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subscribe to style file blog via RSSChic Sweats Are On The Fashion Fast Track
May 24, 2012 9:00 am
Maybe it’s the upcoming Summer Olympic Games—the opening ceremony is July 27 in London—but track pants have really taken off. No, not the ones with logos written across the bum or those stretched-out old standbys you wear on the couch at home. We’re talking about tailored sweats that simply need a pair of heels to go from day to night. At Bottega Veneta’s recent Resort presentation, Tomas Maier showed color-blocked tracksuits as weekend wear, while Neil Barrett and Chloé’s Clare Waight Keller featured tapered versions with elastic at the ankles for Fall. Style.com’s own Marina Larroude was snapped test-driving a pair during Milan fashion week. Her take on the comfy-chic trend? “I love how you can dress them up with a silk shirt and dress them down with a tank or sneakers.”
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tags: Chloe, Clare Waight Keller, Marina Larroude, Neil Barrett, Summer Olympic Games, Tomas Maier
A Clear Forecast For Fall Accessories
May 17, 2012 8:39 am
With the exception of Cinderella, Lucite and Perspex shoes used to be associated with exotic dancers. But in the past few seasons, clear accessories have lost their lowbrow associations. During NYFW, we noticed oversize vinyl clutches at 3.1 Phillip Lim and were transfixed by Rodarte’s footwear with sand art stripes decorating the Plexiglas platforms. Karl Lagerfeld, too, is lately making a case for the transparent trend. At the Chanel Cruise presentation earlier this week in Versailles, he styled his models with plastic cross-body bags and matching cuff bracelets, while on the Chanel Fall runway, every look came paired with geode-inspired d’Orsay pumps featuring see-through cylinder heels. And PVC isn’t just for the runways. Charlotte Dellal is frequently spotted carrying one of her crystalline clutches, and during the shows, Tommy Ton snapped Shala Monroque dodging the rain in an embellished Prada bucket hat from Spring 2010.
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tags: 3.1 Phillip Lim, Chanel Cruise, Charlotte Dellal, Karl Lagerfeld, Shala Monroque
Giving New Meaning To The Term “Treasure Chest”
May 10, 2012 8:33 am
To bedazzle or not to bedazzle: That’s the question for Fall, with designers building bling directly into their clothes. Oscar de la Renta showed trompe l’oeil bijoux, printing photos of precious stones on his cocktail dresses, while Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz and Miuccia Prada encrusted their respective looks with luxe crystals—some of which made their red-carpet debuts at this week’s Met gala. ANDAM nominee Vika Gazinskaya, for her part, gave the look a daytime spin with the novelty sweatshirt she sported in the Tuileries. The best part of these bedecked numbers? While still pricey, they’ll make a significantly smaller dent in your wallet than real-deal platinum and diamonds.
CLICK FOR A SLIDESHOW of the best in built-in bling.
tags: Alber Elbaz, ANDAM, Lanvin, Miuccia Prada, Oscar de la Renta, Vika Gazinskaya
Our Favorite Looks From Sydney Fashion Week
May 3, 2012 4:22 pm
Fashion’s scope is undeniably global. If you’ve been keeping up with Tommy Ton’s latest street-style dispatches, you already know that right now, the action is in Sydney, where it’s all about showcasing local talent. This season, when Aussie heavyweights Dion Lee and Josh Goot pulled out at the last minute (reportedly to focus on building their respective international presences), it gave up-and-comers a chance to seize the spotlight. The week kicked off with Romance Was Born’s action-packed collection, featuring graphic prints borrowed from Marvel comics. Yes, we’ve already seen cartoon couture stateside from Phillip Lim, but this lineup had plenty of its own ka-pow. Other memorable moments included the directional, draped looks in rich-colored silks from Ellery (pictured) and Jenny Kee’s over-the-top headpieces and one-of-a-kind gowns. Naturally, there was a commercial focus, too. Retailers are sure to scoop up the on-trend denim-on-denim looks seen at Ksubi and Zimmermann’s perfectly pretty, floral frocks. It seems things are looking up down under.
CLICK FOR A SLIDESHOW to check out our Sydney fashion week highlights.
tags: Dion Lee, Ellery, Jenny Kee, Josh Goot, Ksubi, Marvel, Phillip Lim, Romance Was Born, Zimmermann
Who Was Best Dressed At The White House Correspondents’ Dinner?
April 30, 2012 12:53 pm
Maybe the much talked-about new White House social secretary, Jeremy Bernard, had something to do with it, or perhaps it’s because it’s an election year, but this weekend’s 98th annual Correspondents’ Association Dinner was its most star-studded ever. Everyone from Reese Witherspoon and Charlize Theron to Kim Kardashian and Lindsay Lohan made appearances, mingling with the President and the First Lady, as well as the usual array of politicians and journalists. At the top of our best-dressed list stand Kate Hudson in a dazzling purple Jenny Packham gown, Dakota Fanning (pictured) in an embellished, sky blue Prada number, and Elizabeth Banks, who sported a bright red Antonio Berardi column with a peplum waist.
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tags: Charlize Theron, Correspondents' Association Dinner, Dakota Fanning, Jeremy Bernard, Kate Hudson, Kim Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan, Reese Witherspoon
Is Color-Blocking Played Out?
April 26, 2012 7:59 am
After several seasons of stacking contrasting hues one atop another, designers are simplfying things for Fall with monochromatic looks in a Crayola box assortment of shades. Working with a uniform palette plays up subtle differences in texture and fabric. Alexander Wang, for example, hit on this season’s must-have color with a head-to-toe burgundy outfit that mixed slick quilted patent with distressed leather and nappy suede, while Olivier Rousteing and Peter Dundas brought velvet and fur into the picture, respectively, at Balmain and Emilio Pucci. As for the tonal trend’s street cred, most New Yorkers (and Paris Vogue editors, for that matter) are already well versed in the advantages of wearing head-to-toe black. But more adventurous dressers are embracing vibrant tones. See: Hanne Gaby Odiele (who else?) in her mint Acne cable-knit sweater and cropped pants, and another stylish gal who matched her bright red coat to her fiery tresses—or perhaps dyed her hair for the occasion.
CLICK FOR A SLIDESHOW, and let us know if you’ll be dressing in one color from top to toe.
tags: Alexander Wang, Balmain, Emilio Pucci, Hanne Gaby Odiele, Olivier Rousteing, Paris Vogue, Peter Dundas
Will You Keep It Surreal This Season?
April 19, 2012 9:21 am
With Impossible Conversations, the Schiaparelli/Prada Costume Institute exhibit fast approaching, perhaps it’s no surprise that surrealism has again found its way into fashion’s collective (un)conscious. Elsa Schiaparelli famously collaborated with the likes of Salvador Dalí, and Miuccia Prada has done more for the cause of surreal style than anyone since. And there were more than a few designs on the Fall runways that echoed the theme.
At Lanvin, Alber Elbaz and Elie Top nodded at artists like Man Ray and Joan Miró with playful costume jewelry such as crystal eye brooches and a chain belt with plastic lips. Diane von Furstenberg referenced the movement, too, with interlocking hands on a body-hugging dress. Some designs, like Mary Katrantzou’s digitally printed labyrinth gown, made the surreal wearable, and some, like Stephen Jones’ spiny headpieces for Giles (left), seemed destined to stay on the runway—or perhaps, one day, the museum gallery.
CLICK FOR A SLIDESHOW, and let us know if you’ll be keeping it surreal this season.
tags: Alber Elbaz, Diane von Furstenberg, Elie Top, Elsa Schiaparelli, Giles, Joan Miro, Lanvin, Man Ray, Mary Katrantzou, Miuccia Prada, Salvador Dali, Stephen Jones
The Urge to Splurge: How Will You Spend Your Tax Refund?
April 12, 2012 9:48 am
The filing deadline for 2011 tax returns is right around the corner on April 17, and we don’t know about you, but the Style.com team has already been plotting how we’re going to spend our refunds. Being the shrewd shoppers they are, executive editor Nicole Phelps and market director Marina Larroude have selected timeless Fall looks like the evening tuxedo from Peter Dundas at Emilio Pucci and Altuzarra’s updated peacoat, both of which are totally (or at least arguably) reasonable when you break down their price-per-wear ratio. For several other staffers here, a government reimbursement is the perfect opportunity to splurge on items they wouldn’t typically consider. Fashion news editor Matthew Schneier has his eye on one of the “brooches for bros” from Kim Jones’ latest Louis Vuitton menswear lineup, and editorial coordinator Jessica Minkoff is coveting a decadent, embellished Balmain biker jacket—that one might set her back several year’s worth of returns, but hey, a girl can dream, particularly when it’s at the expense of Uncle Sam.
CLICK FOR A SLIDESHOW, and let us know how you’ll be spending your tax refund.
tags: Altuzarra, Balmain, Emilio Pucci, Kim Jones, Louis Vuitton, Peter Dundas
Are Tunics And Cropped Pants A Winning Look?
April 4, 2012 3:00 pm
Second-skin stovepipes, seventies-inspired flares, ultra-wide-leg trousers, baggy boyfriend jeans—we’ve watched umpteen styles of pants cycle in and out of fashion the past few seasons. For Fall, designers are advocating another new silhouette. Pants clipped just above the ankle were balanced out with hip-grazing tunics at Acne, Alexander Wang, and Miu Miu (pictured), while Chanel’s Karl Lagerfeld and Dries Van Noten went one step further, showing longer, to-the-knee tops over their short slacks. Designers have touted dresses over pants before. Do you think the look will stick this time around?
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tags: Acne, Alexander Wang, Chanel, Dries Van Noten, Miu Miu
Will You Trade In Your Snakeskin For Crocodile?
March 29, 2012 8:05 am
Python has been the defending champion in the exotics department for the past year or so, but the Fall runways revealed a fierce contender: crocodile. And this season, the scaly stuff wasn’t just relegated to accessories. Giambattista Valli and Fendi’s Silvia Venturini Fendi whipped the skin into a cocoon-shaped topper and a luxe shift dress, respectively. Others showed it as a pattern instead. The team at MaxMara, for example, paired an embossed leather pencil skirt, cross-body satchel, and military cap with a devore knit turtleneck, while Emilio Pucci’s Peter Dundas embroidered a sheer black dress with sparkly reptile scales.
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tags: Emilio Pucci, Fendi, Giambattista Valli, MaxMara, Peter Dundas
