Whether it's jersey, chiffon or floral, this season's must-have trend maxi skirt doesn't seem to discriminate. Nothing looks more feminine and flirty than a long flowing skirt, so it is no wonder that this trend keeps coming back. It is true that the maxi skirt is a staple for bohemians, but it could just easily be morphed into any other style. Just look at the eight 2010 runway looks presented here, from top to bottom, left to right: English country side, preppy, office appropriate, gothic victorian, relaxed, oversized menswear, really-cold-Russian-winter-look, and minimalist. You get our point.
We recommend searching for a maxi skirt that fits your style and taste, and then build the whole outfit on top of that. Whether you like it high waisted and defined, or flowing and relaxed, there is something for everyone this Fall. So why wait?! Start mix and match your own look now!
Erin Fetherston Spring Summer 2010 Runway
It is not goth, it is not punk, but beauty from the dark side. We all remember being mesmerized by the girl from high-school with the smokey eyes and the dreamy gaze. She spoke very little, smoked the occasional cigarette and hung with the wrong people. She was shockingly beautiful but in a dark and mysterious way. That girl is back, on 2010 Runways.
Sheer black garments are owning the runways like one of those scary dark clouds from Harry Potter racing down the runways and stealing our souls away, leaving us stunned and breathless. We find ourselves back in high-school admiring the girl-in-black Déjà vu style. Nothing says show-stopper like a Little (Peekaboo) Black Dress, because it hides away all the little imperfections on our skin and shows only the pure silhouettes of the flesh. A little sheer black dress reminds us of those packagings with a semi clear window where we could only peek at the contents and guess what the rest of the packages look like.
It's very easy to go over-the-top with this trend and look like you are going to a funeral. So we recommend one sheer piece at a time: a silk or chiffon black blouse that's completely appropriate for work during the day but also feminine for a night out. We are not sure who started it all, the Twilight or the glooming economy? But we find romancing the dark side so very intoxicating.
Follow this year's military trend with a shearling bomber jacket. Burberry started it all with an oversized shearling aviator leather jacket, paired with a delicate flowy dress that takes our imagination back to the WWII era: not knowing whether her lover could make it back this time, the girl holds on to his worn out aviator leather jacket that still has traces of gun powder and cigarette smoke which remind her of his mere existence and their eternal love. The Burberry version is made out of real sheepskin and has a price that breaks the bank. So we picked out three jackets that each cost less than $100, $200 and $500 respectively. We think these will be sold out soon given just all quickly people shell out $4000 for the Burberry one. Which one would you rather have?
Burberry Prorsum Shearling Bomber Jacket, $3595, Sold Out.
$88.00 by GUESS at Nordstrom
$198.00 by Aqua at Bloomingdale's
$495.00 by Mcginn at Nordstrom
Whether you already sport a pair of sweat pants to the grocery store after yoga lesson, or you never exercise (it's OK, we all exercise less than we would like to) and never owned any sportswear. Now is the time to stock up on these fashionable sportswear. Not only are they ultra comfortable for running errands, but they are also socially acceptable as everyday chic clothes now (quite an irony from our Mad Men post)!
Well known brands such as T by Alexander Wang, McQ by Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney for Adidas, have been producing fashion forward sportswear for many seasons. The pieces are so chic that it's no wonder people are taking them to the streets.
Link to our earlier post: Season's Must Have #1: Camel.
In a world full of colors and patterns and complicated seams and beadings, sometimes we just retreat to the simplest form of beauty, minimalism. Everyone has probably been a minimalist at one time or another without realizing. It could be the classic white button down shirt you wore to work, or a simple cardigan you can't seem to take off because it matches with everything, or the ladylike black leather bag you have been carrying around since the dawn of time. We have all been there, trying to spare our minds free of clutter for even one day as we throw on something simple and comforting yet timeless, knowing we won't be judged while walking through the everyday mundane.
From Calvin Klein in the 90s to Celine two decades later to Angelina Jolie on the red carpet, minimalism has long been a special form of fashion, with its own special group of worshippers. This group of people often sees their world as monochromatic, preferring pieces that have a fluid nature from top to bottom with no interruptions in between. It is said that true minimalist would freak out at the sight of white buttons on white shirts, thus shirts with hidden buttons were invented.
W magazine had published an article on Klaus Biesenbach's extreme minimalist apartment, which is rather inspiring. His style challenges a society that is so deep rooted in the believe of the other word that start with a M, "Materialism". The question now switches from "Can we survive" to "Should we survive" on a minimalism life style. The NYTimes' Style Section had a piece on "Shopping Diet" in July exploring a whole group of people experimenting with the idea of wearing only six pieces of garment for a whole month (not restricting shoes and accessories). A lot of people give up, but for the ones who survived, their observations include "no one noticed", which was shocking given how much energy we spend each day on our outfits thinking our husbands or friends will notice, but such is not the case.
We are not definitely not encouraging everyone to throw out all their furnitures and excess clothing (for those who are, please donate to ShopStyle), but let's all ponder on the true meaning of minimalism for one minute during our busy schedule. Minimalism by definition means the subject is reduced to its necessary elements, so do we really need that one extra pair of black shoes because there is an extra zipper in the back (speaking from someone who owns over 70 pairs of shoes), or the shams on our beds (which the husbands have been holding grudge against every night). While we are busy promoting the Green movement, perhaps we should all just simply look around us and see if we even need that one more set of bedsheets made out of organic cotton. Food for thought.
We can't wait until Fall, because Fall means Labor Day Weekend shopping spree! In anticipation to Labor Day Weekend, we are already making our wish-list for Fall fashion. Over the next few weeks, we will be covering all of this season's must have's, so you won't miss out a thing when the crazy sale begins. We know how important it is to spend money on the essentials, so we will also be featuring the wardrobe staples that every woman should have in their closet, and how to find the best fit for your body type.
The first one on our list is the camel coat. The camel coat has always been a versatile wardrobe staple, but it's old hollywood glamor has been brought back once again for Fall 2010 by American fashion designer Michael Kors and celebrities like Chloe Sevigny.
Not only is the camel coat on the top of our list, pretty much everything camel colored is the new trend for this Fall. These warm hued shoes, bags and dresses remind us of all the nice things of Fall: pumpkins and Thanksgiving. For a pop of color, try cherry red lipstick or red pumps.
Related: Michael Kors, Chloe Sevigny, Red Pumps, thanksgiving, pumpkins, Red Lipstick, labor day, camel, Fall 2010 Fashion, Camel Coat, Camel shoes, Camel Bags, Camel Dresses
Still looking for the perfect nude pumps? We are here to help! Check out these amazing nude shoes from Jeffrey Campbell to Christian Louboutin. Look for an optimum one inch platforms with four inch heels that provide both comfort and height.
Flip through other nude colored items that are becoming the next generation of wardrobe staples: LNDs (Little Nude Dresses) that make you look sexy without showing too much skin, and nude bags that match every outfit.
Already have the little nude colored pieces in your possession but looking for ways to mix and match them? Check out these fabulous looks created by our community members. Think you could do better? Become a member today and start assemble your own looks!
Here at ShopStyle, we are totally in love with this Summer's hottest new trend: clear accessories. The clear shoes & bags featured at both Michael Kors and Prada 2010 Runway Shows were stunning. Who wouldn't want a pair of Cinderella-inspired crystal pumps or necklaces shaped like water drops frozen in time.
Beat the summer heat by going crystal clear on shoes, bags and jewelry. Stay "cool" in these gorgeous modern designs. Be sure to stack some clear bangles together to complete your new look.
Here's a quick round-up of dresses and necklaces for that make for sassy (and savvy!) summer shopping.
We're officially approaching the summer season when we start to see bold and vibrant colors sweep in. This season we're excited to see vivid fuchsia, bold magenta, and rich rose make their way onto the style scene. (And it's entirely possible this Limited Edition Christian Louboutin Barbie had something to do with it.)
Featured designers: Christian Louboutin, Alexander McQueen, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga, Jimmy Choo, House of Harlow, and more.
