APPAREL

What’s pink and white and jeweled all over? Christian Dior Resort 2010 (below, center). And we likie. While some designers thought the recession memo applied to Resort (um, it doesn’t) and draped their models in drab resort wear that hardly resembles happy vaca attire, Mr. Dior, and a few others, stuck to the classic resort brights. Because if we wanted to wear black, grey and various shades of brown, we would stay in the city thankyouverymuch.

Dior took a bite from Hillary Clinton’s pant suits and decorated his models with blazers and loose fitting trousers. Blousy silks and pink taffeta made cameos in both Dior and Armani resort collections with the latter lowering the hemlines. Loose-fitting formality ran rampant in even the subtler collections, and for the more conservative resort designers, pieces that could transcend St. Tropez prevailed. Even Pucci steared clear of his signature wild on print and opted for an alternative in varying blue hues. Celine, Sonia Rykiel, Just Cavalli, Chloe and more stuck with neutral colors but jumped on the Bermuda shorts and blazers bandwagon.

If you were looking for bells and whistles for St. Barth’s New Year’s Eve, this isn’t your year. Preview Spring 2010 before you buy, and you might just kill two birds with one, er, coconut.
   

(Armani, Chloe, Celine – Resort 2010)

Emma Dinzebach

Thanksgiving, like many holidays, means you are going to sit around and eat a lot. Even if you ran six miles in the morning, come late afternoon you will eat more than you have all week then likely join the rest of America on the couch. But it is a holiday, and while we heart sweatpants, they aren’t appropriate attire for a holiday dinner. Soooooo what …to …wear?

God bless leggings…and tights for that matter. No one wants to wear jeans on Thanksgiving. No one. So the best way to dress up your holiday outfit it with a thick pair of opaque tights or ankle-length leggings. Then layer from there.

Drop waist dress. All the rage this fall, these comfy dresses come jazzed up or dressed down. A sweater dress with a scarf might be nice for a less formal affair. Add shimmer, print and even sequins to jazz it up, especially if you aim to go out after.

Then add: Cardigans. Vests. Accessories.

Flats. For the more formal affair, a pair of decorative ballet flats. For the more casual affair, a pair of Tom’s or your go-to Tory Burch’s will do. Note: flat boots seem like a good option when you are walking out the door until you remember your grandmother makes you take off your shoes or you can’t cozy up wearing thigh high Louboutins. So leave the boots for Friday shopping, and for Turkey day, go flat.

And you have a lifetime of Thanksgivings left, so easy on the pumpkin pie. What tastes good now, won’t look good on New Year’s Eve.

Emma Dinzebach

An unseasonably warm November calls for dissected outerwear: leggings and removable layers and vests, vests, and more vests. Wool, down or faux fur the always-recurring vest is the best way to spice up your outfit and stay warm (or cool) right now.
 

Dress up more casual sweater vests with a gold skinny belt or choose black faux fur for evening. Down versions are a bit more casual, but can be dressed up with emblems and feel less outdoorsy complimenting smart button ups for a more preppy look or loose sheer and leggings for a bit more rock ‘n roll.

Vests always come back, so if you find one you love then go ahead and make the splurge. On a holiday budget? (Um, so are we.) You can find affordable options at Urban Outfitters, Top Shop and the soon-to-be ubiquitous pre and post holiday sales. No matter your style or budget, this season provides a multitude of ways to stay in-vested.Emma Dinzebach

Quite possibly the best transition from office to evening, fancy slacks are taking fall by storm. The edgy, trendy alternative to an office dress, this season’s take on last year’s Hareem pants (see also: MC Hammer) are expertly tailored, chic and glide from morning meeting to cocktail party. Fashion mavens have been spotted sporting updated drop pants everywhere from the red carpet to Sunday brunch.
   
At first glance, the pants make us look like a bit of an upside champagne bottle. But upon further inspection, I liked the alternate to traditional straight legged trousers. Drop pants add dimension, create the illusion of a smaller waist and dress up an otherwise ordinary ensemble. Pros: This season’s slack options are much more feminine than their androgynous predecessors. Cons: Unless you are a model, it takes dedication to find a pair that flatters your body.  A few tips on how to wear: Go for dark colors. Light colored drop pants might not flatter a curvy figure. Know your limits. If you think a given pair is a bit too big in the hips for your short legs, you’re probably right. Don’t mind the high waist. Its sexy, makes your waist look tiny, and helps elongate your look. (If drop pants were low rise, you would look like I Dream of Jeannie.)

To done or not to done, that is the question. Some of us will never embrace this trend and ignore it until it goes away, but those looking for a breather from the little black dress, might make the plunge. If you are on the fence, Zara, Top Shop and MNG for Mango carry varieties of reasonably priced fancy pants. Just make certain to tailor them to your body’s specifications.

Emma Dinzebach