Wardrobe
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.
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
Building from the ancestry of the iconic fashion house, Versace’s collaboration with H&M is set to be an exhibition of Technicolor splendor and bold dynamism. Hitting stores on November 19th, the classic Greek key will be found on scarves, beanies and other accessories. Notably, it will be studded in gold on black tees and leather.
Following Target’s successful stint with Missoni, the Versace collection is affordable for Versace, but pricey for H&M (some dresses will run you well above $200). Regardless, this is set to be a sartorial milestone marked collectively for men and women’s wear, and also the home. The collaboration is the first for H&M, which includes a small collection of decorative pillows and interior accents.
Dresses dominate the women’s collection, bringing forth an emphasis on archival Versace. Color, pattern and daring cuts are the recurring themes of this collaboration. That said, a black silk crepe dress with Grecian button echoes Versace’s nineties louche with simplicity and grace.
The menswear collection is focused on sharp tailoring and the prevalent Versace notion of the loud and bold. Nonetheless, sophistication is maintained with fine details and chic delivery, notably, the gold corner tips that accentuate the shirts’ collar points. Shirt makers will be sure to pick up on this detailing trend. Duly noted is a pair of hot pink leather lace ups. These could make quite the dashing statement with a black suit.
Fashion critics have been stating almost incessantly that Simon Spurr is the menswear designer to watch out for.
After working with Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein in seasons past, he has consulted for Tommy Hilfiger’s Spring 2012 collection. Simultaneously, his seventh collection, debuting under his moniker, has continued to maintain the successful momentum his own past collections have created.
Spurr has proven himself, time and time again, an adherent of classic British sensibilities. However, he is not as seasoned or playful as someone like Paul Smith. Nonetheless, his collections have consistently proven that he possesses a strong fashion perspective, particularly in tailoring.
His jackets, shirts and suits referred to the heritage of the high-end men’s tailoring one would associate with Savile Row. Yet everything was finessed with a young point of view. Spurr’s 2012 spring palette constituted a canvas of mostly petrol, grays, white and pops of grey and lavender. However, black and brown punctuated pieces of outerwear strikingly. Jackets and blazers with leather sleeves and brown piping were unusually successful. Quilted leather was rendered stylish. Striped zigzagged patterns were applied on knits and even on some jackets too.
