Lets Talk Fall:: Your Look...

We Kick 'Em to the Curb Unless They Look Like Ms. Jagger...

Must I reiterate the fact that I'm obsessed with all things 70's?! With that statement out of the way, we need to talk about Phillip Lim's resort collection...

{style.com}

Such a beautiful collection, and that's not even the half of it! It's everything I could ever want and imagine from the seventies with notes and undertones of modern relevance and spirit. Honestly, Lim can do no wrong by me. Every piece would fit perfectly into my life and multitask for many different occasions...After all, isn't that what the components of your wardrobe are supposed to do?!

The More HUE Know...

There is something to be said for a person that knows themselves well. When they are confident and comfortable with who they are, it brings out their best, most creative, vulnerable, real self which is expressed in/through their craft. For Phoebe Philo of Celine, that means a collection that resonates with every woman and reverberates among fashion industry walls. Philo's spring collection is perfection! She took a more than basic color and transformed it into a fashion phenomenon (of sorts). Ladies and Gents can't get enough of it. Take a neutral color and make it animated through fabulously distinct and well constructed silhouettes. The focus then is highlighted in quality and sophistication (ie, the wide leg pants, my absolute favorite...HELLO LOVER!).

{style.com}

{marieclaire.com}

I'm not sure what could be sexier than a pair of nude heels. They truly are any girl's best friend, adding miles of length to your legs. Stumbled upon the CL for Philip Lim shoes yesterday and I'm cursing the day Becky left Louboutin to move to London! The stud detail down the middle is killing me. I pine, I burn, I perish! Yesterday I was running an errand with a new friend and was introduced to the black version of the Aldo heel. What a coincidence when I came home browsing the web and landed at the nude version. The silhouette is uber sexy and you can't beat the price.

{marieclaire.com}

I am a hot mess when it comes to bags. My purse-onality is to carry the bag that allows me to carry my life around in it like a suitcase. I tend to stick to darker colors because you never know what can happen with a pen in my hand...or even worse what I might accidentally set my bag into. "When I grow up" I imagine carrying something along the lines of the Kate Spade bag for a night out to dinner with the girls or for a date night. The A.P.C. bag is my dream come true...rich supple suede in a generous shape that allows for all my belongings to be cast away to the bottom (it's true with any bag I carry, even when compartments are provided).

{shopbop.com; topshop.com}

I have the hardest time wearing shorts, I've just never been a fan. It seems easier and more convenient to throw on a skirt and call it a day. When I saw these Thakoon shorts though, I thought, that's it. I'm all about the twisted and rouched detail. The length is ideal for days running around the city or for being on set. When I went to the TopShop/Nylon Anniversary party (here) I fell in love with this long lace skirt that is sans lining. I paraded around the store with it in hand and returned it to the rack at the end of the night, knowing I could get the same skirt for free if I brought it to my mother's attention (she's in the process of making me a few in different colors). I loved how sheer the skirt is...a demure silhouette in a feminine, perfect for spring fabric. And I love the look of wearing a pair of nude leggings underneath for a buoyant illusion.

{jcrew.com; lefashion.blogspot.com}

I'm in love with this J.Crew dress. Just a hint of color to keep it from fading into the background. It looks comfortable, easy, and appropriate for many an occasion. Fortunately for me, I don't need an occasion or excuse for this number. I'd wear it on a gorgeous day like today when breakfast hang out, coffee shop work day, and non-profit planning is on the agenda. I'm lusting for the denim/khaki top in the LeFashion image. Such a cool hybrid to incorporate two spot on spring/summer trends. The trend fusion is equally balanced and exalted when yoked with a tonal romper. I'm heading home to Texas in a few weeks, and for some reason I am most DIY productive when I'm there. So on the list of "to-do's::"

*Light Weight Long Cream (family) dress with a pop of color...Thinking hot pink for this one!

*Denim-Khaki Shirt Fusion...Love the look of the denim cuffs

Mom, get ready...we have some work in store for us!

Fashion Psychoanalysis: Designers~Session 1

As stated previously, I'm working on a project with a fashion website that will currently remain nameless. I'm super excited about the collaboration, but it got me thinking that I need to get back to my fashion roots. The last couple of days I have been looking through old/new fashion shows, established and independent designers, trying to remember why I love and respect the ones I do. Much like taste buds, my appetite for fashion and designers changes frequently. However I do have a handful of designers that has remained consistent throughout the seasons.

Phillip Lim could do no wrong! The women's wear prodigy has inspired and excited the fashion industry with a heavy hand in street elegance. Like many contemporary designers, Lim is about designing and creating garments/looks that are understandable. A huge inspiration to my personal style is Lim's knack for combining dressy elements with casual counterparts (exhibit "A" copper lame pants with a grey sweatshirt). The collections are always injected with an air of romance that is ambitious while remaining prudent.

{both images from style.com}

If Phillip Lim was Barbie, then Proenza Schouler would be her cute, hip, younger sister, Skipper! The Parson alum duo captured my heart seasons ago, and constantly appears on my "What I Want Now" list. They have branded their collection on "real clothes." There are no trick or gimmicks to their designs or aesthetic. They design around versatility and never lack in pizazz or charm. They are edgy without being obnoxious, and sweet without the tooth ache. The collection is perfectly balanced and exquisitely executed. Apparently, two heads are better than one in this design house's case!

{both images from style.com}

Last year I was introduced to Isabel Marant. I stumbled upon images of her Spring 2009 collection and fell in love with the patch work pieces and slouched boots with chains haphazardly wrapped around the ankle...which actually inspired my own DIY boots. Season after season she continued to send awe inspiring garments down the runway. It isn't just her apparel that I long for, Marant has put her best foot forward into footwear. Days after she presented her fall collection in Europe, editors at large were seen walking the courtyard to the next show in her famous footwear.

{elle.com & style.com}

DSquared was one of my first fashion loves! The first time I saw the Caten's collection was during cycle 2 of America's next top model. The brothers design with a sense of humor...gossip magazines, venti Starbucks cups, and cigarettes down the runway is in tune with Santino's "lighten up it's just fashion!" The collection is continually innovative and imaginative, but still retains an element that is polished. The collection always combines an aesthetic that is fun and effortless but understands that women like to get dolled up on occasion too with a dose of sex appeal.

{all images from style.com}

I could look at different collections and shows everyday and find something new to be inspired and moved by. Narrowing down to just a few was extremely difficult, but I had to choose the ones that have a hand in my love for the industry, design, and craft. One last designer that can't go unnamed and needs no explanation is Balmain....enough said and I'm sure you understand why!

DIY: Fashionable Minds Think Alike

I've been restyling my closet this week and trying to find new ways to wear things. I've been itching for more DIY projects to spruce up my currently drab winter wardrobe, so this morning I decided to look through images I pulled from the Spring 2010 shows.

I came across this Phillip Lim sweater and was so pleased with myself to think, Yep I can do that!!! Done and Done! First my mind started racing with all the color options this project possessed. Then I started to think of all the things to pair it with... skirts, jeans, my sequin pants! After being so delighted in my newest DIY find, I continued my morning routine of blog reading only to find that Kelly from The Glamourai was drinking the same coffee as me!

(picture from Glamourai's blog)

Even down to the sequin pants!!! Ahhhh why is she so unbelievably good!!!! A little more reading on her blog and I found that she wrote a step by step DIY on how to recreate the sweater for Lucky Magazine. Regardless I'm still planning on making this cardigan for my weekend in New Paltz apple picking. Great fashionable minds think alike?!?!

"Love Me a Sequin!"

Love this sequin mini from Phillip Lim's Spring collection. The casual shape adds to the coolness factor, but it's the sparkling paillettes that glistened in my eye! Would love to have this today for my birthday celebration, or to ring in the new year!

Day and Night...Night and Day

I'm a firm believer that clothes can be worn anytime, any occasion. Lately I have been challenging myself to find new ways to wear my more sparkly clothes, those that I save for a celebratory night out with friends.

As you can probably see from recent posts, I'm for all things sequin. I love this skirt and how effortless it looks with a solid toned down sweater. Exactly what I want to wear all of Fall... and especially now with the cooler weather we are having!

This skirt sealed the deal for me! The outfit has the perfect color combination, nude with a bold counterpart, plenty of texture, and ruffles worth of sass! Ixnay on the jewelry. Let all the attention be drawn down to the skirt (or as 3oh!3 says..."and talk with your hips!").

What can a blazer not go with? One of my investment pieces this season is going to be a well tailored blazer...color to be determined. The perfect dose of exactly how I want to be perceived for/during business meetings but still has a soft, approachable, feminine feeling.

In love with these sequin Miu Miu shoes. A little intrigued to try and DIY my own pair but we'll see!!!! Either way dying to wear this with a pair of boyfriend jeans I DIYed a few months ago with a white off the shoulder over sized shirt and a navy cummerbund!

Fall is for Phillip Lim

Fall Fall Fall Fall.. With the heat wave this past week all I can think about is the cooling weather that is to come. I can't get enough of all things from Phillip Lim's fall collection. It's the perfect combination of shine, glitz, and glamour paired with the perfect daytime casual counterparts. I saw the black leather skirt in this month's issue of Marie Claire and have already begun to style looks around it. I'm lusting for the skirt today to pair with a reworked men's plaid button down shirt and denim vest. I'm a huge advocate for fur! Last Christmas I received my first fur in the form of a vest a la Jenny Kane and have since been yearning for more. I want them in all different shapes, sizes, colors. Love this look paired with a completely black palette. The black satin trousers with the navy long sleeve top is gorgeous. Would love to have this outfit for a birthday dinner with friends. This look would have been a perfect premier outfit for my friend Morgan tonight in Central Park. All things sequin are in my wish list for the coming season. Paired with the slouchy men's wear inspired trousers just makes complete sense. The coat is to die for. I love that you have the option of shortening the length. It also lends itself to showing more of the fabulosity that is going on under the coat just by unzipping the bottom portion. GENIUS!!!!