Women
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
If you have not heard of Patrick Cox, he will probably be on your radar very soon, Spring 2012 soon, that is. The Canadian-British designer who is highly distinguished for his use of unique materials and juxtaposition of the avant-garde and traditional is returning to the limelight with a footwear collection by Italian shoe giant Geox.
Elton John recently donned shoes from the new line, a beautiful gold pair of metallic brogues. And while such a description is befitting of Elton John’s flamboyance, there is something really exciting happening here in the men’s footwear department. Flashy or artifact shoes have always seemed limited to women’s footwear, where novelty and the brash are highly coveted. However, that sort of philosophy is no longer limited to woman’s footwear. Today’s fashion-forward male has an appreciation for the non-traditional. The most successful and striking element that exists in Cox’s designs is an equation that is sum of the creative and practical. While the collection is definitely exhibit worthy it is also, at the end of the day, a shoe that you walk and kick around with.
Geox is a great example of a brand that brings forth a fusion of technology and fashion. With its research and development offices headed in Italy, the company has been for a while now, dedicated to the development of the best affordable footwear available on the market.
Patrick Cox’s collection will have 18 styles for men and 20 for women and will debut during Spring-Summer of 2012. Cox’s contract with Geox will run for three years.
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.
The pop star-turned-designer is finally starting to showcase her work like she is an acknowledged designer. Instead of creating pieces that seemed too classic and beautiful with no regard to a concrete story or point of view, Beckham’s latest is heavily influenced by the current sportswear trend that has been prevalent in New York this fall.
There is, of course, still a lot of impeccable tailoring. But there is a shift. A rounded anorak made of luxurious fabric for example, speaks to the change in perspective Beckham is embracing. There is play with dimension and depth and things are not as surgically form fitting as they had been in season’s past. There were caps made of leather and dress straps that were reminiscent of airline seat belts. These were harnessed with beautiful hourglass shaped gowns that appeared almost lacquered over the models’ bodies. Additionally, there were some really pretty shift dresses that added bounce and whimsy to the whole collection.
Attention to detail. That’s what good grooming is all about. In this podcast David shares his top-down approach to ensure that your grooming regime is thorough and complete from head to toe.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Ladies, it doesn’t require a whole lot of effort to easily transition from day to night. With the holiday season in full swing and parties happening every night, be sure that you don’t miss out on the fun just because you feel the need to trek all the way home to change. Mostly likely, when you get there you’re not going to want to come back out.
A lesson can be learned from Diane, who shared with me her personal approach for going from work to an evening cocktail party. With Diane as my main source of inspiration, I’ve developed five easy tips for making the transition from day to night simple and painless, just as Diane did.
- The Plan – Be strategic and have a plan. Think about what you want to wear in the evening, and then add or subtract accessories and layers accordingly. Remember, the more layers you have and the less skin you show during the day, the more professional you will appear.
- Accessories – Wear simple jewelry to work, and pack your evening jewelry in a small jewelry bag. Don’t pack a jewelry box, as that only adds weight and bulk to the purse or bag you’ll be carrying. As evening accessories, I recommend dangling earrings, a diamond tennis bracelet, a statement necklace, and a jewel tone ring. Remember, you want to sparkle. Optionally, you may remove your glasses if you have contact lenses.
- Layers – During the day wear a cardigan or blazer with a scarf for a more professional look. In the evening, you’ll discard the top layer and remove the scarf to reveal shorter or no sleeves for a sexier appearance.
- Shoes – Given the cold and often wet outdoor weather, if you’re wearing a skirt or dress then opt for a knee length boot during the day for added warmth. Pack a pair of light weight heels in your purse that you can slip into in the evening.
- Make-up - Keep your make-up fresh, light and nude during the day, and in the evening go heavier on the blush, add smoke to the eyes, and opt for a deeper shade of lipstick.
As you can see from the pictures below, Diane nailed the approach. Job well done Diane!
Day Look
Evening Look
