Clothing Zen

Let's take a moment to meditate on the Eastern inspired beauty found at Proenza Schouler's Fall 2012 Ready to Wear Collection. "It's Asian, but in a New York Way," Lazaro Hernandez, Designer behind Proenza Schouler.

"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." 

-Confucius 

Look of the week:

PVC Trench by Sonia Rykiel

Editorial shot found at Elle.com, Photo by Max Farago
Styled by Mel Ottenberg

Also seen at: Burberry , Emma Cook , Prada

Burberry 2001

Emma Cook 2009

What to wear under it? Neutral color combina-tions

Prada 2002

Schiaparelli

Interestingly, for Spring 2012, NYC's Met Museum currently offers the exhibit,  Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, which views through August 19, and showcases the striking relationship between Schiaparelli and Prada, two similar designers who come from completely different eras. To the left you can see Prada's 2002 clear, vinyl coat, and to the above right is Schiaparelli's rendition from 1935.

Louis Vuitton FW11

 These Trenc-hes remind me of
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TOPSHOP put out a great variation of this designer coat in summer of 2010 for $110, but it quickly sold out, especially after retro loving Christina Aguilar sported the look.

Hello Kitty for Forever21(L)

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eBay.com

Milly Resort 2013

Other places to go or NOT go clear:
DO with an umbrella::

A clear umbrella goes with any look. Plus, they are very afforable, so you can spend more on your rain coat and boots.

DO NOT go clear with a purse:

From Louis Vuitton SS/12. I know a lot of us, especially men, have been taught to never look inside a woman's purse. There's a reason for that, and the clear handbag obstructs that logic. Plus, how aesthetically pleasing is a mess of personal items? 

Couture Fall 2012 : Top Five Looks

Plus, how to wear them

Valentino

Valentino

Let Valentino inspire you to wear: A mix of subdued gold, white and black, sheer paneling, feathers, maxis with long sleeves

 

Dior



Dior  

Let Dior inspire you to wear: Cobalt blue with black, pretty, full skirt s(go for volume and length) floral prints with simple and solid tops, worn in, sheer tees,

Versace

Versace

Let Versace inspire you to wear: Combinations of purple, red and pink, color blocking, translucent fabrics, glitter, body clinging dresses, etched in belts, swooping necklines  

Jean Paul Gaultier

Jean Paul Gaultier

 

Let Jean Paul Gaultier inspire you to wear:

Velvet trousers, a fitted or structured corset top, modern art inspired clothing, architectural elements, long leather riding gloves

Givenchy

Givenchy

Let Givenchy inspire you to wear: Powder pink, luxurious and cozy fabrics, monotone attires with varying textures, cape sleeve cover ups, knot tops

 

My top five looks from the Fall 2012 Couture runways:


Valentino

Dior















Jean Paul Gaultier

Givenchy

Versace

Does Stacy London Know What to Wear?

I was pursing the book selection at Salvation Army (of course after shopping the clothes!) when I spotted an aqua satin dress, on a cover of a book, that looked oh so familar. There she was, Stacy London, in Yigal Azrouel, exuding her signiture confidence next to  Clinton Kelly, for their 2005 book Dress Your Best.

I assisted London's stylist, Jessica Neff,  on several 2011 projects for London, but flipping through the pages of  this 7-year-old book, it was the same SL I watched smile on the Today Show, or strut on a Dr. Scholl's commercial; beautiful hair, beautiful body, and of course, beautiful clothing.
 I could see it was clearly jammed packed with valuable information, particularily regarding dressing for your body type (which was the focus of the book).
Anyone can see, London consistently dresses to kill on her show What Not to Wear, and I used to feel honored back in 2011 when I would hear her analyze a look out loud, or take a phone interview in my presence. I certainly consider her a style guru, who often leaves even me wondering, "How the hell does she know that?" I consider myself to have a good style intution, but SL's success lies in her awareness of her natural talent in dressing, and her ability to formulate easy to follow rules that make dressing for the rest of us possible and on point. But maybe she dumbed it down a bit too much for "the rest of us" with this book.
For example, she said, "Paring red and black can look matronly (very Raiza Gorbackev) but can look infinitely chic with a third color- a nuetral such as white, cream, or camel."pg 53. Great advice, but the look to go with it was a plain black skirt, a plain white shirt, and with it, a plain red jacket (to Stacy's defense, the jacket was leather, adding some interest). Such a shame, because there are infinite stylistic posssibilties with this great peice of insight! Such as adding multiple nuetral tones with red and black, and definitley using prints so its not so one dimensional.
To incorparate how effective prints can be on a red, black and nutetral pallette, I created my own look combining this additional SL'ism: "Don't be afraid to mix patterns like florals and animal prints, but dont let either over power your outfit. use them as you would use spices in your favorite dish-as accents and sparingly." pg 29. I like that she said it's ok to mix prints, but I think it is actually also ok for mixed prints to play a dominant, main course, not just pepper kind of role, especially if the prints are in nuterals. (An outfit "spiced" by print is a chic option too, however). To see my adaptation outfit of London's laws to dressing, keep scrolling.

<----------I thought this pump would be the first step in the right direction, considering it embodies both of the SL'isms: Use of print, and use of red, black, and nuetrals (in this case, white and beige). Leopard is a great choice because it goes with most other prints, try it with stripes (seen above) or polka dots. But do keep your mixing in the same color family, as seen with the clutch (below), top and heels. Houndstooth (seen on clutch) is a lot like leopard print- you can mix it with anything- but maybe the two prints achieve their ultimate coolness when combined together. Layer nuetrals, such as this striped long sleeve under a sleeveless shift dress (below). It creates a great neutral canvas for adding accents of color, (but consider this sophisticated pair up with other colors!). SL wrote about using print as a "spice", but try using a  color as a spice on a nuetral outfit, referred to above as 'accents', effectively done with a belt (below). Just err on the side of quality- a colored belt can look tacky and cheap if it resembles any form of plastic. And as always  the case, a contrast of materials, such as the leather in the skirt of this dress, adds visual interest.

An other SL'ism to think about: "It's fine to mix patterns as long as they aren't competing for attention." Stacy London, pg 139

                          

Let's not forget Clinton Kelly, who partnered with London for this book. I spent some time on the What Not to Wear set, enough to learn this guy is stylish and hilarious. I love how Clint signed the title page of the book to the original owner: "Anne, if the other Stacy ever gets sick, you'll be the first one I call. Best, Clint." So glad Anne, whoever she is, donated this book to Salvation Army, because all in all, Stacy has a lot she can teach me.

Shoes: Giusseppe Zanotti Design
Turtleneck: Murphy & NYE
Belt: Hugo Boss
Clutch: Jil Sander
Dress: Raoul

So, I was perusing on LookBook.nu, when I was struck by 24 year old Fashion Designer/Blogger from Manila wearing these fierce green pants that were etched with gold lining, creating a look of fabric scales on her legs. She appopiately titled her look "Reptile."
For those of you who are not familar with LookBook, it is basically a forum for fashionistas to post pictures of themselves, in their own looks, to be shared and hyped by equally enthusaistic fashionistas.  Camille C. was on the "Hot" page, meaning she is one of the top hyped looks on the site.  
The great thing about LookBook is you have the option to list the source of your clothes. In Camille C.'s case, her stem stunners came from VirgosLounge.com.
Now it's time to talk about what I came here to talk about!
VirgosLounge has some beautiful, distinct peices that look expensive, but really aren't! I had to share my new found fashion sweet spot! Check out some of my fav finds:

Camille C. in her Virgos Lounge pants on LookBook.nu

Ziggy Green $45, but sorry, these pants are sold out! Camille C. should probably be the one saying sorry for that. But they do offer it in a deep wine red color! 

Daffy Jacket $78. Would you have thought to pair this top with light aqua? Honestly, idk if I would, but it works! Love the beaded work. This could really spruce up a pair of denim too.

Blake Green-$25, only $25!

Nila Skirt, $49. It looks like flower petals.

I almost do not want to share the last one, because I'm scared other girls will get it and wear it before I do! I think it's stunning!



Poppy, $85


Virgos Lounge
LookBook

Without a Clue for Color

Dear Dress Up. Write Down,

I need more color in my work wardrobe! I feel like I'm always in black/ grey/ navy or red because I want to be professional.  My ultra conservative bosses loves it, but the hot boys in the hall? Probably not.

Dear Colorless Chicka,

It is certainly possible to be conservative AND attractive, in fact, that combination may be the very definition of classy or elegant. Color is the key element that will allow you to heat up your conservative looks, while still remaining appropriate. Here’s how:

Wear a suit in a statement color: Red, by the way, is actually a great choice. It makes you instantly sexy in a tasteful way, and it looks stellar with black and white add ons (think tweed pumps). It sounds like you need life back in your closet, so try on a bright suit for size. Do consider your wardrobe though. What are the existing, reoccurring colors of your tops? Ideally, you want your suit to be easily incorporated with what you already own. I’m a big fan of thrift stores or consignment shops for interesting, colorful suits, not only because I’ve scored great finds in the past, but also because suits can get pretty pricey. Check out this patterned cobalt suit I snatched at Salvation Army for $15. Pattern is completely appropriate by the way, and with a price like that, you can afford to experiment.  But remember, when it comes to suits, fit always trumps any color or print, and also, if you do wear a colored suit, go neutral with other elements of your outfit.

Vintage Suit, Salvation Army $15

Get colorful with undershirts: Of course, you may be wondering, ‘But, how do I add color to my existing black and blue suits?’ At the risk of sounding obvious, opt for colorful patterned undershirts. This comes down to preference, so the options are endless. You can decide whether it be a button up (option for collar out or in), or a V-neck, but whatever you do, do not show any cleavage. That will turn off your conservative boss more than a neon orange body suit. And keep those silk and lace camisoles under your clothes!  They look like lingerie! Pussy bow blouses are a stellar option for enjoying silk, while adding color, interest and style. I say, go for a colorful print that you think could be framed on the wall if not worn on your back.

Rafaella Print Boxy Blouse, ShopStyle.com $42.99

3.1 Phillip Lim, Shopstyle.com $414

Tribal Print Tank Top, BluePlateFashion.com $49.99

Tie in a colorful scarf: A neck scarf will add a pop of hue and make you feel Parisian all at the same time.  I like to focus on the square scarf that ties at the neck, because except for on flight attendants, I don’t see this look enough! Try it and stand out in a chic way! Emilio Pucci, Roberto Cavalli, Marni, and Versace are just some of the designers that offer beautiful silk square scarf as an investment piece, but American Apparel has a new line of square scarves in their Vintage collection that range from $5-35, and Mango offers some for less than $50. Have fun with color and print with these, they are very sophisticated, and therefore can handle wilder aesthetics. This is also a great item to go vintage, so ask to see your Grandmother or Aunt’s collection; they might let you borrow one.  

Vintage Bright Floral Bouquet Scarf, American Apparel $5

Step into a vibrant pump: We know your boss is conservative, so anything resembling stripper heels or fashionista footwear will not work. That being said, avoid 6 inchers, mega bling, or anything you have worn out clubbing. Stick to a conservative pump (a kitten heel is both very appropriate, on trend runway wise, AND comfortable) but add zing with a stand out color. The good news is, with all this restraint, it’s safe to go bold with hue!  I promise! Another bonus is, with all your black, gray and blue suits, virtually any color that your foot fancies is a ‘do.’

Collection Valentina snakeskin pumps, JCrew $425

Slip a statement necklace around your neck: A colorful, statement necklace takes your blah attire to a whole new, refreshing level. It’s a good time to go big here, whether it is a longer, chunky necklace or bib piece. Austere work attire in BLACK is always a smart choice when throwing on colorful add ons, such as jade green or turquoise. Pick the statement necklace that speaks to YOU. Your statement should be “wow” when you see it. Kate Spade offers a great selection of colorful necklaces that do not error on the side of rainbow cheesy. They are made perfect for a professional setting while still achieving ultra-cuteness. Check them out at KateSpade.com.

Bottom line: If you are wise with conservative cuts, and smart with balancing color with nuetrals, you can then let yourself have fun with color, whether it be on a sharp suit, around your neck, or on your feet. You work hard, and you deserve the enjoyment! As a bonus, “the hot boys in the hall” will certainly love it.