Fashion Trends

Autumn temperatures are finicky, especially in the unpredictable, global-warming-affected world we live in today. Some days it’s colder than Dante’s inner circle of Hell, other days it’s warm enough to don a spaghetti tank and short shorts. And — this is especially the case during fall — most days start out very cool, blossom into perfectly temperate afternoons and then get cool again in the evenings. Knowing how to layer is a skill every fashion forward femme should understand and be able to apply.

While layering has a tendency to make you look casual, it doesn’t always have to go that way. For example, for a business professional look, wear a fitted blazer over a camisole or tank with a crisp, tailored pant and classic closed-toe pump.

The same look makes an easy, low-key afternoon ensemble when paired with shorts instead of the pants. If you’re aiming for a “bonfire chic”-esque vibe, try a pair of skinny jeans, your cutest flats and a long sleeve tee under a vest and eternal scarf. This look works great for weekend errand running and casual get-togethers. If you want to go grungier, try a similar look with distressed booties.

Best Layering Items to Own

If you want to bolster your wardrobe this season, consider adding the following layering essentials to your current collection of garments and accessories.

Theodora & Callum Wearable Art ’70s Stripe Infinity Scarf $165	Scarf You’ll want an eternal scarf/snood (circular with no end), a chunky cable knit scarf and a lighter scarf. Between these three you won’t need anything else.
Burberry Mega Check Linen Scarf $375 Charlotte & Lisa Center Fur Scarf $275
Burberry Brit Laxey Double Breasted Leather Trim Blazer $750	Blazer Invest in a high quality, well-fitted blazer. Finding the right blazer is like finding the perfect wedding dress — don’t stop looking until you find it and reserve the right to be extremely picky. The better it fits, the more fabulous you’ll look.
Maximilian 28″ Tibetan Lamb Vest $795	Vest A vest goes well over a lot of items. Consider a fur-lined vest for maximum comfort and chic-ness.
Vince Boat Neck Tee $125	Sheer Long Sleeved Tee Get one in every color (or at least the neutrals: black, brown, red and white). Go for sheer, too. Why? It’s easier to layer items over it and, if you get hot and need to remove other layers, you’ll be able to cool down quickly.
Frye “Melissa” Riding Boots $388	Boots Depending on the length of your legs, choose either a mid-calf, knee-high or thigh-high boot. The longer your legs are, the higher you can take your boot. They look great over skinny jeans, tights and leggings.
Skinny Jeans Skinny jeans look great with a million types of shoes (flats, pumps, boots, stilettos) and no — you don’t have to be a size 6 to wear them. If you’re feeling adventurous, try a colored denim in one of the seasons hottest colors.
Citizens of Humanity “Thompson” Cropped Skinny Jeans $176 AG Adriano Goldschmied “Luscious” Sateen Stilt Pants $139

By Wendy Rose Gould

Any fashion maven in her right mind knows that burgundy is in for fall and that pastels are definitely out. But what about the unmentionables that go underneath it all? Believe it or not, lingerie trends are a thing, mostly inspired by popular culture, past decades and even the economy.

For example, 2012 lingerie trends include retro garments influenced by TV shows like Mad Men; retro-futuristic and sci-fi pieces inspired by movies such as The Hunger Games; simple, streamlined lingerie appropriate for a hurting economy;  and even sexy silhouettes reminiscent of the Victorian era.

We wondered, though, if many Jane’s put a conscious effort into following these ever changing lingerie trends. We mean, really. Are there women out there who actually buy new lingerie every season just to make sure their erogenous zones are covered in today’s hottest sexy-somethings?

Sure, there’s a whole lotta fun in a shopping adventure of that variety, but when it comes down to it, that’s an expensive hobby to keep up. A sexy hobby, yes, but spending loads of cash on lingerie that won’t even stay on the body for more than a few minutes after it’s revealed seems a little…extravagant.

Instead of staying on trend in the bedroom, why not choose what’s both alluring and pertinent to your personality? Because let’s face it: any significant — or non significant — other probably cares very little about whether or not that demure teddy or bondage suit was from Big Name’s most recent fashion show. Also, when it comes to frisky bedroom escapades, feeling confident and sexy is absolutely paramount. Wearing something solely based on its trendiness would certainly defeat the goal of a self-assured bedroom showing.

This is not to knock down all those designers’ hard work, of course. We do appreciate seeing the new collections and see no harm in buying into them as long as you’re in the market for new frivolous undergarments anyway. But to follow lingerie trends every season? That just seems silly.

What’s your take on the matter? Do you follow lingerie trends? If you don’t know the answer, take a look at these 2013 trends and let us know if you were even aware of them. Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

SPRING 2013 INTIMATE TREND: DOTS

Stella McCartney
Photo By: George Chinsee

Blush
Photo By: George Chinsee

Etiquette
Photo By: George Chinsee

SPRING 2013 INTIMATE TREND : BRIGHTS

Lou Lingerie
Photo By: George Chinsee

Deborah Marquit
Photo By: George Chinsee

Soxland International
Photo By: George Chinsee

By Wendy Rose Gould
Photo credit: WWD.com

The 2012 Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week came and went as quickly as the summer months. Floral prints, pattern pops, 1920’s inspirations, and exposed skin served as a welcoming party to chillier mornings and shorter nights. It all came in the knick of time, allowing for longer parties to creep into the early morning hours as the island of Manhattan rumbled in celebration of all things fashion. The Stylish City kept up on the up and up by taking notes and keeping tabs on runway trends and societal improvements, in the eye of the blogger that is.

One major trend that has made a comfortable home in Spring Fashion is floral prints. Reinventing the standard, this year many designers strayed away from normalcy and put their own twist on the reappearing trend, such as Elie Tahari, who wow-ed with tropical flowers and palm leaves, while Nicole Miller muted her rocker glam with a touch of floral print, and Tracy Reese pleased audiences with an orange and turquoise floral jacquard clutch coat.

TRACY REESE S/S 2013

Intriguing patterns also made a loud statement at the 2012 New York Fashion Week. Designers gave their pieces personality with the appearance of, for example, Thakoon Panichgul’s lively birds, the Zack Morris-like cell phones, which dotted Suno’s pieces, and Jason Wu’s X-Ray-esque designs. Marc Jacobs took patterns to a new level, by mix and matching plaid, stripes, and neon splashes, keeping it young and hip.

THAKOON S/S 2013

MARC BY MARC JACOBS S/S 2013

JASON WU S/S 2013

Exposed skin by way of unusual cuts also made an appearance during various shows. Marc Jacobs brought back midriff exposing crop tops, while Rag & Bone utilized strategic cut outs, and Victoria Beckham featured bra-style tops. On a more conservative note, the 1920’s were brought back by Dennis Basso’s use of fringe and Phillip Lim’s proclamation that his line was inspired by the “altered views” of the 20’s Dadaists.

MARC JACOBS S/S 2013

VICTORIA BECKHAM S/S 2013

The definition of celebrity has been expanded upon, thanks to this year’s Fashion Week. Top athletes such as Ryan Lochte, Kris Humphries, Maria Sharapova, Dwayne Wade, and David Beckham took over the front rows of various fashion shows, keeping the seats warm perhaps for those celebs who took designing upon themselves this year. Katie Holmes, a front row-sitting veteran, unveiled her new line Holmes & Yang – opening to great reviews — while other fashion loving celebs Victoria Beckham, Gwen Stefanie, Whitney Port, the Olsen Twins, Nicole Richie, and Rachel Zoe, showed off their spring lines during separate showings.

Apart from the athletes, another new celebrity of sort has taken its claim on Fashion Week. The fashion blogger, or “digital publishers” as they (we) like to be referred to as has been paid extra attention to this year, claiming their seat at various shows and events. Said fashion bloggers provide their audience with a constant stream of updates on what’s going on in the tents and on the streets, in addition to constant reports on the hottest trends straight from the runway as they live Tweet from their seats. Rather than waiting to read Sunday Styles section, fashion lovers stay loyal to their favorite fashion blogs and agree with the “hot and not’s” bloggers provide them with. The Internet community has their own direct line to New York Fashion Week through these popular websites. In turn, the blogger’s audience becomes the designer’s consumer, which brands have caught on to this year. Popular fashion bloggers — excuse me “digital publishers” — are now invited to shows and receive VIP treatment, free gifts, and front row seats, in hopes they will post a good review later that evening (or right there and then). With all the attention now on the digital publisher, they even steal the spotlight on street style blogs, as they show off their fierce outfits. Watch out Wintour.

While we’ll have to wait a few more months to get our hands on the new spring trends, we’ll still have the inundation of photo snaps and reports on Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week to sift through in the interim, providing us plenty of time to see if the floral trends, exposing cut outs, and pattern pops are right for us. All thanks to the digital publisher that is.

By Caitlin Colford

About 60 years ago, high heels maxed out at around 2 inches and were as straightforward as your grandmother’s meatloaf recipe. Today, though, the footwear fashion industry is a completely different beast. We still have a fine selection of demure pumps and sexy stilettos, but designers are getting more and more creative when it comes to their shoe’s silhouette. And it’s not just rich celebrities, high society debutantes and socialites walking around town in these haute couture kicks. Everyday Janes are buying look-at-me shoes, as well.

Take designer Walter Steiger, for example. His flagship shop was opened on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Hore in Paris in 1974 and he can attest to the change. His soon-to-be released “Unicorn” heel, which stands nearly 7 inches tall and features a curved heel, is already earning oohs and ahhs from women of all socioeconomic backgrounds across the globe.

Via Spiga is another shoe brand that’s jumping — feet first — into a completely new look. Their ultimate goal is to appeal to the fashion forward femmes who want high fashion shoes at an affordable price. To do this, the long standing shoe brand has completely revamped their traditional shoe silhouette, transforming its formerly chunky heel into a more streamlined, fluid shape. It now has a more futuristic/modern feel to it and looks far less dated

This piqued interest in cool kicks has, naturally, led to crowded designer shoe floors in stores across the nation. WWD has confirmed that high fashion footwear is experiencing a serious shift, as well. Sure, big names such as Manholo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin and Jimmy Choo will long remain household names and sell easily (despite outrageous quadruple digit price tags), but up-and-coming designers are also gaining entry into the sector’s retail space. If you go out shoe shopping, you’ll notice more space devoted to shoes, renovated shoe departments and probably more women browsing.

“People are seeking out extreme fashion from footwear selections, and it only helps the excitement factor when we’re selling shoes,” Saks Fifth Avenue fashion director Elizabeth Kanfer said to WWD.

Does your shoe selection keep up with the trend? If not, it’s time to hit the sale racks, where some of these over-the-top styles often end up. Are you going to get a bargain? Only if you wear them!

By Wendy Rose Gould