully embracing this spring's sheer trend and all the diaphanous dresses and skirts that are about to flood stores. The Topshop organza dress (above) is a good one because the silhouette is conservative, which offsets the sexiness of the transparent fabric. And it's styled perfectly, with opaque tights and boots providing coverage on the bottom. You could also wear a red or white slip underneath this dress to amp up its playfulness. Here's another example of shrewd under-sheer layering:
Photo: Phil Oh
The take-home message: try layering sheer looks with the unexpected, from retro lingerie to sporty boy shorts to simple camisoles. And never bare too much skin. Never.
pile them on
Tuesday, January 10
A stack of big, bulky bangles. Yes! Wear them with...
1. River Island bangles, $24, riverisland.com
2. Diane Von Furstenberg print silk dress, $445, netaporter.com
3. 3.1 Phillip Lim canvas and elastic cross-strap sandals, $695, forwardbyelysewalker.com
4. Tylie Malibu embroidered clutch, $99, tyliemalibu.com
P.S. Learn the art of stacking mismatched bracelets at Luckymag.com
the stylist's shoes
Monday, January 9
We shot Lucky's April cover over the weekend (I cannot disclose whom we shot yet!), and it was there and then that I decided I must own these Prada brogues. These shoes have been selling like hot cakes, since they came out last summer. Reportedly, Prada received only 68 pairs altogether in the US, and they sold out instantly. Wisely, Prada decided to make these shoes a carryover, which means the designer is going to keep producing them--and they'll never go on sale (they cost $950). At the cover shoot, both the New York-based stylist and her assistant were wearing them in brown (pictured above)--and I should add, in very different ways. The stylist--one of those inimitably stylish, totally ahead-of-the-curve women who just exudes uber coolness--wore her brogues with cropped khaki pants, grey socks, a perfectly worn-in denim blouse buttoned to the top with a teeny rhinestone choker, and a grey sweater. Very downtown tomboy chic. The assistant wore hers with a metallic Balenciaga mini skirt and a striped turtleneck. So cute. I see myself wearing them with jeans or cropped pants--and appreciating the extra edge they'd bring to any outfit. But I'll have to wait until a size 40 turns up somewhere in the US, because, as fate would have it, they're sold out. In the meantime, I might just buy this version from Topshop.
flouro dress
Monday, January 9
The quintessential fun dress. Wear it with...
1. MSGM fluorescent lace dress, $246, matchesfashion.com
2. Iosselliani mixed set of rings, $275, forwardbyelysewalker.com
3. Proenza Schouler framed leather clutch, $1175, netaporter.com
4. Ivanka Trump platform sandal, $145, piperlime.gap.com
* You could easily throw on a cropped crew-neck sweater and wear it as a skirt. Or layer a fitted, cropped black jacket over it to tone down the neon-ness. I also like the idea of wearing something contrast-y underneath, like a black or pink bra or slip; this will counterbalance the dress' sweetness.
major biker jacket
Friday, January 6
To be perfectly honest, I hesitated about sharing this H&M find with the world, which I snapped up yesterday. It's just so good, I kind of wanted it all for myself. What's particularly amazing about this jacket is its length (hip-length versus cropped, like most moto jackets), hefty hardware, and pliable soft leather (it's real!)--and it is everyday wearable. But about one hour after I left H&M (on Sunset Plaza) yesterday, jacket on my back (despite 80-degree heat!) and swollen with pride, I couldn't help but spill the beans to my twin sister, who promptly ran out and scored one for herself. Now I am fessing up to you: these jackets arrived in H&M stores on Tuesday, cost $199, and, I promise you, within a few days, will qualify as one of those elusive, sorry-it-already-sold-out gets. Don't say I didn't tell you so...
sweet top
Friday, January 6
The black lace is flirty, graphic and so Prada right now. Wear it with...
1. River Island lace tank, $38, riverisland.com
2. Forever 21 earrings, $3.80, forever21.com
3. Chloe jade green Marcie hobo, $1795, mytheresa.com
4. Guiseppe Zanotti T-strap sandals, $359, farfetch.com
5. Warehouse leather skirt, $142, warehouse.co.uk
This outfit is inspired by Prada's Spring 2012 collection, specifically this look.