British designers Marcus Wainwright and David Neville like to use men’s tailoring in their women’s collections, and this spring is no exception. The latest collection includes meticulous tailoring in blazers and coats, but also plenty of comfortable, slouchy pieces, and lots of layers.
Let’s start with the Rag & Bone Waterfront Jacket. Made from distressed leather, it has a notched collar and off-center zipper with zip pockets at the bust and waist. it also features a double-buckle closure belt and logo studs on the belt loop. Perfect for those cool spring days.
The jacket would go great with the Rag & Bone Vivo Scarf. It’s a heathered knit made from Italian yarn (50% baby alpaca / 50% silk) and features asymmetrical ends and ribbed edges. It measures 2.5 feet wide by 7 feet long. What luxury!
The fedora is still going strong for spring, and the Rag & Bone Liberty Fedora is the perfect example. It’s a handcrafted straw fedora with a chambray band and a 1 inch brim.
The Rag & Bone Venus dress is a color block jersey mini with a wide neck and back zipper. The left arm opening features ruching. It has long raglan sleeves and topstitching details. It measures 30 inches from the shoulder.
The Rag & Bone Corset Dress is made of silk and has a sweetheart neckline and contrasting jersey trim at the sides and bust with seam and pleats at the waist. In spring-perfect navy blue, it has slant hip pockets and a back zipper. It measures 22 inches long from the center of the back.
With both dresses and the other items here, you have the makings of a versatile and beautiful spring wardrobe!
One of this season’s hottest trends is utility chic. Think slim cargo pants, fitted work shirts, and leather messenger bags in shades of olive, khaki and gray. On your feet metallic sandals are the perfect complement to a utility chic ensemble. Whether you are a high-heeled girl or prefer to wear pretty flats, there are many options for metallic shoes this spring. We’ve rounded up our favorite for you to browse. It’s time to “forward march” into springtime dressing!
A gladiator is the perfect complement to this season’s skinny cargo pant. A flat sandal like Vince Camuto’s Bach (upper left, $119.95 – this and all shoes from Shoebuy.com). This fashion forward style has a covered ankle and oval gunmetal grey buckle detail. A statement making sandal, the Jessica Simpson Koolia (upper right, $88.95) features a stacked platform heel with wide gold metallic straps. Up the front is a zip closure with stud detail, peep toe and tapered heel. A gladiator is on this season’s must-buy list. The BCBGirls “Peter” (bottom left, $55.45) is an affordable and stylish gold metallic gladiator sandal. It is accented with coins and has an adjustable ankle strap. Another style from Jessica Simpson is the “Scilla” which features a high heel and pewter distressed suede metallic finish (right, $73.95). This ankle strap design includes a tie lace at front and wide banded straps.
Floral prints are always a welcome treat after the cold and slush of late winter, and this spring they’re very prominent. Here are a few floral ideas to get you thinking about the warm weather to come.
A bright floral dress is the perfect way to welcome springtime. This bright pink D&G Floral Print Stretch Cotton Dress is made in a cotton / elastane blend that has the comfort of cotton, plus a little “give” to move with you. It has an inset waist and a long zipper in back, so it’s form fitting without being tight. It would be perfect to wear to a spring wedding!
Where there are flowers there are often butterflies, and this adorable bracelet by Juicy Couture is the perfect spring accessory. It features a logo-stamped butterfly charm painted with a floral print. The bracelet itself is chunky chain link with a toggle closure. Great with the floral dress mentioned above or with jeans.
For a date with your sweetheart of a drive in the country, this Cardigan Jacket & Seamed Floral-Print Mini Skirt is just right. The cardigan is denim with gathered navy trim in satin and a shawl collar. A simple heather-gray tank is just right underneath. The skirt is a mostly blue floral print in a straight “pencil” style with banded waste.
These 7 For All Mankind “Roxanne”destroyed jeans have a floral print that shows up behind the distressing on these jeans for a casual, playful feel. These would be perfect with a fitted pink tee or a lacy white blouse.
Here’s a luxurious floral scarf made in a 50-50 wool-silk blend. It’s very soft, bright blue with a white floral print. It would make the perfect “belt” for the jeans mentioned above, or worn around the neck to set off a classic white tee.
With this pretty polyurethane floral printed wallet by Diesel, you’ll be reminded of spring every time you open your handbag. It has an all-over floral print, fold-over front, and several inner card pockets as well as a zip pocket for change.
Who says everyone can’t look great in green for St. Patty’s Day? Here are some ideas that will have you holiday perfect and your friends green with envy.
First, these Pour La Victoire Ted Stud Rubber Boots are the perfect rain boots for spring. They feature a logo tag and studs. There is a buckled strap at the top and a 3/4 inch heel with lug sole. The deep green is neutral enough to go with everything.
Nobody would dare pinch you if you show them this great men’s rubber watch by Michael Kors. It’s oversized, water resistant, and has a stainless steel link band with a hinged snap closure. The watch face is 1.75 inches wide.
Here’s a sage green Alexander Wang “Donna” Hobo Style shoulder bag for spring that will blend effortlessly into your spring wardrobe. Made of distressed leather, it has two welt pockets, and four zip pockets with a wraparound zip gusset. The hardware is distressed silver, and the main compartment closes with a zipper. at 13 x 16 inches, it’s big enough to be functional too.
This T by Alexander Wang paneled tank dress is an army green neutral with ribbed banding at the scoop neckline. It also has a deep scoop back and arm openings, with side draping. Worn alone or over a tank or tee, this neutral tank dress would look great with a floral scarf, a floral-print hoodie, or with bright pink rain boots. It measures 35 inches from shoulder.
Sonia Rykiel RTW fall 2010 collection shown during Paris Fashion Week on March 7th, 2010 – featuring Nathalie and Sonia Rykiel, Anna Dello Russo, Beth Ditto, Susan Cernek and many more. Behind-the-scenes footage and exclusive interviews!
Vince Camuto was one of the founders of Nine West, and he started the Camuto Group in 2001 as a platform for his shoe and handbag designs. You’ve seen his shoes in publications like Elle, and his handbags are extremely lustworthy. Here are some favorites.
The Vince Camuto “Cut Out” Mini Flap Cross-Body Bag has long straps and is crafted from grainy leather in a bone white color. It features a flap closure, intricate cutout details, and zippered pockets inside. Small and cute, but also fierce with attitude.
If girly-girl is more your style, then you’ll like the very feminine Vince Camuto “Ruffles” Shopper. With double straps, intricate pleating and ruffles, a logo medallion and lined interior, it comes with multifunction pockets built into the inside.
Maybe you have a big event coming up, or maybe you want a glamorous clutch to go with a great outfit you bought for a special date with your sweetheart. Either way, the Vince Camuto Oblong Jeweled Clutch is perfect. Made from black leather, it has a magnetic closure, wrist strap that detaches, and beautiful jeweled details. It’s simply gorgeous.
OK, so it’s not a handbag, but it is another great accessory: the Mabel, a strong “shootie” by Vince Camuto. It has a peep-toe platform, and is made from rich leather with intricate beadwork. With a back zip and 5-inch heels, you’re certain to draw attention with these.
While we’re talking shoes, the Paula would go great with the cross-body cutout bag above. With intricate cutouts and stitchery, this shoe has a 4.7-inch covered heel and an ankle strap on a one-inch platform. Simply divine!
It may not be possible to have too many pairs of great jeans. That’s my conclusion after finding Miss Me. This is the must have jean for every girl that loves expensive designer jeans of high quality, but at an affordable high quality price that won’t break your bank. Here are some of my favorite styles.
The Miss Me Jean Glamour & Glitz Boot Cut has bead and crystal-embellished pockets and silver hardware. These are the ultimate in glamour jeans! They also have cool metallic stitching on the side seams, front pockets, and the back yoke. Made from 98% cotton, 2% Elastin, these jeans will gently hug your every curve.
For the classic look of vintage handcrafted jeans, you couldn’t do better than the Miss Me Jean Carmel Wide Pick Stitch Boot Cut. The wide pick stitch detail along the front pockets, back yoke, and side seams gives these jeans a classic beauty. They’re also detailed with slight distressing and whiskering. The pockets are decorated with large, clear crystals on each side. They’d go perfectly with a classic white blouse.
If you prefer your “glam” to be a little darker, try the Miss Me Jean V24 Gothic Glam Boot Cut. They would look perfect with a lace-detailed blouse. The flap pocket detailing has a rhinestone cross that is also embellished with studs and studded crystals. They look broken-in already with fading and whiskering on the legs.
The Miss Me Jean Deep Dark Fallen Angel Wing Boot Cut jeans were featured in the March 2010 issue of InStyle Magazine. The back pockets have off-white stitched angel wings that are embellished with crystal studs. The back pockets are also decorated with large crystal studs at the corners. The rest of the hardware is metallic, and these dark blue jeans have minor distressing and whiskering in front. Wear with a figure-hugging black cashmere turtleneck and turn heads wherever you go.
OK, I’m not going to lie: the white jean look can be difficult to pull off. Just remember that white jeans, especially beautifully embellished ones like the Miss Me Jean Snow Silver Cross Boot Cut are going to steal the attention, so you need to keep it simple up top with a plain tee or blouse, preferably in a neutral color like gray, navy, or black. These jeans are eggshell white and have silver stitching and rhinestone rivets detailing the back pockets. All the stitching is done in gray. Wear these, and you will be center of attention
Grey is making a comeback for the next few seasons, so it may be time to invest in a few pieces that will do a lot to stretch your wardrobe.
First, Desire Clothing makes a One-Side Chiffon Frill Dress that has gathers and frills up and down the left side, with the right side fitted close. It has a loop button back and is approximately 92 cm (36 inches) long from the shoulder.
A pair of rockin’ grey heels like this decadent pair from DV by Dolce Vita have a rounded toe post, leather lining, sole, and construction, and a 5.5 inch heel on a 1.5 inch platform.
For evenings or dressy occasions, TopShop has this Paisley Lace Longline Bralet in silvery grey. It fastens in front and has a mesh back. Perfect worn with the top edges peeking out of a low-cut evening jacket.
Speaking of evening jackets, Marithe Francois Girbaud makes a Grey-Green Open Front Crease Jacket with tonal pinstripes, and single button fastening cuffs. There are two small patch pockets, and a frilled hem. The ruched collar has a drawstring, and the jacket ties shut with adjustable double straps to the back for accenting the waist.
Need a dressy dress that’s both feminine and unexpected? Kirrily Johnston makes a Vagabond Drape Dress in grey with a draped Grecian look and a racer back trimmed in gold leather. Gorgeous and slightly edgy.
A grey jacket is just the thing for topping off numerous work outfits, and this Grey Fluid Chambray Jacket by Vivienne Westwood Red Label is perfect. It is fitted with a low neckline and three buttons to visually elongate your figure.
A snowy and cold New York Fashion Week is over, and the designs presented there were all the more welcome for looking to be warm. Collections were, for the most part, fairly restrained in color and cut. Shoes were perhaps the most “out there” accessories, with a few medieval looking spike studded shoes and gladiator-bondage style sandals with torturous heel heights.
As for handbags, Marc Jacobs sent two down the runway that were drool-worthy. A chain handle leather bag in gray and white was the ultimate in city sophistication. Coco Chanel would have been proud. Jacobs also presented a gray crocodile skinned structured bag with a short, adjustable leather handle that prompted a lot of uptown fashion editors and a few stars to think, “Ooh! Gimme!”
But while the collections weren’t as bizarre as they sometimes can be, there were some pieces that did step outside the safe fashion zone. One example was the awesomely pieced-together Joseph Altuzarra black leather dress that some described as straight out of The Nightmare Before Christmas. Altuzarra also presented a classic black swing trench coat that would have been gorgeous atop the leather zipper dress, but which would, come to think of it, look gorgeous atop a burlap sack. It was amazing.
Rag & Bone came out with something that many thought wasn’t possible: sophisticated hooded ponchos. The classic wool fabrics and the color palette of mixed grays gave them a sophistication that you just don’t think about when you think of the word “poncho.” For evening, Jason Wu presented an amazing strapless tulle cocktail dress. What was so special about the dress was that underneath the draped and gathered tulle was an entire layer of feathers.
Not all the shoes seen on the runways were outrageous. Derek Lam showed a pair of black leather boots with roll-down tops that were gorgeous, and for straight-up glamour, the ruffled, tassled platform suede shoes by 3.1 Phillip Lim couldn’t be beat. Fashion week may be over, but it just means we’re that much closer to actually getting to wear some of the awesome styles showcased there.
Spring is just around the corner and it’s almost time to ditch the parka, snow boots and mittens and slip into something a little bit sexier. Let Diesel help you with the transition! Destroyed, skinny jeans are all the rage and Diesel is the place to get them. Here are just a few styles that will not only make you feel sexier but are bound to rope in that summer fling you’ve been thinking about all winter long.
Matic 8B3 – $250
The Matic is a super slim, skinny fit. It features a low waist for a super, sexy look and has a back design with a curved yoke and small back pockets to accentuate the buttocks. The 8B3 wash takes original denim and treats and warps it to create a distressed, worn-in look.
Livy 8A9 – $220
The Livy is a super slim, skinny fit with a medium rise and is an update of Diesel’s first slim fits, the Liv. The dart detail on the back allows the denim to be more form fitting to the body. The 8A9 wash is a bleach treated stretch denim with a hole in the left knee.
Couture in the City does not claim credit for any images featured on this site, unless otherwise noted. All visual content, video's and images, are copyright to it's respectful owners. If you own rights to any of the featured images and do not wish it to appear here, please contact me for removal.
