The wedding season is fast approaching and brides to-be are on the search for the perfect dress, shoes and accessories. Some brides-to-be spend months searching for the perfect dress. Carrie Bradshaw’s entire wedding plan was thrown into a tailspin because of her over-the-top Vivienne Westwood dress. I was lucky – the second dress I tried on I chose and purchased on the spot. It was a “Saketini” gown made famous by San Francisco couturier, Colleen Quen. Today there are many options whether you are having a grand vineyard estate wedding in Napa Valley or a simple civil ceremony at City Hall. There are styles to suit everyonefrom the classic bride to the bohemian and fashionista alike.
Perfectly suited for a civil ceremony or glamourous penthouse affair, this fitted ivory ribbed-crepe dress is classic with a twist detail at the shoulder. The short sleeve RM by Roland Mouret Aphrodite twist-detail dress ($1,545 at Net-a-Porter) features a low back, a slim fitting skirt and split at the back. Most women either love or hate veils. If you are the type to wear a veil, Lanvin makes an exquisite glass pearl-embellished tulle veil ($1,070 at Net-a-Porter). Pricey, yes, but you can save it as a family heirloom for your daughters. The Blanche veil attaches with a silver-tone hair comb and is embellished with 100% Swarovski glass beads. Exquisite! With a the fitted and short skirt on the Mouret dress you’ll want to have a pair of very special shoes on your feet. How about these satin Christian Louboutin Miss ChaCha satin platform sling backs? They are available for $945.00 at Barneys New York. As you glidearound the dance floor or pose for photos, wouldn’t it be lovely to havethis Lanvin Silk-satin Drawstring Pochette ($770 at Net-a-Porter) on your arm? Grace your ears with a pair of Ben-Amun Crystal Framed Pearl Drop Earrings ($188 at Max and Chloe). These shimmering drop pearl earrings feature two lustrous pearls and are surrounded by Austrian crystals. Before you walk down the aisle spritz on Christian Dior’s Miss Dior Cherie Blooming Bouquet ($88.00 at YesStyle). Containing the essence of the original Miss Dior fragrance is has notes of mandarin orange, peony and musk, you will start life with your new husband smelling sublime.
Save on your purchases at Max and Chloe from TheFind.com’s coupon site
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.
Earthy, autumnal colors were the starring colors in the collections presented at New York Fashion Week. While there was a lot of the basics: charcoal gray, black, winter white, and brown, there were some richer colors too, like ruby red and olive green. That’s great news for most of us because most any of these work well as investment pieces that will far out live their “official” season and have a place in our wardrobes for many years.
Some collections, like those from Calvin Klein and Diane von Furstenberg, mixed in a few more daring colors, particularly Ms. Furstenberg with some bohemian prints incorporating rich brights. Winter florals made an appearance too, as did metallics. Two of the most restrained collections came from Donna Karan and, surprisingly, Marc Jacobs.
Perhaps the most “important” color trend for Fall 2010 is a rich, deep red that looks as if it is going to carry over into other areas, like accessories and even makeup. Look for lots of rich red lipstick next fall.
I must admit that I’m not a fan of real fur unless it’s absolutely warranted for climatic reasons, but others feel differently, including some of the designers that showed their Fall / Winter 2010 collections in New York last week. Vena Cava included a number of fur stoles in her collection, and Peter Som added neon bright furs over printed dresses. Fortunately for those of us who aren’t into real fur, there are faux fur options galore, and you’ve probably already seen some of the bright faux furs in the current Fall / Winter season.
So if you’ve already bought a few of these in the form of vests or “chubby” coats, hang onto them at the end of the season because likely as not, they’ll be popular again next year. Another trend that showed up on the runways was the combination of feathers and fur. While the bright faux fur vests can go as casual as you want, the fur and feathers combo is definitely more luxurious and dressy.
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.
Australian designer Annette Cannock’s Truese line is offering a chance for one lucky Couture In The City reader to win this amazing Audrina dress in colors ultra violet as pictured on Marisa Miller or raspberry retails for $265!
In Australia, Truese is best known for creating sexy and feminine cocktail wear and is now available in the US. Truese produces three ranges a year providing women with perfect, flirty dresses each season. Luxurious fabrics and embellishments make this line unique. With a strong focus on feminine shapes and the latest designs, every item is sure to make heads turn. Price Points: $200- $300.
TRUESE also has a sister line: WISH
For the past 10 Years Wish has been one of the most loved fashion lines in Australia and just over a year ago has come to the US packed with all the magic of Sydney. Wish produces six full ranges every year encompassing a comprehensive wardrobe from delicate dresses to practical separates in fabrics from silk to denim. With a strong focus on feminine shapes and the latest prints every item is uniquely beautiful and extremely wearable. Price Points: $90 – $400
How To Enter: To enter this amazing giveaway submit your info at coutureinthecity@gmail.com. And title your email – Truese Dress Giveaway. This will run until March 10th. So good luck!
Giveaway Disclaimer: Couture in the City and the featured product is not responsible for any errors that may occur during the giveaway. Nor for any incorrect winners information that may occur during the drawing. To be entered into the giveaway follow instructions. A winner is picked one time only.
The final day of New York Fashion week belonged to three American designers: Isaac Mizrahi, Ralph Lauren, and Calvin Klein. Klein is universally perceived as the epitome of elegance and sophistication in the form of beautiful, wearable clothes. Designer Francisco Costa did the label proud with a collection that no doubt had the celebrity-filled front row thinking, “I’ll take that one, and that one, and that one, and that one …”
Though Costa’s color palette was limited to black, winter white, gray, and azure blue (which shone all the more brightly by contrast), the lines were so elegant, the fabrics so luscious, the tailoring so just right that they didn’t really require the extra help of a broad color palette. And the styles were classic enough that you can imagine wearing them for years (or until your daughter steals them from your closet for her first grown-up job interview).
Three other reasons why the label is to be applauded and supported are Kristen McMenamy, Stella Tennant, and Kirsty Hume. Three models in their 30s and 40s brought it, and showed the assembled guests that their beauty and experience are timeless. Maybe this will be a lesson to other designers: models of all colors and ages give the presentation of a collection an extra measure of sophistication and class. Hint hint.
Looking at Monique Llhuillier’s Fall / Winter 2010 collection, I kept thinking, “These look like dresses that women wear to the Oscars.” There’s no doubt in my mind that any actress who chooses from this collection will not regret it. These are some seriously beautiful formal looks. Mostly simple, but with original touches that set them apart and keep them from being “just another ball gown.” One crimson floor-length dress featured a strapless bodice and full skirt, done up in deep red crinkly silk. It was absolutely perfect.
But there were work looks, too, and one gray suit with a slightly fringy trim would make Coco Chanel proud. Younger looks included short dresses over tights, and classic cocktail frocks in black and red. All in all, this was a delightful collection that is sure to be widely imitated, but probably not equaled.
Mark Badgley and James Mischka showed some gorgeous red-carpet-worthy gowns at their Tuesday morning show at Bryant Park. Included were some gorgeous column gowns, and a charming little gold confection made of what looked like a series of connected peony blossoms. But there were more “serious” clothes, too, including some work ready dresses that would knock the socks off a potential lucrative client or two. The second half of the show featured clothing from Mark & James, the lower priced line that the duo launched in 2009. In fact, there were twice as many outfits sent down the runway for the Mark & James collection as there were for the more formal Badgley Mischka line.
These were, for the most part, young looking pieces of wool, jersey, and leggings. Sequins were applied liberally, keeping most of the pieces from completely losing their winking sense of humor over their fabulousness. With the exception of one or two of the formal gowns, the color palette was muted and featured a lot of black, as have the collections of a number of designers this past week. It could come as a big relief for those shoppers for whom color play is an intimidating task.
Wednesday’s showing of the 3.1 Phillip Lim line for Fall 2010 made for several instances of thinking, “Ooh! I love that! What is it?” While there was some hint of disco-era glam, Lim also playfully added in some backlash to go with it. Yes, there were sequins, but they were tempered with chiffon overlayers. Glam was consistently paired with smart-looking partners, like thick, warm capes and tall boots.
While there was almost a sweetness or innocence in many pieces, there were one or two – a deep purple sequined and black wrap dress comes to mind – that were nothing short of drop-dead gorgeous. And Lim didn’t stick as closely to the gray-black-beige color palette as a lot of other designers did. In addition to the levity imparted by the sequins, there were also touches of pink, gold, blue, and periwinkle. Thank you, Mr. Lim. Fall 2010 suddenly looks a little brighter!
Source: images wwd.com
Starbucks Lounge at Fashion Week check out the new Frappuccino Light flavors.
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