Showing posts with label Fall Fashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fall Fashion. Show all posts

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Mad For Plaid

1. Pretty In Plaid Handbag by Betsey Johnson, $98; betseyjohnson.com, 2. Plaid Petals Skirt, $148; anthropologie.com, 3. Ascona Shoes by Harajuku Lovers, $115; zappos.com, 4. Color Wheel Shirt by BB Dakota, $55; modcloth.com.

For twelve years of my life I was chained to plaid. Day in and day out I had to adhere to a strict uniform that consisted of a plaid skirt, a white button-down, a tie, and a blazer... yes, a blazer. We weren't allowed to wear nail polish, dye our hair 'unnatural' colors, or wear more than one ring per hand. So one would assume that I would be completely adverse to the reemergence of plaid as a fashion must have. Oddly, I'm not. There's something intrinsically unsexy about a boring tartan, but the plaids that have been popping up in collections in the past few years are anything but boring. There are many elements that may have brought plaid back. Perhaps it's the naughty school girl cliché, or the laid-back appeal of grunge? Or maybe we all just want to be as comfortable as the Brawny man? Either way, get ready for fall with one of these fabulous finds.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Ruffling Feathers

1. Herringbone V Neck Blouse by Built By Wendy, $176; builtbywendy.com, 2. Marisa Plaid Dress, $44; delias.com, 3. Suede Ruffle Tote Bag by Felix Rey, $598; felixrey.com, 4. Ruffle Bootie by Pour La Victoire, $285; nordstrom.com, 5. Printed Ruffle Front Dress by Silence & Noise, $58; urbanoutfitters.com.

From Oscar de la Renta, to Bill Blass, ruffles have been a fashion mainstay for decades. Like most trends, we've seen ruffles fall in and out of favor, but if New York Fashion Week has taught us anything, it's that they're back with a vengeance. Fight off the mental image of Jerry Seinfeld's puffy pirate shirt, and embrace the flirty elegance of Valentino glamor. Both Diane Von Furstenburg and Marc Jacobs' latest collections flaunted feminine frills, but that's not to say that this type of embellishment can't be edgy. Like most of the trends I gravitate towards, ruffled pieces can be paired with more simplistic structured pieces to create an exciting blend of hard and soft. Rocking an angelic Built By Wendy V Neck Blouse with a pair of dark wash skinny jeans is perfect for work and play. Even Michelle Obama is in on the trend, looking fashionable and feminine as she does volunteer work across the country. Let's follow the First Lady's lead on this one, and who knows what good fortune will smile upon us.