Fashion Trends

As another summer simmers down in the city, tourists hang on to the last days of vacation and NYU freshmen invade Washington Square Park once again. Stores are getting ready for the new season and changing their displays — making us even less able to deal with last week’s heat wave — but it’s never too soon to get your wardrobe ready for the next season.

To do it stress free, follow these steps: look at your life, understand your “fashion needs,”  asses what you have, create the looks, and then buy what you are missing.

When it comes to fashion looks, and probably anything else in life, there are innovators and there are imitators. While I use some creativity in putting together an outfit, I cannot say that I am an innovator without seriously stretching the truth. I watch the fashion shows, and most of the time have an idea of what the designer wants to say, but by the end of the 20th show, I have no idea what trends are going to be popular next season or what will make me look “in” or “out.” Thanks to my ignorance, there are buyers out there who will never lose their jobs.

What better place to get ideas about popular trends than the windows of the “Big Six” which are: Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys, Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus and Macy’s.

I checked out the windows to see how they were prepping for fall. Here are my findings.

Saks Fifth Avenue

Knitwear: fishermans’ cable, mixed media and layering

DVF: bold color and strong femininity

Bergdorf Goodman

Print, Tweed, Leather, Rich Color, Peplum

Barney’s

No clear direction, emphasis on jewelry, designer Derek Lam.

Neiman Marcus

Lists but not on the front page numerous trends: Digital Prints, Mixed Greens, Borrowed from the Boys, The Jacket, The Leather Leg, The Smoking Sleeper, Navy, The Statement Bag, Brooches.

Macy’s

Interesting emphasis on home produce and Saturday sales. No mention of upcoming fall fashion trends.

Bloomingdale’s

The only references to trends are for current summer ones, including color, print, and white cropped bottoms.

And that’s what we have so far. Not everyone seems fully prepared for fall, including the big six stores mentioned above.

That’s if for today folks. I’ll keep you posted on what’s worth shopping for in the city.

By Wendy Rose Gould

Resort wear has long confused fashion mavens and novices alike. What exactly is this “fifth season” of clothing? Why do designers take the time to create a resort wear collection in the first place? Do people actually buy from these collections? And if so, do they really wear said garments to a resort?

Curious (naturally), The Stylish City grabbed a high fashion shovel and partook in bit of digging to answer those very questions. Below you’ll find a brief history of resort wear along with a few resort wear 2013 trends we’re loving.

Valentino Resort 2013. Photo by Giovanni Giannoni WWD.com

Norma Kamali Resort 2013. Photo by George Chinsee WWD.com

What is Resort Wear?

While the term seems pretty self-explanatory, resort wear is more than just clothing you wear to some fancy schmancy resort. It’s essentially a year-round “season” created for people going on vacation. It’s sometimes referred to as cruise wear or tropical wear.

The collections comprise a full scale of options, from casual walking shorts and caftans to evening gowns and light dinner jackets. Many designers utilize breathable, luggage-friendly materials for their collections. Think cotton, silk, microfiber, poplin and denim.

Resort wear is different from standard seasonal collections in the sense that it makes a distinct effort to fuse functionality with fashion. In short: the goal of resort wear is to make you look good while feeling great despite warmer temps.

Why Do Designers Create a Resort Wear Collection?

You’d think designers had enough on their plate with spring, summer, fall and winter, but many choose to make an additional resort wear collection. Why? Because the stuff is extremely profitable. Think about it. People vacation year round and are willing to spend extra money to look good in all those photographs that’ll be had.

Who Creates Resort Wear?

Designers and design houses such as Banana Republic, Tommy Bahama and J. Crew pioneered the whole resort wear fad, but many others have continued the trend. Almost all major designers showcase resort wear collections including Michael Kors, DVF, Prada, Chanel, Versace, Alexander Wang, Givenchy, Giorgio Armani and Valentino.

Who Buys Resort Wear?

Initially, resort wear was marketed to affluent shoppers who moseyed around upscale department stores. Today, resort wear is worn by people of all ages and incomes.

Ferragamo Resort 2013. Photo by Dominique Maitre WWD.com

Roberto Cavalli Resort 2013. Photo by Giovanna Pavesi WWD.com

Chanel Resort 2013, Photo by Giovanni Giannoni WWD.com

Valentino Cruise 2013 WWD.com

Three Resort Wear 2013 Trends We Adore:

Natural Nudes: There’s something about natural hues, especially when layered on top of each other, that whispers, “sophistication.” Designers such as Alexander Wang, Dior, Emporio Armani and Calvin Klein utilized creamy whites, soft browns, pale pinks and muted grays in their 2013 collections.

Flashy Colors: The opposite side of the color spectrum — flashy color pops — are also on trend for 2013 resort wear. Think deep purple paired with burnt orange, color blocked primaries and monochromatic reds, greens and pinks. Nanette Lepore, Marchesa, DKNY and Erin Fetherston made use of these colors in their collections.

 Native/Tribal Prints: It seems that native and tribal prints are never out of style. Probably because there’s a million different heritages to pull from. Resort wear 2013 is all about African, Navajo and Egyptian inspired prints. Alice by Temperly, BCBG Max Azria and Mara Hoffman all showcased the native/tribal trend in their collections.

By Wendy Rose Gould

Summer means ice cream cones, beachside beverages and giant sun hats. The hottest season of the year also means that chapel bells are a-ringing and that lovers are getting hitched. Chances are you’ve got at least one wedding to attend this year, if not several, so here’s a guide we’ve put together that’ll help you find on-trend, affordable apparel that’s wedding approved.

Before we begin though, a refresher on what you should never, ever, under any circumstance (unless specifically requested by the bride herself), wear to a wedding: white or black (lest you blend in with the bridal party), loads of makeup, promiscuous clothing, jeans and/or t-shirt and anything that draws unnecessary attention to yourself. This day is all about the bride and groom and you should present yourself as a well-polished attendee.

Summer Dresses

A sweet summer dress is a major do at pretty much every wedding. This season, pastels and primaries are on trend, as are metallics and color blocked pieces. If you want to wear a print, stick with something subtle, such as a vintage-inspired floral, monotone animal print or even a retro chevron. The high-low dress (high in front, long in back) and dresses that hit just above the knee are super hot this summer.

Nude Fishnets

Skip the pantyhose, ladies. Even if Kate Middleton is wearing them like a rockstar, that doesn’t make up for how uncomfortable they are (especially in the dead of summer). Let those pretty legs breath — and look amazing — with nude fishnets, instead. You can find them just about everywhere and almost always for under $10.

Jackets

If you want to cover your arms, consider a fitted blazer over your summer dress.

Statement Jewelry

A statement necklace complements a strapless or sleeveless dress quite nicely. If you’re unsure about pairing colors, opt for something metallic. A bauble ring or hair piece can also serve as the finishing touch for your ensemble. Choose only one or two accessories. TopShop, The Outnet, ASOS, Target, Forever 21 and Zara all have look-at-me statement pieces that won’t break the bank.

MADE Rings &
Kenneth Jay Lane
bracelet

Bijoux
Swarovski earrings

Lanvin
Swarovski earrings

Clutch

A giant handbag has no place at a wedding. Say sayonara to your go-to bag (if only for the day) and opt for something more refined and streamlined that matches your dress. Hard shell, vintage-inspired clutches are on trend. Envelope clutches (either small or oversized) are also winners. When it doubt, go with something neutral, gold or silver toned.

Alexander McQueen
leather clutch

Alexander McQueen
leather clutch

By Wendy Rose Gould

Here in the grand ol’ USA, we take for granted our overwhelming supply of thick fashion glossies, myriad department stores and loads of Internet sites that’ll ship to any state. Literally, whether you’re in grade school or nearing your 90s, there’s a magazine catered specifically to you. We’re also lucky to have hundreds of stores and fashion venues to peruse at our leisure. From Saks to Bergdorf’s to entire streets lined with drool-worthy shops (hello Rodeo Drive and Fifth Avenue) and everything in between, we Americans kind of have it made.

That’s not to say, of course, that other countries don’t have their own versions of the same. Perhaps it’s not as ample a supply when compared to the land of red, white and blue, but non-yankees certainly aren’t left to dry.

Take Romania, for example, where The Stylish City’s founder, Mirela, grew up. She says that Romanians didn’t exactly have access to Condé Nast Magazine or luxury department stores, but she does looks back fondly on Burda, a magazine that continues serving as a source of clothing inspiration even today. Mirela says that she and her peers, mothers, grandmothers and inexpensive corner tailors would sew outfits from the patterns provided in Burda. It just goes to show how important creativity is in the fashion world.

As mentioned, Burda magazine is still thriving today. It even has a website. Their recent April issue showcased summer styles and provided patterns for menswear along with others. You can check them out here.

If you’re not a US native or currently living abroad, we’d love to hear what kinds of fashion influences you have today and/or had growing up. Did you have to get creative when it came to fashion? Did you ever sew your own clothes from purchased patterns or self-created patterns? If so, we’d love to hear about it or even catch a glimpse of your handy work.

Also, check out some of the awesome seamstresses and pattern-makers they highlight at the end of the article. All are members of the Burda magazine network.

By Wendy Rose Gould