Fashion
On February 5th Jason Wu will be releasing his limited collection for Target. Dresses, handbags and scarves will be available for purchase by the famous young designer who has dressed Michelle Obama.
Much like the last collaboration with Missoni, the Jason Wu for Target collection is expected to sell out quickly as the discounted retailer has become notorious for it’s short supply of collaborated pieces.
The collection prices range from $19.99 to $59.99 for apparel and $19.99 to $49.99 for handbags and scarves. Running for approximately one month, the collection will be available till March 6 at stores and online. The clothes are dainty but very smart. Inspired by the idea of an American girl in Paris, the pieces incorporate organic prints and an elegant color palette. Dresses are flirty with a playful disposition.
Utilitarian footwear has been trending for sometime now. Brands like Carhart for example, have experienced, in more recent times an instituted sort of credence in the fashion realm.
LL Bean, otherwise known as the brand name of Maine and all things East Coast, are running on the same gamut and their Bean Boots are no exception. We adore these duck boots with rubber soles and leather uppers. They’re unisex but retain a sense of ruggedness and a stylish carelessness too. They’re perfect for boys, girls, men, and women of all ages, styles, and tastes.
We’ve paired the versatile boot with pieces for both genders and the result is fashionably fluent across the sexes.
We absolutely adore this painted snakeskin peep toe bootie with a back zip. It’s the perfect mix of audacious and chic, all the while retaining unique x-factor.
Tabitha Simmons, the British style maven who was recently recognized in November last year at the British Fashion Awards, is the creative force behind such a work of art.
Simmons picked up the “Emerging Talent” award and has been for sometime now, on everyone’s shoes and accessories radar. We know this work of art isn’t chump change. It retails at Barneys for $1,395. Yet for an award-winning result, pair with items that are more affordable and everyday, like these contrasting t-shirt and black trousers from Zara.
The pumpkins are way past rotten at this point. Moreover, if you still have your tree up, you’ve got probably a week or two tops before everybody will note your obsession with the past and you’ll be pegged as a recluse.
As the calendar somberly reminds us, the holiday season is over. Nonetheless, it is not quite spring yet. And while color is always a cheerful injection that serves as a substitute for warmer temperatures, there is a utilitarianism that comes with celebrating the somberness that is winter.
If there’s a general prescription I always tell my clients it is that black and grey look good on everyone, regardless of age, size, gender and skin tone. Below are pieces that embody the simplicity and beauty that such simple colors behold.
1) Shiny Grey Leggings: These are great, versatile and keep you warm. Vogue’s latest prescription on sparkling embellishment is right on the money and these do just that.
2) Black Leather Jacket: Invest in a good leather jacket that you know you’ll keep for a while and love. It will love you back. We promise. Just like a puppy but not quite.
3) Grey Sweater Dresses: These are still in and there are so many creative takes on them available on the market. James Perse mastered the art of this with the Funnel Neck Dress. It is casual, comfortable and sexy. It can be dressed up or down, a great versatile piece to have in your wardrobe.
4) Good Boots: In a neutral color like this sand, these will give you lots of good mileage with their high versatility and stylishness. Worth the investment, this pair is by Isabel Marant and it’s called the Dick Boot.
It is matter of fact that the turtleneck is back. However, thankfully, the turned-over collar on this piece unique piece of winter wear has shed a lot of weight, reworked its personality, and is more than ready to rewrite its definition in our sartorial lexicon. Like ugly Christmas sweaters and pleats, turtlenecks have spent much of their time defining eras much of us like to forget. Their occurrences seemed present only on those who were fashionably inept or well, just too old or out of it to care. This resurgence nonetheless, is a genius mix of reinterpretation and refurbishing. The result is luxurious and tight-knit, breaking the grid of your ensemble, however you put it together.
Below are some of the new fangled ways in which the turtleneck is making some great impressions:
1) Sharp, defined and refined. Enough said.
2) With a suit or even just a blazer, a turtleneck can put the shirt to rest and actually, give it a run for its money. This pairing is perfectly suitable for the office and a night out on the town, having a drink with friends.
3) For a twist, consider throwing a vest over a turtleneck and your favorite pair of jeans.
4) Layered with a cardigan, color, warmth and shape present much visual interest to entertain.
5) The most romantic and prized is layering a turtleneck with a trench. The look is almost always flawless, reminiscent of a scene from a movie, only it’s real and you’re the hero of your own story.
Images courtesy of GQ
While many argue that it’s exceptionally difficult to shop for women due to the hardship involved with the navigating of sizes and unusually discerning tastes, the truth is quite the opposite. There are so many great finds out there that are bound to please all different types of women this season. Just keep the gifting limited to everything but the clothes. That’s a general good rule of thumb to follow, regardless of the gender you’re shopping for.
Below are 5 great finds to gift the woman in your life:
1) These are an amazing pair of shoes! They are smart enough to wear in the office but also inject enough pizzazz to any weekend ensemble. Made of fine calf hair, they are inspired by men’s dress slippers but are still very lady like. In animal print they speak of a woman who knows a thing or two about fun prints. Meaw!
$275 www.jcrew.com
2) Girls love a good accessory, especially when it is made of leather and is in this warm and fun color. This pouch is perfect for a night out in the city and it’s slightly broken in from the get go, bringing forth the joy of a worn-item instantly!
3) Eva Jeanbart-Lorenzotti continues to be one of the most stylish women out there. The tastemaker, who launched Vivre back in the 90’s, still curates some of the best in luxuriously unique items online, for both men and women. This Bling Scarf by Glamourpuss NYC is no exception. It borrows inspiration from artifact bangles and belly-dancing garb and doubles as a neck or hip accessory.
$135 www.vivre.com
4) There is something about the holidays that lends it self to sparkles. Perhaps this comes from a decorated tree, the idea of a floating snowflake or two, and all the bells and whistles that define the holiday season. This bracelet from Banana Republic does exactly that, all the while retaining a sense of versatility, allowing this to be a piece one could don all year round.
$39.50 www.bananarepublic.com
5) Gaga fan or not, this is one adorable teacup! From the recently launched Gaga’s Workshop at Barneys, this piece isn’t exclusively for the tea drinker! It definitely lends itself to the heritage of glorified Missoni stripes, geometrics and their kaleidoscope of colors.
$65 www.barneys.com
FIVE FINDS: HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS FOR MEN
It’s the season for holiday shopping again! Like a recurring déjà vu, figuring out what to get for friends and loved ones always seems like such an arduous task. Truth be told, part of the problem is obsessing too much about the gift itself. At the end of the day, it’s truly the thought that counts. Don’t you just love clichés? Nonetheless, if this were true you wouldn’t be reading this anyway and would probably be busy buying star names at the International Star Registry instead.
Below are 5 great finds to gift a friend, loved one, or, yourself!
1) There are many amazing things going for these shoes. First, and foremost, for every pair you buy, Tom’s will donate a pair on your behalf. That’s like giving someone else a gift for free! Second, in buffalo plaid they scream winter wonderland like no other. But more importantly, thanks to the ironic propensities of the hipster movement, plaid isn’t going anywhere and so it’s hardly an exclusively seasonal item. Finally, the extreme comfort of these is that they’re comfortable enough to double up as house slippers.
$54 www.toms.com
2) Sweaters? As a holiday gift? Ground breaking! We know. Well, it’s definitely much more suitable than gifting trousers. Plus, Top Man really nailed it with this one. This Charcoal Pattern Sweater employs the right ratio of holiday spirit and functional cool. The colors are exceptionally fun and pair really well with almost anything.
$80 www.topman.com
3) This is an item that is full of cheer! Having said that, don’t get this for the guy who owns a lot of Patagonia stuff, or the guy who’s so into things of an ethnic look that they own a poncho and a bag with indigenous patterns on it. Regardless, such items, when employed sparingly, can festively bring a touch of color and texture to any ensemble.
4) If you are serious about accessories, you know they’re actually worth the splurge. This classic bowtie by Rag & Bone is a both an elegant and simple gift. It’s especially suitable for one who doesn’t own a bowtie, bringing forth an opportunity to up the ante on the dandy factor. But most importantly, this is a perfect supplement to anyone’s formal miscellany.
$105 www.barneys.com
5) Everybody love’s Target! They’re the pioneers of bringing affordable, good design for all, a mantra that has become almost standard across the board. Timex is also another brand worth loving just as much. Their collaboration with J.Crew in recent years has brought forth an indubitable respect for a solid, American brand that is affordable and stylish. At $35, this is a great, stylish gift.
$34.99 www.target.com
Whether you’re looking for something that won’t break the bank, simply on a budget, or perhaps exchanging gifts at the office holiday party, we’ve selected some really understated but great gifts that are bound to please everyone, regardless of age, taste and background.
1) This makes for a fabulous stocking stuffer. In fact, anything by Santa Maria Novella does! This isn’t your average soap. It is made with whole milk, which will coddle and soften, dry and razor burned skin. Triple milled, this little guy takes soap to a whole new level. Finally, this bar actually lasts longer than the average because it is hand pressed.
$16 www.lafcony.com
2) Yes, candles aren’t groundbreaking, but if you live in a place like New York and space is always an issue, you’ll always find that consumable gifts are always more than welcomed. Further, the fact that these are compact and available in all letters is just an added personal touch.
Hey, it’s not like getting a mug with a letter on it…
$10 www.westelm.com
3) Everybody should use eye cream. Especially men. And with a relatively macho looking package, who wouldn’t want to slap some of this good stuff on their sensitive eye area? At twelve bucks a pop, the folks at Anthony, the experts in male grooming, have managed to create a really effective and affordable product at the same time.
$12 www.amazon.com
4) Yes, you can doodle on smart phones these days, amongst many other things, and we are certain that everyone you know owns one of some kind at this point. However, because of that, we have become a nation who is charmed by anything handwritten. These notebooks are elegant and unique. Plus, they look really cool, come in a 3 pack, and have some really nice paper in them.
$14.50 www.jcrew.com
5) The MoMa Design Store makes some really neat products. And these Finger Print designer cufflinks are no exception, especially at this price point. Any guy would appreciate this quirky, but stylish set.
