FASHION

An element of romance accompanies times of war – love for our troops, dedication to our country, a fascination with foreign lands and lonely soldiers. The fashion industry uses this inspiration time and again as both accents and focal points in a continual resurgence of summer’s paramilitary trend.

Sporting the military trend takes too much testosterone for some women and tired khakis and repeat cargos create fatigue. To keep the look fresh, designers paired paramilitary pieces like strong shoulders, camel chinos and combat-inspired boots and sandals with more feminine pieces and exposed skin. See also: legs. Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton and DSquared² paired olive and camel toned military-inspired jackets with short skirts and dresses. The look replaces and updates the classic cardigan for breezy evenings or chilly air conditioning. For our part, we fell in love with Marc Jacobs expertly tailored coat and forest chiffon skirt and Aquilano.Rimoldi’s soldierettes in white (left). To try the look for less, check out Gilt.com’s McQ olive army blazer or the Ernie Brinie sample sale.
For footwear, all over Soho ladies are pairing the formerly intense footwear with floral dresses and feminine skirts. Elle editor Joe Zee says go ahead and rock cargo boots at the beach. To keep it light on the feet, try Rag & Bone’s beige canvas combat boot or beige strappy wedges.
Emma Dinzebach

Investing statement pieces might seem like a move reminiscent of youthful naivety, but statement pieces do have lasting power in both their inherent value and their ability to elevate the wearer’s mood and self-esteem. From Cleopatra to Van Cleef, making an impact lasts.
Statement jewelry requires an element of confidence to sport as their bold presence attracts viewers, creates conversation and makes the wearer shine. The majority of women lack the ability to command a room, but statement pieces give us an edge, a boost, a confidence lift. After all, timid women don’t wear necks full of gold, silver and turquoise. When properly chosen, a statement piece is both an investment for your jewelry box and investment for you sense of self.

What to buy? This week’s Ben-Amun promotion is a good start. Sample sales are great opportunities to try out a first time purchase. In New York, check out the W.A. Studios Sample Sale featuring statement jewelry in turquoise, semi-precious stone, pearl and more for $5-$75. Online, Gilt Group has beautiful marked down pieces from exotic jewelry from Arunashi.

Our recommendation, invest in a piece that makes you feel your best…and wear it all the time.

Emma Dinzebach

This just in from Ben-Amun’s team:

Please see the attached image of today’s “item of the day”!  This will be available until 6pm tonight (or while supplies last) at the special reduced price of $40, down from $295!  

As mentioned yesterday, your readers should go to our facebook or twitter (links below) for more info and to order this fab necklace!  

There is a fine line between retro antique and fully outdated. City women usually aren’t fans of anything that resembles anything found in a rural double-wide, but apparently designers draw inspiration anywhere. Leave it to Chanel, Dolce & Gabanna, Charles David and Marni to make an outdated folksy trend less reminiscent of your grandmother’s doilies and more suited to compliment summer’s boho chic style.

To avoid appearing frumpy or from Kentucky, pair crocheted tops, sweaters and even dresses with mile-high Dolce Vita wedges or perfect fitting James skinny jeans. Let the piece speak for itself rather than accessorizing with a crochet bag, necklace or scarf. Pay close attention to the craftsmanship and color scheme. Designers like Chanel (left) have used bright accents to give grandma-inspired sweaters and dresses a contemporary edge. Feeling weary of the full on grandma-inspiration, try a dress with crochet detailing like the sleeves or neckline on a fun Free People frock (center). For options galore, visit the retail’s queen of folksy-chic, Anthropologie. If apparel is just too much for you to stomach, opt for a crocheted bracelet or necklace (right) or fun summer handbag. You never know, it might be just the amount of old to make you feel wise.
 

Emma Dinzebach

Tribal influences pranced down the runway at Galliano and Lanvin, and not just the Paris runways. Spring’s Manoush dresses and Laurence Helle’s lovely blouses are alsp tribally inspired and making the brink of summer the perfect time to listen to the call of the wild.

From tribal punk to tribal chic, there are several ways to pull off the earthy and exotic look. Anyone can embrace their inner African Queen by accessorizing with Alexander McQueen’s Large Tribal Scarf. Pair it with a printed dress, your favorite bomber jacket or denim shorts.  If you have an extra $1,600, you might wan to consider blowing it on Louboutin’s “it” shoe of the season. The Ulona platforms have geometric shapes with thick gold straps and make you feel like a real African Queen.
For styles that won’t break the bank, American Apparel’s Afrika print dress and Top Shop’s Geo Graphic Maxi dress are affordable options and easily paired with last year’s gladiator sandals. Jonesing for authenticity? Max Osterweis spent a decade collecting fabrics in Kenya before launching his Africa-inspired line Suno. Suno’s separates are wearable art and beautifully handmade in the homeland.

   
Emma Dinzebach